Russia 2014

     Of course I am home and not traveling anywhere now.  But there is some traveling news.  I do not remember if I have ever  mentioned my friend Ernest before but he has met up with me the last 3 summers in Europe.  He lives in London.  In summer 2011 he met me in Munchen.  In summer 2012 he met me in Berlin and them we went to Dresden.  Last summer, 2013, he met me at the end of the summer in Vienna.
     Well I spoke to him the other day and he said we should look into going to St. Petersburg and Moscow this summer!  I have always wanted to go to St. Petersburg!  I would love to go through the Hermitage, and every other museum there.  I always thought that I would go to St. Petersburg with Jackie but I can not go with them both.  Ernest thought we might share a room but that is out of the question.  I need my own space at the end of the day. 
     So we are both supposed to be looking into it.  If we go it will have to be at the very beginning of the summer so I can go from Russia to Germany for the rest of the summer.  We'll have to see how things develop.

Europe Summer 2013

     I am not in Europe.  I am home again.  I returned on Sunday 18 August after 50 nights in Europe.  I can not say that I am glad to be back.  The rest of my week in Vienna was great. The weather was good and I went to a bunch of places with my friend who had not been there in years.  It is always nice to show someone around a place that you have been to many times and know very well.
     We went to the Kaisergruft to see the tombs of the Habsburgs.  We went through the entire Hofburg, the Schatzkammer, and the Kunsthistorisches Museem.  All are well worth a visit even if you have been there before especially the art museum.  We went to Schoenbrunn one morning.  We also went to the Belvedere.  One thing I did that I have not done before and which I would recommend if you are there for a week is to buy a week pass for the metro.  It cost 15.95 euros and is well worth it.  It allows you to get on any tram or bus or metro as often as you want for the week.  I used it a lot.  If you make 5/6 rides it pays for itself and it does make it very convenient to hope on one of the trams and go to another part of the city very easily.

Vienna 12 August 2013

     Yesterday Sunday 11 August I arrived in Vienna.  I came by train from Brno.  The train was a direct ride and was very easy to do.  I got off at Wien Meidling.  Then I took a cab to good old Konig von Ungarn Hotel.  In my opinion the best place to stay in Vienna.  It is located on Schuler Strass which is a street that begins behind Stephans Dom on the left.  I checked in to the same room I always stay in and then walked over to KohlMarkt and Levant Restaurant where I had a durum and 2 beers.  After I returned t o the hotel and slept a little and then I went to the café next to Levant for a before dinner Aperol.  I had dinner at L'Asine, my bar on the street that runs next to the Hofburg and ends at the Albertine.  I had a salad and veal scallopine and a few wines.  It is much more expensive here than in the Czech Republic and more expensive than Bamberg or Weimar so I guess I'm a little price shocked.  My dinner tonight was at Ilona Stuebl.  This is a little Hungarian restalurant on Brunnerstrasse.  I have eaten there every time I have been in Vienna.  I was a little apprehensive this time because I took my friend Ernest and he hates most restaurants.  But it went well.  I had a large Bauern salad and a beef and potato dish that is a little like pot roast.  I drank 2 1/2 liter beers and it cost me 35e
    Tomorrow we plan to go to the Hofburg and all the museums in there.

Brno 9 August 2013

  After my first night in Prague I visited the art collection in the Sternberg Palace.  It is worth a look although there are no "big ticket" pieces.  It was so hot that after I walked down the hill, I took the tram up, I went back to the Hilton and went to the pool.  I was the only swimmer and it was very nice and refreshing.  The Hilton Old Town is where I stayed, in case I did not say it before.  It is perfectly located and has exactly what you expect from a Hilton and the price, including breakfast is reasonable.  On my 2nd full day I hired a private guide for a city tour from Prague Saints online.  He showed up on time and the 4 hour tour I thought I had arranged was actually a 7 hour tour.  Needless to say we went to every corner of Prague and I saw every site that anyone would want to see.  The guide was a young college student who knew the answer to every question I had and we had some very informed and interesting conversations throughout the day.  He was worth every penny.
     I left Prague on 8 August and went to Brno, where I am now, by direct train.  It cost 220 Czech Krones - about $11.  Brno is the historic capitol of Moravia.  There is nothing to see here other than enjoying the surroundings.  The food and drink are very, very reasonable and the people are very, very nice.  At the city museum and art museum at the old fortress called Spitzberg, they were actually waiting for me at the end of one exhibit to take me to the next!  The food and the beer is really good but that is all I am doing.  Eating, drinking and sleeping.  I am staying a the Barceló Palace, which I highly recommend.  It is beautiful and my room is large and well done, with air-conditioning!  It is ideally located to many, many bars and restaurants.  One I will mention is just up the street and is a bar called the Havana Club.  The drinks are cheap and the servers are wonderful

Prague, 6 August 2013

  Last night I ate at a place I remembered from the last time I was in Prague.  It is on Aneska 2 and is called U Cerveneho kola.   It is just lovely!  You go through into a court yard to eat.  There are about 14 tables out there and last night there were only 4/5 used, including me.  It is very peaceful and nice.  The food is very good.  I had 2 starters, one hot and one cold.  The cold was the pate with bread - very good.  The hot was asparagus gratin.  Also very good.  My main dish was goulash with bread dumplings and a small salad.  I drank a Campari and 3 glasses of wine.  It all cost 1010 kc.  The service is very efficient and nice and I enjoyed the peace and quite and being away from all the crowds.    Today all I did was take the tram up to the palace hill and go to the Sternberg collection.  The collection is very nice and it took a while to go through although there is no big block-buster piece.  After I walked back down the hill and stopped for 2 beers.  When I got back to the Hilton it was about 2 o'clock and I went to the pool because I was so hot.  The pool was great!! I had it all to myself and went for 2 swims and read a paper.   I do have to say that Prague is filled to the brim with tourists.  You almost can not walk down the street in the touristy areas.  There seem to be two types.  Low rent southern Europeans and well heeled retired Americans on a tour.  It does not matter really.  They are all dressed like idiots and are totally inconsiderate of anyone else.  My advice to someone traveling to Prague, and it is still worth a visit, is to try and avoid the major tourist attractions.  There was basically no one but me in the art museum.  Last night after dinner I walked down to the Charles Bridge and it was terrible.  You could not have walked across if you wanted to there were so many people there.

Bamberg 4 August 2013

   I have been in Bamberg, Germany since 24 July.  I have not been able to write because the apartment that I have rented does not have access of any kind.  Right now I am in a restaurant that lets you have access for 2e.  My 12 nights here in Bamberg have been OK.  The weather was good.  Although some days were very hot, but it is summer.  I made a day trip to Coburg.  It is a nice day out and takes about 30 minutes on the train.  I walked around and went on the guided tour of the city palace and enjoyed it a great deal.  Coburg was the capitol of the duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and the reigning dukes lived there.  Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert was from there as was her mother so there is a lot of portraits and memorabilia if you are interested in that.  I had lunch at the Ratskeller right on the main platz.  It was perfectly nice.
     I can not report anything new about Bamberg.  I ate twice at a restaurant called Casa Italia and loved it.  I had eaten there before.  It is never crowded and the food is very good.  The wait staff are great and it is nice to spend a quiet evening there with good food and good wine at a good price.  I also ate at the little place on the canal.  I don't know the name but it is behind the Tourist office and directly over the bridge.  The food is good German food.  You get a lot of it, it is fresh and well made.  The prices are tremendously good.  Go there.
     I do think this is my last summer here in Bamberg.  It has become over run with tourists.  There are nights when every restaurant is full.  also the apartment I rented was in a residential area, which was nice, but there was constant, and I do mean constant, traffic.  I am exhausted because the noise makes it almost impossible to sleep.  Tomorrow I go by train to Nurnberg and then with the bus to Prague.  I am staying at the Hilton and expect to arrive early in the afternoon.  I am going to take a nice shower, crank up the AC and SLEEP.  I can't wait! 
     Before leaving Bamberg I do want to make one last recommendation.  At the end of Markkus Strasse is a bridge.  Over the bridge on the right is a bar called Lewinsky's.  It is GREAT.  They have indoor and outdoor seating and in the evenings if there is a sporting event on TV they have it on inside on a large screen.  I went there to watch Bayern Munchen play in the semi-finals and finals of the Audi Cup.  So if you want to have a few beers and hang out with the locals go there and grab a seat out back and enjoy.

    Next stop Prague

Gotha Friday 19 July 2013

    I made a day trip to Gotha on Thursday 18 July 2013.  I have been there 2 times before and I promised myself that if I went again I would not go to the Schloss again and I did not.  I walked down into town and they were setting up for an International Folk Festival.  I went to the Tourist info and asked about the city tour which I knew was already gone.  But they called a guide and he took only me.  The tour was nice and I especially liked that I got to talk German with him the whole time.  His English was poor.   We spent about 1 1/2 hours on the tour and then went for a beer.  He is an elementary school teacher.  I gave him 20 euros.
     Gotha is worth a day if you have one to spare.  It is easy to get to the main site from the main train station.  Go straight down Bahnhof Strasse and make a right at Park Allee.  There are signs so you can't go wrong.  This street leads to the back of Friedens Schloss, the main site.  You walk up to the castle from the back through a park..  In this castle are the main museums.  But if you go through and out the front and take  that street straight down you come to the center of the town.  It is a nice town to walk through.  To get to  the train station you can walk or take almost any bus for 1.30Euro to the Hauptbahnhof.
     I have visited Gotha 3 times and there is really no reason for me to go back but I do recommend it for travelers in Thuringia.
     This tip is not only for travelers, but for any one to whom it applies. If you get a bike and go for a ride with that bike and you can not pedal that bike faster than a 50 year old man can jog down the side of the path, then you probably do not need the helmet and you definitely do not need the spandex biker shorts.  Thank-you

Weimar Monday 15 July

     I did not mention that on Thursday through Sunday nights we had the annual wine fest!  I have been every year since I have been coming to Weimar.  In the platz in front of Goethe's house about 5/6 wineyards set up stands and sell their wine.  You can either buy a glass, either .1l or .2l or you can buy a bottle to drink there or,( the deal of the day) you can buy a bottle to go.  On Friday night I tried 3 different wines at one place and then bought 2 bottles to go.  One weisseburgundian and one dornfelder.  Together the bottles cost me 12e!  6e each!  One 2 l glass costs 4e.
     On Saturday night, after dinner at Texas,  I went again.  This time I hit 2 different stands.  At the first I had one 2l glass and then one 1l glass and bought a bottle of Riesling for 4.50e.  At the next stand I had 2 different glasses.  Then I went home.  The winefest is a fun time.  There are a lot of people there and I don't think it is a lot of tourists.
    On Saturday morning I decided to go to Arnstadt.  I had never heard of this town before but read a bout it in a Thuringian Card book.  Apparently it is the oldest city in  Thuringia.  I took the train to Erfurt and then changed for Arnstadt.  It took less than 50 minutes and I think the change-overin Erfurt was longer than either of the train rides.  The Altstadt is pretty easyt o find from the train station.  There are signs and it is pretty much straight ahead on Erfurter Strasse.  I found the Tourist Bureau and they gave me a city map with a self-guided walking tour.  I visited the city Palace and the cathedral.  To be honest neither is that interesting.  I did stop for a beer after I got my map and after the palace I had lunch and it was nice and reasonable and I enjoyed the city and walking around there.  All in all it made for a nice day out.

Weimar 12 July 2013

     Another beautiful day here in Weimar!  I went for a run in the park again.  It is my 4th time in 6 days.  I run up and down both sides of the Ilm.  The Park-an-Ilm is on both sides of the river(?). And is a beautiful place to go either for a nice walk or a run.  I am out there for an hour, running, walking.  Then I come home and cool off and shower and then eat.  Today I went to City Doner for a doner.  Did I mention that they don't sell beer any more?  I don't know why.   Then I bought Das Spiegel at the bookstore because this edition is about the Kaiserreich.  Then I went down to the Rathaus and had a beer at the outdoor part while I looked at the magazine.
     When I came home I  fell asleep and slept about 2 hours at least.  I don't know why I have been so tired but it doesn't matter.  I promised myself that this summer I would not be tired.  If I want to sleep I will.  I went to Apollon for dinner.  I love that restaurant.  It is out of the way and there are only locals there.  I had baked sharp cheese for the appetizer and then a plate with 2 lamb chops and chicken on a spit and gyros meat with that white sauce and rice and a small salad.  I also had 2 big beers.  All for 22e.
     Now I am home watching Mein Mann Kann, a dopey game show that I have seen before.

Weimar 9 July 2013

     It has been beautiful weather here in Weimar.  Sunny, no humidity, and warm enough so that one is not hot.  I have been jogging in Park-an-Ilm and it is wonderful.  Today I went to a special exhibition at the Stadt Museum.  It was about fashion at the turn of the last century.  They had clothes on models which was nice, but what I really wanted to see were the old photos of Weimar and the Grand Ducal family.  They also had a video of 6 different events that were filmed by someone who lived in Weimar at that time and I watched those.
   I had lunch at good old Shakespeare Café.  I had Gulasch and 2 Hefeweizen beers for under 15e.  I went to dinner tonight at Pearle.  This is one of my favorite places to pass an evening.  They make basic, good Italian food.  The location is great.  Right on the Platz across from Goethe's house.  The food is good, plentiful and the price is right.  I was there for 1 1/2 hrs.  I have been looking into possible day trips to make but have not come up with anything yet.

Weimar 7 July 2013

     Well I have reached the apartment that I rent in Weimar on Saturday 6 Juli.  I am happy to be here.  But I want to end the Berlin part of the summer. I ate dinner at ADR bar and it was basic and good.  I had 3 beers there and then walked over to Hackesher Markt and had a beer and a Sambuca.  Then I walked to Augustinier Brau and had 2 more beers and an obstler.  I drank at Augustinier Brau twice this year.  I don't know why I have never been there before.  I also ate at La Provencal on the Spree Ufer, just down from La Rive.  I have never eaten there before either but I heard good things.  I don't know what to say.  It is a little pricey but the food is really good.  The waiters are friendly enough and mean well but the service sucks.  I had to wait 40 minutes between placing my order and getting my soup.  Then I had to wait at least 30 minutes between my soup and the main course.  there was no reason for this other than incompetence.  There were 3 waiters, there were about 10 tables outside and I don't think there was anyone onside.  I probably would give it one more try, but if this kind of thing makes you crazy or you need to be done by a certain time do not go there.
     But I am in Weimar now and that is what is important.  I went out today and as I walked past the National theatre I saw that "Merchant of Venice" was playing.  So I went in and bought a ticket.  Then I went to Vodaphone which was closed because it is Sunday and came home.  I changed and went for a jog in the park.  I showered and went for lunch at the Ratskeller.  After I took  a nap and then got ready and went to the show.  It was good up to the last 25 minutes.  Every theater director in the world needs to stage his show and then cut the last 20 minutes.  The last 20 minutes of this were terrible.  And had nothing to do with the story.
    After I went to good old Theater Café and had 1/2 l red and onion soup and a small salad.  all in all a perfect day.

Berlin 3 July 2013

     Today was a beautiful day in Berlin.  The sun was out and it was warm but not too hot.  I walked from the Hilton down Leipziger Strasse to Potsdamer Platz and then down to the Gemalde Gallerie.  Having purchased my 3-day card yesterday, the price went up to 24e but still worth it, I did not have to wait in line and went right in to the collection.  This is a great collection of Old Masters.  I visit here every time I come to Berlin.  It has a little of everything but my favorites are the 2 Vermeers.
     Normally after  visit I stop at the outdoor café and have a beer or two.. But today I did not because I had enouph beer last night.  Instead I walked down Erbert Strasse to the Brandenburg Tor and then went to Lowenbrau on Leipziger Strasse for lunch.  I had the Wiener Schnitzel with cabbage salad and potatoes and a dark Weiss beer all for 13e.   Yesterday I found ARD bar on Weinmeister Strasse.  I had eaten there twice last summer and looked for it the other day un successfully.  It is a great place to stop for a beer or coffee.  The food is basic German and good and the price is right.  Last year I watched the World Cup semi-final with Germany there.

Berlin June 30. 2013

Well, I am finally here!  I left for the airport at 3:00 pm on Friday 6/28/13 and got there at about 3:40.
The check in was easy and we actually boarded in plenty of time and were ready to take-off on time.  But of course we did not.  The weather prevented it and we left an hour late.  However it only took 7 hours to get here.  I was in my room at the Berlin Hilton by 9:30 am.  My room is the standard king but I have free internet access this time.  I don't know if this is regular of if it is an Honors perk.
    Yesterday I walked over to the Zeughaus and had a piece of cake and a coffee at the cake.  It poured rain

Berlin July 2, 2013

    The last post did not go very well. It turns out that I do not have free internet access.  I must pay 25e for 24 hours.  How outrageous is that?  Can the Hiltons nickel and dime you for anymore?    In any event I have been enjoying being in Berlin.  I ate at Lowenbrau, Amici, Luttner and Wegner and La Riva.  My favorite remains La Riva.  I had a big salad and taglatelli with asparagus and shrimp and 1/4 of Chianti and 2 Hefeweissen beers all for 32e.  The Lowenbrau on Saturday was good.  Again the food is basic and good and the price is right.  Amici is a great restaurant right on Gendarmarkt.  It is Italian.  the selection is good, the service is good and the price is right.  I had a pasta dish that was a thick spaghetti with Bolonese sauce and a salad and some wine and for dessert a piece of cherry  streusal cake and it all was good.
    Today I bought my 3 day card for the museums and went to the Egyptian museum and to the Bode museum.  I ate lunch at Que Pasa?  A great Mexican restaurant on Oraniunbaum Strasse.  I had a lunch burrito and a beer and it was great for 13e.  I have eaten there many times before and it is definitely worth a stop if you are in that area for lunch.

Europe Summer 2013

     It is exactly one week till I leave for Germany!  I am beginning to get excited.  Everything is done and all I have left to do is hire the car to drive me to the airport.  I also hired a guide for the day on my first full day in Prague.  I found this outfit on the internet.  They were reviewed on Tripadvisor by several people and they all liked it.  So I booked a guide for the entire day and night.  We will begin by going to a castle that I have never visited just outside the city.  Then he will take  me to the city castle and all the sites in the city.  It includes lunch and all transport and entrance fees.  After a breck the night portion begins.  Apparently we go to 3 bars and I get a drink in each and at the end of the evening he takes me back to the hotel.  It is expensive but who cares?  It almost sounds as if I have hired an escort!
     Anyway this is not until 6 August so there is plenty of time.  I just need to get to the airport and get on my way.  the next time I write I will be in Berlin!!

Europe Summer 2013

     I have made the final plans for this summer.  I booked 3 nights at the Barcelo Royal in Brno.  That completes the plan.  I have booked everything from the source this year.  I did not book one thing from Expedia.  By booking my plane ticket from the airline directly I am hoping to be able to upgrade at the last minute for a very reasonable price.  I have been told, by a not too reliable source that this is possible.  Now all I have to do is send a copy of my itinerary to Ernest and then wait for only 9 more weeks and I am off!!

Europe-Summer '13

     Well almost everything is booked and ready to go for the summer.  I will be in Berlin for 7 nights.  Then I tale the train to beloved Weimar to stay in the apartment for 18 nights.  After that I go to Bamberg to stay in a new apartment for 12 nights.  I have decided to then go to Prague for 3 nights.  After that I have 3 nights up for grabs.  I will either go to Cesky Krumlova of Brno in the Czech Republic.  Finally I end the summer with 7 nights in Vienna with my friend Ernest.
     Everything, including the airline ticket is booked, except the 3 days in the Czech Republic.  I received confirmation for the Bamberg apartment today.  I will write about the hotels I will be staying at when I am there.  With every passing day I get more and more antsy to get over there.  Not being able to spend a week there in theSpring is no good.

Europe Summer 2013

I believe I have made a decision about where I am going after my month in the apartment in Weimar and Bamberg.  I am definitely ending the summer in Vienna.  I have already booked and received confirmation on my room at the Konig von Ungarn Hotel.  This is the only place to stay in Vienna.  It is ideally located down the side street behind stephans Dom on Schuler Strasse.  The building and the lobby are beautiful and the service can not be beat.
   But before Vienna I think I am going to go to Prague for 3 nights and then Brno for 3 nights.  I have been to Prague before but I have never been anywhere else in the Czech Republic.  So here we go,  I think I have decided on hotels but have not booked antyhing yet.  When I do we will talk more.

Summer '13 Mar. 8,2013

     I have made some plans for the summer.  I am beginning the summer in Berlin.  I just booked my room at the Hilton.  I've stayed at 2 other hotels in Berlin and as far as I am concerned this is the best and the best value for the money, which is about half of what you would pay for a room in Manhatten at a hotel of much less quality.  The Berlin Hilton is ideally located on Gendarmenmarkt.  Two of the best things are the little beer kiosk across the street on the corner of Gendarmenmarkt and the Lowenbrau beerhouse around the corner and up the street.  Both places are great on a warm afternoon or evening for a good beer and some peace and quiet.
     After Berlin I am going to the apartment in beliebte Weimar for two and a half weeks then I am off to a new apartment in Bamberg.  The one I had last summer was taken so I found a new one from "Live Like a German".  It costs more, a lot more, than last year but it is still less than a hotel.  And since I can't go away over Spring Break I can spend that money on this.

February 16,2013

    I have basically decided that I am going to fly into Berlin this summer, stay there 7 nights, then go to my apartment in Weimar for 18 nights, then the apartment in Bamberg for 12 nights.  Then I will meet Ernest in Regensburg for 3 nights, Innsbruck for 3 nights, and then Vienna for 7 nights.  I can stay longer this summer because I do not have to be back in the US till September 9.
     It is interesting to read about and look into things in Germany for places that I know very well. Reading reviews of restaurants in Weimar and Bamberg make me want to be there.  I really do not do that much in Germany but I love being there and reading the posts that I have already made make me realize that I could be writing about so much more.  Maybe no one wants to read it but it makes me happy.

January 12, 2013

     In November we had a hurricane and were out of school for a week because of it.  Now it turns out that to make up the days we may not have a Spring Break.  That would basically mean that I could not travel over the first week in April.  Of course I could take off the time anyway if I wanted to do that.  I don't know what I want to do so I have not made any definite plans.  I really want to go to Paris as previously mentioned.
     For the summer I am thinking:  Berlin, Weimar, Bamberg, Regensburg, Innsbruck, Vienna.  Only Innsbruck would be new for me.  It had been about 5 years since I was in Regensburg and for some reason I really want to go there again.  I'm going to have to rent the apartments in Weimar and Bamberg soon so I will have to make a decision on the timing soon.  One day I will just decide and send off the e-mails and that will be that.  I am also going to begin to seriously look into buying something over in Germany to have as my own.  Then I can go any time I want and since it is so easy to travel with the trains in Europe I would be able to go whereever I wanted.