It all really started during Chris' Chemotherapy sessions last year - we discussed an adventure to celebrate the end of the misery and after several ideas decided that music would prompt our route. Salzburg and Leipzig were the two immediate thoughts (Mozart and Bach) which made the decision that this was not going to be a boating holiday! Not being huge fans of long car journeys, we opted for trains to get us around and the planning began.
Since Christmas, Sarah has been poring over Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn, Air BnB, TripAdvisor, Man in Seat 61 and any number of other useful (or not!) websites. Cities were chosen and discarded, dates adjusted to fit around hospital appointments, advice listened to from many friends and family, every travel guide borrowed from the library and finally we started to book travel, accommodation and concerts. We also collected travel accessories such as a smart phone, a Kindle and a new camera.
Packing began, with many discussions about the likely weather and packing strategies.
"It could be cold, pack a vest."
"Sandals are my favourite walking shoes in a city, but will it be warm enough?"
"We've been using a hot water bottle at home, should we take one?"
"Do all the Air BnB places have towels?"
"Is there a dress code for the concert halls?"
Needless to say, Chris managed the whole holiday with 4 polo shirts, two Guernseys and two pairs of trousers while Sarah had winter, spring and summer options, but we managed to get everything into our two faithful hand-luggage-sized wheely cases.
At long last Monday April 27th arrived. Our neighbour, Mick, kindly drove us to the station, then we were off. Anyone who knows the East Suffolk Line will realise that we started at a gentle pace through the pretty countryside, experimenting with taking photos through train windows as we went.
Train number 2 took us from Ipswich past the Essex coast to London, then tube to St Pancras and a quick lunch. That wooden knife came with us for the next three weeks - why ever didn't I bring a plastic knife from home? Standing in our Eurostar check-in queue, we reminisced that the last time we had crossed the Channel by train was from Waterloo with two teenage children.
As we waited, Sarah investigated using her phone to get online anywhere other than home.
"It tells me there is free Wi-Fi but I can't see how to log on.... I think this should do it - oh blast, now I've got nothing - wait a minute, perhaps .... ah, yes, I think I have to fill this in .... Yes!!! Look, I can check the weather in Salzburg!" Perhaps the phone should have been used a bit more beforehand!
At last we were on the Eurostar train, whizzing under London, a brief view of the sky then down again under the Thames, Kent countryside, a glimpse of the sea and down yet again - nothing to see for half an hour so time for the Kindle to prove its worth, or a snooze, depending on who you are!
Brussels arrived soon enough and the final train of the day, a Deutsche Bahn ICE, took us off to Cologne. We began to have faith in the tickets that we had printed off at home!
Cologne was just a quick overnight stop. Out of the station to stand and marvel at the cathedral, then the Smart phone found our hotel by the Rhine for us - although the printed map added some reassurance. We quickly found that European cobbled streets are not what you need with a wheely case - I wonder if there is an App to find smooth-surface footpaths?
Tuesday 28th April
Hotel breakfast - the German version of a continental breakfast with cheese, cold meats, eggs, yogurt, fruit as well as lovely crusty rolls - set us up for another day of sitting on a train!
Another ICE train whizzed us down to Munich (258km/h as we went down a valley!) then a final train took us through to Salzburg. I had been feeling rather sorry that I hadn't gone for the more expensive option of coming through Switzerland with more spectacular mountain views, but the showery weather wasn't great for visibility so perhaps it was the right choice.
And it was dry when we arrived, so we followed Brigitta's directions to walk to her apartment - our first Air BnB stay. Standing outside what looked like an office block, uncertain about which bell to press, we wondered if hotels wouldn't have been a better choice, but it was only a momentary panic and Brigitta soon showed us into her idiosyncratic home, made us a cup of her herbal tea and told us about her business as a voice analyst. A quick settling in period and then we were off out for her to show us around Salzburg and point out her favourite restaurants and coffee houses, back alleys that we must explore and a few of the more famous sites. We went to have a meal together but Brigitta only stayed for a sandwich as she was off to meet some friends. Phew! A whirlwind arrival!
Since Christmas, Sarah has been poring over Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn, Air BnB, TripAdvisor, Man in Seat 61 and any number of other useful (or not!) websites. Cities were chosen and discarded, dates adjusted to fit around hospital appointments, advice listened to from many friends and family, every travel guide borrowed from the library and finally we started to book travel, accommodation and concerts. We also collected travel accessories such as a smart phone, a Kindle and a new camera.
Packing began, with many discussions about the likely weather and packing strategies.
"It could be cold, pack a vest."
"Sandals are my favourite walking shoes in a city, but will it be warm enough?"
"We've been using a hot water bottle at home, should we take one?"
"Do all the Air BnB places have towels?"
"Is there a dress code for the concert halls?"
Needless to say, Chris managed the whole holiday with 4 polo shirts, two Guernseys and two pairs of trousers while Sarah had winter, spring and summer options, but we managed to get everything into our two faithful hand-luggage-sized wheely cases.
At long last Monday April 27th arrived. Our neighbour, Mick, kindly drove us to the station, then we were off. Anyone who knows the East Suffolk Line will realise that we started at a gentle pace through the pretty countryside, experimenting with taking photos through train windows as we went.
 |
| Leaving Beccles |
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| Hmmm - something to learn about reflections! |
As we waited, Sarah investigated using her phone to get online anywhere other than home.
"It tells me there is free Wi-Fi but I can't see how to log on.... I think this should do it - oh blast, now I've got nothing - wait a minute, perhaps .... ah, yes, I think I have to fill this in .... Yes!!! Look, I can check the weather in Salzburg!" Perhaps the phone should have been used a bit more beforehand!
 |
| Selfie number 1 |
Brussels arrived soon enough and the final train of the day, a Deutsche Bahn ICE, took us off to Cologne. We began to have faith in the tickets that we had printed off at home!
 |
| Liege station - very modern |
 |
| Selfie no 2 - we did plan to take one on each train, but you may be pleased to know that we didn't! |
 |
| Brussels (I think!) through the window |
Cologne was just a quick overnight stop. Out of the station to stand and marvel at the cathedral, then the Smart phone found our hotel by the Rhine for us - although the printed map added some reassurance. We quickly found that European cobbled streets are not what you need with a wheely case - I wonder if there is an App to find smooth-surface footpaths?
Hot chocolate and a cake (the first of many!) plus a quick look around and a play with the camera before bed.
Tuesday 28th April
Hotel breakfast - the German version of a continental breakfast with cheese, cold meats, eggs, yogurt, fruit as well as lovely crusty rolls - set us up for another day of sitting on a train!
Another ICE train whizzed us down to Munich (258km/h as we went down a valley!) then a final train took us through to Salzburg. I had been feeling rather sorry that I hadn't gone for the more expensive option of coming through Switzerland with more spectacular mountain views, but the showery weather wasn't great for visibility so perhaps it was the right choice.
And it was dry when we arrived, so we followed Brigitta's directions to walk to her apartment - our first Air BnB stay. Standing outside what looked like an office block, uncertain about which bell to press, we wondered if hotels wouldn't have been a better choice, but it was only a momentary panic and Brigitta soon showed us into her idiosyncratic home, made us a cup of her herbal tea and told us about her business as a voice analyst. A quick settling in period and then we were off out for her to show us around Salzburg and point out her favourite restaurants and coffee houses, back alleys that we must explore and a few of the more famous sites. We went to have a meal together but Brigitta only stayed for a sandwich as she was off to meet some friends. Phew! A whirlwind arrival!
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| Hot chocolate for two! Thanks to the highly-amused Barrista! |
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