This was a great mix of travel to different countries and the cultures and food that came with them, sharing the trip with good friends Pat and Louise. Sadly, we find no need to visit Europe again, as we feel that we have well and truly done the best of it and see no need to return, other than Malta, of course.
We began with five days in Istanbul, followed by ten days driving the coast of Croatia, then two weeks driving the European Alps from Munich return, then finally Bangkok for a few days to catch our breath before returning home.
Croatia map. European Alps map.
Istanbul:
Hotel Piya Sport was our accommodation of choice in Istanbul.
The view over Istanbul from the rooftop pool.
Cath enjoying the view before breakfast.
Just because.
A quick morning walk before brekky, outside the hotel, stumbling across roman ruins.
The architecture was typically Turkish.
Breakfast provided at the hotel was exceptional, with so much choice.
Ok, bellies full, time to go explore.
Today was about, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market.
So much to see and so close to our hotel. The old gates dwarfed Lou and Cath.
The older buildings were obvious to spot.
The Grand Bazaar, was not just about the main building as first thought. It's a maze of small streets and alleyways completely surrounding the area.
Lou never holds back.
Then we stumble across the famous Spice Market of Istanbul.
Here you'll find an abundance of stalls selling dried fruits, nuts and spices, of course.
The main hall seemed to go on and on.
They like their sweets here. Too sweet for our liking if I'm honest.
Yep, more spices. The aromas and colours were very pleasing to the senses
More of those sweets.
But wait, there's more.
Small vendors, like this were everywhere around the city, selling cooked chestnuts and BBQ corn cobs.
Moving right along, and on to the harbour for a look see.
Vendors everywhere. This time it's kebabs.
This bridge was full end to end with fisherman, made famous by a Facebook video of the dancing fisherman.
Only to find they were catching bait.
All the walking in the heat, calls for regular hydration.
Our mates, Pat and Lou.
We may have been there too.
Continuing up and over to the Asian side of Istanbul, crossing to another continent.
And a close up of the fisherman.
Oh, time for lunch.
And another beer of course.
Stalls at every corner wherever there was space.
Plenty of places to find something to eat too. The more hidden and out of the way, the better.
This fella made the best kebab over coals in pide bread.
The next morning, we actually found the main entrance to the Grand Bazaar.
Kind of disappointing, as it's become very tourist orientated and mainly selling cheap junk from China.
But today was about a boat trip to the Prince's Islands.
What surprised us, was the immense size of the Asian side of the city. it went on and on.
Not a lot going on, but it was good to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
The architecture seemed very French too.
Ok, gelato time.
Cathy wasn't about to miss out either.
This guy didn't muck around when it came to serving size.
Even on the island, a bite to eat was never far a way.
Bakeries were high on our hit list throughout the trip.
The island life looks good on this pussy.
The water is very inviting.
Time for another selfie.
The gulls here are large. This is a juvenile.
Back on the mainland, the next morning, it was time to visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern.
The Blue Mosque is a magnificent structure and free to enter, however dress regulations apply, as you'll see.
The girls looked rather cute in their mandatory dress, however ........
Us, well, not so cute.
No matter what your religious belief, the architecture in this mosque was exceptional.
And the tile work!
A few more pics outside.
A quick walk over to the Hagia Sophia next.
The Hagia Sophia is enormous and was once Christian Cathedral until the days of Constantinople, when it became a mosque.
This visit wasn't free.
It seemed very gloomy inside, unlike the many churches and cathedrals we have visited throughout Europe.
Very interesting to just the same and a must see.
Although almost all the Christian paintings have been covered over, some have been uncovered to reveal the cathedral's original identity.
Included, in the admission, is entry into the museum, which explains the history of the Hagia Sophia and surrounds.
Using great graphics and a guide to help you through.
Some old relics have been saved too.
Next, a visit to the Basilica cistern. A visit to Istanbul without seeing the cistern would be a sin. The engineering was way ahead of it's time and a wonder to witness.
Tourists seem to think it's good luck to throw their money away into the water.
Looking more like a cathedral than a water cistern, probably because most of the interior columns have been recycled from other structures.
The lighting changed constantly, resulting in dramatic colours like these.
Great fun with good mates.
The bases of these columns have the heads of medusa carved in them and are thought to have come from Roman buildings during restoration back in the day.
And a statue of medusa herself looking lovely as usual.
If you look carefully, there's something interesting around every corner.
These two were considering a Turkish bath and tried to con us into it, but a solid no from us.
But it didn't take much convincing to have dinner together.
There's something special about outdoor dining in the right atmosphere.
We always try the real thing wherever we visit.
These two clowns.
Today, we decided to head back to the bridge, where we spotted a barber, for Pat and I to get an authentic Turkish haircut and general painful tidy up.
Everything was fine until the hot wax came out.
Great view from the bridge, looking back at yet another mosque.
All Cath wanted from Turkey was a Turkish made handbag which was hard to find, then out of the blue, we stumbled upon this leather shop, virtually metres away from our hotel. Better still, she met the man who handcrafted the bag, and just before we were set to leave Istanbul for Croatia.
Croatia:
Cath and I have never visited Croatia before and it was such a pleasant surprise. Arriving in Dubrovnik, we hired a car for ten days and followed the coast before turning west to the capital, Zagreb.
After dumping our bags at the BnB, we set off on foot for a look see about town.
Each country we have visited, seems to have it's own style of boats.
And the architecture changes once again. It's what fascinates us about travel.
Beer o'clock came around quite frequently in the heat.
The natural charm of this place.
Sunset over Dubrovnik from our BnB.
The down side of Dubrovnik, is the amount of stairs everywhere.
Our first full day, saw us walk into the Old Walled Town.
They didn't muck around building this fort.
Onward and downward, remembering every step down is another step back up to go home.
Always taking time to see the detail.
The Old City's entrance.
As soon as we entered, we made our way to walk the city wall in it's entirety.
And the views all the way around were spectacular. Very special.
These walled cities and watch towers can be found all over Europe, but when you see them over crystal clear waters, such as these in Croatia, they look spectacular.
Peaking through one of the watch tower windows.
We could only imagine the amount of labour and sweat involved in building these walls and the stories they can tell.
So picturesque.
Our two roses enjoying the sunshine.
And just to make things interesting, the walls are built on a cliff face.
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Not even half way yet.  |
Hot weather calls for gelato.
Nothing will wipe the smile off these faces.
Ok, moving right along.
History around every corner.
Cathy insisted.
Onward and downward.
And the canons of course.
Along with the odd anchor.
Climbing down off the wall, we take a little stroll along the water's edge.
I don't think it's possible to take a bad pic here in Dubrovnik.
I've never seen a church bell being struck with hammer before, but here ya go.
These old style tiles are so characteristic of older Europe.
A scan over the roof tops of Old Dubrovnik.
A climb up the stairs of the fort.
With the Croatian flag flying proudly on top.
Cath just had to climb that bit higher than everyone else.
Time for a walk through the city to find a drink.
What a mug...the beer I mean.
Our resident mermaid took the opportunity for a quick dip.
Ok, time for another beer. This exploring thing is thirsty work you know.
And a beautiful meal too.
Yum !, just yum.
After a fantastic couple of days in Dubrovnik, it was time to make our way north, up the coast to Split.
Stopping in picturesque villages such as these, often bypassed by tourist buses.
Even enjoying the little things, such as fresh fruit from a local grower.
The local church, amongst the olive groves.
Back in the day, you would have to pass through Bosnia to head north along the Croatian coast, but these days there is another way crossing this new bridge.
Another stop along the way. This time, for a drink and lunch.
Yet another beautiful spot.
Then this dumped boat at the car park. Guess they didn't need it.
The day ended with our arrival at the BnB and a stroll down to the water for a quiet drink together and to enjoy then sunset.
The next morning, we took the bus into Split.
It just so happened the markets were on.
And another walled city to explore.
This group of traditional singers entertained the tourists in an area that showed off the acoustics.
Many of the buildings here seemed to be in original condition.
Finger "pain things" for sale. It was unknown how painful they actually were.
Beautiful old architecture, all telling their own story.
Always pay attention to the detail.
I always admire nature clawing it's way back.
Europeans seem to be able to create a place to enjoy a meal anywhere.
Walking along the harbour, tourism seems to take over once again.
Which means, it's time for another beer.
Soon, it was time to explore again.
We made our way to the Cathedral of St Dominus and it's museum.
The crypt of St Lucy.
And of course, tourists find the need to throw coins down the well.
On to the cathedral.
Once again, the attention to detail is incredible.
I've said this numerous times. You don't need to be religious to appreciate absolute splendour like this.
Ok, time to climb more stairs, with Cath leading the way.........again.
A selfie with our favourite third wheel in tow. 😊
And the bells of course.
A pigeon takes advantage of the market leftovers.
It was time to find lunch, and we found this goldmine, just outside the market.
Pork, pork and more pork....did I mention there was pork?
So we settled on the pork, four ways.
This platter was supposed to be for two, but it fed all four of us.
Here, I protect Cath from the deadly pork.
As always, the day ended perfectly, with a cold drink (beer usually) and a perfect sunset.
From our BnB veranda.
The next day, it was time to drive further up the coast and visit Krka National Park.
The admission price gave access to three sites, starting with this disused flour mill.
Here, you could sit and have your lunch while dipping your feet in the water.
And again, more history.
Lou couldn't resist a quick dip and who could blame her?
A quick look at the workings of the mill.
The ground wheat flour ended up here in these timber barrels.
Ok, time for a short hike around the lake.
Here you can see the way the flow of water was regulated to power the old mill we visited earlier.
These two gates were raised and lowered according to what amount of water flow was required.
The natural stream was crystal clear.
The hike led us to cross this bridge.
Picturesque to say the least.
We then made our way to see Visovak Monastery in the centre of a lake, which was quite the drive away.
The last boat had already left, however he must have taken pity on us and returned to take us across.
Our time was a little restricted, but we had enough time for a good look around.
With it's own boat shed beneath the building.
The views over the lake were incredible.
A quick look in the chapel.
The surrounding gardens were an attraction in themselves.
A small museum inside held several artifacts from days gone by.
A model of the monastery in it's original form.
More stunning views over the lake.
Soon it was time to head back to continue our tour.
The next stop was to a waterfall and a long steep walk down into the valley for a closer look.
And at the bottom, more evidence of an old mill.
An old grinding wheel.
Then at the base of the waterfall, this tranquil scene.
Gotta get that perfect shot.
This is why we travel.
The hike back up to the top of the valley to the car park was worth the effort.
Jus across the road was our final stop at an old Roman amphitheatre.
A bit of a non event if I'm honest.
Pretty sure Cath was a mountain goat in her passed life.
We arrived in Split late that evening after a long day sight seeing, resting before exploring Split the next morning.
It was an easy walk to Old Town Split from our accommodation.
Just over this bridge.
The thickness of the old wall can be seen through the gateway.
There goes my little mountain goat again.
The view was great from the walls down to the harbour.
The Romans left their mark all over Croatia it seems.
Time for a sit in the shade.
Beer o'clock came around quick this day.
Oh what a terrible lifestyle for this cat.
We then made our way to Otocac, further north, where we would base ourselves to visit the absolutely stunning Plitvice National Park.
Here we take a walk through the town while waiting to get into the BnB.
Not a tourist destination as such, but still things to see and a spot of shopping to be had.
The old churches are always worth a look see.
The next day was totally devoted to visit the park. This was one of our huge highlights of the trip and well worth the visit, as there's nowhere like it anywhere else. We were very lucky as it rained a little the day before, so the streams were all running beautifully, adding to the experience.
We made a point of getting there early, before the tourist buses turned up.
Just follow the path for so many breath taking sights.
Non stop water falls and stunning coloured lakes around every corner.
The entry into the park is quite costly but it was obvious to see that the paths and the park itself were very well maintained and preserved.
No amount of pics would do this place justice.
Made me wish I had my fishing gear.
A perfect example of a cyclamen growing in the wild.
What the pics don't capture are the smells and the sounds of the waterflow.
Even the paths look the part.
There's lots of walking to do and takes three to four hours to visit this park.
Pat was in a world of his own, strolling through the park, as were many others.
The admission price includes a boat trip that takes you through to the other side of the park.
Then more dramatic scenes like these.
Absolutely stunning.
Then the Grand Daddy waterfall of them all.
Onward and upward.
The beautiful lakes and waterfalls just keep on coming.
So crystal clear and inviting but swimming is no longer allowed in the park, and with good reason.
But wait, there's more.
We then came across a small crowd looking at the antics of a couple of otters.
We've never seen them in the wild, so this was a treat.
The visit to the park, ends with a small bus trip back to the main gate, which was welcome, as there was a lot of walking to be done to see this beautiful place properly.
On our way back to the BnB, we decided to do a little more local sightseeing.
This time, an old fort overlooking the town. What was left of it anyway.
That afternoon, it was definitely time for beer and snacks.
The next day, it was time to return our rental car and explore the capital city of Zagreb before flying to Munich and driving the European alps.
Another beautiful city with it's own wonderful architecture.
And gardens.
The light rail is alive and well here.
So many European cities and towns have huge walls around the old parts. Zagreb is no exception.
What do you know, it's beer o'clock.
We stayed in the city to enjoy a pop up food market in the plaza, where we met a lovely couple who we shared a drink and a laugh with, before returning to the BnB for an early night. We had a 3 o'clock start the next morning to fly to Munich and begin a two week drive of the European Alps.
Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Austria (The Alps):
Arriving in Germany, we picked up our rental car and made our way out of the city. We couldn't wait to make our way to a traditional beer garden for a great German lunch.
We spotted the extra large schnitzel on the menu and decided to get one each couple to share. Just as well, because there was no way one person could eat these monsters on their own.
After lunch, it was time to visit the BMW show room and museum. A very interesting place to visit, even if you're not into cars.
Don't get any ideas girls.
The stunning new GS, bringing back memories of our old girl
This would be more our style these days.
On to the museum across the road.
Clever computer controlled balls changing shape to several car shapes, with music and a light show.
A few well preserved oldies.
In the day, BMW were known for producing airplane motors.
A mouth watering collection of BMW motorcyles.
More beautiful examples of German engineering.
I think I'm in love.
The evolution of the BMW badge.
Even this closed cockpit, motorcycle.
This little model got Cath's attention.
I loved this little three wheeler.
No, not a Ferrari.
One of my all time favourites.
This was a very rough barn find and it took a lot of time, effort and money to restore.
How the future is looking.
Another full day, our first day in Munich, came to an end. Pat and I celebrated a little more seriously, much to the disgust of our girls. We never heard the end of it, because "apparently" we brought the house down with our snoring.
Then dinner of course.
The next morning was a Sunday, and we made our way by train into Munich for a look see, but we soon found that hardly anything was open on the Sabbath and it was raining!
We still had a little look around anyway and we weren't too concerned as we were returning for a second go at the end of the tour.
The view from the tower on top of the town hall, housing the glockenspiel.
The architecture in old Munich is proudly preserved.
We even had hopes for the market place, but sadly it too was empty.
Well there's always food and drink to fall back on.
In the morning, catching the train from the BnB, we spotted two young ladies dressed traditionally and we asked what was the occasion. They explained that a town just two stops away, Rosenheim, had it's very own Oktoberfest that day, so we decided to make our way for another great traditional experience.
By now the weather had cleared too. We couldn't believe our luck.
Rosenheim was an attraction to us in it's own right. and no tourists!
Following the crowds, we made our way to the showground.
And in to the main tent where the main event took place.
8000 people under one roof. The noise made it difficult to have a conversation but the atmosphere was incredible.
Who needs conversation when there's cold beer?
That's our girls.
Those boys at the end of the table were just 15 years old. Apparently, at that age they are allowed to drink in the presence of an adult. That would be us. 😄
One of our servers with such a beautiful smile.
Smoking is still popular in Europe, apparently.
Apart from the beer tent, the festival looked a little like this.
Leaving the festival, we found a Greek restaurant on the way to the station.
The food was fantastic.
The next morning, it was time to leave Munich for Immenstadt, as always, stopping at interesting villages along the way.
The pastel colours on the buildings, are so typical of the region.
This was a morning tea/coffee stop.
Life's good.
These murals were quite common on the sides of traditional buildings.
A way further along, on our way to Immenstadt, we take a stop in Kochel.
So many beautiful guesthouses.
While we were at our stop, we noticed many motorcycles, taking the high road up to the mountain, through a pass and decided to follow, as it was in the right direction.
The road led to a wonderful lakeside drive.
Then this beautiful scene. So quiet and picturesque.
It was soon time to find a spot for lunch.
And a beer of course.
The beer garden became our "go to" in Germany and Austria.
Pork knuckle anyone?
A quick walk after lunch. Always something to see.
The gardens are lovely too.
We make it to Immenstadt, Germany and go for a walk about the town in the morning.
The weather was a little dreary, but we made the most of it.
These statues had such detail.
Harry No Friends.
Later in the day, we were back on the road to visit Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein Castles. The latter is the inspiration for the Walt Disney Castle. Unfortunately, the wait was too long so we got to visit Hohenschwangau only.
Cathy bringing out the Viking blood in her.
On the climb up to the castle, we look back to appreciate the view below.
We took a look around the grounds while waiting for our entry time.
The gardens were immaculate, as you'd expect.
Another beautiful blue lake below.
Towering above us, the castle was built by by King Maximilian II of Bavaria, and was the childhood residence of his son, King Ludwig II.
No photos were allowed inside so I made the most of capturing it's beauty from the outside.
The only picture I was able to get from the inside, looking out.
Plenty to see around the grounds.
Even the walk down the drive was picturesque.
One last look back up to the castle.
Time for a beer in the beer garden below.
The next morning, we made our way to Switzerland, with a stop in Leichtenstein. A tiny German speaking country, just 25km long.
A model of the castle above as it once looked.
Don't know who the little girl is, but the other three look suss.
Very Bavarian, as you'd expect.
It's always worth taking a look at the churches.
This one also had it's own gargoyles.
Leaving Liechtenstein, we pass through another beautiful village.
A vineyard with a magnificent backdrop.
Freshwater springs are numerous throughout the Alps.
Simple but perfect.
Then this beautiful old manor, hidden in the background.
It was apparent, the area was preparing for the Halloween period.
One more stop before our night in Switzerland.
This whole area is simply stunning.
This old barn stood behind our BnB.
Beautiful Swiss dairy cows and their bells.
The next morning, we made our way into Italy.
More spectacular sights along the way.
Making our way up the Julier Pass.
Definitely a café with a view.
We chose to sit outside in the sunshine.
Unfortunately, all the snow had melted this time of year.
Soon we found ourselves in St Moritz, still in Switzerland and very pretty.
Time for a quick pic.
Further on we struck the jackpot in the form of snow capped mountains.
Smile girls.
The spectacular sights kept coming along this route.
Life's good.
Here we cross the Bernina Pass.
A little further on, we cross the border in to Northern Italy, via the Forcola Pass.
Before long, it was time for lunch at this lovely pizzeria, in a great spot along the pass.
Eventually we arrive in Bormio. A beautiful village in the Italian Alps. Our BnB is the green shutters at the top, above this restaurant, facing the main plaza. What a find!
The view from our apartment.
History at every corner.
In the evening, the village takes on another persona.
Our first morning begins with coffee in the plaza.
Cathy's breakfast of champions.
Surprising to see large buses driving through such narrow, medieval lanes.
These motor scooters make perfect sense in these villages.
A quick walk around town, to take in the sights.
Crossing the old bridge to another section of the village.
This restaurant had it's own trout farm.
This style of home is very typical of the European alps.
Then this beautiful old Church., originally built in 1398.
With spectacular views over Bormio.
Note the man made water way powering the wooden paddles.
On the advice of our host, we made our way up a very narrow mountain pass above Bormio, to see a couple of beautiful mountain lakes.
At the top, we find two watch towers. This one you could enter.
This one a little broken.
Looking down on the pass that we climbed. This was the scariest pass we travelled as it was narrow with no bollards to save you from falling over the edge.
The view from the top of the tower.
Note the zig zag method of climbing the mountain pass.
A little further on, we find the lakes we were advised to visit and it made it all the worth while.
Wow, just wow.
What a spot to have a snack and a drink.
Just over the dam, we find yet another lovely old church.
The view from the church across the lake.
Tonight we decide to celebrate with a nice meal at such a pretty restaurant.
Beautiful Bormio by night.
The next morning it was time to make our way to Marlengo via the incredible Stelvio Pass.
We have ridden the Stelvio on motorcycles previously but were more than willing to show our friends driving a car.
The views in this part of the world are truly on another level.
Looking up the Stelvio snaking up the mountain, but this was the tame side.
Reaching the top, we see hundreds of motorcycles.
Looking down the business side of the pass, disappearing down into the valley below.
Close up.
Atop many mountain passes, you'll often find small chapels where people can say a little prayer or find refuge.
Higher still.
A victory pic commemorating our visit.
And a bratwurst roll for lunch.
We arrive at our next destination of Marlengo, just outside Merano. By this time, we were looking for a late lunch and found a lovely outdoor beer garden, that happened to be hosting yet another Octoberfest. We were lucky to get seats and fortunate to experience the atmosphere and traditional German music, remembering we were still in northern Italy.
Mental note. The meals are enormous. Pat and Lou enjoying a pork knuckle.
Traditional grilled sausage with sauerkraut for me.
These beer gardens are really pleasant to share a meal and chatter with mates.
Pat made short work of that pork knuckle.
The next morning was explore Merano day. We left the car at the BnB and walked it in.
Walking doesn't only offer exercise, but allows you to see more than you would driving, and you can easily stop for pics.
These mountain fed streams are always nice to see, fed by the melting ice from the Alps.
We soon arrive in the town centre and lucky for us, we stumble upon a market.
And you can even buy a beer there.
Love these motor scooters.
Always lots to see in the old towns.
This church had a lovely garden surrounding it.
This promenade followed the river for quite a long way and so picturesque.
Historical buildings at every corner.
Further up the river.
Old mate trout fishing.
Here they decorated the garden in the form of a grand piano, just in front of the College of music.
Another smaller walk bridge crossing to another park.
After our second night, it was time to leave Merano and make our way to Innsbruck.
Climbing up into the mountains, it wasn't long before we found this gem of a lookout.
It was so picturesque and we were up in the clouds.
On one of the bends, we found this lovely café and decided it was time for a coffee. As you can see, we were well and truly, up in the clouds.
The three amigos drunk on life.
Great way to reuse old boots.
Soon, we were crossing the Jaufen Pass in Austria. This is one of the ski lifts and yes it was bloody cold up there.
All the passes are popular with motorcycle riders as we were lucky to experience years ago.
Cath trying to smile in the freezing cold.
And here's the chapel for this pass.
Small but full of character.
Continuing on through Austria, we take a break for lunch in another picturesque town, Vipiteno.
It was cloudy with some drizzle, but we rolled with the punches and had a walk around.
How clear are the mountain streams?
A walk through the historical centre.
Always something interesting to see.
There's no way you could mistake these scenes for anywhere else but Europe.
No doubt this was a wine cellar.
Approaching Innsbruck, we come across this fine example of engineering.
The pics don't capture the true height of this thing.
Finally arriving in Innsbruck, it was time to celebrate, as this was our final stop of our tour, before returning to Munich for the Octoberfest.
Another method of controlling water to power a mill. This one more mechanical.
As always, we took a walk through to the town. Looking down the river through the city.
Love these murals and each one tells a story.
This is the Hofburg Palace.
The churches vary in style, considering that parts of Europe had more money to spend than others.
This one was spectacular inside with it's artwork.
And downstairs, we found the crypt room.
For those who could afford it, their remains could be "closer to God"
Everywhere we had visited, had it's own character, even if the difference was only slight.
The gardens are always worth a look.
No points for guessing the shop on the right was a clock maker.
And traditional at that.
More beautiful buildings.
Imagine the cost of building something like these with all the decorative work.
Innsbruck is cradled by mountains. In this pic, you can see them above the clouds.
Another beautiful church.
The colours of the homes are typical all over Barveria.
Crossing the bridge.
A quick visit through the market.
Yum!
In case he forgets.
Time to get touristy. We didn't go to the very top but the view from the village above was special.
Yes, it's as steep as it looks.
From up here, you appreciate how well Innsbruck is cradled in the mountains.
The modern style of the station.
But tradition lives strong in the village.
From the village, you can go the next level by cable car.
The friends you make overseas.
Coming back down, we make our way back to the BnB.
I've seen these covered bridges on tv but never the real thing.
There's a lot of work in these things.
Eventually, it's time to leave Innsbruck and make our way back to Munich for Oktoberfest. It certainly pays to avoid the toll ways and freeways, using the old roads instead. This is where the "gold" is.
This stunning lake is still up high in the Alps, among the clouds.
Driving yourself in places such as Europe, you have the advantage of seeing places such as this, that tourist buses don't.
And there's usually no one else around.
Getting closer to Munich, we make one last stop, realising we're approaching the end of our Alps tour.
Arriving in the outskirts of Munich, we dump our bags and find a perfect, family run, traditional restaurant, serving food as authentic as it comes, with the friendliest service. Yes, Halloween is approaching.
We always managed to find the right places to eat.
Not sure what's going on here, but Pat was on his best behaviour.
Ok, visit Munich's old town, take two. This time everything was open and it was a hive of activity. The beer garden in Marienplatz, is a must see for a feed, a beer and chatter.
Beer, beer and more beer.
It was Oktoberfest and the beer companies were pushing their product.
Man can not live on beer alone.
Here, crowds are gathering to witness the glockenspiel, the largest cuckoo clock in the world with life size figures performing twice a day. 11am and 12 midday.
The building itself is a work of art.
It pas to look around and pay detail for those special pics.
The Paulaner beer carriage. One of Germany's major players.
Munich's maypole. We saw these in most Villages we visited.
The narrowest church we've ever seen. We just had to show Pat and Lou.
It's tiny size across was more than made up in elegance inside.
Stunning.
Ok, time to find the Oktoberfest grounds.
We had about a half hour walk.
But we found it by just following the crowd.
Oktoberfest in Munich is absolutely huge. We were told that they can expect up to 8 million visitors a year.
All the way through the grounds, are enormous beer tents, each capable of holding around 6 to 8 thousand people!
The first one we enter was full but one of the quieter ones.
All having live German music.
Next stop was the Lowenbrau.
Difficult to capture how bustling this actually was.
We had no hope getting a seat in the Paulaner tent.
The chatter was deafening.
So we went back out for a look around.
At the edge of the grounds stands Bavaria, the patroness of the state, and serves as a symbol of the region.
Ok, we go back in to the mayhem and find the mighty Augustiner tent.
This tent was on another level but what an atmosphere.
And the beer was nice and cold.
There's something special about sharing a beer with a mate at Oktoberfest.
Served by lovely German ladies.
The chug dares are interesting when a litre of beer is involved. It seems like the whole tent stops to cheer these boys on.
And the beers just keep on coming endlessly it seems.
The first time I've seen beer glasses shipped in by the pallet load.
Eventually it was time to leave the beer tents and get some peace, but what an experience.
Our last day in Germany, was spent exploring the locale town nearby, before revisiting Munich old town one last time.
Erding is a town outside Munich.
So pretty in it's own right.
With it's own forest walk around the outskirts.
Those beautiful colours again.
Going back to Munich, we take a quick peek at the Jewish museum.
But soon we found the beer garden in Marienplatz again, where we had a beer with new found friends and a bite of lunch.
Great fun.
Not sure Pat knew what to do with that huge sausage, but it was a great way to end a terrific road trip through the Alps, with great memories made along the way. And heaps of beer consumed too, I might add.
Bangkok:
On our way home back to Sydney, we stop over in Bangkok, breaking up the trip and taking a break to enjoy some great Thai food and friendly people. This is the apartment block we stayed in.
We had arranged for friend Tom to take us on a day trip and also pick us from and return us to the airport. He was great fun and knowledgeable.
First stop was the floating market, outside the city.
Very fascinating to see.
You could buy anything here it seemed.
Yeah, no thanks.
I loved the colours.
The latest trend here is to power the boats with these enormous engines converted for marine use.
We had the opportunity to hop off and see how coconut sugar was made.
Basically boiling it to death until sugar was left.
Until these small buttons were left.
Yep, that's it girls. Well done.
Ok, let the master take over.
The floating market tour ends with a run out the back canals.
More to my liking if I'm honest.
Traditional homes built over the river.
Next stop was an old temple, overgrown by fig trees.
A new temple on the grounds, was decorated by colourful statues.
There are a hundred statues on the site, each depicting Thai kick boxing moves.
Instead of candles, incense sticks are burnt before prayer.
Soon it was time for lunch and we left it to Tom to find us a place. This place served tiny little fried crabs.
Pat looked a little concerned at this point.
So much choice.
Eventually, we found a place with a view.
They even turned the fans on for us and we were the only ones there, so we were treated well.
A mural on the wall, of the nearby railway market, nearby and our next stop, actually.
Desert was a coconut creation and large enough for two.
This train timetable makes it easy to plan your visit times.
The famous Maeklong Railway Market.
No room for error here.
Less than one Aussie dollar for a fresh coconut.
Tom was excellent and always by our side.
Always time for desert and here comes the inbound train.
Note how close the train is to the stalls.
The train comes to rest at the station.
That night it was time for some fantastic Thai street food.
Cold beer goes down well in the humid weather.
The next morning, we take a walk through one of Bangkok's beautiful parks. This water monitor was huge.
Plenty of wildlife around.
View of the city across the lake.
Lovely orchids on the trees.
Another huge lizard, the size of a small croc.
The police obviously want to be heard.
Our last night in Bangkok, was spent at the Patpong Night Market to do a little shopping and to find a nice Thai dish or two for dinner.
So much choice and all delicious.
Pat has his priorities.
As fresh as ingredients get.
Something for everyone.
This holiday gave us a taste of everything, from the exotic markets, mosques and dishes of Istanbul, through the beautiful coastline of Croatia with it's great food, history and national parks, The Alps of Europe with it's own historical architecture, breath taking scenery through the mountains and experiencing Octoberfest in Germany then finally resting a little in Bangkok, with it's lovely people and incredible Thai dishes. We were lucky to share our time with good mates, having a laugh and enjoying each other's company while seeing whatever the trip offered.
