April 2013 – Page 2 – SteveWhittythoughts1965

April 11, 2013

Photo of the Week – Statue of Imre Nagy

This weeks photo is of the statue of Imre Nagy.

Imre Nagy was the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the People’s Republic of Hungary at the time of the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. He was executed in 1958. The statue is located in Vértanúk Tere (Martyrs’ Square). It has Nagy looking towards the Parliament Building.

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

April 9, 2013

Naschmarkt, Vienna

One of the most famous attractions in Vienna is the Naschmarkt.

Originally established in the 16th Century it sold milk bottles. In those days these bottles were made from Ash. The German word for Ash is Asch and this is how it took on its name. From the 18th Century it started to sell fruit and vegetables. On Saturdays a flea market also takes place. The market is both popular with both the local population and visitors.

What I liked about the market was the number of stores and the variety of goods sold. Many of the vendors were more than happy to offer samples for customers to try. Olives and vegetarian fritters were particularly popular during my visit. One of my highlights was the unusual way a vendor sold vinegar. You bring a bottle to fill with your favourite flavour.

I was lucky to visit on Saturday when the flea market was open. There was a vibrant atmosphere in the market. People were trying to sell whatever belonging they may have. To be honest a lot of the stock was broken rubbish but that did not deter a lot of people looking and buying. I spent a lot of time flicking through LP’s. A reminder of my youth. It is a good job I travel with a rucksack otherwise I might have been tempted to buy some.

The best time to visit is Saturday morning. You get to experience the flea market and food stalls before it gets too busy. There are plenty of bars and cafe to stop and eat. Even better if the weather is good, stock up on meat, cheese, bread and fruit and make your way to one of the parks and enjoy a picnic.

Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

April 7, 2013June 17, 2013

City Walks: London – Hoxton

You may remember that I was going to carry out 50 city walks of London. This was based on the walks put together by Craig Taylor. Last October I managed to complete the Greenwich walk. Due to Christmas and my recent trip away I had been unable to complete another walk until now.

This walk was around Hoxton which is in the borough of Hackney. I started from Old Street tube station made my way down Old Street until a left turn took me into Rufus Street. This took me to Hoxton Square. It is an area that is home to art galleries and bars. The area gave off that arty vibe. The square itself is typical of the squares that are dotted around London. Somewhere to escape from the bustle of Old Street.

After returning to Old Street I carried on down until I reached Kingsland Street. This took me into the Shoreditch district of London. I made my way up the street until I reached the Geffrye Museum. Free to enter the museum traces the history of domestic living rooms dating from the 17th century until the modern-day. It is popular with families and there is plenty for children to do. Looking at the website it encourages educational visits.

18th Century Parlour Room from Geffrye Museum.

I was lucky that the Herb Garden had reopened for the summer. The weather was good and it did remind me that spring was making its way after the long winter months.

While walking up Kingsland Road I passed St. Leonard’s Hospital. There is a brown plague dedicated to Edith Cavell. She was a nurse at the hospital. She is famous for being executed in World War One.

To complete my walk I made my way back down Kingsland Road looking for somewhere to eat. There were plenty of Vietnamese restaurants but I did not fancy anything too spicy. I did come across an establishment that looked like an American Diner. The Love Shake calls itself a media cafe and seats 35 people. It must because it offers free wi-fi. Always a plus in my eyes. I decided to order a hot dog with fries and a chocolate milk shake. On their website it states that milkshakes are made with either organic or soya milk. It tasted delicious. Somewhere I would definitely recommend it to you. It was a great way to end the walk.

The Geffrye Museum, 136 Kingsland Road, London E2 8EA. http://www.geffrye-museum.org.uk

The Love Shake Cafe Lounge, 5 Kingsland Road, London E2 8AA. http://www.theloveshake.com

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

April 6, 2013

When Things Do Not Go To Plan

During my travels I have been lucky not to experience many problems. Sure, there have been some narrow escapes but nothing that could have been catastrophic. This was until my last trip to Budapest. The scenario being I was going to return to Vienna by coach on Friday 12 March. Ticket had been booked for some time so there should not be any problem.

Reality however, proved to be different. Snow had fallen during the night and with the day being a national holiday in Hungary the police made the decision to close the roads in and out of Budapest. This meant my coach was cancelled. While a little shocked I was not unduly worried. I did not need to be in Vienna until Saturday for my coach back to London. My coach ticket was changed free of charge and I could book another night at the hostel. I saw this as a bonus.

Saturday came and the snow was thawing. Surely no problem. However, I was proved wrong. Without an explanation why all coaches to Vienna were cancelled. I was told my best bet would to take a train instead. The only problem I had, was where was the train station. Nobody at the coach seemed to know which I found to be odd. Eventually somebody told me which stop I should head for.

My heart was in my mouth as I was hoping I had enough money for a train ticket. Fortunately cost of rail travel on mainland Europe is a lot cheaper than the UK and I managed to board a train to Vienna and caught my coach back to London. For an hour though I was travelling by the seat of my pants. I was not in control of the situation. This was the first time something like this had happened to me. Though I suspect it will happen again on my travels.

So what will I learn from this situation:-

Do not lose your temper at the staff. They delivered the news and are not the cause of the problem.
Take 5 minutes to assess the situation and weigh up your options. They might be staring in front of your face.
Research your destination. Find out where all the transport hubs are located. The more options, the better chance you have finding a positive outcome.
Ensure you have access to emergency funds for this type of situation.
Chalk it down to experience. You have something to tell your family and friends about.

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

April 4, 2013