The musings of a man who is coming up to the next stage in life.
Here are the stats for Midlifewanderlust1965 for April:
The Blog
Posts 16
Views 417
Comments 20
Followers 97 (+15)
Twitter (stevo120665)
Total Tweets 11,763
Following 1,864
Followers 1,159
My plans for May to go on a couple of day trips to Manchester and London. Apart from that nothing much but saving.
Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
Yesterday, WordPress sent me a notification wishing me a happy blog anniversary. Happy Birthday to Midlifewanderlust1965, you have turned one. In truth I had forgotten about it thinking it was not due until May.
Still this should not stop me from feeling a little pleased with myself. I have managed to keep the blog going for twelve months without ever thinking about stopping. In that time I have managed to collect ninety five followers. I have also made three trip to Europe. They have made up a bulk of the posts on the blog.
Time goes by so quickly as it only seemed like yesterday since I made my first post. Now I want to the blog further forward. The next step is to purchase the domain name. I will have the flexibility to control and do more with the blog.
Finally I want to say thank you to everyone that has taken time out to view the blog in the last twelve months. I am truly grateful for your continued support.
Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy, keep smiling and raise a glass of beer in celebration.
Steve
Vienna is renowned for its parks. One of my favourites was the Stadtpark. Dating from the 19th Century it is popular with both locals and tourists.
Inside the park there are monuments to the composers Johann Strauss, Franz Schubert and Robert Stolz amongst others. In fact the Stadtpark is home to the largest number of sculptures and monuments than anywhere else in Vienna.
Stadtpark is the perfect place to visit if you are looking to escape the bustle of Vienna. I would suggest an ideal spot to have a picnic lunch when the weather is warm.
Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
You may have read in a earlier post that I had planned to visit the Balkans in September 2013. After much planning I am pleased to share my schedule with you.
Balkans 2013
Split 9 – 11 September
Dubrovnik 12 – 14 September
Mostar 15 – 16 September
Sarajevo 17 – 19 September
Belgrade 20 – 22 September
Ljubljana 23 – 25 September
Zagreb 26 – 28 September
There were plenty of places I wanted to visit. However, I did not want to get into the situation where I am forever on a train or coach. It was quality time I wanted to spend in these places.
I am looking forward to the trip and will be counting down the days until departure.
Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
The Hofburg Palace was once home to the Habsburg Family who ruled the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is now home to the President of Austria.
The reason for my visit was to look was the chance to see the three museums that are located inside. They are ‘The Imperial Silver Collection”, Sisi Museum and “Imperial Apartments.”
Before entering I would recommend that you take a walk around the building. Whatever the weather or time of day it is a magnificent structure to view. Sadly my photographs does not do it any justice.
Imperial Silver Collection
This is home to a collection of dining services, glassware and silverware. There are certainly impressive collections of china that have been accumulated from around the world. I suspect that a lot of the pieces were used only sparingly. The most impressive exhibit must be the ‘Milan Centrepiece,’ It stands at thirty metres long. There is also the Grand Vermeil Service which could serve up to 140 people at one sitting. The collection is a perfect opportunity to take photographs as you marvel at the opulence of the Habsburgs.
Sisi Museum
Next up is the Sisi Museum. This is dedicated to the Empress Elisabeth who is a revered figure in Austria. This may be down to the tragic way here life ended. The museum revolves around Sisi’s private life and contains plenty of personal artefacts belonging to her. Sadly, you are unable to photograph any of the exhibits.
What the Sisi Museum does well is that it is not a shrine to the Empress but will point out all her flaws. The impression that I was left of her was that she was a vain selfish person towards the end of her life who neglected her husband and country while she went off on her travels. I suppose the nearest person who I compare her with is Princess Diana.
The Imperial Apartments
The final museum to visit is the Imperial Apartments. These were the private apartments of the Habsburgs. It is the chance to see the offices, private quarters and bedrooms. Like the Sisi Museum you are unable to take any photographs.
I found the museums to be of good value especially if you hold a Vienna Card. You will get a discount of between 7-9% off the normal admission charge. It is the perfect opportunity to surround yourself in the decadence of the Habsburgs.
Hofburg Vienna, Michaelerkuppel, 1010 Vienna.
Nearest U-bahn stop – Herrengasse U3 line (Orange)
Opening Hours 09:00-17:30 (September – June), 09:00-18:00 (July – August)
Admission with audio guide €11.50, with Vienna Card €10.50
Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
Here are the stats for Midlifewanderlust1965
The Blog
Posts 15
Views 460 (A New High)
Comments 11
Followers 82 (+13)
Total Tweets 10,715
Following 1,797
Followers 1,125
It is going to be a quiet April. There will be some day trips while planning ahead for September.
Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
It is time to leave Budapest today. Sadness is filling up my heart as it is the start of my journey home. I will spend a night in Vienna before I finally leave for home.
I checked out on time and thanked the hostel for a wonderful experience. This has been one of the best hostels I have stayed in. As I left I noticed that it had snowed during the night and left quite a covering. Today is also a national holiday in Hungary celebrating the 1848 revolution so everything seemed quite but there were plenty of flags flying about.
I arrived at the coach station and everything seemed alright. There were people waiting for their coach. There was also a reporter and camera crew from the local TV station. I was hoping that they might ask me for an interview. Sadly, my quest for stardom was thwarted.
I had began to wonder why there was no information about coaches to Vienna. So I went up to the ticket office and ask about the check-in times. It was there I was told that all coaches to Vienna had been cancelled for the day and I would need to make my way to the railway station. Taking this news in I was a little concerned on what I was going to do next. Being stuck in Budapest was not the worst situation to be in. After weighing up my options I decided it would be best to stay in Budapest for an extra day. After getting my ticket changed free of charge I went back to the hostel to see if I could book another night there. To my relief there was still room and at €10 it worked out cheaper than staying in Vienna.
After spending a couple of hours in the hostel I checked in. This was my opportunity to explore Buda which I missed out on the previous day. It was cold outside and being a public holiday there were not many people outside. Staying in the warm and drinking Pilinka was a better idea. I did get the chance to explore Buda. It just felt strange not seeing people about on a Friday afternoon. Normally, I would be working public holidays back home.
I treated myself to a warming cup of coffee and a large slice of chocolate cake. From there I made my way back to the hostel. This was my chance to do some washing. It will save me from doing it when I got home. I spent the evening relaxing in the bar with a couple of beers before going to bed. Despite what happened today I considered it a plus. Staying in Budapest was a bonus as I had become rather fond of the city. Also the next two days were going to be spent on the road.
Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
After two late nights in succession I decided to have a lie in this morning. Looking outside the window I could see it was raining. Today I plan to try to see parts of Budapest that I have not seen.
I had a late breakfast after which I decided to brave the weather. Oh dear, the rain had turned to sleet and there was a strong wind in the air. It is feeling so cold. I had not packed my hat and gloves.
The best bet was to stay indoors where possible so the first stop was St. Stephen’s Basilica. Once inside for the chance to stay dry. The basilica is stunning inside. There were plenty of opportunities for taking photographs. I love the inside of large churches. They are so beautifully decorated. You either like these or not. The highlight of any visit is to see the right hand of St. Stephen. It is kept in a glass housing. For two hundred florins you can light the housing to show the hand in more detail. Once somebody put in a coin out came the cameras.
Back outside I tried to my way around the city. I had wanted to make my way toward Margitsziget but by now the weather was getting too much for me. It is not the rain or snow that was bothering me. After all it is only water but the cold was getting too much to handle. I was struggling to hold my camera. A cup of coffee was in order.
After warming myself up I made the decision to make my way back to the hostel. I was disappointed but by now I was feeling fed up. This was my last day in Budapest.
I contacted Marion to see if we were meeting up tonight and was happy to see we were. She had the same type of day as me. We agreed not to venture out too far and ended up in the Greenspub. Again it was full which is always a good sign. I chose to have the pork knuckle soup served inside a loaf of bread. This was by a mixed grill with pickles. A great last meal in Budapest.
We decided to make our way back to the hostel. When we arrived there seemed to be a lot of activity going on. There was a live band set up to play and there was also a lot of locals inside. Apparently somebody was celebrating a birthday. We were speaking to a couple from the Netherlands. They were in the middle of their holiday going through Europe. I declined a suggestion of going to the Szimpla Bar. I was leaving tomorrow and thought of returning home was making me feel sad. I went to sleep to the sound of the band ringing in my ears.
Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
After such a good day yesterday I wondered if today could match it. We all agreed that we would meet up in the hostel reception before going somewhere else for breakfast. Myself and Marion were there on time but no Ceylan. Neither of us could remember her room number so Marion asked reception and to my amazement they gave it to her. Ceylan was still asleep but said she would meet us over the road.
It is good to have something else to eat for breakfast than cereal and cold meat. The ham and eggs tasted good. Ceylan came over and we sat and planned our day ahead. We were going to meet up with others from the walking tour at the Central Market Hall.
The weather felt colder today but was still acceptable. Yet again I was offered a chance to purchase a Iphone. Again I declined but I had heard that somebody had their phone stolen at the Szimpla Bar last night.
We met up with Bree and Martin. It was a good opportunity to buy some souvenirs. The prices seemed cheaper in here and I ended up buying some paprika. Downstairs was home to the food section. Ceylan and Marion suggested that we purchased some food to have for a picnic later. I agreed that it was a good idea. Upstairs was where you could purchase other souvenirs. More importantly there were cafes and bars. These were where the locals would meet up. One piece of travel advice I always take is eat where the locals eat. There was a wide range of food available to eat. I chose to eat a langos. It is sort of pizza base that can be eaten sweet or savoury. Indulging my sweet tooth I chose to have mine with vanilla. It was really filling and delicious.
We had to say goodbye to Bree who was leaving today. Martin had also disappeared by then. The rest of us agreed that we should aim for the Opera House. The weather was improving so the walk was good. We reached the Opera House but while we could go inside there were no tours until further in the afternoon.
The one place we wanted to visit was the House of Terror. It is a museum that was once the headquarters of both the Hungarian Nazis and Communists. Before you enter the museum you see photos of the people who were executed during the period. It is a chilling place to visit. The fact that nobody said anything during the visit was enough for me.
After a cup of coffee our spirits returned and we made our way towards Heroes’ Square. This was an impressive place to see. There were not many people there but I could imagine during the summer would be full of people. To the back of the square there is a small park, an ideal spot to have a picnic. I had brought myself some smoked sausage, ham, pork and some fruit. It was good to relax. Eating al-fresco is something I could get used to.
In the evening Marion and I said we would meet up with Ceylan later. We had gone to the Kiedo bar and restaurant for something to eat. It was full, that is always a good sign. We both chose Goulash soup followed by Duck Breast with Honey Mustard Gnocchi. I love it but Marion could not finish hers. As usual I washed it down with beer.
We met up with Ceylan at the Instants Ruin Bar. An unusual place you could not enter until you had to pay to leave your coat in the cloakroom. Back home it is optional and you take it into the bar at your own risk. Ceylan brought along a friend she had met. I think his name was Alex. He was a good laugh. I enjoyed the night again. There was a little sadness in the air as it was Ceylan’s last night in Budapest. Tomorrow she leaves for Vienna. I hope she wakes up in time.
Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
I spent rather a comfortable first night in my hostel. I also enjoyed another filling breakfast. By the time I got ready for the day I had made up my mind on what I planned to do. When checking in I noticed the free walking tour. It is something I always take advantage of as a solo traveller it is a good way of meeting people.
It was a beautiful day, a chance not to wear a coat. I made the slow walk towards the meeting point in Vörösmarty Square. As usual I arrived way too early. While waiting for the tour group to come together I was approached by a man who wanted to sell me a I-Phone. Noticing that he was holding the box I politely decline. I suspect there was nothing inside the box.
As I registered myself with the group I met a couple of girls. One Brazilian, the other Canadian who were happening be studying in Brighton. We were getting along well. The tour started with a brief history of Hungary. With its recent poor record in choosing sides in 20th century wars I figure it has been unlucky. We started off in Pest passing St. Stephen Basilica before crossing Szechenyi Chain Bridge into Buda climbing Castle Hill towards the Royal Palace.
The tour ended at the Mathias Church Fisherman’s Bastion. We were recommended a restaurant that we should try for some lunch. By this time several more people had joined us. Bree from San Francisco who was studying in Paris, Marion from Paris, Ceylan from Istanbul who is studying medicine in Poland and Martin from Poland. I chose a pork and potato dish with red cabbage washed down with a bottle of local beer. An enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours.
After lunch we may our way to the National Gallery. Myself, Ceylan and Marion decided to go inside. Not before agreeing with everybody else that we should meet up later in the evening at the Szimpla Kert ruin bar.
After leaving the National Gallery we made our way back towards Pest and our hostel. It was the slow route going first via the Parliament building. Marion commented that it looked like the Houses of Parliament in London. I had to agree. Carrying on further into the city I noticed a statue of Imre Nagy, the Prime Minister of Hungary during the 1956 Uprising. He is looking towards the Parliament building. It was a moving site to see.
Going further we all agreed that we needed to drink coffee and ended up at the Hutte Cafe Bar. It was unusual that it was housed inside an inflatable building. Probably explains why the coffee was so expensive.
After arriving back at the hostel we agreed that we should go for something to eat before going to the Szimpla Bar. We ended up in a restaurant called “Frici Papa”. It served traditional Hungarian fare. I chose the Beef Goulash. When in Hungary as they say.
After the meal we met up with everybody else at the Szimpla Bar. It is known as a ruin bar because it is housed in an old building that has seen better days. It is a bar containing different floors that played music or you could go to rooms to escape and chat. Martin met up with a friend he knew called Kasia a French girl and another person from Slovakia. It was a great evening even if I was starting to feel tired. It must be my old age. Ceylan and Marion agreed that we should all meet up for breakfast in the morning.
Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.
Steve
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