The Journey – Page 4 – SteveWhittythoughts1965

March 9, 2013March 9, 2013

Vienna & Budapest – Day 1, 6 March 2013

Well the day has finally arrived, I am about to leave for my trip. Since Christmas this has been the only thing on my mind. I am so ready for it to begin. I managed to get some sleep the night before. It meant missing the Man. U and Real Madrid game but I was not that bothered. I heard that United had lost and Fergie was not happy. Nothing new there.

The taxi came and dropped me to the coach station. So far, so good. While I was waiting for my coach I could see the departure getting later and later. This was beginning to concern me. After all I had a connection to catch. After a few more minutes I asked the information desk if they knew what the problem was with the coach. I was told the coach was held up in traffic congestion. At 2am I found that hard to believe. Then the coach suddenly appeared.

The journey to London went smoothly enough. I had enough time before check-in to buy a sandwich. Again check-in was not a problem and soon we were on the road. While on the coach I sensed that something was not right but I could put my finger on it right away.

Soon the coach was going through France and Belgium then it hit me. The coach does not have any seat belts. I was amazed as surely it would not legal to be on the road without them, especially in the UK.

The rest of the day went smoothly enough. Apart from getting stuck in the traffic in Antwerp. I thought a one-way traffic system allowed traffic to run smoothly. The coach found itself stuck between two trams.

Anyway tomorrow I will be in Vienna so I should try and get some sleep.

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

Steve

Posted with Blogsy

February 24, 2013

Checklist – Vienna & Budapest

It is now 10 days to go before my trip to Vienna and Budapest. Now is the time to start preparing so not to leave anything to the last-minute. So this is my checklist.

Get my rucksack out of the cupboard. I am sure that it will need airing before I use it. I can also check for any holes that may have appeared. I have had my rucksack for 13 years. It has served me well.
Old Faithful Rucksack.
Check the contents of my first aid kit to make sure that everything is still in date and replace where necessary.
Transfer money to my travel cards. This will be done during the week to ensure there are funds for the trip.
Purchase some Euro’s. I will be travelling to Vienna by coach. I will need some refreshments along the journey.
Pack the rucksack. I am aiming to do this the weekend before I travel. I do not want to leave this to the last-minute. It is going to be an early start on the day of travel and I do not want to spend the time last-minute packing. You always end up forgetting something.
Get some sleep before I set off. As I have already mentioned I will be setting off early. I finish work at 17:00 and it takes me about 90 minutes to get home. The aim is to have two or three hours sleep. Must remember to set the alarm.
Ensure all gadgets are fully charged. This includes back-up batteries. It is going to be a long journey so I need to keep myself amused.
Ensure all tickets, passports and other documentation is packed. I tend to double-check, even triple check. The last thing I want to notice at Birmingham Coach Station is I have forgotten my passport.
Arrange taxi to coach station. Being a Wednesday morning this should not be a problem but I will have to book it early to be on the safe side.
Finally, if the above has been ticked off then sit back relax and enjoy the trip.

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

Steve

January 28, 2013January 28, 2013

My Travel Tech for 2013

As this year I have decided to devote more of my spare time to travel I need to ensure that my tech is up to speed. There are five items that I will be taking with me on my travels.

1. iPad 4 64GB Wi-fi

This is my latest piece of tech. I am not a full time travel blogger so the iPad gives me all that I need. There are plenty of apps available and I can make hardware changes such as adding a Bluetooth keyboard if required. I am using Blogsy for updating my blog. If I were to become a full time blogger then of course I would look to invest in a MacBook or MacBook Air. I have tried to a Windows 8 laptop but I found it to be a frustrating experience. I am back to what I know and love.

2. iPhone 4S 16GB

This is my third iPhone and I have never suffered any problems with them apart from battery life. It is a device that can do almost everything. Take photos, play music, be a GPS and you can make calls too. My favourite apps are Spotify and Instagram. With iCloud it links to the iPad. As for battery life I take a power pack as back up. I never leave home without it.

3.Panasonic Lumix LZ20 Bridge Camera

I am not the world's greatest photographer as these photos show. This is a area that I wish to improve on. While I am not ready to move to a DSLR this is the next step up. Hopefully in the coming months you will notice the results.

4. Amazon Kindle

This is purely for reading. I do travel on long coach journeys and it allows time to pass. There are plenty of books stored on it. A big plus is that the battery life lasts a long time between charges.

5. iPod Classic 160GB (2007)

Old faithful, this has been with me on a lot of my travels. Lasts a long time on one charge it allows me to have all the music I need. Even better when shuffle is on.

These devices should keep me happy. Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

Posted with Blogsy

January 6, 2013

Five Lessons I’ve Learnt From My Travels

Like anything in life, we are always learning. This is true of travel. Although I have always enjoyed travelling it has only been the last couple of years that I have managed to take it seriously.

The first lesson I have learnt is planning. I have mentioned in a previous post the importance of planning your trip. Planning for your trip is also a useful skill that I have managed to transfer to my everyday life. Good planning allows me to stay in control.

The second lesson is to be flexible in my travels. Sometimes all the best laid plans can go away from you. Whether it being something going wrong or an unexpected invite. If you get too inflexible you can miss out on experiences that can suddenly appear in front of you.

The third lesson I have learnt is to rest. Most of the time I travel by coach which means long journey times. By the time I arrive at my destination I am feeling very tired. The best thing to do is just lie down and enjoy a quick nap. This was a lesson I learnt the hard way while I was in Vienna. I allowed myself to be talked into going and exploring the city straight after arriving into the city. I ended up feeling unwell for the rest of the trip.

The fourth lesson is to be open to strangers. By nature I am a shy person who has in the past suffered from confidence issues. I travel solo so it is essential that I overcome the barrier. There is always something that you can talk about. The people who I have met have been great and this has allowed me to enjoy my travels more.

The final lesson I have learnt is to enjoy my travels. Being able to travel to different places is a privilege and one that is sadly not open to everybody. My grandfather told me if I ever stop enjoying doing anything then you should stop altogether.

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

Steve

December 20, 2012December 20, 2012

Review of 2012

As 2012 is drawing to a close it is always customary to look back. For myself the year has brought so many positives into my life.

First positive is that I have sat down and set up the blog. There have been numerous attempts at blogging but none of them had amounted to much and I soon gave up. It helped that I chose travel as the topic. It has given me something to focus on. I am happy with the way it has turned out. Now this blog has over 1,000 views. This is very encouraging and it is going to give me more focus to keep it going into 2013.

Of course no travel blog work without content. So 2012 was the year where I took travel more seriously. The highlights were the time I spent in Madrid during the summer. Also the trip to Prague and Bratislava in September. 2012 was the year that I felt I became a backpacker of sorts. Also I started to enjoy the delights of staying in hostels. While I was in Madrid I witnessed the joy of the Spanish celebrating their victory in Euro 2012. The beauty of Prague was a sight to behold. The relaxed atmosphere of Bratislava was something that would stay with me too. I also rediscovered my love of London. All this has inspired me for 2013. I cannot wait.

Also 2012 saw the London Olympics. I admitted to being a sceptic worrying it would be a success. To be proved wrong was a joyful moment. I was on jury service during the games so I spent a lot of time watching the events on the TV in between cases. This brought people together and you could see the response to the successes and how everybody joined together to celebrate. For the first time in a long while I felt proud to be British. I still feel proud today.

Overall I feel grateful to have the support of my family and friends. Also the support and encouragement of the blogging community. Be it with views and comments or the thank you messages for retweets.

Moving forward 2013 is going to be a good year. Be it with more travel adventures or just connecting with new people. I look forward to sharing it with you.

All I need to say now is to wish every one of you a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Happy Christmas Everybody from midlifewanderlust1965

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

Steve

November 23, 2012

Where next?

I have spent the last couple of week deciding on my travel plans for 2013. As a renowned procrastinator this has been a difficult task. Financially I am in the best of health but this ok because travelling on a budget adds to the sense of adventure. I also take advantage of the perks that available to me. I work for a coach company in the UK so there are some ways that it helps me to travel more.

Due to the work commitments I cannot travel as much as I would like. I only get so many days holiday in a year. However, I do not like spending time off work at home. It feels just a waste of my time. Some where do I travel next? The one decision I have made is that I will be sticking to Europe. As I was told by a Canadian in Prague that I was so lucky to have so many places that I can reach within a day. This is true, I must also admit that there are many places in Europe that I have yet to visit.

So I am pleased to announce that my first trip of 2013 will be to Vienna and Budapest. I visited Vienna in 2011 but I was laid low by food poisoning which meant that I did not get to see much of the city. Better luck this time I hope. On my travels in September I was given so many good reports about Budapest. If I had planned that trip better I could have included Budapest in the itinerary. However, I am looking forward to seeing what the city offers.

Now I hit the procrastinator stage of my planning. I am not sure what other trips I am going to plan for. Initially I was going to plump for a trip in June and one in September like this year. However, I am thinking more about a longer trip of over three weeks in September. This will all depend on whether I can get that amount of time away from work. If I do then I am looking to complete a circle of the Balkans starting and finishing in Zagreb. If not, then it will be back to the drawing board.

By publishing my plans it commits me to carry them out. I will also ensure that I will travel to London and other cities in the UK and report back to you.

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

Steve

September 24, 2012

Prague & Bratislava – Day 1, 10/09/2012

At my age I would have thought that I could get away with not sleeping because I am too excited to be going away, yet at 4am I was wide awake. So two hours later I was out of bed. The majority of the packing had been completed so it was just a case of eating breakfast, drinking a cup of tea, taking a shower and getting dressed.

At 09:30 I was ready for the off, so I waddled with my rucksack towards the bus stop. Typically the bus was running late. Is this the shape of things to come?

Arrived at Birmingham coach station and was relieved when the coach left on time. In London there was the parade to celebrate the success of British Olympians and Paralympians. Fully deserved it was too. It has been a great summer for Great Britain, one that will stay in the memory for a long time. However, I was concerned that I might be caught in traffic once I arrived into London. In reality I should not have worried as it was one of the smoothest journeys into the capital I had ever completed. After a bite to eat I checked in to catch my coach to Prague. Everything was running smoothly until the coach stopped in Dover. A large gentleman sat next to me. To make matters worse after we crossed the English channel he decided it would be a good idea to remove his jacket and jumper and relax in his vest. Oh my, this is going to be a long journey.

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

Steve

September 4, 2012

Packing List.

In less than a week I will be off on my travels again. This time Prague and Bratislava are calling. The trip will take two weeks. It will be unfeasible for me to carry two weeks of clothes with me. Importantly there will be laundry facilities at the hostels I am staying in.

So here is a list of items I will be packing in my rucksack:-

3 x Cargo pants
1 x Jeans
2 x Short sleeved t-shirts
1 x Long sleeved t-shirt
2 x Polo shirt
1 x Short sleeve shirt
4 x Socks
4 x Underwear
Flip flops
Sandals
Walking Shoes
First aid kit
iPad
iPod Classic
Kindle
Travel adaptor
Notebook
Pens
iPhone

The only worry is that I may have packed too much. What do you think?

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

Steve

August 21, 2012

Why Bother With Planning

As my trip to Prague and Bratislava draws nearer I started to feel that I should be doing more planning. It is always a worry that I arrive at my destination without a clue on where to go and what to do next.

So what do I mean by planning? For myself it is ensuring that I have somewhere to stay when I arrive. This is the most important for any traveller. The last thing you need to do when you travelled on a long journey is to be going round trying to find somewhere to stay. You could end up walking a lot of miles especially during busy periods on a potentially fruitless search. Also you could end up paying a higher rate than usual. Having that first nights accommodation gives you a base to plan ahead.

I also worry that I may not have any currency to use at my destination. Again changing money when you arrive could lead you open to being ripped off. I have found pre-paid currency card to be useful. All I need is to find a ATM to obtain local currency. Of course I would be wary of who is watching me.

Where I do leave planning to the last-minute is the itinerary I follow. I make a list of places that I would like to visit however, it is loose because I could be open to recommendations about where I should go. The best sites can be the ones that you end up stumbling on. I also do not plan any entertainment for myself. In Madrid on my last night I ended up on a pub crawl with a group of people I had met on the previous evening.

So finally why bother with planning? To me planning makes life easier when I travel. It means that I can avoid some of the traps that could spoil my trip. It also guarantees that I will enjoy my trip.

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

Steve

August 10, 2012

Hard Rock Cafe

When travelling what is the most un-traveller thing you do? Is it going to the local McDonald’s, going to see a local sports game or visiting the local public library to surf the net.

In my case it is visiting the Hard Rock Cafe. Why do I go there? It is certainly not the cheapest option for eating out. What I enjoy about visiting the Hard Rock Cafe is that they conform to the same standard. In short I know what I am going to experience. There is always rock music playing. You can stare at all the memorabilia that is on view. Importantly while the food is not cheap it is of a good standard. I have yet to eat a bad meal there. Finally, I get the chance to visit the store to look at the merchandise. I always end up buying myself a t-shirt. It is my way of saying that I have visited a city. I know from experience that they are of good quality and last a long time.

The first Hard Rock Cafe I visited was Amsterdam in 1991. I brought myself a sweatshirt which has long been thrown away. The next was Washington DC in 2000. My t-shirt has also been thrown away.

Then there was Paris in 2005.

Next there was Berlin in 2007

Edinburgh in 2008

London in 2011

Finally, Madrid in 2012

There is something comforting about visiting the Hard Rock Cafe. Yes, the service staff can be over friendly yet it is part of the experience. As a solo traveller I have always felt comfortable about eating there on my own. Whenever I leave I always feel so much better than when I arrived. In the end that is the customer experience we all want. In September I am off to Prague and guess what. There is a Hard Rock Cafe. I cannot wait to visit.

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

Steve