Food – Page 3 – SteveWhittythoughts1965

March 18, 2013

Vienna & Budapest – Day 5, 10 March 2013

My final day in Vienna and the batteries in my camera were starting to die. As it was a Sunday I noticed that no supermarkets were open. Being from the UK I found this unusual but I felt glad of this. It is important that people have rest from work. If the batteries give up I have the camera on my I-Phone as a backup. So I was not unduly worried.

My clothes needed freshening up so before I ventured outside it was off to the laundry. This gave me the opportunity to decide where next to visit. In the end I chose to visit the Schonbrunn Palace (Schloss Schonbrunn). According to Trip Advisor this is Austria’s most visited tourist attraction. By the time I left the Schonbrunn U-Bahn station I could see why. There were a lot of coaches parked and people queuing to get inside. There appeared a lot of coach parties from Russia and Serbia.

Once inside the palace grounds you see how magnificent it all looked. From the buildings to the gardens there is a majestic appearance that befits a royal palace.

I started off inside the palace on the Grand Tour. Like most museums in Vienna you are not allowed to take photographs. In fact you have to all your bags and coats in the cloakroom at no charge. You also get a free audio guide. The tour itself was alright however, I do feel that some of the information given did repeat from the Hofberg.

After leaving the Palace I made my way towards the gardens and for me this was the highlight of the visit. There are a few paths to walk to reach the end of the garden but once at the top you are rewarded with an impressive view of the city of Vienna.

This was the perfect opportunity for everybody to ask to take photos of each other using their camera. I must admit that I was nervous using better cameras than mine but everybody seemed happy with the results. One Japanese man was so impressed with my photography he asked me twice to take a photo. Making my way back down to the palace I walked through the woods. I had to stop while I saw this man feeding a squirrel. It was one of those moments where you had to stop and take a photo.

By mid-afternoon I decided that I needed to leave and make my way towards the Voltsplatz and explore the area around parliament. Also I was feeling hungary and I wanted to eat a Bratwurst. In the end I just wanted to walk through the city centre back to my hostel.

Tomorrow I leave for Budapest. It will be a new destination and I am looking forward to this.

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

Steve

March 15, 2013March 17, 2013

Vienna & Budapest – Day 4, 9 March 2013

Another good nights rest was taken and another hearty breakfast had been eaten. I was ready to take on Vienna again. However, there was a slight setback. I had overspent yesterday and I needed to preserve my Euros. So I made the decision to visit landmarks that were going to be free of charge.

First stop was the famous Naschmarkt. This is an institution in Vienna.

A food market where you can literally eat the world. Another bonus point is the store holders who were on hand offering free samples so I could get fed as I was walking along. It is a big market and you can spend some time here. I noticed there was a hostel nearby. To have the ability to purchase and cook fresh produce daily. Being Saturday the Naschmarkt was also holding its weekly flea market.

I can only say that some people have rubbish they wish to sell. A lot of it was broken yet the locals seemed intent on buying it. Each to their own as they say. One nice thing about the market was the amount of vinyl records that were being sold. Flicking through the covers took me back to my youth where every Saturday was spent in record shops. I often wonder if CD's had not been invented would we still have record stores. It was while walking when I spotted something that literally stopped me in my tracks. Amongst the LP's the elderly gentleman was selling was a copy of Gobbels greatest speeches. I had to take a photo to share but the gentleman looked at me wondering what was the big deal.

Even though Germany invaded Austria in 1938 there were plenty of Austrians who were sympathetic to the Nazi values.

Fortified by an excellent Vanilla Custard cake that cost one euro I made my way towards the Stadtpark. It has an almost English feel to it. It contains a golden statue of Johann Strauss. Just be vary of people trying to sell you tickets to concerts. The park itself had plenty to see and photograph.

After a quick cup of coffee my final destination of the day was the Zentralfriedhoff or Central Cemetery. An unusual choice you may argue but there are some famous people buried in there. It was a long walk from the U-bahn station Stringasse. I knew I was getting close as I noticed there were a lot of shops selling gravestones.

How does one go about visiting a cemetery? After all it is a place of rest and reflection. It is Europe's second largest cemetery and is in use today. I could not get used to how large it was. As you walk you notice the gravestones. These were not individual graves but family plots that have lasted for generations. What I also noticed were how well looked after the graves were. I could see families taking as much care as if it was their own homes. It was touching to see. Also moving were the number of graves were one partner was buried whiles both names were carved on the gravestone.

You reach the main building where there is a map showing where the famous are buried. The highlight of the visit would be the grave of Beethoven and the memorial to Mozart. He is not buried in the cemetery. When Mozart died he was buried in a pauper's grave.

I also found the graves of Brahms, Joe Zawinul and Curt Jurgens. The only grave I could not find was 80's popstar Falco. Visiting the cemetery gave me time to reflect. We will all end up in that state one day. So it is best that we make the most of life while we can.

From the cemetery I made my way back to the Naschmarkt. Maybe there was a store open to get some food. By the time I had arrived there stores were closing so I made my way towards the city centre.

This is my second visit to Vienna but I had yet to see it at night time. I was simply bowled over by the sights. Again I was snapping away.

Being out at nighttime allowed me to try a Currywurst. This was not wrapped in a bun but sliced up and served on a plate with a bread roll. It still tasted delicious.

With my feet starting to feel like they could no longer take another step I made my way back to the hostel. Not before stopping off to purchase an ice cream. Yes, chocolate and caramel cone. The weather was cold but the temptation was there and I succumbed.

This was an enjoyable day where I proved that you do not need to have money to have a good time.

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

Steve

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March 11, 2013March 17, 2013

Vienna & Budapest – Day 3, 8 March 2013

That was a good night's sleep. Sometimes it is good just to unwind and relax. The all you can eat breakfast is a great way to start the day. In my own mind I know what I want to do today. The thing is not to rush about and try to fit everything in one day but go at a pace I can enjoy. Anything I miss I can always catch up at a later date.

First stop after purchasing my Vienna Card is St. Stephen's Cathedral. This time I am going inside. It is a spectacular building. Initially I walked around the outside section clicking away on the camera like it was going out of fashion. I do admit to clicking too much when it comes to photography. I decided that I might as well pay the full admission fee. This will give me access to the Catacombs and entrance to the North and South Tower.

I took the self guided tour with audio guide. I followed the map and everything seemed to be going well until I reached the chapel. As I was about to look inside I was I informed that it was about to close. A christening was about to take place. Obviously, there are some well heeled families in Vienna. So I moved on to complete the rest of the tour.

When I returned my audio guide back to the counter I was told if I was quick I would make the tour of the Catacombs. I was waiting for the tour to start. However, the guide was trying his best to persuade a homeless woman that she should not be sleeping in the cathedral. She was trying her best to ignore him. So eventually we set off on the tour. There was no photography allowed so I can only describe to you what I saw. First off we were shown the final resting places of the Archbishop's of Vienna. Then we were taken to see the coffins of old Emperors. Bizarrely there were numbered containers on shelves. Each container held the internal organs of the Austrian Royal Family. The organs were preserved in vinegar. We were taken further below the cathedral. It began to feel cold and damp. The guide said this was down to the recent snowfall in the city. We were shown rooms where the bones were stacked on top of one another. There were rooms where bones appeared scattered everywhere. Then like that the tour was over and I made my way back to the cathedral. To my horror everything was closed as a service was being conducted. I asked the attendant if I could come back later to use the rest of my ticket. He said yes so it was off to the Hofberg.

From the outside the white building was a perfect photo opportunity. It is a beautiful structure.

Using my Vienna Card to get a discount I first entered the building to see the Silver Collection. It is not just about silver, there are displays of porcelain tableware as well. I came away with the impression that some people had more money then they knew what to do with.

Next stop was the Sisi Museum. I found this place to be interesting. Empress Elizabeth (Sisi) is held in great affection. This affection came after her assassination. What is interesting was that during her lifetime she was disliked for the way she treated her husband the Emperor Franz Josef. My impression was that she was a vain and self-centred woman. I could not but compare her to Princess Diana.

The final part of the tour was the official apartments belonging to the Emperor and Empress. What was pleasing about the whole Hofberg experience was the free audio guide. It helped with the whole visit.

I thought I would then make my way back to St. Stephens Cathedral to use the rest of my ticket. Again it was closed for a service. Somethings were not meant to be.

Feeling worn out I thought it would be best that I cook myself something to eat tonight. Chicken Wraps should do the trick. I just felt that I may have cooked too much.

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

Steve

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March 10, 2013March 10, 2013

Vienna & Budapest – Day 2, 7 March 2013

I had managed to get some quality sleep. The neck rest my sister brought me for Christmas had come in useful. As dawn broke I could see the wonders of Austria. As the sun rose it shone on the snow on the mountains. It was beautiful. Sadly, I was not awake enough to think about taking photos.

The pulled into Vienna coach station just over an hour late. I was not bothered to be honest as I was just happy to arrive. The coach station in Vienna is not in the most fashionable part of the city. As I had been here before I knew where I was going so it was off to the U-bahn station. Took the train to my destination. When I arrived I ended up leaving the station at the wrong exit. The last thing I needed to be dong was wandering around like a lost soul. Suddenly I found my bearings and it was off to the hostel.

When I arrived at the hostel, the staff could not have been more helpful. While I could not check-in until 2pm they said I could have breakfast and relax in the lounge. It was too good an opportunity to turn down. It gave me a chance to catch up on answering some e-mails and re-charge the batteries.

At around midday I was starting to feel sleepy so I took the decision to go out for a walk. The weather was good with the sun shining so I made my way towards the station and towards Stephansplatz.

You might have been aware that I had purchased myself a new camera. There had been little opportunity to use it until now. I was snapping away like it was going out of fashion. I am not too sure how many of the photos will turn out right but I felt more confident with it. I will post the results in future posts. Promise you will not laugh. These photos were taken by the iPhone.

After three hours I knew that I needed to get back to the hostel so I could check-in and rest. Check-in went smoothly enough and soon I found my way to the room. As usual I always seem to get the top bunk. I must have it tattooed on my forehead. I did not mind as the bed felt comfortable so I should get some sleep. I hope that my snoring will not keep everybody awake.

After a quick nap I felt hungry but did not want to cook for myself. Nor did I want to go too far. After a quick walk I found myself a well known chicken outlet and that satisfied my hunger for the night. Finally I cashed my free drink voucher, looked at more emails before settling down for the night. Man, I needed my bed.

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

Steve

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December 3, 2012December 3, 2012

Bratislava – A Reflection

After Prague I thought that things would not get any better. Therefore I was totally and pleasantly surprised what I found in Bratislava. The city itself displays plenty of history yet it is small enough to be able to be explored by foot.

Initially when I arrived into Bratislava I was left feeling disappointed. It was Sunday afternoon and when I stepped out of the bus station it was though I was transported back to the 1970s and communism. The trolley bus looked rickety and dated. Having said that it did take me to the stop nearest the hostel.

After being advised by the hostel to take the free walking tour it was then I discovered the delights of Bratislava. There is a lot of history in Bratislava but there is also a lot to see that made me smile. The city does not take itself too seriously. Bratislava was a major city of the Austro-Hungarian empire. At one point the Emperors were crowned in St. Martin’s Cathedral. A lot of the old city was demolished during the 1970’s to allow for a flyover. One could only think how much more beautiful the city would look.

There are a lot of colours with Bratislava whether it is the bright blue of the St. Elisabeth’s Church or the greens and yellows. This is something that town planners in the UK should consider. A splash of colour is a great way of brightening a place. I suspect that it would not cost too much either.

It is also a city that does not take itself too seriously. There are indicators of this with some of the statues you find dotted around the city centre.

Being so compact Bratislava offers the cafe culture that I loved. Plenty of bars, cafe’s and coffee shops to enjoy. It allows you to watch the world pass by. It has that kind of vibe.

This is an ideal city for a long weekend. Spend the first day exploring the city centre. The next day I would go and see the spectacular ruins of Devin Castle. Spend the afternoon cycling in the surrounding countryside that hugs the Danube river. It is only a thirty minute bus ride from Bratislava.

My five must see attractions in Bratislava are:-

Bratislava Castle
Devin Castle
St. Michael’s Cathedral
St. Elisabeth’s Church
Slavin War Memorial

I would also include a trip to Shtoor Home Made Cafe. A perfect place for good coffee, sandwiches and excellent cake. What more can a man want from life.

To sum up Bratislava I would say that it is one of Europe’s secrets. How long it will stay like this I would not like to say. Whatever happens it will always have a small city feel that I love. I cannot wait to go back.

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

Steve

November 28, 2012

Photo of the Week – Christmas is Coming

This week’s photo is of the construction of a stall in the Birmingham German Christmas Market.

An annual event since 2001 the Christmas Market celebrates Birmingham’s links with its twin city of Frankfurt. Situated from Centenary Square to New Street there are nearly 200 stalls that sell arts, crafts, food and drink. It is always popular with citizens and visitors alike. The market closes on 22 December.

November 17, 2012

City of Lichfield

The city of Lichfield is situated in the county of Staffordshire and lies to the north of Birmingham. A small place given city status because of the cathedral. It is worth visiting from Birmingham to spend a city here. A historical city it is famous for being the birthplace of Dr. Samuel Johnson.

The best way to get to Lichfield is to take the London Midland train from Birmingham New Street to Lichfield City station. Journeys take around 40 minutes. The most expensive adult ticket costs £7.10 for a day return. Once you arrive into the station it is a five minute walk to the city centre.

There are several attractions to visit in Lichfield and I will list a few of my favourites. Firstly, I will point you towards the cathedral. Originally to be classified as a city in England you had to have a cathedral. What makes Lichfield Cathedral unique is that it is the only medieval cathedral that has three spires.

The next place I would recommend you visit s the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum. Acting both as a museum and bookshop it tells the life story of Dr. Samuel Johnson perhaps Lichfield’s most famous son. Items that can be viewed in the museum include Johnson’s personal armchair and tea set. The museum is located on Breadmarket Street and has free entry.

website – http://www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk

Another attraction that you should visit is Erasmus Darwin House. Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of Charles Darwin was a renowned doctor, inventor, poet and scientist who lived in the city for over twenty years. Included in the museum are two rooms with audio and visual exhibits. One pleasing aspect of the house is the Georgian herb garden that contains plants from the period. The museum is located on Beacon Street. Admission costs £3.00 for adults.

website – http://www.erasmusdarwin.org

A perfect place to go for a walk is Beacon Park. Originally marshland it was reclaimed in the 19th century. It is home to various sporting facilities used by the citizens of Lichfield. There are also monuments and statues. The most famous being of Edward Smith, the ill-fated captain of the R.M.S. Titanic.

If you are looking for entertainment then a visit to the Lichfield Garrick Theatre is a must. Opened in 2003, it is named after the famous 18th century actor David Garrick who was born in the city. The theatre shows plays and concerts while a local Rep company is based there.

website – http://www.lichfieldgarrick.com

Finally, if you are looking for somewhere to eat I would personally recommend ‘The Spark Cafe Bar’. Situated on Tamworth Street it serves excellent food at reasonable prices. The coffee is also excellent. There are plenty events that take place including live comedy and music. It is also home to a book club.

website – http://www.thesparkcafebar.co.uk

There is plenty more of Lichfield to see. It is a rewarding place to visit for the day. It has a small town feel where the pace is unrushed.

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

Steve

November 9, 2012

Prague & Bratislava – Day 13, 22/09/2012

So this is it, I am going home today. I did not have time to wallow in self-pity. There was too much to do even though my coach doe s not leave until 5pm. First, I had to get the supplies for the journey home. In total I will be travelling for nearly twenty-four hours. There was a Tesco’s near the hostel. So I brought enough baguettes, crisps, cake and iced tea to last me for that time. I wish that I had brought my clubcard as the extra would have come in useful.

Back at the hostel the procedure of packing everything began. Not only ensuring my belongings were packed but now I had to find room to fit the food in the small backpack. Now it weighs a ton. I had to check out of the hostel by 10am so I decided to have a final walk around Prague. The sun was out and I spent the time taking in all the sights. There was a big bicycle parade taking place in Wenceslas Square.

I also needed to purchase a souvenir of my trip. What should I buy? I did not want another t-shirt. Then it hit me I saw a giant cup, just the thing to enjoy a cup of tea. My colleagues at work will be impressed.

Once purchased I slowly made my way back to the hostel. I just chilled out until the inevitable time when I had to leave. So with rucksack weighing heavy on my back I left for the metro station. The journey to the coach station always seems the quickest yet the time waiting for the coach is always the longest. I found a seat at the back of the coach. As I pulled out of the coach station I could only think about the last thirteen days. They had been enjoyable and I cannot wait to plan my travels for 2013.

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

Steve

November 4, 2012

Prague & Bratislava – Day 12, 21/09/2012

My final full day of my trip. I was determined to get as much in as I could. Who knows when I will be back in Prague again. So an early start was in order. I decided I would get breakfast on the go rather than eat in the hostel. After breakfast I made my way towards the Charles Bridge hoping that I would be able to escape the crowds.

At 09:30 in the morning I was glad to be able to miss the crowd and I could take in the sights of the bridge at my own pace rather than feeling rushed. Once I crossed the bridge I made my way towards the Lennon Wall. This was one place I wanted to visit after being told about it by other travellers. When I first viewed the wall I was taken aback by the colours. Once I started to make sense of it all. I could see Lennon’s lyrics and I started to feel emotional. Then I came across these two images.

It was then when my emotions overtook me. The tears started to roll down my face. I did not want to go home. The last twelve days have just been so enjoyable. Yet, all good things have to come to an end. In my heart I knew this to be true. I just had to compose myself again.

I just wanted to make my way back up to the castle so I walked instead of catching the tram. I just wanted to take in all the sights and sounds that were around me. Eventually, after a few detours I arrived at Prague Castle. I decided that I would just purchase the Short Visit ticket. Rather see less and savour than rush to see everything. The Short Visit ticket started at St. Vitus cathedral. I am a fan of churches and stained glass windows much to the amusement of my family. In that respect St. Vitus did not disappoint me. There were plenty of photo opportunities which I took advantage of. Both my camera and iPhone were busy. However, there was an over zealous member of staff who kept reminding people not to use the flash on their cameras. Lesson for people not to set the camera to auto.

From St. Vitus I made my way to St. George’s Basilica. This section took about forty minutes to view. At around lunchtime things were starting to get crowded. I needed to escape or at least needed to have something to eat. Luckily I found a cafe that was selling a sandwich at a reasonable price. Feeling refreshed I made my way to the Golden Avenue. This did not disappoint me. So much history there. My favourite section was the museum full of amour.

I made my way to the Old Royal Palace but I found this to be disappointing. So it was time to make my way back down the hill to the centre of Prague.

Once back I made my way to the Museum of Communism. Though not rated too highly by Lonely Planet it was one place I wanted to see. You cannot separate Communism from Prague as much as you may want to try.

There was one place I had yet to visit. This was Wenceslas Square. So much history took place there and I felt I could not miss it even if it was getting late. It did not disappoint me. There was almost a party atmosphere in the square. There were lots of stalls selling souvenirs and food. It almost felt like a Christmas market. Must have been the Friday feeling. It was certainly a party at the statue of King Wenceslas.

With a heavy heart I made my way back to the hostel. Over a beer I was enjoying the company of a Canadian who reminded me that I was lucky to live so close to the mainland. I had to agree with him. I am a lucky man.

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

Steve

October 30, 2012

Prague & Bratislava – Day 11, 20/09/2012

Time to leave Bratislava and make my way back to Prague. It is then that the realisation I will be going home soon hits me. My mood becomes melancholic.

As I left the Hostel Blues the feeling of saying goodbye to people had begun to tear into me. All I could think about was the thought of being home and back to the grind that is work. At least the sun was shining and I was listening to good music. That had lightened the mood.

I arrived into Prague at around 5pm. I made my way back to the hostel St. Christopher’s at Mosaic House. It felt like an old friend to me. I checked in and found myself sharing a dorm with five Argentinians. Nothing wrong with that except they were a bit loud and frankly I did not feel in the mood to put up with this. I had to go and change my Euro’s into Czech Koruna’s. When I arrived back I bumped into one of the Argentinians who asked if I could swap rooms with one of their friends. I was only too happy to oblige and so I moved. I am used to this by now.

Once settled in I decided to go and have something to eat. The bar-b-q wings and ribs were great if not a bit sticky.

However, the feeling that I was going home would not leave me and I was not enjoying the beer. Also I was feeling tired so it was best to get off to bed early and chill out.

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

Steve