Does anyone remember Deek?

Noel Mugavin · Jan 4, 2018

Moved on again, this time on to Cluj. Lunch at Sighisoara along the way, birthplace of Vlad the Impaler, plenty of time to walk the town as well.

View from the hotel window at Cluj

Noel Mugavin · Jan 4, 2018

Crossed the border into Hungary, unfortunately not until a 2 hour wait due to one of the girls on the bus having an issue with her passport. Meant we arrived into Budapest a couple of hours later than scheduled and less amount of time to explore. Did manage to get a very nice goulash dinner in.

Next morning a visit to Heroes Square

Then up to Fisherman's Bastion

Afternoon drive to the outskirts of Vienna where we were in a hotel out near an airport. Into the city that night for a classical music concert.

Noel Mugavin · Jan 4, 2018

Driving tour around the Vienna Ring Road, then off the bus for some free time. Really liked Vienna, beautiful buildings, and off course my pictures did them no justice.

Not a great selection of photos to be honest, but believe me, it is a beautiful city.
Had a coffee and sacher torte, then to St Stephens for a tour down in to the catacombs

Off as a group to some Schnapps tasting, then to Schonbrunn Palace

Off to a restaurant in the hills overlooking Vienna, nice schnitzel, and ended up a big night.

Noel Mugavin · Jan 5, 2018

Mauthausen Concentration Camp, situated between Vienna and Munich

Noel Mugavin · Jan 5, 2018

Short stop at Lake Mondsee and something for the Sound of Music fans

Made our way into Munich late afternoon, dinner was at a beerhall, complete with oompah band, but being a Tuesday night was a bit quiet. Did try my first pigs knuckle, totally hooked me on to them.

Next morning into the city, saw the not to be missed glockenspeil figures

Time for a way too short visit to the Deutsches Museum, my notes say was better than the Smithsonian, unfortunately my photos neither confirm nor deny.

White water rafting in the afternoon on the Inn River, then to the Tyrol village of Hopfgarten

Noel Mugavin · Jan 5, 2018

A bike ride through the Austrian countryside, then a lunch of sausage and baked potatoe

In the afternoon a stroll into town ,then a chairlift to the top of Hohe Salve

Noel Mugavin · Jan 5, 2018

On to Switzerland, and first as top at Swarovski Crystal Palace

Nice scenery from the carpark, pity about the building at the forefront

Lunch at Liechtenstein, and a quick rush to the post office to get the passport stamped

A visit to Lucerne

On to Lauterbrunnen, really a stunning location

Our accommodation was camping Jungfrau, the large building bottom left of the postcard. Went for a hike to Staubbach Falls, which if you look carefully are towards the back centre/right of the postcard

Noel Mugavin · Jan 6, 2018

Lazy day spent in Lauterbrunnen, there was an excursion on the Jungfrau railway to the snow, but it was quite costly, and I was on a budget. I did regret not going up, it was a beautiful day and everyone that went had a great day. Apart from the Canadian, Lawrence, he didn't have sunglasses and was hit with snow blindness for a day or so. Not a good few days for him, Canadian Airlines were in trouble,and a bit of stress as to whether he still had a flight back to Canada.

Noel Mugavin · Jan 6, 2018

Driving day, bit of time in Heidleberg

Stop at the night was at Bad Salzig, few drinks on the balcony of one oof the rooms

Noel Mugavin · Jan 6, 2018

In to the Netherlands, a stop at Volendam

To Edam, obligatory cheese and clog factory tour, then a bike ride

Into Amsterdam, another Contiki run hostel, and a great dinner.
Into the city, did the cafe thing, and then a went to a live show

Next day a boring diamond factory tour.
Then a bit of work on a canal bike, then free to explore. Line at Ann Frank's house was way too long, so gave that a miss.
Great last night at Boom Chicago.
Drive through Belgium the next day, back to the Royal National in London late afternoon.
Few of us had a few goodbye drinks at the Royal National London Pub, and so ended leg 2 of the trip.

Noel Mugavin · Jan 6, 2018

Found some photos that I think are of a better quality

Gay Paree

Palace of Versailles

Friendship Torch, and where Diana came a croppa

Coast east of Nice

Monaco

And again

St Sophias, Istanbul

Parliament building, Bucharest

Noel Mugavin · Jan 6, 2018

Vienna

Chapel Bridge, Lake Lucerne

Lauterbrunnen

Heidleberg

Noel Mugavin · Jan 6, 2018

Nest day was a Thursday, and in the morning went with 3 or 4 others to London Dungeon.
Afterwards said our goodbyes and went our separate ways; with me staying a few days with a Kiwi couple I met on the US contiki tour. They were both working in London at had a flat in a fantastic location in the Isle of Dogs.

Spent the afternoon/night reminiscing on the balcony watching the planes line up to land at Heathrow, which even included the concord which were on borrowed time as the Paris crash had only occurred 2 or 3 days earlier.

Next day we went for a drive and ended up at Hampstead Heath.

Views of London from Hampstead Heath

Next day was a lazy one, pleasant afternoon watching the goings on on the Thames form the balcony of the unit. Wasn't aware of how tidal the Thames is.

They did have a fantastic location, with the Naval College providing a fantastic backdrop to the Thames

RB · Jan 7, 2018

Thanks for the write up. Bringing back some great memories! In 2000 we had a conference in Vienna & then headed east to start-Budapest, Tatras, Krakow, Prague, Interlaken St Moritz, Lake Como & Venice. The Eastern European parts had few tourists in those days & English speaking was a bit of a novelty in parts. We walked across the border & dodged horse & carts as we moved from the High Tatras to Krakow.
Our photos from then have similar tones to yours

VPS · Jan 7, 2018

I did a Contiki tour in the early 80s and many of those photos could be ones I took. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Noel Mugavin · Jan 7, 2018

Sunday morning and I was on the National Express coach through North London, past the canal boats, a stop at Birmingham, into to Wales and eventually to Holyhead.

On the ferry to Dublin, through immigration and waiting for the tour shuttle to the hostel. 20 minutes or so, just about everyone had cleared out except for myself and a couple of girls nearby. Got talking, and turned out we were waiting for the same transport, and was evident it wasn't coming. Was about to find a phone to call a cab when a electricians van with a couple of fellas in the front asked if we wanted a lift. Young and indestructible, what could go wrong? The three of us jumped in, made sure I was close to the door handle in the back, but anyway we got to where we wanted to go. Nice fellas, like all the Irish I encountered extremely friendly.
Was early evening, got some dinner, but didn't do a lot that evening

Pickup next morning from the hostel, and the starting point of a 6 day tour with The Paddywagon

As can be seen with their marketing, a very casual, happy go lucky organisation. It was a hop on hop off hostel tour, with the majority of the 20 or so people on the van staying for the 6 day duration. Our van was plain white rather than the one shown, due to this tour going to Northern Ireland and not wanting to draw attention from the fact that the tour group was based in the republic.

Off we went, first stop Drogheda, where we saw Oliver Plunket's head

Our driver/tour guide was giving us a heap of information as we were driving and to be honest it was a bit overwhelming, and coupled with the thick accent, it was hard to keep track of what he was saying. He was very informative, and took as many notes as I could, and eventualy filled in the gaps with more research when I got home.

Dundalk for lunch

Across the border and into Northern Ireland, obligatory military helicopter flying overhead.
At a hostel at the end of Royal Avenue, checked in, dropped the bags off, driver went to park the van in a secure area. They had vans vadalised due to Republic plates, so had to have it in a garage away from view.
Walking tour up to New Lodge Road. Looking forward to this, heard these names on the news and current affairs shows regarding the troubles, and it was an issue that fascinated me.

These 3 fellas came up and insisted I take a photo of them

.

Noel Mugavin · Jan 7, 2018

More murals around New Lodge

Flats with the bunkers on top for the security forces to keep watch

Lot of barbed wire around

Orange Hall building overlooking New Lodge with the Union Jack, Red Hand of Ulster and William of Orange, just a touch antagonistic

Entrance to a police station

Finished the Tour at the above pub, had to get buzzed in. Security measures put in after gunmen came in and shot the place up.
I'm not a big drinker, nor a casual, I drank to get drunk, nor a fan of Guinness, I became all of those things in Ireland though. Guinness there is so creamy and smooth, like drinking a good coffee. Bit of a chat with the group, then back to the hostel to shower and out for dinner.
Bit of panic when I couldn't find my keys to my bag, back to the pub, they happily let me in and let me search the area I had been sitting. No luck, more of a panic now.
Back to the hostel, they were where I first put them, by the pillow of my bed. Funnily, this sort of thing happens a lot more as I get older.

Out for a dinner somewhere, then to the Crown Liqour Saloon, settled into a snug and had a couple of pints. Eventually had enough and walked back to the hostel without any drama.