Europe in Summer 2022

[NSun]

Well it's time to take a long haul trip once again after travelling to North America in January. I have spent roughly 10 days in Europe, slightly longer than my trip to North America but you might again say too short given I did so much.

I visited the UK, Italy, Switzerland, France and the Netherlands, plus I've stopped over in Singapore on the way back (where I have begun writing this report). It wasn't all glamorous - with substantial airport chaos in Europe - but I am happy I went.

 

[NSun]

First stop was London where I went to on QF1. I paid for Premium Economy and successfully upgraded to Europe. I didn't eat in the lounge as I was going to be travelling for 24 hours. Today's chariot VH-OQK which I had flown on once before (in 2018 back from Hong Kong). We were told to go to the gate and we did only to be told there was a delay due to an engine issue. The last time I heard the phase 'engine issue', the delay ended up being 6.5 hours. Thankfully it was only an hour or so.



Takeoff - it was going to be a very long night.



This was my first time in the refurbished J seats on the A380, but I had flown on the A330 and 787 seats before. I could've sat in the front cabin but there were only middle seats so I selected 18K. Had the same old beef fillet & creme caramel for first dinner & dessert. Both were just fine.





But for the pre-arrival meal I tried something different - a cheese toastie. Good.



Highlight of the flight was the front lounge where I ended up speaking to two passengers from first who obviously had a bit too much to drink. Apparently they lived in the same suburb as me - small world.

Quickly visited the Singapore lounge and had dessert and a 'Merlion Blush'.



On the 2nd leg I went to bed straight away and slept for 8 hours (although not all at once). Ended up watching quite a few movies including: Ray, Taxi Driver and Casablanca. I'm not much of a movie watcher regularly so I had only seen one of those (Taxi Driver) and hadn't since High School where we watched it in English.

Breakfast was good and the arrival into London was spectacular. This was only my 2nd time in London and on the first time it was dark and so foggy I couldn't see a thing until we landed.



Cleared immigration in 15 minutes and caught the Tube into the City. I had booked the Holiday Inn Express Victoria but knew I couldn't check in until later. So the plan was to explore the city for a few hours until then.

 

[NSun]

I got off the Tube at Piccadilly Circus and had a look around there first.



I couldn't help but make some impulse purchases including stuff from an M&Ms store and some souvenirs. I know a couple of ardent monarchists who would've appreciated the gift. I thought I would've been too late given the Jubilee was over 2 months ago but was wrong.





They mean every flavour. There's blueberry, peppermint and apple. But there's also vomit and earwax. I couldn't finish the latter two flavours.



Big Ben looked splendid. Was disappointed that it wasn't back to full-time chiming yet but at least it wasn't covered up in scaffolds as it was on my last visit.



When I was planing to write this report I was going to mention London was a cycling city like you wouldn't believe. There was so much infrastructure and so many cyclists. Little did I know what was to come later on in the trip. London is a much more avid cycling city compared to any Sydney cities, but even London has nothing on Amsterdam which I'll get to at the end.



Hi (and Bye) Boris!

 

[NSun]

Eventually it was time to check into my hotel. It was difficult to find because it was actually closer to Westminister than Victoria. And even when you're on the correct street, it's not blatantly obvious because it is just another one of these seemingly the same buildings.



But the bed was comfortable and I appreciated a proper shower rather than a 'shub'. Not to mention the free breakfast at Holiday Inn Express properties. Wasn't cheap for what I got (A$280 a night) but then again, it is central London.





In the morning, I discovered the hotel was within 30 minutes talking distance from Hyde Park so went on a walk about 5am. So I ended up walking past 20 embassies there and back.

I was expecting to see a lot of squirrels as I did last time but instead saw a lot of foxes, all of which fled at the mere sight of me 100m away.

 

[NSun]

I did a day trip to Brighton Beach, which is an hour and a half from London. I was tossing up between day trips to do but decided on Brighton as I found a decent deal on ticket prices. I got to the station and found a huge crowd for the train as if there was some major event there. It turns out it was the Pride Festival there. I had a good day out at Brighton and also enjoyed seeing some of the English countryside. The pier reminded me of Santa Monica.







Lunch



The English countryside



I caught the train from Blackfriars but the one on the way back went through Kings Cross/St Pancras so I stopped there and saw the Harry Potter set up there. There's a station and a Platform 9 3/4 sign that everyone wants a photo at - me included but the photos didn't turn out that well. I ended up walking along the River Thames back to my hotel and saw the COVID Memorial Wall which is literally the only reminder in Britain that COVID ever existed. Literally not a mask in sight or a mention on the BBC (when I watched it in the evening). Nonetheless, it was a sorrowful one.



Having lost a loved one back in May (not COVID related) this was my favourite heart.

 

[NSun]

The next morning was another glorious morning.



I went to the airport for a flight to Dublin. I decided to go a long way, to take a train to Hayes & Harlington and then catch a bus. I stayed in Hayes and Harlington the last time I was in London and wanted to see what it was like in the summer months. It is one of London's most multicultural areas.

The River Thames



After 20 minutes walking around, I caught a double-decker bus to Heathrow T3 than a free train to T5. As a Oneworld Emerald I could access the First Galleries lounge, but not the Concord Room. This included the ability to use the First Wing which had its own private security screening.

I didn't take too many pics because the lounge was full. There was no buffet but you could order dishes to your seat from your phone. I ordered a burrito and jam & cream scones. Yum.



I was lucky enough to get British Airways' retro G-EUPJ for my quick flight to Dublin. It took me so many years to catch QF's own retro 737s yet manage to get BA's retro short-haul jet on one of my first flights with them. What are the odds? This was the best picture I got unfortunately.



In Europe, short-haul economy is nothing to write home about. But after getting nothing the last time I flew with BA pre-COVID, I got a whole packet of crisps and a bottle of water. It turns out British Airways bought back free snacks and drinks during the pandemic. Not complaining.



Landed in Dublin after a flight of barely 40 minutes and I was through immigration in a couple of minutes. To be honest, I only visited Ireland for the sake of an extra passport stamp. I got one, and it was easily the largest I've ever received. I booked a night at the Premier Inn Dublin but decided to go into town for a bit. I caught the Airport Express bus. It takes you into town and then essentially does a circuit around River Liffey. I only realised this after sitting on the bus for so long and eventually got off after getting too restless to stay on. Had a walk around town for a couple of hours without going into many major attractions. I visited on the day of a major carnogie game and there were several fans from both sides. Overall I am glad I visited Dublin but I don't feel I need to return anytime soon unless I saw more of the country.

 

[NSun]

After taking a far shorter bus trip back to the Airport, I caught a shuttle bus to the Premier Inn. At this point I wasn't sure if I was in Dublin or Dallas because it seemed every single guest there was American - and the hotel was packed. Comfortable bed, and no shub.





Woke up at 4.30am in time to catch a 7am flight to Milan. I was flying Aer Lingus and without status, I was most nervous about security queues for this flight. This was particularly the case when I went to the wrong terminal by mistake and had to find the other. Although there were concrete barriers set up, the queues weren't that bad and once I entered the security queue, I was through in 15 minutes.



Today's aircraft was EI-DVN, an Aer Lingus A320. Was impressed with the green mood lighting onboard and managed to get a whole row to myself. Wasn't impressed at how we had to go to a remote gate that could only be accessed by bus, from another remote gate at the main terminal where it wasn't clear if it was going to the plane or to the other remote stand.





We had some very good views of the UK, France and northern Italy on this flight. The pic below is Anglesey.





We ended up having to enter a holding pattern for 10 minutes but we saw a number of nearby towns. We still landed on schedule.



I could've used the e-gates but lined up to get a stamp in my passport. That took just a few minutes and I took an Uber straight to the Duomo. I was literally dropped off right here.

 

[NSun]

From this point I spent nearly 3 hours just looking around the town centre. I just couldn't get over how amazing the Victor Emanuele gallery was.











After a few hours I took the Metro to my hotel - the Holiday Inn at Garibaldi. I was quite impressed by the metro.



The bed was comfy and I loved the air conditioning. Sadly there was a shub, but I was able to forgive this hotel for that sin because it was a fixed shower head with strong water pressure. The staff were mostly fine, with one exemption who reminded me of this guy. I would always ask if they spoke English and that particular guy didn't so I tried a bit of Italian and he just pretty similar to that. The context was if there was an adaptor (I thought I had bought the right one but I had not) and he was pointing to some shops outside that ultimately didn't have it. I ended up walking down to the station and getting one for A$45. At least it would serve me for the rest of the trip.

 

[NSun]

The next day I did a day trip out to Lake Como. The town of Como is just a ~50 minute train from Central Station and almost reminded me of Queenstown, New Zealand. I didn't see much beyond the town of Como itself but would like to come back some day for another visit. Again, I'll let the pictures do the talking.

 

[NSun]

The next day was going to be the busiest of the trip. I was training it from Milan to Paris via Geneva with an afternoon in Geneva and an evening in Paris. The train left from Milan Central station which had stunning architecture.



The first train ride was a 4 hour trip with TrenItalia. The seats were organised in fours around a collapsible table. I started with just one person on the other side before they left about an hour in. Then two other people joined later on, sitting opposite me, and they went through to Geneva.





After leaving Milan we went through the Italian countryside.



Then, ironically after passing through a 5 minute tunnel, we were in Switzerland. Initially it was just more countryside.



But the last hour and a half or so was entirely along Lake Geneva (or Lac Leman). I've never seen such blue water and desperately want to come back and spend a week or two at a hotel somewhere along here.

 

[NSun]

I arrived in Geneva at 12.30pm and had two hours in between trains. I only had time to do a brief walk around the city and liked what I saw.











I couldn't help but get some Swiss chocolate.



But then got Maccas simply because I saw they had screens and I didn't want to risk a language barrier - yes I know Geneva is French speaking but as Switzerland is bilingual I just preferred to stay safe. I also used wifi to speak to family back home. It's one thing to speak to them in your hotel room but another when you're out and about - they told me I made their day.

 

[craven morehead]

You certainly got around

 

[VPS]

I arrived in Geneva at 12.30pm and had two hours in between trains. I only had time to do a brief walk around the city and liked what I saw.

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I couldn't help but get some Swiss chocolate.

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But then got Maccas simply because I saw they had screens and I didn't want to risk a language barrier - yes I know Geneva is French speaking but as Switzerland is bilingual I just preferred to stay safe. I also used wifi to speak to family back home. It's one thing to speak to them in your hotel room but another when you're out and about - they told me I made their day.

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I'm loving these photos but you go to Switzerland and you get White Chocolate - WTF

 

[NSun]

I'm loving these photos but you go to Switzerland and you get White Chocolate - WTF

I'm a sucker for white chocolate. Maybe I just felt sorry that there was so much of it in the shop whereas darker flavours were selling fast.

 

[NSun]

Anyway, it was back to Geneva Station. Trains leaving for France leave from a special two platforms that are blocked off from the rest by a security check...well, infrastructure for it but there wasn't much other than having a door that only opened half an hour before. It took about 3 hours to get to Paris. There were a lot more larger towns but I did get to see one big lake - my iPhone says Le Poizat-Lalleyriat.



I should note, this was my first time to Paris. Sadly I didn't make it before my grandfather died, he passed away in May and Paris was his favourite city. He was born in Yugoslavia in the 1930s then spent a couple of years in Paris in the 1950s. One reason I think he liked Paris because he was an architect and Paris just has beautiful stuff everywhere. I booked the Holiday in at Gare du Nord and thought the train would pull in there but it ended up getting into Gare de Lyon. This was my first view of Paris, outside Gare de Lyon.



Caught the metro to Franklin D Roosevelt Station. and here was the view out of the station. I was most impressed with the Paris Metro of all the systems I encountered on this trip. Oddly, it was the first time I saw a sign warning against pickpockets. I had my carry on bag with my but my most valuables (my phone, wallet and passport) in a bumbag under my shirt - so I felt safe. Although the weather was perfect everywhere, Paris saw the most heat (30 degrees) and the latest sunset (well after 9pm and there was some faint light after 10am).

I would go closer to the Arch but the first goal was to see the Eiffel Tower.





My first sight of the Eiffel Tower, so just walked straight there.

 

[NSun]

And here it is, the Eiffel Tower. I didn't go up because of my carry-on bag. But there was still a lot to see at ground level including bites to eat and merchandise.



To my grandfather...hardly a drink but a crepe, something he actually liked.



Gradually walked away, over the Pont de Arts - the Love Lock Bridge. It was 7.30pm by this point.





Made it to the Arch of Triumph. Ultimately this was as close as I got because to get to it either you have to go under a tunnel or pay, or risk your life crossing the road.



At this point I decided to head to the hotel. Unfortunatly in the process of changing lines I ended up exiting from the secure area and would have to buy another ticket. So I decided to walk in that area for a bit and I happened to be at Pont Saint-Michel. It was 8.45pm right then.

 

[NSun]

At about 9.15pm I made it to my hotel which was right across the road from Gare d'Est.



It was impressive from the outside but least impressive from the inside so far as views are concerned, but it seems I drew the short straw.





The bathroom was quite tight, but no shub.



I went to bed pretty fast and woke up around 6am. While Paris had a late sunset it had the latest sunrise of any city in Europe I went to with the sun still coming up after 6. I went on a walk for about an hour towards the south. It was great to do a bit of sightseeing with less tourists out and about. This was Stratsbourg Boulevarde (don't know the French).




Went through a back alley on the way back and stumbled across this arch. At first I didn't know if I'd gone too far or was so tired I was just seeing things. Did some Googling later that day and turns out it was the Porte Saint-Denis, and it's actually about 2 centuries older than the Arch of Triumph, built in the 1670s. In those days it marked one of Paris' city walls.

 

[rginoz]

The area from the Gare de l'Est east towards the Canal St Martin has been considerably gentrified and updated over the past decade or so. There are lots of small bars and restaurants serving the local communities, and not the mass tourist trade. Just to the north from the Porte St Denis is an area where young ladies stand in doorways - I've always presumed they are waiting to provide travellers with advice on sight seeing and public transport information. Isn't that so?

I'm enjoying your trip report, @NSun. You're setting a cracking pace across Europe.

 

[kyle]

And even when you're on the correct street, it's not blatantly obvious because it is just another one of these seemingly the same buildings.

I had the same problem in London, then I discovered Live View in Google Maps - it uses the camera to detect the buildings and basically like VR, overlays the walking direction arrows on the screen and very accurate.

 

[Kerrodt]

This is a great trip report. I'm really enjoying it. But you seem obsessed with "shubs" - I had never heard of the term until I read this trip report, so if nothing else, apart from sharing the luxury of your travel adventures, I have learnt something new.