SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains in J

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

Here comes our train home


Right one time. German rail efficiency.
The train disgorges commuters and then we jump on, again finding our F cabin.
This time the train is about 50% full in F and Y seems very busy.
Through the journey a conductor shows up and clips the ticket.


It has been a magical day and would so recommend it. We were glad we left early to maximize the day. It would have been easier to stay longer - in fact we were considering having dinner in Fussen then taking a later train (they run about every hour or so). But in the end we'd had our brains maxed out, feet were getting tired and mobiles were getting low on juice. So decision made to catch the approx 4p train and head back into Munich for evening drinks and dinner in the city somewhere.

I wanted something to eat that was uncomplicated. I wanted some beer and some basic food.
So we wondered a little downtown and found a place that appear to be in a backstreet and no tourists (from what we could tell). There was no English menu out the front.


Cleansing shared entree - self explanatory of what it is me-thinks


In the end we decided to order two mains then share. I let SWMBO pick first and sure enough it was going to be a heavy dish.
Well to be honest I did also encourage her to order it when we did a translate on the menu.

SWMBO went for a Spatzle dish that was oh so tasty ... then again anything swimming in cream is usually a winner.
It was washed down with some red that hit the spot


TBC ...

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

I order something as basic I could. A bit of schnitzel and potatoes. It was hot, tasty and very tender. A good choice for a basic meal. A few glasses of local beer washed it down. The day ended well.


A couple more shots of how easy it is to get to the Hilton Munich City.
You'll see Hilton one way, Holiday Inn the other. Always good to have choices.


Metro entrance to Hilton


Follow the path - one way to Hilton lift up to lobby or other way to car-park entrance


Ok well we saw a heap of other churches and museums whilst in Munich. Ate too much, drank too much and feet sore from lots of walking.
Munich is a great place to visit and I would highly suggest adding this to your list of to-do cities.

TBC ...

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

The time had come to leave Munich and head to Frankfurt.
We needed to be in FRA on a specific date to catch up with a few people.

Back to Munch station we go.
We had pe-purchased our tickets online before leaving Sydney and printed them off.

Train going to Frankfurt ... check


What a handsome looking train


Sure enough we seem to have another split train coming up. So we make sure we're in the right carriage. We have reserved seating.


The front of the train


Our cabin in F. Again, due to purchasing in advance the price premium was trivial for the extra space


TBC ...

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

This time round we selected a window seat each facing each other vs both forward facing. Seats are very comfortable.


Cabin shot - plenty of overhead rack space


A quick check of the onboard signage ... going to Frankfurt, double check, check.


Train F cabin Bathroom


In-seat menu. They come and take your orders


TBC ...

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

Other side of menu


View from Munich to Frankfurt


Snow


More snow ... check. We love it


TBC ...

 

[GarrettM]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

Great update again nonpop. They really are strict about that no photo thing. But if you time it just right you can sneak a couple. Here's the only one I got away with. Digital cameras have come a long way since the early 00s.


Did you walk across the cliff bridge as well?

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

Frankfurt station was now fast approaching.
About 30 mins out little sweets were handed out.


The journey was uneventful and on time. The train has the beauty of taking you city centre to city centre. The journey may seem longer on paper with train vs plane but the train really is quicker as we find showing up 20 mins before train departure is plenty. Plus no security and no LAGs issues make it much faster when everything is taken into account. I'm just disappointing I can't get a QF codeshare or OW train number to earn SCs.


Frankfurt station


More station


Outside pic of station


TBC ...

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

Great update again nonpop. They really are strict about that no photo thing. But if you time it just right you can sneak a couple. Here's the only one I got away with. Digital cameras have come a long way since the early 00s.
Did you walk across the cliff bridge as well?

Yeah to be totally honest we did sneak a few pics in at the Fussen castles.
This was one of the view shots as well. Breathtaking to see.



Backside of the Fussen main castle on the way out


This was the waiting area to get into the castle. Just wait for your number to be displayed.


The the bridge ... nope she was close for renovations. So best we could do is get a few pics from a distance.


And another random view pic from the main castle @ Fussen looking back down

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

So after arriving into Frankfurt .. we went looking for the local metro entrance as we had to get to the Hilton Frankfurt


Underground Metro station


And our domestic train ... no need for a timetable, but it appears it runs every 3 mins or so. Oh the waiting


After the quick metro train, we get off at our stop. HLO working a treat again.
We find our Hilton which is a short few mins walk.


I spy the lobby bar as I walk in ... good for a quickie before bed me-thinks later on


TBC ...

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

Lobby. A very business Hilton hotel.

We check-in and are recognized as Gold. The check-in process is fast and efficient - yet 'cool'.
I am advised where breakfast is and the hours of operation + where the gym etc is.
I then ask about exec lounge access and I am denied. They only upgrade Golds if you book the room just below exec lounge access. As we've booked an entry level room then no-go. Somehow I suspect they get a of Golds and Gold is the new Bronze.


Looking down into the hotel


Room


Standard functionality work desk


Bathroom - Yeah to a proper shower ... and better still ...

TBC ...

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

It has a bath as well


Amenities ... Rrrr small size but on day-1 we seem to have double of everything which is a great start.
Though we still go through the same process of crash tackling housekeeping each morning for more of everything.


View from room


Lobby in the evening. Breakfast / dinner area lit up in blue


We decide to go for a wonder after checking in ad head to the old city which is very easily reached via the metro.
There is a light drizzle in the air.


TBC ...

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

The weather was average which therefore permitted us a glass or two of hot spiced red wine.
We could have chosen to drink it inside our stay out under a large umbrella. We stayed out. Hot wine just seemed to need the drizzle to make it so much better. And €2.50 a glass was a bargain especially when we said we were from Australia - as we had to clarify a couple of flavours - the server poured us very large servings


After wondering around old town we decided to find somewhere to eat. This placed seemed as good as any and without data roaming we just had to take our chances.


Main #1 was pork Bavarian style (or something like that).


Main #2 was pork knuckle ... this was very good with crispy skin.


Both washed down with red and beer.

TBC ...

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

Downtown


A new day and we decide to make our way to see Heidelberg Castle. We decide not to pre-purchase anything and just show up.
So we head off to the main Frankfurt train station and buy a ticket from a return vending machine. Off to find our train to Heidelberg. This time at a more sensible hour of the morning.


Train ... check.


Another double deck train ... 2nd class for us (I don't think F is an option on this run).


We arrive at Heidelberg station and jump on a public bus. A quick check with the driver that he stops at the Funicular and we're good to go.
The funicular is one way to get to Heidelburg castle which is then a short walk.


TBC ...

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

Here comes our chariot


Castle time ... we go into the ticket booth and book the next available guided tour in English which is in about 30 mins. Perfect timing.


Castle entrance


Inner courtyard


View across the town


TBC ...

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

More view


This was the armory which was blown up from the inside (intentionally)


More castle and view


Internal castle shot ... pics aren't allowed inside the actual castle on the guided tour. There is a lot of good stuff to see and well worth adding to the list


This is really hard to photograph ... it is a mega wine barrel in the castle.
Apparently it was just for wine but any fermented beverage was tipped in. The locals had to pay a tax of their booze output. It was all then tipped into this barrel regardless if ale, cider etc. The issue was water was toxic so this 'soup' became what was served within the castle. Boiling water hadn't yet been understood to kill the bugs.

TBC ...

 

[Pablo]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

Loving this tr. How many days do you need in Budapest?

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

Within Heidleburg Castle is a pharmac_ museum and is included in the ticket price. So worth taking a visit to.


Lots of bottles of potions


And more drug culture stuff


Ok time to leave the castle. The ticket we had allowed us to go further up the funicular 1 stop which we did for a quick look-out then we headed back home to Frankfurt.


TBC ...

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

Loving this tr. How many days do you need in Budapest?

Hey thanks for the kinds words. Great to know you are getting some value out of it.

Always depends upon how much you like to see and do and at what pace. IMHO, 6 full days is about ideal to cover Budapest ... but then if you start to stretch your wings you'll need more. If you haven't seen it, go do it. However; if you haven't been to Prague, then I'd go there first (we thought Prague was 'better'). But the two cities must be seen. And both are great value.

 

[nonpop]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

That night over a few glasses of red and more German food, SWMBO tells me that we're going to visit ISIS tomorrow and we'll need to catch another train.
At this point I wonder if her drink has been spiked. But she assures me it isn't the ISIS splashed all across the media.

Off to the station we go and buy tickets to Mainz form a vending machine.


Mainz station ... a quick trip from Frankfurt on another very nice domestic train. I note it is the same train that goes to the airport.


So we then start wondering and come to a shopping centre (think your local Westfield).
Within the centre is this stunning bit of work:

Temple of Isis

It isn't signposted outside the centre either. Almost like they don't want you to find it.
Entry is free except for the mandatory donation. We chip in €5 for 2 pax and we are waived in and provided a self guided audio set.



TBC ...

 

[Pablo]

Re: SYD-xBKK-HEL-BUD-VIE-MUC-FRA-xHEL-xBKK-SYD EK B777, AY A350, QF A330, + Trains i

Great. Thanks for that. We are planning a trip for 2017 and trying to decide the last city and I'm torn between Budapest and Prague. I went to Prague in '93 and just loved it but have always wanted to do Budapest as well. So have to decide between the 2.

Decisions, decisions.

May depend on flights in the end and what we can get availability wise.

Keep the report coming. It's fantastic.