The Woodyren's 2022 wanderings. Maldives Mallorca Malaga Mykonos and the Matterhorn plus many parts/ports in between.

[woodyren]

Next train took us up to the highest point for us today. Klein Scheidegg. There is another train much higher up to Jungfraujoch. We didn't take that option.

 

[woodyren]

Lastly down the mountain and back to Interlaken via Grindelwald.

With Eurail discount the cost of the 4 trains to complete the circuit was 62 CHF. A very enjoyable day.

Tomorrow we head to Lake Garda in Italy for three nights.

 

[ellen10]

You have had spectacular weather! We stayed 5 nights based in Wengen back in 2016, loved it! Hiked all over the mountains and used the little trains. You are bringing back lots of great memories.

 

[Mumanddad]

You have had spectacular weather! We stayed 5 nights based in Wengen back in 2016, loved it! Hiked all over the mountains and used the little trains. You are bringing back lots of great memories.

We did the same thing in 2017, it was such a joy to look out from our Wengen apartment to see the hills towards Murren covered in snow. The Swiss scenery was amazing and the week we had there was memorable.

Great review.

 

[tgh]

Wonderful trip down memory lane Woodyren , thanks heaps
We have been up to Jungfraujoch twice (a long time ago) , the first time I got a bit lightheaded and did not do much but the second time with kids we all skied on the rope tow and had a ball. IIrc we also walked down some of the way but cannot remember the details.

 

[QF029]

From LHR we caught the tube to our hotel. A little crowded and hot but manageable easily with out luggage.

Noticeable that hardly anyone was wearing masks in London. Even in the most crowded situation.

Probably of little interest to many but from my perspective with a 40+ year career in rail maintenance, management, inspection, training, auditing etc I was shocked at the amount of scrap left lying around and the general untidiness of the rail corridor. View attachment 287796View attachment 287797View attachment 287798
Our London hotel is the Intercontinental O2 situated between the Thames and O2 arena. Having zero knowledge of London I made the booking due to the price compared to other 5* hotels at the time and because the good deal came with lounge access.

First impressions after 1 day of the hotel, lounge, staff and general area have been good.

Our room is a 10th floor corner room with views over the Thames in both directions.

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Great TR! I would have definitely taken the Elizabeth Line to Canary Wharf (unless you arrived on a Sunday). So much belter than the Piccadilly line.

 

[woodyren]

Last night in Interlaken. Nice views from the hotel balcony.



Next destination was Desenzano del Garda in Italy. Another great Swiss train experience. Once we crossed the border into Italy it was like the switch of efficiency and organisation was flicked off. Train delays, limited customer service, rubbish strewn rail corridor and then crowded and chaotic Milano Central and a jam packed local train. No photos of the Italian trains as we were on high alert for pick pockets

A few shots from the journey.

 

[woodyren]

Arrived at the Hotel City Desenzano del Garda. Good location. Nice room. Decent breakfast included.



Fantastic budget dinner for two with a great view. Pizza and a 650 ml beer from a back street husband and wife place eaten overlooking Lake Garda. €11.00.



The thing that makes travel so easy and enjoyable for us is that we enjoy a bit of luxury but are almost as equally at home living like veteran backpackers.

 

[VPS]

Loving those photos of Switzerland - thanks

 

[woodyren]

Really enjoying our few days in the Lake Garda region. First photos from Desenzano del Garda where we are based.

Lots of reasonably priced eateries and a good long beachfront dotted with some nice hotels and private villas.

Very relaxing.





Found this beer in the supermarket. Being the curious type I gave it a try. 6.6%.

 

[woodyren]

On day two we caught the ferry to Sirmione del Garda. Much more up market with some huge private villas at the tip of peninsular. Very vibrant town. We originally thought we would book a day all ferry pass and visit a number of the lake's villages. Luckily we didn't as we spent a full day in Sirmione.

Could easily spend a few weeks sampling all the lake locations.

 

[woodyren]

Today we visited Venice. It was never planned as part of the trip but once I realised it was only a few hours away by train and we have unused days on our Eurail pass we decided to visit such a well know icon city.

Not saying we didn't enjoy it but in hindsight I would have much rather visited another one or two of the Lake Garda villages.

 

[ellen10]

We visited Lake Garda in 2019, our first time there and really enjoyed it. On the same trip we cycled/barge to Venice, so busy but Still enjoyed our stay using back streets and avoiding the crowds. Still loving following along with your trip.

 

[Stewey]

Loving the TR @woodyren and amazing photos and scenery

Bravo

 

[woodyren]

Moving on from Lake Garda to Florence. Local train to Milan Central hectic and crowded as usual. The big issue with local trains in Italy is lack of luggage space. So many seats taken up with luggage. People have no option so it's not as if they are rude.

Then from Milan to Florence our first high speed Italian train. Seat bookings required and it was €10 per person on top of our Eurail pass. Great train and up there with any train we have previously travelled on.

Masks still compulsory on all Italian trains. A person in our carriage did not have one and was instructed to purchase one on board. €10. Ouch.

 

[woodyren]

Our Florence hotel 7Florence B&B was directly across the road from Florence station. Hard to find as there was only a very small sign above the entrance. It was situated on the second floor. A little noisy at night but a wonderful location in the Santa Maria Novella district.

Inexpensive at just over €100 per day.

 

[woodyren]

First nights walk around Florence. Visited the Central Market area to organise our pre cruise covid test and had dinner in the eateries above the market.

 

[woodyren]

Second day in Florence was another 20,000 step walking day. Very crowded and a huge number of tour groups following the flag. I have developed a strategy. Rather than using a map or Google maps I just sit in behind the peloton of a group and get towed around the sites.

 

[woodyren]

Mrs Woodyren retired to the hotel and I continued to explore this wonderful city.

First photo tucked in behind the peloton.

 

[woodyren]

Last day in Florence. Early train to Pisa. Another overcrowded train with luggage everywhere.

One thing I have noticed on local Italian trains. We have never had our tickets checked on board or at entry and exit stations.

Of course we visited to tick the Tower off our bucket list and I had zero idea of what else to expect. We were pleasantly surprised by the rest of the city areas we visited. Much more relaxed than the crowds of Florence.

I have decided to spare you all the photos of us pushing against the Tower.

Another good day.

Tomorrow we have a high speed train booking to Rome and then a local train to Civitavecchia to join our cruise on Odyssey of the Seas.

Considering we had no plan initially for the two weeks we had between cruises I must say that the Eurail train pass and choice of places to visit has been a wonderful experience we will never forget. It has been hectic and it would have been great to spend more time in most of the places but we have seen so much and loved every minute.