Fall 2021. In theory we might take a trip to other continents, however locations we wanted such as Japan or the UK were difficult to prepare ahead. Rather we arranged a rail journey to Eastern Europe, taking a trip to Berlin, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Karlovy Vary, Pilsen, Bratislava, Poprad, Vienna, Linz and Salzburg By taking a trip to Germany, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Austria, we check out a location which remained in the (not too far-off) previous bonded together by the Holy Roman Empire of the German Country and by Austria-Hungary

3 weeks, some twenty-six trains, 9 train operators, 9 hotels and host cities. Lots of, numerous rail kilometers, many meals and method a lot of desserts. This summarize our 2021 Rail Trip of Imperial Europe In a shift year from COVID-19 lockdowns to more practical coronavirus countermeasures

We have actually seen and experienced really various handles dealing with the pandemic. And as in Belgium and possibly all over, there we often huge inconsistencies in between theory (the law) and practice by the public.

Typical practices

Besides coronavirus countermeasures we did discovered typical qualities in the nations we went to.

Being early. Getting up early, beginning the day early and having dinner early. It captured us out in Wrocław a bit, when wishing to have supper at Grape Dining Establishment We scheduled online, got verification, however missed out on a mail stating it was complete. Then adjust your online reservation system, just enabling same-day reservations by phone. Anyhow we might have a table, however not the complete multicourse supper.

It was 7.30 PM. Not 9, not 8.30, not 8. 7.30 PM. Barely “late”, you ‘d believe.

Another typical practice was the ‘German design’ duvet on the bed. Folded, not long enough to review your bed mattress and not really broad either. At Hotel Imperial in Karlovy Vary, for example, that was actually bothersome.

Mentioning Hotel Imperial. That hotel was ‘late’. Health club opened just at 8AM throughout the week and 10AM on Saturday and Sunday. The swimming pool had likewise limiting opening hours. As did the funicular. Hotel Imperial seemed like boarding school.

Off the beaten track

Okay, mentioning our option of cities is taking a trip ‘off the beaten track’, is overstated. It’s not that Berlin, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Karlovy Vary, Pilsen, Bratislava, Poprad, Vienna, Linz and Salzburg are unidentified, or ‘concealed gems’. However a few of them are not leading of mind when individuals take a trip to Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Austria. Slovakia as a whole is not an A-list location.

We voluntarily searched for locations we had not done or were basically initial. These were all enjoyable surprises.

So

So, after 60+ posts, it’s time t finish up. We completely enjoyed this journey. The very first long train experience given that the pandemic. We were fortunate with the weather condition too. It was so great to be away.

On to the next experiences!

2021 Rail Trip of Imperial Europe

1. POTSDAM 2021|Schloss Sanssouci.
2. 1945 Potsdam Conference’s Cecilienhof Palace.
3. Potsdam 2021.
4. EVALUATION|InterContinental Berlin.
5. BERLIN 2021|Pergamon, ‘Das Panorama’.
6. BERLIN 2021|Humboldt Online Forum in the Berlin Palace.
7. BERLIN 2021|The Bundestag in the Reichstag.
8. Berlin 2021.
9. By train from Berlin to Gdansk by means of Szczecin.
10. Stopover in Szczecin.
11. EVALUATION|Restauracja Ritz in Gdańsk.
12. EVALUATION|Vacation Inn Gdansk.
13. GDAŃSK|Museum of the 2nd World War.
14. GDAŃSK|European Uniformity Centre or Europejskie Centrum Solidarności.
15. A walk through Gdańsk.
16. Gdańsk 2021.
17. POLAND|PKP Intercity Gdansk to Wroclaw by means of Warsaw.
18. Wrocław Museum of Architecture.
19. The Dwarfs of Wrocław.
20. Wrocław.
21. Poland 2021.
22. By train from Wroclaw to Karlovy Vary.
23. Karlovy Vary.
24. EVALUATION|Hotel Imperial Karlovy Vary.
25. Czechia’s Great Health spa Town of Europe Františkovy Lázně.
26. CZECHIA|Pilsen Historic Underground Tunnels.
27. CZECHIA|Pilsner Urquell Brewery Trip.
28. CZECHIA|Pilsen.
29. CZECHIA 2021|Cheb and its castle.
30. Hotel space for one.
31. By train from Karlovy Vary to Prague by means of Pilsen.
32. Czechia 2021.
33. RegioJet from Prague to Bratislava.
34. Bratislava Castle.
35. EVALUATION|Crowne Plaza Bratislava.
36. Bratislava on a rainy Monday.
37. ZSSK Quick Train Tatran from Bratislava to Strba.
38. The Tatra rack and electrical Train from Strba by means of Strbske Pleso to Poprad tatry.
39. SLOVAKIA|AquaCity Poprad.
40. EVALUATION|Hotel Seasons AquaCity Poprad.
41. Slovakia 2021.
42. Poprad– Bratislava– Vienna with ZSSK’s intercity train.
43. VIENNA|Dining establishment Steirereck.
44. EVALUATION|InterContinental Wien.
45. VIENNA|High-end Sisi’s in Schönbrunn Palace.
46. The Hofburg in Vienna.
47. Vienna’s Furnishings Museum.
48. Vienna 2021.
49. Pöstlingberg & & Grottenbahn in Linz.
50. EVALUATION|Motel One Linz.
51. Linz.
52. AUSTRIA|ÖBB RailJet from Linz to Salzburg.
53. BAVARIA|Lokwelt– Engine World in Freilassing.
54. EVALUATION|Hotel Sacher Salzburg.
55. SALZBURG|Mirabell Palace and the Mozart House.
56. SALZBURG|Hohensalzburg Fortress.
57. Salzburg Cathedral + Salzburg Residenz = DomQuartier museums.
58. SALZBURG|Formula 1 vehicles and the Flying Bulls at Red Bull’s Hangar-7.
59. AUSTRIA|Salzburg 2021.
60. Austria 2021.
61. Salzburg– Frankfurt by DB Intercity.
62. RAIL TRIP OF EUROPE|How simple is exploring Europe by train?.