Vienna – November 2022

Sunday 27 November

Last day in Vienna and a walk up to the Albertina, once imperial apartments. A walk through the state rooms and then onto the gallery with Picasso, Monet, Miro, Degas to name a few

Walk around the Burggarten Park and passed the opera House which sadly was closed. A last glass of orange punch by the cathedral and a bite to eat in Cafe Mozart then on to the airport.

Saturday 26 November

Started the day around the museum quarter

Then onto the Hofburg Palace where the Spanish Riding School is located. We went to the Kaiserliche Schatzkammer to see the crown jewels and royal regalia

Then onto the Rathaus, city Hall, and another Christmas Market.

Then back on the bus to Prater, a giant outdoor playground with every imaginable roller coaster, dodgem and fairground ride. We chose to go on the Riesenrad, the oldest ferris wheel in the world built in 1897 and made even more famous for appearing in many films

Daily coffee and cake in a jungle themed coffee shop!

Tour around the Danube and Danube island

Walk down to the cathedral for a hot punch

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Finished the evening with traditional Austrian fare, a giant Wiener Schnitzel followed by apple strudel

Friday 25 November

This evening we ate in a Swiss restaurant and had a cheese fondue followed by apple strudel. The free cherry brandy had to be downed in one! Afterwards we attended a classical music concert in the cathedral.

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Took the tourist bus to the Schonbrunn Schloss, a Baroque Palace from the Habsburg empire. Toured the state apartments and walked around the extensive grounds with fountains and follies

A couple of the Christmas Market stalls

The afternoon was spent at the Schloss Belvedere. A beautiful building with the most amazing view of the city.

Enjoyed looking through the gallery, especially the Klimt

Thursday 24 November

Night out to a local Italian, really good food but huge portions. The Christmas decorations are very pretty

Arrived in Vienna to rain, but hopefully is brightening up tomorrow. Walk to the cathedral and coffee and sacchertorte.

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Baltic States – Cruise 2006

Joined the Star Princess for a cruise around the Baltic

Stockholm, Sweden

Helsinki, Finland

St Petersburg, Russia

Next stop was St Petersburg, known as the Venice of Russia

Lots to see including the Peterhof Palace, Winter Palace, Church of the Spilled Blood and the statue of Peter the Great

Was lovely to meet these two ladies, Laura and Kevan from Texas and the start of a long friendship

Tallinn, Estonia

Gdansk, Poland

Oslo, Norway

The Viking Museum and Vigeland Sculpture Park

Copenhagen, Denmark

The Little Mermaid, Nyhavn and Rosenborg Palace

Kronborg Castle, Helsingor

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ITALY

Lake Garda – over 20 years

Over the last 20 years I have been visiting the beautiful Lakes of Italy and my especial favourite Lake Garda.

Having stayed in a couple of locations, I now continue to head back to the same resort and the same hotel where I am made to feel like an old friend and treated so well.

Here are some photos taken over a number of years and maybe over the coming years there will be more to post!

Photos from 2022

July 2022, another visit, this time with my friend Anne

Photos from 2019

Gardone Riviera

The beautiful Isola Garda

These photos are from 2016, my lovely room, view and welcome.  The botanical gardens are a short walk up the hill in Gardone Sopra and worth a visit every year and the chuch and view from Gardone Sopra

These photos were taken in 2014 when Adam and Eleanor joined me.    The big hotel on the side of the lake is where I stay, the wonderful Grand Hotel in Gardone.