Category: travel

Cycling Lake Constance in Europe

On By Rick McIn cycling, travelLeave a comment

My cycle touring began July 3, 2024.

Getting off the train from Munich in Lindau, I first cycled to Bregenz, Austria to test the bike with a full load.

NO PROBLEMS.

I’d read that the cycling north of the lake was more interesting than the south, so planned to put in another 40km on my first day.

BUT it rained hard. And was scheduled to rain until 9pm … so I checked into a hostel rather than camping.

Lindau is very pretty, even in the rain.

Cycling Europe I see a hundred interesting things a day.

For example, this water fountain in a hostel. Choose TAP or CARBONATED.

The main cycling route is great and (usually) easy to follow. I only share with motor vehicles about 25% of the time.

I was intrigued by Friedrichshafen.

The Zeppelin factory here, 1942 and 1945, used slave labor of hundreds of concentration camp prisoners from Dachau and Dora-Mittelbau.

Terrible history. But interesting tourist stop.

I’d planned to cycle around the lake into Switzerland — but by coincidence I rode up to the ferry one minute before it departed.

KARMA

Switzerland is far more expensive than Germany. Double the price for some things.

It’s more rural on the Swiss side of the lake. Many vineyards.

Finding no place to wild camp, I finally checked into a pretty campground on the lake.

Camping is highest priority for families with kids. A paradise here.

Like last year, there has been a lot of flooding in Germany.

Water is still very high.

Next day I rode on to Rhine Falls (Rheinfalls), Switzerland — the highlight, so far.

Rhine Falls (Rheinfalls), Switzerland

On By Rick McIn travel2 Comments

The highlight of my Rhine river cycling tour — so far — has been the the most powerful waterfall in Europe.

The Rhine Falls (German: Rheinfall) are 150 metres (490 ft) wide and 23 metres (75 ft) high. 

There are other highlights nearby, including the Wörth Castle (Swiss German: Schlössli Wörth) — BUT I couldn’t safely leave my bike and gear to visit those.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Off to Cycle the Rhine 🚴

On By Rick McIn cycling, hiking, travel2 Comments

I picked up my bike in Munich. Friends had been storing it for me since LAST summer.

We had a great time. Several good meals. Plenty of wine. And one round of golf.

Claudia and her buoys 😀

I’m planning to cycle the Rhine north through Germany ➙ Continue up to Denmark ➙ Ferry to the Faroe Islands ➙ And on to Iceland.

I’ll fly out of Reykjavík.

I’ll start in July 2024 where I quit cycling summer of 2023 — in beautiful Lindau on Lake Constance, Germany.

… I want to get back to this kind of shape. 6 foot, 3 inches. 215 pounds. 😀

Summer 2023

I’ll mostly be riding the Eurovela 15 – Rhine Cycle Route.

As the Deutschland Rail ticket is still next to free in 2024, I’ll hop local trains as needed in Germany.

At some point I’ll leave the river and head for the Danish border. Likely joining the Eurovela 12, the North Sea Cycle Route

I must reach the north tip of Denmark to catch my long scheduled ferry to the Faroe Islands.

Farewell Austria – Leaving Salzburg

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Of the 4 largest cities in Austria, Salzburg is easily my favourite.

This time I walked several times through high parklands above town. Up on these cliffs.

There are surprisingly few people up there.

And great vistas, of course.

The old town is great.

But there are many modern touches, as well.

All that said — I much prefer Germany to Austria. 😀

Visiting Kitzbühel, Austria

On By Rick McIn hiking, travelLeave a comment

You’ll already know the name Kitzbühel as a legendary winter sports resort, 

The famous Hahnenkamm mountain above Kitzbühel, where every January the world’s best downhill skiers race for World Cup glory. Many consider it the most challenge course on the circuit.

I went to hike down that famed slope. Over 1200m. … I took a cable car up. 😀

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Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Crazy Canucks Tod Brooker and Ken Read won here.

The town itself is not particularly gorgeous when compared against other famed ski villages.

But I still enjoyed it.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I slept in a Vienna IKEA

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Jo&Joe Hostel in Vienna is housed in the 5th and 6th floors of an IKEA store at the West Train Station.

You can walk back and forth between the hostel and the 4th floor IKEA restaurant level. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Visiting Bratislava, Slovakia

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This man at work — Čumil — is just as much a symbol of this city as the Castle. 😀

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia. Close to Vienna. Both on the beautiful Danube.

I’d cycled many days along the Danube in 2023.

The best way there is by ferry between Vienna and Bratislava.

I tried and failed to cycle to Devín Castle, from Bratislava. I would have been forced on to a narrow, busy road.

BUT here it is from the ferry.

Most of the tourists in Bratislava come from Czech Republic, Germany, and Austria. It’s mostly ignored by the rest of the world.

We visit the Old Town, admiring historic architecture including baroque palaces.

Bratislava Castle

One of the most prominent structures in the city is Bratislava Castle close to the UFO Bridge.

UFO Bridge

There’s a restaurant up in the UFO. The best vista in town.

Harkening back to the old Soviet Union days there is plenty of what I always refer to as rectal-linear architecture.

The highlight for me was Slavín. A memorial monument and military cemetery remembering thousands of Soviet Army soldiers who fell during World War II while taking over the city in April 1945 from the NAZIs.

There’s more, of course, including a super modern shopping mall.

What REALLY enticed me to go to Bratislava was the CHORS like a hotel hostel.

I was intrigued.

  • world’s first NFT hostel
  • capsule “apartments”
  • art boutique hostel

I never did figure out the NFT angle, BUT this is one fantastic hostel. One of the best I’ve ever encountered out of hundreds.

Clean, roomy, spacious, classy. FAST internet, a rarity in this part of the world.

Not inexpensive for me. 33 euro = USD $35 / night. Plus a high city tax of about $4 / day.

BUT you can pay in Bitcoin, if you like. 😀

Zagreb Croatia – Cathedral

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Zagreb, the capital, is no tourist’s favourite destination in Croatia. 😀

But the Cathedral is lovely.

Sadly it was much destroyed in an earthquake 1880.

Here it is after repairs.

And somewhat damaged in an earthquake 2020 with an epicenter 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of the city centre

Four years later, it’s still under repair.

What caught my eye is the pretty scaffolding. Some kind of ultramodern top on an ancient Cathedral.

Visiting Zadar, Croatia

On By Rick McIn hiking, travelLeave a comment

Many tourists skip Zadar ➙ a mistake, I’d say.

Most of my photos are sunsets on the Adriatic coast.

I only went to Zadar as it’s the best jumping off point for Plitvice Lakes National Park.

A UNESCO World Heritage site with close to 1.5 million visitors each year.

Zadar gained its urban structure in Roman times; during the time of Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus, the town was fortified and the city walls with towers and gates were built. …

There’s an interesting sea organ.

An unusual light show called Monument to the Sun.  Photovoltaic solar modules collect power during the day, producing a light show after dark.

As an important port city, a competitor to Venice, there are a lot of sunken and junky ships.

I do recommend a stopover in Zadar. Stay close to the Old City.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Keep in Mind

I found about 80% of Croatians I met as a tourist were rude. Rude by Canadian standards. There’s a good chance they weren’t intending to be rude — but it’s simply the culture here and in much of Eastern Europe.

Croatian men I found mostly macho posturing, chain smoking, or shouting into a mobile phone in public. And they all seem to have buzz cuts.

Many things do not work for the tourist in Croatia 2024. If you are promised snakes, there will be NO snakes. Also no coffee. Nor a machine. And the rental bike will be unusable. 😀

Wifi will be terrible. Use DATA instead, which is inexpensive in Europe.

Relaxing Split, Croatia

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After Dubrovnik, everyone agrees that Split is an excellent next destination.

The best way to get from Dubrovnik to Split is by ferry.

Not being a beach fan, I skipped the famed islands. Took no boat tours other than this ferry.

There are a LOT of cruise ships in 2024.

Split was founded as the Greek colony of Aspálathos in the 3rd or 2nd century BCE, and in 305 CE, it became the site of the Palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian. 

There are ruins a plenty. And it’s much easier to visit those here than in crowded Dubrovnik.

Split is relaxing and casual. You don’t feel obliged to see ALL the famous attractions.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Keep in Mind

Many things do not work for the tourist in Croatia 2024. If you are promised snakes, there will be no snakes. Also no coffee. Nor a machine. And the rental bike will be unusable. 😀