2024-05/6 Europe

Our route around Europe. We flew into Helsinki from Melbourne via Doha and returned to Melbourne from Prague, again via Doha

Our long and complex trip to Europe began by heading to Helsinki to meet up with Bill and Tuula. The first leg was to Doha on Qatar airways and then to Helsinki on Finnair. Both flights were good but Qatar definitely beats Finnair on comfort and the quality of the food. The 4 hour layover at Hamad airport in Doha was pleasant and the new ‘Orchard’ indoor garden is most impressive.

Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki is a really nice city, particularly when you have local knowledge on tap to arrange things. Bill and Tuula were outstanding hosts and, in addition to seeing the city sights and a boat trip we had several nature walks, all within Helsinki. Not something that you can do in every capital city.

Lymm

After leaving Finland, we headed for the UK and sometime with our chums in Lymm. We stayed with Chris and Sara and met up with Pete, Cath, Colin and Alison for victuals.

Lake District

We left Lymm and headed for Tipton in the Black Country and spent a couple of days visiting Rob’s father and his brother and family. After that,we headed for the lake district with Arnold, Rob’s father. Whilst there we hired an all terrain mobility scooter, called a Tramper, which allowed us to go hiking with a 94 year old. Yay!

Tipton/Dudley & Family

We spent some time in the Black Country with Rob’s brother and his family and also, of course, Rob’s father

Lichfield

We headed up to Lichfield with Rob’s Dad and spent a night at the George Hotel, right in the middle of the town. We visited George and Joyce Frost, old friends of Mom and Dad. George used to be the vicar of the local church when Rob was a lad. George later became Dean of Lichfield Cathedral.

Orkney

Since receiving a cassette from Highland Park Whisky as part of a marketing promotion, which described the amazing neolithic history of Orkney, Rob has always wanted to visit there. Thirty-eight years later, he finally made it. Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and Stenness Stones are all amazing as is the whole of neolithic Orkney. St.Magnus’ cathedral was an unexpected bonus

Lymm Revisited

After Orkney, we made a brief stop in Lymm before heading to mainland Europe. We went for a lovely hike around a nature reserve with Chris and Sara and saw the famous Anderton boat lift. We also met up with the Lymm gang in Saddlers.

Italy

We left the UK and flew from Manchester to Rome. We spent two nights in Rome which was insanely crowded. Far worse that the last time we visited about 30 years ago. We then caught the train to Bologna where we met up with John Stephen, Loredana and Oscar. Old chums of Robs, dating back to his Southampton days around 1984.

Austria

We left Italy and travelled by train to Innsbruck in Austria. What a terrific place to visit and the mountains, well!

Alpenzoo

In Innsbruck there is a zoo specialising in Alpine animals. It is rather good as zoos go.

Brno, Czech Republic

We took the train from Innsbruck to Brno in the Czech Republic

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Rural Czech Republic

We left Brno for a small place called Klentnice where we did some hiking and were able to visit an impressive Archeopark in a place called Pavlov. Here people once hunted mammoths and lived out their lives some 30000 years ago. They left behind impressive and intricate carvings. We then moved onto a small place called Konice near to a medieval walled city, Znomjo.

Prague

The last stage of our trip was Prague where we met up with Hazel’s brother Peter and his wife Diane.

On the advice of Rob’s brother, we also visited the Mucha museum. Here are some photos.