North American travels Europe...

Wow...tough crowd. I thought my pics of Greece were some of the most impressive, but hardly a comment. Thanks Janine.

As I planned this adventure, my European friends made fun of me stating that I was traveling like a typical North American...rushing to get to the next city and not enjoying the one I was in. I saw their logic, but in fact...only in Berlin did I want for more time.

My adventure took me to Vaduz Liechtenstein, Salzburg and Vienna Austria, Prague Czech, and Berlin Germany. I had hit Bern Switzerland a few days before. So in fact, I hit five capital cities in two weeks. I was supposed to hit Amsterdam and Brussels to make it seven capital cities in two weeks, but I seem to have gotten run down and ended up sick. I know...you feel sorry for me. Yeah right!

I have included three pictures of each city except for Bern as I'm guessing you're getting tired of Switzerland. The order is Vaduz, Salzburg, Vienna, Prague and Berlin. I think the hardest part of this blog was picking just three pictures for each city. Either check out the other pics of each city on Facebook or wait for the DVD. :)

So why go to Liechtenstein and take a picture of a famous old red house that I have already forgotten the importance of? ...easy...because it was there. Well...it makes sense in my head.


I was expecting to be writing about Spain and Portugal in this blog as I had planned out that intinerary on the Wednesday before heading out...only to find out that I couldn't catch the first train I needed to Barcelona, so this plan was hatched on Thursday afternoon and I left Saturday morning at 7:40am.

I guess it was really meant to be since my friends Chris and Jacy were making drole innuendos regarding me hanging in the Alps like in the Sound of Music...so damn it...I went to the HEART of the Sound of Music...Salzburg, Austria. I hope you guys are proud. I walked in the same gardens, buildings and courtyards as the way too flighty (no pun intended) Von Trapp family. I also stayed at a hostel that had daily showings of the movie. I passed on the movie and chose to go to the bar instead. No hard feelings Ang as I know it's one of your favourite movies.



I'm not sure how Europeans or travelers to Europe coped before the introduction of the Euro, but I found it a pain just having Swiss Francs in one pocket for Switzerland and Liechtenstein and Euros in the other pocket for Austria and Germany. And yes, Czechoslovakia had to have Czech Crowns just to laden down my pockets even more.



As you will notice from some of these shots and especially those on Facebook, I have really enjoyed the architecture (old buildings) here in Europe. They are just so different from North American architecture. Oh no...I really am getting old. But never fear...I have made sure I've enjoyed the vast number of beers that each country has to offer as well.

One thing that did catch me off guard in both Vaduz and Salzburg, was the Canadian paraphernalia (and yes I had to look up the spelling) on the walls of the hostels. It went from old Vancouver Canucks banners to RCMP, OPP, Vancouver/Calgary/Ottawa police badges and EMS badges. OK...most of the police and EMS badges were actually found in the bar of the hostel. Like that surprises anyone that knows Natigo and his friends.



How could I mention a hockey team in this blog without mentioning my STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS the Detroit Red Wings. The Leafs never had a chance...like they do ever...sorry Scottie Dunn and the Habs didn't fair a whole lot better...sorry to say Dylan. But there's always next year. And Mr. Dunn...send me your new email address.

The picture to the left just shows one of the many beers I tested on this adventure. This beer is made by monks and very famous throughout the world. The Augustiner brewery has seating for 2800 people and there were 40 people waiting in line before it opened on a Tuesday. OK...so I was one of them...did you expect anything less? By the time I left 45 mins later (damn...had to catch a train, but didn't want to miss out) there were over 200 people drinking at the brewery. This was at 3:45 in the afternoon. See...I'm not the only alcoholic in this world. Thanks Salzburg!



I wasn't totally impressed with the Augustiner beer itself, but I did enjoy the X33 beer while in Prague which boasted 12.6% alcohol. They claim it's the most potent beer in Europe. Who am I to disagree. I also loved the fact that I could buy TWO 500mL bottles of beer in Prague for about $1.60Cdn. Not bad.

However, before getting to Prague, I have a couple worthy stories to tell. Probably the one I'm most proud of is the continued effect I have on older women. For some reason...they LOVE me. If I'm still not married by the time I'm 80...I'll have the women falling all over me. I can't wait!

On the train to Salzburg, I had an older Swiss woman (80-85) buy me a large piece of chocolate because she said I was the nicest gentlemen she'd met in years. This wouldn't have been so special if she was a shut-in, but this woman was a world traveler. I've still got it! Thanks for the good manners Mom!

Now isn't your birthday supposed to be nice and relaxing with people doing nice things for you? That's how I remember them. Part of the reason I had to leave Switzerland for my birthday was that they have a crazy tradition over here that the person whose birthday it is has to buy the beer and food for their guests. I couldn't afford this in Canada with my alcoholic friends and I certainly couldn't afford it here in Switzerland with the price of alcohol. Oh yeah...I got out of Dodge as fast as I could!

But I guess things do catch up with you. The day of my birthday was quite stressful. First, for some reason I went to the train station in Vienna about 30 mins early for my ride to Prague...hey no worries...it's my birthday I'll relax at the train station...only to find out that my train leaves from a different train station which is a 25 min tram ride away. Oh sh*t! It didn't help that the guy in the information booth was laughing at my predictament. But the jokes on him...I made my train with three minutes to spare. The next train wasn't for another three hours. Lucky!

But the birthday gods were cruel that day. I found out as we entered Czechoslovakian space that my Eurail pass wasn't valid in Czech and I had to cough up another 26 Euros. Happy Birthday to me!

Upon arrival in Prague...none of the bank machines were working in the train station and once again...I found myself in a new country without local currency. When will I learn?

I decided I better buy my next train ticket (for my departure in three days) out of Prague since my pass doesn't work while at the train station...only to have a Czech woman decide that she didn't want to serve me. I waited for 10 minutes (I was the only one in line) and that's an eternity with my patience level until I finally gave up. Welcome to Prague!

A group of us finally found a bank machine and once again I was rich. I thought I was rich before having a $200 Swiss Franc note, but no...now I have a $2000 Czech Crown note. I'm living the high life! Unfortunately, the tram ticket machine only takes coins no higher than 50 Crowns. But alas...I see a tram ticket wicket...I am a seasoned traveler. But the Czech woman behind the wicket decides that she can't help me and throws (literally) the money back at me. I'm really not liking Prague.

But have no fear...I see a McDonald's and they are always good to me...so I buy one pop and get lots of change back. However, I didn't realize until I walked out of door that I still didn't have the proper change for the tram ticket. So I head back in to ask if they can break down the change they just gave me further. But no...another Czech woman just gestures me to leave. GRRR!!!!!Luckily, I went to the man working at the till beside her and got the change I needed. Things could only get better and they did, but I still found the people of Prague rude for the most part. I wasn't the only traveler to mention this!

But on a much better birthday note...I received at least 30 birthday wishes from people around the world. It was quite humbling. Thanks to everyone!

And even better...not that I've really thought much about it, but a good friend of mine finally told me how I can into this world on June 4th. I won't mention any names, but it was enlightening. Please read it for yourself...

…..the day it is said in folklore….when a beer bottle shaped spaceship crashed down into the tiny village of Embro. Two hard working villagers named Bill and Pat Duncan were woken up by all the noise generated from the beer foam thrusters located on the bottom of the odd shaped but aesthetically pleasing spacecraft. As they cautiously approached the bottle rocket …and worked their way past the maze of kegs that had fallen out of the cargo hold……they reared back in horror as they laid their eyes upon a blue eyed serpent child…..covered in scales and green slime…. The child screamed out over and over again in a high girl like voice….“where’s the damn pisser cause it’s been a long trip!!!”. Well, as they say….the rest is history. Those thoughtful villagers felt sorry for the little bastard and took him in to learn the ways of lager, ale, and stout under their care…..to raise him as their own…..to raise him as Suuuuuper Duuuunc!!!!

Cheers pal and Happy Birthday,

Now you know the rest of the story...

And if you're wondering why I took a picture of a wall...it's the Berlin wall. I wasn't sure McAuley would understand. Cheers...

On to the next European adventure....