What the heck are you doing in Europe?
Well that's a long story all in itself.
In summary we, my wife (Her Ladyship) and I, are here in search of Vermeer's Paintings. There are only 35 or 38 of his works remaining around the world and it's my goal to see all of them. We will see 4 on this trip leaving us with 3 to see next year.
This goal has helped us decide what parts of the world we wish to travel to for the past few years.
Like all the best ideas this one originated in the pub, The Rose and Crown. Their FB page is here.
To learn more about Vermeer this website is wonderful. Vermeer Website
We are spending 13 weeks here this trip for a combination vacation, Vermeer's and family weddings. (Next gen weddings that is).
Train Riding:
When we travel we love to take public transport.
In Ireland we immediately buy LEAP cards and Hop on Hop Off bus tickets.
In Ireland we immediately buy LEAP cards and Hop on Hop Off bus tickets.
In The Netherlands last year we bought nationwide Transport tickets for all two weeks. We used them to take 3 of 4 forms of public transport, trains, trams and buses. Then we stopped there again this year for just 2 nights and used the fourth form of public transport her, a ferry.
In Berlin we bought a combination of all you can eat 6 day pass and a Hop on Hop ff bis pass. Plus a single ride ticket for the last day.
In Vienna we will probably do the same thing.
In Munich where we are just now we will just probably buy day passes as we need them as we plan to travel to the mountains one or two days.
In Berlin we bought a combination of all you can eat 6 day pass and a Hop on Hop ff bis pass. Plus a single ride ticket for the last day.
In Vienna we will probably do the same thing.
In Munich where we are just now we will just probably buy day passes as we need them as we plan to travel to the mountains one or two days.
For the longer trips in Europe this year we bought a 5 day Euro Rail Pass, namely;
1. Amsterdam to Berlin
2. Berlin to Munich
3. Munich to Vienna
+ 2 days flexible which we had planned for Dresden and Braunsweicg (Brunswick).
It was during the flex day to Dresden that the "fortunate train delay" occurred.
Dresden:
Used Euro Rail to get to Dresden. And planned to return that evening.
Dresden has two wonderful paintings by Vermeer:
This first is called The Girl Reading a letter. It's undergoing restoration during which you can see a hidden image of Cupid emerging on the wall behind the girl.
The second is called The Procuress
The second is called The Procuress
Berlin to Dresden:
There was no problem with the 2 hour train ride Berlin to Dresden other than the train was older and the A/C didn't work that well.
We had a nice chat with a couple of 20 year olds from Leeds.
They were not happy about Brexit. But shrugged their shoulders in acceptance.
Spent a lovely day in Dresden walking about exploring the cultural offerings and then around 5 pm we returned to the station to catch our train back to Berlin.
While waiting on the platform I noticed a scrolling message on the visual display.
Using Google Translate I figured out our train was several hours delayed and may not arrive back in Munich at all.
Off down to the DB info office and caught an alternative train to Leipzig which would take 4 hours to get us to Berlin with one change of train along the way.
Unfortunately this train, with us on board, was delayed while en route and we would miss our connection and possibly be stranded in Leipzig. Overnight. We knew nothing at all about Leipzig.
Our plan was to return to Berlin after Dresden and the next day head by train to Braunschweig (Brunswick) where here is another Vermeer.
As we pondered what to do I noticed the train we were on continued on to Braunschweig and would get us there by 9 pm tonight.
With daylight till almost 11pm this was loads of time to see the old city.
If we could find a reasonably priced hotel.
Braunschweig's Vermer:
Within 25 minutes on the train WiFi we had a nice new hotel, for $160 Euro, by the Braunschweig Hauptbahnhof ( Central Station).
Following our retirement motto of "No Place to be No Time to be there " we set out on a spontaneous adventure in Braunschweig.
We took a cab to the center of the old city and had a wonderful evening.
Glorious weather afforded us the opportunity to sit outside in an ancient courtyard. The courtyard was covered by beautiful trees under which were tables and chairs and lots of locals.
There is also an old church in the square, built in 1000 AD.
The square is surrounded by Tudor style homes and businesses.
Watching locals of all ages return home in the late evening on their bikes or cars was a nice experience.
Drank some good beer and Gin and Tonic's and smoked one of the Cuban Cigars, Montecristo #3, I had picked up in Amsterdam.
The square was busy with other local revelers.
It was one of those experiences we couldn't have planned.
Below are pictures taken the next morning when we returned to the square to see it in day light.
Our return train journey to Berlin was flawless.
