VIENNA, BERLIN by BIKE  AND DITCH PARIS

I’m on a 5 week tour around Europe, by train, plane, automobile and eventually by bike.  I’m visiting fellow bike touring friends I’ve meet on my journeys.  I’ll be biking with them mostly, but some walking too (my favorite).

Direct  flights from Ljubljana tend to be neither direct nor cheap.  So I’m taking the bus from Ljubljana to Vienna and staying at the “SUPER CLEAN”  VIENNA CITY HOSTEL.  They had bed and breakfast for $20 and $10 a day bicycles.  So my $61 Germanwings airline ticket to  Berlin, wasn’t until 7:30 at night.   So I  rented a bike and rode around Vienna, I’ve been here before.  I don’t know what I was thinking? Vienna in a Day!?   No Way, it’s a big city.   The City Center was designated a UNESCO World heritage site in 2001.  In 2014 Vienna was recognized as the most liveable city in the world.  There’s almost 2 million peple living here.

I did some homework on Vienna and discovered they had an island on the river, like Prauge.

 So I rented my bike and headed in that direction.

I knew when I saw this sign it was a good city.  Eating meat has a high C02 emmissions footprint they say 51% of C02 is from raising animals to eat.

 

I love taking sign photos, more than taking nature pictures

                                                     ENJOY YOUR LIFE IT’S AWESOME 

 I rode by a huge theme park, they must have 4 big roller coasters.  I finally found the island, no commercial buildings, just one wind turbine.  Traveling in the off season has it’s benefits, it was almost my own island.

 

  I LOVE ALL THE HISTORY  & BUILDINGS OF EUROPE

                                                                                                    THIS IS A METRO TRAIN BRIDGE, NO CARS 

 I still think in balance, the bicycle takes you more places than walking could

I THINK I FOUND THE HEADSTONE FOR MY GRAVE.  AS I WAS TAKING THE PICTURE THE SALESMAN CAME RUNNING OUT TO “”HELP” ME..   I TOLD HIM I WASNT READY YET. 

 I refused to use my Iphone data, to find my way back to the hostel..  I knew I was close, but I’ve been riding a lot and I was beat..  I finally gave in and turned on the data roaming ($), I was only 1kkm from the hostel, close.  Back at the hostel I get a message from Mark,,  has to leave Berlin,  but can leave his apartment keys with a nieghbor.

  I figure out how to get to his apt.  His widows are dirty, so I clean them all insde and out.  All good travellers should show their appreciation for being hosted.

I make plans to visit the Tourism Trade Show that’s happening in Berlin.. I really wanted  to go so it worked good, I had something fun to do.

                  THE BEAURIFUL WOMEN OF SRI LANKA 

 The tourism show had  representatives from every country: Iran, Cuba, Russia & America  (set up next to each other).   I sstopped by the New Zealand booth and told them I’ve visited there country and loved it.  II told her she had an easy job “”trying”  to sell New Zealand.  Then I walked a little further and there was the Pakistan booth.  He  was trying to tell my that I should visit Pakistan.  I could hardly  keep a straight face,, OK tell me.  We have K2, 3 glaciers, ahh? NO.  First that sounds cold and second? I disapprove of the way they treat women and restrict girls education.   He said his village had a 94% literacy rate,, but he agreed with my general analysis of the situation in Pakistan.  I won’t be going to Pakistan any time soon..                      THE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN OF THE MALDIVES

        AFTER TODAY I FEEL LIKE THE KING (of travel) I went to nearly every country ((booth) around the world.

 Marc was still out of town so I get his bike and ride around Berlin.. It has a great network of bike lanes, except in the core of the tourist destinations.

  IF YOU USE A BIKE TO HOLD YOUR SIGN IS IT FREE? 

 In Portland they have a pedal beer tour, you drink while you pedal.  But I saw these in Berlin and had never seen them anywhere before.

IT’S GREAT SEEING PEOPLE TRY ALTERNATIVE TYPES OF TOURING 

Marc  and I bike toured together  20 years ago in  New Zealand..  I have visited him and his parents in  the former East Germany several times over the years.   Marc is back Sunday night,, so on Monday we decide to bike the “WALL TOUR”   

 

 

  THE FAMOUS CHECK POINT CHARLIE THAT SEPARATED EAST AND WEST GERMANY

 

 THE UNTOUCHED WALL 

                      WE PUT TOGETHER  MARCS FIRST TV,, EVER!!  LET’S JUST SAY IT’S BIG!

Back at the Berlin airport and your phone is low.

THESE ARE SELF-CHARGING PHONE  STATIONS, KEEP PEDALING IF YOU WANT TO SURF!?

When travelling I ssometimes look for music and art events that are going on.  Paris had David Bowies touring collection off outfits and other memorablia.  I saw David Bowie in 1973 and really wanted to go. So I bought a ticket oonline and thought I would go since I was in Paris early.  The train ticket to the exhibit was nearly $50 roundtrip, I threw the David Bowie ticket away.

I spent 2 weeks in France, that is why there hasn’t been a blog post in awhile.  FRANCES’S INTERNET IS THE WORST IN THE WORLD!! EVEN BURMA’S WAS BETTER.

I’m in Lisbon now, picking up Natasa Saturday, at the airport.  I visited 3 friends in France  and biked and hiked a lot.

THANKS FOR READING

JEFF

NEXT? A REAL FRENCH COUNNTRYSIDE VILLAGE, WITH BARELY A CAR IN SIGHT.