Berlin Wall

So much to do here but the main piece of history I wanted to see was the Berlin Wall.

This is the last stretch of the wall still standing in its original place (they've relocated some other parts elsewhere) it's about 500m long with a watchtower and secondary walls with the dead zone in the middle.

As well as a few lesser known icons of course I also had to see Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, the Hall of Tears and the Ramones museum.

Also thanks to Ganesha for a personal tour through Kreuzburg the area known for activists, hippies, artists, punks and squatters - my kind of town!

Auswitch and Birkenau

It may have had something to do with the time I arrived but Krakow was stunning. A late winter means I arrived with fresh green grass after the snow cleared but all the trees were bare. The people out in parks, strolling the streets were so happy enjoying the sun and blue sky after the winter months, it was infectious.

So much culture and history it reminded me of Prague but even more laid back. Punk and metal posters, castles, ruins and churches. Everything was cheap, and the girls, again, were stunning!!

I wrote that because I don't have much to say about Auswitch and Birkenau, it is a personal journey.

High

No I'm not in Amsterdam yet.....

A new addition to the list "ride the highest swing ride in the world in the oldest amusement park in the world". Wurstelprater in Vienna.

I saw it as I approached the park and with my increasing fear of heights over the last few years thought I must do it. I warmed up on a roller coaster then headed over to the swing.

As I approached my brain screamed "walk away" but my legs walked up to the ticket booth. I stood in line and made the mistake of looking up - yikes!! I managed to hold my ground in the queue until my turn (though i thought of handing my ticket to someone and walking away) then took a seat. Luckily a teenage girl sat next to me so my ego pledged not to scream.

It was a beautiful day and from the top (120 metres) I could see the whole of Vienna, mainly because I was too frozen to look straight down. The girl and I looked at each other with horror on our faces then burst out laughing, we would survive!

Prague

I'm not sure I can convey how amazing this place is, my favourite city in Europe so far. Its Beautiful, Clean and Cheap. A stunning mix of Gothic AND Bohemian - architecture and people. Angels, demons and all sorts of gargoyles look down from building facades. Lots of busking, live music and beer drinking. And the girls.......…

Venice

"Ahhhhh, Venice" - Indiana Jones.

It wasn't on the original LIFE LIST but I went out of my way to make sure I saw it while in Italy and what a Wow factor.
I thought all the architecture was in Rome but I was wrong.

There was a drizzle most of the first day. I walked for hours to get lost in the maze of alleyways and canals while the locals started setting up the elevated walking platforms as the water began to breach in some parts.

The second day the weather cleared and I spent another day just wandering and discovering all kinds of weird and wonderful squares, deadends, sculptures and ancient buildings. It is a unique and wonderful atmosphere. Like all cities it has its own smell, quite pungent at times and bells ringing across the sky all day and night.

Also my chance to seek out the library (San Barnaba Church)from Indiana Jones and the last crusade.