Playing with Notan drawing.
This is from a photo of the mountains and the ski slope at Strbske Pleso from when we visited in September on the #TatrasTrainTrip
Playing with Notan drawing.
This is from a photo of the mountains and the ski slope at Strbske Pleso from when we visited in September on the #TatrasTrainTrip
The summary blog posts for my recent Interrail (+plane & ferry) trip are now up on my main site.
It's a two parter, the second part is linked from the first.
(I know there are a few typos in both - I'll get a round tuit)
I hope you get some inspiration for your travels
https://gaylers.me/travel/2025/09/tatras1
------
Good morning.
Sleeping in your own bed is so much more restful than any so-called luxurious hotel bed.
Except - the hotels tend not to have a black cat that is repeatedly checking that, yes, you really have come back!
The case is unpacked, the washing machine has started earning its keep.
And it's definitely Autumn in middle England.
The post has been opened, the recycling bin has been fed with the votive offerings.
And it's home sweet home with all it's messy untidyness.
The first part of the wrap-up blog has been written, ready to publish once the other section is complete.
And I'm so tired I can hardly think.
But life must settle into its rhythm once again.
I've got the remaining after effects of the viral infection to beat into submission, so although I'm going to get to the coop for supplies, I'm crying off the Pรฉtanque club, and will leave the allotment check until tomorrow.
Have a restful Saturday.
Unfortunately it wasn't a restful night's sleep on the ferry - I just couldn't settle. I couldn't get my temperature right either - which is probably still that virus.
We got on the train despite Stena's best endeavours at confusing disembarkation.
And we're now comfortably zipping through the Essex countryside.
The plan is still to change at Stratford & Farringdon to get the booked EMR train from St Pancras.
You know you're home when you hear 'seeyit, sayit shortit' on the PA. ๐
Today's hurriedly written #TatrasTrainTrip #blog post - where we move from Germany into the Netherlands and home is not too far away.
We're in our cabin on the boat.
The tea is brewing.
The sun is setting (it's more than a bit cloudy though).
I've got snack food for tea. Sacha still doesn't want food.
I think we set off in about an hour and a half.
Here's hoping for a restful night.
No Internet (that I'm prepared to fork out for) once we set sail - so I'll see y'all on the other side.
I suppose I could expect nothing less from Deutsch Bahn.
My food order from the ICE portal didn't arrive - so I went to the bordrestaurant and enquired - it seems that if you order on the English language page it accepts the order, but if you order in German it tells you that the portal isn't working.
The portal isn't working!
Never mind, I've eaten my currywurst and fries and got a decent cup of coffee.
We're on the train!
It arrived slightly early, and departed on the dot of the planned time - is this really a DB service?
It's an ICE Neo3 - the first time I have been on one - and very lovely it is too, grey and wood panels. Very classy! (Shame about a couple of the other passengers - but it's an international service ๐
I've ordered food and drinks.
Sacha thinks she might be starting a chest infection ๐ฉ๐คฎ๐ค
It's a good thing that we'll be in England this time tomorrow.
Today's adventure with DB will be a straightforward trip from Kรถln to Utrecht.
Then we'll be taking a short journey to Rotterdam with NS. Then, based on our previous good experience, we'll get the metro from Rotterdam Alex rather than Centraal.
The metro will deliver us to the ferry terminal at Hook of Holland.
So it's a couple of easy changes with no great time pressures. ๐ค
We're intending to get a bit of lunch on the ICE before we get to Utrecht, so we can be relaxed about food on the ferry.