Our journey is 3 months long, Aug 2-Nov 9. I thought I would record some raw numbers and facts for our first month. After all, in addition to being a travel diary, this is also a travel log. If you aren’t into details, simply click delete. Otherwise, here’s the skinny so far:
Countries: Austria, Ireland, UK (Scotland and England), Netherlands
Cities visited: Eisenstadt, Vienna, Dublin, Cork, Galway, Gourock (Glasgow area), London, Amsterdam. Favorite city: Vienna; Most fun to visit: London; Most livable: Amsterdam (more on this in the next blog)
Events (non Classical Music Festival): Pub Music across Ireland (a couple of pints), Highland Games in Scotland (20 pounds each – Thanks Bruce and Sheila!), London Proms at Royal Albert Hall (40 pounds each), Book of Mormon (20 pounds each), Evensong at Westminster Abbey (free), British Museum (free), National Museum of Britain (free), Tate Modern Museum in London (free), Church Organ concert (Bach and Reger) in Amsterdam (free), Medea (theater) at Stadsschouwburg in Amsterdam (21 Euro each), Modern Dance at Vondelpark, tonight, in Amsterdam (free), Van Gogh Museum (17 Euro each). Anne Frank house is sold out weeks in advance. : (
Public transportation: one cab to train station from London apt – 11 pounds
Large transfers: Dublin to Glasgow on Aerlingus ($48 each), Ryan Air from Glasgow to London ($50 each), Stena train/ferry/train to Amsterdam from London ($48 each), train from Amsterdam to Brussels tomorrow (44 Euro each), one week car rental in Ireland ($250).
Walking: We have walked every city and every town. We are seeing each city this way, getting exercise, and saving money. If you take the tube, you miss everything in between. Average I would guess is 4-6 miles per day. And we aren’t missing much. We use Rick Steve’s guide books and have covered the major in-town sights by foot. It was over 2 miles to Royal Albert Hall, each way for example, and we made the trek twice. Once to buy the tix and once to see the concert.
I have probably left some things out. Other than food and accommodations, this pretty much covers it from my recollection.
Next post will be tomorrow and will cover the wonderful city of Amsterdam.
euro916 