City Hopping Oct/Nov '25

When you need to be in the UK on a specific date, but your flight there is last of the summer schedule & can't book a return. Hmmmmm... what other route home might there be?

Fly Lourdes to London, Train to York then Edinburgh, fly to Vienna, train to Bratislava then Prague, fly to Rome then Lourdes.

We usually travel in the Happy Snail which can make visiting cities difficult. Great excuse to see a few capitals - York is the 'capital' of Yorkshire of course! wink

Not sure I would make a habit of this kind of thing, but for a couple of weeks this trip was lots of fun!

Wednesday 22 October 2025

Obligatory, "boarding a flight" photos, with special guest star! wink Please don't ask, you'll have to wait and see! tongue

Wednesday 22 October 2025

Well, hello... London!

Wednesday 22 October 2025

Late night dinner @ Treestone Korean BBQ: serious ordering faces on! wink Thank you guys for hosting us! smile

Thursday 23 October 2025

Obligatory cheesy tourist shop photo. We're only having one of these... I promise! wink

Thursday 23 October 2025

Yum cha @ Royal China, Baker St. Food didn't last long enough for a photo so have to make do with this group shot! wink

Thursday 23 October 2025

When mates take the afternoon off to come say hi... would be rude not to... Cheers! grin

Friday 24 October 2025

Short stroll to breakfast in New Malden. It's very pleasant here, especially on a sunny autumn morning.

Friday 24 October 2025

Brunch treats @ Cake & Bingsoo cafe. King Charles visited couple years ago but didn't let that put us off! wink Yum! tongue

Friday 24 October 2025

Random London 'commuting' shots. Pratiwi still thinks it's fun!

Friday 24 October 2025

First thing we saw after leaving Waterloo station: a food market... and she's off!! wink Nom! tongue

Friday 24 October 2025

Wandering along London's South Bank & over the river to St Paul's Cathedral.

Friday 24 October 2025

More trains & more stations. Photobombed by a pigeon! Catch you next time London!

Friday 24 October 2025

Well, hello... York! Good of you to put on a sunset show, much appreciated! smile

Friday 24 October 2025

Delicious dinner with the fam in Little Italy, York. We were recently in Italy but hard to recall a meal this good!

Friday 24 October 2025

Walking home after dinner passed this model shop. Dad & I were last here in the 70s! Nice memories smile

Saturday 25 October 2025

Morning run around York. You'd think there would be more sights, but 'around' is not as pretty as 'through' IYKWIM wink

Saturday 25 October 2025

Stroll in York. Breakie & coffee. Les patisseries francaises nous manquent wink Jammy Dodger cake was great though! tongue

Saturday 25 October 2025

For those wondering why we are actually in the UK... congratulations to the Daveys on their wonderful wedding day! smile

Sunday 26 October 2025

Dad treated us to breakie so no bakery pics today. Just him eating eggs, hash browns, mushrooms & erm... banana! wink

Sunday 26 October 2025

Dear England, it's still October... get a grip! #BahHumbug

Sunday 26 October 2025

At Darlington train station. Wonder how many pianos were stolen before they decided to lock one to the railings?! wink

Sunday 26 October 2025

Blurred views from a British train on a grey day. Are we there yet? wink

Sunday 26 October 2025

Well hello... Edinburgh! Coffee & cake then a little wonder round before dinner.

Sunday 26 October 2025

Amazing Malaysian dinner @ Kampong Ah Lee. Roti, soft shell crab, char kway teow & beef rendang. Nom, nom, nom! tongue

Monday 27 October 2025

Few sights from a gentle run around Edinburgh this morning. Quite pleasant in the morning sunshine smile

Monday 27 October 2025

Morning cream tea. Well, close - we shared a huge scone with coffee & hot chocolate. Yum! tongue

Monday 27 October 2025

Seems this piper knows exactly where to stand for the perfect photo! Also super lucky with fantastic morning light!

Monday 27 October 2025

Didn't get to the English national gallery in London so nice to have a wander around the Scottish national here.

Monday 27 October 2025

Lunch @ Dishoom Edinburgh. Nom! tongue Can't believe I had to wait 'til our 6th day in the UK for an Indian though! wink

Monday 27 October 2025

Afternoon wandering around Edinburgh. Gardens & squares, up to the Castle, Royal Mile & some random hipster shop wink

Monday 27 October 2025

Coffee, cannolis & cake in the Italian on the Mound. Good stuff, but how will it compare the real thing next week? wink

Monday 27 October 2025

Supper in Jollibee. Seems a Filipino answer to KFC to me, but what would I know? Someone is excited to try it! tongue

Tuesday 28 October 2025

Filipinos here told us Jollibee is actually famous for spaghetti with banana ketchup! So guess what's for breakfast?!

Tuesday 28 October 2025

St John's church & some more random wandering around Edinburgh in the sunshine smile

Tuesday 28 October 2025

Last British lunch: Fish & chips for me, black pudding scotch egg for her, sticky toffee pudding for dessert. Nom! tongue

Tuesday 28 October 2025

Pratiwi claims not to enjoy sticky toffee pudding so... cream scone is her choice for a second dessert! grin #DejaVu tongue

Tuesday 28 October 2025

Checking snack supplies before evening flight wink Stuff gifted by Filipinos, bought with loose change & free samples.

Tuesday 28 October 2025

Well, hello... Vienna! Hope this is the correct train to the city! wink

Tuesday 28 October 2025

Happiness is: kasekrainer & beer! Delicious Austrian street food. Nom! tongue

Wednesday 29 October 2025

Morning run in Vienna. Parks, museums, town hall, Austrian Parliament, the university... & a cool disco billboard smile

Wednesday 29 October 2025

A morning exploring Vienna. Too much to list. Such a beautiful city!

Wednesday 29 October 2025

It's Vienna so we must have coffee & try the Sacher-Torte. Nice cake, but think I'd go the Black Forest next time! tongue

Wednesday 29 October 2025

Lunch: trio of schnitzels, potatoes & salad + pulled pork & sauerkraut + soup. Bowls bigger than they look - stuffed!

Wednesday 29 October 2025

Vending machines in Vienna. Impressively clean & tidy. Promised Pratiwi proper coffee later though so didn't try any.

Wednesday 29 October 2025

When you look in a random church (this is St Peter's in central Vienna) & the choir is practising. Very nice smile

Wednesday 29 October 2025

Walking home after lunch through central Vienna. Was so quiet this morning - where did all these people come from!

Wednesday 29 October 2025

Heading out for our evening's entertainment... only got as far as this flower kiosk by the Stadtpark! wink

Wednesday 29 October 2025

Coffee culture in Vienna. Just chilling out & catching up on the latest in art & architecture! wink

Wednesday 29 October 2025

Vienna Residence Orchestra at the Palais Alte Boerse. With a little opera & dance thrown in. Wonderful experience.

Wednesday 29 October 2025

Post-concert dinner @ Joyce Cafe Restaurant. Amazing Korean chicken & bibimbap. Glad she talked me into it! wink

Thursday 30 October 2025

Belvedere palace in Vienna. I had thought the gardens might be a bit dull this time of year, but no! Great colours smile

Thursday 30 October 2025

Coffee, apple strudel & custard at palace cafe. Terribly touristy, but what a beautiful place to relax for a while smile

Thursday 30 October 2025

Autumn colours in the botanical garden. Love it! Luckily the greenhouse was closed or we'd have been here all day! wink

Thursday 30 October 2025

Lunch @ Tomochan Ramen. Very cool place. Super delicious! The bottles? Many still sealed so prolly the real deal!

Thursday 30 October 2025

Train time! So long Vienna, was lovely to meet you smile

Thursday 30 October 2025

Well, hello... Bratislava!

Thursday 30 October 2025

Somewhat autumnal walk into town from Bratislava train station. That big place is the Presidential Palace.

Thursday 30 October 2025

Evening walk along the Danube under twinkly lights. Ooooh... pretty... although... hang on... what is this place?!?

Thursday 30 October 2025

... a mall with xmas lights up and it's not even November! Argh!

Thursday 30 October 2025

Given our huge lunch & breakie expectations tomorrow: a light supper. Love a good 'by the slice' pizza place! Nom! tongue

Friday 31 October 2025

Bratislava morning run. Over the Danube & back. Love the autumn colours in that park. Worked up appetite for breakie!

Friday 31 October 2025

Well, this is alright... delicious breakfast feast at the hotel this morning! Nom, nom, nom! tongue

Friday 31 October 2025

Love this tree lined street in stunning autumn colours. Unpronounceable name: Hviezdoslavovo namestie!

Friday 31 October 2025

Morning walk up to Bratislava castle. St. Martin's Cathedral & some interesting streets en route.

Friday 31 October 2025

Not so lucky with weather this arvo. Random sights from an overcast old town Bratislava. Came good for sunset though.

Friday 31 October 2025

New bike day! wink But... who rode it best? tongue

Friday 31 October 2025

When hotel insists on giving you free bubbly (says you can have beer but must pay!)... what you gonna do? wink Cheers!

Friday 31 October 2025

Traditional Slovak dinner at Koliba Kamzík Zelena. Great food, huge portions. Nom, nom, nom! tongue

Saturday 1 November 2025

Walking back across Bratislava old town to the train station. Sun's back this morning so much nicer smile

Saturday 1 November 2025

Bratislava station: strange mix of retro rolling stock with Star Trek bridge vibes onboard! Onwards to our next stop!

Saturday 1 November 2025

Well, hello... Prague!

Saturday 1 November 2025

Just checked into the hotel & walked through the breakfast room. Somebody loves it!

Saturday 1 November 2025

Saturday night in Prague. Just hanging out & seeing the sights with a million of our closest friends! wink

Saturday 1 November 2025

Light supper in a chilled cafe. Beers, sausages & sauerkraut, schnitzels & carrot cake. Nom, nom, nom! tongue

Saturday 1 November 2025

Dia de Muertos! Stumbled across this far-too-cool-for-old-folk party & enjoyed the spectacle for a while! smile

Sunday 2 November 2025

Another hotel breakfast. Great selection of pastries here & delicious cheesecake too. Yum! tongue

Sunday 2 November 2025

This place looks a bit swish! Still kindof full from breakie but think we'll have to circle back here later! wink

Sunday 2 November 2025

Pretty grim out today but should brighten up tomorrow, so... we find ourselves messing about in the mall. Doh! wink

Sunday 2 November 2025

Very late lunch in Pho 55. Pho isn't bad here - as you'd hope with the name - and roast duck was fantastic! Nom! tongue

Sunday 2 November 2025

Told you we'd be back. Coffee & treats @ Aux Merveilleux de Fred. Nice but think that palace in Vienna was better! tongue

Monday 3 November 2025

Grey skies morning run in Prague. Climb by the castle is a bit rude, but view from park above the city is worth it smile

Monday 3 November 2025

Let's do that again... only with Pratiwi... and some sunshine... and a slight route variation... and slower! wink

Monday 3 November 2025

When you see large crowds outside a castle & wonder what's going on. Ahh... changing of the guard time, isn't it!

Monday 3 November 2025

Inside the walls (of Prague Castle)... St. Vitus Cathedral and view over the city from the ramparts.

Monday 3 November 2025

Walking back to Prague old town from the castle... views from Letna Park & sunshine selfies in the town square smile

Monday 3 November 2025

Right, enough sightseeing... time for more beer & schnitzel! Cheers! grin Although Pratiwi isn't eating! Why?... wink

Monday 3 November 2025

Pratiwi declined to join me in beer & schnitzel - crazy! tongue So we find ourselves back in an Asian restaurant! Doh! wink

Tuesday 4 November 2025

Dawn stroll in Prague... passing through the old town square.

Tuesday 4 November 2025

Sunrise on the Charles Bridge. No problem finding something interesting to silhouette against the glowing sky!

Tuesday 4 November 2025

Last morning in Prague, gonna miss the breakie treats at this hotel. Serious business today it seems! tongue

Tuesday 4 November 2025

Dear Google, when giving directions to an airport, might be safer if you didn't tell us to walk out by the runway! tongue

Tuesday 4 November 2025

Cool retro metro station. Not so cool (but at least efficient) bus. And messing about at the airport. Sbohem Prague!

Tuesday 4 November 2025

Well, hello... Rome!

Tuesday 4 November 2025

Dinner pt 1 @ Pasta Urbana. Delicious... erm... pasta - what else!? wink And a cheeky Moretti. Nom, nom, nom! tongue

Tuesday 4 November 2025

Walking a maze of streets & hanging with cool kids @ the Spanish Steps wink Take-out tiramisu for dessert. Nom! tongue

Wednesday 5 November 2025

Morning run in central Rome. Obligatory passing of the Colosseum, traffic chaos & the tranquillity of Villa Borghese.

Wednesday 5 November 2025

Random Rome: churches, The Pantheon, Piazza Navona, a presidential spotting, narrow streets, monuments & ruins. Phew!

Wednesday 5 November 2025

Coffee, cannoli & a creamy croissant @ Caffe Olimpia. Love the energy in these little Roman coffee shops.

Wednesday 5 November 2025

I lost the pics last time we were here at the Trevi Fountain so extra careful with the delete button today wink

Wednesday 5 November 2025

In central Rome so Pratiwi wants to eat...? Asian food of course! Looks good but not for me, saving it for later tongue

Wednesday 5 November 2025

In central Rome so Rob wants to eat...? Pizza of course! Split in 2, but don't worry, I had 99% of this! Cheers! tongue

Wednesday 5 November 2025

Sunset at the Colosseum.

Wednesday 5 November 2025

Dusk stroll home. Coffee in Piazza Barberini & well deserved prosciutto focaccia sanger. Covered 25km on foot today!

Thursday 6 November 2025

One last Roman coffee & creamy croissant before some fun & games at the airport - 10-0 whitewash! tongue Ciao Roma!