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! 
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!
Please don't ask, you'll have to wait and see! 
Wednesday 22 October 2025
Wednesday 22 October 2025
Late night dinner @ Treestone Korean BBQ: serious ordering faces on!
Thank you guys for hosting us! 
Thursday 23 October 2025
Obligatory cheesy tourist shop photo. We're only having one of these... I promise! 
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! 
Thursday 23 October 2025
When mates take the afternoon off to come say hi... would be rude not to... Cheers! 
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!
Yum! 
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!!
Nom! 
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! 
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 
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 
Saturday 25 October 2025
Stroll in York. Breakie & coffee. Les patisseries francaises nous manquent
Jammy Dodger cake was great though! 
Saturday 25 October 2025
For those wondering why we are actually in the UK... congratulations to the Daveys on their wonderful wedding day! 
Sunday 26 October 2025
Dad treated us to breakie so no bakery pics today. Just him eating eggs, hash browns, mushrooms & erm... banana! 
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?! 
Sunday 26 October 2025
Blurred views from a British train on a grey day. Are we there yet? 
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! 
Monday 27 October 2025
Few sights from a gentle run around Edinburgh this morning. Quite pleasant in the morning sunshine 
Monday 27 October 2025
Morning cream tea. Well, close - we shared a huge scone with coffee & hot chocolate. Yum! 
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!
Can't believe I had to wait 'til our 6th day in the UK for an Indian though! 
Monday 27 October 2025
Afternoon wandering around Edinburgh. Gardens & squares, up to the Castle, Royal Mile & some random hipster shop 
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? 
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! 
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 
Tuesday 28 October 2025
Last British lunch: Fish & chips for me, black pudding scotch egg for her, sticky toffee pudding for dessert. Nom! 
Tuesday 28 October 2025
Pratiwi claims not to enjoy sticky toffee pudding so... cream scone is her choice for a second dessert!
#DejaVu 
Tuesday 28 October 2025
Checking snack supplies before evening flight
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! 
Tuesday 28 October 2025
Happiness is: kasekrainer & beer! Delicious Austrian street food. Nom! 
Wednesday 29 October 2025
Morning run in Vienna. Parks, museums, town hall, Austrian Parliament, the university... & a cool disco billboard 
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! 
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 
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! 
Wednesday 29 October 2025
Coffee culture in Vienna. Just chilling out & catching up on the latest in art & architecture! 
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! 
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 
Thursday 30 October 2025
Coffee, apple strudel & custard at palace cafe. Terribly touristy, but what a beautiful place to relax for a while 
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! 
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 
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! 
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! 
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!
But... who rode it best? 
Friday 31 October 2025
When hotel insists on giving you free bubbly (says you can have beer but must pay!)... what you gonna do?
Cheers!
Friday 31 October 2025
Traditional Slovak dinner at Koliba KamzÃk Zelena. Great food, huge portions. Nom, nom, nom! 
Saturday 1 November 2025
Walking back across Bratislava old town to the train station. Sun's back this morning so much nicer 
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
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! 
Saturday 1 November 2025
Light supper in a chilled cafe. Beers, sausages & sauerkraut, schnitzels & carrot cake. Nom, nom, nom! 
Saturday 1 November 2025
Dia de Muertos! Stumbled across this far-too-cool-for-old-folk party & enjoyed the spectacle for a while! 
Sunday 2 November 2025
Another hotel breakfast. Great selection of pastries here & delicious cheesecake too. Yum! 
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! 
Sunday 2 November 2025
Pretty grim out today but should brighten up tomorrow, so... we find ourselves messing about in the mall. Doh! 
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! 
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! 
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 
Monday 3 November 2025
Let's do that again... only with Pratiwi... and some sunshine... and a slight route variation... and slower! 
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 
Monday 3 November 2025
Right, enough sightseeing... time for more beer & schnitzel! Cheers!
Although Pratiwi isn't eating! Why?... 
Monday 3 November 2025
Pratiwi declined to join me in beer & schnitzel - crazy!
So we find ourselves back in an Asian restaurant! Doh! 
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! 
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! 
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
Dinner pt 1 @ Pasta Urbana. Delicious... erm... pasta - what else!?
And a cheeky Moretti. Nom, nom, nom! 
Tuesday 4 November 2025
Walking a maze of streets & hanging with cool kids @ the Spanish Steps
Take-out tiramisu for dessert. Nom! 
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 
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 
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! 
Wednesday 5 November 2025
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!
Ciao Roma!