Euro2024

Legend

Hiking
Driving
Cycling
Train
Bus
Boat
Electric vehicle

Frankfurt Airport, Germany ‐ Jun 18, 2024
Waldaubach ‐ Jun 19, 2024

https://home.jamesshaw.link/mo/sharing/omN9MEbzJ
Wildpark Bad Marienberg ‐ Jun 20, 2024

https://home.jamesshaw.link/mo/sharing/eZB0qYJEp
elisabeth church ‐ Jun 21, 2024
Nationales Automuseum The Loh Collection
Eltz Castle ‐ Jun 22, 2024
Deutsches Eck
Herbstlabyrinth-Adventhöhle-System ‐ Jun 23, 2024

Cave system
Wilhelmsturm

https://home.jamesshaw.link/mo/sharing/VqCc18Zjw
Dorlar ‐ Jun 24, 2024

Where Julian grew up
St. Pauli ‐ Jun 25, 2024

St. Pauli Piers
Falkensteiner Ufer
St. Peter's Church ‐ Jun 26, 2024

https://home.jamesshaw.link/mo/sharing/jdmZdHGKJ 544 steps
Hamburger Kunsthalle

Art Museum of Hamberg
Bremen ‐ Jun 27, 2024

https://home.jamesshaw.link/mo/sharing/kNrl9EZdm
Hofcafe und Ferienhof Akkens ‐ Jun 28, 2024

Nice Host stay out in the Norther sea of Germany, you can see Netherlands from here
Am Rother Berg ‐ Jun 29, 2024

BVB (Football/Soccer) Fan club meet up
Herborn (Dillkr) ‐ Jan 30, 2025

On the way to Paris
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf ‐ Jun 30, 2024

Still on the way to Paris
Paris East Train Station, France
Louvre Museum
Eiffel Tower

https://home.jamesshaw.link/mo/sharing/gRhbpfx6u
Arc de Triomphe ‐ Jul 1, 2024
Galeries Lafayette
Cathedral of Notre Dame
Paris East Train Station, France ‐ Jul 2, 2024
Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, Germany
Herborn (Dillkr)
Leica Microsystems ‐ Jul 3, 2024
Siegen Hauptbahnhof ‐ Jul 4, 2024

on the way to Amsterdam
Cologne central station

Still on the way to Amsterdam
Amsterdam Centraal, Netherlands
Amsterdam

Walking Tour
The Drunken Houses
Fabrique des Lumières ‐ Jul 5, 2024

Art Projections https://home.jamesshaw.link/mo/sharing/GDKSIZUTB
Rijksmuseum ‐ Jul 6, 2024

The Rijksmuseum
Eetsalon Van Dobben

https://g.co/kgs/4A7RXdt Food place
cats museum

Pretty small but has live cats, so that's nice
Cologne central station, Germany

Back to Cologne to start Rail Journey
Eigelstein Gate ‐ Jul 7, 2024

Did a Walking Tour from here
Cologne Cathedral

https://home.jamesshaw.link/mo/sharing/mn7Xl6IM1
Cologne central station ‐ Jul 8, 2024

On the way to Berlin
Berlin Central Station

Longest single train trip of the Journey, about 4.5 hours total. DB First class was comfortable and quiet
Monkey Bar

Monkey Bar overlooks the Berlin Zoo
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Berlin TV Tower ‐ Jul 9, 2024

Start of 6 hour (inc lunch) bike tour around Berlin
Bebelplatz

The first stop is where the book burning started
Checkpoint Charlie

Many American Tourists, Maccas and a big picture of a random Soldier who didn't even know their picture was displayed. Their name isn't even Charlie.
Federal Ministry of Finance

Stop to discuss one of the most infamous stories of escape from East to West Belin from the top of the (now) Federal Ministry of Finance Building
Victory Column
Brandenburg Gate

Brandenburg Gate was pretty but had big fences around it because of the "Euro Fan Zone" (Football/Soccer event)
Fernsehturm Berlin

Back to the Berlin TV Tower to finish the Tour, this was my favourite out of all the Tours I went on.
East Side Gallery

Outdoor Gallery on a long preserved section of the Berlin Wall
Mysliwska Bar

Went to a small English Comedy night, seems like lots of ex-Pats in Berlin so plenty of English speakers. Was pretty good, reminded me very much of the comedy scene in Melbourne
DDR-Museum ‐ Jul 10, 2024

The DDR (German Democratic Republic) museum documents the period from the end of WW2 until after the fall of the Berlin Wall (1949 to ~1990) and what living in USSR-run East Germany/Berlin was like.
Reichstag Building

The Reichstag Building is the German government building. Famously had a big fire and took a long time to rebuild
Z-Bar

Went to another English Comedy show that was recommended from the night before.
Berlin Central Station ‐ Jul 11, 2024

Got a Haircut before departing for Dreseden
Dresden Hbf

The Worst train of the entire trip. Firstly DB offered me a small price to upgrade to 1st class (great) only $20 or so AUD. Then when I got on the train there were no seats. As I made my way down the train I found many people in the same position. It turned out the train had 3 missing carriages. I ended up standing in the dining car drinking Czechian Beer, which was very nice and reasonably check for a train. I was very thankful I was not going all the way to Prague on that train (another 2+ hou [...]
rs).
Museumsshop Aechtner

German Hygiene Museum
Frauenkirche Dresden

Maybe the Prettiest Church I have seen, It was designed to be as tall as a normal church is as long as so has many many levels, it was only rebuilt in 2005.
Roll On Dresden ‐ Jul 12, 2024

Start of the next Bike Tour
Goldener Reiter

Golden Rider. Famed statue covered in gold leaf of King August II dressed as a Roman Caesar & riding a horse.
Innere Altstadt
Palais im Großen Garten

The Grand Garden Palace
Johnannstadt

We had a look at the different eras of architecture in Dresden. Including Soviet blocks from East Germany
Elberadweg

We saw some big old Castles owned by various wealthy families
Kirchspiel

Ev.-Luth. Kirchspiel Dresden-Neustadt
Roll on Dresden

We went back to the Bike rental place to give back the bikes and try to explain to the German Tour guide (who spoke good English on the tour) that I still needed to pay. She had to leave (quickly) so this tour was free (I did try to explain/pay 3 times)
Pfunds Molkerei

Welcome to the most beautiful dairy shop in the world (according to them)
Albertinum

Art Museum
Dresden Hbf ‐ Jul 13, 2024

En Route to Prague
Prague Main Station, Czech Republic

After checking into my Accom I decided to do a day trip to Kutna Hora as I got in to Prague at a reasonable time.
Kutná Hora

I was recommended to go here and have a look. I had this image in my head of a town with several large gothic cathedrals with Skulls and bones in them. The truth is only 1 church that is weirdly above a crypt has any kinds of skulls and bones in it and the whole place seemed like a bit of a tourist trap. If I had my time again I wouldn't go, but it wasn't expensive so not a bad way to spend the day.
Infocentrum u chrámu svaté Barbory
Tesco

I got very sweaty walking around on a sunny day in Kutna Hora so I ended up buying some new shorts at a Tescos (of all places)
kostnice

This was the one place that had Skulls and Bones in a crypt you had to pay to get into and they didn't allow photos, (although plenty of people were I was acting German that day and followed the rules). You can see their photos on google. https://maps.app.goo.gl/KxjY2JnZJVeaHQSL7
Pasta Fresca

After getting back from a long day at Kutna Hora I went out to a recommended restaurant which was way busier and more expensive than I had been left to believe. Luckily Czechia is about 2/3 the price of Germany (in general), the people were very nice and the food was okay/good.
National Museum

Caught the sun going down over Prague. This was a 26,000-step day.
Saint Adalbert ‐ Jul 14, 2024

The next morning I got up early and went to Saint Charles Bridge. Because it was still relatively early there were not too many tourists
Old Town

I walked to the Old Town and waited for my next Bike Tour to start
Old New Synagogue

This was the oldest "place of worship" I saw, completed in 1270
John Lenon's wall
Nutria end swan

https://home.jamesshaw.link/mo/sharing/5u35Bcpxr Saw some weird water rat creatures
Prague Castle Walking Tour

In the afternoon I went on a Free walking tour that was the best of the trip, mostly due to the location but the guide was very nice also.
Strahov Monastic Brewery

After the 1+hour tour, I went to the Strahov Monastic Brewery and maybe had the best tasting best value meal and beer of the trip. This changed my overall opinion of Prague from okay to good.
MONDIEU

To walk off the food and beer I walked (mostly) down the hill from the castle and went to this small desert/coffee shop that was recommended. The walk and desert turned the opinion of Prague from good to great.
Petrin Observation Tower ‐ Jul 15, 2024

Next morning I got up and went to this 1/3 scale Eiffel town (that's taller than Eiffel tower due to being on a hill). The most amazing view of the city on another perfect day in Prague.
Strahov Library

I went back to Strahov Library as it wasn't open last time.
Astronomical clock

https://home.jamesshaw.link/mo/sharing/wzOJ7cSyO Walked back into the Old Town again to watch the Astronomical clock which has a little mechanical show every hour
Franz Kafka Head
Café Louvre

Went to a recommended spot for lunch that Albert Einstein is credited to have frequented when he lived in Prague
Prague Main Station

Back on the Train now to Vienna
Vienna Central Station, Austria

OBB (Austrian carrier) is a step above DB (German carrier) both in the quality/clean trains, being on time, and having the correct number of carriages
Oberes Belvedere ‐ Jul 16, 2024

Belvedere Palace
Karlskirche

St. Charles's Church
K. u. K. Hoflieferanten - Gerstner & Schlumberger ‐ Jan 28, 2025

Went to a recommended place for Iced coffee and obligatory Apfelstrudel
Butterfly House ‐ Jul 16, 2024

went to the Schmetterlinghaus (Butterfly House)
Votivkirche

Votive Church. Stunning large white church.
Vienna Explorer

Walked to another bike tour place. Because it is the holiday season for Vienna and quite hot on the day I was 1/2 people on this bike tour with minimal traffic, it was nice, great local guide.
Hundertwasserhaus

Tire factory transformed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser to hold shops, cafes & a rooftop forest.
Vienna University of Economics and Business ‐ Jan 28, 2025

Amazing building I would not have seen without the tour
Johann Strauss Monument
Hofburg Palace

a german painter did a little talk here once
Vienna Explorer ‐ Jul 16, 2024

Back to the Bike shop, there were more stops, but it was very hot and I revisited some of them later
Austrian Parliament Building ‐ Jul 17, 2024

The Austrian Parliament Building, was pretty cool.
Vienna

Back to the train station, this time with First Class Lounge access, nice.
Munich Main Station, Germany

Got to Munich quite late so I just had something to eat and went for a walk. Found the Munich Surfers, which happens in the middle of the city basically.
Schönau am Königssee ‐ Jul 18, 2024

Met up with Julian in Munich and we drove to Konigssee, back in Austria but not really accessible via Train
Schönau am Königssee

Took a slow electric boat ride to a restaurant and a little swimming spot with some of the clearest waters and most amazing views I've ever seen.
Schönau am Königssee

I mean, just some of the most amazing views out of the boat. This is to one of the stops that has a small Monetary only accessible via boat
Munich Main Station ‐ Jul 19, 2024

Back to Munich
Marienplatz

Went on a walking tour through Munich led by an Aussie, was good to get bearing of the city.
Augustiner Bräu München

Went to a classic beer hall
St. Peter

Went up St. Peter for the recommended view
Walhalla ‐ Jul 20, 2024

German Olympus sitting on the side of a hill, overlooking a nice river, weird but very cool
Frankenbach

We we're impressed with out accommodation in Munich (no aircon was a bit of a killer), so we found a more suitable place that was on the way back to Waldaubach
Technik Museum Speyer ‐ Jul 21, 2024

amazing huge Museum of transport & technology, cars, tractors, planes, trains. From a BMW microcar (single seater smaller than a modern shopping cart) to an actual 747 mounted at an angle on a huge scaffold structure you can slide down. 1000s of things.
Greifenstein ‐ Jul 23, 2024

Burg Greifenstein After a day of rest from the big train and driving trip, I'm in the home stretch. Just having a look at more local things before the flight home.

Burg Greifenstein
THW Ortsverband Dillenburg

Checking out the amazing Dillenburg THW Office. Somewhat similar to the SES in Australia but bigger, more organised, better funded and with more toys.
Tierpark Herborn ‐ Jul 24, 2024

This is like a small local Zoo, with pretty unrestricted access to animals from all over, quite local.
Haiger ‐ Jul 26, 2024

OBI Markt Haiger is a German Bunnings, but they have a German bakery attached at the front. Why can't we have this?
Waldaubach ‐ Jul 27, 2024

During these last few days I'm organizing my luggage with many German sweets to take home and got an amazing home cooked german meal thanks to Manuela and Julian
Frankfurt Airport ‐ Jul 28, 2024

Final trip with the crew to the airport