1986 - Europe by double decker bus (Part 5 - The Alps)

From Venice to Vienna to Munich to Liechtenstein and on to Switzerland.

Friday 13 June 1986 - Monday 23 June 1986
View 1986 Canada & 1986 Western Europe on nzhamsta's travel map.

Friday 13 June - Another long drive from Zadar to Venice. Arrived camp about 7:00 pm after spending up large at a hypermarket. More football in the bar. (Denmark 2, West Germany 0)

Saturday 14 June - Into Venice and we walked through the network of canals, bridges, footpaths etc to get to St Mark's Square. We went to a glass factory at Murano and I bought a decanter and glasses as present to parents (which they still have them at home). More sightseeing. Dodgy haircut back at camp from hairdresser from another bus, followed by a BBQ dinner.

The Grand Canal.

St Mark's cathedral with the obligatory scaffolding.

A gondola with tourists.

The Bridge of Sighs.

Sunday 15 June - Happy birthday to me! A lazy day at camp site. Another BBQ, another bar.

Monday 16 June - Drove from Venice to Club Habitat in Kirchburg in Austria. Spectacular scenery through Alps as we crossed the Brenner Pass. The chalet is 388 years old. Birthday party for me including cake and schnapps (lots of schnapps).

Austrian scenery.

Club Habitat in Kirchburg.

Ken on his fourth schnapps!

Tuesday 17 June - We had a tour around Tyrolean region with very scenic mountains, villages etc. To a rodel run (downhill carts type of thing, quite dangerous and I lost a bit skin). Sauna back at chalet, more World Cup soccer on TV.

Wednesday 18 June - We drove from Kirchburg to Vienna, taking an indirect route to avoid crossing the German border (no EU border crossings back in 1986) and the scenery was better. We stopped at Mauthausen Concentration Camp just outside Linz. It is a very sobering place. The weather was awesomely gray and overcast which suited the mood. We arrived in Vienna late, just in time for England to beat Paraguay 3-0.

The Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp.

Thursday 19 June - Sightseeing in Vienna. A decent museum, nice café and down town area. To Prater Fair for afternoon. Drove to Salzburg, arriving 9:00 pm ish.

Friday 20 June - Sightseeing in Salzburg. We saw Mozart's birthplace, the Natural History Museum, main shopping area and castle on the hill. Drove to von Trapp family home (Sound of Music). Next to Hellbrunn Palace (very expensive to get in so stayed outside). Crossed to West Germany to visit salt mines at Reichenhall (near Berchtesgaden). Got dressed up (dodgy), but a very interesting tour. Another BBQ with two other Top Deck buses. Another water pistol fight.

A statue of WA Mozart (1756-1791).

Salzburg fortress.

The River Salzach.

The von Trapp family home.

Saturday 21 June - Drove from Salzburg to Munich. Walked to old town and the glockenspiel. Stopped at the Hofbrauhaus for a traditional German stein of beer. Quiet evening back at camp.

Sunday 22 June - Back to Deutsches Museum. This is a great place, could easily spend several days there. Then to the Olympic Complex and BMW Museum. Beer house for typical German dinner of pork, sausages, vegetables and beer.

The Munich Olympic Stadium.

Inside the Olympic Stadium.

Inside the BMW Museum.

The Hofbrauhaus.

Ken enjoying the beer.

The band at the beer hall.

Monday 23 June - We drove from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle. This is the archetypal castle. It's a great place and took lots of photos. Drove into Austria and then into Liechtenstein. Took ten minutes to drive length of country. Got passport stamped at tourist office. Crossed third border (the Rhine) for day (fourth country!!) into Switzerland and drove to Lucerne.

Neuschwanstein Castle.