Just Back From ...

London has numerous opportunities for entertainment by day and by night with its street markets, busy high street stores, riverside cafes and pubs on every corner. I visited the usual attractions of Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street and Camden Markets.

From romantic cruises along the Seine to street cafes to breezy boulevards, impressive monuments, great works of art and magnificent views from the Eiffel Tower, Paris is the essence of all things French and loads to discover. As I had already been to Paris before, I only viewed the monuments such as Eiffel Tower, The Louve and Notre Dame but did managed to spend many hours walking up and down the Champs Ellysee and go on a boat tour along the Seine. The weather was miserable but the wine and food were great.

After a few days in the big cities, I was looking forward to experiencing new places in Europe and my first stop was Switzerland. After travelling on the overnight train from Paris to Lucerne, the historic and scenic heart of Switzerland, I arrived at sunrise passing breathtaking mountains, crystal clear lakes and alpine villages. On the north bank of the river is the picturesque old-town centre - 15th-century buildings with painted facades. On the north-east side of the city centre is the Lion Monument, which was carved out of natural rock in 1820 and is dedicated to the Swiss soldiers who died in the French Revolution. Next to the Lion Monument, I went to the fascinating Gletschergarten (Glacier Garden) where giant glacial potholes prove that 20 million years ago Lucerne was a subtropical palmed beach!

From Lucerne, I took an early morning train to Salzburg and although I enjoyed Switzerland and had great weather, it is very expensive and I didn't quite manage a fondue! In Salzburg I visited the Hohensalzburg Fortress which was built in 1077 and overlooks the city. It can easily be reached by a funicular railway and it has great views for the surrounding area and mountains. I then ventured off on a Bavarian Mountains & Salt Mine Tour bus tour. But what I was really looking forward to was Czech Republic and I certainly wasn't disappointed.

Esklov is one of Bohemia's most beautiful towns, with a well-preserved historical centre that is on UNESCO?s World Heritage List. The city's castle is the second largest in the Czech Republic, after Prague Castle, and it dominates the town from a hill overlooking a horseshoe-shaped bend of the Vltava River. The town's traffic-free historic centre is a magic area of narrow cobbled street lines with Czech crystal shops, Bohemian restaurants and bars. Esklov is relatively untouched by tourists, so don't expect tourist shops although there is a very helpful information centre. They recommended travelling 15 minutes north on the train to explore the ruins of Dí¶¨í ‹á­¥n castle, which was built between 1350 & 1360, and is one of the biggest castle ruins in Bohemia. The 20 minute stroll through the country side to the ruin and the ruin itself was well worth the visit. There was so much more I wanted to see in Esk'lov and 2 days were certainly not enough.

And did I mention it is cheap? $1 for a pint of beer and $3 for a massive meal of steak, chips and salad. I decided to experience the local cuisine and had a Bohemian feast, consisting of meats, salami, potato, sauerkraut, sausages and specially prepared vegetables. Although the beer is cheap and you can be as adventurous as you want, don?t try the wine! Cheap but nasty.

I then had an early start to take the train 2 hours north to Prague, which was largely undamaged by WWII and the cityscape is stunning. Its compact medieval centre remains an maze of cobbled lanes, ancient courtyards and churches beyond number, all watched over by an 1100-year-old castle. The main square has countless restaurants where you can watch the Glockenspiel on the hour and listen to traditional Czech music. Prague has become one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations. Its traditional pubs and eateries have been augmented by a wave of gourmet restaurants, cocktail bars and trendy cafe- though you can still feast on pork and dumplings washed down with a beer. Although not as cheap as Esklov, you still get more for your money in Prague than other parts of Europe. Prague is reasonable easy to explore on foot and the walk across the Charles Bridge is a must! It is full of activity from bands playing, jewellery and art selling. Once over the Bridge, it is a short but steep walk up to the Castle of Prague, where there are magnificent views of the city centre.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my 2 week trip to Europe and loved experiencing new parts of Europe. I will definitely be heading back to explore more of Czech Republic and other countries in Eastern Europe, as they seem to be unscathed from the masses of tourists throughout Europe.