Another European odyssey....!

[Micky]

Looks a great trip Gerard

Thoroughly enjoying the write up and photo's. Give Cherry a belated 'happy birthday kiss' from me please

 

[King Rat]

We even saw Docs next bike...

View attachment 395375

Isn't that the bike Twizzle (Bournemouth/New Forest Twizzle) built out of solid billet?

A really inspiring trip report, Thanks Gerrard.

 

[gerarddwatts]

Our last evening was spent in a terrific little Italian restaurant 5 minutes round the corner from the hotel. Lots of locals and a constant throughput of customers...a good sign
The trip up to the castle the day before finally buggered up my knee so nurofen washed down with pilsner followed by gnocchi in a cheese sauce with meaty bits thrown in for me and lasagne for Cherry, preceeded by a cheese antipasti for me and followed by chocolate ice melatonin for Cherry...very good and good value...

 

[gerarddwatts]

An early night followed by a leisurely breakfast.
One of the highlights of this excellent hotel is the magnificent hot and cold breakfast buffet...really first class.
Our upgrade had come with a late checkout so no rush, but eventually dondered over to the station to dump the luggage.

And then explored the station.

A touching memorial to Sir Nicholas Winton, who had arranged for many Czech children to escape to England, is combined with a memorial to the thousands of Czech children murdered in concentration camps by the Germans, sorry, Nazis....with some help, I suspect from some of their Czech compatriots, in much the same way that some French folk helped the Germans in those awful times...







There is a copy of the same statue in Liverpool Street Station where the children arrived in London.
Terrible to contemplate..awful times.

 

[gerarddwatts]

The main station has been rebuilt underneath the original, so we found our way into the much older original building..





Which held certain attractions..




Fine to wash down the next nurofen instalment!

 

[gerarddwatts]

An interesting track inspection vehicle...

 

[gerarddwatts]

And a Lego model of the station..








Wonder how many bits of Lego?

 

[ATT]

And a Lego model of the station..

View attachment 396781

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Wonder how many bits of Lego?

I am wondering...Why Lego?

 

[wessie]

I am wondering...Why Lego?

Kladno - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Lego's main Europe factory is just outside Prague, employs 3000

Disappointingly, the factory is not made from ...

 

[ATT]

Kladno - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Lego's main Europe factory is just outside Prague, employs 3000

Disappointingly, the factory is not made from ...

I never did "get" Lego, always looked like shit to me...But thank you for your information, it would make sense to those who appreciate the finer aspects of sharp edges and things made from Lego that do not resemble the things.

 

[gerarddwatts]

Kladno - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Lego's main Europe factory is just outside Prague, employs 3000

Disappointingly, the factory is not made from ...

Thanks...didn't know that!

I know it's a total k unt when you stand on the fucking things on the living room carpet in your sox...

 

[gerarddwatts]

I looked more carefully at the lego model

There is a little square subterranean passage


and if you look down it...or due to bending issues, get your wife to, there's.....




Wee ghosties!

Appealed to me that!

 

[gerarddwatts]

Anyhow, on the sleeper heading northwest back along the Elbe, more free beer..

 

[gerarddwatts]

I would imagine the Elbe would make a decent bike trip?
From Cuxshaven on the North Sea coast right down into the Czech mountains...?

 

[gerarddwatts]

So a passable night, never the best on a sleeper, but good enough, usual wee box of breakfast and into Brussels on time. Dash into Carrefour to stock up on Cote door chocolate..
Usual chaos for the Eurostar, but still better than airport, sit for a few minutes onto the train.
There is not a lot of room for manoeuvre in today's schedule, so a bit disconcerted when the Eurostar started to build up delays, into St.P 20 minutes late, but still OK for the 1300 from King's Cross.
There was someone a bit nervous of the transfer from K X to St P so here is a shot of King's Cross from inside St P..



Couldn't be closer!

Usual LNER beer to whet the apetite..
White Rioja for ninjawife..


to wash down her mushroom pearl barley risotto as my sausage and mash arrives..

 

[gerarddwatts]

And then a cheese board..

 

[gerarddwatts]

Good to get a glimpse of the front 10 feet of 60103 Flying Scotsman poking out of the shed at the York Railway Museum, as well as a Stanier Black 5 sleeping outside...too quick for photys..

 

[gerarddwatts]

The beer operative has quickly recognised the situation and doesn't even ask now...

 

[Doc]

The beer operative has quickly recognised the situation and doesn't even ask now...

You must have the same person i had. constant supply and no complaints from me.

 

[gerarddwatts]

And relax...long day but all worked!