Ahhh finally have stopped moving long enough to sit down and write a new blog. I've been on the road for the last 3 days travelling from Berlin to Munich via the Busabout network, which involved almost full days on a bus and no net access. Very happy to be settled here in Munich for a few days.

So, gentle readers, I last left you on my second day in Berlin. I managed to negotiate the bus system and make it to the Reichstag at bout 8pm. Not as dark as I would have liked for the night pics since it doesn't get real dark till at least 10pm here in the summers but not to be helped. And a note to all of you: if I ever suggest going up to the top of any high monument for the sake of good city views, PLEASE remind me I am terrified of heights and get sweaty palms and start to freak out when several meters above the ground. The area in question being made of glass did not help my situation, but up I went anyways. Because of the glass I couldn't use the flash of my camera so will filter through the pics and get some nice ones to upload.

So final day in Berlin and finally got around to doing the city bike tour. With a good map I finally managed to locate the Busabout pick-up point (good thing too, need that for when i leave at the crack of dawn) and had an awesome time peddling round the sights of Berlin. The place is seriously spread out so the bike was a good option and saved my tender feet for certain soreness. Turns out my hostel and a lot of the monuments are in the former East Berlin. Lots of areas of significance from Nazi Germany and from the days of the Berlin Wall have been destroyed or dismantled so often there's not much left to suggest anything was there. For instance Checkpoint Charlie, a commonly used checkpoint in the Berlin wall is now an open air museum to the wall itself. Also checked out Hitler's bunker, which is now a stylish car park. Few other places included the longest remaining strech of the Berlin wall, the Brandenburg gate and too many others to list (lots to see in Berlin!). But best of all was the ride through the Tiergarden, so green and bike friendly, plus the beergarden with wine and bratwurst waiting never goes astray.

So with Berlin all done it was time to start the epic trek to Munich with 3 countries in 3 days. Yeah, it seemed like a good idea at the time, but the buses are nice and comfy and thanks to my trusty travel pillow i managed to sleep a fair bit of it. The only bad part is they have quite a few extra stops on this leg of the Busabout network and they all look like such beautiful places to stay. Pity bout my short schedule :-(

First stop was Dresden, a small uni town in eastern Germany which was pretty much totalled in WWII with days of bombings from the Allies. So all the buildings are done in the Soviet style, being in the Soviet territory post WWII. Next was a short stop in the small town of Terezin where an old castle/prison used for political prisioners still stands. It was built to defend against the Prussians but, when they didn't bother to attack, it was converted to a prison and eventually used to house policital prisioners and Jews in transit to other concentration camps. Very somber experience and not one for the claustrophobic.

Stayed the night in Prague and from what little i saw of it, it seems to be a nice little city. With the soccer on and most of the Busabout crew taking advantage of cheap meal and drink prices, was a good night. Except for Germany who lost the game. Also made me miss my AFL little.

Up and out of the hostel by 8am and it was off to Vienna. On this leg I found a previously hidden gem that would make me learn Czech just to come back here. It was a little town called Cesky Krumlov and from the pics you'll see it's such a beautiful village in the hills of the Czech Replublic. Everyone that joined us on the bus said it was their favourite spot. Damn it!

Okay, so onwards to Vienna and, lucky for those with a single night, they offered a tour called the Walk and Fork tour. Had an hour after check in to have a shower and freshen up before heading off on a city walking tour followed by a traditional Austrian dinner of Wiener schnitzel followed by apple strudel and some hazelnut schapps. Probably wasn't the best meal i've eaten in my life but after a day of the bus and walking round Vienna till 9pm it certainly tasted like it. Back to the hostel for a couple of free drinks then off to bed, cause I had to be up early AGAIN.

Finally caught up to the present day, which was pretty uneventful. Trip from Vienna to Munich was pretty cruisy, stopped to drop off/collect people in Salzburg (no Sound of Music on the bus unfortunatly) and now have arrived in Munich. Funny group of girls in my dorm room, they seemed surprised that I had arrived and had take up all 6 beds between 4 of them. Strange, cause from what i've seen, dorms are not private rooms and other people are prone to stay there too Silly girls, but still I have a bed for 3 nights and two tours planned. Tomorrow is another city bike tour then out to Dachau the first concentration camp on Sunday.

Thanks all for the lovely (and funny) comments (yes I mean YOU Miss Tara). Nice to see people aren't bored with my escapades. Seems like I'm about half way through my trip and I have no ide where the time has gone.

Now to tackle some of these pics.......