We are running out of time before we have to be in Venice and after riding part of the famous Danube yesterday we have caught a train straight to the alps. The Danube ride, from vienna yo passau following the Euro cycle network, looks lovely and hundreds of cycle tourists are doing it as I type. But, and I realise this sounds elitist but to hell with it. It's not for us and looks boring with little diversity or challenges (other than following bike path signs and...

At the risk of offending 1.7million Viennese, and several million more tourists (because this is a must-read blog that everybody in the world is savoring) I was not bowled over by Vienna. I had high expectations. People rave about its beauty, food, culture, architecture and of course its livability (previously ranked #1 in the world). But, well, maybe I missed something. Sure it was lovely, the Hofburg Palace, Opera house and the dozens of museums it has. I appre...