Review of the tour "Weekend of desires"
The tour "Weekend of desires" from the company "Algol" took place from 2 to 6 August 2018.
We looked after him for another six months, read the program, analyzed it. The tour program included 5 cities: Krakow, Prague, Munich, Salzburg and Vienna. Additionally, Neuschwanstein Castle was offered, and at the end of the tour, relaxation - cave baths in Miskolc.
A tour without night crossings, which also has its pros and cons. If the tour is without night crossings, then we are forced to cover the main part of the route during the day, and this leads to the fact that there is less time left for each city. Although, with proper planning, you can do a lot.
The fact that the group turned out to be mixed (35 people with their leader and 15 recruited from all over Ukraine, and where there are two Ukrainians, there are, as you know, three hetmans), and I won’t write about the terrible bus here, it’s written in travel agency review. I would like to share with you my impressions of the trip itself.
We love bus tours. Yes, oddly enough, there are such people : ) We traveled a lot on these tours and, I hope, we will travel again. You can’t rest on a bus tour - it’s work, and quite hard. But, having escaped from the usual environment for a few days, having looked to the maximum what the tour program offers and adding your own, you get a complete reboot of the brain. Impressions still fit in my head for a long time. Strength and desire to work appear. Such an effect cannot be achieved after a two-week reclining at the sea (although we also love this very much, but in this case, laziness breeds laziness).
As planned, everything should have been fine, but in practice it turned out to be somewhat different.
On the border with Poland, our bus got into a heavy downpour. The sky, as it broke through, a thunderstorm, not a single sight is visible. They could not leave the border, first because of such weather, and then for a more banal reason: the automatic barrier did not work, a stone clogged into its lower part, which extends in the form of a series of pins from the ground. Europeans, even Poles, will not take this stone out on their own. They have a number of instructions on this matter: they are obliged to call technical support, they must send a car with specialists, and the specialists must figure out what is wrong. In such weather, it could take 6-10 hours. Our escort Roman Matusets jumped out of the bus during this downpour and took out the stuck stone with his hands. The gate opened and we were on our way. In fact, it could have been worse: the Poles could have detained both Roman and the bus, since such actions were not provided for by the instructions. But, thank God, everything worked out. However, the storm did not subside. We drove almost blind, lost the wipers on the go. It was scary. And the mood of the whole group was somewhat subdued. But all bad things come to an end sooner or later. The storm is over too. And we drove into Krakow in a blinding sun.
Krakow, Wawel Castle
In the tour program, Krakow was listed as a city for a full visit, they even offered a sightseeing tour for 13 euros per person.
Wawel Cathedral
But that's not true. The company would have to declare Krakow as a city to visit with the note "If the border is successfully passed" (330 km from Lviv to Krakow), as it was done before.
Church of St. Andrew in Krakow
For example, on the tour “Amsterdam Blitz”, which we were on a year ago, so was written about Wroclaw. It would be fair to tourists. We only had an hour and a half in Krakow! What can you do in an hour and a half? Who managed to run from the Wawel Castle to the market square and back,
Market Square, St. Mary's Church
he didn't have time to eat (and we've been on the road since 8 o'clock in the morning, and already 5 o'clock in the evening). Who ate, he did not have time at all. And our first hotel is not in Poland, but in the Czech Republic, in the city of Brno, which is another 335 km from Krakow.
We got to the hotel by midnight, we were terribly tired! But tomorrow Prague will meet us!
And with positive thoughts fell asleep.
I must say that the hotels along the entire route are excellent, the breakfasts are tasty and satisfying, so there are no complaints from this side.
The morning turned out to be clear (it has been hot in Europe since April, with almost no rain, the daytime temperature is +33-34).
Prague, St. Vitus Cathedral
To Prague from Brno is another 200 km. Having dozed off in the bus (we get up early, breakfast is already at 7 am) we arrive in Prague Castle. How beautiful he is, how majestic!
Prague Castle
At the entrance to Prague Castle, there are now metal detectors and passage frames, like in airports. Do not take nail files and nail scissors with you! They will take it away.
Walking around Prague Castle, watching the changing of the guard,
Prague, changing of the guard of honor
We go to St. Vitus Cathedral.
St. Vitus Cathedral
Stained glass windows in St. Vitus Cathedral
Prague, St. Vitus Cathedral
The program is rich: I want to renew my impressions ( look into the Wallenstein Garden,
Prague, Wallenstein Garden
Prague, Wallenstein Garden
walk along the Charles Bridge
Prague, Charles Bridge
and at least for a minute drop by the island of Kampa)
Prague Venice
and see something new. New for us in this city was "Hanging"
Hanging man
(a hanging man depicting Sigmund Freud, who looks down on ordinary people from the position of psychology) and Franz Kafka's Spinning Head.
Twisting head
Prague, a spinning head
People who have been to Prague, probably, should not even be told that all this is the work of David Cerny.
Saint Wenceslas David Cerny
The hanging man was found quickly, but we had to run after the head : ). While running, we found the second one hanging : )
Another hanging man
Even the police couldn't tell us where she was.
Prague, Charles Square
For those who want to find it, I’ll tell you: Narodna Trida metro station, next to the metro exit is the entrance to the shopping center. You have to walk through this mall.
And in a small square you will see this masterpiece. It looks especially beautiful in the backlight, in the evening. But we have a departure to Munich at 18 o'clock. It's August, it's getting dark late. So we didn't see it in the backlight.
To Munich from Prague 380 km. The journeys are long and tiring. We spend the night in the suburbs of Munich. In the morning, the whole group will go to Neuschwanstein Castle.
The optional excursion costs 35 euros per person. She without visiting the castle itself. In fact, this is not an optional excursion, but a transfer to the castle and back. There is no limit to disappointment!
Tourist buses stop below, at the foot of the mountain on which the castle stands.
Neuschwanstein Castle
How beautiful they are in Bavaria! Everything is so well-groomed, green! Crystalline nature: lakes, mountains, meadows. Like in an advertisement for Milka chocolate.
Bavarian Alps
Near the Alpensee lake
Bavaria, Lake Alpsee
local bus stop. We pay an additional 2.50 euros for the bus that takes you up to the castle. It is possible to drive up with a horse-drawn cart, but it costs 6 euros per person and there are 12 people in the cart. The bus brings to the upper station, from where the whole group runs to the observation bridge.
Bridge overlooking Neuschwanstein Castle
It is from here that a beautiful "postcard" view of the castle opens up. The bridge connects Germany and Austria, runs through the gorge, a waterfall is visible below.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Having taken our photos from the bridge, we run into the courtyard of the castle for just a minute,
Courtyard of Neuschwanstein Castle
and run to the bus. After all, you need to have time to see Munich!
Munich, Opera House
According to the program of the tour, this evening we were supposed to also have Salzburg. But the group squeezes out information from the escort, how much time is planned for Salzburg, and then it suddenly turns out that only 40 minutes! How is this even possible to imagine? It is with great regret that we collectively decide not to go to Salzburg, but to extend our stay in Munich. It is not clear why put Salzburg in the tour program, try to sell it a sightseeing tour "Symphony of the City" for 15 euros, if 40 minutes are planned for the city? It would be better not to tease.
But now there was enough time in Munich: and see what
and eat, someone even shop. We walked along the Odeon square,
Munich, Odeon Platz
we dropped by the Hofgarden
Munich, Hofgarden Garden
Hofgarden
Ran away to Marienplatz
Munich, New Town Hall
Munich, Old Town Hall
Munich, fish fountain
examined the Wittelsbach Fountain,
Munich, Wittelsbach Fountain
We ate sausages with beer and hit the road.
We will spend the night in the city of Linz. It is 280 km from Munich. We arrive at night again. Linz Cathedral is beautiful in the evening illumination, but we no longer have the strength to go for a walk around the city.
In the morning we leave Linz for Vienna. We can say that the transfer is short: only 185 km.
We love Vienna for its imperial luxury and respectable appearance.
Vienna, Maria Theresa Square
Apparently, we are not the only ones who love her: literally every second Russian speaker we meet. The group goes on a sightseeing tour, and we go by metro to Schonbrunn, the summer residence of the Habsburgs.
Schonbrunn Palace
With current distances, this is even funny to hear, because this summer residence is located 5.5 km from the winter one. 6 metro stops and we are in Schonbrunn.
Gardens of Schonbrunn Palace
We didn't go to the palace itself, we looked around the park. It is huge, no less than Versailles.
Schonbrunn
How interesting special machines cut bushes!
Schonbrunn
Going up to the Glorietta Pavilion,
Glorietta Pavilion
There is a beautiful view of Vienna from there.
Schonbrunn, view of Vienna
There is now a restaurant in the pavilion itself. A menacing cloud touches Schonbrunn at the very edge, thunder rumbles. We get under a light rain, which passes in 20 minutes. It never rained in the center of Vienna, we were told later.
We liked the Vienna metro for its ease of movement. Everything is very clear and clean. Only the cost, of course, is considerable - 2.40 euros for a simple trip without transfers.
Return to Karlsplatz
and make a fateful decision: to see the Belvedere as well.
Vienna, Upper Belvedere
It turns out that it is located in the city center,
Very close to the opera. Near the monument to the soldiers-liberators of the Red Army
Monument to the soldiers of the Red Army
(and Vienna was liberated by the forces of the Second and Third Ukrainian Fronts. The Viennese remember this, and the monument is in excellent condition). From the monument we walk literally 5 minutes along Renveg street, turn right and get into the gardens of the Belvedere, another royal palace.
Vienna, Upper Belvedere
Walking down the street, you won't even suspect that there are two palaces and a huge park inside the quarter! Everything is hidden behind the houses.
Vienna, Lower Belvedere invisible from the street
Reading the reviews earlier, for some reason it seemed to us that it would take almost half a day to go from the Lower to the Upper Belvedere. In fact, we ran this park in half an hour probably.
Belvedere Park
There are many beautiful fountains, flowerbeds and statues in the park - all the necessary attributes of the Royal Park.
Today, the Belvedere palaces are one big gallery. Two palaces display outstanding works by Austrian artists, paintings by French impressionists, and works by sculptors of the 19th and 20th centuries. The works of Gustav Klimt are the main pride of the gallery.
But, unfortunately, we don't have time to visit museums.
After seeing the park, we run to have a bite and hit the road. Tonight we will be in Budapest, which is 250 km away.
Evening Budapest is beautiful, we will never get tired of admiring it in the evening illumination. While the group is sailing on a boat on the Danube, we are going to the Parliament building.
Evening Budapest
How good it is to breathe in this city!
We spend the night in Budapest. In the morning, departure towards the border, but on the way we visit the cave baths in Miskolc-Tapolca.
Miskolc, cave baths
In front of Miskolc itself, on the autobahn, a bus tire burst. Good thing it's not in the front. The mood soured. Somehow, everything on this tour is not going smoothly.
After the baths, we still have 460 km to Lviv. At the border, our unorganized group, which dispersed in search of food, a dutik and toilets, was detained by Ukrainian border guards for 5 hours! I think they decided to punish such behavior. (Unless, of course, someone draws the appropriate conclusions from this. ) They flew through the Carpathians in complete darkness at a speed of 100 km per hour. We made it to the trains. But, as they say, the sediment remained.
I would like to appeal to all tourists traveling in groups: there is only one leader in the group - this is the escort from the tour operator. And that is what we should all listen to. If he says sit on the bus, then the group must sit on the bus. If you were allowed to go to the toilet at the border for 5 people, then you don’t need to rush there with the whole bus.
If we are going at 8 in the morning, then there is no need to come with a naive look and full bags from the supermarket at 8.30 and be surprised that everything has been in place for a long time.
Remember that the bus is not your personal car. And, if you are unlucky with a comfortable bus, like we were this time, then the rest of the 49 people were also unlucky with you. This does not mean that you need to fall on the knees of your neighbors with the backs of your chairs, because it is you who are uncomfortable, because your neighbors take care of those who are behind and do not do this. And when leaving the bus, do not forget to raise the backs of your seats, allowing the neighbors behind you to get up from their seats.
In the end, we are all in the same cramped circumstances. Let's respect each other!
We wish the Algol company to correct all the shortcomings, it is better to think over the tour program and correctly inform tourists.
And to all readers we wish you vivid impressions from your travels and the opportunity to visit the places you dream of!
