Our Journey through Europe
In and around From Grein to Melk, Austria
We are driving across France, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Hungary to Romania, to work in a home for children with HIV, for a charity called Lovelight Romania. We are running arts and craft sessions as well as painting murals in all the children's rooms. We will be working there for three weeks before heading off to Croatia to do some sight-seeing and having a well-deserved rest. The plan is to head back through Italy, Switzerland and France, but that could all change - as we get lost!
Route taken and entries by Real Traveler Rogers and Rake
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1
The departure
It was lovely that friends came to see us off. Left Bristol with beautiful pink sunset en route to Dover. On the whole sailing very smooth even manage... Continue reading » -
2
Collapsed in Calais
Had eventful time trying to find hyper market. After almost ending up in the ferry terminal we excelled ourselves by ending up in the tunnel queues. W... Continue reading » -
3
Heading through Germany
Gilly planned route with great precision however it soon became apparent that the maps were totally inadequate. We managed to get all the way to Bruss... Continue reading » -
4
Learning to read a map
All packed up and ready to go by 9.30am – well it felt early to us! And it is not raining!! Set off towards Stuggart on the A6. We found it easier the... Continue reading » -
5
More rain
We drove in torrential rain through the most beautiful countryside in one of the national parks, shame we couldn’t see any of it. Stumbled upon a trad... Continue reading » -
6
and still more rain
Surprise, surprise we wake up to more rain. We were thinking of a fairly short drive to more beautiful lakes the other side of Salzburg so didn’t star... Continue reading » -
7
Oh vienna
We are heading into Vienna for the day, we are up early and ready to go by 8.30am and it has stopped raining! We drive into Melk and find the station... Continue reading » -
8
Cultural Heritage Region
We have discovered that we are in the Wachau region, which is a world cultural heritage region and the campsite is situated next to Castle Schonbuel.... Continue reading » -
9
Hungry here we come
We are up early knowing we have a fair few miles to cover. As soon as we reach the M1 we hit torrential rain yet again which slows us down – we are se... Continue reading » -
10
Vampire slaying
You know when you arrive in Romania. For the first time, driving across Europe you stop at border control and your passport is checked – although disa... Continue reading » -
11
Lovelight Romania
The journey to Medias is slow but interesting. We notice quite a few stalk nests, always in villages and towns. It is an odd site as the nests are so... Continue reading » -
12
Our tourist trip to the tip
We have the chance to go to Sighisoura with Jo, as she is visiting P”s sister who still live on the tip where P and her brother were living until thei... Continue reading » -
13
Becoming local!
We have been staying in Ighusi Nou for just over a week now and our optimistic ‘Salute’ with our friendly wave, given to everyone we pass, however oft... Continue reading » -
14
Don't ask us to paint for a while!
It has become baking hot over the last week, not bearable until about 8pm. We have been spending evenings sitting outside our lodge. Often Ron and Rob... Continue reading » -
15
Camping the Saxon Way
We have moved out of the lodge to the local campsite as a lot of volunteers are arriving. The site is in the walled garden of the Saxon church, secure... Continue reading » -
16
Dodging cholera
It has been absolutely baking hot. We were surprised to learn that they get up to four months of snow and temperatures can drop to -30 degrees. We too... Continue reading » -
17
Heading for the mountains
A few final things before we go. We managed to look around the inside of the church yesterday (the photos are in yesterday’s blog) and climbed the ric... Continue reading » -
18
There are bears in them woods!!
We say goodbye to the girls at the sanctuary before heading off to the mountains to meet up with the lads. Even the villagers who are around wave us o... Continue reading » -
19
Stuck in no man's land
On Saturday morning we are on the road by 9am. We head west to Arad and then south through Timisoara where the revolution began. Drivers are crazy in... Continue reading » -
20
Croatia
After the trauma at the border it is about 7pm (we have gained an hour by the different time zone) and we head for the nearest town with a tent marked... Continue reading » -
21
Paradise
The Plitivice Lakes park is beautiful with a trail following turquoise lakes with waterfalls connecting each one. The hike takes about six hours with... Continue reading » -
22
Being a grockle
After baking in the heat for 5 days we head to Krk, further up the coast. The island looks deceptively barren from the mainland but is very green and... Continue reading » -
23
Venice
The drive to Venice takes about four hours. We cross the border back into Euroland, stopping to take advantage of the duty free shop. We find a campsi... Continue reading »
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