Slovakia 2006: Bratislava - An Old Historical City...

"Failure doesn't mean you are a failure... it just means you haven't succeeded yet..." - Robert Schuller

(Blooming tulips)

The day-excursion to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia began at 7.15 a.m. we saw vineyards on the slopes of the Little Carpathian Mountains, where they meet the Danube River. The Austrian border is almost within sight of the city and Hungary is just 16 km away. Many beautiful monuments survive in the old town to tell of its past under Hungarian rule, and Bratislava's numerous museums are surprisingly rich.

(A Jewish Synagogue)

When we arrived at the main bus station, a guide took us to the old city and the castle area which are the best parts of Bratislava. The old city is packed with museums such as the Municipal Museum which comes complete with torture chambers and the Museum of Wine Production and Primate's Palace and the Mirbach Palace.

(A poster on the wall)

The castle, built above the Danube, was a frontier post of the Roman Empire from the 1st to the 5th century. Since the 9th century it has been rebuilt several times, most recently between 1953 and 1962. Up the hill are the very interesting Slovak National Museum expositions within. The Natural Sciences Museum of the Slovak National Museum and the Slovak National Gallery on the river are also worth a visit.

(A horseman marble statue)

Hviezdoslavovo námestie Square is a convenient orientation point, with the old town to the north, the Danube to the south, and Bratislava Castle to the west. Bratislava's main train station, Hlavná stanica, is several km north of town. The Old Town offers numerous good places to eat and a rich nightlife but we took the afternoon bus so that we could spend more time in Vienna.

(Brass sculpture at the man-hole)

👈 2006: New Zealand North Island

2006: Budapest, Hungary 👉

Hungary 2006: Budapest - The City of Spas...

"A fool despises good counsel, but a wise man takes it to heart..." - Confucius

(Unique architecture heritage)

Today we drove through the enchanting countryside of western Hungary to Budapest, a city rich in traditions. Hungary is a landlocked country in central Europe. Hungary is bordering with seven countries, Austria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine.

Budapest is about 250 km from Vienna and the road trip took about 2.5 hours. Buda and Pest blend several centuries of architectural and cultural heritage with all the innovations thrown at it by modern life. Historic buildings and monuments are renovated and restored.

(The view of Buda and Pest)

The Castle District, the River Danube embankments and the whole of Andrássy út have been officially recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Castle District in Buda is the ancient kernel of the capital's right-bank settlement.

(A viewpoint in the city) 

The whole area within the ramparts is protected as an ancient monument: the lines of the streets and the foundations and architectural remains of the buildings retain the atmosphere and memories of the medieval and eighteenth and nineteenth-century capital.

(Visiting the attractions around town)

A panoramic view of the whole city from the Fishermen’s Bastion is an absolute must! In Pest, the most important sight is Andrássy út. As far as Kodály Körönd both sides are lined with large shops and flats built close together. Between there and Heroes’ Square the houses are detached and altogether grander.

(The Police Headquarters)

Heroes’ Square is dominated by the Millenary Monument, with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front. To the sides are the Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Arts, and behind City Park opens out, with Vajdahunyad Castle on its own island in the little lake, and further off the Zoo.

(A rest in the garden)

There are many sights to be seen just from riding along the embankment of the River Danube, Pest side, the Matthias Church, the Fishermen’s Bastion, the Castle District, the Chain Bridge, Elizabeth Bridge, Gellért Hill, the Gellért Hotel and Baths. Just before the Lágymányosi Bridge the new National Theatre and Palace of Arts.

(A small chat with a local)

On the return journey there is the Corvinus University building, the Central Market Hall, the Vigadó Concert Hall, and the Gresham Palace and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences both on Roosevelt Square.

👈 2006: Bratislava, Slovakia

2006: Wachau, Austria 👉

Austria 2006: Wachau - Scenic Romantic View...

"Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss..."

(Scenic view from the cruise boat)

Today we took a full-day excursion to Wachau, Northwest of Vienna. It boasts Austria's most dramatic wine landscape, stretching for about 20 miles between the towns of Melk and Krems and hugging the Danube River. The first part of the trip from Vienna was by bus and second part by boat. The journey drived through the beauty of Wachau scenery full of history and legends of the Danube.

(Absorbing the view from the Danube)

The Wachau is a stretch of the Danube Valley between Melk and Krems, a landscape of high visual quality. It preserves in an intact and visible form many traces in terms of architecture, monasteries, castles, ruins, towns and villages, and agricultural use for the cultivation of vines.

(On the cruise boat)

The romantic boat trip started from Spitz, winds its way past charming old villages and steep wineyards. The old castles, one of them the Durnstein is famous because here King Richard the Lion Heart was imprisoned, while waiting for his ransom to arrive from England.

(Visiting the Abbey)

The heart of the Wachau is the old wine-merchants’ town of Krems. The highlight of the visit is Melk, the magnificient Benedictine Abbey.

(The huge library)

👈 2006: Budapest, Hungary

2006: Vienna, Austria 👉

Austria 2006: Vienna - Fine Arts and Natural History...

"To be old and wise, you must first have to be young and stupid..."

(The Austrian Note Printing Plant)

7 May 2006

Day 1: Dinner at Ken’s

Arrived at vienna at 6.15 p.m. with hotel transferred already prearranged. The Astoria Hotel is situated right in the middle of Stephanplatz. Allen and the Philippines’ team have checked-in earlier. Dinner was at Ken’s, a Turkish Restaurant where we had nasi briani and lamb kebab. Roger and wife, Gernoit and Wife and Dr. Raluca, from the Austrian Mint team joined us

8 May 2006

Day 2: Visits the Austrian Mint and Printing Plant

(Murals on the wall)

Picked-up and transferred to OeBS at 8.30 a.m. General presentation was by Oliver F on Company profile and products. Together with the Philippines’ team visited the origination team, National Analysis Center, production department and finishing department.

Transferred to the Austrian Mint and visited GSA and listened to a briefing by G Maier. Visited the precious metal casting and blanking, proof production and auto packaging system. End of day dinner with K Meyer, the Director of the Mint at the Wok, a Malaysian Chinese restaurant.

(KTM, the Austrian motorbike)

9 May 2006

Day 3: Witness dies destruction

The Philippines’ team flew to Zurich this morning. I was picked-up and transferred to OeBS at 9.30 a.m. Expert presentation was by Dr. D Schwarzbach on security features. Transferred to the Austrian Mint and toured the plant with B Wohletz. Later witness the destruction of dies and signing of certificates. Lunch was with B Wohletz and Bridget at a seafood restaurant.

(Beautiful and clean park)

By 3 p.m. I was back at the hotel and dear hubby was already in the room waiting for me. His flight from KL reached Vienna very early in the morning. We had ample time to have breakfast before my appointment with the OeBS and the Austrian Mint. 

The Astoria Hotel is situated at the center of Stephanplazt, with rows of shops and famous Viennese cafes. For those keen on shopping there are plenty of flea markets and shopping streets to browse through. At the end of Stephanplazt stood the Gothic Imperial Chapel, houses a wealth of art treasures where the Vienna Boys’ Choir performs during High Mass on Sunday, is also a remnant of the Imperial Palace during the Middle Ages.

(Chelsea and historical buildings)

Places of interest

Vienna has plenty to offer for everyone. The world capital of music was home to numerous opera, operetta and musical composers. In 2006 Vieana is celebrating Mozart's 250 birthday. In the center of the old city, you can admire the splendor and magnificence of the daily life of the noblest family of the Habsburg monarchy. The Imperial Palace, which until 1918 was inhabited by the imperial family, was originally a castle built in the thirteenth century. The Vienna Opera House has a world-wide reputation for its first-class opera performances and is also known because of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. A night at the State Opera is one of the most impressive events any visitor to Vienna can experience. The building itself closely resembles Italian Renaissance, as this epoch was immensely important for art and music. The first operas were written and performed in Italy during the 16th century.

Vast Heldenplatz, Square of Heroes, situated next to it, is very impressive, too. Equestrian statues of Archduke Karl, who won the battle of Aspern against Napoleon's troops, and Prince Eugene of Savoy, who defeated the Turks, attest to Austria's glorious past. Heldenplatz is more than a square, it is one of Austria's symbols of national identity. The trip turn around the old city, we could see Otto Wagner's Post Office Building, the Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna's City Park, the Vienna State Opera, the Imperial Palace, the Museums of Fine Arts and Natural History, Parliament, the Burgtheater, the University and the Stock Exchange.

👈 2006: Wachau, Austria

2006: Bordeaux, France 👉

France 2006: Bordeaux - Lunch with the Mayor...

"When someone is going through a storm, your silent presence is more powerful than a million empty words..." - Thema Davis

(A walk in the park)

4 May 2006
Day 1: Free and easy

The transfer from Paris to Bordeaux was by TGV high speed train. The journey took more than 3 hours and we slept all the way. We have to wait for an hour to retrieve baggage and look for missing bags. From the train station we were transported in 4 buses to our hotels.The evening was free and dinner was with the Thai delegates at one seafood restaurant. Those who lost their luggage got theirs at 2 o'clock in the morning. A call for celebration and a round of free drinks to all.

(Live music while having our lunch)

5 May 2006
Day 2: Wine and dine
'

(A visit to a famous winery)

Early morning we went for a river cruise along the Garrone river. Later we departed from Bordeaux to Pessac by bus to visit Proditec's facilities. At noon departed to Bordeaux City Hall to have lunch with the Mayor of Bordeaux. The lunch was hosted by Proditec. In the afternoon we went for a tour to a famous wineyard chateau. We had dinner hosted by Samlerhuset MDM at chateau Giscours.

6 May 2006
Day 3: City of St. Emilion

(Spending the afternoon at the beach)

We departed for Arcachon seaside resort and visit the Bassin d'Arcachon by boat. Lunch at the seaside, hosted by KME. Returned to Bordeaux to join the tour on foot and visited the historical city center. At 7 p.m. departed by bus to the old city of Saint-Emilion. Dinner was hosted by Schuler Pressen in the clos des Dominicains accompanied by a live band.

7 May 2006
Day 4: Goodbye Bordeaux, hello Vienna

(Collections of rare coins)

Took a cab to Bordeaux airport and flew to Paris. Transited in the business lounge and rested for 4 hours before my next flight to Vienna.

'TRAVEL
'

The road is ruined,

but my feet are strong

My steps are taken,

slowly in this new land

'

Tears fill my eyes,

with wanderer's joy
The joy of discovery,

making this land my own

'

Every place I go, I own...

this is my home

'

(Author Unknown)

👈 2006: Vienna, Austria

2006: Paris, France 👉