EuropeExplored
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Exploring Europe by train
europeexplored.travel.blog
europeexplored.travel.blog
In my previous post, I accidentally failed to say that the opera we were about to see was Rusalka.
It exceeded all expectations, I thought it was a superb production.
It exceeded all expectations, I thought it was a superb production.
November 30, 2025 at 7:43 PM
In my previous post, I accidentally failed to say that the opera we were about to see was Rusalka.
It exceeded all expectations, I thought it was a superb production.
It exceeded all expectations, I thought it was a superb production.
The real purpose of our trip was to enable us to see a performance of Anton Dvořák's opera in the lovely opera house in Ostrava.
November 30, 2025 at 2:46 PM
The real purpose of our trip was to enable us to see a performance of Anton Dvořák's opera in the lovely opera house in Ostrava.
Ostrava was divided by the Ostravice river into Moravian and Silesian cities, only united in the 20th century. Just on the Silesian side are the remains of a defensive castle.
November 30, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Ostrava was divided by the Ostravice river into Moravian and Silesian cities, only united in the 20th century. Just on the Silesian side are the remains of a defensive castle.
Ostrava City Museum is located in the Old Town Hall in the main square.
November 30, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Ostrava City Museum is located in the Old Town Hall in the main square.
Day 3. An early morning trip up the tower of the New Town Hall in Ostrava. Unfortunately, the views weren't great because of the mist, but it's not forecast to clear much today
November 30, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Day 3. An early morning trip up the tower of the New Town Hall in Ostrava. Unfortunately, the views weren't great because of the mist, but it's not forecast to clear much today
Ostrava!!! (The New Town Hall.)
November 29, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Ostrava!!! (The New Town Hall.)
We have come to Ostrava, where we had booked a guided tour of the Villa Grossman. Only recently restored, this Art Nouveau house was built by the architect Frantisek Grossman to be his private family residence.
November 29, 2025 at 4:59 PM
We have come to Ostrava, where we had booked a guided tour of the Villa Grossman. Only recently restored, this Art Nouveau house was built by the architect Frantisek Grossman to be his private family residence.
Crossing imperceptibly into the Czech Republic, which seems appropriate, as we have not left the ancient province of Upper Silesia.
November 29, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Crossing imperceptibly into the Czech Republic, which seems appropriate, as we have not left the ancient province of Upper Silesia.
Katowice was not the intended destination for this trip, but rather a convenient place to get to from London. So, we have now caught a bus from Katowice Bus Station to move on.
November 29, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Katowice was not the intended destination for this trip, but rather a convenient place to get to from London. So, we have now caught a bus from Katowice Bus Station to move on.
Day 2. After spending all of yesterday afternoon in the Museum of Silesia, this morning has been in the equally good Katowice City Museum.
November 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Day 2. After spending all of yesterday afternoon in the Museum of Silesia, this morning has been in the equally good Katowice City Museum.
Katowice grew rapidly as a centre of heavy industry in the 19th century and has very little earlier architecture. Much of it has been destroyed by war or urban planners. The Rynek in the heart of the city is surrounded by modern buildings and is currently hosting an underwhelming Christmas market.
November 28, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Katowice grew rapidly as a centre of heavy industry in the 19th century and has very little earlier architecture. Much of it has been destroyed by war or urban planners. The Rynek in the heart of the city is surrounded by modern buildings and is currently hosting an underwhelming Christmas market.
We have come to a chilly Katowice in Poland and have spent all afternoon in the excellent Museum of Silesia, built on the site of former coal mine, which provides a detailed history of this fascinating region.
November 28, 2025 at 5:50 PM
We have come to a chilly Katowice in Poland and have spent all afternoon in the excellent Museum of Silesia, built on the site of former coal mine, which provides a detailed history of this fascinating region.
On the way to our destination, the plane passed over a snowy Wrocław.
November 28, 2025 at 12:52 PM
On the way to our destination, the plane passed over a snowy Wrocław.
Departing on a short European trip this morning, accompanied by my son.
November 28, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Departing on a short European trip this morning, accompanied by my son.
In the space of just over a week, I have walked over two William Tierney Clark bridges: the first over the Danube in Budapest and the second over the Avon in Bath.
October 25, 2025 at 6:28 AM
In the space of just over a week, I have walked over two William Tierney Clark bridges: the first over the Danube in Budapest and the second over the Avon in Bath.
Off to a wedding this weekend. Departing from the magnificent temple that is London Paddington.
October 23, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Off to a wedding this weekend. Departing from the magnificent temple that is London Paddington.
True. But the image of Akershus Castle on the frontispiece was virtually unchanged from the picture I took nearly 90 years later.
October 22, 2025 at 4:26 PM
True. But the image of Akershus Castle on the frontispiece was virtually unchanged from the picture I took nearly 90 years later.
Nearly home now. This was my somewhat convoluted route.
October 16, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Nearly home now. This was my somewhat convoluted route.
Sadly, I'm now on my way home.
October 16, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Sadly, I'm now on my way home.
You can visit the former ÁVH (secret police) headquarters in Budapest. I remembered that Misha Glenny, who, like me, is wary of Fidesz's rewriting of Hungarian hisotry, did so in his BBC radio series The Invention of Hungary. Apart from the usual claims about lost Hungarian territory, it was good.
October 16, 2025 at 1:29 PM
You can visit the former ÁVH (secret police) headquarters in Budapest. I remembered that Misha Glenny, who, like me, is wary of Fidesz's rewriting of Hungarian hisotry, did so in his BBC radio series The Invention of Hungary. Apart from the usual claims about lost Hungarian territory, it was good.
Paid a visit this morning to the Museum of Fine Arts, primarily because they have a special exhibition of William Blake prints. I'm a fan of Blake as an artist and a poet. Given most of the exhibits came from The Tate, why didn't I see it in the UK. Well for one I had the whole exhibition to myself.
October 16, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Paid a visit this morning to the Museum of Fine Arts, primarily because they have a special exhibition of William Blake prints. I'm a fan of Blake as an artist and a poet. Given most of the exhibits came from The Tate, why didn't I see it in the UK. Well for one I had the whole exhibition to myself.
Day 9. As I last visited Budapest only a couple of years ago, I'm using it as a staging post.
The Szechenyi bridge across the Danube was closed last time I was here. Designed by an Englishman, William Tierney Clark, who was also responsible for the similar chain bridge across the Thames at Marlow.
The Szechenyi bridge across the Danube was closed last time I was here. Designed by an Englishman, William Tierney Clark, who was also responsible for the similar chain bridge across the Thames at Marlow.
October 16, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Day 9. As I last visited Budapest only a couple of years ago, I'm using it as a staging post.
The Szechenyi bridge across the Danube was closed last time I was here. Designed by an Englishman, William Tierney Clark, who was also responsible for the similar chain bridge across the Thames at Marlow.
The Szechenyi bridge across the Danube was closed last time I was here. Designed by an Englishman, William Tierney Clark, who was also responsible for the similar chain bridge across the Thames at Marlow.
From one great station to another. My train from Pécs has brought me to Budapest Keleti.
October 15, 2025 at 2:42 PM
From one great station to another. My train from Pécs has brought me to Budapest Keleti.
Pécs is stuffed with lots of interesting museums and galleries, such that I could have spent several days there. Sadly, it is time to leave, but I have the consolation that Pécs railway station is a work of art in itself.
October 15, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Pécs is stuffed with lots of interesting museums and galleries, such that I could have spent several days there. Sadly, it is time to leave, but I have the consolation that Pécs railway station is a work of art in itself.
The Zsolnay factory in Pécs has been producing porcelain since the mid-19th century. There is a museum displaying its wares from various periods. Egyptian motifs seem to be a recurring favourite.
October 15, 2025 at 10:02 AM
The Zsolnay factory in Pécs has been producing porcelain since the mid-19th century. There is a museum displaying its wares from various periods. Egyptian motifs seem to be a recurring favourite.