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Roaming Europe is fun
Every route leads to Roma |
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Where are you from ?
I am from Malaysia |
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| My home country - Malaysia |
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I am a bed & breakfast traveller.
What about you ? |
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Hostelworld - TQ for making
my stays a pleasant one |
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| Eurolines coaches connect major cities in Europe |
" A bed & breakfast traveller, challenges everywhere. A package tour traveller, guiding all the way. A frequent flyer, seeing a bit here & there "
" Nothing venture nothing gain. A little free & easy travelling, a little pain but lots of gains "
" In free & easy travelling, never say never. Always say able & able - you reap what you sow "
Counting the number & cost :
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| Hostels, Food & Transport - Lonely Planet style |
My wonderful years of travelling in Europe - 2009-2012, 2014, 2017 &2019:
"Motivation + Belief + Focus = Consequence"
1) Europe 2009 (12 countries including Mongolia & China) - 3/5 - 16/6/2009 (45 days) - RM8,230 (Euro$1,646)
- England (London), Belgium (Brussels), Netherlands (Amsterdam), France (Paris), Czech Republic (Prague, Cesky Krumlov, Cesky Bedejovice), Hungary (Budapest), Poland (Krakow), Latvia (Riga), Estonia (Talinn), Russia (St Petersburg, Moscow, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal), Mongolia (Ulan Baatar), China (Beijing)
2) Europe 2010 (11 countries) - 26/4 - 4/6/2010 (40 days) - RM7,900 (Euro$1,680)
- England (London, Stonehenge), Luxembourg, Germany (Berlin), Denmark (Copenhagen), Poland (Krakow, Auschwitz), Slovakia (Bratislava), Austria (Vienna), Romania (Bucharest), Bulgaria (Sofia), Greece (Athens), Italy (Rome)
3) Europe 2011 (11 countries) - 27/4 - 1/6/2011 (36 days) - RM8,900 (Euro$2,020)
- England (London), Poland (Warsaw), Lithuania (Vilnius), Finland (Helsinki, Turku), Sweden (Stockholm), Norway (Oslo, Myrdal, Flam, Bergen), Spain (Barcelona), Italy (Florence, Pisa, Venice), Slovenia (Ljubljana), Croatia (Zagred), Bosnia & Herzegovina (Sarajevo)
4) Europe 2012 (9 countries) - 11/4 - 12/5/2012 (31 days) - RM8,999 (Euro$2,249)
- France (Paris), England (London), Scotland (Edinburgh), Switzerland (Geneva, Laussane, Bern, Lucerne, Interlaken, Zurich), Lichtenstein (Va Duz), Spain (Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Algeciras, Tarifa, Granada, Cordoba), Portugal (Lisbon, Sintra), Gibraltar & Morocco (Fez)
5) Europe 2014 (17 countries) - 27/4 - 28/5/2014 (32 days) : RM8,202 (Euro$1,827)
- France (Paris, Nice, Cannes), Spain (Barcelona), Andorra (La Vella), Austria (Salzburg), Monaco (Monte Carlo), Italy (Rimini, Ancona), San Marino, Croatia (Split, Dubrovnik), Montenegro (Podgorica), Albania (Tirana), Macedonia (Skopje), Kosovo (Pristina), Romania (Bucharest), Moldova (Chisinau), Germany (Munich), Wales (Cardiff), Ireland (Dublin) & North Ireland (Belfast, The Giant Causeway)
6) Eastern Europe 2017 (6 countries) 28/5 - 10/6/2017 (14 days) : Rm8,900 (Euro$1,831)
- Germany (Frankfurt, Nuremburg, Fussen), Poland (Wroclaw, Warsaw, Krakow), Czech Republic (Prague), Hungary (Budapest, ), Slovakia (Bratislava), Austria (Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Neuschwanstein Castle)
7) Eastern Europe (Pearls of Balkans & Adriatic) 2019 (8 countries) 17/3-31/32019 (15 days): Rm10,600 (Euro$2,278)
- Romania (Bucharest, Bran, Sinaia), Bulgaria (Veliko Tarnovo, Sofia, Rila), Macedonia (Skopje, Ohrid), Albania (Tirana), Montenegro (Podgorica, Kotor), Bosnia-Herzegovina (Sarajevo. Mostar), Croatia (Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Zagreb) & Slovenia (Bled, Postojna, Ljubjana)
Total number of European countries visited during the Spring season for the last 5 trips - 45 countries. However, my dream of visiting Belarus, Ukraine & Serbia has yet to be fulfilled ..... so KM, be patient and keep dreaming ........
The 7 most memorable travelling experiences worthy of mentioning here during my visits to Europe were:
1) 5 - 15/6/2009 - From Russia with love - My 10 day Trans-Mongolian train ride (5,996km) experience from Moscow to Irkutsk and then to Ulan Bator, Mongolia & Erlian, China.
" The Trans-Siberian is the big train ride. All the rest are peanuts. The total distance is equivalent to a third of the globe - Lonely Planet quoted "
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| Are you ready to take up the challenge ? |
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| The start of Trans-Mongolian train ride from Moscow |
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| The Russian train winding it's way to Irkutsk |
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| A short train stop in one of the Eastern Russian town |
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| A short break at a remote train station |
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| Hard boiled eggs, donuts on sale by mobile vendors |
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| A 3rd class Platzcart - Euro$76 |
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| A view of the Russian country side |
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| Russian homes in the rural areas |
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| The beautiful Baikal Lake |
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| The world's 3rd largest fresh water lake |
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| The deep blue sea |
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| A 2009 picture taken from a far away land |
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| A country home in Lake Baikal |
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| Calm & peaceful |
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| A home cooked meal at my hostel in Lake Baikal |
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| Enjoying an Omule fish lunch in a Lake Baikal outing |
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| Beautiful sunset at Lake Baikal - time to go home ! |
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| Mongolian train to Erlian, China |
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| Ulan Baator, Mongolia |
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| Forbidden City , Beijing, China |
2) 8-13/5/2011 - From Norway with love - a 6 day experience to Norway's most beautiful travel destinations from Oslo by train and another spectacular train journey from Myrdal to Flam followed by a cruise to Sognefjord and a stopover in Bergen, an UNESCO World Heritage site
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| Map of Flam, Aurlandsfjord, Sognefjord |
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| Train ride & cruise from Oslo to Myrdal, Flam, Sognefjord & Bergen |
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| Train from from Oslo to Mrydal |
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| Myrdal station -13km south of Flam, a mountain village |
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| White snowy mountain in Myrdal |
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| Country homes along Flam rail line |
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| Flam train - one of the steepest rail track in the world |
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| Kyosfodd Waterfall |
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| 20km Flam rail between Flam & Myrdal |
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| A catamaran at the Flam harbour |
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| The start of a fjord cruise from Flam |
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| Cruise along the Aurlandsfjord |
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| Sognefjords |
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| Stunning scenery |
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| Spectacular & awesome |
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| Green & serene countryside |
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| A waterfall - middle of nowhere |
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| Bergen - an old fishing town |
3) Visited two of the Seven Wonders of the World in Europe - Acropolis in Athens, Greece (2010) & Colosseum of Rome, Italy (2010)
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| Colosseum, Rome - Italy |
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| Acropolis, Athens - Greece |
4) Visited two of the most spectacular palaces in the world - Winter Palace in St Petersburg, Russia (2009) & Versailles in Paris, France (2009)
Versailles, Paris - France
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| Versailles, Paris |
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| Versailles, Paris |
Winter Palace, St Petersburg, Moscow
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| Winter Palace, St Petersburg |
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| Winter Palace, St Petersburg - Russia |
5) Visited two of the most unique Cathedrals in the world - Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain (2011) & St Basil's Cathedral in Red Square, Moscow - Russia (2009)
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona - Spain
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| Sagrada Familia, Barcelona |
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| Sagrada Familia |
St Basil Cathedral of Red Square, Moscow - Russia
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| St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow |
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| St Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow |
6) The most memorable city I visited in Europe - Venice, Italy (2011)
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| Venice of the East, Italy |
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| Venice, Italy |
7) Seeing the world's most famous subway stations in Moscow, Russia
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| Moscow Metro - 40m deep underground |
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| Beautiful decor & lighting |
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| Novoslobodskaya subway station, Moscow |
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| Best known for its 32 stained glass panels |
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| Prospekt Mira Subway Station, Moscow |
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| Finest Pre War Stalinist Architecture |
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| Ploshchad Revolution Square Subway Station, Moscow |
But one fear factor is always in my mind when I was travelling to Russia in 2009 after spotting a poster in Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic which carried the following message:
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| I am a bona fide tourist, so be kind to me ! |
Chasing my dream - Travelling makes our heart grows fonder ! Pictures say a thousand words ! One for the album for each of the countries I had visited thus far. No dream is too big, so don't be afraid to chase it !
1) Albania (Tirana)
2) Andorra ( La Vella)
3) Austria (Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Neuschwanstein Castle)
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| Vienna, Austria |
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| Innsbruck, Austria |
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| Salzburg, Austria |
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| Neuschwanstein Castle, Austria |
4) Belgium (Brussels)
5) Bosnia (Sarajevo & Mostar)
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| Mostar Old Stone Bridge |
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Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
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6) Bulgaria (Sofia, Veliko Tarnova, Rila)
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| Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia (Bulgaria) |
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| Tsarevets Fortress, Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria) |
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| Rila Monastery, Rila (Bulgaria) |
7) Czech Republic (Prague, Cesky Kumlov, Cesky Belowice)
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| Prague, Czech Republic |
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| Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic |
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| Cesky Bedejovice, Czech Republic |
8) Croatia (Zagred, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Plitvice Lakes National Park)
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| Zagreb (Croatia) |
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| Dubrovnik (Croatia) |
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| Diocletian's Palace, Split (Croatia) |
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| Zadar (Croatia) |
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| Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia) |
9) Denmark (Copenhagen)
10) England (London, Stonehenge)
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| London, England |
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| Stonehenge, England |
11) Estonia (Talinn)
12) Finland (Helsinki)
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| Helsinki, Finland |
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| Turku, Finland |
13) France (Paris, Versailles, Nice, Cannes)
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| Paris, France |
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| Versailles, Paris |
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| Nice, France |
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| Cannes, France |
14) Germany (Berlin, Frankfurt, Fussen, Munich & Nuremberg)
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| Berlin, Germany |
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| Munich, Germany |
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| Frankfurt, Germany |
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| Nuremberg, Germany |
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| Fussen, Germany / Austrian border town |
16) Greece (Athens)
17) Hungary (Budapest)
18) Ireland (Dublin)
19) Italy (Rome, Florence, Pisa, Venice, Rimini, Ancona)
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| Rome, Italy |
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| Florence, Italy |
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| Venice, Italy |
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| Pisa, Italy |
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| Rimini, Italy |
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| Ancona, Italy |
20) Kosovo (Pristina)
21) Latvia (Riga)
22) Lithuania (Vilnius)
23) Liechtenstein
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| Va Duz |
24) Luxembourg
25) Macedonia (Tirana, Ohrid)
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| Macedonia Square, Tirana (Albania) |
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| Ohrid, (Macedonia) |
26) Monaco (Monte Carlo)
27) Moldova (Chisinau)
28) Montenegro (Podgorica, Kotor)
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| Podgorica (Montenegro) |
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| Kotor Old Town (Montenegro) |
29) Netherlands (Amsterdam)
30) North Ireland (Belfast)
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| Belfast, North Ireland |
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| The Giant Causeway, North Ireland |
31) Norway (Oslo, Myrdal, Flam, Bergen)
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| Oslo, Norway |
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| Myrdal, Norway |
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| Flam, Norway |
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| Bergen, Norway |
32) Poland (Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw)
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| Old Town - Warsaw, Poland |
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| Old Town - Krakow, Poland |
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| Auschwitz - Birkenau, Poland |
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| Wieliczka Salt Mines (UNESCO) - Krakow, Poland |
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| Centennial Hall - Krakow (UNESCO), Poland |
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| Old Town - Wroclaw, Poland |
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| Chopin Memorial in the Lazienki Park -Warsaw, Poland |
33) Portugal (Lisbon, Sintra)
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| Lisbon, Portugal |
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| Sintra, Portugal |
34) Romania (Bucharest, Bran, Sinaia)
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| Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest (Romania) |
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| Peles Castle, Bran (Romania) |
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| Bran Castle, Bran (Romania) |
35) Russia (St Petersburg, Moscow, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal)
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| St Petersburg, Russia |
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| Moscow, Russia |
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| Irkutsk, Russia |
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| Lake Baikal, Russia |
36) San Marino
37) Scotland (Edinburgh)
38) Slovenia (Ljubliajna, Bled, Postojna)
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| Dragon Bridge, Ljubljana (Slovenia) |
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| Bled Lake, Bled (Slovenia) |
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| Postojna Caves (Slovenia) |
39) Slovakia (Bratislava)
40) Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Algericas, Toledo)
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| Madrid, Spain |
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| Granada, Spain |
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| Seville, Spain |
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| Barcelona, Spain |
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| Toledo, Spain |
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| Cordoba, Spain |
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| Algeciras, Spain |
41) Sweden (Stockholm)
42) Switzerland (Geneva, Lausanne, Bern, Lucerne, Interlaken, Zurich)
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| Bern, Switzerland |
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| Lucerne, Switzerland |
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| Interlaken, Switzerland |
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| Lausanne, Switzerland |
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| Geneva, Switzerland |
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| Zurich, Switzerland |
43) Turkey (Istanbul, Cappadocia, Bodrum, Cannakale-Troy, Selcuk, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Ankara)
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| Ankara, Turkey |
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| Istanbul, Turkey |
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| Cannakale - Troy, Turkey |
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| Cappadocia, Turkey |
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| Selcuk, Turkey |
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| Ephesus - Turkey |
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| Bodrum, Turkey |
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| Pamukkale, Turkey |
44) Wales (Cardiff)
45) Vatican City
After 8 years of intermittent free & easy travelling since my retirement in May 2006 and for each trip, whether you are eating humble pies, apple pies or meat pies, I always look forward to eating a Happy Pie & Feel Good Food upon my return . Happy travelling to all !!!
" I walk down the memory lane because I love running into Europe "
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