European Trip May 2025 (part 1: Days 1 to 5)
Hi all...thanks for reading my blog. FYI, this is part 1 with, at least, one more part to come once I've figured out what I want to do. đ¶
Day One:
Took the Eurostar from St Pancras to Brussels Midi-Zuid (South) which was,
surprisingly, simple and easy. It took approximately 2 hours from London to
Belgium which isnât much longer than flying once you factor in all the extra
crap you have to go through at the airport. The hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, is
1km from the station which makes it very convenient. I managed to go for a walk
and get a bite to eat at a local bistroâBelgian Stew and Frites, which was very
good!
Tomorrow is going to be a long day. I am getting the 09:25
train from Brussels to Munich with one change enroute at Cologne. The trip will
take almost 7.5 hours but should give me the chance to see more of the German
countryside.
Day Two:
Walked the 1.5km from the hotel to the train station. The station was a mass of
humanity, on par with the worst and busiest in the UK with the only difference
being the quality of food.
Boarded the Eurostar (I hadnât realized that they operate
across Europe) for the first leg of the journey which took me through LiĂšge and
Aachen (of HĂŒrtgen Forest fameâhave to come back and spend some time here) to
Cologne (Köln). I managed to get out of the station and take a few pictures of
the Cologne Cathedral â A stunning example of Gothic architecture, it
is one of Germany's most iconic landmarks and took over 600 years to complete.
The rest of the trip was uneventful⊠essentially 2 hours to
Cologne and 5.5 hours to Munich which is a very long time on a train (think
London to Glasgow and then some), but it was comfortable at least.
I took the S-Bahn from Munich Central Hbf to
Leuchtenbergring which is not an aesthetically pleasing area about 3.5 km from
the old city center. At least the weather will be nice (22â23°C tomorrow), so I
can get some exercise in while I hit as many historical spots as my legs will
allow.
Day Three:
Left the hotel after breakfast and headed for the âOld Townâ center of Munich
which, if I am to trust Google Maps, is 3.1 km away. I actually walked a bit
further as I wanted to visit the Justizpalast and see the memorial to
the White Roses who were put on trial (more a show trial) â The White
Rose was a non-violent resistance group made up mainly of university students
who opposed the Nazi regime. Members, including Hans and Sophie Scholl, were
arrested and executed in 1943 after distributing anti-Nazi leaflets.
Unfortunately, the building was closed. However, I did find a memorial later in the day, to those from the White Rose that died. It was very close to Hofgartenbrunnwerk and Englisher Garten.
Not to be deterred by the apparent closure of a number of
places I had earmarked for visiting, I headed to St. Michaelâs Church â A
late Renaissance-style Jesuit church built in the 16th century, known for its
impressive façade and as the final resting place of King Ludwig II of Bavaria.
It was worth the visit. The church is absolutely beautiful and amazing to have
withstood the bombings of WWII. It is full of magnificent paintings dating from
the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as a load of gold, as many churches of the
period.
My next stop was Frauenkirche â Also known as the
Cathedral of Our Dear Lady, this 15th-century Gothic church with its iconic
twin domed towers is one of Munichâs most recognized landmarks. It was
impressive but, in my humble opinion, not as nice as St. Michaelâs. It felt a
bit darker and more subdued.
By the time I left Frauenkirche it had started to rain,
which wasnât entirely a bad thing as it had been getting a tad warm, around
20â22°C. A quick stop into a nearby shop to purchase yet another umbrella and I
was back on my way, this time to one of the main squares in the âOld Townâ, Marienplatz
â The central square in Munichâs Old Town, home to the New Town Hall (Neues
Rathaus) and its famous Glockenspiel.
I headed over to Odeonsplatz â A large square
built in the early 19th century in a classical style, surrounded by notable
buildings like the Theatine Church and Feldherrnhalle, and closely tied to both
Bavarian military history and Nazi-era events.
Whilst in the area, I also took the opportunity to visit Hofgarten
and Residenz MĂŒnchen â Hofgarten is a peaceful Italian-style
Renaissance garden, while the Munich Residenz is the former royal palace of the
Bavarian monarchs, showcasing opulent rooms and a vast collection of art and
historical artifacts.
One thing about Munich is that the main city center is, like
many other European cities, very compact, so you can squeeze a lot into a day
of walking. In my best attempt to do as much squeezing as possible, I headed to
the southeastern section of the âOld Townâ to visit the site of what was the largest
synagogue in Munich prior to the Holocaust â The main synagogue was
destroyed during Kristallnacht in 1938, a tragic symbol of the Nazi regimeâs
campaign against Jewish communities. A memorial now marks the site.
By now it was approaching noon and I had been walking for 3
hours, so I figured it was time for lunch. When in Munich, at least for me, you
have to visit HofbrÀuhaus at least once. It is the definition of iconic
German beer halls â Established in the 16th century, it's one of Munichâs
oldest beer halls and is famous for its traditional Bavarian beer, hearty food,
and lively atmosphere. At 12:15, it was packed with people singing and
drinking. I found a table and ordered a house beer and schnitzel.
Lunch was pleasant. I met a young couple from Nurembergâhe's
a footballer who will, no doubt be in the EPL, and she's about to start law studies
at university. They were friendly and checked out my blog. Thanks for the chat!
đ
Leaving Hofbrauhaus with a full belly, I headed away from the âOld Townâ aiming to visit Englischer Garden which is a large park to the Northeast that runs along the river Iser.
S| -Englischer Garten 3/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
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| Pagoda-Englischer Garten 3/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
I really only wanted to get some
steps in as I have been pretty sedentary recently and need to get back into
walking. The park was nice but what made the detour worthwhile was finding the
Archaologische Staatssammlung, a nice little archaeological museumâŠand I like
all things old so it was a nice find.
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| Archaologische Staatssammlung-Roman Statue 3/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
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| Archaologische Staatssammlung-Bust 3/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
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| Archaologische Staatssammlung-3rd/4th Century Roman Mosaic 3/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
Day Four:
The 4th of May was a travel day. Up early for
breakfast in the hotel then caught the S-Bahn to Munich Airport. I was, a bit,
surprised at the price of the ticket, 14.3 Euros, but attribute that to the âHoliday
Inn Markupâ.
Pretty uneventful trip if I were to be honest. One Traveler
Tip though and that is, if you are returning to Munich, use the Service
Center to store any luggage that you donât want to drag around. I decided to
just take my laptop bag and one dayâs change of clothes and to leave my
backpack. One of the reasons is that I was flying Ajet and Pegasus both of
which are budget and I had never flown on them before. I did not want to risk a
huge charge when it costs 4 euros per day to leave the bag at the airport.
Comfortable and uneventful flight to Sabhia Gokcen (SAW)
airport. Now, hereâs the thing, there are two airports that service Istanbul,
the other being IST. It is important to know that SAW is on the Asian side of
the city, approximately 42 km from the center. You can take the metro, bus or
taxi. As it had been a long day, I opted to take a taxi. Be prepared, it will
be around ÂŁ40 if they take the highway (with tolls but quicker).
Traveler Tip: Check your passport to make sure it was
stamped on entry. I didnât notice that mine had not been. I have my electronic
boarding pass so should be okay but the test will be tomorrow, the 6th
of May, when I try to leave đ.
Day Five:
Busy day on the 5th of May as had to get out early to be
back to take a call at noonâŠ.so, up early, no breakfast (could do without it
anyway TBH) and out the door at 0830. The first stop, and one of the main
reasons for the trip, was to Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. Originally constructed
in 537 AD under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, this architectural
masterpiece served as the worldâs largest cathedral for nearly a thousand
years. With the Ottoman conquest in 1453, it was transformed into a mosque,
adding elegant minarets and Islamic calligraphy to its already rich Christian
mosaics. In 1935, it became a museum, symbolizing Turkeyâs secular turn, and in
2020, it was reconverted into a mosqueâyet it remains open to visitors of all
backgrounds.
Stepping inside feels like walking through a living museum
of empires. Light filters through countless windows, illuminating both
glittering mosaics of Christ and Mary and vast medallions bearing Arabic
script. The mix of Byzantine and Ottoman elements tells a story not just of
conquest, but of cultural fusion. Whether youâre a history buff like me, an
architecture lover, or a curious traveller, Hagia Sophia offers an
unforgettable glimpse into the soul of Istanbulâwhere East meets West and past
meets present.
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| Interior of Hagia Sofia 1, 5/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
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| Interior of Hagia Sofia 2, 5/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
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| Me with courtyard of Hagia Sofia behind me, 5/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
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| Exerior of Hagia Sofia, 5/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
Definitely a must for peopleâs bucket list!
There's always time for a coffee and a croissant in Ian's world đ
Hagia Sophia is in an area of immense importance with the Hippodrome, also known as Al Meydani or âPlaza of Horseâ and its Obelisks. Once the beating heart of Byzantine Constantinople, the Hippodrome was a grand stadium where chariot races, political drama, and imperial ceremonies unfolded. Though little remains of its original structure, todayâs Sultanahmet Square still echoes its past with monuments like the Egyptian Obelisk and Serpent Column.
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| Serpent Obelisk, 5/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
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| Egyptian Obelisk, 5/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
A nice little addition to the visitt is theHagia Sofia museum. Traveller Tip: It is very expensive, 40 euros, to enter the museum and a few other sites so be forewarned. I'd also add that, having been to many museums, I felt it was way too pricey!
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| Hagia Sofia Museum-Holy Koran 5/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
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| Hagia Sofia Museum-Christian Icon 5/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
There is , also, the âBlue Mosqueâ. Standing opposite Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosqueâofficially the Sultan Ahmed Mosqueâis one of Istanbulâs most iconic landmarks. Completed in 1616, it stuns visitors with its elegant symmetry, cascading domes, and especially its six minaretsâa rare feature that once stirred controversy. At the time, only the Grand Mosque in Mecca had six minarets, prompting concern that the sultanâs mosque was overreaching. To resolve the issue, a seventh minaret was added to Meccaâs Mosque, restoring its unique status.
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| Note: Photo credit to (AA) as appeared in Daily Sabbah 21-4-23 |
After my call, it was back on the trail of more history. This time it was in the direction of the Bosphorus, the strait which separates Western European Istanbul with Eastern Asian Istanbul. What I discovered was that much like Rome or Athens but on a much smaller scale, Istanbul has a lot of Roman ruins dotted everywhere. There is a small archaeological site, IBB Arkeoloji Park, which was closed but I managed to get a photo of. It was a bit of a shame as, despite it being small, it could have been better preserved and available.
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| IBB Arkeoloji Park, 5/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
I, then, headed towards the Bosphorus. The first thing that
I encountered was the Aqueduct of Valens. Stretching gracefully across the
modern streets of Istanbul, the Aqueduct of Valens is a striking reminder of
the cityâs Roman past. Completed in 368 AD during the reign of Emperor Valens,
this massive stone structure was part of a sophisticated water system that
served Constantinople for over a millennium. Its arches once channelled fresh
water into palaces, baths, and fountainsâan engineering marvel that kept the
imperial capital thriving.
Today, the aqueduct stands proudly above AtatĂŒrk Boulevard,
seamlessly blending into the rhythm of a bustling city. Though cars now pass
beneath its arches instead of water, the Aqueduct of Valens remains a powerful
symbol of Istanbulâs layered historyâwhere ancient innovation meets the present
day.
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| Aqueduct of Valens 5/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
Passing beneath the Aqueduct, I discovered a bustling market
street. Given that it was now 2pm, I figured Iâd find a restaurant for some
lunch. I decided upon one that had the most locals and that was the Sur
Ocakbasi. The lunch was fantastic! It was tasty and inexpensive coming in
around 450 Turkish Lyra (about ÂŁ8.75) which was much less than any food Iâd had
since starting my trip!
I managed, after lunch, to make it to the Bosphorus. In the
end, it wasnât to accomplish anything other than to be able to document the
place where East meets WestâŠbox now ticked and itâs back towards the hotel.
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| View of the Bosphorus from European side 5/5/25 (Ian Thompson) |
Had a bit of a detour...found another museum! There are quite a few scattered over Istanbul so, if you are into such things then you'll be happy!
By the way...these guys are everywhere. I am not a cat fan, more a dog person, but these guys are pretty cute. They even have machines where you can buy food to feed them!
Oh well, enough of that. Tomorrow is the next stage of my trip with a return to Munich. As of right now, I have no idea where I will go afterwards.
Some cracking photos, and solid info. Trip looks like it's been great thus far.
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