From Russia to Europe

Hi everyone! Here's my and my husband report about our trip in 2010 to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1lace w:st="on">Europe</st1lace> on a Yamaha XP 500A T-MAX, 2008. Sorry, I'm not very strong in English, but I hope you will understand the meaning and forgive mistakes.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
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15 days, <st1:metricconverter w:st="on" ProductID="5800 Kilometers">5800 Kilometers</st1:metricconverter><o></o>
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Moscow (Russia) - Biala Podlaska (Poland) - Vienna (Austria) - Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse (Austria) - Zell-am-See (Austria) - Königssee (Germany) - Salzburg (Austria) - Linz (Austria) - Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic) - Plzen (Czech Republic) - Chemnitz, Moto GP (Germany) - Dresden (Germany) - Prague (Czech Republic) - Krakow (Poland) - Biala Podlaska (Poland) &#8211; Moscow (Russia)<o></o>
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The result of several years of dreaming, months of preparation and recent sleepless hours - was to leave early on Saturday morning from <st1:City w:st="on">Moscow</st1:City> towards <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Belarus</st1lace></st1:country-region>. On the first day we drove <st1:metricconverter w:st="on" ProductID="1150 km">1150 km</st1:metricconverter> to the Polish town of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Biala Podlaska</st1lace></st1:City> (about <st1:metricconverter w:st="on" ProductID="40 km">40 km</st1:metricconverter> from the border), spent the night in good hotel Gold Fish with parking and coffee for 28 euros per room per night.<o></o>
Early in the morning we drove to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Vienna</st1lace></st1:City>. Percent of 60 Polish roads were very decent quality and as a result, the average speed was 120-140. Approximately <st1:metricconverter w:st="on" ProductID="70 km">70 km</st1:metricconverter> to the Austrian border road becomes narrow and multiple roundabouts. In <st1:country-region w:st="on">Poland</st1:country-region>, the Euro have little or no walking (only PLN), we had a Visa card, it always take in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Poland</st1lace></st1:country-region>, so we do not even changed their money.
In <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Vienna</st1lace></st1:City>, we were about to 7 pm, saw it in traffic jams in search of the hotel. Hotels we never make reservations, searched already in place or in the center or in close proximity. Only in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Prague</st1lace></st1:City>, the hotel was on the edge, but close to the subway. Free places in almost all hotels have, because the crisis and the tourists few. Almost all the hotels were paying visa, but in <st1:City w:st="on">Salzburg</st1:City> and in some places in the <st1lace w:st="on"><st1laceName w:st="on">Czech</st1laceName> <st1laceType w:st="on">Republic</st1laceType></st1lace> do not take cards - paid in cash. In Vienna, we were all the next day.<o></o>
All inspected, tasted the famous Sacher cake and do not understand why it all so praised! We visited the zoo, the oldest in the world, there is even home to two pandas. We went to the Gazomert, very interesting place: four huge century-old brick gas storage, rebuilt, in shopping centers and residential neighborhoods. In the evening went to the famous restaurant Ribs Of Vienna (Weihburggasse 22), where ate wonderful, meter length ribs. We recommend to all! We visited the "island of fools" - Viennese amusement park, barely get out of there, so many things tried, some pair of times. The next morning, we went to the <st1lace w:st="on">Alps</st1lace>, but before it - we drove to see Hundertwasser house, an Austrian architect and painter, the creator of the original buildings in the "natural", "ecological", "biomorphic" style. Very impressed! <o></o>
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On the road to Grossglockner we stopped to swim in very warm and largest Austrian mountain <st1lace w:st="on"><st1laceType w:st="on">lake</st1laceType> <st1laceName w:st="on">Werther</st1laceName></st1lace> See. Wonderful resort, instead of sand - a soft, grassy lawn, perfect purity, the water is warm and clear. <o></o>
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Then we drove along the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, built in the 30's of last century as a tourist attraction. The most impressive part of the road &#8211; paid, 18 euros per bike. In <st1lace w:st="on">Grossglockner</st1lace> our foto camera died, burned out light bulb in the headlamp and visor mount broke on one of the helmets, mount the second helmet broke the next day!!! We were very upset because of camera - what kinds view there! But something that we managed to shoot (even a couple of videos shot). The road runs at an altitude of <st1:metricconverter w:st="on" ProductID="2500 meters">2500 meters</st1:metricconverter>, and of course very interesting, but demanding on the driver, especially when he had to climb to the nest of bikers on the cobblestones. Along this road should definitely pass if you're close!<o></o>
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Decided to spend the night in Zell-am-See. A beautiful town with a large lake in the winter turns into a ski resort. In the morning replace the blown light bulb (Philips Extreme Power for a long time could not stand, it's good that we took the spare), bought a new camera. Then we drove into some cave and went on a very beautiful and scenic road in southern <st1:State w:st="on">Bavaria</st1:State> to the <st1lace w:st="on"><st1laceType w:st="on">lake</st1laceType> <st1laceName w:st="on">Königssee</st1laceName></st1lace>. <o></o>
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The hotel we found right on the lake. In the morning, buying trip to the boat, swam to the peninsula with the <st1lace w:st="on"><st1laceType w:st="on">church</st1laceType> of <st1laceName w:st="on">St. Bartholomew</st1laceName></st1lace>. Very beautiful views, Königssee pure and deep, and at its widest point, our guide pulled out a pipe and played on it and the melody repeated echo! <o></o>
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After that we went to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Salzburg</st1lace></st1:City>, on the way to see a mountain Reaching fault with bridges and waterfalls called Albachlamm. <o></o>
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<st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Salzburg</st1lace></st1:City> we liked very much, all there is beautiful, interesting and compact. <o></o>
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English forgiven. Black font, not so much.

Nice ride.

Next were the cities of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:city w:st="on">Linz</st1:city>, Cesky Krumlov, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Plzen</st1lace></st1:city>. The most interesting Cesky Krumlov (a real pearl), a very beautiful city, and the facades of houses and courtyards of the castle, painted in the technique of sgraffito - a miracle! Be sure to visit! <?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o></o>
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In <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Plzen</st1lace></st1:city> visited the brewery Pilsner Urquell, tour did not take. Beer is the most usual.<o></o>
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In the Czech outback only accept the Czech korun (krona), the euro or the card can not take, so it's best to carry a certain amount of cash koruns. Early in the morning we drove from <st1:city w:st="on">Plzen</st1:city> to MotoGP at the Sachsenring in a suburb of Chemnitz (<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Germany</st1lace></st1:country-region>). Our navigator paved route through the <st1:city w:st="on">Karlovy Vary</st1:city>, mountains and narrow path on which we did successfully drove out to <st1lace w:st="on">Chemnitz</st1lace> from the rear. Where exactly is the Sachsenring we did`t know, so we circled for a long time on the outskirts, hoping to find somebody on moto, we even thought that the race canceled, but then asked the way on the gas station and after <st1:metricconverter w:st="on" productid="20 kilometers">20 kilometers</st1:metricconverter>, winding paths through woods and fields, we arrived at the track. A huge number of motorcycles from different countries traveled from all sides. Knowing exactly where the entrance to our tribune, we left our Max for 3 euros in the courtyard of the elderly spouses of Germans, equipment placed in their garage. Going into the Sachsenring we were surprised by a small range of souvenirs and food, but very fast and loud raced motorcycles Moto2, we had to insert the earplugs. Generally, it is very strange that at such events is not for sale equipment, we hoped to buy spare parts for our Arai, something from Dainese, but no luck. The real surprise was the participation of Vale Rossi, who, after such a serious injury, so quickly recovered and went on the track. If not Casey Stoner overtook him in the last turn, then Valentino would have come third on the podium. The stands are very experienced all the vicissitudes of the race, especially when the obstruction had a triple and the race was stopped for about 20 minutes. After the race, blessed the old German (owner of the house where we left our moto) bottle of vodka "Kalashnikov" and matrioshka doll, we headed towards <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Dresden</st1lace></st1:city>. German Autobahn we didn`t like - boring, not picturesque, and everybody go on a wild speed of 200+ on all bands.<o></o>
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In <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Dresden</st1lace></st1:city>, we found a cool hotel with underground parking, which is not configured to accept motorcycles (such as very small) and electronics do not work. We had to get through the barrier with a car. Dresden caused a feeling of pity: Air Force of United States and British Royal Air Force have worked well in 1945., destroyed almost all the historical sites, but the Germans were all restored and is now very clearly visible - bright stones - a new, dark stones - something that remained after the bombing. We took bicycles rickshaw, he drove us to the center, all show and tell. After compact Austrian and Czech towns, in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Dresden</st1lace></st1:city> distance are large, wide streets and desert, in the evening there is no life at all. The most offensive that the picture gallery, for which the cost to visit the city - was closed, because Monday it didn`t work.<o></o>
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After <st1:city w:st="on">Dresden</st1:city> went to our favorite <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Prague</st1lace></st1:city> and settled there for three days, walking according to our favorite places and rested. We have a tradition - to go to a restaurant on the TV tower, but this time it was closed, as well as many shops - a crisis!<o></o>
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From <st1:city w:st="on">Prague</st1:city>, we went to <st1lace w:st="on">Krakow</st1lace>. The road is bad, from <st1:city w:st="on">Prague</st1:city> to <st1:city w:st="on">Brno</st1:city> several road repair, before and after <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Brno</st1lace></st1:city> in general as the washboard. In <st1:country-region w:st="on">Poland</st1:country-region>, constantly living area and a circular motion, but before <st1lace w:st="on">Krakow</st1lace> jumped on the motorway, very decent quality, and with two points of payment, to 2 euros a motorcycle. In Krakow, we went for a long time in the heat and traffic jams in search of the hotel and remembering the passage between the rows of cars on the <st1:city w:st="on">Moscow</st1:city> roads, where, as a rule, they all move, and in <st1lace w:st="on">Krakow</st1lace>, it is simply not accepted! As a result, staying in a good, inexpensive family hotel Batory Str. Soltyka, 60 euros for 2-room apartment with breakfast and offered to put the motorcycle in the courtyard, right by the window of our bedroom.
<st1lace w:st="on">Krakow</st1lace> left ambiguous impression: on the one hand a very beautiful castle Wawel, churches, on the other - dirty, shabby houses with boarded up doors and windows. Very we liked the <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Market Square</st1:address></st1:street>, with the holiday atmosphere, friendliness, street musicians and mimes. There, over a beer, we met with Tony at BMW Adventurer, moto traveler from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">England</st1lace></st1:country-region>. For 12 years, every summer for 40 days, he travels to <st1lace w:st="on">Europe</st1lace>. He has been everywhere, including in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Moscow</st1lace></st1:city> - he showed us a picture of his motorcycle on the background of the Moscow Red Square.<o></o>
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Tony advised us to go over <st1:metricconverter w:st="on" productid="15 km">15 km</st1:metricconverter>. from <st1lace w:st="on">Krakow</st1lace> in Wieliczka, to look salt mine (Wieliczka solt mine), which we did the next day.
Wieliczka salt mine began more than 2 thousand years ago, and the first mine appeared 700 years ago. Mine, which we watched open for tours with 1935. The remaining mines are still working. Tours are available only up to level 3 (<st1:metricconverter w:st="on" productid="135 m">135 m</st1:metricconverter> below ground), and the mine itself has 9 levels. Tunnels, caves, 2 salt lake, salt sculptures, chandeliers, an extraordinary beauty! The most impressive - a huge cave, converted in 1895 into an underground church, and all there is made of salt: floor, ceiling, chandeliers, 3 altars, bas-reliefs. Currently there for concerts, weddings. If you do not have claustrophobia, and you're in the area of <st1lace w:st="on">Krakow</st1lace> - we strongly recommend that you visit, you will not regret it. Mine works every day, except holidays, from 8 o'clock in the morning, there are guided tours in Russian, Polish, English and German languages.<o></o>
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Then we went in the direction of Brest, and would have to spend the night in Belarus, but so exhausted by terrible roads (the road from Krakow to Brest runs almost all the time through the residential area, with a strong rut), which again stopped for the night in Biala Podlaska, in Hotel Golden Fish, with us as a regular customers, even didn`t take for parking. In the morning passed the border between <st1:country-region w:st="on">Poland</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Belarus</st1:country-region> for 10 minutes, and by evening had already been in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Moscow</st1lace></st1:city>. An interesting case occurred at the gas station in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Belarus</st1lace></st1:country-region> - the operator asked to speak to him PIN cards Visa, because it was far held reader! We drove all the way with a <st1:metricconverter w:st="on" productid="1.5 liter">1.5 liter</st1:metricconverter> bottle with gasoline, and yet it was useful at the end of our trip: helped in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Belarus</st1:country-region> motorcyclists returning from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Montenegro</st1lace></st1:country-region>.
The trip was a success at 100%. All turned out well, as conceived and even better.

All photos here:http://photofile.ru/users/panda-77/3841842/ - Part 1<o></o>
<o></o> http://photofile.ru/users/panda-77/3842081/- Part 2

video from Grossglockner http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEvJCXHLAWQ
or http://photofile.ru/users/panda-77/video/v16170666cd3/view/
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Thank you - great report & photos.

A lot of our friends and acquaintances from Russia goes on a trip to Europe and on Russian motorcycle forums there are lots of reports. Unfortunately, there is almost no such reports. And yes, it was a super trip, we are already discussing plans for next year - Austria, Italy, Croatia.

Very nice.

Great pictures, thanks for posting them.
Question for you, the picture of the tower, it is the 15th picture from the bottom of your post. What is it?
Art, building?

Nice pictures & nice trip....

In Salzburg the pictures are the same like mine

Yours



Mine

If you mean this pic


So, it`s TV tower in Prague. As you can see, the tower crawling iron babies who posted here sculptor David Black in 2000, when Prague was declared the cultural capital of Europe.

AAA, that`s cool!!!!!!

Thank you for sharing ... A+ photos and report

What a trip! Thanks for sharing and making me very Jealous of your trip!!!
-P
2010 Aprilia Mana GT
Deceased 2009 TMax

Yes, thanks a lot

Eventually there is a trip through Poland! I'd thought nobody here visited Poland.
Great pics!
Cheers!

Great photos. I wish that there were a little more writing. But I understand. I've wanted to tour Europe for a long time. I have some good friends who are Polish. I would really like to visit Poland. Your report fueled that fire.
Thanks

great RR

Outstanding!

Thank you all! I am very pleased that you gave a high evaluation of my report!