130914 Central Europe

I received a remarkable chance to travel to central Europe for work from mid September to early October.  The assignment was, as usual, the result of hard work from colleagues around the company, especially those in our European offices.  It called for me to spend two weeks in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, a small town at the eastern tip of the Czech Republic, followed by a few days in Grenoble, France.

To reach Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, which has no airport available because of its small size, my travel plan called for me to land in Vienna, Austria, then to drive some 3 hours, mostly through Slovakia.  But another colleague would need to join me for the first two weeks of this assignment.  However, due to prior commitment, he would arrive in Vienna 24 hours after me.  I gladly delayed my drive to Rožnov pod Radhoštěm by a day.  So, I spent a night in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, before returning to Vienna airport to pick this colleague up.  While in the capital of Austria, I was able to enjoy the famous Wiener Schnitzel and the slice of Sachertorte.

Bratislavský hrad (castle).

Wiener (Viennese) Schnitzel.

Sachertorte is a chocolate cake with apricot jam in the middle - Delicious with coffee.

The drive from Vienna to Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czech Republic, was punctuated by rain.  A long the way, my colleague and I noticed many medieval castles.  We wished we had time to visit and learn their interesting histories.

Rožnov pod Radhoštěm is a pleasant little town, surrounded by mountains.  Its claim to fame is the Valachian Open-air Museum.  The nearby area also has many hiking trails and other nature attractions.  But my colleague and I were there for business.  Our weekdays were spent with the customer.  Besides, the weather was rainy and cold most of the time.  It gave us a good reason to drive around town, after work, and sample the delicious regional cuisine.

Rožnov pod Radhoštěm.

Rainbow over Rožnov pod Radhoštěm.

Rožnov pod Radhoštěm.

Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czech Republic, on a Saturday evening.

Sunday came with a break in weather.  The sun peaked out from behind thick clouds.  Taking advantage of this situation, my colleague and I visited the Valachian Open-air Museum.  It showcased the old way people of the region lived long ago in three separate exhibits: the wooden townlet, the watermill valley, and the Wallachian village.  There were craftsmen, such as carpenters and blacksmiths, making and selling their wares on premise.  A herd of sheep and flocks of chickens roamed freely about, as they would before the modern era.

The main church at the Open Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czech Republic.

Inside the Church at the Open Air Museum of Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czech Republic.

Woodcarver plying his craft at the Open Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, Czech Republic.

At the end of our second week in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, we returned to Bratislava, where my colleague had other work commitments.  The capital of Slovakia has many fascinating attractions.  But I chose to spend a day in Vienna, Austria, instead.  In the middle of this metropolis is the grand Stephansdom, the Cathedral of St Stephan.  Its vast interior is magnificently decorated with statues of key figures and colorful paintings of religious scenes of the Christian faith.

Stephansdom (St Stephen's Cathedral) in Vienna, Austria.

Inside the Stephansdom (St Stephen's Cathedral) in Vienna, Austria.

Rain and clouds welcomed me in Grenoble.  This wet weather made me think that autumn and winter were chasing away summer in Europe.  The few days I had in the French capital of the Alps were spent at the office of the customer.  After work, I was able to photograph a few scenes around town before the sunlight disappeared.  But I was delighted to discover Grenoble is twinned with Phoenix, AZ - my hometown.

Grenoble, France, and the "bulles" (bubbles) of its Téléphérique, connecting the town to the Bastille castle.

Place Victor Hugo in Grenoble, France.

After completing my work in Grenoble, I drove to Lyon and spent a night at a hotel next to the airport, since my flight home was scheduled early the next morning.  The terminal of the world renowned TGV at the St Exupery airport in Lyon is a very interesting building.  Its shape conveys speed and modernity.

The TGV train station at the St Exupery International Airport of Lyon, France.

On my way home, I had a long layover in Zurich, Switzerland.  While there, I had mental lapse moment.  But that story is for another blog.  The rest of my voyage back to Phoenix, Arizona, was uneventful.

My gratitude goes to my colleagues of the European office, whose hard work resulted in this wonderful journey.

More pictures of my trip to central Europe are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/130914CentralEurope.

Thank you for visiting.
Paul