Summer hols

5 greate days in Graz Austria. 

Thursday 8 August started early. Stuffing odds into my bag, I grabbed a blue bike up the street, went into Cros de Cagnes to withdraw some cash, and ran to the station, getting a ticket with a minute to spare for the Ventimiglia train. I had an hour there to print the 2 Italian train tickets I'd bought online, and wander the old town, steep, winding and like all the old villages here, lovely.

Graz, a car free CBD nightmare, awesomely beautiful.

One more train to Milan, then about 6 hours until catching the next. I wanted to hire a public bike. The signs said you can sign up at any ATM. After discovering a big sign saying ATM near the main square, and following the tunnels to the office, ATM is: the Azienda Trasporti Milanesi. Pay up, get a code, go punch it in, and the world is ready to explore. I never had any idea how many different little piazzas, tramways, charming buildings etc etc there are. Great bikes.

The armoury in Graz.

After the night train, which despite all the horror theft stories, was super pleasant and easy, the first stop was Graz, Austria (pronounced Grutts if I heard right). Marie picked it based on Google pictures. The brochure says this place is the most bike friendly in Austria, are there are bikes all over the place.

Marie and the boys spent a lovely 2 weeks in Croatia, swimming on the coast, and staying with the family inland. We met up in Graz.

The local museum that look like Dr Seuss made it is full of model buildings, thumbs up from the boys. The local park on the hill is pleasant, if you don't lose a phone. There's a cave and now the boys want to see every cave in all areas. Armoury museum is tops.