The Austro-Hungarian Empire

I begin this chronicle with an apology: last Thursday, just a biased chronicle of day, writing in the staircase Memmingen airport departure lounge with the promise he would make an overview of the trip in on Friday. I´m sorry i haven´t time and head.
Since Friday I went into the normal rhythm of work who was one week away from the office. At Loba, top it off with a new desk, the stack of client meetings, emails and projects to analyze were more than many.
There was no head because whenever I come ride, especially from countries in Central Europe, I get a colossal hangover. I love Portugal and be Portuguese, but contact with people - middle class - who live well, not ostentatious way, they face the future with hope, makes me think of all that we suffered in recent years. When I travel through forests and see business in these forests such as tourism, honey, berries and I think that in our country the forests serve to plant eucalyptus, forgetting the traditional mounted, the stone pine, oak, chestnut , etc., I feel sad.
Travel the world first-call, as I did on this trip - Germany and Austria - and other previous - Switzerland, Denmark or Sweden, to name a few recent examples - helps me realize what is strategy, territory planning and above all political; at its most real and pure term.
They don´t destroy mountains to pass a highway, especially if no one is spending it. Don´t see wind fans in unique landscapes and world heritage. They don´t build on lakes and small towns do not have buildings of 10 floors next to single-story houses. The local products are sold in fairs and markets without control over an economic police, promoting agriculture towards sustainability and better remuneration for producers. Ect., Etc .. Don´t see a series of errors that proliferate around here.
However I know that Portugal, unlike the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries, suffered a major civilizational late on twentieth century. It was a long dictatorship and nouveau-riche atrocious. But if we look good examples out there, we can still recover.
Leaving a hangover aside and returning to trip, start by telling why, instead of a bike I drove a car. The bike I had rented, after all, was not available and an equal but in another station cost me double. The budget doesn`t stretch but I need to make a style trip. With a car could "earn" a day trip and, therefore, to see another city.
So, nothing better than renting a convertible. A beauty TT  that with stickers - especially the heart of Chel and Drew - was to kill for. All week with top down, whether it was cold or heat, sun or rain. Always in style and sunbathing.
Attention, here began one of the travel problems and, therefore, advise one thing: always rent a car on an international company and be careful with rental conditions. I can´t say here, is for the talks, but i dreved a few days as an out-of-law!
The route of the trip ranged between nature and cities with history. The Alps, the Tyrol, the Austrian lakes or the Hungarian Balaton.
City-states like Salzburg, the beautiful Ljubljana, Buda and Pest, Vienna or the cosmopolitan Munich will be forever in my memory until the day of return.
As you know I often travel alone and this time was no exception. It's great to meet people like Bilal, but loneliness can affect; and this time affected.
In the lectures I give about motivation I often say I can not be in the middle of a trip and think, "I want to leave." This time it happened. I suffered and wanted to leave. I suffered and didn´t know what to do.
With monologues and a giant phone bill for Spain and Switzerland, I keep going. I took refuge in the best of me, the purpose of the journey and not think about anything else. I focused and stick with the plan.
My head is still there; but I have new goals, new projects.
Within a month I go to Australia but, by then, will emerge news.
As the trip data is more than 2,100 km traveled, 7 days trip, 246 km / h top speed with roof down, 257 km / h with the roof on top. Hostels, local food and lots of beer.
Auf Wiedersehen.

13.6.15 - Ljubljana | Budapest

Today I called two capitals from the old Eastern bloc: Ljudjana, Slovenia, and Budapest, Hungary.
Before talking about today, I will resume last night.
I left the hostel with the idea of ​​joining the football party. However, to the surprise (and delight!), No one was partying by the game. 500 meters from the stadium and football people where quiet.
On the other hand, the city vibrated with jazz concerts and street food festival. Funny people, singing and dancing in the streets.
The heat helps the music too and alcohol pushes!
In a square with half the size of Avenida dos Aliados - Porto -, acted the Big Band of Radio Slovenia. The square was full.
The band which I saw the soundcheck in the afternoon, the public was very happy and pulling more and more by the artists. Marko Hatlak, memorize the name.
Seeing such joy, I just remember Emir Kusturica and his brilliant films that passed these lands.
Speaking about Kusturica, it was with the landscapes that got used to see their films rolled with the TT since Ljudjana to Budapest, passing Lake Balaton. Large green fields flanked by mountains.
Reached Balaton, left the motorway and went for the nearest lake road - there is no road beside the water.
The high sun reflected green water, giving it a cool aspect despite the 30 ° C.
The road is a kind of Avenue of the Americas in the 90s, full of small shops with things for the summer, from wooden rackets to buoys, bikinis, windscreen and sunscreens, as well as shrimp vessels and other fishing gear.
In Siófok resumed the highway. Budapest was waiting for me.
After installing in a hostel in front of the Basilica and goulash for lunch while watching the 24 Hours of Le Mans on TV, I went to my guide.
They say the best guides are the ones who know the cities and know us. Well, as a guide, nothing better than my longtime friend, Oliveirense and emigrant in Budapest for several years, Teixeira.
With Teixeira saw the tourist part and not the tourist city, I heard stories of those who live here daily, took pictures of the statue of Anonymous.
The first part has been. In a little while we will continue the tour of.... Budapest by night!

12.6.15 - Salzsburg | Ljubljana

The sun soon peeked through the bedroom window, reminding me I had many kilometers to do.
For breakfast I ate some snacks that he had brought from Portugal and headed trip; before I had to buy the highway tiquet - a kind of green way inclusive of all tolls - to circulate freely in Austria: 8 euros.
When I reached the hotel car park instead of trucks parked yesterday, I could find various sportscar. Two caught my attention: a Mercedes C 63 AMG and Porsche 997 GT3. They were led by women.
I headed south, toward Slovenia, chasing the heat. Despite starting the day with 19ºC and have come to take 29 ° C, green Alps who followed me the whole trip had covered ridge of snow. Authentic walls of hundreds of meters rise up in the air and reduce us to our tiny size.
I crossed with hundreds of bikes in all roads and, after Villach, during a stop for an ice cream, found three tricycles full of power and with some paintings to attract attention to taste .. So much power that in addition to its robust owners , hauled rolotes!
Cross the border from Austria to Slovenia, after a few kilometers, I turned to Bled. On the freeway had an indication of Jezera, and I learned a few years ago in Croatia, which has Jezere is because there is something extremely beautiful to see.
A lake of clear water and castles around. What a treat!
I not dived because I wanted to get there early to Ljubljana.
Reached the capital and installed on Sax Hostel - fantastic, really cute, and friendly people and released very clean - I took a walk.
What a beautiful place. A cozy capital, who lives to the music. I walked downtown and I went up to the castle. I try traditional flavors in the street food festival. I met Lara that promoted the game with England. I went to the market of vegetables and flowers - that beautiful cherry and currants. I heard a sound check for a concert that saw be in a bit: classical music, tango, jazz, played by a band that had an accordion, piano, violin, viola and bass.
In a moment begins the Slovenia-England and the city is ready to party!

Time to plan

It's Friday and I´m leaving Loba office.
A few days ago I returned from tour in Germany, Denmark and Sweden, and barely made it, I felt like packing up and leaving for another adventure.
Yes, I know that may not be so, no time or money for everything but if I could ...
With everything set up for August: Singapore, Australia and a few days in Switzerland, we must consider what to do before and after.
At weekend I`ll see maps, analyze hostels, airline and motorcycle rental prices.
I`ll brood, or consider to be more correct for, in principle, take the wisest decision.
On discussion are two ways: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia, on motorbike, alone. Jumping cities, knowing what we have to know in a breakneck pace.
Or part of  Camiño de Santiago, Via del Plata. Several days walking by Spain, knowing who passes thought in life, the way forward in Camiño. Here in group. But what group?
If it were you, what would you prefer?