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.

17.6.15 - Salzburg | Innsbruck | Munich

Today I woke up at dawn, a sign that I´m adapting to Central Europe time table and exposure to the sun. Thankfully, I take better day.
Salzburg was gray but nevertheless I open the car-roof. The route would be "to enjoy" and nothing better to do it with the sky as ceiling.
I went from Salzburg to Innsbruck and then to Munich without trampling highway Uáu!.
Mountains, valleys, lakes, peaks with snow; cows, sheep, horses; despite the TT snoring, I could hear the chirping of birds, and see major wings to fly over the sky. How wonderful!
Strolling through the Alps not hard to imagine where they come from all the fantastic legends with Broomhilda, Hansel and Gretel, or where Strauss was inspired to compose if the Blue Danube or Spring Voices.
Come to Innsbruck, the idea was to see the city. However, when I saw ski jumps stadium, I could not resist to go there. Surprised me the space, the TV looks much bigger and wider. I was lucky to see athletes training and could see up close for the first time, the flight of bats. Then up to the complex's restaurant terrace and I had an overview of the Alps. Beautiful!
The road between Innsbruck and Munich's is to dream for. By little curves and for being virtually made next to a lake of clear green water.
With such scenery, I stopped at the Panorama restaurant and I was meditating on the water. I think it served me a breaded and the beer was good. But that was the least important.
This road crossed me with hundreds of bikes of all kinds and shape, with all possible plates. I feel biker - despite being on four wheels - greeted them all as the staff of the bikes do.
Munich is chaotic, with works on all major arteries. Nevertheless, the city is essential. Huge churches, as well as the main buildings, showing the might of the Empire.
The city is multicultural, few Germans and I met on the street, in comparison with tourists and emigrants.
Speaking of emigrants, I saw a tiny manifestation, where a spokesman said the Islamic State was identical to National Socialism. Across side of manifestation, behind the riot police, a group of young people with Arab appearance were trying to make more noise than speaker. I think it would be more police than demonstrators, powders and against.
After strolling through the gardens along the river went to the market, drink a beer.
Tomorrow, before you go home, I go to the BMW museum.

16.6.15 - Vienna | Hallstatt | Salzburg

Vienna woke up cold and threatening rain. So I didn`t open the car bonnet and went towards Salzburg, via Hallstatt in the Salzkammergut region.
It was the first time I traveled with the car closed and the feeling of comfort is enormous given the good soundproofing. So good that, also for the first time, I had to turn on the radio not to fall asleep.
When I left the highway and even with fog and drizzle that annoying, I began to see what was waiting for me and I decided to convert and leave the Alps enter the car. Literally! My friend André Prata told me that this area was an undiscovered gem in the center of Europe. I didn`t think it was so beautiful.
Virgin forest that descends steeply to Traunsee lake, with some sailboats and a train passing right by the water; like a fairy tale setting.
Come to Hallstatt - a small very typical village in another lake - with colorful houses and a church on the water and another on a waterfall side, I was dumbfounded. So beautiful! There i realize better why a friend, a doctor, study German to be able to go work for the South Tyrol. It must be great to live and work in an environment that inspires so much peace. Then in winter, with snow, it must be breathtaking.
In Hallstatt, for a second day, I was drenched and the return has been done with the roof on.
In the carousel curves that followed, with the wet road, I took party from Quattro. How wonderful that fun, pure adrenaline. That feels so good to get in the corners with the car to slip and when accelerate, he goes where pointed, with the back one little loose. There goes the budget for gasoline ... but if it was not for this, added value have rented a Dacia.
After so much emotion, I came to Salzburg. My hotel is the new side of town, so I went on foot, crossed one of the bridges and I began to see the city from the ground up.
In the commercial area, crowded with Asians who roam the camera and all that bags from Vuitton, Hermes, Gucci, Prada, Chanel, I entered the Red Bull World. Among all possible merchandising the Red Bull RB 7 ... from Vettel. Here the athletes are honored because they honored the team and brought titles, even when they go to opposition; sportsman mentality.
Then I saw the cathedral, and the crypt. Salzburg was the ruler and square made, in the light of the sun and moon. Here played Mozart and was obligatory tour of the Emperors and the European Bishopric. What secrets will this city hidden in her stones, making it as important over the centuries ?!
Then it was time to climb to the castle. The funicular demanded 11 euros for the trip. I don´t go to Rainha Gym to pull the physical for when I have to climb a wall, have to pay 11 euros! It was on foot, climbed the stairways all there above; I confess that at the end of the first haul I was already regretting not having paid the 11 euros but was not going to part weak.
Come up there, I won a prize: the right to pay 8 euros to enter the castle. I begged them a plague!
In the castle, in addition to magnificent views, I got to know a little history and the importance of Salzburg over the centuries. Retained a curious date: 1495. At this time the castle had still only been three raises, and many others thereafter. All to defend the hill, a purely warlike perspective.
I thought that at that same time, in Portugal, only thought of building ships and sailors form, based on science, to go discover the world and offer it to Europe. Save Agostinho da Silva.

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!

11.6.15 - Memmingen | Salzburg

I went back to all four wheels!
By a series of mishaps, on this tour at the East, I don`t have a bike. However, the pleasure of taking air in the face is so much that ... I'll have an Audi TT.
As I left the airport, I stopped to put the stickers on the car. To the usual sponsors, I added a Rotary Club, the Cross Egypt Challenge and, for the unconditional support, a heart devoted to Chel and Drew.
After decorated car i made it to the road. I feel a child playing with the selector gear on the steering wheel. Just lke in a Playstation! In manual mode, reducing two speeds, it seems that you are a true race car: either by rotation or by rateres.
To Munich to lead a quiet 200 km / h. Not worth go faster. Then, traffic, rain and road works, considerably slowed down.
The first stage ended near Salzburg, a BB side of the highway.
Now it's time to rest tomorrow morning makes me the road on this mini GumBall 3000.