Holiday 2026

8 June 2026

Me, Nikki, Amelia left Auckland for 3 weeks holidaying before my WMMRC and dolomites run. 

We stopped in Seoul for 2 days. Very interesting and cultural. We wandered around the restored stream, did a tour to a high point and the imperial palace (big!). We went up Lotte tower and climbed up and across the top. 

We flew on to Zurich. We did a 6 hour walking and public transport tour. Hotels in Switzerland not really allowed air conditioning! Amelia and I continued to run most mornings. We did a day bus tour to Lucerne (the most beautiful town in the world?) which also took us up Mt Pilatus via gondolas and down via the steepest cog railway. An awesome day with great weather and views.

We trained to Salzburg, and caught the bus the wrong direction. Then we found our old hotel and caught the funicular up to cool Salzburg castle for dinner and Mozart concert. The next day we visited Mirabelle gardens and got a walking tour of the old town etc. On Tuesday we got a full day bus tour to Dachstein Krippenstein mountain up two gondolas with a walk in cold conditions and even snow to 5 fingers lookout point high above Hallstatt. We then walked around Hallstatt, super old and quaint on the lake, seeing the ossuary bones painted. Very amazing place. Has a long promenade with old houses everywhere.

16 June 2026

We caught the train to Vienna and found our awesome hotel in the center of the old town just off the main fancy shopping street. Near st stephans. Dom and Lucy were in Vienna, soon they called over and then we had a nice dinner. 

There next day we wandered around and went to the natural history museum, which captivated us with the minerals and animals.

Friday we journeyed to Belvedere palace and saw some art. Then we had a nice Greek lunch and then went up the elevator at St Stephens to see the view and the big bell. We went to the museum of change to sit and see a light and sound show. Vienna was so so busy! 

We caught the train to budapest. Little air conditioning... It was tough! 

Our apartment here looked out over the Danube towards the amazing Parliament buildings. We went up to the big church etc and the next morning I ran up to the citadel, along with two runs to Margaret island etc. we got a full day tour to Balaton lake and the mother of all Hungarian churches, ?. Okwe went to the Ruins Bar. 

On Wednesday we checked out of budapest and picked up a rental car and drove via the blue church in Bratislava Slovakia into Czechia. Crazy back country journey of 6 hours. Through the quaintest villages and eventually to Cesky Krumlov. We drove along super narrow lane to our un air conditioned apartment. Super lovely river and ancient old town and church on hill. Silly crazy cool place. Memorably with a great castle, and a small fire broke out.

We drove to Janske Lazne, north east Czechia. This is the spa town for the WMMRC. We went up chair lift to cerna hora and walked around. Met Mark and William. Met Karen and Dayna (husband Paul). I ran the Long Distance course 22km, 1300 in a steady 2.40. 30th of 42 actual starters. Very hot still! Karen collapsed and I went with her to hospital in an ambulance. 

Checked out Sunday and did the tree walk spiral and tobogganing. It hit 40C! Drove to Kutna Hora, where we stayed right next to the Gothic St Barbara cathedral. I ran the next day along the stream etc.

We drove to Prague and dropped off the car to sixt. It was hard to find our apartment, but eventually we found an amazing suite looking over at Charles bridge and Prague castle. We met up with Kevin and Debra 3 times for dinner and for cycle paddling around the Vltava. I ran up the local hill etc. Lots of souvenir shopping... I got a t shirt of the astronomical clock in the square which pops around little figures.

We bussed to Munich, and then walked that evening to the main square Marionplatz where exists the New town hall amazing building with glockenspiel also clock figurines. 

On Saturday morning I left the others and flew to Venice to start my Cortina dolomites tour with Pure Trails. 

We drive to Cortina d'ampezza and stayed at nice hotel. Lovely town! 

Unfortunately I sprained my right ankle quite badly after 10km, and hobbled to the van. Subsequent days I cycled, then went in the van, then cycled up Tre Cima, then finally ran 9km of the route uphill mostly. Still a very fun event... The scenery more epic than I expected!