At the station in Berlin we have about an hour to change to the next train to Hamburg, where we arrive in the evening after a 9-hour journey.

Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and has an important port, which is one of the largest ports in Europe. It is also known for its architecture, culture and excellent gastronomy. So we have fish matjes in a bun for breakfast first thing in the morning at a fish buffet by the harbour, a very tasty local speciality that stings after last night's party,  and nearby we check out the museum in the form of a submarine and the other boats moored there. The St. Pauli Tunnel under the Elbe connecting the two banks of the river is a very interesting historical technical monument. A walk along the waterfront will take you to HafenCity, a huge development project in the centre of Hamburg that is transforming the former port area into a modern district with office buildings, shops, culture and housing. Before leaving the station for Copenhagen, we also can't fail to stop at Poggenmühlenbrücke, where iconic photos of Hamburg are taken.

We arrive in Kodana again in the evening. We have arranged accommodation with our colleagues (a young family) practically in the city centre, this time for two nights. We will spend the evening walking around downtown and having dinner at a taco restaurant. The prices here are very high, for a small portion of tacos one pays about 500 CZK, for a glass of beer about 300 CZK. 

In the morning we go to the city. We're probably too early, because the cafes haven't opened for breakfast yet. Still, we find one and plan what we would like to see today.

We start our city tour at Christiansborg. Christiansborg is the former royal palace on the peninsula of palaces (Slotsholmen) and until 1794 the royal residence of the Danish kings in Copenhagen, and nowadays the home of the Danish Parliament, the Government Office and the museum. From there, we pass numerous canals and waterways, which in turn are crossed by roads and bike paths heavily used by the city's inhabitants, to Christiania. The latter is an independent autonomous territory recognised by the Danish government and has its own rules and laws. And what an alternative centre it would be if there were no marjoram to be smelled and seen here. After the Inderhavnsbroen Bridge, we return to Nyhavn. Nyhavn is a historic port that has become a tourist attraction thanks to its picturesque houses, restaurants and cafes that line the canal. The buildings here date from the 17th and 18th centuries and were formerly used as dwellings, warehouses and workshops for shipyards. Heading further north, we pass the Marmorkirken, which is not far from the seat of the Danish royal family, Amalienborg, and reach Kastellet. Kastellet is a fortress and former military base, built in the 17th century. Today it serves as a park and tourist attraction overlooking the harbour and the city. The famous Sculpture of the Little Mermaid is also practically on the outskirts of Kastellet, which is permanently occupied by tourists. Afterwards, we return to the centre via Østre Park and Rosenborg Castle.

In the afternoon in the centre we take the train to Malmö, Sweden, so that after a few minutes in the tunnel under the sea we can enjoy a ride on the Bridge Øresundsbron over the sea between Denmark and Sweden with a view of the world farms, of which there are plenty.

In Malmö, we went for a cup of coffee at the Malmöhus Castle and Fortress, which is not far from the station and now serves as a museum and cultural centre.

After returning from Sweden, my colleagues and I went out for dinner. Then we spend the rest of the evening discussing all sorts of things over beers at another place in a fairly crowded downtown.

We set off early in the morning, but instead of the train being emptier, it is again so crowded that we sit with other passengers without seats on the stairs by the door for practically the whole journey. It's a bit punk, but perhaps this should be the worst stretch of our entire month's travel.

As always, we start our tour of the city today at the train station, from where we walk to check out Bremen's Central Park Bürgerpark with Parkhotel and continue on to the historic centre. After a morning coffee in the old windmill Herdentorswallmühle, we walk along the peninsula by the Weser River with its classic brick houses and head into the narrow streets by Schnoor Street. It is full of small shops, cafes and colourful houses. We save the very centre of the old town for last. The Altstadt is the oldest part of the city and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are a number of monumental historical buildings and monuments here, such as the Gothic Town Hall, Bremen's Cathedral and the Roland Knight Statue. Not far from here is the listed Böttcherstraße, which is one of the few examples of expressionism in architecture. The brick buildings here date from 1922-1931.

In Bremerhaven we walked to the sea to see the harbour, which is very large. So just walking around the small harbour of Neuer Hafen was about two hours. Anyway, there's a lot to see here, from colourful boats, a U-boat museum, a hotel in the shape of a sailing ship, to large cargo ships, small sailing ships, locks or drawbridges. We had dinner at a local small restaurant in the Zollhaus, traditional: delicious fresh fish.

But in Hengelo, the first problems arose. The first train cancellations started to appear due to Dutch strikes on the railway, so we rescheduled other trains in real time. Due to the provincial nature of the region, the train connections here were also pretty bad, so we lost quite a bit of time with short transfers and finally reassessed the situation in Zwolle and instead of going to Amsterdam, we had a hard time getting to Rotterdam on a totally overcrowded train like a can of sardines, but still.

So we made a short stop at Amster instead of Rotterdam. This is exactly the magic of the Interrail Global passport!

Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands. We had about 3 hours to spend in Rotterdam, which is enough time for a short but monument-laden walk from the station to the Bridge of Erasmusbrug, where boats have a station for a sightseeing cruise on the river. Let's go for a ride, shall we?

The boat departs from Erasmusbrug along the river to the transshipments and docks with cargo ships at Pernis and returns past the former ocean-going ship SS Rotterdam, which is permanently stationed there, back to the Erasmusbrug bridge. The round trip takes about an hour and a quarter.

On the way from the boat back to the station, we also definitely have to stop at the large modern Markthal mall, a large glass-ceilinged hall of colour with many small shops. We sample a Leffe and continue by train to Antwerp.

In Antwerp, we only briefly change trains for the last connection to Ghent today, so we have time to at least see the impressive historic station, which, in addition to its historical and artistic value, is also unique for its vertical arrangement of platforms one above the other.

Brussels is the capital of Belgium and one of the most important centres of the European Union. It has a rich history, which is reflected in its architecture and cultural heritage. It's a short drive from Ghent. We start our walk around the city near the station, on the gilded Grand Place, considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world. We continue through the sometimes unpleasantly smelly alleyways to the Manneken pis statue of the Peeing Boy, which has just been vandalised with yellow paint, perhaps in relation to the war in Ukraine. Less well known is the Statue of the Peeing Girl Jaenneke pis, which is pretty well hidden among the restaurants, cafes and bars with the ubiquitous Belgian beer.

Walking past the Cathedral we came to see the modern quarter, the other face of Brussels near Leopold Park, where the Parliamentarium complex houses the European Parliament. All in glass, modern buildings, marble. And in the park, statues of ostriches with their heads in the sand. Then on the way back to the station we saw the Belgian Royal Palace and the adjacent churches and parks in the Mont des Arts area.

In the afternoon we went to see another colleague who lives in the Belgian countryside near Court St Étienne. There are several days of celebrations going on there, so we spent the evening in the village at the fair, with cars and a shooting range as usual in the Czech countryside. The evening programme then included an interesting improvisational rhetorical duel between two teams who entertained the audience with professionally improvised sketches on given topics.

Bruggy is a historic town that, like the Venice of the North, boasts magnificent medieval buildings and water canals. In the past it was a important commercial centre and is now a popular tourist destination. Highlights include the Gothic Town Hall with the Belfried Tower, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, where the relics of Jesus Christ are kept, and one of the largest squares in Belgium, the hectare-long Markt Square. 

To the centre we start from the train station, walk through Minnewaterpark to the Beijing Court, Begijnhof Ten Wijngaerde. These are white-plastered houses from the 17th to 18th centuries, now belonging to a women's Benedictine convent and located in a quiet corner of one of the water channels. Passing the important brick Church of Our Lady, we reach the heart of Bruges, the Markt Square. The square is dominated by the aforementioned Gothic tower with its tall tower, as well as by the coloured brick houses. A walk further on takes you to the north-eastern edge of the historic centre to the Dampoort and the outer canal, around which there is a row of several old windmills in the adjacent hilltop park. These are 18th-century windmills that were once used to process grain.

Gent, located in the Belgian region of East Flanders, is one of the most beautiful cities in Belgium. It has a rich history, which can be seen when walking through the narrow streets of the historic centre of the city. Medieval architecture can be seen in many places, including churches, cathedrals and castles. Ghent is also known as the City of the Three Towers because the landmarks of the centre are the large towers of Belfort (the bell tower), Sint-Baafskathedraal (St. Bavon's Cathedral) and Sint-Niklaaskerk (St. Nicholas Church). Another interesting monument is the medieval castle Gravensteen, which was built in the 12th century and served as the residence of the counts and later as a prison. Of course, Ghent is also known for its rich culinary scene, offering many kinds of Belgian beers. 

After an early evening stroll around the centre and dinner with colleagues, it was dark. Ghent had been transformed into an illuminated Belgian gem, and we were keen to explore Night Ghent again. I mean bike, this transport is very popular here. 

With the help of a few local trains we get to Lille, from there we take an express train to Amiens and finally another one to Paris at Paris Nord station.

The train to Órleans will take us from Paris Austerlitz station, which is at the other end of central Paris. We have about 4 hours to change trains, so we decide to walk through the centre with our luggage. We have several interesting sights along the way. The first one not far from the station is the church of St. Vincent. We weave our way through streets crowded with cars and people between apartment buildings in the regular and uniform development of the northern part of downtown Paris. Next on the route is the Park Jardin du Palais-Royal, and the adjacent Palais Royal, from which it is only a short walk to the landmark of all Paris, the famous Louvre. We will walk through the Tuileries Gardens to the Little and Grand Palais, from where the Invalides and another landmark of Paris, the Eiffel Tower are in sight. We don't want to go any further in this direction, because Austerlitz station is on the other side. So we continue along the Seine past the Cathedral of Notre Dame, which is still being repaired after a fire in 2019.

Órleans is a pretty small, but all the more beautiful historical town. Our host lives practically in the centre. We check in and then head out together for dinner and drinks on the bustling Rue de Bourgogne, where most of the best local cafes, restaurants, bars and other nightlife venues are concentrated. This is to keep the rest of the city from getting disturbed at night.

Orleans is located on the Loire River. The town is especially famous for its historical importance during the Hundred Years' War. The most famous event associated with the town is the rescue of Órleans by the French national heroine, Johan of Arc, in 1429. The locals are obviously very proud of her, with symbols and references to Joan at every turn in the town. The town's architectural landmark is the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, one of the largest cathedrals in France.

Blois is a picturesque town in the Loire Valley, for its small size known for its beautiful architecture and historical monuments. In the centre of the city is the imposing Chateau of Blois, which was built in the 16th century and served as the seat of the kings of France. As a result, it became an important centre of art and culture, where many important artists, writers and intellectuals met. Next to the castle, there are also picturesque streets with medieval houses and the historic marble Church of St. Vincent.

Amboise is another picturesque town located on the banks of the Loire River. It is famous for its Renaissance castle, which towers over the town and offers a fine view of the surrounding countryside. It was also a favourite residence of French kings in the 16th century. The historic centre here is really small, practically just a few streets around the castle. 

Tours is one of the larger towns on the Loire. The city has a long history and is full of architectural monuments such as Gothic cathedrals, Romanesque churches and Renaissance palaces. The most prominent monument is the medieval Cathedral of Saint Gatien, famous for its vitreaux and its massive bell tower. Other notable monuments include the Gothic Church of Saint Martin or the Renaissance Palace of the Bishops of Tours. The historic centre of Vieux Tours is a gem in itself, full of winding narrow streets with gently crowded houses. We take a night stroll through the entire centre and on the banks of the Loire sit in a larger garden for a public event of mostly locals by the illuminated bridge.

Angers lies on the River Maine, but practically on the edge of the town flows the Loire, into which the Maine empties. It is the capital city of the Maine-et-Loire region. It is best known for its castle, the Château d'Angers, which was built in the 9th century and served as a royal residence. Today, the castle is a tourist attraction and home to a museum. The Cathedral of St. Maurice is also worth mentioning, where rare polychromes have recently been discovered and are currently being reconstructed. Otherwise, Angers is also a wine-growing town, where the Chenin blanc grape variety is cultivated and used in the production of the famous wines of Anjou, Coteaux du Layon and Saumur.

Saumur is probably the most picturesque town on the Loire that we visited here. The dominant feature of the town is Saumur Castle, which rises on top of a hill above the town. This imposing castle was built in the 10th century and was later rebuilt in Renaissance style. The Historic Quarter with its narrow streets and houses dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Saumur is also famous for its horse schools, where classical riding and traditional French horsemanship are taught. 

Langeais is a small town, perhaps even a village, with excellent train accessibility that one would almost miss on a map. Yet the local castle, built in the 15th century, is one of the most well-preserved castles in the Loire Valley. It is one of the few castles in the area that was not completely destroyed during the French Revolution. Perhaps because it was overlooked on the map by the revolutionaries and soldiers.

We leave Tours early in the morning, with a change in Angers.

When you arrive in Nantes, the first thing that greets you is the Jardin des Plantes just opposite the train station, a botanical garden with more than 11,000 species of plants from all over the world, which serves as a research and education centre. We continue past the Catholic Church of St. Clément to the Isle of Versailles on the River Erdre, home to a Japanese-style park and museum. Like being back in Japan, the park is really convincing. We pass by the small water area Bassin de Ceineray, where the entire Erdre River disappears into a tunnel under the center, where smaller vessels can get to the Loire - if they wait for the green light. Before lunch, we also reach one of France's most beautiful basilicas, St. Nicholas Basilica. Other notable sights in Nantes include the Gothic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, which is just being rebuilt after a fire in 2020. We saved the city's jewel for last, the 15th-century Château des ducs de Bretagne, which was once the residence of the Dukes of Brittany, Anne of Brittany and her father, Francis II 

Other interesting sites in the city that we missed today but are worth checking out include the Military Museum of Maillé-Brézé in the form of a permanently moored military ship, or the art, culture and tourism project Les Machines des Nantes. The project was created by the art group La Machine as part of the regeneration of a former industrial area on the banks of the Loire. The interactive project consists of giant steampunk mechanical machines that are powered by hydraulics and electric motors. The most famous of these machines is probably the Big Elephant. In the former industrial area there is also a large steampunk carousel or one of the icons of Nantes, the old yellow Titan crane. 

In the evening we leave Nantes by train to Vannes, where a colleague will pick us up by car and we will drive to our accommodation together.