Luke Reynolds

Denouement Dashboard - Euro Trip Ep. 6

Luke Reynolds -

Since Europe is the size of a large Australian suburb, it will be too difficult to do 'Country Summaries' every couple of days as we cross borders. Since we are doing Europe as a road trip, I'm just going to to 'week-by-week' Dashboards, that will probably encompass a couple of countries at a time. Then an overall summary at the end.

As usual, follow along at:

And follow along HERE, of course…

Anyway, let's get into it:

Ep. 6: 5-11/8/23

Where We Went:

  • Poland: Praga (Old Warsaw), Minsk Maz
  • Lithuania: Kaunas
  • Latvia: Riga

Tracks:

Driving distance in 'Monsieur Gustave H.', our lovely Renault Scenic:

  • 789 km

Walking:

  • 57.3 km

Total = 846.3 km

Running Total of Eurotrip Mileage = 8,491.7 km

Expenses:

Total Expenses for the 7 Days: $2,125.98 AUD

Expense per day = $303.71 AUD/Day

Specific Transport Expenses Total: $913.04 AUD

💡
Running Total for all expenses on the Expedition Denouement: $94,747.36 AUD total to date + $3,444.88 of future expenses already accounted for

Travel Bingo:

I don't think I should make multiple bingo cards per week, so the running totals in Europe:

  • France: 15 'Influencers', 1 'Karen', 2 'Americans'
  • Belgium: 5 'Influencers', 1 'Khaki Queen'
  • Netherlands: 4 'Influencers', 2 'Americans' and 1 'They're Not Gonna Make It'
  • Luxembourg: 6 'Influencers'
  • Germany: 3 'Influencers', 2 'Americans'
  • Switzerland: 6 'Influencers'
  • Liechtenstein: 1 'American'
  • Poland: 2 'Influencers', 1 'Spiritual King'

An explanation of Travel Bingo is here.

Relevant Media:

  • Poland/Warsaw: There are a few old movies about the Warsaw uprising in 1944 which I have to get around to.
  • Honestly, I've got nothing for Lithuania and Latvia. I think they produce a weirdly disproportionate number of 'Strongman' competitors, but as for 'Media'....I dunno.
  • Actually, I just remembered! 'It's Pronounced Nikolag'

Culinary Corner by a Non-Foodie:

  • Polish service stations are weirdly good for snacks on a roadtrip.
  • The servos called 'Orlen' have strangely good coffee from their machines.
  • And they all will serve hotdogs. Really tasty hotdogs...
  • In Warsaw, some nice modern Polish food can be found at 'LAS - Lokalna Atrakcja Stolicy'.
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  • Then again, I don't have much for Lithuania and Latvia.

Tips and Tricks:

  • Road travel takes longer than expected in the Baltics. The roads are single lane each way, with endless roadworks.

Recommendations:

  • Kaunas is a quite and very pleasant little city in Lithuania. Don't spend more than a couple of days.
  • And the same for Riga, it's the capital, yeah, but small and easily walkable.

Summary:

  • Nice little drive up the Baltics are leaving the Polskas around Warsaw.
  • The roads are now the worst in Europe...
  • It is a bit cheaper, thankfully.

Thanks for reading along.

The next weekly road trip update will come... next week.

Luke.