Liverpool - Rain clearing

Liverpool - Rain clearing
Originally uploaded by Goldilocks85

Liverpool - The Yellow Duckmarine

Liverpool - The Yellow Duckmarine
Originally uploaded by Goldilocks85

The bus/boat we went on in Liverpool

Getting to the end of part 2!

Prague

Arrived in Prague Wednesday afternoon to lots of warnings about pickpockets and about our ghastly hotel built during "the communism"... It scared mum and quite a few others a bit which was not good or fun.

Our hotel surely was ghastly. How a tour company could use a hotel like it was is totally beyond me. Particularly so close to the end of the tour! Anyway, the included dinner was as bad as the hotel, so that meant I didn't eat much, and meant I had no plans of getting up early for breakfast... Wafers from the supermarket in Vienna were going to do just fine!

Sightseeing tour the next day was not the best. Couldn't hear or understand the guide. So we saw lots of things with no real idea of what we were seeing!

After the tour was over we had the whole afternoon and evening to ourselves as we weren't doing any of the optional excursions.

We did a bit of garnet and amber jewellery shopping. All very beautiful. Lunch with a few other girls, quite nice. The others then headed off to their optional excursions and we headed off to just keep wandering and shopping. Sat for a few hours in the town square and had a drink and just absorbed. We are getting really good at it!!

We just wandered more and more and eventually had some dinner- traditional Czech - potato pancakes stuffed with 3 meat and vegies. It was really yummy!

Then we just trammed it back to the hotel and headed to bed.

We weren't particularly impressed with Prague. It didn't meet any of the expectations I had of it. It was WHAT I expected but not HOW I expected it to be.

Munich

We headed off from Prague early Friday morning. A couple of stops and then we were in Munich. My my, what a great place. We went to a pub as soon as we arrived, until it was time to go to the hotel. Checked into the hotel then made our way out for dinner. Our hotel was a nice walk out of the centre, but still central. Beautiful dinner. It was such a nice balmy evening. Warm!!!! The place really repaired the damage Berlin and Frankfurt did to me liking, or should I say, not liking, Germany. Early wake up Saturday morning for our trip to Frankfurt.

2 stops and the Romantic Road

Drove along the Romantic Road to Frankfurt. Lots of pituresque little villages. Stopped at one to go to the markets. They were craft markets! Not cheap, but beautiful stuff!!! Bought a few bits and pieces as I tend to do!!

Rothenburg was the bext stop. Beautiful village as well. Had lunch in a quaint little beer garden, did some sitting in the sun, and just had a really lovely couple of hours.

Almost back to Frankfurt now - well, Bad Homburg - where we are staying for the night - out from Frankfurt a bit, but can see the skyscrapers so we can't be too far out!

We can sleep in tomorrow! No early morning wake up calls! Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

Vienna continued...

I just checked and it didn't all send and I stupidly deleted it so will retype and try to remember everything.

So vienna - chemist, spoke english, supplied me with codeine less cold and flu tablets. Did a little bit of shopping, some post office stuff, general look around before heading back to the bus for the sightseeing tour. The tour took us around the outskirts of the city and from the bus could see quite a few funny things, one being the beach centre! It was just like a beach, right in the middle of a city!! After the tour we did a little bit more shopping/looking around in the centre before being bussed back to our classy hotel (classy - yeah right!). As we pulled up we spied a kebab shop and we thought that would make a great dinner. I was almost better and an early night would work wonders. So we ventured out a little bit later to hunt down the kebabs but the lady said "kebap no" so we figured she was serious. Instead grabbed pizza from the shop next door. Vegetarian and soooo tasty. Loaded with onions and vegetables including brocolli and zucchini. We bought beer and coke and chocolate from the supermarket, about 7 euro for heaps, including 500ml cans of coke! We were pretty impressed with our feast and figured that it didn't matter if we didn't eat it...

Had an alright sleep - at least it was sleep - something I was seriously lacking. Early start the next morning (shock horror) before getting dropped into the city centre while the silly buggers that signed up for heaps of optionals went for another palace visit! We found the markets - not too much there but the vegie, deli and kebab people setting up. Then some more wandering and shooping and looking, before stopping for morning tea, apple strudel and sacher torte - yummy!!!!!!!!!! Gradually wandered further and looked at more. Found the most gorgeous stationery shop - just all this stationery chucked in almost. I askd the little man if I could take a photo, meaning of the shop, but he smiled and nodded so vigorously that I had to take a photo of him!! He was pretty old and i'd safely say pretty proud!!!

Ended up eating lunch in the same restaurant as the day before - the one with H and D on the toilet doors without a picture. Mum was quite the damsel in distress while waiting for someone to go in before her to work it out - then we worked out to use our book!! I shall never forget the German word for female!!!

After lunch we were bussed to the Czech Republic and through Moravia to Bohemia and on to Prague.

Krakow to Vienna

I can't remember what my last post said so I'll just assume I haven't said boo since Auschwitz.

Krakow STUNNING!! Our hotel was a fair way out,and by the time we arrived we really felt as though it had been a long week. Between the tour with all the early starts and late nights, and Auschwitz that afternoon, it had been a long week!! So after our dinner we went and sat at the bar til closing time. The young couple from our tour that keep to themselves were there - they were going out to inspect the Krakow bars, but realised it was just too far and too hard. So we joined them at the bar - they were great to talk to. Were joined a little later by another girl, so we all had a good night. It is really easy when booking drinks up to room - and easier to work it out the next day too! Early wake up Saturday, but we skipped breakfast to gain that extra 10 minutes in bed! (still ended up eating though, so not sure how that worked!!!) Sightseeing tour not much different to the others - saw the Jewish quarter, Wawel/Castle Hill, Cathedral. Mum and I both climbed the bell tower - skinny steep steps to see an 11 tonne bell then an even skinnier spiral case to get out! Proud of us both! Headed back to the market square - again, surrounded by restaurants, checked out the top of the town hall or another cathedral I think, where the little man sticks his head out and plays the trumpet to each the north, south, east and west every hour. Oh, on way there, the strangest, most contrasting sight! Old town square, old guys playing folk music, young teenagers skateboarding, and a little boy sitting there with the cutest fluffy dog in his arms. A sight to see!! We then had the afternoon to ourselves. I'd woken up coughing though, so we tried to stay in some warmth and out the wind as it was quite cold. Found a pharmacy to buy some cough medicine - really reduced to the simple stuff sometimes - "cough medicine" lady - "wet or dry" us - "wet" her "25 zlotys". Soooo, then we headed into clothes shops!! I came away with a few things, good prices and good fit and quality. Mum bought a top that says I LOVE SUN lol! Wishful thinking!!! Had lunch, that took hours! We'd been warned that service slow, and boy are they right. Good thing we are happy to sit and watch!! The waiter kept telling us, small problem, 30 minutes. We kept saying ok, but we did wonder if it was code for go away!! Bruschetta was slightly odd! Bread with tomato paste, cheese, salami... Seemed like pizza to us!! Headed back to hotel via taxi after that to get ready for our folk night, and so I could have a little nap. Polish night was good fun, except for me feeling really unwell by then. Polish tradition is to offer a shot ofvodka and a piece of bread to guests on arrival, dip, eat, shoot. Simple formula! Dinner was mushroom soup in bread bowls, which were just plain weird, then roast meat and salad, then a berry mousse thing that was more like a berry smoothie minus milk, with a dollop of cream and small scoop of icecream - would've been better had the berry stuff just been sauce on the icecream!! More vodka after dinner - the herbal stuff and the cherry stuff. Both nice, but I can see why the white stuff is nicer with the apple juice than the herbal stuff is.

Quite a sleepless night for both mum and I, which made for heaps of fun the next day! Next day was the drive through Slovakia to Hungary. I slept for a bit, but woke in time to see pretty scenery through the Tatra Mountains as we headed into Slovakia. At the border we all had a laugh as it became common knowledge across the bus that the hold up was the Indian couple on the tour who didn't have visas, and the Slovakian guard thought they needed one! They were the only ones though that didn't know they were the hold up!! The tour guide went to the guards to see what was going on and they told her to go away and leave them to work in privacy, so she hid at the bus with her back to them "I'll put my back to them" she goes!! So, after our delay we were finally allowed in... Stopped at the castle where the first Dracula movie was filmed to take photos. Stopped at mcdonalds for lunch. They took euros, but no one could work out how much they could spend so we all ended up with cheeseburger meals and 16 Slovakian crowns as change! Kept going past the areas where the gypsies live. Total squalor. Not long after the Czechoslovakian affair and the fall of communism the Slovakian government paid social security per child, but because the gypsies were popping out like 16 and not working, there was uproar, so it was set at a capped amount, regardless of the number of kids. Then there was uproar from the gypsies. I'm not sure where it is at now. Soon after we were at the Hungarian border. Slightly delayed there while they checked out what we possibly could have done in the 3 hours it took to cross the place!! The Hungarian guards and Slovak guards were rather friendly - one even smiled!! Stopped at the border servo for all of half an hour - loooooong time to spend at the border!!! But it was sunny so it was nice to sit in it!!! Quick drive to Budapest from there - to the classy Tulip Inn we were staying in! Had our included dinner - gah it was horrid - stroganoff on chips! Then we headed out for our Danube Cruise. That was really pretty and I took a heap of photos - but they've disappeared from my camera so hopefully they disappeared after I had the cd created... Fingers crossed. It was truly a lovely evening to spend on a boat cruising on the river.

Budapest sightseeing tour the next morning was the worst yet. The lady told us far too many unimportant facts and figures, walked off without us, spoke too softly and on and on and on! There was a bit of political drama on the bus and one guy took off.. But he's been a pain since he first caught up with the tour, so it was good that he did go! It was a 35 degree day and lovely and humid. So we wandered around the area of Buda near Fisherman's Bastion, took our pictures, bought some souvenirs. After our bus returned us to the Pest side, we were planning on heading to some baths - lidos - open air Turkish Baths and Pools. We didn't though cos of my coughing,so we just ate lunch in the city, did some shopping, wandered around and soaked up the atmosphere. It was nice to feel the heat and need to drink lots of water! Hopefully sweated some germs out! Our evening was spent at a restaurant at the top of Buda, high up in the forest, traditional gypsy night with traditional Hungarian food. Yummy goulash soup (purchased the recipe on a cool apron!) and not so yummy main meal and dessert - dessert was cheese strudel and apple strudel. Dancing, drinks, home just as a fantastic electrical storm started! Nice night.

Next day was a semi sleep in as we didn't need to leave until 8! Only a few hours drive to the Austrian-Hungarian border... Waved through by border control, and then an hour later we were in Vienna. 11.30 we arived. NICE!! It was raining though - but they said it rains 80percent of the year in hmmm, either Vienna or Austria. We found another chemist - 4 cities and 4 pharmacists! The pharmacist in Vienna did her Masters in Australia so spoke excellent English and very quickly told me what to take and when, and gave me cold and flu tablets without codeine, so that was excellent, and a big relief

Curious Poland

Well, not really curious but I can't think of the word to describe it.

There are shrines everywhere... 95% of the population is Roman Catholic. Shrines absolutely everywhere. And so well kept.

The cemeteries all have headstones with crosses - see above... But more fascinating - they are the brightest cemeteries going. They must all be visited often - fresh flowers all over.

The little trucks that the workers drive - they are the cute little trucks from movies!!! And the workers - the overalls they wear are the ones from the movies as we'll!!!

Auschwitz-Birkenau

It was just like every single documentary and movie has shown it... But 10million times worse.

I can't begin to describe it.

Warsaw

Well, the drive to Warsaw from Berlin was as long as flying Bangkok to London. It was sooooooo long!!!

Stopped for lunch in Poznan, saw the billy goats buck heads 12 times at midday. These little wooden electronic ones that come out of the town hall clock tower once a day.

Arrived in Warsaw shortly before 7. Well, wasn't the hotel a treat? A very plush novotel. We scored a room on the 28th floor. Fantastic view on a clear day I'm sure, because even with all the clouds we had it wasn't a bad view! Could see the Vistula River and lots of cars and buildings! Out the other side from the windows of the "Wellness Centre" aka gym (don't worry, we didn't use it, only went in it looking for the pool!!) one could see the main roundabout with tram lines running through it - and I mean for real trams, not from a tennis court... Crazy!!!

Soooo, hotel nice. Dinner provided both nights in Warsaw, and it was set menu te first night - we were very pleasantly surprised to be served vegetables - what a treat!! I sampled the polish vodka specialty - polish vodka with apple juice. Delicious! Went down very very easily!!

Woke up feeling like crap the next day... So did our included sightseeing tour then we went back to the hotel so I could sleep the feveroff. Trust me, worse places to be sick on holidays!! Sightseeing tour was good - the Old Town in Warsaw is absolutely amazing. All rebuilt after the war as Warsaw so utterly demolished. Even the Royal Palace was rebuilt which is crazy really, seeing as their was no longer a royal family anyway!!! The park/memorial for Chopin was gorgeous and would be even more so on a sunny and warm summer's day. 1000 (i think) red rosebushes - red for love not communism. Stunning.

That's about it for Thursday - a sick afternoon in bed isn't interesting or fun!!! Feeling much better today though, which is good cos I didn't want to be unwell today.

We're on bus to Krakow with two stops - the first to see the Black Madonna at the Jasna Gora Monastery. The tour wasn't particularly good as the priest was quite rushed and the place was packed, but seen it all the same.

Now we are half an hour away from Auschwitz. Will not be fun I am sure, but something one does have to do.

o

Far out brussel sprout!!!

Lol

Where do I start? I'll start at the end!! We had pizza for lunch in Poznan - it had brussel sprouts on it!!! As terrible as it sounds, it didn't taste bad - it was actually quite nice!! But I don't hate brussel sprouts with a vengence so that perhaps helps!!

Anyway, i'll go back to the start of the day!! Very very early start - mum woke before the alarm, so just before 5. Breakfast worse than yesterday - makes it easy to go hungry!!

Didn't take long to get to the border. Even though I knew we would be ok, I was still on the worried side! I think just the idea of border guards and passport control and guns scared me! But we were the only bus there, so it went quickly. They just grabbed our passports, let us off to go to the toilet etc while they did their stamping. Exchanged some money - works out that the aussie dollar is just under half the Polish money - i'm not too sure how to say it and am just saying - zezyl and grozyl for dollars and cents equivalent!

Harrowing frive to Poznan - they don't really have highways they say, but in saying that it looks as though we are on one now... But because there is/was no highways, the traffic just goes anywhere, moves from side to side on the road to let the fast ones through. Mum just sat back and shut her eyes tight! I'm sitting in the aisle, so can see out the front window.

Ahhh, we were just on a tollway, explains the highway aspect - I guess we are back to slow single carriageway again!!

So the harrowing trip, overtaking just happens anywhere and everywhere! Cars left right and centre. Overtaking on double white lines.

And the trucks, there is just sooooo many of them!!! Took a video of them - will have to count how many we passed in one minute. Maybe 60/70. A ridiculous amount!!

So anyway, that's our day so far. Its very cool - I'm in Poland... Wow!!!!!

It's very flat - not exceptionally pretty... It is ifferent to Germany though so that's nice!!!

Berlin

So, after a long day of travel on Monday up the very cool autobahn - wow, the nice cars go fast! And the not so cool cars also go fast!! Anyway, after long day - arrived in Berlin. Via Weimar, very pretty little town.

Checked into hotel then headed out to check out the place. Sussed out transport options to Potsdam for Tuesday in lieu of the tour company's optional excursion which was ridiculously expensive.

Found somewhere for dinner - italian, and yummy and cheap.

Walked around a bit and that was that.

Today, Tuesday - early start. Headed off on the bus to see the city with a guide. Was cool to see the wall and the gate and the Reichstag. Took our photos and all that jazz.

There was a train strike so mum was a bit worried we wouldn't get to Potsdam, but after enquiring we found out it ended at 9am so we were safe. Saved heaps of money doing it by ourselves, and had the experience of sussing out the public transport system! Went the wrong way on the tram in Potsdam, but made it back within our ticket time so all was good.

The palace we went to see was good to see. Cecilienhof. Such a country estate feel. Very cool to see the tables that Stalin, Churchill, Attlee, Roosevelt, Truman all sat at! Very very very cool.

The gardens were very natural and messy - I liked them. Could picture the royals out with their little dogs etc!

The Marble Palace was sooooo horrid. Definitely not the décor for me!

Train back to Berlin and we used our ticket that we probably weren't meant to, to get the bus to hotel!!! Fare evasion in Germany of all countries! How silly!!

Germany itself - I'm not sure what I think of it. Quite grey, even with the blue skies!!! It isn't pretty like Belgium was. It doesn't really seem to have a vibe that grabs me. I know lots of people love the place, but yeah, it isn't the place for me. Perhaps Munich and Bavaria will be different.

Poland tomorrow. Super super early start - we have to get to the border before other coaches do the guide said - the Polish guards can be a bit moody apparently!

The tour begins...

And already mum and I are being bitchy!

Made it to the hotel via taxi from the train station - met some people on the train, 3 of them, that were doing the tour as well. They were navigating public tranport - at 3E each, we got a taxi for 10E total... So we bitched about how silly they were!!

Then we checked in and checked out the hotel, hoping for a pool to laps in.. Checked out the neighbourhood looking for dinner... Headed back in time for pre tour meeting... Didn't know where to go as it wasn't on the list at all... Then this couple from Tamworth started talking to us. Well, the stupid old bat is totally on my wrong side, trying to tell me how many names on the Menin Gate and telling me I'll find I'm wrong. Like, nick off... You are sooooo wrong!!

Then found our meeting, then went to eat dinner and bitched the whole way through about the know it all uni lecturer behind us, telling another lady all about Australia, but we just wanted to say, speak for yourself, not everyone.

Basically, we've decided that we are really liking not understanding surounding conversations... It has been quite nice and peaceful. So anyway, that's that!! We'll see how we go!! Got 2 days worth of music on ipod and split earphones!!! But no, we'll try to be nice!!

Off to sleep now before our early start!!!! Berlin tomorrow. Bring on the wall!!!! Ooh, I have that on my ipod!! Haha

Oh and the train today was doing 277kmh at one point.. Possibly went faster, but that was the fastest I noticed. Didn't feel that fast!!!!!!!

12 kebab shops - all in a row!

Made our way to Brussels Saturday afternoon. Big city, bit grey - but that was just the weather.... Our hotel was in the cbd, and it was nice to stay away from the tourist centre and see the gritty side. Did our washing at laundromat down the road. All our jackets were filthy - had soaked trench coats in Ieper - water came out black - understandably seeing as we'd lived in them since arriving. So cleaned our denim jackets too in Brussels. They look such a different colour now! I guess big cities will do that to your clothes! Was interesting working out the laundromat. Hardly anyone in Belgium speaks English particularly well, so we were all reduced to pointing!!

Then had photos put onto cd's. It took soooo long, but the shoping centre was so busy it was entertaining. One lady kept trying to get hers done, she seemed to want the man to just let her push in. He told her where to go!! She eventually stormed off! We understood that!!!

Headed to the Grote Markt - Grand Place, and had a look around. We were just totally blown away by the sheer number of people. Had a drink while writing postcards. Bought some lace souvenirs, some gorgeous lace scarfs, and then just walked around to find dinner. Found a kebab shop, sat down and ate. The guy said he'd had 50-60 Aussies that day. After we'd eaten, we headed up the street and counted 12 kebab shops. We definitely didn't need to worry about finding one! I had a waffle - oh my god, sooooo yummy! I may never ever eat another waffle again, those in Australia are nothing like them. It was easily the nicest thing i've eaten since leaving Australia. Bought myself a beautiful white lace umbrella, sorry, parasol. No iea what I'll do with it, but it was too beautiful to leave behind.

All in all, Belgium a beautiful country, full of helpful, kind, polite people.

Had good sleep in hotel, and decent sleep in, before train to Frankfurt Sunday... Which I'm currently typing from.

There's this weird person that looks like a girlgone wrong, but sounds like a bloke. Very strange. Providing entertainment for me! Still a few more hours to go... But just crossed the border!

Ypres/Ieper

Well, I guess I need to go back a step! We absolutely adored the place... Belgian towns are just so well laid out, with the MARKT in the centre of town, and lots of restaurants sitting around the outside. All their menus are almost identical, at least price wise, so I guess you just choose what you want to eat by the actual restaurant, not by what looks to be the best value. All the people were so friendly and hard working to make/keep it clean - to the point of picking rubbish up by hand. It wasn't as hard to find our way as I sort of expected - we got lost because people kept sending us back and forth and our instructions totally sucked!! Street maps were everywhere - just too high for us shorties to read!! Everyone that helped was so friendly though - one little girl said "it is my pleasure"!!! People don't say that in Australia!! Once we got to bed and breakfast we dumped our bags then took straight off to bookshop for our battlefields tour.

Oh the Ypres/Ieper thing - Ypres = Walloon (French), Ieper = Flemish. It's in the Flemish half of Belgium.

It was a fantastic tour - the guide, Tanya, a British lady, knew her stuff. Took us to a couple of cemeteries and to the site known as Hill 60, where the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company were total heroes and showed those poms how to dig some tunnels beneath the ground! Of the mines that they planted there is still one yet to explode!!! Saw some fabulous craters - sooo big! Then went and hung out in trenches, shafts and bunkers that the Germans had built and have been preserved and skilfully reconstructed post war - it had airconditioning and electricity in it through the war... Totally unreal!!! It was only a series of support trenches, but they were real trenches! Of course I had to do the All Quiet thing and have mum take a photo of my hand reaching out the side! It was a very sobering tour though - it was not raining but it was muddy, and to see where these guys fought and won VC'S, it made it real. Then to see the cemeteries and all those grave markers, and all the unknowns, that was something I couldn't take a photo of. No matter what the side, all are people.

After the tour, we wandered through town and bought some food to cook dinner. Then we had a drink at a bar/restaurant while waiting for 8pm. I drank beer... Yicky! Had rasberry flavoured but it still tasted like beer. It really is just something I can't ever do.

At about half past seven we could hear bagpipes, which we thought was odd, because 8pm was Menin Gate time. We looked out and there was a small parade marching up the street, with people adding on as it went. Raced up the street to the gate, police were already diverting traffic for the parade to pass, so we realised this was something bigger than I'd read about. As we reached the gate we were totally blown away by the amount of people there. Totally unbelievable. There was more people than in Pinjarra on Anzac Day. We found a spot and stood there! At 8pm the service started, words were said, The Last Post played, a few people laid down a wreath. The Menin Gate is inscribed with just under 55,000 names - of British allied soldiers that are missing. It was just so incredibly emotional.

After the service, we stopped off at a chocolate shop for our dose of Belgian chocolate. Then back to our b&b to cook dinner - we had chicken and veggies, and were so looking forward to it. Our b&b was a big, old house that we had to ourselves, with a caterer delivering breakfast in the morning. The owners weren't there. So we turned the oven and stove on - but they wouldn't work. So we rang the owners. They just said they didn't know and sorry. That was it. The heater wouldn't work either, and it was BLOODY freezing. So out for dinner we went. Good thing there is daylight saving so we could go out at 9 and find something open!! After yet another horrible dinner (but yummy dessert!) back we went to b&b to go to bed. Well, quickly realised that the window coverings were inadequate throughout and we would require our eye masks. Then mum went for her shower, up the steep stairs while I found some english speaking tv - bbc news re the cars packed with explosives in London! After a few minutes I started to get a bit spooked out from the shadows jumping through the windows, so I went to get my phone to find a new hotel - we hadn't paid yet, and they didn't have my credit card details... As I was walking towards my bag mum came bounding down the steps with a look I know too well - "we can't stay here" she said. There was no hot water!!!! Rang this other hotel, they said we could get a room if there in 15 minutes. Down the street we went! As we walked up the street, we could see where we were going, but could also see the Novotel. 11pm it was. In we went, no rooms available. But the guy told us not to go where we were headed - by this point mum just wanted new and nice. He rang some other places, and we ended up getting bundled into this taxi, and shunted out of town to the Best Western. It was a bargain, included breakfast, and was pleasant. They had hot water, and it wasn't spooky! Each of us had a good sleep!!!!!

The next morning we made our way to the train station via taxi as the hotel was out of town. There is only 2 taxis or something in Ieper, so we were taken in the bosses landrover as the taxis were far away and the nearest was in Dunkirk!

Did enjoy Ieper until night time! But would definitely return - just would book in at the Novotel!!!!!!!!!

12 kebab shops - all in a row!

Mde our way to Brussels Saturday afternoon. Big city, bit grey - but that was just the weather.... Our hotel was in the cbd, and it was nice to stay away from the tourist centre and see the gritty side. Did our washing at laundromat down the road. All our jackets were filthy - had soaked trench coats in Ieper - water came out black - understandably seeing as we'd lived in them since arriving. So cleaned our denim jackets too in Brussels. They look such a different colour now! I guess big cities will do that to your clothes! Was interesting working out the laundromat. Hardly anyone in Belgium speaks English particularly well, so we were all reduced to pointing!!

Then had photos put onto cd's. It took soooo long, but the shoping centre was so busy it was entertaining. One lady kept trying to get hers done, she seemed to want the man to just let her push in. He told her where to go!! She eventually stormed off! We understood that!!!

Headed to the Grote Markt - Grand Place, and had a look around. We were just totally blown away by the sheer number of people. Had a drink while writing postcards. Bought some lace souvenirs, some gorgeous lace scarfs, and then just walked around to find dinner. Found a kebab shop, sat down and ate. The guy said he'd had 50-60 Aussies that day. After we'd eaten, we headed up the street and counted 12 kebab shops. We definitely didn't need to worry about finding one! I had a waffle - oh my god, sooooo yummy! I may never ever eat another waffle again, those in Australia are nothing like them. It was easily the nicest thing i've eaten since leaving Australia. Bought myself a beautiful white lace umbrella, sorry, parasol. No iea what I'll do with it, but it was too beautiful to leave behind.

All in all, Belgium a beautiful country, full of helpful, kind, polite people.

Had good sleep in hotel, and decent sleep in, before train to Frankfurt Sunday... Which I'm currently typing from.

There's this weird person that looks like a girlgone wrong, but sounds like a bloke. Very strange. Providing entertainment for me! Still a few more hours to go... But just crossed the border!

Hotel runaways...

Long story, saving it for later, but we just ran away from our bed and breakfast, at 11.30 at night!!!

Now checked in at the Best Western, and I am once more, waiting my turn for the shower!!!!!!!!

The currency thing...

That last post probably made no sense at all!! 4 currencies in our purses...a few Australian dollars, a few Stirling, Euro, and Thai Baht. I think its very cool! This really is a trip beyond my wildest imaginations!!!

1 day, 3 countries, 4 currencies

Wow was yesterday (Thursday) a long day. Up at 5, at Victoria for the 7am bus to Dover, via Cantebury. Snagged the front seat, so had a lovely view the whole way. It's a really nice bit of countryside too! Arrived in Dover, waited in lounge for check in time. Got our first taste of what was to come - all the PA announcements were in French and English, the French obviously being not understood at all! Lol. The sky was lovely and blue for our trip, sun shining. And, must say, it was nice to see the cliffs, but they truly weren't anything spectacular! Could see them the whole way to Calais, which was nice - someone else was saying it isn't often you can see both countries... I'm not sure how true that is. Eventually made our way to Calais train station, bought tickets to Bruges via Lille. The train itself was really flash!! Eventually arrived in Bruges at 6.30. They delay at the ferry terminal was quite long... Mum was totally shattered though, so we went to the markets, bought some gorgeous jewellery, had dinner - set menu, full of Flemish traditional dishes... So we've had them now and can return to eating kebabs!! They look really nice here too!! Oh and some chocolates, sorry, pralines!!! Had a decent nights sleep, and moved on slowly this morning to the train station for trip to Ypres/Ieper for battlefields tour and Menin Gate experience tonight (silence and buglers play the last post every single night at 8pm). Should be good to do the tour with some rain - should provide a real trench warfare experience. It does all look like All Quiet On The Western Front actually, with slight modernisation, of course!!! Despite not understanding a word anyone is saying, we are ok, cos they realise our blank looks mean we need English. I feel a bit bad though, it shouldn't be up to other people to talk to me, even though I realise they are in the tourism industry etc. I have my little phrasebook and am prepared to use it, but haven't needed to yet! Oh, we sat in first class yesterday, didn't realise we were in it til the guard checked our tickets! Haha

Ok, well almost at the station we change trains at, so will hit send now!

Final Day in London...

... And it was Tony Blair's final day as Prime Minister. Were down that end of town and saw him depart Downing Street. Quite cool. Not a lot of protestors though, I felt. Quite apathetic they all must be. A few supporters there too. Went into Westminster Abbey - I was and I think mum was as well, quite disappointed with it. Ummm, what else did we do? We cooked our own dinner - had quite a feast actually! Booked our tickwts to Belgium for tomorrow. Oh, checked out the National Portrait Gallery. Saw lots of corners that I'm sure Mr Bean could sit in.

Didn't get to see Jeremy Bentham, but that's ok. I'll be back, much much sooner rarther than later. It took its time to grow on me, but it has. Won't be moving here though. But there is so much to see on holidays, and sooooo much to do.

Definitely enjoyed our time here, but also really looking forward to the next part of our trip. I just packed my bag up, and pulled my phrasebook out. Now the fun begins. England wasn't ever part of my real wish list for a holiday, so anything we have done,I consider a total bonus.

Being here for Tony Blair's last day was very cool!

Poor Weather and Pimms

Oh yeah, forgot to say, had our first drink in a London pub yesterday. Mum had a semi lesson in lagers and ales. And I tried Pimms. It was sooooo nice. Shall be buying that when I return home!

And the weather - it WASN'T poor yesterday. It was cold but not everywhere, just where the wind was howling. Andnot a drop of rain. There was even a bit of sunshine. Fingers crossed today is as lovely.

A different type of QUEEN

WOW, We Will Rock You absolutely rocked. The storyline was a touch pointless but who cares! The show was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was beyond belief... And only a Tuesday night!!! It was brilliant. I am so glad I didn't see it when it was in Perth. It wouldn't have been half as good.

Last day in London today. Going to see Jeremy Bentham! Yeehah!

A few good palaces...

Kensington and Buckingham... The usual ones really. Kensington Gardens stunning. Absolutely beautiful. Not in a manicured way, but in a relaxed way. Had lunch at Kensington. Service not that flash! Obviouslythe pleb tourists don't deserve quality service. Garlic bread very different - whole cloves of garlic shoved in it! Lol! The Albert Memorial not as ugly as the guide books said! The Princess Di Memorial Fountain a bit simple - I think the Queen was a bit on the tight side when paying for that!! Buckingham Palace just a big building behind some gates. Nicer view from the War Memorial in Canberra too! Not had any rain yet today. Touch wood! Ok, mum has finished her postcards so off to Westminster Abbey now.

Wimbledon and the West End

Yesterday was THE BEST day! Headed off in the morning with the intention of doing the tourist trail, but the sun was shining so we thought it was worth risking Wimbledon. Oh, while I think of it, cherries at the fruit stalls here are dirt cheap. £2 for a pound. So $5 for 2.2kg. So, Wimbledon. It was sprinkling by the time we got there. So well organised at the other end - buses and taxis, all at a fixed fee, to take you to the club. Joined the queue, number 3387 and 3388. This was half 10 in the morning. Not bad at all. 6000 ground passes issued a day. Through security and we were in. Really quick. Started raining heavier. I had my strawberries and cream - they weren't the nicest of strawberries, I must say. Play start time was put back by an hour, then another. Eventually they started. After 2 games, 15 30 40 game, 15 30 40 game, they went off again. After waiting ages, we decided the practice courts would offer more action. We were right. Mauresmo, Nadal were both warming up, and a heap walking past on way to and from both play and practice courts, including Safin. Left Wimbledon about 5, quite content with a full dose of the Britishness of it all. It was sooo different to the Australian Open.

Back to hotel, dinner, shower, headed outto the theatre. Chicago! It was brilliant. I have not even seen the movie, so had no idea what to expect. The theatre experience was also amazing - icecream sales in the theatre at intermission, and drinks allowed to be taken in! Amazing really!!

A weekend in London

Arrived early Saturday morning after a long and uncomfortable bus ride, which gave both mum and I huge, swollen, puffy feet and ankles. Sooo painful. Had two very very ratso clowns behind us sort of, planning their morning out in Birmingham over the phone - first rang mum to tell her where they were going and that they'd be ok, then rang gary to order their cocaine. My god, it was sooo funny. I awoke as we went through oxford, at 5am. The sun was coming up, the sky was misty from the rain, and the place was beautiful. It was like a dreamland. Once we got to London, we easily navigated the streets and tube stations to find our way to hotel. Were far too early to check in, but we were able to sit in lounge. My feet were so sore that I jut crashed. Once we could get into our room (dorm room here) we showered then attempted walking on our feet. Walked to Oxford St, where I searched for some new comfy thongs. The ones I brought were like rocks. Found some, walked home in them, and the toe thing gave me blisters, so knew it was time I found some havis. Just wandered around a while longer, getting our bearings, then back to hotel, cooked dinner, planned our Sunday then bed.

Sunday we headed to the Spitalfields Markets, and Petticoat Lane. Didn't buy much but found some havis! Then made our way to Hyde Park (Speakers Corner) and started a hop on hop off bus ride. Stayed on most of the way, getting a feel for the place and listening to commentary. Hopped off in Knightsbridge, went to Harrods, bought tacky gifts, then made our way back to hotel to go out. Walked to Soho for dinner. Yummy meal too. For once!! Then walked to Trafalgar Square, through to Picadilly and back up. Cannot believe how busy it is on a sunday night! Unreal! Back to hotel about half 11, bed and sleep!

Now it is 8.40 Monday morning and I'm just booking tickets to We Will Rock You tonight. Off to see the tourist sites in more detail today, and crossing fingers that the rain clears for Wimbledon. Hoping to go tomorrow.

I'm not sure what I think of London yet. It doesn't grab me. I don't feel the urge to pack up and move here. I know already I'd like to come again for a holiday and see and do more. But it doesn't grab me in the 'oh my god it is so awesome I desperately want to move here' way.

Anyway, my turn for a shower.

Oh, I forgot to say...

I really really really like Liverpool! It's very cool!!!

Continued... (Liverpool)

Ok, i'm back. Waiting at bus stop for overnight bus to london, so time to type!

Anyway, bus to Birmingham from Bath... What an absolute dump that place is. I was in shock, to say the least. I had expected bad but it was far far worse than bad. I was so glad the bus was just stopping so we could get on another. Arrived in Liverpool just after 4pm. 3nitial feeling - looks like a great town.

After spending the afternoon on Thursday just walking around and getting our bearings, we bought some stuff for dinner at the supermarket, then had a relatively early night. We were in a hostel, so first time ever in one for mum. I don't think it was as bad as she expected, but I can't be sure.

Friday we got up and had a nice breakfast, then walked to Albert Dock. Booked tickets on the yellow duckmarine, waited for that. That was incredibly cool - saw both the key sites of the city and the river without having to move!!! After the duckmarine, we went into the Beatles Museum. That was interesting. Then the maritime museum, then accepted that the rain wasn't going to ease up, so got a taxi back to hostel to grab raincoats! Walked up to the Anglican Cathedral - the biggest in the UK, not exceptionlly pretty or whatnot, but very large. Contrasted that with the next church - the Catholic cathedral. It isn't particularly church looking from the outside but beautiful from the inside. We were there in time for evening mass so attended and I took communion. It was nice and Father Anthony O'Brien was easy to understand!!

Walked around the city a bit more, then drinks and dinner at the little old pub near Albert Dock. They had bitters, so we gave the bar staff lessons in lemon lime and bitters.

Now, sitting at train station waiting for bus! This will be interesting!!!!

Bath, Bristol, Birmingham, the Beatles!

Well, we headed off from Bath this morning, on the bus to Bristol. Would you believe that we were there EARLY and ended up on the wrong bus!!! (Just an earlier one so no big deal!) Just very very funny!! Me, early!?!?!??!?!?!?!

While at Bristol a guy had a fit and smashed his head on the floor. Everybody was so slow to help. Unbelievable.

The nice man in the newsagency fixed mum's suitcase and told her she had a lovely accent! She was thrilled!!

From there, we were on the bus to Birmingham...

oops, be back soon! out of credit!

Bloody Long Flight, Bath and Warm Beer!!!

I knew it was 24 hours, but had no idea how long 24 hours could feel!!
Lucky the spirits were free! I tried a few I've not had before, and
know that cognac is horrible - asked the flight attendant for a shot
over ice, got a whole 200mls! Ewwww. But anyway, the sleep came quite
easily, on both legs, so arrived here feeling quite refreshed. Were
very impressed with the service on plane... A good start! Heathrow
shocked us though. Immigration too quick and painless. Customs non
existant. Very weird... Or is it normal????? Anyone?? I'd like to
think it isn't . Train to Bath via London. Quite quick. Checked
straight into bed and breakfast, got changed and headed into town for
a kebab our Chiro recommended. It was a good kebab too!! Bath Spa
unbelievable - sooo old - sooo amazing. The town is gorgeous... If yuu
are in the tourist half, that is!! The non-tourist half is very
conveniently separated from the business district. Good thing it is I
must say- it is so noisy and stressful in that half!! The Abbey is
absolutely stunning. I'd hate to be the bride that walks down that
aisle in shoes she hasn't worn in. I think sneakers would be the best
option actually!!! Found a pub for a drink... What a disaster!! No
lemon lime and bitters, no lemon squash, offered lime squash. It was
lime cordial in WATER though, silly barmaid. And worse still... Mum's
beer was warm. No chance me learning to drink it if it is warm!!!!!
Also had dinner at the place. 2 meals for £9.99 special night.
Definitely not a meal eithe of us would like to repeat. Should've had
kebabs again!!!!Back to b n b and mum now asleep, and me nearly there
also. It has been a long few days. What can I say though.... Its
lovely, cute, beautiful.... All that stuff......!! But it's also hard
work... We are strughling with the accents - everyone mumbles.... And
the money?!?!?! Good grief.. Get rid of 1 & 2 pence coins already!!!
It is so weird having similar coins but all not right!!!! Anyway, off
to liverpool tomorrow. Shall see what the day brings!!! Must sleep
now!!!

Bloody Long Flight, Bath and Warm Beer!!!

I knew it was 24 hours, but had no idea how long 24 hours could feel!!
Lucky the spirits were free! I tried a few I've not had before, and
know that cognac is horrible - asked the flight attendant for a shot
over ice, got a whole 200mls! Ewwww. But anyway, the sleep came quite
easily, on both legs, so arrived here feeling quite refreshed. Were
very impressed with the service on plane... A good start! Heathrow
shocked us though. Immigration too quick and painless. Customs non
existant. Very weird... Or is it normal????? Anyone?? I'd like to
think it isn't . Train to Bath via London. Quite quick. Checked
straight into bed and breakfast, got changed and headed into town for
a kebab our Chiro recommended. It was a good kebab too!! Bath Spa
unbelievable - sooo old - sooo amazing. The town is gorgeous... If yuu
are in the tourist half, that is!! The non-tourist half is very
conveniently separated from the business district. Good thing it is I
must say- it is so noisy and stressful in that half!! The Abbey is
absolutely stunning. I'd hate to be the bride that walks down that
aisle in shoes she hasn't worn in. I think sneakers would be the best
option actually!!! Found a pub for a drink... What a disaster!! No
lemon lime and bitters, no lemon squash, offered lime squash. It was
lime cordial in WATER though, silly barmaid. And worse still... Mum's
beer was warm. No chance me learning to drink it if it is warm!!!!!
Also had dinner at the place. 2 meals for £9.99 special night.
Definitely not a meal eithe of us would like to repeat. Should've had
kebabs again!!!!Back to b n b and mum now asleep, and me nearly there
also. It has been a long few days. What can I say though.... Its
lovely, cute, beautiful.... All that stuff......!! But it's also hard
work... We are strughling with the accents - everyone mumbles.... And
the money?!?!?! Good grief.. Get rid of 1 & 2 pence coins already!!!
It is so weird having similar coins but all not right!!!! Anyway, off
to liverpool tomorrow. Shall see what the day brings!!! Must sleep
now!!!

The itinerary... sort of...

Perth to London, via Bangkok

From London –

 

Immediately to Bath

Then Liverpool

Then London (Wimbledon and Jeremy Bentham are the biggest highlights for Alycia at the moment)

Perhaps a day trip to Oxford, time permitting

 

Then ferry from Dover to Calais

Up to Belgium (not exactly worked out YET! But there will be a day and night in Ypres, including a battlefield tour of the Western Front, during which Debbi is sure she will be blown up by an unexploded device)

 

Then to Frankfurt for the two week tour:

Germany

Poland

Slovak Republic

Hungary

Austria

Czech Republic

Germany

 

Then from the end of the tour –

 

Italy (Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre perhaps)

France (Cote de Azure, Princess Grace exhibition in Monaco, Versailles, Paris, perhaps Normandy, perhaps somewhere in Champagne, of course!)

 

Then home!!!!

10 days to go!!

Woohoo!!