Brussles (Belgium)

We rolled up to Brussles having booked no accomadation, thought we'd just hope or the best. Plus I read the the tourist office there booked accomadation on the day.

Yes they did, but they were closed by the time we got there (around 6pm on the Sunday), hmm well that it then. Tmie to wonder into hotels at random. We did find one, that had a room for the night. That gave us the next day to find one for the next night (which we did via the tourist office)

Belgium is known for beer and chocolate; we all know some of the Belguim beers. I sampled a few here, very nice, exp the blonde (wheat) beers. Tenilles had a fee of the Cherry beers (very sweet) They were around 8% alcohol; yes, thats what I'm talking about!!!!!

Amsterdam

Arrived Amsterdam yesterday. Were we are staying is right dead in the middle of one of the happening night spots. Yay.

Eveyone here appears to know English; getting easier to communicate!

Into an internet cafe. They had a bar, so thought would get a beer. The dude (who looked like he was wearing his pjs, just said we don't do alcohol, only drugs! Ha knew it!!! Yiu could get high just by walking into these places!

Berlin

pics to be added once find a decent terminal!!!! No usb grrrrrrrrr!!! Arrived in Berlin yesterday, after somehow surviving Oktober Fest. Berlin is a huge place, got the biggest central rail station in Europe. Yesterday, went on a push bike tour run by the same (US) company as the one in Paris (Fat Tire Bike tours). Once again, it was a great tour and a good way to see sites. Foot too slow in a place this big, and sometimes a bus can just buzz past places too quickley. Saw some remains of the Berlin Wall, the place where Hitlers bunker was (is now a car park, all evidence is attempted to be covered up) Real cool Resturant strip here around a place called Hacescher Markt. (well prob heaps more than what we sure), they had lots of pretty lights. Didnät realise there were so many fashion shops in Berlin. Must have been the main shopping central at a place called Zoologischer Garden. Once again, great rail system to get a round on. Today, we´re off to Amsterdam, oh dear, and its the weekend there!!!! - hmm, cookie monster!!!!! hahahahaahahah ;-)

Munich (Oktober fest!!)

Just arrived in Munich! 1st thing is finally we have a place with a laundry!!! No laundra mats anywhere in Lucerne!!) Strolled down to the fest (which is walking distance from here!)

Had to come back to try and get a turn at the drier (wet clothes ahhh!!!) Now Jodie wanted to be sent a picture as soon as we have 1st styne (stine?) hmm, about 3 in the morning there? Maybe leave till when we go earlier tomorrow ;)

Back to the fest ... into the HB tent, and the flow of steins begin...

And Tenille says she is not a beer drinker. hmm, riiiight....

Lucern, Luzurne, or Luzanne

Why does a country (Switzerland) have 2 cities with such similar names. Well, we ened up in Luzanne instead of Lucerne. Apparently it is a common mixup, and just meant another 3 to 4 hours on a train ( I am going to blame Hans for it!) They hav thier own money, (not euros). tis very pretty money. Photos to be uploaded, but cant do on this machine (no usb ports anywhere) to be continued...

Venice

There is water every where. Just like in the movies! Goes right up to the door steps! Amazing!

Hmm, a local drink to try... weve decided that anywhere we see people drinking something we don#t recognise, we have to have one (we just asked for one of those red things).. blah, not the best!

Rome (wasn,t built in a day,hay hay!!!)

That song just came into my head :P I have discovered that trying to upload photos from direct from a camera with a 2 gig card is extremely sloooooooow (hence lack of photos). I should have brought a 2 gig(ish) mem stick with me. Put in a few place holders, so can get upto date as to where we are now, which is Rome. Arrived yesterday, to a really selubrious establishment (dam I miss an english spell checker!!). Through huge big black doors off the street, up some haunted looking stairs, greeted by some dude who looked like he just woke up. Amazingly the actual room was quite nice! And the place was extremely central, which realy helped last night, when after finding a cafe to eat at (around 10ish). Apparently Romans eat quite late (well about an hour ealier than this). First looked for a night spot as indicated by Lonely Planet. Found the area, but not the cluster of what we thought we'd find )pubs and cafes). So back to the centre (via the local metro trains of course), wondered a bit, sat at one place that looked crowded. The wine list looked expensive, so we escaped, and found stairs leading down an alley, with a small but realy quaint cafe wedged between 2 multi storey blocks. Ive had so much pastery (In France), and what look ed like was going to be all pasta )here in Italy), that finally I could order a steak and salad! Ohh, yummy, it was soooooo good!!!!!! And a bottle of Italian wine, that was very nice too. That went till after 11, and then on way back, saw a happening smallish pub that had Guinness, written on it. Couldnt not go in! A few drinkies each, and a reasonable state of enebriation (shit my spelling is shit!). Opps, all the trains are closed, but we are actual wlaking distance, hmm wonder which direction??? Some magical way, Tenilles found the way (god knows how, we left all maps at the B and B). Ohh, yer, yesterday, we went to the ancient city, and saw the ruins, very cool. Pictures will tell that story)

Pisa

Pisa.

Not a lot to see in Pisa, except for a tower that leans over (and you can really feel the lean when youre up it).

We were almost going to skip Pisa, for more time in other places

Marseille

Marseille, the name of a cool Angels song (take me back to Marseille). We were told this place can be a bit dangerous, but around the main bay, where all the Cafe and Ressturants were, it was fine. I actually really enjoyed Marseille.

el de re and La Rochelle

el de re

From PARIS, caught a train to La Rochelle, which was en route to the Island el de re Tenille has always wanted to visit (had a pen pal there years ago). We had nothing booked there, were going to rock up and hope for the best! As soon as we got out of the train station, saw a car hire place, Tenille suggested we hire a car (yer, Ive driven on the right hand side before!!!!), as wasnt going to be much public transport on the island . There is a long bridge over to the island. Drove around, and I toko a wrong turn off a round about, and eneded up at a caravan park!! what the heck, lets ask. They ened up having a on site tranportable villa thingy we could hire for the night! only 38 euro as well! Perfect!

We even had a front porch!!! That over, the island was an absolute beatiful place! Slow paced, def french! Reminded me a little like a huge rotto, but much nicer, and heaps bigger (was a lot of traffic on it). Had a number of villages on it.

After dropping off the car the next day, we had some time to kill while waiting for the train. Hmm, there is some wine in our bag, lets just get it out and camp in front of the train station )Tenilles idea, is was it was)

Ok, it was my idea to then go and find some more wine. Ened up at a local bar in La Rochelle. Tenille scored a free rugby shirt, see below, given to her by one of the locals. hee hee

Paris

Well, we've had sunshine just about all the way Just as we were leaving Dublin on the Sunday the weather turned bad, but we were off to Paris (flew there) Paris had public transport just as extensive as London, so gettign around was easy. Was the 1st country non english speakin country, so out with the Lonley Planet French translation book (thanks Alice ;-)) Hotel was out of Paris central, but 10 min walk to train station, and around 20 min train ride got us there. Communicating was interesting. I've learnt to point a lot (after all , language are just noises representing real world objects).

First thing we did was visit Eiffel, and climb it as far as the stairs let us go anyway (o the top was a lift with a hug queue). I didn't realise they had shops and bars INSIDE the tower.

We also went on a night bike ride tour, and then river cruise (that included wine), that was cool.

Dublin

When I mant to book just standard seats on the ferry to Dublin, but I accidently booked the delux (upper) deck! No bother, as it turned out it was only $10, and included complimentary wine and nibbles; so we made sure we got AT LEAST $10 worth! Well, that was the beginning of a big Friday night. Off the boat, both half sloshed, and, who needs tea, 1st to the hostel (6 bed dorm - hmmm), and then off to Temple Bar (the actual bar called temple bar) Well, I was in Ireland, so I did my duty, and sampled much Guinness (I mean much Guinness). Tenilles not being a big Guiness fan, had 2 half pints, and then went onto other preferred substances! Sat, was time for a spiritual trip to the Guiness factory, but was to hung over to sample the Guiness there!! Damb that! Still good tour at any rate

Next Stop Hawarden

Left London yesterday, for a place called Hawarden (near the town of Chester). Tenilles friend George lives there. To get there we caught a virgin train, which we almost missed, due to late arrival of our meals in the station pub. As we approached the enterance, we noticed everyone running, so we followed suite, and jumped in the nearest carriage. It was the first class section, and I at least, felt at one there. Unfortunately, the ticket guard didn't share this feeling, so we had to trapse though multiple carriages looking for our seats. Most of the houses here seem to be around the early 1900s, and although a smallish country village, the "high density" living mentality still seems to apply. Houses 2 storey, narrow, very close to the narrow road, with very limited street parking.

London!

Yesterday was 1st whole day in London. We are staying at Hotel Blue Bells in Notting Hill.

And here we are at the enterance

First thing we did is get a tube pass, and head to Tarfalgar Square for the beginnings of a day of explorering..

Tenillsie and me at Trafalgar Square

And big Ben does really exist!

Also saw some of the other common sites, a couple more below...

The London Eye The Westminster Abbey .. we went for a tour through here. Tenille was "aware" of all the dead people

We also "did the bridges", (must tell Dom) crossed London Bridge and then walk over to the Towers Bridge and crossed that. After hours of all this wlaking, there was one flavour of site that was missing..

A pub for a drink!!!

We're Off and Running

Well, here it is, the first blog entries for over 2 years. But that is cos it's been 2 years since I've done anything interesting (well gone anywhere - ha!) Tis all to do with a wild adventure to the strange lands of some of the 1st Australian visitors (well first stop is anyway). But I am in the good company of my travel vise companion Tenille (aka Elmofreak); hmm much wine may be comsumed on this one! I have a shiny new blog site (also thanks Tenilles ;-)) , since the 'ol myspace arena is out of bounds for some of the peoples who want to visit and follow me around). The plan was to leave on Sat 8th, and be in London Sunday morning, but due to circumstances, we were delayed in Singapore for around 18 hours. But at least Qantas payed for real flash accomadation in a (they say) 5 star Hotel, as well as providing us with all meals - they were actually really well organised. Gave me a change to have a preview of Singapore; hmm, nice place. Tenille did say alcohol was expensive there, so I'm thinking, gee maybe pints are even 10 bucks! Umm, try $15!!! Apart from that, really liked what I was of it in that short time (more on the way home).

Picture of flash room in Singapore

Anyway, too much ramble, tis now Tuesday, 2nd day on London.