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Wednesday, July 13, 2005
 I love Lagos...and I've got tan lines!!!  Got a lovely surprise at my overnight stop in Madrid catching up with BusAbouters Caitlin & Daniel again. Caitlin's advise confirmed that I should cancel my days in Seville and head straight to Lagos instead. Thankfully the accommodation allowed for this and the next day it was onwards to an overnight stop in Seville. Was a quiet ride with only 7 people on board and even more so when we saw a news report in Spanish on the London Bombs. Of course we didn't understand a word so there were some frantic text messages to fill ourselves in. Our 1 night in Seville was a lovely "girl's night" with the tour guide for Tapas, drinks on a rooftop bar then onto a Flamenco Show. Then it was Lagos... I love this place. The beach is stunning!!! Much better than anything I've seen anywhere else in Europe and almost comparable to an Australian Beach. Was great to have Erin and Tammy's company for a few days - even if I was a little worse for wear after a night out!!! My 5 days here are all melting into a blur but I can say that I've done a lot of shopping, some swimming and beach sitting (hence the tan lines) and even attempted to learn to surf (I'm really not that good at it!) Tomorrow it's on to Lisbon for a few days then I have to leave Portugal and then the trip speeds up as I make my way back through Spain and France to London for my flight.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
So Barcelona wasnīt as bad as the initial accommodation dramas made out... By the time I finished at the internet cafe last time it was past midday so headed straight for the markets before they shut for a siesta. The clothes were okay (didnīt buy any) but I did find a heck of a lot of silver jewellery...one bracelet and ring later it was onto the tube and to La Sagrada Familia just to prove to myself that Gaudi was one weird fella. A quick bite of Paella - yum - then onto the big pointy thing. Very interesting building - will be even more impressive if it is ever finished!!! There were a few market stall selling fans, clothes...silver jewellery...yeah - really liking Barcelona at this point. Next stop was Guell Park which was also designed by Gaudi - yep, definitely a weird fella...found my way down to where all the mosaics and weird buildings were and was blown away. Colourful, beautiful...over-run with tourists!!! Decided to walk back to the hostel via La Ramblas and stumbled upon the best shopping street in Barcelona along the way. The next morning I was adamant about watching the Wimbledon Menīs final live so I wandered around the city trying to find somewhere open that was playing it live...3 hours later, I found a pub around the corner from the hostel with a delayed telecast so I managed to watch the first set and a half before I had to run off for the bike tour. It was a hard decision but decided that I really should see some more of Barcelona and trust that Mr Federer knew what he was doing. The bike tour was great - very interesting but also very tiring so it was an early-ish night then on to Valencia in the morning. Once again, accommodation dramas in Valencia...nobody knew where this place was and I couldnīt for the life of me find it on the map I bought!!! Eventually someone (who didnīt speak a lick of English) managed to showing me the way...and the hostel was stunning! A quick shower and some Paella and Tapas, then a long walk with Greg (another Busabout "lost soul") through the massive park which used to be the river) to some weird parallel universe set in the 25th century - still not sure what it was - and a massive shopping centre. Itīs only when youīre on your way back that you realise exactly how far youīve walked and I collapsed into bed that night exhausted. Yesterday it was all about the beach. The markets were way too fishy to be enjoyed - so straight onto the bus and to the beach. A bit rough for swimming but we managed to get a little (too much) sun. Last night we headed to a Salsa club which was fun but only opened at 11:30pm so this little Nanna only lasted a while before having to return to the bed! So today itīs on to Madrid for an overnight stop then to Seville which will apparently be scorching hot...(for a change?) Adios Amigos
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Can I remember whatīs happened over the last 2 weeks???... Okay...back to Italy...  Three day tour of Southern Italy was lovely...and the best part is that it was a tour so we didnīt have to think for ourselves the whole time!!! Stopped off at Pompeii on the way down to Sorrento. The site is massive and interesting but most of the finds have been taken to the museum in Naples and all thatīs left is the remains of the buildings. A group dinner in Sorrento followed by some Karaoke (no not me!) and some dancing in a club that is more like a huge cave. The next day it was over to the Isle of Capri for most of the day where we took a boat cruise around the island then relaxed on the pebble beach for the rest of the day. The third day was mostly on the bus as we wound our way around the cliff-clinging roads of the Amalfi coast. Stunning scenery and lovely stops at the towns of Amalfi and another one which I will have to look up on a map one day to find out the name. One last relaxing day at our Rome campsite before heading off to Florence via Orvietto (one of the walled cities perched on top of a cliff trying not to spill over). There was a museum and transport strike in Florence on our first day so I took that as an opportunity to work on the suntan by the campsite pool. The next day it was up and in early to queue for the Uffizi Gallery and a few other sites around town and across Ponte Vecchio (drooling at all the expensive gold and silver jewellery). The next day it was another 2 hour queue for the Academia Gallery - fully worth it to see the real David. He was amazing...perfect...indescribable! A quick walk through the Duomo and back to the campsite to cool off. Iīd bought a novel at the Academia Gallery which I started reading the next day and before I knew it, my fourth and last day in Florence was over!!! On to La Spezia (via Pisa for the obligatory photos and gelato) and a train into Riomaggiore (one of the Cinque Terre towns). After some confusion over the accommodation, we ended up with a lovely apartment on the top floor with views of the water, main street and terraced hills of houses and grape vines. A quick swim in the amazing turquoise water then back to the balcony for some bruchetta and gnocchi with pesto...mmmm! The next morning we set off with all good intentions of walking 3 of the trails between the 5 villages and training the last (hardest) one. The walk to Manarola was easy and had beautiful views. Manarola was quicly voted my favourite of the 5 towns with all the fishing boats ĻparkedĻ on the main street and a cute little port with clear water. The trail between Manarola and Corniglia had been closed off a few days before due to a rock fall so we ended up waiting an eternity for a train but eventually got to Corniglia for a poke around and some pizza with a stunning view. By this stage it was way too hot to walk any further so we continued by train to Vernazza where there was a bit of touristy shopping and swimming at the port to be done. Lastly, a train to Monterosso (the most touristy) of all the towns with itīs beach lined with umbrellas and deck chairs. Only stayed for a little while before catching the train back to Riomaggiore. That night after dinner, we walked back to Manarola for a view of the port at night then returned via Lovers Lane in pitch darkness.  Next stop Nice on the Cote DīAzure. The weather was stifling and the accommodation a little sub-standard. The next day, I was on a train to Monaco which was interesting but definitely didnīt blow me away (a little too much of a building boom in the 70īs for my liking) but the Aquarium was amazing! Tanks full of amazing coloured fish and starfish and seahorses etc. but the highlight would have to be the massive tank full of Nemoīs!!! There were hudreds of them in there!!! Not much to see and do in Nice so I spent the next day wandering through markets and shops then a bit of a dip and sit on the beach. Then yesterday it was on to Barcelona... First impressions of the place were not good as our pre-booked accommation turned into a problem bigger than Ben Hur. We were finally able to put our packs down and head for some dinner - Tapas and Sangria of course. And now that Iīve finally caught up on all the travel reporting...I can get out and see why Barcelona was ranked so high in the Top 20 cities of the world. Still a bit wary that everyone keeps mentioning pick-pockets, scam artists etc. but itīs got to be done! Hasta la vista...
Thursday, June 16, 2005
When the moon hits your eye like a bit pizza pie...yep, I'm in Italy!!! Taking some time out in an internet cafe in Rome while I wait for the rain to clear...was absolutely drenched before as I came out of the Vatican City...not good when you're wearing a light yellow top!!! Okay, backtracking...  Munich has won me over...it's beautiful!!! Arrived in the late afternoon so managed to squeeze in a bit of shopping...eg. a new camera. Yesterday I went for a long walk past the glockenspiel and Residenz to the English Gardens and even managed to see a surfer on the permanent wave - an interesting experience in the middle of a city that's nowhere near the coast! Also trammed out to Nymphaneum palace but the gardens there were nowhere near as impressive as Schonbrunn. I even managed to spend a few hours in the Hofbrau Haus - a pretty good effort for someone who doesn't drink beer. Atmosphere was great but the roast pork was even better! Also managed to make it out (and up) to the Neuschwanstein Castle on Abi's birthday for a photo. It was a huge hike but the views were pretty spectacular and the castle was almost as fairytale as the one at Disneyland Paris...less stained glass windows featuring various Disney characters.  A quick stop in St Johann in Tirol for breakfast which meant that I got to ring the family. Was good to speak to everyone, even if the birthday girl was more interested in the balloons!!! ...And finally, I'm in Italy. Can't explain why I've been looking forward to this bit of the trip so much but I guess along with Greece it's one of those countries that you have images of in your head (and taste buds) which you want to confirm. And I can say that it's all true! Arrived in Vienna at night so the next day headed in and made my way straight to San Marco Square. Now some people are going to think I'm strange (what's new?) but it didn't really excite me that much...I was more interested in the maze of the streets, canals and bridges in Venice and the fact that you can never find the exact same route twice! Spent a lot of time wandering around (not even bothering with the map) looking at glass jewellery, masks etc. On my second day I had another wander around the maze and a ride down the grand canal then went out to Burano and Murano. Murano is where glass blowing was invented and is a cute smaller, more relaxed version of Venice. Burano made me want to learn Italian and emmigrate! I love the place and took about 50 photos of the multicoloured houses on the canals and had a look in all of the lace and glass jewellery shops. Then it was on to Rome...unfortunately the weather has been terrible half of the time but when the sun does peak through...I really like what I'm seeing!!! Did a walking tour of Ancient Rome yesterday which covered most of the majors then went back to go into the Colesseum. Favourite would have to be the Trevi Fountain...I almost lost the tour group by spending too much time walking around it taking photos! Today I've got a very sore neck from looking at a particularly famous (and very beautiful) ceiling!!! Headed into the Vatican museum first and wandered through the seemingly endless maze of artworks stored in even more beautiful rooms. Then I managed to find a spare seat in the Cistene Chapel for a good half hour gawk and the walls and ceiling. If only I had the slightest bit of artist ability, my next house would have an opulent replica!!! Was also pretty impressed with the picture gallery on the way back to the exit. Out of the museum and into Saint Peter's square and basillica. You really don't have any idea how big the basillica is until you go inside - once again, a very sore neck! Lots of gold, paintings, statues... All a bit too much for one day really! And then it rained...hard! I was forced to retreat to a restaurante for a bit of lasange and a quick read of the book I bought about the Vatican city artwork. The sun has just started to shine again (I think) so it's off again to make the best use of my 24 hour travel pass. Tomorrow I head off on a 3 day tour of Southern Italy including Sorrento, Naples, Pompeii and Capri. Then it's back to Rome for one day and on to Florence... Ciao...
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...check Have also seen warm wollen mittens and snowflakes that stayed on my nose and eyelashes!!! Anyway, first things first, then Salzburg. Barclays customer service managed to use up 30 more pounds of phone credit and eventually I had to have my passcode reissued to Australia anyway...watching the pennies very closely now. And thatīs not the worst thing that happened in Vienna - I went to the Schonbrunn palace and gardens which were absolutely stunning and massive...the size of a suburb!!! If Iīm ever a millionaire, I want a garden like that!!! Iīve taken plenty of photos and videos to give to my future personal landscape gardener to get it just right! Wouldnīt mind a tea room like this with a view like this one either!!! Bought some cheap shirts on the way back to the hostel and when I got back, I pulled the shirts out, pulled the tags off, threw the tags back in the bag with some other rubbish and threw the whole lot in the bin. Only realised when I got to Budapest the next day that for some stupid reason, Iīd left my digital camera in there...unfortunately I was staying at the best run hostel in Europe who empty their bins every day so it was gone by the time I realised. Luckily I had downloaded everything but my photos from Vienna so I didnīt lost too much!!!  Budapest was amazing...and amazingly cheap!!! As soon as weīd checked in, it was straight up to the thermal baths for a few hours then some goulash and paprika chicken for dinner. The next morning we did the walking tour which took us though Pest and over the chain bridge to the Buda castle district. Of course after all that walking, we had to go back to the baths to relax. This time I made it into the sauna - 78 degrees celcius!!! Went for a wander along the river when the sun finally went down to see the castle and bridges all lit up. Midday Sunday it was back to Vienna where I ran around trying to replace all the photos that Iīd lost with my camera. Didnīt complain about having to go back to the Schonbrunn gardens. A good nightīs sleep then it was on to Salzburg and straight onto the cheesiest "Sound of Music" tour. Our guide was the most melodramatic person on earth but made the bussing about interesting!!! Saw a couple of lakes, mountains, the glasshouse thingie and the church where they got married. Actually learnt a few things about the "Holywood" story which didnīt quite fit with the "Real" story... A little bit of overnight rain last night meant that there were plenty of raindrops on the roses in the Mirabell gardens (where they danced around the fountain) in the morning so there was some photos taken. Then it was the most expensive tour so far - to the ice-caves...would you believe it was snowing even before we reached the peak - then again, we were 1,700km above sea level!!! The ice-caves were spectacular - as well as being the best butt workout (with all the stairs and hill climbing) but well worth the money and I would definitely recommend it to anyone coming to Salzburg!!! Another good nightīs sleep last night with all that leg work yesterday afternoon so itīs breakfast and internet this morning before the bus comes to take us to Munich.
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