From Rome, we shot off to Florence for a few hours which was disappointing as we needed more time. Jane got a handbag and the Medici Chapel was closed for a funeral. I missed out on David as the queue was massive. Stopped off overnight at the town of Monte Cantini which was very nice.

The next day, a stop at Piza to see the tower which was leaning. Lots of really crap souvenirs which remained at Piza. We then drove on to Monte Carlo. 1% tax, lots of ferraris and not much to do unless you wanted to gamble. Time there should have been in florence but it was a pretty place.

Then a day in Nice which was dull. Hotel miles from town. Jane injured foot walking 20 minute journey into town according to Tour Director which actually take an hour and a half. Very hot. Still too fat and white too swim for Daniel.

In the afternoon, we take off on the coach to the beautiful french village of St Paul De Vence. I probably spelt that wrong but it was lovely. Lots of art. Food. Dogs drinking from fountains. Did not see Roger Moore or Michael Schumacher though. Dinner at a great restaurant overlooking something old and lovely. Daniel drinks three shots. Rest of bus spends next day accusing Daniel of having a hangover when he does not have one.

We then drive to Lucerne. It is beautiful. We are blown away by the beauty of Switzerland. Today, we went up Mount Pilatus on the world's steepest cog train. Daniel chickens out on the climb to the top of the mountain. Swiss public liability law is questionable and consists of the premise that if you fall off the mountain it is your fault.

We then went out for a carriage ride through an old swiss village of Giswold. Daniel gets told off by Tour Director for discussing Swiss Public Liability law state while he should be admiring view. Frankly, we were doing both. Tip deduction.

Tonight we are watching the English Premier league at the pub before taking off to go to Paris. It should be good. Sadly, tomorrow is an all day drive. 3 days to go!!!

Running out of steam - a whole lot in one go remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

We enjoyed our time in Rome and we had a day to ourselves which was good. We toured the colesseum - however you spell it - and saw where Julius Ceasar was cremated. Also went to the catacombs and saw the Sistine Chapel which was amazing. St Peters was not as impressive as St Pauls.

Next, we are off to Florence for a fleeting visit.

Three days in a Fountain remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

To explain the 'Ordinary', I took my hat off in front of an Italian today and was told that I looked beautiful in my hat, which I have taken as a gentle Italian suggestion that I should be wearing a paper bag on my head.

Before I move onto the next few days, I need to elaborate somewhat on the Don incident. We had lunch with Don on the boat, which was, say, day 20 of the trip. He asked us where we had been on our trip and where we were going to next. So as not to injure his pride and point out that he had no idea who we were, we rattled off all the places he had been, and all the ones he was going to. He still did not twig that perhaps we had been on the same tour for sometime.

(It was his wife who thought Steve Irwin was on the bus with us. Hmmm.)

We were both very excited about going to Pompeii, but in Trafalgar style we virtually saw nothing of it. We rebelled afterwards, having been given 25 minutes for lunchy and toddled off to have a leisurely pizza with another couple. We were the last four on the bus (just try and say something Mr Tour Director, cmmmonnnnnnnnn!!! I am writing this after dinner with half a bottle of red wine).

We did see the Brothel and a little bit of one of the baths. There were two plaster casts of people in there, it was very sad, you could see the expression on their faces.

I can't help it, one of our fellow travellers remarked to Daniel that it was amazing how clear the house numbers were after all the years. (They were the modern numerals put onto the site by the excavators). Daniel agreed that it was amazing.

Jane wants it to be known that she has ceased to type from this point due to fatigue.

After Pompeii we drove onto Rome where we were put in an incredibly small room without a bath. More to come.

Sleeping Ordinary has awakened.... remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

We had an interesting experience in the A La Carte restaurant on the Bari ferry. We were served a mince pattie and chips. What must they thing of us or what is the tour company paying them (can't find the question mark on the italian keyboard do they have them)

Also rudest waiter in the world as well, raised eyebrows at any request. Refusal to serve coffee. Love it.

From Bari, we drove to Napoli. Then caught the cat across to Capri. We did not go up on the optional lunch but instead we went to the Blue Groto by boat. It was amazing. We went through this tiny hole that required a sweaty italian man to lie on Jane (pity it was not the tour guide who she thought was a spunk) and for us to lie on the bottom of the row boat.

The optical illusion is interesting. Neon blue water which was Emperor Tiberius' private swimming pool with his minnows (young boys that he made to distasteful things).

We then had lunch by the water and caught the ferry back after a spot of shopping and then we spent the night in Naples. They drive like maniacs here.

Tomorrow, Pompei then onto to Rome.

A Father's Birthday Neglected and a Capris remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

We arrived at Patmos at about 6.00 am and the last fishing boat to shore was at 8.30 am and we did not make the cut. We were just knackered. That said, it was very pretty from the shore and you could see the monastry of St. John from the boat very well.

Next, we sailed to Kusadasi in Turkey and we arrived at about 1.30 pm. We then took a trip to Ephesus. If you get the chance, go. It is awesome. Only 10% is uncovered on site and the rest is in the museum. Saw the ampitheatre where Paul spoke to the Ephesians. He would have been disappointed by the take up of christianity as turkey is 97% muslim. Our tour guide then tried to get us into the carpet demonstration but we snuck out the back of the bus. The people who did not escape were locked into a room for 30 minutes and given the hard sell. It is so nice to be a commodity.

Anyway, we went to the Grand and Orient Bazaar which Jane simply hated due to the hard sell tactics. I went by myself and bought myself two leather jackets. One of them is terrible. I kidded myself I could look OK in a Mission Impossible III Tom Cruise jacket but the reality is a look like a portly try hard. Mental not to self to get Jane to approve all purchases. Straight to Ebay.

Tomorrow, we return to Piraeus then the Acropolis.

Turkish Bazaars are not all they are cracked up to be remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

We then went on a walk tour of the ancient walled city of Rhodes. It is the best preserved medieval city in the world and definitely worth seeing. It is a double walled city with two moats that did not contain water but lions and tigers. It was eventually taken by Turkey and the Knights of St John (a religious order that had nothing to do with the crusades) where forced eventually to Malta where they became the Knights of Malta.

We saw St John's Cove where St John allegedly crashed his boat on his way to Patmos to have his revelations.

The most amusing anecdote relates to the Knights hiding all their gun powder in the Grand Palace under the ground when they where forced to flee Rhodes. The Turks added a Minorette to turn the building into a Mosque. Lighting struck the Minorette and blew up the gun powder with all the important turks inside. Funny if you were not in there I guess.

Tonight is Greek night on the ship and Jane has been training for the Greek dancing. I have been competing in the food consumption Olympics and I have given up coke for the second time today. As I typed this I realised that I bought a coke to go to the loo. Old habits die hard.

Actually, I bought the coke after I used the loo at the Newstand across the road. The owner told me it was cheaper. There is nothing like a free toilet stop.

Tomorrow, we got to Patmos by little fishing boat and then to Ephesus the biggest roman ruin in the world. It is in Turkey and all the husbands have been told to prepare for the Turkish Bazaars.

Rhodes and the Knights of Maltesers remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

The ship is pretty big and the cabin is alright. The food is absolutely brilliant. 5 courses for lunch and if you like you can have all three mains. Tempting though it is I have been good and only had the five courses. Yes, I did forget the sea sickness tablets so lets hope I do not get to review the meal again.

You could buy an unlimited drinks package for 18 euro per person per day for the three days and some of the couples on our tour decided that was better value than going to Ephesus. We got on the boat by about 11 am and they were refused service by 11.30 am. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.......

The trip to Mykonos took about 6 hours and our Captain Speedy Gonzales got us there about an hour early. We have all seen the pictures of the white washed walls and the windmills but it is just gorgeous. The wind was up so we did not have seafood in little Venice by the sea but the free meal on the boat was also a more sensible option.

I got the photo of the trip here. The Island has 4 pet pelicans who are huge and pink. They are also friendly. Got a wonderful shot of the pelican in front of once of the beautiful churches.

Jane got some nice earrings and we returned to the ship so I could see the cabaret show. It was a "Journey around the World" it was so daggy it was awesome. Food was fantastic at the buffet and I liberated some nectarines for our visit to Lindos and Rhodes tomorrow.

Sea Diamond to Mykonos remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

There is a lot to love. Olive trees that you just can't kill and the land is so mountainness that there is no lawn to mow. But most importantly, there are 17 greek words for 'later'. They range from shortly to when hell freezes over.

Today we drove from Kalambaka to Athens. We stopped to 'view' the battle of Thermopalaye where Leonidas and the 300 mortals allegedly held back 2 million Spartans in a gorge. Problem was, we did not really get to see it as we were so far away the gorge looked like it was Sydney Harbour. No way 300 men could have held 2 million. Not happy was Jane. Friends with the wookies she is. (Yoda reference talk).

After that, we drove to Mount Parnassus to see the Oracle at Delphi for 2 hours. We were very fortunate that there was a cool breeze although the 3 euro sandwich was like one that you had forgotten in your school bag for three days.

The ruins are also full of feral cats and dogs which is odd. They don't seem to bother people but it is strange to open your ham role and have 23 cats at your feet. No seagulls here.

We really enjoyed the Oracle and the muesum. Jane would have liked to walk all the way to the top to see where they competed in the games in winter in the nude. Ouch. Unfortunately, we ran out of time but I had seen enough.

We then drove to Athens past Marathon and the drive was very fast. Many highways were erected during the olympics and Athens is a far better drive for it.

The Hotel was in the shadow of the Acropolis and it was very central. We cooled in the room and then we wandered around the Greek Plaka for a while before settling in a little court yard to enjoy a three course greek meal looking up at the Acropolis on a spectacular night. The meal ended with the owner bringing out a plastic bottle full of some alcohol which he assured us was better than Ouzo. The two shots warmed us all the way down.

Tomorrow we leave from Piraeus for our three day cruise of the Greek Isles.

Forget the Crispy Creme Franchise - Greece is for Me remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Today, we left Sofia to travel along the River Struma into Greece. The border crossing was pretty good but it was a 7.15 am start from the Hotel. The greeks are not stupid. There was no foreign exhange to alter my Bulgarian money into something useful like Euros. Perhaps it will be my tip for the tour guide?

In any event, we drove through some magnificent country today to reack Kalambaka in Greece. Of course, there is only one thing to do in Kalambaka which is go to view the six remaining monastries at Meteroa. The tour did not include the trip to the monastries funnily enough. Hmmm, lets squeeze the lemon some more. Nonetheless it was not overly dear to go.

It was fantastic. Monastries on top of huge pillars of rock soaring into the sky. One is amazed at how it was done even now let alone with no roads and only goat tracks. One of the greek kings was so moved by the monks simple life that he abandoned his throne and went to remain their before eventually becoming the chief Abbott. I use Abbott due to my extensive knowledge of the greek orthodox faith.

We went into one of the monastries and as always I was struck by the difficulty for spiritual people when their monastries become tourist haunts. It was odd purchasing a tourist book from a young greek orthodox nun who had just come out to bang a wooden thing to show how the Alarm Clock works.

Dinner was at the hotel and it was fabulous. The hotel really knew how to squeeze you. 18 euro for a 4 euro bottle of greek rose and 4 euro for a coke. There is a perverse pleasure in walking down the road and bringing in your 1.50 euro bottle of coca cola.

It is definitely worth seeing and I don't understand how Roger Moore climbed the Monastries as he was a wuss compared to Sean Connery. I suggest you guys Google for pictures as it is fantastic. Alternatively, hire "for your eyes only' which is possibly Roger Moore's best James Bond although Octopussy sounded ruder.

Tomorrow, Delphi then Athens.

PS: The south african rock climbing reference is for Gavin.

Were the Monk's Secretly South African? remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

We had a tour in the 'historical centre of town' this morning, that actually was quite interesting. Today in Bulgaria they commemorated the death of John the Baptist. We went to a church of St Stephen (???) which they believe was originally a Roman Temple, then a church, then a mosque, and now a church again! Poor confused building. It's been dated between the 3rd and 4th century AD (or given it's mixed history perhaps we should also include CE just to be sure).

We also saw the first building actually built as a church (I think on Justician's orders (spelling???)), which is in very much the same style as St Stephens, this church was of St Sophia (from where Sofia gets its current name they, obviously, changed the spelling).

Finally, we saw the St Alexander Nevsky basilica (I think it was a basilica). This building was the only one we could go into, (we could go into St Stephens if we wanted to but they were holding a service and Daniel and I thought it was a bit rich to trapse in to do a tourist gawp. The building was not much bigger than our lounge room so it would have been hard to be inconspicuous). Anyway, the Alexander basilica was lovely, it was actually built in the early 20th centry but the wall paintings look much older.

The info in our hotel room said that while Sofia was ruled by the turks the local people were able to build churches, but that they could not be above ground level. They still have one of these churches, which was below groud, but we weren't able to see it.

Our guide here has been a woman called Rania. Very knowledgable, unfortunately she told us so much that few of us actually remember anything. She had great English but tended to shout some of her words over the coaches' sound system. Daniel and I resorted to our IPODS, we could still hear! She promised us 'more detail' of many things, and she certainly delivered.

Between us we can remember that the Thracians came from Bulgaria, they are famous for a particular rose which was brought here from Damascus (this is used as the base for many perfumes), and the culture in their yoghurt, aaah, breeds like rabbits.

The country doesn't seem as poor as Romania, nor really as caught up in commercialism. We're sure they actually are, but fewer of their buildings are smothered with adds for western products.

We've had absolutely no security problems, just a cross-eyed cross toothed gypsy at lunch yesterday. We're off to Kalambaka in Greece tomorrow, I think (I should know!!) that we stop at, or view (cannot interpret this Trafalgar speak) the site of the battle of Thermopalyae (I really should know that spelling) and then in the afternoon we are off to see the rock monasteries at Meteora.

The day after is Delphi, the temperature in Athens was apparently 35 today so we are expecting a wee bit of sunburn.

Overall we haven't really had any difficulties with Eastern Europe, and it's been very interesting to see how proud all our local guides have been of their countries.

The Romanian, Radu, was particularly interesting. He studied at a University in Bucharest which was demolished to make way for the monstrosity of a palace Caecescou built (just read that phonetically, Daniel is the modern history fellow and he can't spell it either). He was very upset speaking of it.

Anyway, as we're hopping on a boat on our second day in Athens we're not sure when we can update this, we'll see how we go.

'Much detail' in Bulgaria... remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

We left so early as we had a 12 hour drive to Sibiu in Romania. The roads are shocking and the people drive like they are playing a playstation driving game. Our driver, Hillco, (who I have been calling Willco for 8 days - I was wondering why he was giving me death stares) - must have nerves of steel. People overtake on blind bends on one lane roads. Three accidents on the way here. Thank goodness for travel insurance.

As we left Hungary, there was a great deal of garlic for sale as we were moving into Transylvania. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to stop the bus! The real Romanian Dracula - Ceacescu? awaited.

Yesterday was spent on the bus apart from a few toilet stops and a lengthy wait at the border. Daniel (me) tried to short cut the toilet queue behind a tree and ended up with a large amount of excrement on his shoe. I only wish I could say it was dog poo. Fond memories. Earnestly rubbing the shoe on the grass led to the disintigration of the shoe. One wonders what people eat here!

Anyway, we eventually arrived at Sibiu which is beautiful but is still recovering from communisim. Everything is grey and run down but it seems to be turning the corner. Regrettably, there are a few hicks on the bus who do not seem to understand what this country has been through. It is very interesting and it is beginning to be turned into a Coca Cola Amatil world but it is not there yet.

Today, we had a short drive around the medievil town of Sibiu which was impressive but it was raining heavily so we did not get to explore by foot. Out of interest, there are two currencies here - old lei and new lei. One new lei is worth 10,000.00 of the old lei. A bottle of coke is 25,000 lei or about $1.50.

Our guide is Radco and he was very interesting about the 1,100 people who lost there lives in the 1989 revolution against the communists. We visitied Ceaceceau's palace today. It is the second biggest building in the world behind the pentagon. It was an extraordinary waste of money costing $13 billion when people could not eat. 700 architects and 20,000 artisans with a million tonne of marble. It was stinking hot on the tour as Ceacesceu would not allow air conditioning as he feared poison gas.

I have really enjoyed the country despite the poverty and the gypsy's which you have to watch. We have just returned from a city tour and Jane is knackered. She is worried about me so I can't type too long as security is an issue here.

On a lighter note, I forgot to mention that when I was in London there was a huge sale at Lillywhites (a sports store) and I now own more Lonsdale than Ali G. So, Aiiiii and farewell from Daniel and his Julie.

Tomorrow, we leave Romania to go to Bulgaria for two nights in Sofia. It is very exciting to get two nights anywhere as we get to wash our clothes.

More happened today but I just can't remember. We are taking so much in it is very difficult and the Romanian wedding at Sibiu made so much racket.

Makes you realise how fortunate you are in Australia although Bucharest seems to have almost as many pokies!

Garlic, the difficulty with revaluing currency and Vampires remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

We then drove for about forty minutes to Győr which was a pretty dull little hungarian town. We had some drinks at the Cafe Mozart and we basically waited for the bus to leave. As an aside, Vienna is gripped with Mozart fever for his 250th birthday and everywhere is full of Mozart balls (Klugen).

We then drove to Budapest for a city tour. The Hotel is pretty far out which is unfortunate but the city is quite pretty if somewhat dilapidated in parts. We had a city tour with Dora our city guide who was quite friendly and amusing. We went to the Fisherman's Bastion which was beautiful and afforded a great view of the city. We then checked out some markets where a lady offered to discount her sister in laws handiwork as it was not as well done as her own.

Today we went and toured the Budapest Parliament which is huge and impressive. We then went to a little town of St Andrews for some goulash and a traditional hungarian meal which was enjoyable. It was a bit disappointing in terms of the markets as it was meant to be the artist's village and it was full of knick knacks.

Tonight, we are eating at the Hotel before an early start to Romania tomorrow at 7.30 am. We may not be heard from for a while after that as we are unsure of the net facilities in Romania and Bulgaria. We are also then in a rural part of greece near Delphi.

We are typing this from a small net cafe in Budapest and the software is quite bizarre so we are not sure if this missive will reach you all.
.
For your interest, half an hour costs 400 forint which is about 2 aussie dollars. A coke is 189 forint!

Updating the World from Behind The Iron Curtain... remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

The tour director has really started flogging the optional excursions which totalled 1,600 euro each. Ouch. We are not doing too many but that seems to disadvantage us as the whole thing is geared to get you to them.

On 22 August, we wandered round Vienna by ourselves while the rest of them went to dinner in the Vienna Woods. We saw a chamber orchestra playing Strauss and Mozart. Jane saved the show by releasing an skinny girl from the toilet cubicle at intermission. Jane thought she might have been a drug addict due to her appearance and urgency in leaving the cubicle but she was the ballerina for the performance! The show was excellent.

Today, we had a guided tour of the Hapsburg city. It is beautiful and impressive. We went to the crypt of the family which is full of bronze coffins and it would have been great if they had an english guide. Not much in english here.

We have just toured the Hofburg apartments where Emperor Josef and Empress Sisi lived. It was OK but a bit dull. Tomorrow we drive to Budapest which is not too far away.

Thanks to those who have left messages. We have appreciated them as we are a long way away. Jane still misses her boys although she saw a Austrian Schnauzer today.

Vienna remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

We went to the Swarovski shop and Jane got a nice necklace. We were given a voucher to obtain a ´free gift and ensure a commission for the tour company´needless to say the free gift was crapola. No more commission from us!

We then hopped on the bus to go to Verona. It was very pretty but Juliet´s balcony was a bit dull and it was just a tourist lurk. We had some fine gelati to allow us to use the loo.

Now to Venice, Ah Venice as Indiana Jones exclaimed. This was the highlight of the trip so far. The lagoon is huge and contrary to popular belief it did not smell bad.

We went in at night by motor launch and made our way to St Marks Square where we had Spritzers while we listened to the band play for us at the Cafe Quatro. The band turned it on for the tourists regaling us with Don´t Cry For Me Argentina and My Heart Will Go On from the Titanic. Classy.

Venice was beautiful at night and the next day we went in again for a wander. People everywhere and lots of trinket shops. You get fined 10,000 Euro if you are caught with a fake gucci etc bag.

We had a nice gondola ride in the small canals which was great befor we made our way out to Burano the home of the lacemakers and fisherman. Every house is a different colour so you can find your way home when you are hammered. Good meal and we bought a tablecloth. Fingers crossed it is not from Taiwan.

Innsbrook, Verona and Venice remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Narrow cobble streets and lovely houses (though brick, not wooden, which is apparently more typical). The castle sits above the town, which is on the hill up to meet it. We braved the wander up to the top. We have a teenage girl on the trip who has torn some ligaments and it took her a while to get there. Daniel, with gentlemanlike concern, walked with her so she didn't feel lonely.

It was very quiet when we arrived but by the time we got back down there were people galore running around. The food they have at these places is amazing, there was a market with fresh fruit, Daniel practised his German and got himself some rasberries.

Back on the bus on the way to Munich. I was dreading seeing the olympic village but thankfully we were literally only 'seeing' it. Not having been around at the time we have to admit that the stadium is actually pretty impressive, it doesn't look 30 years old, the style is completely contemporary.

We were all a bit nervous when we got into the city, it looked as though the entire German Police force had converged there and we had to pass road block after road block.

It turned out to be because of an antic-fascism protest, on the way out we passed it, there wasa huge crowd watching and about, say 20(!!!) people sitting in the middle of the road. With a ratio of about 20 police to one protestor I would say everything went smoothly.

We had a little while to wander around town. We were shattered to see a cheap national costume shop just as we had to leave, we would have both snapped one up at the price. Daniel had a nectarine, his excitement over the fruit still abounds (what an exciting life we lead).

From that afternoon things started to go downhill just a wee bit. Our tour guide is an absolutemaster of spin. He wanted us to tryall of the optionals for Innsbruck and Venice to learn to trust him with the others.

(Just as an aside, the smoking here is unbelieeable, sitting in a stifling, non airconditioned internet cafe we can hardly see the screen throught the smog).

Anyway, back to the spindoctor, leaving Venice to one side, the trip to Innsbruck was a delightful folk evening. We wereassured that it was not a tourist night, that the local people came along and joined in and it would be a great night.

We showed great presence of mind and declined.

We then weakened and decided to give it a go because there was apparently nothing to do in Inssbruck. Daniel wandered down to the old town (500 metres away from the Hotel) before dinner and came back saying there were cafes everywhere, horse drawn carriages etc. Nervous fluttering begin.

We arrive at the 'show'. I think at least 3 coaches werein the car park before us. We were lined up before a stage in rows, there were locals there. They were outside in the beer gardens.

Possibly one of the worst nights of our life. We were in the front row so we enjoyed every rolled eye that was passed between the dancers, singers etc. Poor little performing monkeys. Some peolple actually bought the DVD!!!!!!!!!!

Others joined with us, although as they werein the back row they were free to laugh their heads off and 'almost wet themselves'.

Off to bed after the joy!

Heidelberg, Munich and Innsbruck remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

In an effort to get things up to date we have split ranks. Daniel is tapping away at his account of our adventures on the continent (ooooooooohh) whereas I am stil back in old London Town.

Our last entry was tapped out at furious speed so we could get back to the hotel and eat, so I think I might flesh it out a bit.

I also forgot to put some stuff in about the day we visited Windsor. That was the first night we went to a show so we went straight from Windsor to Picadilly Circus where the dinner and show was.

The actual Circus is a bit fithly and ordinary (aside from the Bridget Jones, huge New York looking display...thingy). Daniel managed to lose one of the few warm clothing items he bought so we went shopping in 'Lillywhites', which is right next to the statue in the circus.

The man on the big bus tour gave it a huge rap and suggested it was some hallowed hall of British sportswear....it was not! Rebel Sports without the airconditioning or spacious interior. Be that as it may, the sales were terrific and Daniel is now proudly proclaiming himself to be the new Ali G, he apparently now owns more Lonsdale. Aiiii.

Anyway, walking around Piccadilly once we got off the main street was fantastic. So many people, pubs, cafes (none of which we went into of course!). The Theatre was very very similar to the Civic, it had been renovated relatively recently.

(Just need to note that for some reason the Germans have swapped the placing of 'z' and 'y' on the keyboard. Freaks. Now that Daniel isn't watching I'm not going to fix any mistakes that I make).

The influence of pantomines was hilarious, they had changed the Mary Poppins story around a bit (I think) and the audience kept booing the 'baddie', even during the curtain call. It was brilliant. We should do it in Australia.

The weather was lovely when we came out, it makes you realise how much you miss summer and light long into the evening!

Fiona, I was meaning to say that we almost did a Da Vinci Code walk that was free with our Big Bus tour in honour of you, but we ran out of time. Sad!

This last day was pretty frantic, we'd hardly seen anything of the British Museum because we were so tired on the first day so we needed to go back there, and we also wanted to finish the Tower (we hadn't seen it all), plus see St Pauls, the Portobello Markets and do the London Walks Jack the Ripper walk.

Portobello Markets are obviouslv not booming on Wednesday, enough said. We were just too tired to go when I had planned (on Saturday).

I wasn't expecting to care much for St Pauls but it was pretty overwhelming. Very different from Westminster Abbey, which is absolutely crammed with monuments and memorials. It's fairly bare on the ground. The mosaics on the ceiling were amazing. Everything 'deathy' is down in the crypt, which is, lets face it, cooooool.

We didn't know that Nelson was buried in a sarcophogus that Wolsey had made for himself until Henry VIII took it off him. It had apparently been sitting around (at Windsor???) and they thought it was a good use for it.

When I expressed my 'wonderment' Daniel told me to 'wait until I see St Peters' which was a fairly bold statement since he confirmed a second later that he's never been there.

I never realised that it had been bombed during WWII (let alne had two bombs inside) for some reason I thought it had escaped completely.

Given our experience with Westminster Abbey we took a personal tour. Again, the guide was very careful to remember who were all were and where we came from and told us everything in the Cathedral that related to our respective countries. It was pretty impressive.

Daniel and I were shamed publically when we had no idea who one of the memorials was for. Some Australian Prime Minster. Still can't remember who it was, let's face it he didn't go for a swim and not come back again, and couldn't drink an amazing amount of beer, so who cares.

We did remember Florey and could pre-empt her comment that he discovered penicillen, so I think we recovered.

Plus we did not look as simple as the Canadians. I can see where the Americans are coming from, I kept waiting for their heads to go back on their hinges (a ha ha ha ha ha). This Dad from a group had one question and one question only (or some variations on the theme):

'Why can't we go in there'

'Why is that door locked'

'Why can't everyone come in here'

(Answer)

'Ohhhhhhhh'

Anyway, we ran out of time to climb up the stairs so we wandered off.

We had lunch in Ye Old Cheshire Cheese where Dickens and Samuel Johnson etc etc etc used to mingle. We ate in the cheapest part of course, the cellar. I smacked my head on a massive chunk of oak on the way out so that was good.

Back at the Bristish Museum we realised that it was just a lost cause. It. Is. Huge! We wandered around for a bit looking at Egyptian stuff (esp mummies). We can understand why the Egyptians are offended at them being displayed that way (but were secretly disappointed that there were no gory unwrapped ones to see).

Apparently Seti I's mummy is in the basement of some random building in London, yet more 'recovered' items.

We tried to get back into the Tower but the London Pass terms had changed since we bought them and we couldn't get into a site more than once. Bugger!

So we wandered off and did a quick Thames cruise before we got on the Jack the Ripper walk. We realised that we had not set one foot on the south bank, there is so much to see (excellent excuse to come back).

The Jack the Ripper walk was huge!! There were about 50-60 people out to do it, we thought that was pretty impressive (thankfully they had two guides). The walk itself was good, most of the sites have gone, we all pretended to gaze at a multi-level car park sagely and ponder the transcience of life. But it was very interesting and we were taken into some back streets to get a better perspective of how the streets would have looked at that time.

It was surprising how like the circular quay/rocks part of Sydney this area looked (i.e just across from the Tower of London and a few streets back).

I was really sad to leave London, it felt as though we'd be there for days so it was a bit mind boggling to realise that we still had 31 days to go!!

I was also amazed at how much Daniel enjoyed himself, I thought he would hate everything that we were doing. Good stuff.

Just because Daniel will not mention it, and for people who will know who I am talking about, there is an Aunty Barbara and Uncle Trevor on the tour, it's quite funny. For those of you who came to our engagement party, we had it at my Aunty Barbara and Uncle Trevor's house (if that gives you any term of reference).

I'm tired, we have to go and ring my and Daniel's parents (especially Daniel's). It's 11.00!!! We have a 6.00 start!!!!!

Portabello Rd markets, St Pauls and general ramblings remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

We wake up. Stuff a buffet breakfast down and we hope on the bus. Jane goes into Gasen Diamonds in Amsterdam and Daniel wanders into Amsterdam alone for some Coffee. Well, ok he just wanders as a 'coffee' shop in Amsterdam sells marijuana and a Koffee shop sells coffee. The dutch are strange and it pays to not get the two confused.

After the stop in Amsterdam, we shoot down on the bus to Cologne or Köln as it is known in Germany. I wanted to type Köln as the keyboard has an umlat symbol! We see the massive Catherdral which is fantastic but it needs a good clean. It is incredible that everything around it was bombed but it survived intact.

Daniel has his most expensive trip to the toilet. One euro but it was worth it. A really lovely vestibule.

Daniel convinces Jane to try some Bratwurst from a local vendor and she loves it. Well, loves is a strong word but she enjoys it.

We are then on the bus down to Boparte in the Rheinland for a cruise on the Rhein. The weather is sensational. Blue skys and hot. The cruise is brilliant with all the little castles and the lovely homes they build in Germany. Not really an AV Jennings but pretty good. Yes, that was sarcasm that does no survive web communication. Jane is embarrassed by Daniel singing Guten Tag Clop Clop from the producers behind a german person. At least it was not Springtime for Hitler and germany which I had only been humming.

We have now arrive at Mannheim and we have found this little net cafe. It is pretty cheap at 1,50 per hour so Jane and I are both typing on our keyboard to update the blog. Tomorrow, we shoot off to Insbrook through some really pretty Canyon and Jane and I have the front bus seat on the Trafalgar rotation program.

The bus is very good. Yes you are a tourist but it is so easy. No carrying bags and they take you around. Without wishing to appear australianist, it is good that we are a bus of canadians, kiwis and Aussies. There are none of the people that elected George W on the bus and that is good as I would have had to give them a stern talking too. Mind you, I suspect I am at risk of that from our NZ contingent given their firm stance on Iraq.

PS: I miss home. I am pathetic.

(Note from Jane: Given that Daniel has now said it I can too: I miss my schnaus. Mock me all you like)

Springtime for Hitler and Germany remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Anzway, (1 from two there). We were told to wake up at 4.45 am for the trafalgar tour. That for the uninitated is 4.45 in the morning. I did not know that there were two 4.45´s in a daz. I stole that joke from someone who might be reading this and I express mz gratitude.

Before we move on, the times reported on 16 August 2006 on the funniest joke in the world. Know, it is not Peter Costello´s career prospects. I will retell it best from memorz. George Dubblya is hunting with Donald Rumsfeld when Donal Romsfeld falls to the ground panting and going and grez and he looks like he is dzing. Suprisinglz, George Busch is able to operate a mobile phone and calls 911. He describes to the ambulance officer how Rumsfeld looks, he sazs he is ashen and that he thinks he is dead and asks him what he should do? Calmlz, the 911 operator asks him to make sure he is dead. Next he hears the sound of a gunshot.

Anywaz, I think that was the funniest thing in the Times. We woke up at 4.45 am without the assistance of the promised wake up call. We then discovered we were not on the bags pick up list or on the breakfast list. We are not happy or happz correctly typed on a german keyboard.

All is well however and we are not forgotten merely misplaced. We quickly discover that we are the babies on the tour by about 20 years apart from the kids. This is actually quite good as we are able to run onto the bus quite quickly but we are also under the constant pressure to not turn up late for the bus and let the youth of australia down. More seriously, everyone is much older but they are great fun.

We set off from London to Dover where we hop on a giant boat to Calais. It is full of English people and verz strange looking pokies.

We hop off the ferry and we take off to Amsterdam. On the waz, we stop at a road stop in Belgium where thez will cook zou herring and all sorts of fantastic things. It makes the stop of the F3 look verz sad.

We drive for most of the daz until we reach Amsterdam at about 6.00 pm. We then go on a river cruise around Amsterdam. I must saz I was never fussed on the place but it is actuallz quite nice. Lots of canals and dykes (that is not a red light reference).

We cruise around the town which is full of bikes. 800,000 people and 600,000 bikes. Most of the bikes are crap as there is a major bike theft problem.

After the canal trip, we go to an authentic Indonesian Dutch Restaurant in the Harbour called the sea palace. The food is ok and there is a lot of it. We all seem to have fun and we get to know Bernie and Glen from Melbourne. I wish thez were from Glen Iris or Moonee Ponds but thez are from some other place down their that is not as funny sounding and does not staz in ones memorz.

We get to go into town with Bernie and Glen later in the night and a lot of zoung ladies who can´t afford clothes wave at me from windows of little shops. They seem friendly but I am unfortunatey two busz to saz hi.

I also get a chance to look at the Coffe Shops in Amsterdam but they seem a bit different to Goldbergs. They seem to be selling a lot of mushrooms and herbal remedies. People are having coffee also but they seem to be having a lot of tim tams. I guess thez have the munchies.

After our nocturnal excursion we return to the hotel. We are dead tired and we wonder how our fellow travellers are managing. Tomorrow is a diamond factory (code for opportunity to flog stuff to travellers) and a rhine cruise before overnight in Manheim.

The Trafalgar Experience Begins remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

We had to wait around for a while to get an off peak ticket for our trip to Windsor. We haven't actually found London expensive other than the travel, which doesn't seem particularly cheap. On off peak we paid 20 pounds to get to Windsor.

Thankfully today was lovely. We were lulled into a false sense of security on the train, there were hardly any people on it. That was soon dispelled when we got up to the entry. Thank you London Pass for speeding our entry. With the security scare we couldn't take any liquids in (they have been really random with this, no such rule at Hampton Court).

The view was fantastic both of the castle and from the castle. The state rooms were pretty impressive, it was amazing to see so many paintings that I've seen in various books up on the wall in front of me (obviously this is not Daniel speaking!).

We both thought, not that that castle would be bigger, but that you would get more access to it.

St George's chapel was fantastic, although for some reason I thought that Henry VIII's tomb would be more impressive, didn't remember that he was just under the floor. I suppose when you split in two a while before you're buried that#s probably the best place for you!

Daniel was very amused when I got a Guard to laugh at me for not taking the lens cap off our camera. My enthusiasm for the task wasn't that great, Daniel was so very excited to have his photo taken with him that it was embarrassing!

Daniel was also very impressed to see an anglo and black (can I say that?????) guard walking together. The black guards furry hat (whatever it's called) was far bigger....guard afro. He has a picture that he can show you all.

This afternoon we wandered around covent garden, if we were here for longer we would both have loved to have time wandering around. The pubs with the flowers all over them are gorgeous. WE saw the church where the first meeting of Eliza Dolittle and Henry Higgins was filmed, I was impressed!!!!

Tonight we saw The Woman in Black, which was billed as the 'scariest' play in history. Not wrong!! Daniel almost had to leave, both of us where almost in agreement when the first appearance of this Woman was from our aisle (we were sitting directly in the aisle). It was well worth it.

So another late night, we are becoming experts at the Tube, the transport here is much better than at home.

Windsor remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Oscar, you will be happy to know that Daniel didn't let you down on the trip here, BA made a big deal about their light meal options in their in flight magazine so I was a bit concerned when they started serving Daniel curry out of Bangkok.

I would just like to point out that Danie's malaria comment is the biggest fabrication. What happened was that I was in the toilet at Bangkok airport and thought I had started hallucinating when I heard a disembodied voice saying over and over 'Jane, the water, the water.' It didn't occur to me not to clean my teeth, and funnily enough given that we were going back onto a plane for 12 hours I was a bit concerned about the consequences, but no reference was made to any specific illness. Again, the service of curry when we got back on the plane did not alleviate my concerns!

Anyway, back to the chronology. On Monday we went to Westminster Abbey and did a tour of it with one of their Vergers. It was worth every penny (a whole 4 pounds).

The guide book for the tour indicated that we couldn't get access to the shrine of Edward the Confessor so we were surprised when the verger took us there, huge bonus, and that in itself was worth the extra money for the tour. We saw Edward the Confessor, Edward I, Henry V, Richard II and Anne of Bohemia, Henry III and Phillipa of Hanault. Even Daniel was impressed (and at last he had an excuse to wander around murmuring 'ancient, ancient').

There was a huge amount of people wandering around but again being on
the tour was a bonus, we got fast tracked. Daniel's highlight of the Abbey was seeing Charles Dickens' grave, mine was....far too much to list.

Before we forget, another quick note.....WHERE IS THE HEATWAVE WE WERE PROMISED!!!!!!!

It has been drizzly with some brief respites since we got here.

This afternoon (despite the weather which we assume is here to stay) we jumped on the Big Bus to have a trip around. Even with the drizzle it was great, we hadn't gotten a perspective of where everything was beforehand.

Tonight we saw Mary Poppins, it was great. We had a meal package with it at an Indian restaurant in Paddington called Imli, it was the best Indian we've both had.

Drinks weren't included and I think we had dehydrated ourselves so we sped through three bottles of water. It only cost us 10 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!! My fault, the bill was only 6 pounds something including the tip but the cheeky cow that served us thanked me and wandered off with the 10 pound note.

Bargain.

Some Corrections....and Westminster Abbey remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

Jane has mastered thw whole tube thing and we are out to Hampton Court in about an hour. It is full of really old things. Things to do with the Tudors. Things that look pretty good but things that I know nothing about.

The gardens are beautiful, the ceilings amazing and the state appartments are incredible. It is also raining heavily so the numbers are down.

Next, into the Tower of London which really is cool. I mean how can it not be. People got their heads chopped off and I think William Wallace got drawn and quartered without being anti-semetic at all.

The crown jewels are very impressive but one wonders if the money could be better spent on improving british tv.

It really begins to bucket down so we have to miss the Jack the Ripper tour of White Chappel which Jane was bummed about. Her knee has gone out and it is quite amusing that I am the fitter one at the moment.

Hampton Court, Tower of London remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

We make our way to customs. Of course, we Australians, despite sticking with HRM ERII, are placed in the All Others queue while all the EU buggers fly through. Even the french, and heck, didn't we save those guys in WWII. It is OK, I forgive them, Allo Allo was just so funny.

We are met by a man at the customs desk who looks disturbingly like David Suchet from the excellent BBC Hercule Poirot series. He is not as engaging as the David Suchet version. We indicate that we are travelling all over Europe. He asks us where and even when Jane rattles off about 13 countries he simply says - 'That is not all of Europe.' Well, frankly, he can stick it as he looks a Belgian detective and he is a pom.

We escape via the tube and find the Hotel. We dump the bags and I manage to avoid the Portobello markets and persuade Jane to go with me to the British Museum. This is the best place in the World and it is full of things that you would not get to see accept the British recovered them from countries who our tour guide Jenny tells us 'Didn't really want them in the first place'. I particularly liked the word 'recovered' Call a spade a spade - they were nicked but thank goodness.

You can't touch the rosetta stone anymore as they have stuck it behind glass. Rameses II is amazing and the guide actually helped me find the Portland Vase which I had never managed to locate previously. The Elgian (sic?) marbles are still fantastic and thank goodness they were recovered too.

By the time we leave the British Museum, we are fading. However, Jane manages to get us to Trafalgar Square and into the National Portrait Gallery. Here Jane sees a lot of people she knows and I get to sit down a lot and look at paintings pretending to be enthused but really staving off tiredness.

We discover that Coca Cola is 80p but it is comes in 190 ml cans. Has the world gone topsy turvy. We make it back to the Hotel. We recover out bags from the Concierge and Jane is convinced that they have cracked her bag code as it no longer will open. Daniel spends the next hour entering every code into the bag until he discovers Jane had the bag the other way when she put the code in and 526 was 625. We laugh, we chuckle.... not.

We crash out. It is 3.00 pm and we manage to sleep unil 6.00 am the next day.

Arrival in London..... remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs

For me, there is relief that I am allowed to take my toothpaste on board as I had packed 32.5% of the confectionary aisle of Coles at Wallsend for the journey. I am very tense about the amount of confectionary that may be aboard BA010 and perhaps even more nervous about the possibilty that they may have Pepsi.

Anway, we are pleased to learn that it is people that are flying to the USA who are bearing the brunt of the flight restrictions and who are only allowed to go on board with a clear plastic bag with their travel documents. Lets face it, they really do deserve it for going to visit George Dubbleya.

We say goodbye to Helen and David at the Airport and wander through the gates. I have to lose my belt and shoes at the x-ray and Jane is on crack point patrol to ensure no-one scores a point.

They torture us on the plane by walking past the business class before we reach cattle class. The chairs are smaller than I remember them but then again last time I went to the UK I was smaller. Jane has the window seat and we sit to a nice lady called Nicki who is on her way home to visit her family. I talk to much in the first 3 minutes so I have to remain silent for the next 4 hours so she does not think that she is going to end up in with me saying "It puts the lotion on its skin and puts it in the basket."

The food is suprising good and I spill a beer all over myself and Nicki. She takes this in good humour but I sense that perhaps detente better describes the situation.

The plane is fantastic. You can drink as much coke as you want although it comes in minutely small cans to frustrate your plans. There are also as many mars bars and maltesers as you want. I think I clawed back a fair bit of the fare.

The movies were a bit frustrating. Sound was fuzzy and the little cub died in the documentrary about tigers in New Zealand. Hope you weren't planning to see it. Michael Douglas look really plastic in The Sentinel and the Wild, a new Disney CGI, was about as good as the B grade voice stars in it although Shatner as always was outstanding.

Bangkok was hot and sticky. Jane uses the water to brush her teeth and immediately begins to worry about maleria. I probably don't help in suggesting that perhaps it is more likely she has diptheria.

The journey begins.... remains copyright of the author janeanddan, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

Comment on this entry | Tweet this | Your own free travel blog | More Travellerspoint blogs