tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91164604639928512552024-03-13T03:34:35.158+02:00European Experience 2009A blog about our trip to Europe in 2009Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-71025468416265490402009-07-18T17:25:00.003+02:002011-07-20T16:09:56.549+02:00About this blogThis blog is basically my journal of the Trafalgar tour our family took to Europe in 2009, we added on a couple of days in the UK on either end of the tour.<br />
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To read the blog day by day you will need to click on the appropriate day on the right (just below the map).Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-18133902679590916142009-07-15T15:39:00.002+02:002015-11-18T17:30:33.900+02:00In the morning Grant, Roxy and Paula did the London Eye.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367962474061875874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27k6BHnueBrVq8hl6oLHzCQXNj7457UK845dJx8ErsBsNeEYgqn2mEDkpkK3ArgJ6p6pZr3nN652iwo2Tkpo-Kld0GCuG-QEnnMcEhq5WQhSGtao-3lDJBoNu0B9m48GLRcZ-I1uJWTE/s320/2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367962475400944706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp65r9uHdSKdSFiCJKhff4MAxVJtoujb-RFR-iXEGfeVRrvS4A_0ofTRfHyknVaR-NZRHGoYq3Pilj9uP59sLCLI4AdzwElAR9C16T9B6ABrkTwdnXb6djjNXHNAdkVzcbwkB5P2lwpxo/s320/3.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367962469317394882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIKdJiejkukA695Nz4cJ3M95W3Wn-P_gXeclutTtDAWPHOpnjFcC0lxRQcPLZB8XvQMY35lGzyEkWKipaPKL77lcXhFa2QIwTc84t_kndPRF4LbMsviZ-oATBSBO24zGsHnp3CSqHWIg/s320/1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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Dad and I wandered around Bloomsbury for a while and we then went to Piccadilly Circus and walked down to the National Gallery, where I got to see the Van Gogh sunflowers - another item checked off my bucket list! Grant, Rox and Paula went to Abercrombie and Fitch – one of Rox’s “must dos”. We finally met up and popped into a Cinnabon for a snack, yum!<br />
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Finally it was back to the hotel to wait for our transfer to the airport. And do some last minute wiggling and jiggling to get our luggage to fit. (<em>And yes, Rox did have to buy more luggage</em>!)<br />
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When we got to Heathrow we weighed our luggage and then became those people you laugh at who are all red in the face, unpacking luggage and trying to make it all fit back in and somehow weigh less! Customs at Heathrow was hectic, they even made us take our shoes off!<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367962480772997010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ln-J5EdlM3qn8NITODgV7zi-X60ZJL6nXs31N7Hz3XESK10CkwVeLND7FB4RhuWHE2Q2WakDk_jnSeEtEpgcOyjPfx7u9q_MGIg3iWb5VKkn3yydNeVc3MBYUPzZiW8Mfk_8ix5VZwc/s320/4.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
Our flight back was okay, as flights go. It's strange this fear of flying that I have developed since I became middle-aged and matronly. Weirdly, I actually enjoy the experience of being on the plane. In some bizarre way, I even get a kick out of the airline food - all in it's separate little containers, cute. I love plotting the journey on the map and I even find the loo on the plane quite fascinating. What gets me down is the take off, the landing and any turbulence inbetween. Freaks me out badly!<br />
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Jo’burg was freezing, something ridiculous like -2 when we landed! We had Manchester City F.C on our flight so we got quite an awesome welcome, crowds of adoring fans, vuvuzelas and all ;-)<br />
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We nearly froze to death waiting for our flight to Durban, I can't remember ever being colder. I eventually went and bought Rox and I some socks, I was starting to fear frostbite! Paula, Rox and I managed to snooze for a bit before our flight was called. Well Paula and I snoozed, Rox fell fast asleep, dead to the world!<br />
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Our flight to Durban (which Paula and I had been <em>dreading</em> after the trauma that was our Dbn to Jhb trip) was completely uneventful, boring even. And this time around all our luggage landed with us. Thankfully!<br />
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We got home with such mixed feelings. It was lovely to see our pets and Mom and Dad and Eunice and Imps…. But I felt so <strong>sad</strong>! <br />
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The only solution has been to start planning the next trip. Egypt in 2010 and Ireland in 2011 is sounding good!Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-31066319957789741952009-07-14T16:46:00.001+02:002015-11-18T17:29:37.265+02:00We had the most hideous night, so much noise! Some drunken idiot downstairs in the courtyard bellowing his head off until the early hours. He was singing...... I reckon he would have had a lousy voice when sober, but drunk..... hideous! Having seen the state us girls were in this morning, Grant arranged for us to move to another room, in a different section of the hotel.<br />
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The girls and I were too exhuasted to do the planned London Walk to see the Changing of the Guard. So Grant and Dad headed off to do that and we arranged to meet them later on at Hyde Park corner.<br />
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Grant and Dad thoroughly enjoyed the walk. I'm definitely going to do a couple of the walks next time.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367238339773883490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4965yaPmGe1Bcsn0IE5gjo0J5BVbHf-Cb8lq7DalCJHOAKS043fZNLWqu_kjkgSvZJPF8NiWTgaLDXWAs3_amPXMxCQDZXc3afHx39jKSot8680KQVdPPvzXNHegrFgUVJ1mLMuRQlY/s320/2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367238333597745346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6rc0xgEiOFVCIp2larU3sUF3WYdpna5myq6OG0KPJJ5Ww5BlTgclE2T2k3Nyl1TekgVE761kpQyps-FkxxhPGiN01-V3NYwfj8bisLoIpGVDnSaCIFMAPYGgZ5nLVYF1soAeyu0SRP8/s320/1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /> We snoozed a bit and then took our time getting up and about. We left for Hyde Park a little early and while on the tube we decided that we’d quickly pop in at Harrods - you just can't keep us out of the shops! We went straight to the food hall and had a wander around there, buying a few bits and pieces. Then we went to the Sport floor – Paula was unimpressed because there was no hockey section!<br />
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We then went to the pet floor. Jeanne had suggested that we visit it and I am so glad that we did. Unbelievable! Four poster beds, 6 packs of “beer” for dogs, every kind of collar and leash imaginable (and unimaginable!) A whole section dedicated to cakes, cup cakes (pup cakes!) and cookies for pets – iced birthday cakes and all…. We walked around with our mouths hanging open. I was all for taking photos, but Rox restrained me.<br />
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Then we went to Hyde Park and took a little wander and watched the squirrels.<br />
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Once we had met the guys we went to the embankment area and walked across a bridge over the Thames. We had lunch in a restaurant and Paula and I found a lovely book stall and bought some books. <em>Getting a bit concerned about the weight of our luggage</em>!<br />
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Then we took a tube to Kensington and walked to Kensington Palace. We went into the palace and saw various displays, including Princess Diana’s dresses. We walked through the state apartments and saw all sorts of rooms, including the bedroom that Princess Victoria was sleeping in when she awoke to the news that she was queen. I just loved the formal garden at the palace, so beautiful.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367238343834937026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvKoLbeJzaXLe2n6e1CIj3zf4a34huZmASJHirPiVk7l0X8BXLI39RFSY1pa8zPEjJpHz9igZIa8ywBvTmjU4dvIbN0x7nID9qKFTRdeheOabFksF8BorCizdYvyUogWzbYouHJx9Y6k/s320/3.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> Afterwards we sat in Kensington gardens, near the lake and watched the swans. Grant spent a lot of time trying to persuade a swan to pose for the camera.....<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367239278717318530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL7xzyoUmM-YNeSUjMiag5w3WdJu2TtS5T6M9MyX8Xy8ci046iYAu9-uOmfahj73awAMnlwyWKXQb7WBrgEwLbaKlS6sLER17DY134PcnYIL6dTgA185bvLqxkezo9BFmVPPgZ3FQ19Y/s320/5.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367238351410517682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieyca-G79K54aIfkIetm4eBVzx-X30PUiic32tmLWk2RplQcv_oF5g6f14DnvWL20p5JVDvRRh1O7uzB2oO6W9kVo5fhOyzreOKsDCa7pG4xxiwH9gvCVwx547LGFfxhfTRmxNafzw1Kg/s320/4.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />and <em>eventually</em> it co-operated.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367239285232091618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1o6KKErm6ctKmlLOiV05m2tWhdF_Ekv-TbT4x8OTbZFXQpCoBgAoBTsvbMi8hvmOkSpdccM-pfr29wk6zIr7kNG8LVdmgZUmG8XI1bX8LvG7rmdiN9y7OXdJRJ6yL8bGYD4y1I4DQTQ/s320/6.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
We then had a drink at a pub and afterwards decided to go to the Indian restaurant near Paddington station that we had been to years ago for supper. Dad found it quite easily - he's got a good sense of direction that guy! Supper was lovely just as good as we remembered.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367239296984938482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7q4r6FuO7P4zYEXcadxQIPR4sXU-i7uW4OTWtUHgKP-N9ob1FnVd1iBfaRIPRzoGKbVwtp-P-QKhSo3ulS_ad0sR8467cLwk63od6kOsS_cseP-Opmq3U1T9xXhJ1imUG8WUumGbKmFE/s320/8.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367239293459709874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcN3Lje8FdINI2RyipsVkGj1yejCZ8yXrURrjdOoeIBz9JzM_u04pFWfrgJdhyivCOy0aPWe2MORJ6lOLCxOtEXy8WvagyYtzQwXFslCLQJb0Nj0fxQoLHXFD9WmzZ8LeML2otFXa_10Q/s320/7.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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Then it was back to the hotel, to bed. No sooner had our heads hit the pillows and there were kids running amok, up and down the passages outside our rooms, banging on doors, yelling….. Rox, being more assertive and confrontational than I am, immediately phoned reception and complained. I phoned Grant and “dropped my load”, told him to get his well-rested ass over to our room to get some notion of what sleep-deprivation felt like! <em>I'm <strong>nasty</strong> when my sleep is interferred with!!</em> Grant and the unfortunate teacher in charge of the group of youngsters met in the passage and between them, sorted the problem out. Grant was all keen to head back to his peaceful bed, but I wouldn't let him, I had a feeling it was only a matter of time..... I gave Grant my bed and I climbed in with Paula and we again tried to sleep. It lasted all of 5 mins and the Spanish teenagers next door started performing, banging on the doors.... Grant was up and out of bed and banging on their door in a matter of seconds. They apologised profusely (I don't think they knew quite what had hit them, this large, irate South African, pretty much foaming at the mouth LOL!) After that it was relatively peaceful until about 5 am. Remind me <strong>never</strong> to stay in the Royal National hotel in London again….ever!Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-72564364598829248922009-07-13T14:12:00.001+02:002015-11-18T17:29:12.284+02:00<em>Okay, let's first get the moans out of the way</em>: We didn't sleep well. The hotel is chock-a-block full of Contiki tours. It is exceedingly noisy. Breakfast was grim. Okay, moving on!!<br />
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At this point the girls and I tried in vain to persuade the men to head off on their own. Today was a day set aside <em>entirely</em> for shopping – this was my promise to Rox when the trip was still in the planning stages. We were quite convinced that the men would be a whole lot happier doing something else, but they were adamant that they were coming with us…..(personally I think they were scared about exactly how much shopping we might do without their calming influence!)<br />
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We set off for Piccadilly Circus, clearly it was rush-hour, the tubes were packed. Seems like London wakes up a lot later than we do – we got to Oxford St and all the shops were still closed. So we popped into Starbucks for coffee. I, of course, had to have a pain-au-chocolat – clearly the inventor of these delicious morsels knew the makings of a good breakfast!<br />
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The we shopped, and shopped and shopped some more. It was of course the July sales in London and when they say “Sale” in the UK they really mean it. Frankly, I could have spent an hour or two in Debenhams and been done with it, but the girls had other ideas!<br />
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<img alt="Rox in paradise" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367244842185432514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD26zNdklqfthHm37ItT6jBuMXYakE1XH-Bc3BlQr_WsrojFYc3MZVu6BssmW0MpBlR1E8ouHeVSbua7pYgObFUlJ_3iHmJbPRqZCGKmBjFhEy7fWJnw8VkdxHe9NuTagZd_9_832liKU/s320/1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" />Within half and hour the two men had long faces, but we used them as “beasts of burden” and we didn’t feel even slightly sorry for them – they knew what they were letting themselves in for when they chose to come with us…. By the time we were done we were fainting with hunger. We hopped on a tube to Covent Garden, where we had a really nice 2 course lunch in a little bistro and gave the men some beer to cheer them up.<br />
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After a half-hearted wander around Covent Garden we headed back to the hotel for a rest.<br />
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We met Charlie for a drink in the evening and then had a quiet dinner at a little Chinese restaurant before bed.Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-71810181019669986052009-07-12T14:58:00.001+02:002015-11-18T17:28:30.155+02:0010 July Friday – 12 July Sunday<div>
By the time we got to Guildford we were pro's at hoisting luggage on and off tubes, trains and escalators <em>(even me!).</em> </div>
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We stayed at Lisa and Trev’s from Thursday evening to Sunday morning. It was lovely to spend time with them, just relaxing... </div>
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Lisa and I have been friends since we were six years old and I could not imagine a life without her in it. We may live on different continents now, but we stay in contact, pretty much daily. Still, it’s nice to see each other in the flesh every now and then. It’s been nearly 18 months since we last saw each other, so it was good to get together again.<br />
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<img alt="Paulz and Lisa" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365722424862861074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAGRa_YRrm9DxNqdNIfgHshAdwvDfNBuXYR_ZCuCWg1drUvNWtWYYOdBjLdU9bBqZqQthkmjZPJVbT-o338S7eSyNFX3TJRC-Du9axKw3pz5ppkQnNIhPm6R2691opkv5boWV1oRdI-c/s320/paula+and+lisa.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="clowning around Smith style" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365722435906082914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTd2RTQrig4LQR0VXHwO3ik2GpFELc3Oh5bz1RdWaDQbJXD2VDIpRK5dHq2HoElFk_r7TJA7a8Hy76iQF3kFRI46S1Wtt9Yq_MMsmKbe8czOyrfPP7prUjPqJNyHMuYKWInt6gGObxJA/s320/trev+and+girls.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> <br />
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We got to see their girls too, but only briefly. And we got to meet Harvey, Lisa's "baby" - he's an indoor bunny!</div>
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<img alt="Rox, Cait and Paula" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365722418765188402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMaHJY52_RfoSPf_g-XzEf9YW6T-gyMtsU4RKy_H05uEOSLSp7UDe0EPVuAqajpiakO_IiVii4Vki3BwK-O7Zzm7thjw2RyVO7HwnetrErqNUwXuk4NPgkbLtN8aCOWrPwwxq0y2D6_4/s320/cait+and+my+girls.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></div>
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<em>Rox, Cait and Paulzie</em></div>
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<img alt="Paula with Harvey" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365722422620121458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DTUlhcgppJSdt8v0cwHqgOYz5-CXD12EUDhDgLGS0dULDbEh9iLpoF5sMwbrKb1hFFX1tKDFtREISfGJ6cgs7pkR_BEA-ynxntHfy5OJhdsWaQZEvPPy_Bg15tjoJ1wCe0VPMUoGXts/s320/paula+and+harvey.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /> <em>Paula with Harvey</em><br />
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In the short time we were together we: shopped up a storm at a shopping centre in Woking (much to the disgust of the men involved); we had a lovely lunch next to a lake, had a traditional English breakfast in a pub, wandered around Guildford, but mainly we just relaxed.<br />
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By Sunday our batteries were re-charged and we trundled off on the train to London again. We left our luggage at the hotel and set off for Little Venice where we had a fantastic roast lunch in a pub. We then caught a barge to Camden market. Enjoyed the barge trip, but Camden was busy, crowded and totally over-rated. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365724329726314162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFq6LBKPYgehrvDpYNHeEBBzwbVqPkqwEcsF-el4_pN2PHCecWl5YI4dya9QALXFsKVSYlguExA7ZLYuboYXMsCe2fZvh17pcOAigH5peHPOrMBAiZB5ua9xHYACLj9zb1INeuwKJGT1g/s320/1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365724340699276530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5T8mmrB1wsqx2sRDDyGErYGh-UNxHFjirMc1DHoDqQbrjHutIZ-pkY4TEg3uSWztMIWjf20f4_z0Jm_te35pf7PV_T4dWiRefSFN7UZ1LOczM5vFzOkswTHVsa4mCbMqFes4exVV8pnc/s320/2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />We had quite some difficulty checking into our hotel rooms. The woman at the desk clearly told us we were on the first floor, but our cards wouldn’t work in the respective doors. Grant went downstairs and got new cards, came back and still our doors would not open. Then a couple of South African boys on a Contiki tour arrived at “our” door stuck their card in and it opened first time. They were very sweet and quite happy to have Rox move in with them ;-) Eventually it transpired that we had the correct room, but on the wrong floor – we were meant to be on the 4th floor.<br />
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Once we had checked into our rooms and unpacked we were <span style="font-family: inherit;">pretty</span> tired and decided to supper locally. We found a little Chinese down the road and had a nice meal there.<br />
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Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-87194718223360654982009-07-09T23:07:00.002+02:002015-11-18T17:28:11.390+02:00Tour round-upSince we got back, almost every single person we have spoken to has asked what the best thing was about our tour. For me there was no single best thing. I can honestly say I enjoyed <em>everything</em> about it... except Lucerne, and even though it pains me to say it, I have to admit that there were things about Lucerne that I did quite enjoy too, just a little bit ;-)<br />
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If I had to choose a favourite city, it would be a tie between Rome and Paris. A place I wouldn't rush back to would be Cologne <em>and heaven help me, Ludwigshafen!</em><br />
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I've also been asked if I would recommend this particular tour. <strong>Definitely</strong>. If you're looking to see an awful lot, in a really short space of time, this is the tour for you. BUT if you're looking for a leisurely ramble through Europe, don't pick this tour! If you want 5 star hotels, complete with room service....think again! If you don't know what it means to be punctual, for the sake of your fellow travellers, don't do this tour!<br />
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This tour whets your appetite. It gives you just enough to leave you wanting a whole lot more. I now know for sure that I will <strong><em>die</em></strong> if I don't get back to Italy in the next 24 months!<br />
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So many things on this tour surprised me: Amsterdam was lovely - I totally didn't expect that, I had this image in my head of a druggie-infested, sex-pit of a place. Not so! I loved Amsterdam. I had been to Paris before and disliked it intensely, this time round I fell in love. Can't wait to go back there. I knew I'd love Italy and I did. Love it, love it, love it. I had been told that the Italian drivers were maniacs and the traffic was a mess, quite frankly the South African drivers make the Italians look like senior citizens on a Sunday afternoon stroll. I'd been warned that Venice was smelly and disgusting, totally not the case at all. Everywhere we went there was something unexpected and surprising.<br />
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I have to admit that I wondered how Rox, Paula and I would cope sharing a room and spending such a lot of time together. Although we get along really well, we don't live in each other's pockets as a rule and we like to have our own space and privacy. As it turned out, I needn't have worried, we had such a fun time together, the three of us! I haven't laughed so much in years. <br />
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But I think what surprised me most of all was <strong>me</strong>! Truth be told, the whole family, myself included, wondered how I was going to cope with the tour experience. I am <em>extremely</em> anti-social, I don't do boats (<em>I had to get off a booze cruise on the lake at Sun City in April because I was sea-sick!</em>), I have a new, but intense, fear of flying, in fact I have a fear of any form of transport other than my own two feet, I detest public toilets and I have the smallest bladder on the planet. How the hell was I going to manage, for 12 days, on a bus, with a whole bunch of strangers, river cruises, gondolas, infrequent toilet stops.....?<br />
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I <strong>loved</strong> every minute of it, even though I was waaay outside of my comfort zone! I have to be honest and admit that I hated the flying part though, but I would get on that plane again tomorrow, quite willingly, if I could do it all over again.Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-2746757510438882042009-07-09T13:38:00.001+02:002015-11-18T17:27:46.038+02:00We woke up at 6am with heavy hearts. I really don’t feel ready for this tour to end yet!<br />
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We set off for Calais, the drive went so quickly, just one loo stop and then we were at customs. We chatted to Gerry as we waited in the queue. Once through customs it all went very quickly and we said good-bye to Rudy our brilliant driver, and boarded the ferry.<br />
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The ferry ride was uneventful, we had sandwiches for lunch, did a bit of shopping and just sat about.<br />
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Once in Dover we boarded a different bus for our drive back to London. In what seemed like a very short time we were at the Trafalgar Reception Centre in Victoria which was where we had to say good-bye to our tour-mates and Gerry. Not nice! Rox got all teary and nearly got Paula and I going too. She was teary eyed all the way to the train, such a softie!<br />
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We had to lug all our luggage onto the tube and in hefting my large and heavy suitcase onto the train, I bizarrely managed to drop my shoe between the tube and the platform. I failed to “Mind the Gap”!! Picture me - hopping around on one foot, clinging to the pole, like some kind of crazed and overweight pole-dancer. While Rox had to open her suitcase and sift through her dirty laundry on the floor of the tube to find me a shoe. Charming! The hill-billys come to town in glorious techni-colour….. A very weird and unfortunate end to our tour LOL!Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-26274181558394411842009-07-08T12:41:00.001+02:002015-11-18T17:22:43.349+02:00Up at 06:30 today, quite a cool day in Paris. This morning we met up with our local guide Fabienne (sp?). She must have thought we were a very gormless bunch, last night was a late night and we were all still pretty sleepy when we got on the bus. She told us all sorts of interesting things as we drove around the city, but I’m afraid we didn’t take as much on board as we should have…<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363459757633445842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrC_AyPAzZr2lkjchdAuOy6-YjcrJRIGPVgJ31LH0Twd-M7B2HW9ZJ2Qea_1STaRq4QVFUlsQS_izbeF4b7-AyljGkxRyyU2JtO93IZsWW34vBm3CUMvuxE7s5jq3Yb0kYyX0w_DQ08hA/s320/1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /> <br />
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We went up the Eiffel tower, to the 2nd level. It was cold and windy up there, but oh the views! We had crepes and hot chocolate to warm us up.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363459766000409634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXY5NDtkQPHzl8tBcfxiZcJ2-cyqBaKN6uTWySIpUPtiek5rrfHUMlJV5EDgjmreE68tudwhTA1gF5PYq6Npyd5OWmR60TGoRDN6pPvAM1t0M7aaKHxIkaVz312WCBXbLVKqeJBiP8CUc/s320/4.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363459758201390818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4twnphc0S-1wYKhPESKMqEglyeGNVhD9F4ymk4yRhDIyVFXCut5t_I83sAZMZX-ZiNyU8v0KlOrIEveE4naPOWaSUSTfp9HP6AMkjZKNkn9_sMj1few-Xs60ZKX9oEF2zlyJsJQocoK8/s320/2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363460213418498834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RkBVgFWJ8fAindwGDxRlL6ZtStKw-OV7RIxelCyFizcSAL3oo4Z_GtIA-hyfPP38u8dcDuls7OcOaTPgwkTfbQS7lTlkBMxtNpVzbhQiPVBxJIsqbTaEwTHx9LnHQkSX_5B3BDEy_38/s320/5.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
After the tower we headed off to the Louvre where another guide, Nicole, took us to see the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory and the sphinx as well as many other beautiful paintings and a couple of Michaelangelo sculptures. I am surprised at how much I enjoyed the Louvre, becoming quite the art buff!!</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363460216678791778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0t9tfJdODQwOg9naU-2kd7DBTr4Vw386O8o-jmtmWsARPbRWFCFV6UywH05p62rjrzJy9APKYd0RqE4f82mgF3o1dwRhm3EGOsiNc4sUKvpHCFoPidBlVozy3oHMz2r9vYDI2EUrEVjM/s320/7.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363460226143944578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtAnrOpxpw5fzW8Obmr6_TC7bgKEp2v_wfPu18eZvNvURLJADSLqaXUp6Hk-qn2_hHcaIik6fHZrnDqS0Y3ZoiqjSTxLFcxyw3DeYqsw6LRg6HKcg4gL1DY6oouUrbM3qBqc3-V5H7wk/s320/9.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /> <br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363460222069231234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHDKdfm-CYPpZx0w1Hkl5DiUVqWyj09hwJsOmeeBPOoyfFESjkBW4XKT0kXvALVJ0yedfp0Ycr-Yknkkd59_JQfr8minqoNDo31h5AAUPcSE5QSjMrm0t-tRmBPwhCc9xsjqhqD2RY_s/s320/8.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" />We then left the group. Now you’ll have to excuse me, but I just have to tell you about the loo stop we made. We saw a queue of ladies coming out of a shop that sells loo paper (one roll had a sudoku game on each square!), room sprays etc and on closer inspection, we discovered that they were queuing for the toilets. We each paid our 1 Euro and joined the queue at what is without a doubt the most impressive public toilet I have ever been into in my life! As each lady exited a toilet, a cleaner went in and cleaned the loo and sprayed it. There were perfumed sticks in little glass bowls, the most luxurious loo paper and all in all the experience was unbelievably pleasant… Our trip to the loo made quite and impression on me!</div>
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We then tried to exchange the Paris Visite card vouchers, which I had cleverly, or so I though, bought online. We tried for a full hour ……unsuccessfully. We became so desperate that the girls and I resorted to singing “Gerry I want you, Gerry I need you, Gerry I love you” a la our Rome tour guide, Carlos. It’s amazing how much you come to depend on your tour guide on tour and how helpless you feel when he is not around! We eventually cut our losses and decided we needed a drink (urgently!) and some lunch.<br />
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We found a pub and had drinks and lunch and felt much better after that. I think Dad had pretty much had us in chunks by this point, so he decided to head back to the hotel with the group. We had things to do, places to go, so opted to stay in the city. We bought new Paris Visite cards and hopped on the metro.</div>
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First stop was Galleries LaFayette – Rox’s dream come true. What a gorgeous department store and they were having a sale! Rox found a couple of bargains.<br />
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We then got back on the metro and got off at Blanche station in Montmartre.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363460769104020194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMU6udwbfq-kRfcgKlMVGIkEy6_-eKz7nf2xPjTpymKx2vdC6YXsiCkrIqH50yPgvmz7ZPZoleyM2NN2oMoMbt5W3X8e57SGfG_DiSIsEXSOyOGP0MKLf8SrkrGarYVDtf7pIlkM0U1s/s320/10.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" />Right outside the metro station is the well-known windmill of the Moulin Rouge and right there is the stop for a little train that takes you around Montmartre. We paid our money and climbed on the train. The commentary is all in French and we had no cooking clue what it was all about, but it was lovely just to sit back and soak in the unique atmosphere of Montmartre. We got off at the stop near the Sacre Coeur and headed into the artist’s square in the Place de Teatre. We saw some lovely paintings and watched the artists at work. We even got the girls’ portrait done. We then had some of the most delicious hot chocolate I have ever tasted, topped with a great pile of whipped cream – heaven in a cup!</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363460776107535250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnMbnkn8CpMg25LJYG9XgYLO-iP3Zco-5VCRQR_1QfwFeqYPjcSNPq07rKbbhbp39Nq-pOgdJsc1hWD1NTwlbmS6n1_odCi7gTQZwcKTRyjFp2q5OeNhkB0rGarIT96ZMdGhe7X88dN0/s320/12.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363460769853950546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimST3Jg9_Szcv_uz-dTNKBHeKM_VuxPzLTd_5KGzHrJO5Lhyphenhyphen91sX2VpYys9yEb5sC9oPqNKjQr0zyxQwHHTEmtw40Fv0169WIvB7MJZdUfw_NdfIPTailp9xdRcfNnoT84qwTMUAOuZEY/s320/11.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" />I loved Montmartre, I plan to oneday spend a lot more time there. We headed back to Sacre Coeur where there were singers doing what looked like an impromptu concert on the stairs – good voices and a lovely atmosphere. It was beautiful up there with the whole of Paris laid out before us!<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363460776803316242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk75iqFJLDsi_USJQWeNF0_Ex4fE8ynp7KKUB3kLdeGJRPzrG2Ndny-9v4eldgmSNaOlA-STQK_yNm8qhalKbQPiSBUK5e66DwF1A958BqmHNvUabp4m60In-haopusS2y8t0fAO32Utk/s320/13.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /> We then took the furnicular down the hill and headed right at the bottom, to the Place de Abbesses where we easily found the “I love you Wall” It is a huge wall with “I Love you” written on it in every conceivable language. This wall was the one thing that I <strong>most</strong> wanted to see in Paris and I had not been at all sure that we would be able to find it. I was thrilled to bits! We found "I love you" written in Zulu and in Afrikaans. Loved it! Loved the streets of Montmartre.</div>
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Then it was back on the Metro and off to our hotel. We saw a funny little dog travelling on the Metro, these city dogs are something else. We got back to our metro stop and then we weren’t sure which exit to take – we had to sing “Gerry I want you, Gerry I need you” again, but only the once and then we found our way, all by ourselves, <em>so proud</em> LOL! The 4 of us so enjoyed our afternoon, lovely happy family memories!</div>
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Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-2379740970542161622009-07-07T12:07:00.002+02:002015-11-18T17:22:24.722+02:00<span style="font-family: "arial";">The drive into Paris was long, but we drove through some really beautiful countryside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">We went straight to our hotel - it seems a nice one. Once we were all refreshed and settled, we did an orientation tour on the bus. Paris is very, very beautiful, but unfortunately at this point we have seen so many beautiful buildings that we are getting a bit ho-hum about it, which is quite sad.</span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363453438721998722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LTa0ndDrUvxqhVVET3jJMj3XC-ExD87-5C12HXwhnQ1oFkBmxbHi9-3wegbBOAJ5f9CKqEbdjpGkoRgomGuY__LjwOtT6nb86Ak3P4yRaCsXHe9WbK_iwj46CkjomO8cX-YwMdSZ10s/s320/paris5.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363452656425577218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhgeooE51nQs3MwKclJp8LKslnXMqqBoz0HAOCG-CHDbfXcWT5XW02MAnTrK8u14E4sEdDdcgjHGaTsdwFxLn1j9MfdX3IjbUEv90GvwwSjLhnRb21MskZd9UGHl0Jf5eyMzh_RPNKkE/s320/paris3.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363452664145092226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeyDnVRvITDTyB8oxFp2v-Cy9HVdISsTrMFYocR4W_wcb6V0BmEwjbQdLBrEQHVn3rEDRxdijObVEI24hIr8znvKS661dJE6OkofpxFci4oUvxIFOWfUpBPpNwoW-weWQCTcfO_KBe9g/s320/paris4.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363452659299088178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVcA6BP9TzRE0uFxg3Vw90K51r7nlfnf2w0YJh3dHY1BBPBXUw5cSzseUw_2QWiPJ-k6l-jt3phn-YqJnUBLP-C1NeaAztIaCrHkWHIyWbnsyo53BFc6Xmr-XVBTIxzU26gX21JGk_m0/s320/paris2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then got on a boat for a cruise on the Seine, the boat was not nearly as nice as the other boats we have been on, but it was lovely to see Paris from the river. The bridges are so beautiful and I really loved seeing people dancing the tango in this one particular area near the river – apparently people gather there to do this every evening. How lovely</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363453439676991954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsN7eNOK-L4WfE0ArkG_s_imO2zjbRTG_uyFRYtFdV2SNxqywvpGoVa73ZxeiO1WfHkOeYIM3vclSh4UMNadvN337VPAlWZNhZX14KMwdImoT5LE_vEFz3euQtn_TNSwi3A4qq7AK7SRU/s320/paris6.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Our departure point for the cruise was right next to the Eiffel tower and as we got back there at 10pm the tower was lit up with flashing lights. Oh my word, it was completely breath-taking! After the cruise we took the Illumination drive – absolutely gorgeous… The view of the Eiffel tower from the Trocadero with the full moon behind it was one of the highlights of the tour for me, I’ll never forget it. This city is just too, too gorgeous at night!</span></div>
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<em>Again my camera let me down..... buying a new one before our next holiday for sure!</em>Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-42382934108582716532009-07-06T17:01:00.003+02:002015-11-18T17:22:01.021+02:00I got very little sleep and woke up cranky again. Oh dear, I fear I have lost my sense of humour.<br />
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The girls and Grant headed off for their trip up Mount Pilatus, going up by cog rail-way and coming down by cable car (now you know why I am not going with!) It's a very grey day unfortunately, so not ideal for it. Dad and I set off to explore Lucerne on foot with Rehna (<em>a lovely South African girl – her and Nicky have left their husbands and kids at home and come to Europe for a holiday</em>). We wandered over the pretty wooden bridge (<em>Kapellbrücke i.e Chapel Bridge) </em>and back over another bridge. Then we ambled around the town, it’s very picturesque with lots of nice shops. I think I really like Switzerland actually. Eventually the three of us sat and had coffee (make mine hot chocolate... yum!) at a riverside café. It was a very pleasant morning.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363155878745072594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-eU0UkBIOy9LpVfOCgxmcTPq5N3e5C3WasSrPINMHkjVxuJpSEE9Qk725kK7H3_IqbzuiHUI0qaMgKCQLUxyGaC-daonOrfLHZhQIRzsD9wYCdAPVDzgjMZ54oiqm2faugK1lFosEgw/s320/lucerne1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363155882243527042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7n8Li_lndJUJsGqjQXlSD_lGDoVYcIglfK7eA6q2Ykk0yluJedD1SDS_S6Dx-0QY07KbMW-BlEtJIuKYnf0GECXsn4rvpEOVfsy0XzxkvHYIcwdaSA4HBYjwFNOmzxY4apLyYkFE27Dw/s320/lucerne2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Later on we joined the rest of the group at the folk show and fondue. The cheese fondue was very good! We also had rosti and sausage and a meringue/ice-cream dessert. Grant had the whole tour laughing when he got called up on stage (yes it was <em>that</em> kind of show) to blow the alpine horn and pretended to be Australian..... you had to be there!<br />
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<em>Gerrie and Margaret, such a lovely couple from Randburg.</em></div>
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We shopped again after lunch and I found some really nice clogs.</div>
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<em>Even big girls love Pinnocchio ;-)</em><br />
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The hotel is really messing with my sense of humour. Last night, on Gerry’s advice, I asked at reception for directions to the laundromat. The receptionist gave me the laundromat’s pamphlet, but then told me that the hotel could do my washing for the exact same price and deliver it back to my room if I dropped it off first thing in the morning. Bonus! Grant dropped it off bright and early. I get back to my room this afternoon and there is my washing all neatly folded on my bed, still damp!! Rox hoofed down to reception and was told that that is how it is always given back, they only tumble it dry for a limited time and it is then up to us to dry it in our room. Hello?! Where on earth we are supposed to dry an entire load of washing in our room I really don’t know! I’m not loving the staff in this hotel, really I am not!!<br />
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After supper Rox went out for drinks with the 2 Aussie couples, Nicky and Gerry. Although they weren’t gone for long they seemed to have a good time. Rox came back and the three of us got chatting and ended up having a really good giggling session. I think my sense of humour is back! Thankfully!Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-1511000494797871772009-07-05T11:34:00.002+02:002015-11-18T17:21:43.513+02:00When we left Florence this morning I very nearly left some clothes in the cupboard! Thankfully Rox, purely by chance, opened the cupboard when we went back to the room to use the loo after breakfast!<br />
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I woke up this morning with opera songs in my head for the second day in a row – must be the effect Italy is having on me – I’m not complaining, it’s lovely having this soundtrack in my head! (<span style="font-size: 78%;">fortunately no-one is talking in there just yet, that's when I'll get worried, <em>giggle</em></span>) When I get home I’m going to buy myself an Andrea Bocelli CD to remind myself of these glorious days.<br />
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As we left Florence for the hour long drive to Pisa we were again greeted by seas of sunflowers and also stunning topiary trees in an enormous nursery on the outskirts of Florence.<br />
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We arrived in Pisa at about 9am and, contrary to what I was expecting, it was very quiet and peaceful. We caught a little train to the leaning tour. Pisa is a truly lovely place, the leaning tower is obviously amazing, but the cathedral and baptistery are also very beautiful.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362707350379115986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIA1FXelhKlQmy6ByLYhAqfp6AAPaFUKDPHda9s60gDG4IeSCHoc7BaILM6VdktjkHY4fX4C4pYLFQMyJN8ItQDARnqP2ELYlStaXzQU14QsCite6_RF4OgFEyp62xRv3ljeQn5j-r_c8/s320/Pisa1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362707348918366242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oZwVXaCxjCTlhdPoJtHXw86eBEVrZxPYfHemJjtDz269wJudMybNAyJXhrCfRyxOQJNfHBfjjtFpa01WO59aXqzawgvLwr6oFg-pBVy1UgD4demfm6RbDLQfFqBpoiHi8BVZ7CRHoiU/s320/pisa+2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" />Of course we had to take the obligatory photos of the girls pushing the tower. Watching the people get into the poses for these photos was hilarious, really tickled my admittedly warped sense of humour! And the shouting back and forth between the photographers and the posees.... too funny.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362707341555787410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdE8h_4Cm3h2Ba5Xpu9xIFhqpUxHFNYgJr0tC8LbWmEQ6CMIhpb4emJERKFPeNbJxrZjT4r-cFIOPyPLZfhpdsc6f8Uz55wGhIowzyx0_lURp-4tn_mdyzWZPVhpGgKgdgXizPF8fH8dg/s320/pisa3.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" />We then took a wander. I found a lovely little foodie shop and bought some souvenirs and a big bottle of Limoncello – I figure I’ll probably need some help getting over my post-holiday depression!! LOL! <br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362707341819237058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmT5V9sJJ3po26K87HDd6UH7bnTGW1IFDqmy6O90eSzSEvC8eKrIw8POAImcydzDnorLa4R9VxXA6xyYoUu1ySkhU8CU0wKU-2YewJ2oxIabjYGu4vMXAQIzoku1PzARg_BJq0FefH3s/s320/pisa+3.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></div>
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The trip from Pisa to Lucerne felt never ending. Today was the day that we got to sit in the very front of the bus, towards the end of the journey I could acknowledge that this was a good thing, it was very picturesque, but the middle part of the journey was not good – I get really bad motion-sickness and being in the front of the bus on that twisty turny road…… We did however get to see Lake Como – SO gorgeous and not only because George Clooney has a pad there. Sadly we never got to have coffee with George.</div>
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We went through a number of tunnels, with the longest being 17 km long; it is currently the longest tunnel in Europe! And yes, the whole concept of driving under a mountain for 17kms, totally freaked me out.... I am <em><strong>such</strong></em> a wuss!<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362706853338875682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Mkf9aib4PpGnO4NzdNUthi8gLVC3DvDT8vzuZkDjLRx0vqXBn8xsw8nUjwuHtP5-iTQLmrPPM65lb3Fpa3ljWgMWEXa4TVDHoXj9WUIzTmxKmBk9yyxAwic6uFfWtbCAv8lUZICOOno/s320/tunnel+6.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
Once we arrived in Lucerne we got on our optional lake cruise. Very pretty! Although there was a great big storm headed our way which made me quite nervous! I made the biggest faux pas of my life on the boat when I thought I had dropped Rox's camera into Lake Lucerne. <a href="http://gills-jottings.blogspot.com/2009/07/i-have-new-resolutionstarting-monday.html">Long story</a>. Thankfully the camera lives on. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362706854976134002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CG9Npze0Y9_nA8ADRGNNoCyM6dNaAE7RErgZRpHRnFeO4VGJhSg1VfVPlmiVLi0zvhMcp09FB-YcTjbxWn1tWf6h9pz69Bu_yWug6O1EhRUoP2ESEU6PHnUx3fEp6BMhWFcDBYW95HI/s320/into+switz+7.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362706847881529842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBnR3_fyQzTHEkSRGvdGZ8EQ33h1V0Qj_DqXXu2b82rzREqcXAz1v3gkZM47pd_O9tMYcfyGembu7rE4uz6eXxVwdU-1qrmU-onqLbR-x3FeUcOA6YWiGhjRCv9UfBfZrxCfvkULdBtQ/s320/into+switz+8.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362706469559585922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWmLfr87b-w6YpSDXQK4Mz-cUrHdVHdtJJUubNMnjZ_trsjwpzcY5TYlHSaHmMirQ0s4qBSlqAbPjOOu9bDm5_UafY1IygGsg9mhHXlnUwDUDjslYGNIeP824yHDVqXCAiZorO7c5-WU/s320/lake+cruise9.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362706469916315874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1yXD6NzSfvROkZ46Bs_MQ6q8kmYbTU2PK3kgoHh8aiyp-T6N9HmxIX2Y3zoHZc7dqcDJFI9LdXYYkfu7KIWeQQHSmM28_W2lxqKFap_QhMcRViRW2jc9A2rwU2M_nM1gnLh8zyBQmwQ/s320/lake+cruise+10.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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We then went to the poignant Lion Monument. That was very sad-making.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362706463802049154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ywac0HO7CjVloHaNw6b1x7AIq8gTjC81fBskgD_cJSCI28sJKU1c6tRuprJsQX2Vcii_G8gNZVLb3GbInJ3ZcUu9QKYIbVVae50gqCzx7VHpxk2gkS23a01_7LLiCKXX1VNISekn08Q/s320/lion+memorial+12.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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Okay, now I have to apologise in advance if you are Swiss, have friends or relatives who are Swiss, or love all things Swiss - if this is the case, maybe you don't want to read this blog again until I leave Switzerland...... I had <em>issues</em> with Switzerland. Before the tour I assumed that Switzerland would be my favourite place. I love all things clean, pretty and organised and I had heard that Switzerland was all that and more. And it was. My problem was with the people. Maybe I just met and dealt with the handful of Swiss who are blunt, rude and patronising? I don't know, but nearly all the Swiss people I came into contact with were just that. Or maybe it was the contrast - coming from Italy where the people are passionate and vibrant and fun (if a little chaotic and disorganised) to a country where they are so overly efficient and organised... <em>and cold and annoying.... </em>Anyway, whatever it was, be prepared, because this is the bit where I moan a lot....</div>
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We finally headed to our hotel. I was very disappointed in this hotel, I rate it a close 2nd to Ludwigshafen in the "worst hotel of the tour" stakes. I found the staff <em>extremely</em> rude. The receptionist at the hotel accused me of trying to use the internet without paying - I <strong>had</strong> paid - 5 euro for 20 minutes. Then the woman in charge of the dining-room wouldn't allow our tour group to enter and sit down, even though the room was clearly ready - it was 19:55 and not the appointed time of 20:00! Irritating, not what I needed at the end of a long day. Supper was potato soup, beef goulash and chocolate mousse. It was nice, but with 52 of us, plus another Italian tour group in a crowded hot room – it got a tad noisy and unpleasant. </div>
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Let’s just say I am feeling quite tired and grumpy at the end of today! And the lovely Italian soundtrack in my head has dried up, all I hear now is yodelling.... </div>
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Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-78914428800005584182009-07-04T17:04:00.000+02:002015-11-18T17:21:19.208+02:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3n60TgXqxWoYHahCaKADSInn8tZTbphNzfieXsyS8WQzpE2CxE7qF_eefG0vBTd4v_Owk-Oq9BCax5PNO9Rm4TgH0mX3LqSVhNgXQS8t58r6AlqPw9JV_lcyPJ8PQMY3eF-3jugopDU/s1600-h/florence7.JPG"></a><br />
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We left Rome and headed for Florence, making a quick service stop along the way where we bought some Bellinis to take home. When we got to Florence we stopped on top of a hill, at the Piazzale Michelangelo, for our group photo. Beautiful views of Florence spread out below us.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362044336678656818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiibv0Q2AkAOBfym-pmXmL6aTRCjxK3Unlg92dKJ0RInC2ftXgd71URuNwnamjTOkvy9tZoU8-vQiVmnFsAMnmT2Hj3m84d2QQdwcsgrZEpr1ygAAeVKUWiFbV2_uJJN86i1wRj-CDYcbs/s320/florence1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362044347524668770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPEcKSvLVZzJF29DSCNKBvyx0Gdn4JXGZGbKCEQtAhY-rgPNs3Ta3sPY9b-suG6IQEKd01VLIXx3uurijWsNj6LE0LuyNCKPUko_9BXNNyuU9NAV-C7_h1CCaBKHbKC6CIinsINh0IY0/s320/florence2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Then it was into Florence where we met our local guide for the optional walking tour. First stop was the statue of David. Incredible! I had no idea it would be so impressive, you see pictures and you think “Yes, a lovely statue of a gorgeous man”; but, oh boy (pardon the pun), in the “flesh” it is so much more than that. The statue is huge and has such a presence and the detail! Wow!<br />
Unfortunately, but understandably, you can't take photos of the real David.</div>
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Then we walked through medieval streets to the the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore also known as the Duomo. Yet another amazing building, really something to behold.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362046491467143410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1sxlvJ_SRs0UleTtWvjWEs_ydDSR19vHeMNO96_157juKmZEWFrYdaebiP4dSSjV44pRbJp3IEP_aSNyf80DtYCOqK8oBS4weeQ6hKjpXzW4uOrcMXPnm_glcUcJkyWTOsMe-BsZGgI/s320/florence5.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362044352074136434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0qqkxV4sUhVzgp9aSLtWpB8jvd_rvlaz4QwrNbl-bDCDNx8Zj6vBEKhEJqyt0iPg1KW_PLN-c8vJxTskfpPDkLnQ1jrwo6yUsPQ9nFe6G_r0Rtq6NljSrkL55LB4WolR2aNkHHNnBN4/s320/florence3.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" />After that we walked to the Piazza della Signoria, a square that houses many, many beautiful sculptures, including a replica of David.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362044331505576290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6OBm83S2ZXqAASi9mUw3B32s1UYEXooOvKYDUwfQFbxufUuCZGA8qpHKJkhJ48HHW7QGMWjNBTh8Z7GqESv0owCC75ld7bx45v_ndeNhfZKnxptIx2hlICkdmCh8vbCaKp64dsMQtys/s320/david.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" />We finally met Gerry and the others, by which point it was stinking hot again, so we opted to sit at a conveniently located sidewalk café, for a lunch of meats, cheeses and pickles with bread. Delicious. I got it into my head to try a Limoncello – kick like a donkey I tell you!! The girls and I would come and go, leaving the men and various other members of our tour group at the café, for an amble to various stalls and little shops scattered about.</div>
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We bought various bits and pieces. Rox and Amanda (lovely girl, one half of an Aussie couple on our tour) had a little foray into the shops and Rox bought a couple of gorgeous dresses. It was here in Florence that I had the best gelato in Italy! Deeeelicious!<br />
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We are staying in the Hotel Miro Art, it’s quite a nice hotel, apart from the fact that the shower tried to kill me. As is the case in most of Europe, the shower is located in the bath. In this hotel the shower head is also located quite low down, so you have to do some contortions to get the water to fall on any area above the waist – you bend your knees quite significantly to get your head under the shower; and it all becomes quite complicated when you need to rinse your face – you have to bend your knees and simultaneously twist your upper body to just the right angle to get your face under the spray. I thought I was doing quite well until I managed to inhale a whole lung full of water! I sprang back, gasping for air and in doing so managed to hit the (very large) protruding lever which regulates the stream of hot water….unfortunately instead of hitting it into the “off” position I hit it into the “full on and freaking hot” position, so apart from the fact that I had soap in my eyes and lungs full of water I was being simultaneously incinerated by a blast of very hot water hitting me squarely in the chest. The flow of descriptive language from my mouth was enough to bring Rox and Paula into the bathroom in a state of horror……. Oh the fun you can have on tour!</div>
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Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-92128795408314694742009-07-03T13:24:00.004+02:002015-11-18T17:20:56.844+02:00<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Today as we headed off we got to see the extent of the damage from last night's storm . Trees down all over the place and a couple of crushed cars!<br />
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We had a brief, but mind-blowing orientation tour and then met Carlos, our local guide, who was waiting for us at the entrance to the Vatican museums.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Those of us going on the optional tour with Carlos got presented with headsets - quite a brilliant innovation, they consist of a little receiver that you hang around your neck, with earphones that plug into it; the tour guide then talks into a small microphone and you can hear him, even if you wander a little way off. No more shouting tour guides, great!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">As soon as we were all "plugged in" off we went through the Vatican museums, seeing artworks, tapestries and maps. All very beautiful and the building is amazing too, particularly the ceilings - by the time we had walked throught the museums I already had a stiff neck from "ceiling gazing"!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361620274489462194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfU7erixDMP4rtXhO-yon9h_teuudL1qyUGue6fyjYD48MbMGMRmyUQrcicbC-OQPY9mTnhoGv5qBp4jyfCjqoIYrH6tVr58BEPtqTIx3dzkImGVYVeyG2Mr_kRMPN-EauHh4nlITMRs/s320/rome3.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361620269656114066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMZL1WgIQyeZLn6xs_tNzBOkb9264ZK4d8u2HhPlPGnYgLB8eilOc6bFJrfrCp4cWkPXUHpxd49fyUWtb2yHFGVtdAtByrnyrm_BzaarxMT0i0-FYf2HBnp8_demnXS1q6mOq9qD9dAo/s320/rome2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" />We then visited the Sistine Chapel, it is very beautiful indeed, but didn't blow me away like I thought it would, I've since wondered why and I think it comes down to the fact that it was very crowded - I think you needed to be quiet and reflective to take it all in and there was no way you could be quiet and reflective when you were being jostled about at every turn. </span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361620280527119522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QwXwQZjGKrlx0OxNqz3CceJ_X6WZ5hWMPzmGpmDQBDd9QfgYIFUbYZbhCJeaGVDIwc7864FEpmFm7QaGAMzmfFkjyo6HOD2iAXjnhno-nK394k7btAHTbXmnpv4UKSyKeNQN7q_2GlM/s320/rome4.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Then we headed off to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter">St Peter’s Basilica</a>. We had to queue for quite a while to get in and it was exceedingly hot, but SO worth it. Even queuing in the square is an experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361620278737180146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVT45y_TvmjIikNkKls1O0EfI0Vt94TOyutkWGX2LNhbJONFcarGwfCHDbIlCX0qDOvQRHnRiJlxMEWraE2zZBXBBDU3aCgiDgPxXs0kLXsy983Wi25b126_kbm1tg7EWqcgVHrGhnZwk/s320/rome5.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />The basilica is absolutely awe-inspiring! In hind-sight I rate this as the most beautiful building I saw on tour. I will always remember the moment I stepped into the basilica – literally jaw-dropping! Photos in general and my photos in particular (<em>they came out so badly, but it's a miracle they came out at all, I went into a bit of a trance in there</em>!) just don't do the magnificence of the place justice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">It was almost too much to take in, sensory over-load. Don't go there expecting quiet and restrained.... that it's not, it's way OTT, almost gaudy, but beyond beautiful. It's a place I have to go back to, I need more time to wander around and absorb it all. Personally I think you need to spend a couple of hours a day in there for about a week to really get your fill of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then headed off for more sight-seeing before arriving in the vicinity of the Colosseum, where we had free time to go and grab some lunch. We thought we'd be clever and go looking for a restaurant off the beaten track - it worked for us everywhere else we went, but on this day, unfortunately not! We ended up at a lousy restaurant and had a lousy pizza - I suppose you win some, you lose some. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After lunch we met up with Carlos again and those of us on the optional got to go inside the Colosseum with him. Again, I was so glad we did the optional, I had no idea that there were lifts inside the colosseum and that you could go up the lift and walk around on the upper storey of this ancient structure – but there <em>are</em>, you <em>can</em> and we <em>did</em>! Wow! I really enjoyed hearing about how the colosseum was built and to walk inside it was amazing. I have always wondered how the colossuem has remained standing in an area so prone to earthquakes and now I know it comes down to simple engineering. Amazing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Carlos was such a sweet guide, a portly, white bearded, little Roman man, he looked rather like Father Christmas. When he wanted to call our group closer to him he would say “Come closer, I waaant you, I neeed you, I looove you, let me feel your warmth around me” Hilarious! And this saying stuck with the girls and me for the entire trip - you'll hear more about it when we get to Paris...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By this point we were all cooking. Believe me, Rome gets HOT! It's the kind of heat we experience on the South coast of South Africa in February, brutal I tell you! The drive back to our hotel was long, hot and torturous. I was wishing we hadn’t booked the evening optional, but surprisingly, after a cool shower I was ready to get going again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First stop on the evening optional was the Pantheon – I loved it, totally different to St Peter’s, far more restrained and somehow gracious and oh so beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361625520624872098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ez118_1IUnyjedlcC9nmm2ArtLsqGI-ktJUDm-eVd2nZjoUttWxlfbGu3124-YCozCENjYJUh1RH3IDxufnZNSLmePSo_Je1KOjTfauFcnDSJijgH9gMxbloCjg2Ki_N7x1BGtMyZX0/s320/rome14+pantheon.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Then we headed to Piazza Navona - possibly my favourite place in Rome. A totally charming square and the paintings, wow I could have done some money there!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Such a sweet thing happened while we were in Piazza Navona - Rox was standing in front of a sidewalk cafe in the square, watching the people passing by, and she absent-mindedly stretched her arms out in front of her; I was watching a young (<em>gorgeous</em>) waiter who was watching Rox when he spontaneously came up to her and lifted her arms above her head, twirled her around and gave her a big hug! Oh to be young and in Italy, there is just something about those Italian men..... <em>sigh.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">After a short time in the Piazza, we headed to our dinner at a restaurant where 4 opera singers entertained us. We are not opera fans by any stretch of the imagination, but the show was very light-hearted and a good introduction to that genre.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><em><span style="font-size: 85%;">Sitting opposite Paula and me are Rehna and Nicky, fellow South Africans, we had some good times with them</span>. </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Finally we headed back to our hotel for some much needed sleep after a <em>very</em> big, very hot day!<br />
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I loved Rome <strong>so </strong>much and would love the opportunity to see more of it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><strong>Unforgettable moments in Rome</strong>:<br />
*First view of the Colosseum<br />
*Turning the corner and seeing the Trevi fountain all lit up<br />
*Walking into St Peters<br />
*Standing inside the Colosseum<br />
*Standing in the Pantheon and looking up at the hole in the roof<br />
*Piazza Navona<br />
*The view of St Peters at night from the bus<br />
*Brilliant fields of sunflowers on the outskirts of the city</span></div>
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Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-72331680078189318212009-07-02T13:38:00.002+02:002015-11-18T17:20:36.643+02:00<span style="font-family: "arial";">We got to sleep in a little this morning, until 06:30 (!!), and then left for our long bus ride to Rome, about 6 hours driving time. We stopped at a roadside stop for lunch canteen style. Grant and I had a lovely salad with buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto.</span><span style="font-family: "arial";">As we drove through Tuscany we watched “Under the Tuscan Sun”, one of my favourite DVDs. Looking out of the window made me feel like I was right in the movie! All around us were beautiful fields of sunflowers and olive groves.</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><img alt="sunflowers" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361250450066405634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKAgPXGTgFj62T3z4shcxw3hUmgU83wWOw5qIRmR_BR5ZKflQbIi1-5zgsWAErS_vtGsPnxluD5QgHXrEGjl42-pWzyIkQxXzdpVP1d6Nu90tFhX_R_RnFn0x8EqlSyY-0BNohSCBA9k/s320/sunflowers.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">We saw many hill-top villages, like this one:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Gerry gave us a pretty detailed history lesson, unfortunately my mind kept wandering because of the beautiful countryside and the continuing urge to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming and that I am in fact in Italy! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">We’re staying in the hotel Aran Park on the outskirts of Rome. It’s a very nice hotel and, because the girls and I are sleeping 3 to a room on this tour, we have got an awesome 2 bedroom suite. We arrived, unpacked and immediately did some handwashing. We then showered and got ready for our optional excursion to the Trevi fountain and then on to a lovely restaurant.</span><br />
<img alt="Colosseum" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361249653280654370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUbOHyQC5k0BObeZMX7WuL8fV0v-jMyeyIplP0gcfHGiM85auBLvCa2A77c1n8OJdxNB-50BRxxkg6wiW9LA8ew8nrxt5WaGLJDkfxukbPfBZJxWGhmq6sDoaFYavxX98TR3f-zDHfiw/s320/colosseum.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><em>My first view of the colosseum just blew me away, I don't know why. I didn't have any great expectations about this particular landmark, but it was really amazing to see it in real life.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">As we drove into Rome the mother of all storms broke over the city. Lightening, lashings of rain, wind and even hail! Gerry got on the phone and organised for us to do the dinner first, as Trevi was definitely a no-go in the storm.<br />
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What a lovely meal at the Mangrovia restaurant! I rate it the best night of our holiday.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><img alt="Mangrovia restaurant" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361249656076159778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguN1FUrLPLIYvftuB_89lSLsx9fykGEE6iYZxVYvxkyiobzMI9Fh6HZz4xNneY-hOBE2AhWdiF8iFi5bsKJp2sE84ptqv591WPOIz99Fdg0W3q33ZjQR5AcPdcuZXITlDoXvz_UcNHacM/s320/mangrovia1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had a starter of Prosciutto with melon and a Caprese salad. Then onto a first pasta course – penne with mushrooms, followed by another pasta course of Ravioli stuffed with spinach and ricotta with parmesan cheese. We then had a beef course with saute potatoes and finally gelato for dessert. All this was accompanied by live music, a delightful medley of flute, guitar and singing. The wine flowed throughout the meal and we ended off with a super sparkling wine. As the evening progressed we all got merrier, assisted by a superb maître d' who had a little ritual of kissing a lady at each table who was presented with their meal with much fanfare on a silver plate - Rox got to be the "lucky" one at our table. At the end of the meal each lady was presented with a rose.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361250451011472514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHGOjZxhduQqjTHOKenKAVrT0plX8xYH3UhT4-0XICEJeuAuIf5sg5j8cUfkiji1OoR26pfYuH3wPAt5gJU-HQuSXRqhFelaAhPQYHbhjAm4UiMl_Tdvbx5rUqbOHIXr_QVByXvDioT0/s320/mangrovia3.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361249662313497010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh86o42gaUVeig7KXd6oCYAcJTYhKQJJQ5HlShTkfE1hyYsFgwPxSXUoh1HdxURIR3kE0R_x37WEdKsC2FfZGQEMRMn8w5IekFJNecG690ewVpE2J6gNEP3VfdOhmf5TXh0qz41tnXaYA/s320/mangrovia2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
The bus trip to Trevi fountains was fantastic, we were all singing “Volare….” together – quite hilarious. Gerry had his hands very full, poor chap!<br />
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Trevi was SO gorgeous all lit up. We walked down this little lane, turned a corner and there it was – beautiful! We all threw our coins into the fountain – first coin to return to Rome, second to make a wish and the third to marry an Italian.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><img alt="Trevi fountain" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361250456047950802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLloCcgXWKbwCWsFQ4QK9gOUi0YPdWtrxV22546MQis49uumsuEpReXOvjp5DhjwSV9qeTJfFmJhlhVmStcga3v7MKd0O_bQCL4s77_byNLMYlrpRzK1NsnO0l8i0Vl5piKrERsckA7ok/s320/trevi1.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><em>Unfortunately my camera takes horrible photos at night, we tried with the flash, without the flash, Grant even tried using his daughters as tripods, but this is as good as it gets.... grrrrr.</em><br />
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We finally left to return to our hotel, quite exhausted. We had to take quite a detour as a couple of trees had come down, blocking the road. When we got to the hotel we made Gerry pose for a photo with all the ladies. He’s such a good sport!</span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361254628249510114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSB7g0dUDVuozMUmKNoy0MEPMCi3d7UtxV13A9di9-YrLOAtCny5wp_vtvtaG7Q4EgdcStXoGgx99S7EtESv3SMCrdnLM5lzS7QaFfO296IK0l1uzqzchqwrkHZfC0-EWaShK23Nd7HgM/s320/Gerry+and+the+girls.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-10428417042565376962009-07-01T13:21:00.000+02:002015-11-18T17:20:12.892+02:00<div>
We left Igls at 7:30am, bound for Venice, but first the most breathtaking drive through the Brenner Pass. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360873908429082498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhydc5eJvtaPHbu6VtpCo0KM01Fm3KYFqbt463K0R1A-ULUuaPstks7eSa41P-2mDECKBa3QTOrya8P6LV73sLxgWlBWCsKKBSZcS20PSYkV0a8TEs5jKhrQ9b4gawRpQWMLqceCre_o/s320/alpine+views2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Gerry, in one of his cheesier moments, had the soundtrack to “Sound of Music” playing as we drove through Austria – sounds ridiculous now, but at the time there was something remarkably fitting about a bus load of tourists, humming along to “The hills are alive……” and taking in the alpine views!!! Loved it! As we got to the Italian border the soundtrack became suitably Italian…..<br />
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Even though we are now in Italy, the scenery it much the same – alpine villages, pine trees, brilliant green grass and a background of snow topped mountains.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360873905945688626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdn_2AyNynFMVoinQF6YsUb-pDVTvgLrwe40sDDHcDG_e7cXz1u4gDw3QR-BcdRtpi5p9KBZqXs9XOzAvtWmIVk2tTbHeM0SFyWrJcdF6nLf6oln58ihcR68ylcP_UxeT1_M9eO1TQgxk/s320/alpine+views+3.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360873898438850386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1jz4B6zxgSnEskZqnRL7UmRJ0MRLIxcxiF9yEEtfGPJvJ01ZEA_wGqkPB6GlU0LjLlwFUaCdu53HzqEP12sIl4JSc7ys4BdiyAwN7TqOMmUGFWvSiUHyoLZYbAk2UIay2413aFwpK2A/s320/alpine+views+1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360873910978871282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4ZXVP0P6zVtCKBJvPWMurxwWx3TJoJdAnh1GKhq4YIxGWzB77w1922uuS1aq6ilmdGflW5YTn50oFpEbIHaHJQGFrMwT9eDJfXDqAC2irhEVAKG1ERM-y4Bcx8kfujbZy8vOgza8xFQ/s320/alpine+views+4.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />It doesn’t come more beautiful than this! We saw baroque-style churches, characteristic for their “onion-topped” spires - yes, Gerry has been teaching us about architecture too! There were farm-houses with the barn attached to the house, as the cattle need to be kept warm and close by during the Winter, during the Summer they are freed up in the mountains to graze.<br />
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Slowly the countryside began to change, becoming flatter. We stopped at a service stop (toilets and shops to stock up on food and drink) and tried out the Italian Gerry has been teaching us. I had my first ever Brioche – a custard filled croissant basically; very, very good! (<strong><em>Why does it seem that when it comes to me, this tour is largely about the food and drink???)</em></strong><br />
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We arrived in Venice, on the mainland and had to take a water taxi (piloted by the most delicious looking man I have ever laid my eyes on…..)to Venezia.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360873893065185554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcy5zYiz4cansTgZHH5Anpli5irwN7I87xb0YljwDBSyRYatFzKEnWS-T8Y8ji0SJZwpSfqodnXy7MRTrBAvqBHz4mLZ1c64lNmCotq7oDCKWX35PMbCK_YUj1IkzYo7KNTohNpVWlIVM/s320/a+vision+of+deliciousness.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> Venice is spectacular. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360876281767394994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXI6TCd3nm0DXacjggGZo9W07aPyyZChZsEH8YWHcoW6acoXDob4quwNeSxLdbi9wFb8WS3dxWOhsuIqw60dKT06RQsFklW1mJKw6JrbYpcIq5wZ9TNhb01MfLzgqDQqTNu-ciqkAfQc/s320/venice1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360875528025152050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaDbELzs6_kk7VRJxrVAayZKEet4gpj2fKrq-K0bfPiLrP8rTrEPJcHFT3ixhD0qsqhZNQQaO0F6PK9nMrZz9UBB1QC7TPOWP2yBDkunYZ4gHyvI5wDo-zIUXhYlJ2XgFjS6x6pXVFPA/s320/Doges+palace.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></div>
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<em>The doges palace</em></div>
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<em>St Marks Basilica</em></div>
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St Marks square was amazing, but what I found even more enchanting were the little streets and the smaller canals. We saw a glass-blowing demonstration and then had free time to wander about, in and out of little shop-lined passages.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360876285108668754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYG1_GZX7K0UE1RG2kMFHq0wtno2-8oNN_towZJfNXKG9XZxWrHD_4oIDZQ8KAMbDD1ZrcwEGbuE033ThGCfJ54Ik5kwIMwD1dl61FFYfVyFVG1ncTB0Bzfyx7YSWKZFN4VgDxBb_R7A4/s320/venice2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></div>
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We had lunch at a canalside restaurant near the Rialto bridge. Paula ate her first genuine Italian pasta – she’s waited a long time for this! Rox and I had pizza which was good, but what really blew us away were the Bellinis! I could grow very used to those! </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367568872979613538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9dpa-cddgZSEDqWS1fvMHxLd2Mak4DbWsNvtVw_f6zz7ZZTIPCEJmTKkwMqJn5JUP0f-EItdM3IbqA8w6Ng6GYFVP54xlkDR_Yln78BmMnuiQ5-lyBnM_w0XxqQ1GlilTFySL4UBY3s/s320/bellinis.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360875536292771362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCL8lsiuMlaHcMDKSA9xW0lMjl8b0eMJIS3KCPMqowD02ctIgRgnMcLd3btfgxx0MmHqmk0IEnvT37yTKrgv00IW-OJFzPRmIVUQmHP8zIQCLef4_cc1krFWIiikdzZzBc1J0YtMfqM0/s320/rialto+bridge.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />After lunch we wandered some more, buying a couple of souvenirs and taking in the very unique atmosphere of Venice. Tonight Andrea Bocelli is singing in St Marks Square and while we were waiting at our meeting point in the square the orchestra was practising. “Time to say goodbye” was one of the songs they played and I am sure that I will always be transported right back to Venice every time I hear it from now on. Hearing that beautiful music in that special place gave me goosebumps.<br />
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We then headed off for a gondola ride. Our group filled 9 gondolas altogether, complete with bottles of Prosecco, a musician and a singer. So there we were, gliding along the canals, sipping chilled Prosecco, being serenaded in Italian. Wow! This, people, is the life! At one point the singer had us all join in singing “Volare” – such fun, so funny!<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360875533147952738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQRj5vzKT5czTUJkwIi9rcqK_fhobbLahFFHLMRRi4SuIG3EnAf0HeOAmKUm2BEw8vRNt_UKYu_3ENmQMvG-tfEPTAZHnVgpd6BSC5Yigo30QbdgpOz-TGzjzUbxzyHac-Npxp43vilY/s320/on+the+gondola.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
We then had a water taxi ride down the main canal, fantastic photo opportunities. It’s all just SO beautiful.<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360876289824861666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpLJUyctio16oVRkPmkVJsLcuZcDVMywJ9rfX0l3kkbGz61hag9K8lfCI9_HfuM3zDMhVb3mnOMliYRaxQNauNVcJKVU8twFUgjgEsJ72JGtVkWvWcVqjHxQjbPeTM8zwY0Gs79xOPXs/s320/venice+3.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Finally it was back to reality – a short bus ride to our hotel in Marghera. Here we had much needed showers (Venice was HOT!), a typical Italian supper and bed. </div>
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Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-31309635809061611992009-06-30T14:15:00.000+02:002015-11-18T17:19:49.211+02:00We left our hotel at 7:30am after a breakfast of cornflakes and rolls with a selection of pates and jams. We soon got onto the autobahn, bound for Munich, stopping at a service stop after a couple of hours where I bought my first pretzel. Eees gut ja!! We were all totally fascinated by the self-cleaning loo – after flushing, the seat of the loo automatically begins to rotate through this cleaning device. Such a pity I couldn’t have captured it on video.<br />
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As we drove into Munich we saw the Olympic stadium. Again, Gerry gave us so much information before we arrived – he told us all about the war, the Olympics, the hostage drama etc. He really is brilliant.<br />
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Munich is a lovely city, clean and with very pretty areas. Gerry took us to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hofbr%C3%A4uhaus">Hofbräuhaus</a> and for a brief walk through the city, to the Marienplatz, where we saw the glockenspiel and the beautiful town halls.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360520100801461458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8QtpKRh5Goug2tlHujuhgD_pM-vwUe1dtVj41xbzYcR5R9iHjozWa8L2odm-6PchS_nGamVge04_B5TaF91mWOE6LZ-ErEq_WbAj5wOVXCX2LoKSrJs7TLh3she1fIzSmu7GCUBeCb8/s320/old+town+hall+Munich.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> Old town hall (above)<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360518064540661650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpX26YoJVX-MBhwnVBWtY9VxMS6p1fnpJVbjpwvIcDqiniEyGGgwZfnD9z6k_U6eelENYbvyZ12AqkA6uOvWfAKDkgr8hDmLY_blYFQ_UJatHrRlDieie1w1XXcS_d7Ssb6zriwUudbA/s320/New+Town+hall++marienplatz+munich.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> <em>New town hall</em> (<em>and yes, it does look older than the Old Town Hall!)</em><br />
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All the time it was like invisible ropes were pulling the five of us back to the Hofbräuhaus! So eventually we gave in and headed back there for lunch ;-) Grant had suckling pig (the swine!), Rox and I had meatballs and a warm potato salad with delicious red cabbage, I can’t remember what Dad and Paula ate – must be because of the BEER! </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360518053634302322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeqEDywDFGeu6A52jWJeR-O1e7LK_10KNpbg9-gb_NesXVpMjbRWZK1_UIGGW0MeHEVCieriobHVIHsP0yga1CI4AvyZFCNuioAKA1IRGSQnyp2szX2uobdg6MzRXB6rQ9Kn5x7smaq0/s320/Horbrauhaus.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></div>
<em>Hofbrauhaus</em><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360516468327198210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif66T2HCulwjiOgZ3qLP4xlzBemNFOwd0k0Fd7RMj_1Uy93hB6O4sBP2X4JJSK-UUEBMNXrEcVb5adkpLF-vr-2W6lXRpDUGXnaEebdaeO5e4egQkycUss_SleCiUWXNsYouZBWLY8XqA/s320/Dad+hofbrauhaus.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360518048043302402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9-23KiYqcq5wHNFanV6PLkfYR50C4jjvlmLs9To8tN85hcTJ9yNUOmdW1BfQh7iIqQL4wcs0xFEkNierfD2Y2EuemscDHcfOxfrvDLUjSITwA16HM-aR78YqVn2FdkKnxFOKkVWeFZ8/s320/Grant+Hofbrauhaus.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" />On the way back to the meeting spot Grant bought us cones of cherries and strawberries. Oh my word, I have never tasted such delicious fruit in my whole life! I salivate just thinking about it! Life is gut ya!!<br />
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Back on the bus and we drove for a couple more hours. It’s amazing how the people on tour are becoming friends. Much laughing and chatting…<em>and I don’t think it’s just the beer</em> ;-) As we drove along the countryside became more mountainous, with lovely little villages inbetween. After a very scenic drive, we arrived in Innsbruck in Austrian Tyrol. We saw the ski jump and ice skating stadium from the Winter olympics some years ago. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360520104732325394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7_bENQMwgJxv2EXCnxCIwx8qVlz07RGcMq5khWuLaNyynLtyGOv_1BHMq8QezyFX31xZKHojFFRmYRnnS-g-2-TNIGhMVbFgvT9hSKQLwBf66cQFmUMPhyIxYf34O-Y307uCVVwvDeo/s320/olympic+ski+jump+innsbruck.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Innsbruck is too beautiful. It has buildings that look like something out of a fairy tale. Amazing. Gerry walked us into the centre of town to the golden roof – much more beautiful in real life than on the website I looked at before our trip. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360520115084532802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnEK7OltAHHqxJsdwp5awhulXkX_TGoQFefM1pgZFNo8BE0zmHh5rG0ok7Xy2i0YgwCSSutdnHNYsSR7uqeaYcB6BLpl-QrT7ugSVvDBX6tYFIknsBDaI8jJVVtwM8pcKWPOh2EWWqYs/s320/swarovski+innsbruck.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" />We ate Mozart balls – marzipan balls coated in dark chocolate, very delicious. Then we had gorgeous ice-creams and took a walk back to the golden roof for another look. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360520110283214290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBVi_jugERjzW5FzwB-mqwmNg6cL-DJEPUzwLOwyvYa00rByDDAWsIlN9uTffLfId91jJ_peaWNYy3a8s9uqFS9BEI6Hb8mWKtZbW7YPUF8OGzas_cKsQt-nI6WGZPRR5c8YHGECIWTA/s320/picture+postcard+innsbruck.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /> <br />
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Finally we wandered down to the river. It was quite fascinating, as we got closer to the river the temperature dropped noticeably – that water must be really cold! </div>
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Once we had all met up and boarded the bus, it was off to the alpine village of Igls, where out hotel was located. I know I can be very gushy, but seriously, this village was like something out of a picture book. Too, too gorgeous! Rox was begging us to leave her there forever and Paula has already got her eye on a house ;-) </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360520119791025394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSPk95iZ-E_hWwkA9kB1tnbBopfypKjawDfbC8kswZzrQT5UGi8PIaRcAtip-cAGFfX5reezasvMkObdfutExvBgMfoBAXgRyVBRCcd_VraZyj5D6CAdZ2I-R0f_woDZfS30EejKqwLw/s320/tourist+office+igls.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> <br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360516474570622962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkrwryePD5ckcxOnUDuNSHdTxiqbQDYzembpwaQ-lf6yWje4Y568WrHHMTHuYfX7PPAO_Zu1PdjBj8zTKPeVkalzGyelMWcf50IiHI-G6E1ukfvuiN4bMKwkvdKN-LwrE4zAZka9bROw4/s320/girls+in+igls.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360518057338173090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQLpwBRmuxNGI_3hLGHr81oikUVe18sf59AYxyWChe_5Q0WTDWIfHijkoh1MoQGvRqHMDOvXu7j41tz4l2WVhOsRamM1LJc7jFcGJhaP0ZStDNhhmRTmsCYc4suMDD9akjhZO0Evu614/s320/igls.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360516465264412146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7GBEyTy4EE4Y1XxixPG7rDL1U7TrFZPSWKzEhYfve_Fx1qF0a83ADmwXuKREHcW6b_VCZTLl5Pr8Bd7r-E7hqw5aXj7iBY9vdpMO4PQDYSILgOglgybRWhlpDJD_L_7lFxs6-a2KkbY/s320/corn+drying+in+igls.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360518059375372258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM7CZf8Vz8vvVf_bdInQmom0I6ohXMFh6ZkGh0-f8yvHRV0RMSLnxeAhb3APfpXPd6Yoxy2FnOuZ1dmRVSWQeIusSNTYuR05p2fkY2gXdyuf6tJElcrKCWbRJG3iPy_yarv1O44Z8SLc/s320/igls2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" />We are staying in the hotel Bon Alpina, which has a swimming pool, so after a walk around the village, Grant and Paula opted to have a swim. For supper we had salad, soup, schnitzel with potatoes and apple strudel. We had a super waiter, a real character, with the unlikely name of Herr Mustafa. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367561514705365538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggT1kwkP8MXT_F1X1r1l3s3Mi_DeyNjJ2nAAxPgkamwwwB3HEvxi3LrC2LriFudsV2TcqxJ564zqNuZHjb6SIJGdJPsmxKFEYx5VqeKQYTaTMQ1sWil60CU-UBBDPKaf94rjp3tksbdDg/s320/herr+mustafa.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></div>
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<em>The girls with Herr Mustafa</em>Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-23220653076808444722009-06-29T15:01:00.000+02:002015-11-18T17:19:21.699+02:00<div>
We had a fantastic breakfast – fruits, yoghurts, fruit coulis, cold meats, roll mops, salad!, bread and rolls, pastries, pancakes….. Now it’s off to Cologne. On the way Gerry gave us the obligatory language lesson and told us all sorts of interesting facts.<br />
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The main thing to see in Cologne was the Cologne Cathedral, know as “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne_Cathedral">The Dom</a>”. It is an enormously huge and ornate Gothic cathedral.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360157217253442434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CiWKPt9bnnk9gie4pnmw0A2CRHdb-O5uN1SJeU86FcJFrJ7gwwA_d1vbTPPTQO5wycCv46DxTEyAW6Wsx_i9x16YNa93SSy1IxKZOlC54ZMpv_XYu4ST0JAJZcsBX7M6lPtZTepS9Kc/s320/The+dom.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><img alt="The Dom" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360157221175713266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VhVzjm3RVDw2CH663vyBgp_PUGuQGvL3rJr7MEYlUFPs-4PemcPZj33wtdatbbdjdBrLBeMvNPyCmriC_XwH392fJkKTvC2jzGZuF8grfSIWloRjpZf8FMtA9hW3G8vTPldLgrBIsJI/s320/the+cap.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></div>
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<em>To give you an idea of the size and height of the spires, this is a replica of what is on the very, very top of the spire.</em></div>
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Once we had seen The Dom, we took a walk down the main street. I stopped at the 4711 shop, my Gran loved 4711 and the smell of it immediately took me back about 35 years! I bought a couple of little bottles as souvenirs. The girl at the till found my german completely hilarious! At this point the girls were chomping at the bit to go off and shop (maybe they just didn’t want to be put through the embarrassment of my language skills again?), so we sent them on their way and Grant, Dad and I went in search of an authentic German lunch. We found a lovely little restaurant down one of the side streets. Between us we had leberwurst, pickles, german bread, Dutch cheese, cabbage, kartoffel and wurst. With beer of course!! </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360157219709217714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh7OyqkIKgszy3Fab98jj9dKP_Q01QadGY0xgzkqGMAMOXU2dpanecm86sg7b9cFka7_NT0jRlE2pEj-4M9zs1qFKCX1CEE4TZdxnDCTPBnLswAjFhr4RIKuy01Q929LiUYbbL4TBk4w/s320/dad+lunch+in+cologne.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />After lunch it was back on the bus and off to Boppard, where we boarded our Rhine cruise to St Goar. A lovely cruise, with views of riverside homes and castles. We saw many vineyards on the banks too. The Rhine area is known for Rhine Riesling and Auslese wines. Obviously, Rox and I had to have a little bottle of wine – it came with a complimentary wine glass and as we both wanted the wine glass, we simply had to have 2 bottles of wine! Paula had hot chocolate and I helped her consume the most delicious apple tart. Bliss! </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360158535495667186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2awQlbjIvtJnTmpSbUsG2bjbnpxT_Rw1HSzPgVB0nu04H7aMzjnyjuN0msgvdwdeaOccjd7TmD6JuWM4BRQJR7wkfQFhDWqTkIDHuegnxKLbbk3Pk4G95nilq1BgE7QxQCIw_btWLl2k/s320/rhine+cruise1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360158531063921826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsff-mjsF0NAlUCj4zbOxca253DNRDlfElb1ZGij8tHNDwzL0PcjHMgmPV2xDMH4q-SG75b7NLtzZmmDVMUIL7EqZVytdsMxSsrvO3fgoLEDysIFpxTGPp4t1bK4RvtMvSvmqZevKk1o/s320/paula+rhine+cruise.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360158540528218466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGdC5UMzaC8tPQsKj5Wfj2apOV02j6RxdyN8oOYYnZaAHBsfTLIE6bO_M4q0szTKd4FoTe7OmkgLC2FdUCsFVfN7-FGqvSH9mfuiUcGY2AqiqkUhEkaTKVk14jihDuFnzgutC-Ckb3R0/s320/views+on+rhine+cruise2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360158536324221490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviebVSgEM4MobvqCW9nx3tF_Gf456nxDv6anz0ZW4dAIFxjX6uIJzFfPZPn8QDY3sB8wxB0EwjUya9igk-ilVOIIcytFfdFfHPSbcT217TcAsvr2wHX2_r7t8JCeHTHtkMt9KbYIHnxY/s320/views+on+rhine+cruise.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360159949047266322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDIeKxDQ3zedaXcdtme2RVuwkljACF95J0Q66yILxXetG5TGYEA9Jc5VUttqEzSpWmsOWrjnYLF1UoUdAA_ntZhSAqiv255JVqYvx4YQcaCILsSQVfWfE_ZhFnM_oHHReMC-sYwy59RM/s320/views+on+rhine+cruise3.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
We saw a church with a pub attached. It seems that the vicar also serves behind the bar! (<em>see below)</em></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362472242190400402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuvHrq0f0Coe9hp_Czp1ptRbaAt-pm165QvKgIRqBACntbYNe2CF2EhnKIx9-84edLYsm3XmpDMbidhGSCHVd0FirjWzHn0vphhs_eZwJ0X-EN25P7FLfjpiwK7Tz3yU8X8iGGS9H81g/s320/church+pub.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
After we left the boat we drove past the Lorelei rock, where in times gone by the mermaid sat luring unsuspecting sailors to their watery graves. We also passed a toll booth in the middle of the river – very cute! </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360158536908471154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90C7X2-v-KWFRnEHM-Xzanq3EUn-5KhmBollxmmJ2fVH3h1le6fO2AO2i4g-rBGXPVnaA5jG-nfUPjYFoXpuuHZYgOEx7eG1ZiWWCF_S3VpXDBgr-GD1R6HMvi_8BSlzi2FTHMwhCnaY/s320/toll+booth.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><em>The old toll booth on the Rhine river</em></div>
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We then headed to our hotel in Ludwigshafen. Not a wonderful hotel, but it was adequate for our needs. Supper was included and consisted of a chicken soup, a beef goulash (not very nice) and a cheesecake dessert. </div>
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Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-29938195060337855092009-06-28T08:54:00.001+02:002015-11-18T17:18:55.641+02:00<span style="font-family: "arial";">4:30 am wake up! Ouch! We quickly packed up and headed down to breakfast. We were ready and waiting at our bus promptly at 6am and got our first look at our tour director, Gerry and our tour-mates. Rox’s first words on seeing Gerry – “<em>Wow, do you think he’s single, can you see a wedding ring</em>?” Oh boy, this could be fun!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">As soon as we were all aboard the bus and organised we set off for Dover. Once on the bus, Gerry introduced himself to us and we had a look to see who was from where. About half the bus is South African, quite a few Aussies, a few Canadians, a couple of New Zealanders and 2 Malaysians. We have a very large tour group of 52! There are quite a lot of youngsters on the tour – 2 boys who look to be between the ages of 10 and 13 and then about 6 teenagers. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">We have arranged for Rox, Paula and I to share rooms on tour and Dad and Grant will share a room. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Once we arrived in Dover we got to glimpse Dover castle and the white cliffs, before boarding the ferry for Calais. I totally enjoyed the ferry, surprisingly enough. I have no idea what I imagined the ferry to be like, but I never imagined it would be a proper ship, with proper shops and a canteen and a pub and a coffee lounge! We bought some sandwiches and drinks (more cider!) and, oh my soul, I got to eat my first pain au chocolat. Heavenly! </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">We then browsed the shops and Grant and the girls and I stood outside on a little deck and watched France coming closer. Beautiful! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">After disembarking we met up with our driver, Rudy, and climbed aboard our coach for the first time. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360065389781472018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6ze2NYuM61l2P_rKFQyxadyuQ_qs01So6HUp9asC0vs2iFvTtrV-_IxLFOt15vOFTeqG977IJ62ui_SiB0QFds68jHD2r5X-Jb7pZZEyJpBTbCI9cKSJ29x6UlFsE-nYSuwNGbBfH3U/s320/28+june1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />We headed off from Calais, bound for Amsterdam, via Belgium. The countryside was very flat. I loved driving through Belgium, it was so green and lovely. There were fat, contented looking cows wherever you look. (If ever I am reincarnated I want to be a Belgian cow!) I’d love to spend some time in Belgium. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">We saw the beautiful spires of Antwerp as we drove past, shortly before entering the Netherlands. We stopped at a service stop and I insisted Grant buy some salty liquorice – not nice!! There was fascinating scenery on the way into Amsterdam – windmills, tulips…really lovely. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><img alt="fields of tulips" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360065868906795746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9B25-D1_lhxtdkRSBONr31td67dhcg06YKzQogKkALNSJdt_2zocAaHkaLHRf9px1wJglzVsUEktZZHZhGRjD6-iLd39429bx3x3JUs-0361ZVprhO8M6m6re0yNNWJ3n4ooXFSlW_oM/s320/28+june+tulips.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Gerry is giving us lots of interesting information as we travel - lots of history, interesting facts and Dutch lessons. He seems to be a super tour guide so far.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">We got to Amsterdam just after 5pm and took a whirlwind bus tour. <img alt="In Holland they like bicycles!" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360065867338356994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8t4SJwCyOW-2hBjFQ8dMPWT3Z2-xLdQU0K5feeIOMYE9-yVvPePFzQE3iVUyENp3gB1pv2OAg0ZRlU_pfM2HyBDWcA_LUUe_E1PuP89Vo5gaFbPDVcNoPbW67WC_d_jC51spP5ByS10/s320/28+june+bicycles.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 85%;"><em>What you see up there on the bridge is thousands, upon thousands of bicycles! Imagine trying to find yours at the end of the day??</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">We then got on the optional canal cruise. It was absolutely beautiful! We journeyed along various canals, seeing gorgeous canalside homes. I could SO easily live in one of those! We also saw houseboats, some beautiful, others less so. I really loved the canal cruise, I’m so glad we chose to do it.</span></div>
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<img alt="The Mint Tower" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360065394662987042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8-rWlsc7PldH46UI5qgVdx_OPp1bF-5ZHFvJ-dseS9C8j3T1Nu05V6I2zHVW2N9V3lypJcxlq4P0cSD2xuDC7GKobLBkzOMZMNHSv2J5eMyn4vXrvDpbXCXPQXlJIZ5BmdvJ2xFXTIc/s320/28+june+2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360065399150403890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhavdJAkzE_Zq4-nZ8CjxAHyveSJ2ANknXkOwEnMkGUNG1FS8qckZ-9CQaieUDMQ1ZbSbaJF77Als5fSidaEc-O2ehwwQ7ePaLMEbbkcweCSzBDnweV9bGSnUjDUtEWIr3r0aIyUnuJGsc/s320/28+june+3.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360065395333628226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWM3Hg9nI8vSTxEAc0Oa4PlPvXKXtV_DmC8M-SjSTISTGyO__AFUdj6hJCVFoeTUCPTJbpylbiEK9py3V-QaI2gvDQjz1Jlj8zMEnyojH6gq14gaiFZH4CPAV50yeSkxhFFi3a5N9r70/s320/28+june+4.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360065402236081426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZ-XrqPBV0JUC3P2AtJ_4PgKifiE7dwYneB15cOUfcYxdObfAgj_-rPsT3wMiRBqRXXk46rRgGOFpOJ7K5_aPxb-CnXdMNW95w85BY-LCGTki0DSYTEZkvaKgHvDkN986fC9cjqj1hjM/s320/28+june+5.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Then Gerry took those of us who wanted to go on a quick walk through the red-light district. I was quite surprised by the red-light district, it wasn't nearly as "bad" as I thought it would be. I just hated seeing the woman in the windows though, that's plain sad. It was still quite early, so not all the “ladies” were working yet, but still! After that we were free to find our own supper, Gerry suggested various options, but we went investigating on our own and found a lovely Chinese restaurant. Yummy! </span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360065860000837938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCKAtmlGwijcaQ2w4n1A3tEN3leayzdl6gMgzmHQ4PBZsbd7bN9ptinwtlAPP49EThNwWZB5-JJxVsRuS4ko9o3K6gURFAdAKUY2_v6y9syL8NbetKhI580t9uhEYwBngS_uWG14Ob5Q/s320/28+june+6.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> <br />
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<em>Sometimes I just know that these girls hate me - check out Rox's expression!</em><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Back on the coach at 9pm and it was still broad day-light – that’s going to take some getting used to. It’s been a very long day, everyone is looking a bit exhausted. Our hotel, the Hotel Dorint Amsterdam, is superb.</span></div>
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Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-11527921447094510302009-06-27T12:14:00.002+02:002015-11-18T17:18:38.331+02:00Saturday 27 June 2009We slept like logs and woke up feeling fresh at 06:30. We had an early breakfast and then set off for our bus tour of London. On the way to the bus stop we spent some time in Trafalgar Square. It was early, so everything was very quiet and peaceful. <br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359745887020636098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7YTWUf5LBnRjfyyAULu4hjwNKrVL2YQNhiQjAMgE7iYiQNrwaoCrhHseYPvrZaB7LGWh2YHu3YYmEZAocvFTTh5BkSjzDMa8SRBJB2fU5wJDUBGwyNXbvNR7KeBE3FrYU0hPocrZzfk/s320/trafalgar+sq.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359745838274788210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpYHNkc8QmuDTx_RfG7iFxi1fKsIVgh5-v9fWE4HB0ICnXn9v_fVUVo3ywqaN68hedVKvB4Zet5eptJoPWgCtF59Ju5jqxWr6Gzpu3nt9DtGODYupiwqfWuVlBXODAA0S2SH7akLxb54/s320/post+box.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
We saw all the major tourist spots from the bus. The tour we took was with “<a href="http://www.theoriginaltour.com/">The Original Tour</a>”, a hop-on, hop-off bus - a great way to see all the major sights in a short space of time. </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359745866486259746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAVlyRpt1Qvnw4l2GxjNaSyJaLVXUBD969OyF7trG6sq_WXuLczY7kLLmM3KlQLznw9lxMPa4BG6ZCtajd8oHuqJadMQVmpXheoVo_bHKevxBaN84XdhYkpqRCOmVm-jq2ROT1B-nKlo/s320/st+pauls.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359743964223654514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvP6hHfRcOdfu-n88zWa0N1odMQb9_pRESE_zYg8QozKiGOifitG2owWanCcBPLqBYxhyTlPK9L0Uw0SMA8bzuW01V-dGrbcHe7KFgaqyDxbd-CNKuL4fdMZiTQs1iqzjjaYNso6ZcPgk/s320/eye.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359745850096136034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvA2xU0omda9ZoeOtM3vZ2JQ5w5a-RAnsrwJo3V5M-zFcr-uSBd5-hgyO6qKR-iODNkVP1HlvMrdQKr5jvJ_0q42yIDGKa4BIG2OnmiCTpMt-v3jobhOdo6j4t7s-DlgUh6WujY6E86w/s320/pretty+pub.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /> <em>A pretty pub</em><br />
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<em>Houses of parliament and Big Ben</em><br />
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I particularly enjoyed driving over Tower Bridge, something I’ve always wanted to do!</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359743967063265106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-eAMdvQ-_g4JKTnZwO6D-3wk-T-vxNMT2m8RvF3PDKaA3Gw4KZWgo7zXrzzLtIQRd5HGwyskRJQ4444eqzetMN0rDP9ybSSxV9EKJmukUu1Ezag15w6gLr87KS0sOpEyaZTFH2x3VnA/s320/bridge.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /> We got off the bus at Marble Arch and had lunch at a McDonalds (I <strong><em>know</em></strong>, I’m a bit embarrassed to admit it!)<br />
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After lunch we set off to catch a tube to the Tower. It was at this point that I realised I had lost my purse! Panic! After some thought I realised that it must have been left at Leicester Square tube station, in the shop where we had topped-up our oyster cards (prepaid card for the tubes, highly recommended). We headed back there and, amazingly (well to us South Africans anyway), the shop-owner had kept it for me, and there it was, safe and sound. Relief!<br />
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Grant then headed back to the hotel, to check once again whether Rox’s luggage had arrived. The rest of us set off for the Tower. We realised just how hot England can actually get as we waited in the queue to get in. Fortunately I had booked our tickets on-line, so we were in the Fast Track queue. We didn’t have to wait too long and soon found ourselves on a guided tour of the tower, with one of the yeoman warders - a very interesting and entertaining chap. We spent some time in the church where Anne Boleyn is buried, ogled the crown jewels and heard how Guy Fawkes and many other poor souls were drawn and quartered….eeuw!<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359745871272602002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuksQ53q9qyJtxTk5Jbw13MvmYjivIE3Z3-SFfxtsaZHzov37uRQJeh8WdTZQxdYkThrqijHVN2Mzx6Qjudbrx3q_r3SAolJtuRziHQ4VSS6A44F2Qz5qnMiuu-Eo4lMxkG5pYIc8vK_g/s320/tower+of+london.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" />By this time Grant had met up with us, still no luggage! Getting a bit nervous about heading off on tour tomorrow with Rox with no luggage….!<br />
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Then it was off to catch a river cruise (included in the price of our bus tour) to Greenwich. I LOVED the cruise. We sat downstairs and had a drink (more cider!) while listening to a fantastic guide telling us all about the river Thames and the interesting buildings along the way. This guy grew up in the area and you could hear his passion for it in his commentary.<br />
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At Greenwich we met up with Jeanne, who blogs at <a href="http://www.cooksister.com/">Cooksister</a>. It was SO nice to meet up with her in person after following her blog for so long. Can you believe that neither of us thought to get a photo?! We watched some Morris dancers, ambled around a lovely market in Greenwich and then went and had a drink and got to experience a UK thunderstorm, hail included! I’d love to have spent more time with Jeanne, one brief afternoon was not enough!</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359743969873543986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyHyLXTICVwvCIFbgEkKri9PdLrR-t-GpwAPy9csH2_EXK5VKcn_zfrr_Fu_MrV7KkuRTkJS_R5UZLkSy97L4Ja0dcdHUqlg7IGp_r3ITy-ylFSNXPkyy3YF8C_5EnOQhdKtCgCGocqQ/s320/morris+dancers+greenwich.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><em> Morris dancers</em><br />
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After a looong tube ride back to our hotel, we discovered that Rox’s luggage had FINALLY arrived! We grabbed a quick supper in the hotel (delicious Lamb Rogan Josh) and headed to bed, exhausted! There was a letter waiting for us in our room, telling us what time to be at breakfast and giving us details about our tour. It suddenly seems real! </div>
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Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-647435949505290322009-06-26T11:43:00.002+02:002015-11-18T17:18:20.975+02:00Friday June 26 2009<em><span style="color: red;">(scroll down for 2 earlier entries)</span></em><br />
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We arrived at Heathrow at 06:15, only to discover that Rox’s luggage had not arrived with us! <br />
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After dropping the luggage that <strong>had </strong>arrived off at the hotel (check-in was only at 2pm, so we couldn’t get into our room immediately) we headed off to Piccadilly Circus, to validate our tickets to Madame Tussauds, which I had bought beforehand on the internet. </div>
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Madame Tussauds was very crowded, but we shoved our way through and took the obligatory photos of course! </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359738673354794226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCf0G_FjoRtcHhusfkLFLsb-B9CJ6Q7HjsrKJ-kqf8GsYJXl17Bw1YTgb5hKxnc3yN2rURA63Veh_QLPQJTMLEgaJTOB2DP5VPLgE8JGbOvhxz5gaOFhfgAApeK3s7hHId4CKoWwDpb30/s320/tussauds+1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359738677515831714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZNUaAhpSyWdaixHjCuHRmjegnHEtIIa8ZSSObmZOhvhLWVatwlgcFwO_6noipxXxkE32KtghIEgy3plpF5-zTTcgfm4WavOssLL_rCLNn5rKz8lnNqPDzMU5nJJ05TS8IBO9Fb_Hbgc/s320/tussauds+2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />We thoroughly enjoyed the Spirit of London at Tussauds. It’s something like the "Ghost ride" I remember from fun fairs in my childhood, only this one takes you on a journey through London’s history. Fun!<br />
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We had lunch in a pub up the road from our hotel. I love English cider and was very keen to have my first cider of the holiday, it didn’t disappoint! Rox forgot her camera when we left the pub, fortunately the friendly barman came racing after us to return it. We then headed back to our hotel, to check-in. We had hoped that by now Rox’s luggage would have arrived, but still no luggage! We jumped in the shower (at last!) and Rox had to borrow underwear and clothing from Paula and me, poor girl! We then hopped on the tube to Kensington High Street and hit Marks & Spencer, to shop for some clothes for Rox. As soon as that was taken care of we headed back to the hotel to relax a bit before dinner.<br />
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We met Lisa, Trev and their girls at the Rainforest Café at Piccadilly Circus. It was so nice to catch up with them. We’ll be seeing them again for a few days after our tour. After supper, as we were heading back to the tube we saw crowds gathering to watch “Thriller” and laying flowers etc down in memory of Michael Jackson. Then it was back to the hotel for some much needed sleep!</div>
Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-41461552825834476482009-06-25T17:49:00.002+02:002015-11-18T17:18:09.132+02:00Thursday 25 June 2009Our trip got off to rather a bad start, with the plane that was to take us to Johannesburg malfunctioning as we taxied to the runway – you can just imagine my reaction! I was already having a stress attack about the whole "flying thing" and then this had to go and happen! We had to be put onto another plane and because of the resulting 1 ½ hour delay we very nearly missed our connecting flight in Johannesburg. We had to literally sprint through the airport (LOL at the image of me sprinting….it’s funny <strong><em>now</em></strong>) to get our flight. We got to the desk with me huffing and puffing, heaving bosom and all and the boarding had already closed, but after some “issues” we managed to get onto the plane.<br />
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<img alt="off to the airport" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359446357701646818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbfHEnYybHaPDGnmvOZpG6g2d3rn7SVrxNbR4dm3uDbyYpjJ4W-dD9rwNQI3dfB24mDDjjcLCeINxCNVgaSbrEKDGKsO6l5fZm04YLjlUMMZ8BFXriauM9CHo1E7X0gJZJh9LnENRh8o/s320/Dad+on+the+way+to+the+airport.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359446818931442450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRMg8xiG7vpD0iHcsWThw2V1KBbXqMmAyLX1zM7zN0gVsb8G8LDloC_vSMaLQSZw_jLBQSfb88PQFnCtL6ZMFLpmr8bEudRVVHQvwY07A868sq46G8h39MsZt0SgAUaQnhzB4dkfbmyc/s320/Rox+on+the+way+to+the+airport.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><em> Off to the airport</em><br />
<em><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359447210372591330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVckaIS-XPWs2csxy81_9uZuWAnAxuf2AmW7kMWadIC9nhZdYQJXvjxE8BIT4KOWoJrp8wYL3gVKNEbx_RBhWVIJmPYC3PAKPrzNLSCz-wUXktDxqEnXIvqUajvhl9UwQgeyV2zZ-BV0/s320/on+the+plane.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></em><em>On the plane (you will notice I am smiling....okay I admit, it looks very forced, but it's me. on a plane. smiling!!)</em>Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9116460463992851255.post-47203925250635992402009-06-25T16:27:00.002+02:002015-11-18T17:17:56.230+02:00Away we go......After months of planning, dreaming and yes.....quite a lot of stressing on my part, we set off on our European adventure on the 25th of June 2009. "We" being my Dad (Neil), Grant, the girls and me. The plan was to spend a couple of days in London, go on a Trafalgar tour to Western Europe, spend a few days with friends in Guildford, Surrey and finally to wind it all up with a couple more days in London. This blog is basically the journal that I kept during our holiday, along with a few of the photos that we took along the way.Gillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14910101541494674555noreply@blogger.com0