Well, we have survived the roads and drivers of England and Scotland. Not so bad really. Narrow in places but perfectly driveable and the drivers are less impatient than Aussies. Spped cameras everywhere over here. Fixed locations and the type that average your speed. I know a few people who would hate that. Doesn't seem to slow some people down though.
The drive across the highlands from Inverness to Fort William and then on to Glasgow was really something. Rugged hills (mountains) with heather, the lochs with big, steep hills on the other side. Really something to see. Lots of photos that won't do it justice unless you have actually seen them. Watched some hire boats going through a series of five locks (yes, the other sort of lock) at Fort Augustus, at the west end of Loch Ness. They had to change levels by about 50 or 60 feet to move from waterways going west to water that went East.
We cruised Loch Ness one day whilst at Inverness. No sign of Nessie but we have captured one of her off spring and will try to get it through customs when we get back! Spent a day north of Inverness and travelled through Invergordon where the North Sea oil rigs are serviced. Two in town whilst we were there - massive!!! no MASSIVE!!!
Ferry to Ireland was a big cat powered by water jets and it got along at a pretty good pace. 1hr 50mins for the crossing compared with 3 plus for a conventional ferry. 350 cars and 1500 passengers - not small.
Met Sinead Kilkelly last night and had a couple of Guinesses while we exchanged notes about each other's lives since she came home. We will catch her again when we get to Dublin. Should I say if we get to Dublin. She tells us that road signs are almost non existent in the Republic! That might be a bit of a challenge. She also says the roads are not a patch on the North or the UK. Oh well!! - Might buy a compass. At least we would then know in which direction we are getting lost. If you don't hear from us in a few days time please send help!!
Have enjoyed trying the local food in some of the little pubs and eateries. Judy had some Irish stew today - looked great. I have had traditional scottish breaky with black pudding - black because of what is in it I suppose. Don't have to have it again now that I have done that!!!!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Scotland the Brave
Have finally seen the Tattoo in the flesh. TV does not do it justice. Good seats thanks to Chris. When we watch it this year (and in the future) it will be that much better because we can imagine being there.
Now we have done much more since the last post. London was a buzz! Hop on hop off bus gave us our orientation and then the walking started to have a closer look at St Pauls Cathedral, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, etc. Monument to the Great Fire of London is a feature of the city. Almost as important as Nelson's Column by the way the tour guide on the bus was talking and then it got a special mention on the Thames Cruise as well.
Dinner Cruise was a special event. About 3 hours of sights, good food and good wine that we both thoroughly enjoyed and would do again if we come over again. We went to Greenwich to see the Harrison Clocks at the Museum and to see the Prime Meridian. Yes you can see it because they have actually created a line in the ground that marks the spot. We have photos to prove it. Can't be sure whether I was East or West at the time because I was standing on top of it.
Went there on a light rail train - with no driver - WEIRD!!! True, no driver but we got there without incident. Don't tell John Brumby he might want to save money by trying it with our trams. What a disaster that would be.
Back to London on the boat down the Thames and that gave us another perspective of the importance of the river to the development of London. Very pleasant in the sunshine too. Yes the sun does shine over here.
Concert at the Albert Hall one night was magic experience. A truly magnificent building and can understand the atmosphere for the Last Night at the Proms now.
London Eye really does let you put the eye on the city. 135 meters up is a long way up.
Off to Cotswalds in our hire car Off to Cotswalds in our hire car Off to Cotswalds in our hire car - not a typo - we really did have three attempts before we got on the right road. (Getting used to the signage and the road system by now though)
Need photos to show the sights and do them credit. Suffice to say we would like to visit there again.
On to Coventry, Lincoln and York. A few Palaces on the way like Blenheim and Castle Howard (Brideshead) - magnificent buildings with great histories. Not as overdone as the French Chateux. Coventry Cathedral was a highlight.
Then to Newcastle and some time with Tom and June Steanson. Fantastic hosts and we visited Whitby, Hadrian's Wall and the area generally. The weather was lovely and we saw the wall at its best. Explored Roman forts - 2000 years old.
Had a Rotary night at Tom's where Australia was the theme. It was a fund raiser for a Shelter box. So we have now helped to raise funds for these boxes in Australia and UK.
Our last night with Tom and June was at their seaside place at Seahouses. Right on the waterfront and once again the weather was sunny and very pleasant.
Have explored Edinburgh on the bus and when we finish this we will go and look at the waterfront at Leith on the Firth of Forth and then find some dinner. Weather good, food good, wine good, company good so I guess we will just continue to have a good time.
PS. Bank account - who cares until we get home!
Now we have done much more since the last post. London was a buzz! Hop on hop off bus gave us our orientation and then the walking started to have a closer look at St Pauls Cathedral, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, etc. Monument to the Great Fire of London is a feature of the city. Almost as important as Nelson's Column by the way the tour guide on the bus was talking and then it got a special mention on the Thames Cruise as well.
Dinner Cruise was a special event. About 3 hours of sights, good food and good wine that we both thoroughly enjoyed and would do again if we come over again. We went to Greenwich to see the Harrison Clocks at the Museum and to see the Prime Meridian. Yes you can see it because they have actually created a line in the ground that marks the spot. We have photos to prove it. Can't be sure whether I was East or West at the time because I was standing on top of it.
Went there on a light rail train - with no driver - WEIRD!!! True, no driver but we got there without incident. Don't tell John Brumby he might want to save money by trying it with our trams. What a disaster that would be.
Back to London on the boat down the Thames and that gave us another perspective of the importance of the river to the development of London. Very pleasant in the sunshine too. Yes the sun does shine over here.
Concert at the Albert Hall one night was magic experience. A truly magnificent building and can understand the atmosphere for the Last Night at the Proms now.
London Eye really does let you put the eye on the city. 135 meters up is a long way up.
Off to Cotswalds in our hire car Off to Cotswalds in our hire car Off to Cotswalds in our hire car - not a typo - we really did have three attempts before we got on the right road. (Getting used to the signage and the road system by now though)
Need photos to show the sights and do them credit. Suffice to say we would like to visit there again.
On to Coventry, Lincoln and York. A few Palaces on the way like Blenheim and Castle Howard (Brideshead) - magnificent buildings with great histories. Not as overdone as the French Chateux. Coventry Cathedral was a highlight.
Then to Newcastle and some time with Tom and June Steanson. Fantastic hosts and we visited Whitby, Hadrian's Wall and the area generally. The weather was lovely and we saw the wall at its best. Explored Roman forts - 2000 years old.
Had a Rotary night at Tom's where Australia was the theme. It was a fund raiser for a Shelter box. So we have now helped to raise funds for these boxes in Australia and UK.
Our last night with Tom and June was at their seaside place at Seahouses. Right on the waterfront and once again the weather was sunny and very pleasant.
Have explored Edinburgh on the bus and when we finish this we will go and look at the waterfront at Leith on the Firth of Forth and then find some dinner. Weather good, food good, wine good, company good so I guess we will just continue to have a good time.
PS. Bank account - who cares until we get home!
Monday, August 13, 2007
We love Paris
Paris and the west have been lovely. More to go yet though. The Chateaux were very impressive - if a touch extravagant - no wonder the peasants revolted!
The food has been good; and the wines. Beires aren't bad either.
The tour we have been on for the past three days was different. We kept meeting other coaches from the same tour company and swapping people from coach to coach. Commentary given in four languages by the guides; English, Italian,Spanish and French
Mont St Michel was special - really worth seeing.
We are beginning to feel more relaxed as travellers. A decent coffee is hard to find. They all want to serve Espresso over here.
Main impressions - green, damp, old, amazingly old buildings and interiors. Paris at night is Magic. The Louis XIV-XVI all overspent. One even built a huge place that he never even lived in (Chambord)!
But we are loving it.
The food has been good; and the wines. Beires aren't bad either.
The tour we have been on for the past three days was different. We kept meeting other coaches from the same tour company and swapping people from coach to coach. Commentary given in four languages by the guides; English, Italian,Spanish and French
Mont St Michel was special - really worth seeing.
We are beginning to feel more relaxed as travellers. A decent coffee is hard to find. They all want to serve Espresso over here.
Main impressions - green, damp, old, amazingly old buildings and interiors. Paris at night is Magic. The Louis XIV-XVI all overspent. One even built a huge place that he never even lived in (Chambord)!
But we are loving it.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
La belle France!
Florence was clean and full of shops selling jewellery and leather goods - we bought some!!! You will have to wait to see them though.
Couldn't straighten the tower, couldn't finish the job either so it still has a lean. Looks like it should actually fall over.
Nice was nice!! Caught up with a local "Aussie" Karen Bosomworth who is writing her PhD whilst there. Some people have it lucky don't they.
Monte Carlo and Monaco are fascinating places. Never seen so many Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Didn't lose any money - didn't win any either.
STONE beaches Yuk!! - and you have to pay for your patch of stones. Give me Aussie beaches please. The water looked nice though.
TGV to Paris - woosh!! fast and smooth and quiet. Have to get them in Australia. Make travel a lot easier. The airlines wouldn't like it though.
Paris so far - a Parisienne dinner - didn't try the snails - but what we did have was good. Second day wet, elevators on Eiffel Tower broken, first in line to go up but then moved to another leg where we were about 6 groups back so an hour or so later we actually got up to the second level. That's when the thunder and lightning started then the heavy summer rain! Too wet to stand in the open. We got down before the elevators played up again. Some of our tour group were stranded for about 1 hour. All's well that ends well. They got down eventually. So much for good old Eiffel.
On to Versailles. Rain had stopped by then but wet under foot in the gardens. WOW! What opulence and extravagance.
Ate in a Hippopotomus last night. Not the animal - a restaurant. Good tucker and good atmosphere for a small group night out.
Finished the tour now. Made lots of new friends during the trip and will miss them. On the positive side we now have contacts in a lot of places if ever we get to travel to where they all come from. Likewise, if they come down our way we hope they will catch up with us.
Now. it is off into the wild blue yonder!
Couldn't straighten the tower, couldn't finish the job either so it still has a lean. Looks like it should actually fall over.
Nice was nice!! Caught up with a local "Aussie" Karen Bosomworth who is writing her PhD whilst there. Some people have it lucky don't they.
Monte Carlo and Monaco are fascinating places. Never seen so many Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Didn't lose any money - didn't win any either.
STONE beaches Yuk!! - and you have to pay for your patch of stones. Give me Aussie beaches please. The water looked nice though.
TGV to Paris - woosh!! fast and smooth and quiet. Have to get them in Australia. Make travel a lot easier. The airlines wouldn't like it though.
Paris so far - a Parisienne dinner - didn't try the snails - but what we did have was good. Second day wet, elevators on Eiffel Tower broken, first in line to go up but then moved to another leg where we were about 6 groups back so an hour or so later we actually got up to the second level. That's when the thunder and lightning started then the heavy summer rain! Too wet to stand in the open. We got down before the elevators played up again. Some of our tour group were stranded for about 1 hour. All's well that ends well. They got down eventually. So much for good old Eiffel.
On to Versailles. Rain had stopped by then but wet under foot in the gardens. WOW! What opulence and extravagance.
Ate in a Hippopotomus last night. Not the animal - a restaurant. Good tucker and good atmosphere for a small group night out.
Finished the tour now. Made lots of new friends during the trip and will miss them. On the positive side we now have contacts in a lot of places if ever we get to travel to where they all come from. Likewise, if they come down our way we hope they will catch up with us.
Now. it is off into the wild blue yonder!
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Week One
What a week! We have done a lot starting in Rome with all the historic buildings we have read and heard about for years. The Coloseum is amazing, the Pantheon, and just the scale of the structures when you think "How did they do that?" The fact that they have survived as well as they have is also amazing. They are still finding old ruins and doing the excavations and studies to determine what they were.
If it was in our part of the world we would have bulldozed the lot ready for the new building!
We walked our feet off in Rome but it was worth it.
Next was Venice. Easy to get wet feet there! Fascinating place. Got photos of the marine fleet -the taxis, the tradies utes, the postie, etc Lovely food and wine - specialy the seafood at Burano Island. The piazza's are great gathering places.
Now in Florence. Michaelangelo's David was a highlight. Dinner in a Tuscan garden last night was a special night. The singer was Andrea Rola who spends time in Melbourne with the Opera Company each year. He found out we were from Melbourne and had quite a chat with us. Will look him up when he comes out next.
We have the rest of today to ourselves and will enjoy just strolling and taking in the sights. Talking of sites the Appenines were impressive. lots of photos. Will try and find out how to add them to this at some stage.
So long for now.
If it was in our part of the world we would have bulldozed the lot ready for the new building!
We walked our feet off in Rome but it was worth it.
Next was Venice. Easy to get wet feet there! Fascinating place. Got photos of the marine fleet -the taxis, the tradies utes, the postie, etc Lovely food and wine - specialy the seafood at Burano Island. The piazza's are great gathering places.
Now in Florence. Michaelangelo's David was a highlight. Dinner in a Tuscan garden last night was a special night. The singer was Andrea Rola who spends time in Melbourne with the Opera Company each year. He found out we were from Melbourne and had quite a chat with us. Will look him up when he comes out next.
We have the rest of today to ourselves and will enjoy just strolling and taking in the sights. Talking of sites the Appenines were impressive. lots of photos. Will try and find out how to add them to this at some stage.
So long for now.
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