Hello lazing on the beach!!

Greetings all! I am here in sunny Greece, soaking up the sun and swimming in a beautiful blue ocean and finally having real bathrooms! So much excitement, I don't know how I will contain myself!!!

Okay, where were we? I think I had just arrived in Venice, so lots to catch up on!

Venice was awesome, so pretty and full of lots of fun things! We started the day with a ferry taxi into the city, and then we had a glass blowing demonstration where a man blew a horse (not as gross as it sounds, trust me!). We then admired the pretty pretty glass and Cassie repeatedly told herself that a) it's too expensive and b) it will so break in your bag. We then moved on to the lace making demonstration... my wordy, the work that goes into it is amazing! Again, Cassie told herself it was too expensive and really, do you really need another doily? We then split up and went wandering the city. I found a lovely pair of earrings, ginormous pizza, and fruit. Glorious glorious fruit. More than anything, I have missed fresh fruit and perfectly cooked veggies on this trip (Mum, I think I'm going to want a massive bowl of fruit salad when I get home! And a steak. And a proper pie. And BBQ City... mmm, BBQ City.....) OH, and almost forgot! I had a gondola ride! So much fun... and the guy was dragging off the other gondolas. Gotta love that!

We then made our way to Florence. Florence... I love Florence... How do I describe how much I love it? They have this massive cathedral called the Duomo, which looks like its painted with pink and green trimmings, in lovely patterns all through the facade. However, when you look closer you see that it's actuallly marble! Lots of different marble, assembled in patterns which so looks like a painting but really isn't. They also have Michaelangelo's David, but the line was too massive so just faked it with the copy in the square! We also went on a tour of the city and got lots of ace information, such as Michaelangelo was a tool and thought everyone was crap except for him, and called Leondaro Da Vinci an amateur. Oh, and the de Medicis were just the most awesome family ever. Any woman who can poison a whole lot of people all at once has my respect... mostly because she would probably poison me if she didn't! Oh, and they were also responsible for funding the renaissance. Heh.

The light in Florence was amazing, and each sunset was a ripsnorter. One thing I'll stay about this trip, I'm certainly learning all the functions on my camera! We also had a 'traditional' tuscan meal. Don't know about the traditional, but the pasta was awesome! So, so yummy. And we had Chianti!

Okay, next we were on to Rome! Oh, and somewhere in there we stopped at Pisa and I got the obligatory photo. And was accosted by people selling things. Btw, Teresa, I steered clear of the gypsies! Hopefully, no more gypsies but I'm not holding my breath. They are tenacious, those ones!

So we arrived in Rome to go straight to the Colesseum and a walking tour of the Colesseum and the Forum. It was chockers full of info and the lady was really good! And speaking of gypsies, she spotted some in the Forum, so alerted the Guardia. It was fun watching them run! We then saw the Fontana di Trevi, the Pantheon and went on to have dinner. Fun! And then it all turned to shit. The campsite was the most awful place we had been on tour. We were stuck in the crappy cabins cos there was a billion contiki tours there and for some reason, apparently organisation hasn't hit Roman campsites as yet. So was a very angry Cassie at the Rome campsite. One thing after another went wrong and I don't think anyone enjoyed their time at the campsite. Rome, yes, the campsite, big no.

The next day, it was in to Rome at a ridiculously early hour to queue for Vatican City. And oh my god, it was so the right thing to do! The line was massive... we were in a really good possie, and tho we had to wait an hour and half for the City to open, we got in within 45 minutes. We then walked thru the Sistine Chapel (and all the bits leading up to it... massive chambers!), took a sneaky photo (shh, don't tell anyone!) and then went on to St Peter's Basillica! Oh, and I also saw Pope John Paul II's tomb by mistake. There is a sneaky exit from the Sistine Chapel that bypasses the massive lines into the Basillica, but this exit is for groups. So we attached ourselves onto the end of a group, hoped they wouldn't notice the decided lack of grey in our hair and followed them. Somehow, we ended up in the Pope's Grotto, where all the popes are buried. Meh. But we got to the Basillica, which was awesome! Lots of photos there!

We then went to the Spanish steps which were, well, steppy? However, opposite the steps was a Camper store! I drooled over the shoes, and then was dragged away to revisit the Colesseum and to actually go inside this time. Very fun. Great shots. I then wanted to go to the Mouth of Truth, which was a bit of hike but got there! Unfortunately, there was a massive line so just took photos of the mouth. No losing my hand for me! We then visited the Cappucino monks (or something like that!) whose bones are decorating the chambers of a church. It was very gross and disturbing to see hip bones used as wings, and spine bones used to ornately trace a pattern on the roof. I found it funny at first, but by the end it was all too overwhelming and I actually felt a bit nauseous! I know, I couldn't believe it either! I went outside to recover and then it was back to the shite campsite and a dinner where they ran out of food. Thank god we were leaving the next morning, even if it was at 6am!

We drove to Bari via Pompeii, which was amazing! I love Pompeii, even tho the plaster casts of the bodies was disturbing. Still, it was magnificent to see such a complete city and to realise that a lot of our modern convieniences were being employed in ancient Rome! They had reflectors in the roads so you could see where the lines were!!! After Pompeii, we went to Bari where we caught our overnight ferry to Greece. So it was bye bye Italy, and hello -ish time and no flushing toilet paper down the loo (there are bins for that, my friends. Oh yes. The grossness starts...).

We got in to Patras at 12.30pm-ish (read: 2pm...ish) and then drove to Athens. I was surprised by how poor the country seems... I always thought Greece was prosperous and, um, greener. It is very arid and rocky, with lots of white rocks and light coloured dirt around the place. We arrived in Athens at about 6.30pm, picked up our guide and raced to the Acropolis, hoping to make it before it shut. We did, luckily, and also had the most amazing sunset to photograph and enjoy through the temples of the Acropolis! We then hoofed it back to our hotel (a hotel, a glorious glorious hotel! no cabins, no campsite!) and on to a greek dinner which has definately been the best thus far! Lots of yummy food! The only downside was we didn't get there til quite late and thus, didn't get to bed until 12.30am. Why is this bad, you ask? Well, we had a breakfast call of 5.15am... that's right, Cassie had to get up at 4.30am. Grumpy Cassie? Why yes, yes she was. Anyway, we got up, caught a ferry, slept a little on the ferry and am now in Mykonos! Again, I was surprised by the lack of green, but have now swam in both the ocean and the swimming pool and am def enjoying the amenities here!

So now it's three days of doing nothing but soaking up the sun, swimming, relaxing and maybe hiring a car and discovering the wonders of right-hand driving!

Hope everyone is awesome and I'll try to update this as soon as I can. However, we are about to enter Eastern Europe and from the jokes I'm hearing about Albania, well, don't hold your breath waiting for my post!

And finally, GO PORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(bummer, I can't get the grand final here... I'm sure Dad will let me know the outcome, however!)

Ciao! Fun times in the land of spaghetti

Hey all! Am having heaps of fun here in Italia, home of mountainous, um, mountains and lots of tunnels and me kinda knowing a smidge of the language and tarellis and mosquitos and Italian people and pesto pasta! Can you tell I am excited??

I am feeling very excited by being in Italy. I had no idea i would feel like this! It is kind of like I have come to the mother country even though I am not Italian. Maybe in my heart... heh. Anyway, am super pumped to be here.

Have spent the last couple of days in the French Riviera, which was awesome! So pretty, so blue, so lazy... did I mention it was awesome? got some great shots and went to Monte Carlo! I didn t have a flutter (I like my money too much... even tho I bought alcohol that was, ahem, a little expensive) but I did admire all the Bentleys and Ferraris and Lambourghinis that were parked out the front. Even the taxi was an audi!

Oh, and I finally had my cake and coffee in France! They weren t together, but still. The coffee was weak as piss (but so very French!) and the Pane au Chocolat (or Chocolate Crossaint) was awesome! It wasn t until today at the truck stop that I had my first real coffee in a month and a bit... it was so delicious, I think I experienced angels singing and gold dust falling... Garry, can so understand how you became addicted to the stuff!

Will try and upload some photos... nope, photos don t work! will have to try somewhere else.

baci baci to you all and I will post again soon!

Hola!

Greetings all from Barcelona, sagria capital of the world!

Have had a fabulous few days on the continent, running around Paris and the Beaujolais wine region. But first, let me update you on the particulars!

So, I had a fun last day at York, visiting the Jorvik Viking Centre. I thought it would just be a wander through, but no, they have this awesome ride that you sit in and it takes you through the recreated Jorvik village! And I was the only one in my particular ride! Fun times. After that, ran around the place, trying to find things to do. Had a lovely arvo tea, with sandwiches, scones and cake. However, the English put way too much mayo and the like in their sandwiches, so much that the poor item you are eating, eg egg, is swimming in the stuff. Ugh.

Anyhoo, then caught the train to London, which was an hour and a half late. So had a little dummy spit at the hotel, cos I´d missed the Contiki check in thing and they were mean to me (the bastards!). Anyhoo, did get a room to myself so that was awesome as it was supposed to be tripple share!

The next day, it was on to Paris! As I didn´t know what time I was supposed to be down stairs(damn reception meanies), I almost missed the bus! But it was all lgood, got on there and we were off to Paris! It was tres exciting to catch the ferry, which is massively big! You can do duty free shopping and eveything!

We arrived in Paris at about 3pm, and got acquainted with our rooms which had the toilet an shower in the same room with now screen. fun. we then went on a nightime tour of paris, seeing the sights from the bus. Beautiul. The next day it was off to Versailles, which is just way too impressive for me. After a while, I actually got sick of all the oppulance. After that, we had some free time in Paris, so climbed the Arc de Triomphe and walked down Champs Elysees, which is the fancy pants shopping district of Paris. Went into Louis Vitton, where there were €120 key rings! That night, it was back into the city an the Eiffel Tower! It was so pretty at night, and I went up the thing! Hey, I had to, I was in Paris! After that, we got treated to cheese an wine under the Eiffel Tower - sucked in, Jon!

The next day was a free day in Paris, in which I managed to fit the Catacombes (freaky how many bones are down there - there must be at least a hundred thousand people down there), Sacre Coeur (avoiding the gypsies), the Lourve (the Mona Lisa´s eyes do follow you!) and then back to the camp! That night, got all dressed up for dinner and cabaret, which was super fun!

We were then on our way to the Beaujolais wine region and the Contiki Chateau. We arrived around 5pm, after a visit to Fontainbleau Chateau, where Napolean did some historical thing, and went straight to wine tasting. Fun times right there. That night, it was Shock Your Mother! party time! I went as pregnant - see Mum, I did sorta get six months pregnant on my three month trip!

We went on a picnic the next day, which was a bit of a hike. However, it was lovely to sit up the top of a hill and gaze out on the wine region. Very relaxig, esp after the hectic times of paris. then, went to the village as I had to have a pastry and coffee in France. Unfortunately, the shop was closed! We then got a little lost (not too badly tho!) and made it back to the chateau to laze about on the lawn. Fun! That night there was another party, but I couldn´t be arsed. It was massively hot in their bar an my clothes stank the night before, so I sat in my room, drinking someone else´s wine and chatting to people. Classy!

Today, it was a big big big drive to Barcelona! Still, fun times. We are now in Barcelona, have partaken of the free sangria, bought more sagria for €2.75 (!) and are going to have fun drinking it on the beach. Tomorrow, it will be shop shop shop til I drop drop drop! I´m so sick of my clothes :)

Hope everyone is well and I´ll try to post as soon as I can. The internet is fairly scarce on the ground, tho...

Oh, and dad? Let me know if Port win (would you believe we are still getting footy scores over here? don´t know if there is a federal election called, but we know the footy scores!)

xx

York, York, York, York

Greetings one and all! I have arrived in sunny York from dreary Glasgow and am having the best time. Thanks for suggesting it, Mark! I boarded the train yesterday, unsure what to expect. The train ride itself was very painless, in fact I would even say comfortable. It took about 45 mins to get from Glasgow to Edinburgh, and then 2 hours from Edinborough to York. The scenery was okay, nothing to write home about really (literally), but I was very impressed when I arrived at the city to walk through Micklegate Bar, the royal entrance to the city! Hey, who knew? Apparently, I'm royalty. Cos only royalty can enter that way, right? Right??

Anyhoo, arrived at the backpackers which is quite good. Except I had to climb TWO flights of stairs. TWO. Okay, whinging aside, I then went out to explore the city and decide what I wanted to do with the next couple of days. I hopped the city explorer and saw the sights and then returned to find my washing finished and toasty warm. Thank god for dryers! Am so going that route if available and cheap!

That night, I went on York's original Ghost Tour. It was really interesting, and the guy who took us around was very knowledgable and an excellent story teller. I would recommend it to people who are interested! And, you know, also in York. It started off at the Kings Arms pub, which is known locally as 'the pub that floods'. Inside, it has marks of where the flood waters have reached in the pub... some were very nearly as tall as me!

Today, I walked the city walls and made sure I got my certificate (it was 4kms! If I'd known this before I started... well, I would have done it anyway, but I would have been prepared to have intermittant rests!) and this afternoon is Yorkminster fun times. They have Choral Evensong at 4pm, so should be fun times!

Okay, that's it for now. The next blog will probably be from somewhere in Europe! Until then, however, content yourself with piccies of Scotland at Picasa.

xx

Old people have made me sick

Hello all! The Globus tour is almost all over and as a lovely parting gift, the old people on the bus have coughed and spluttered and passed on their goodness to yours truly. Oh joy. Thank the lord I got that medical travel pack! The antibiotics have headed it off at the pass and hopefully I'll be all better by the time Contiki rocks around.

So, what's been happening, I hear you ask?? Why, the Isle adventures, as I have now dubbed this second! First off, Isle of Skye which was so back of beyond! Still, fun times were had, although I was viciously attacked by midges, small mosquito-like insects that are tres annoying. We went to another castle (who would have thought you could get sick of them?), Dunvegan, which had lovely gardens. We then had an optional excursion to Eilean Donon Castle which is where they filmed part of Highlander! Very very exciting. Not that I realised this, of course. No, a postcard had to tell me. But still, thanks postcard! I got lots of shots of the castle (cos, you know, I didn't have enough) and we also had a drink of our choice at a local pub. I, of course, went top shelf. One GlenFidditch whisky later, it was back on the bus for dinner and beddy byes.

The next day we drove to the Isle of Mull which was again very long. Highlight was seeing the train bridge thing from the Harry Potter films! Our hotel in Craignure on Mull was awesome though, and I had the best dinner! For entree, there were these mushrooms in sauce which were amazing!

The following day, it was off to the Isle of Iona, which is famous for it's religious significance. I, being the heathen that I am, had never heard of it. Again, pretty cathedral/castle like qualities, but the thing that intrigued me most was the mist! It was everywhere and so lovely. Took photos of that, of course! Had another lovely dinner, this time a ratatouille like thing with polenta (you would have loved it, Jon) and a beautiful berry cake thing... oh hang on, the cake was the night before! Whoops! Oh, and I forget the best optional excursion! We went to Torosay Castle and was shown around by the Laird, the guy who lives there. It was awesome to have the personal touch, with his family history and him explaining the gardens and portraits and the like. Very nice!

Today, more driving to Glasgow. Nothing too exciting, except I finally had Orkney Ice Cream and it was delish! We are staying in the ritziest hotel yet... I feel like quite the interloper in my crappy jeans and jumper, with my backpack and my travel pillow hanging from said backpack ;p

Tonight is the farewell dinner and then it's me in the big city of Glasgow by myself before travelling to York on Saturday. I'll try and post some photos on the net tomorrow!

Hope everyone is well and would love to hear from you!
xx

Greetings from Ullapool!

Hello all and sundry! I am writing from the bookshop in the little fishing village of Ullapool on the western coast of Scotland. Have had an aweseme time in the Orkneies and we are now on our way to the Isle of Skye.

Yesterday, we visited Skara Brae which was extremely awesome! I took way too many photos of the same thing, but hey, I love that place! It was so awesome to see someplace 5000 years old and it's still there. I didn't get a photo of me touching such an old structure, but we did pass the Ring of Brogdar (I think that's what it was!) and that was completely awesome (oh, and I got a photo of me touching it!) It's super cool cos you can actually go up to it and walk amongst the stones and everything! I even got a photo of me being blown away by the wind cos it was super blowy.

So today it's driving driving driving. Thank god for chewing gum cos it seems to have miraculously cured me of car sickness! Of course, today I'm sitting towards the middle of the bus so that's gotta help too!

Anyhoo, have to go as my time's about to run out on the 'net. Will post more (and more photos) when I get the chance!¬