My travels

CALGARY, CANADA

2009-04-16T12:07:00.002+10:00

Arrived in Calgary just before Easter. And was it a great Easter. Lots of eating and more eating was involved, as well as the company of great friends. It's something different to experience Easter away from your comfort zone, what you know, away from family. But I didn't feel that. Easter may have been Canadian but it was still Easter.
While staying in Calgary I had the pleasure of travelling to Banff. And I thought Whistler was great. Dude Banff is definitely on the to do again list. There was a visit to a lake as well. I'll have to ask C for the correct pronounciation as apparently I keep pronouncing it wrong, Lake Minnewanka.

PHOTOS - Whistler

2009-04-11T14:25:00.011+10:00

PHOTOS - Vancouver

2009-04-11T14:07:00.003+10:00

View from Granville St bridge
Granville Island Market
View from hotel

VICTORIA, CANADA

2009-04-10T15:49:00.003+10:00

Yesterday I took a BC ferry to Victoria on Vancouver Island. Victoria is actually the capital of British Columbia .. and it shows. The grand old buildings, the british style of architecture. I think Victoria is more british than the british. They even have double decker buses, mind you they are white.

Also headed out to Butchart Gardens. Gardens in early spring are wonderful. Not everything is flowering but there is this feeling of new life everywhere. Some of the bulbs were just sprouting but the hyacinths were in full bloom and boy could you smell them. The scent was intoxicating. And the colours! The highlight was the sunken garden. Photos to follow soon.

VANCOUVER, CANADA

2009-04-08T06:07:00.003+10:00

Greetings from Vancouver. I arrived on Sunday after a journey across the pacific with AirNZ. Can I say if I could fly AirNZ everywhere I would. Qantas has a lot to learn from these guys. How's this for groundhog day .. I flew out April 5th at 12pm and arrived April 5th at 2pm.
First thing I noticed when I arrived in Vanc was the mountains. Wow! After arriving at the hotel and checking out the fantastic view from the window (sorry no photos today - forgot the cable in my room and can't be bothered backtracking to hotel) I set out to explore.

Granville Island was first on the agenda. As it was getting late in the afternoon and it had taken awhile to get to the city from the airport, I was on a tight schedule. No beer stops here, even though the Granville Island Brewing Company beckoned. But the public market was a must. From there it was a "short" stroll up Granville St to Vij's. Now I have heard alot about this place from people back home. So by the time I arrived I was famished. The queue (waiting time) was a wee bit long for my liking so I went next door to Rangoli, incidently owned by the same people and they rotate the same chefs through the kitchen. The food was delicious!! Definitely recommend. After the meal I decided to walk back to my hotel on Burrard St ... the long way. Along the way I came across a film production crew setting up a scene in the middle of Downtown. Apparently you can't walk anywhere in Vancouver without bumping into someone filming something. Got to see Freddie Prince Jr wearing a cape and lycra .. it was so funny.

Yesterday I went up to Whistler. Still lots of snow about but warm too. Also talk about an Aussie invasion. Every second person I heard speaking had an Aussie accent.

Today I went for a bike ride around Stanley Park. Loved it! Perfect spring weather. Now I am walking around Downtown, Yaletown, Chinatown, Gastown and Soma. And as the guidebooks say do not walk anywhere near East Hastings St. It's all true.

Time for another trip

2009-04-03T21:20:00.004+11:00

It's time to dust off this blog, another trip is pending! Stay tuned for updates.

GERMANY/AUSTRIA

2006-08-28T23:25:00.000+10:00

Just realised that I haven't written bout my last week in Europe. It went like this beer beer and more beer. There was also a trip to Salzburg, where I caught up with friends and did the Sound of Music tour. The hills were definitely alive with the sound of music .. Mozart. I also had the pleasure of enjoying a few of the beer halls in Munich. And I can finally say it rained. Second day in Salzburg it poured and my last day in Munich. But it didn't matter cause I had a fantastic time with my friends and didn't even notice it.
On the way home I enjoyed 7 hours in transit at KL airport. Oh joy. And when I arrived in Melbourne it was 7 degrees C, that scarf I bought definitely came in handy. And that's about it.

PHOTOS - Innsbruck, AUSTRIA

2006-08-03T08:05:00.000+10:00

PHOTOS - Munich, GERMANY

2006-08-03T08:00:00.000+10:00

PHOTOS - SCOTLAND

2006-08-03T03:06:00.000+10:00

Munich, GERMANY

2006-07-28T01:51:00.000+10:00

I arrived on Monday to another scorcher. It must be following me around Europe. But I no complain.
My last days in Edinburgh were great. We went out .. had fun .. did touristy things ... such as a ghost walk .. visited castles .. walked up arthur´s seat! I´ll say again Scotland was a fave part of the trip.
So far in Munich I have walked my feet off. I think I have almost visited every part of the old town. I´ve been to a beer garden and a trivia night in an Aussie pub. Today I went to yet another palace. The Nymphenburg. The gardens were great ... lots of shade.
Yesterday I took a train journey .. down to Austria. Innsbruck to be precise. I love this city (the architecture the people the atmosphere of the place) .. nestled in the Alps. Mind you the Alps lacked something this time around ... I wonder if it had anything to do with the Scottish Highlands! Hmmmm ....
Still got a lot to see and do ... take care.

PHOTO - name that car

2006-07-22T11:03:00.000+10:00

PHOTO - Guess where I am?

2006-07-22T11:00:00.000+10:00

Edinburgh, SCOTLAND

2006-07-22T10:23:00.000+10:00

Scotland. Another destination that will forever be a fave of mine.
Have seen so many places. We did a driving tour of Scotland .. was a little strange being a passenger and not the driver but hey all part of the fun. Especially when one has to navigate and read the map. Didn't get us lost once .. I think.
I started off in Edinburgh. My friend Craig picked me up from the airport and there was a suprise waiting for me. The car we had for the week was to die for. And another thing to die for .. was the weather ... it was hot and sunny in Scotland! Something that I wasn't expecting. Did a quick walking tour of St Andrews. Lovely. Then just relaxed and went out for dinner later in the evenin. Tuesday started off with a trip to Dundee and ended up in Inverness. Along the way there was a visit to a distillery and the most spectacular views I have ever seen. I swear the sun does not set in these parts. It was way past middnight and still slightly light! Wednesday saw us leave Inverness and head along to the Isle of Skye. Saw a battlefield in Culloden where Bonnie Prince Charlie's army was defeated by the British. Then onto Loch Ness.. nessie and Urquhart castle. Arrived in Portree on the Isle of Skye late that evening. It was on this route that I was left totally and utterly amazed. The mountains. WOW! Switzerland can have it's Alps ... but these were in my opinion even better. Thursday we explored the Isle some more .. went on a wee walk down a steep hill then up another hill to reach a lighthouse. See one lighthouse you seen them all. Walk back was a killer but I survived somehow. We then headed out to Glasgow. Along the way we passed through Fort William where incidently Scotland showed it's true nature ... the rain. One hour later after a brief stop at a pub .. to get out of the rain .. we were on our way in sunshine again. Drove through another range of mountains ... which included Ben Nevis .. but the three sisters were the best. Glen Coe. Words cannot describe what I saw. Mountains covered by mist.
So now I am in Edinburgh .. gonna head out and do touristy things tomorrow .. should be a fun filled and long day. I am glad that everyone is enjoying the pics and travelogue .. hope all is well with you guys back home :)

Paris, FRANCE

2006-07-22T10:05:00.000+10:00

Next stop Paris.
I arrived here on the 13th July .. day before Bastille Day. Was I in for some fun. Did a quick walkabout of where I was staying and then headed out into the greater metropolis. Paris will always be a fave city of mine. There is always something going on and new places to discover. Yes I ditched the map yet again. Familiar haunts came flooding back .. managed to get a few nice piccies by night as well ... mind you it doesn't get dark till round 10:30pm here.
After exploring Paris I decided to visit Versailles. Had never been there before. After seeing the grandeur and pomp of the palaces and gardens I can understand why there was a revolution. Not that I didn't enjoy Versailles .. I did.
Bastille Day was fantastic. Saw the parade on the Champs Elysees ... france's firepower and might in all its glory. When those planes flew overhead .. wow what a rush. And later that evening the fireworks display by the Tour Eiffel. Half a million people turned up for the display. I was one of them :)
OK now for another sporting event. What would a holiday be without a Grand Prix. On the sunday I took a train to Nevers and then hopped on a bus with other like minded people to Magny-Cours. The French GP awaited me. I caught up with a friend of mine .. who incidently works for Bridgestone. I was in the pit/paddock area for about an hour ... managed to snap a lot of great pics with nearly 3/4 of the grid. John should change jobs and become a photographer. Race was great. Seat amazing. View spectacular. A very enjoyable day all round. It was then back onto the train to Paris .. and pack the backpack for my next point of call ... wee Scotland.

Lourdes, FRANCE

2006-07-22T09:39:00.000+10:00

OK so I am not right there at the moment, was there last week but it'll be easier to recount things this way.
Arrived in Lourdes after a train trip that involved one change .. from a fast train to the local version of the met .. it was delayed as well suprise suprise. Got there in the end .. that's what matters. Lourdes was everything I expected it to be and more. It was breathtaking. I really enjoyed spending time there .. very serene. A much needed break from the hustle and bustle of travelling. No miracle though. It was also the first time on this trip that I had to pull the jumper out of the bag. The Pyrenees can get prety clouded over and chilly.. chilly being 20ish.
Now what would a trip be without a sporting event. I managed to see a stage of the Tour de France. Another thing to cross off the to do list. I hadn't planned it .. I was just there at the right time in the right place .. well 30mins away by train .. in Pau. It wasn't cold here .. sunny weather all the way. The excitement in the town was pretty amazing. Got so many freebies .. no thanks to Skippy the kangaroo. I guess the french loved Skip. The race itself was amazing .. the crowds were fantastic. Simply loved it.

Mougins Le Haut, FRANCE

2006-07-10T17:13:00.000+10:00

Bonjour!
Arrived in France on saturday from Hungary. Have been staying for the past few days with friends. It's really lovely here. The views are magnificent .. the beaches and the mountains ( southern alps). The weather has been good too ... hot! We watched the World Cup final last night, but it wasn't the result everyone wanted. So now I can say I haved watched matches in english polish german hungarian and french! Off to my next destination today, Lourdes.

PHOTOS - Krakow, POLAND

2006-07-08T02:41:00.000+10:00

PHOTOS - Gdansk, POLAND

2006-07-08T02:29:00.000+10:00

PHOTOS - Sopot, POLAND

2006-07-08T02:15:00.000+10:00

Greetings from Budapest, HUNGARY

2006-07-06T18:46:00.000+10:00

Arriving in Budapest by train from Wien, I looked at the train platform and thought what country have I arrived in .... India! There were masses of people everywhere. And the majority of them were trying to get onto our train. The handful of us who were disembarking, looked at each other, said our goodbyes and good lucks and prayers! and made our way off the train. The train was continuing its journey onto Belgrade. I managed to located my cousin Mark in the midst of all the chaos and we were on our way.
Budapest is totally different to any other city I have ever been to in Europe. The language for starters. "S" is pronounced like a "sh" .. "sz" pronounced like an "s" ... "e with a dash on top" is "ee" ... hehe! My brain is still on polish mode .. "sz" is "sh".
Backtracking a bit now. Krakow. Loved it. The atmosphere .. the people .. the architecture .. everything about it was amazing. Did a trip outside of the city too .. to Wieliczka. It's a salt mine. First mined in the middle ages .. and still operational to this very day. There are a few lovely additions to the mine .. namely the Chapel of Saint Kinga, where all the wall decorations, statues and other carvings are all made out of the salt.
From Krakow I journeyed to Wien. Spent a few days there as well, exploring old haunts and finding new ones. It's amazing what one can discover when they put away the map and take a wrong turn ....
That's it for now. Off to explore some more and maybe even relax in a heated mineral pool or two.

PHOTOS - Bydgoszcz

2006-07-01T18:45:00.000+10:00

Bydgoszcz, POLAND

2006-07-01T18:06:00.000+10:00

I guess the Ukranians didn't win the next match. But the Germans most certainly did.
Have had a fun week, yet again. Weather has been great, most days. Has been a bit cloudy the past 2 days.
Thursday ended up going to Sopot and Gdansk. Had a dip in the Baltic. Must say the water was a wee bit cold. Gdansk was gorgeous. Most of the old buildings in the Old Town have been restored to their former glory. So everything is bright and cheerful. Very Germanic style of architecture. Lots of nice amber jewellery too. The food ... especially gofry ... delicious.
Today I am off on another train adventure. Heading towards Krakow. So next time you hear from me will be from who knows where.
Take care.

Sunshine galore

2006-06-28T06:13:00.000+10:00

Where to begin. It's been almost a week since I last posted. Have been up to ... lots! Some might say no good ... but I am always good. Anyway last thursday we went on a day trip to Lichen. It's about an hour and a half drive. Last time I was there, they were in the middle of construction work on a church, Basilica actually. It's really grand. The gardens are nice too.

Friday I spent exploring Bydgoszcz. I love my digital camera. It holds SO MANY photos. Saturday was spent with my Godfather (Uncle Andrzej and his family) and in the evening went to my cousin's (Krzysiek and Violetta) for dinner, where we proceeded to eat and eat and eat. We had a grill .. our version is called a barbie. Not a rain cloud in sight.

Sunday was spent with my Mum's brother (Wujek Juzek). We ended up going on a roadtrip to Bielsko-Pomorskie. Some of Mum's family live there. Amazing views of the country. Suprisingly my Mum's Aunt thought that I was her. In the end my polish gave me away. Apparently I speak with an accent. Polish with an Aussie twang.

Yesterday spent more time with family. Ended up watching the football match with my cousin (Jarek) who is a mad football fan. Well we all know what the score was. May the Ukranians win the next match.

Weather has been great, ended up being 33C today. I am actually turning a darker shade of white. I have my 30+ which I have been applying .. so there is no chance of sunburn! Take care.
Dot

PHOTOS

2006-06-23T04:12:00.000+10:00

Torun, POLAND

Bydgoszcz, POLAND

2006-06-21T03:38:00.000+10:00

After 34 hours of travel I am finally here. Word of advice don't ever travel with sinusitis, if you can help it. And the winners are .. Best airport for football watching: Kuala Lumpur. Best airport in general: Amsterdam (huge!!!!!! one can get lost there easily) Airport to kill time: Warsaw.
So far have caught up with family here in Bydgoszcz. It's great to see everyone again. The weather is brilliant. High 20's all the way. I could get used to this "heatwave" as everyone is calling it.
Today we ended up going to Torun. A UNESCO listed city. Lots of history .. lots of beautiful buildings. But most of all Gingerbread heaven!
That's all for now. Photos coming soon.
Do zobaczenia :)

Up up and away

2006-06-18T10:59:00.000+10:00

I am about to head off to the airport. Not long to go now before the adventure begins. And yes it's for a few weeks. First stop Bydgoszcz, POLAND. It will be great to catch up with the family. Take care.
Dot

It's a start

2006-06-14T12:20:00.000+10:00

Let's start the ball rolling. In a few days time I'll be off to Europe for a weeks. So I'll try to keep you all updated through here. To all of you who I'll be visiting .. see you soon .. and everyone else .. see you when I get back.

Ciao