First two weeks
(Vicki) Well we are 2 weeks into our holiday (feels like one at the minute), here's the story so far.....
Day 1 - Stanstead to Baden-Baden in southern Germany.
Arrive with no accomodation, seek out local tourist information who recomend the local youth hostal (think we will be a bit out of place!), turns out to be up a very steep hill, great first test for the backpacks! 2 nights in bunk beds - Jason had the top bunk for fear of me falling out in the middle of the night and doing myself a serious injury.
Baden-Baden is a lovely place, saw where the WAGS did their shopping (England trained near here for the World Cup), apparently the locals couldn't even park their cars in the town etc. We went up a 1 in 5 hill in an automated train 668m high at 8.30pm with no one around except the cleaner, amazing views but pleased to get down. Day trip into the Black Forest, beautiful scenery, very relaxing felt like we have been away for ages, like a scene from Hansel & Grettel.
Next took the train to Munich for 2 nights. I have been practising my German, have remembered quite a bit considering I haven't spoken it for 12 years. Hostel No. 2 - No bunk beds this time but twin beds. Visited The Residenz (Royal Palace) where they were celebrating 200 years of Bavaria and had the equivalent Crown Jewels on display, quite impressive. Went to the Pinakotheken Museum saw some Renoir, Monet (Waterlillies etc) and Van Gough's Sunflowers (One of several versions).
Had a great night with a German couple (who turned out to be from Baden-Baden) in a traditional Bavarian pub where the waiter recommended some good local specialities and beer by the litre.
Next day train to Fussen (very south) to see two castles Schloss Hohen Scwangau & Schloss Neuschwanstein, the latter of which was apparently the inspiration for the Cinderella castle at Disney (can see why) did feel like a theme park, hard to believe it was someone home.
Berlin next for two more nights, didn't stay in the best of areas as it turned out, had to walk past a dodgy huge delapidated building full of squatters flying a black flag! Hostel OK but didn't walk back late at night.
Saw the usual sights, oh by the way it hasn't stopped raining since we arrived in Germany (Gary - very impressed with paclites!). Saw Brandenberg Gate, parts of the wall that are still remaining - hard to imagine that c16 years ago it was there. Not much left but cobble stones to mark where it was. Checkpoint Charlie is now a tourist trap complete with the posing American Soldier which was a bit of a dissapointment. Berlin has some amazing buildings, beautiful architecture, we had a good meal by the river with a view of the Berliner Dom.
Poland next for 36 hours! Great friendly hostel with Beer Garden and pool room and Poland is very cheap. We had a fantastic 2 course meal with several beers for £15, sat in a beautiful square (the largest in medieval Europe apparently), wish we had stayed longer at those prices. Main reason for visiting Poland was to go to Auschwitz however Krakow is a lovely town, well worth a visit.
(Jason) Right take a deep breath here we go again!
Landed in Athens next at 4 Am and were at the Acropolis at 7 .30am just behind all the bloody tour groups! Amazing place but you really have to get there early. Basically Athens is full of amazing Greek history which we spent 3 days discoverying. On the first day we decided to have an authentic Greek meal-Big mistake complete waste of €30 so as a way of making ourselves feel better we had a piss up in Hard Rock Cafe the next night with our emergency money( at this rate it will run out about Tokyo)
Our original plan was to get a ferry to Italy but it turns out that takes 15 hours, so we decided to use more emergency money and catch a flight straight to Rome.
What a place, history everywhere. The first day we took the train to Pompei via Naples. It is a totally amazing place on a scale with Farnsfield and if you let your imagination go you can still hear the romans walking down the street into the red light district just past the sign of the dickus, (there really is a preserved sign).
It was St Peters square and the Basillica next which are gorgeous buildings full of history and beauty. Michaelangelo's Pieta is there and that is amazing, climbered 541 stepd to the top of the cupola where upon chaos ensues, 2 people wide so everyone goes around in 5's!!!
The Sistine( if thats spelt wrong its Vicki's fault) chapel and Vatican museum were closed for 2 days not the 1 we expected for public holidays so we will take a day trip back here from Florence
which is where we currently are. We have just been to see a slightly sloping tower in Pisa, you may have heard of it, pretty cool really and also the Statue of David which close up is truly awesome with details such as veins in hands and feet which you don't see in photo's( which Vicki sneakly took in the museum as there was a power cut and all of the staff were trying to evacuate everyone!)
Anyway try not to work too hard, miss you all
Jason and Vicki
Day 1 - Stanstead to Baden-Baden in southern Germany.
Arrive with no accomodation, seek out local tourist information who recomend the local youth hostal (think we will be a bit out of place!), turns out to be up a very steep hill, great first test for the backpacks! 2 nights in bunk beds - Jason had the top bunk for fear of me falling out in the middle of the night and doing myself a serious injury.
Baden-Baden is a lovely place, saw where the WAGS did their shopping (England trained near here for the World Cup), apparently the locals couldn't even park their cars in the town etc. We went up a 1 in 5 hill in an automated train 668m high at 8.30pm with no one around except the cleaner, amazing views but pleased to get down. Day trip into the Black Forest, beautiful scenery, very relaxing felt like we have been away for ages, like a scene from Hansel & Grettel.
Next took the train to Munich for 2 nights. I have been practising my German, have remembered quite a bit considering I haven't spoken it for 12 years. Hostel No. 2 - No bunk beds this time but twin beds. Visited The Residenz (Royal Palace) where they were celebrating 200 years of Bavaria and had the equivalent Crown Jewels on display, quite impressive. Went to the Pinakotheken Museum saw some Renoir, Monet (Waterlillies etc) and Van Gough's Sunflowers (One of several versions).
Had a great night with a German couple (who turned out to be from Baden-Baden) in a traditional Bavarian pub where the waiter recommended some good local specialities and beer by the litre.
Next day train to Fussen (very south) to see two castles Schloss Hohen Scwangau & Schloss Neuschwanstein, the latter of which was apparently the inspiration for the Cinderella castle at Disney (can see why) did feel like a theme park, hard to believe it was someone home.
Berlin next for two more nights, didn't stay in the best of areas as it turned out, had to walk past a dodgy huge delapidated building full of squatters flying a black flag! Hostel OK but didn't walk back late at night.
Saw the usual sights, oh by the way it hasn't stopped raining since we arrived in Germany (Gary - very impressed with paclites!). Saw Brandenberg Gate, parts of the wall that are still remaining - hard to imagine that c16 years ago it was there. Not much left but cobble stones to mark where it was. Checkpoint Charlie is now a tourist trap complete with the posing American Soldier which was a bit of a dissapointment. Berlin has some amazing buildings, beautiful architecture, we had a good meal by the river with a view of the Berliner Dom.
Poland next for 36 hours! Great friendly hostel with Beer Garden and pool room and Poland is very cheap. We had a fantastic 2 course meal with several beers for £15, sat in a beautiful square (the largest in medieval Europe apparently), wish we had stayed longer at those prices. Main reason for visiting Poland was to go to Auschwitz however Krakow is a lovely town, well worth a visit.
(Jason) Right take a deep breath here we go again!
Landed in Athens next at 4 Am and were at the Acropolis at 7 .30am just behind all the bloody tour groups! Amazing place but you really have to get there early. Basically Athens is full of amazing Greek history which we spent 3 days discoverying. On the first day we decided to have an authentic Greek meal-Big mistake complete waste of €30 so as a way of making ourselves feel better we had a piss up in Hard Rock Cafe the next night with our emergency money( at this rate it will run out about Tokyo)
Our original plan was to get a ferry to Italy but it turns out that takes 15 hours, so we decided to use more emergency money and catch a flight straight to Rome.
What a place, history everywhere. The first day we took the train to Pompei via Naples. It is a totally amazing place on a scale with Farnsfield and if you let your imagination go you can still hear the romans walking down the street into the red light district just past the sign of the dickus, (there really is a preserved sign).
It was St Peters square and the Basillica next which are gorgeous buildings full of history and beauty. Michaelangelo's Pieta is there and that is amazing, climbered 541 stepd to the top of the cupola where upon chaos ensues, 2 people wide so everyone goes around in 5's!!!
The Sistine( if thats spelt wrong its Vicki's fault) chapel and Vatican museum were closed for 2 days not the 1 we expected for public holidays so we will take a day trip back here from Florence
which is where we currently are. We have just been to see a slightly sloping tower in Pisa, you may have heard of it, pretty cool really and also the Statue of David which close up is truly awesome with details such as veins in hands and feet which you don't see in photo's( which Vicki sneakly took in the museum as there was a power cut and all of the staff were trying to evacuate everyone!)
Anyway try not to work too hard, miss you all
Jason and Vicki
posted by Jason&Vicki | Thursday, August 17, 2006
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