Aussie_Emma

26th, 27th, 28th of February 2006. Venice, Italy. I was originally drawn to Venice by shockingly wicked stories and accounts of Carnivale in the 17th and 18th centuries; of unapologetic decadence, debauchery, depravation and degeneracy conducted openly in the streets, and far exceeding the supposedly "scandalous" dramatics of modern society's silver-screen aristocrats. Of a time and place which could create and nurture such personages as Casanova and Lord Byron (English-born, yes, but a Venetian at heart), not to mention the scores of lesser-known but no less unique libertines and wantons. Drawn, too, by the memory of mysterious, labyrinthine streets full of hidden alcoves and delicious conspiracies and more secrets than could ever be told. But most of all, I was lured to her festivities by the age-old thrill of donning a bewitchingly beautiful mask and becoming ... read more

2nd and 3rd January 2006 Edinburgh, Scotland. Suspicions of having acquired a cold were confirmed as much of today was spent in the same cotton-headed, aching fog of yesterday, for surely no hangover ever lasted this long, and the sniffling has been increasing by the hour. I had planned on spending the two days following Hogmanay in a variety of activities - ice skating, walking again along Arthur's Seat, finally visiting the inside of the castle regardless of jaded reviews, catching a day train down to Gretna Green, and so forth - but have been dismayingly lacking the energy or initiative to follow through. My only two achievements, as such, were to ride the ferris wheel on Princes St and to keep a meeting with an old friend-stroke-mentor, Scotsman, and fellow traveler from Cairns. He was ... read more

31st December 2006 Edinburgh, Scotland. I spent the morning flicking through tattoo catalogues and internet sites for a design that I loved enough to have imprinted upon me and could get the tattoist to agree to. By the appointed time I was out of ideas, but he had taken note of my suggestions and reasons and had drawn up a deceptively simple celtic-style butterfly design. It wasn't the answer to all my dreams or anything, but I liked it and thought I could live with it, so I reluctantly agreed to a size somewhat bigger than I'd envisioned (had hoped for miniscule, really) and negotiated the placement of it. The next thing I knew I was laid out flat on a surgical table, staring up at a picture of the god Krishna, of all things. I ... read more

29th December 2005 Edinburgh, Scotland. Having survived Christmas, I left Godalming this afternoon in search of a top-notch New Year's bash, which according to popular opinion is up at dear ol' Edinburgh. Imagine my surprise! I'd been willing and eager to go absolutely anywhere in Europe for the most spectacular party available, only to find that everybody else was heading up to my old haunts. What a laugh! Mindful of the train problems last time, I'd secured a bargain flight from Stansted to Prestwick Airport near Glasgow.... *Helpful hint for would-be travellers: airlines work on 24-hour clocks. Yep, you guessed it. My 6:20 flight, though chosen from a brief list and assumed to be after a day's worth of flights, had in fact been for that morning. Bugger. After much running about and comparing and panicking, ... read more

6th and 7th November 2005 Brighton, England. The Morning... er, Afternoon... After Awakening well after seven for the first time in many, many months (ah, the luxury!), it was a little worrying to discover that the skies had started to drizzle. But, knowing the capriciousness of English weather, I washed as per usual - it should be mentioned that despite the lack of a shower, I have been keeping clean - and set off for a visit to the Brighton Pavillion. In the 1780's the Prince Regent, under advice from his doctor, visited Brighton to 'take the waters' of the healing hot-springs there, a fashionable undertaking of the English Gentry at the time. He apparently became enamoured of the area, and decided to build a residence there. The result is the Royal Pavillion, the height of ... read more