Travel Blog Posts
March 2nd 2009
We were picked up by Joe (Jeroen) at Auckland airport, after a painless 13hr flight from LA. I'd arranged a 3 week campervan "try before you buy" rental over the internet before leaving, this included airport transfer and a free night at his B&B. The drive to his place was about three hours, Joe talked most of the way, covering a variety of topics - fishing, adventure sports, driving advice and of course - campervans. He introduced us to ours when we arrived at his house, a 1989 Ford econovan with 134000km on the clock. After countless (no exaggeration) hours of research on the subject I was now something of a motorhome conisseur - 3 way fridges, deep cycle batteries - they were all second nature to me and I knew that the old ford engine ... read more
Down and out in beverly hills
Published: March 3rd 2009North America » United States » California » Los Angeles
March 2nd 2009
We arrived at London Heathrow at 6:30 after a 5am start, courtesy of Bob, Hannah's dad. The Virgin check in area was sleek and modern, like a 1950s spaceport. You scan your ticket and passport at one of many automated machines then weigh your bags after printing out passes, you still have to go to the desk so the whole process feels a bit redundant. The 10hr flight was pretty bad, seatbelt lights were on the vast majority of the time due to turbulence - happily, this coincided with the serving of food. It felt like an eternitiy before we started our decsent into LAX - this too was rather epic, we were flying below cloud cover for about 30mins - I was a nice shade of grey when we finally landed. Our plan to use ... read more
October 12th 2008
I was up at 06:30 after a relatively sleepless night, thanks to a deluge of American exchange students. The ferry to Amalfi left Sorrento at 07:30. With a 40min walk ahead I was cutting it pretty fine. On the way, I realised I needed cash for a ticket. Unfortunately, cashpoints which accept my card are suprisingly hard to come by. Every one I tried returned it - usually after several minutes of whirring and beeping. Stress levels were slowly rising as was my body temprature. 15mins until ferry departure and still had to get cash and descend to the port. I ended up bounding down the stairs like a mountain goat, only to find the ferry was running late - fecking Italians. What a beautiful morning to be on the boat though. Just as we were ... read more
October 10th 2008
Naples has a bad reputation as a rough town with a rubbish problem. Much of this is true, my first impressions of the city were not particularly good: Noise, rubbish, decrepit buildings, noise, no parks - NOISE! Geee-ssus gaaad man! It's so loud, ambulances screaming all over the city at all hours of the day. I swear if I wasn't blessed with a saintly temprement I would have hated it. But, I liked it. I liked it a lot. (That was a very Jeremy Clarkson-esque statement....the cock....) Finding my hostel was simple despite their best attempts to confuse me with wrong directions. It was only a small place with three dorms and one private room. Had a guid little kitchen for cooking too! Turned out there was one other Scottish person staying - Laura. Further turned ... read more
September 28th 2008
My first help-exchange and the first time I've been to Italy. I flew out from Stansted, arriving at Lamezia airport to meet Keith, my host and Hannah another helper. Any worries I had were unjustified - he was not a murderer, weirdo or sex-pest. Just a normal down-to-earth guy. We had about a 40min drive through stunning scenery to his house, located just outside the village of Rogliano. What a place - see photo above but I can't do it justice. Surrounded by rolling hills and a smattering of sleepy looking villages, it's like stepping back in time. Well, until you see the traffic. What a nightmare! Maria, Keiths wife, was waiting for us when we arrived. She showed us to our rooms. Hannah was inside and I had a little log-cabin-esque extension outside - bonus! ... read more
September 26th 2008
Woke up at 0630am on Wed morn to torrential rain. With a 40min walk to the train stn I had a slight sinking feeling - perhaps this was not going to be the easiest trip? Luckily, Keith our host had also heard and offered a lift. The drama really started when we arrived in Cosenza. In keeping with ancient Paul tradition lack of planning would feature heavily throughout the journey. We got off the train, fully expecting to jump on a taxi straight to AVIS and our car. Unfortunately, there were no taxis outside the stn. And, according to staff, we were unlikely to get one. A number 26 bus was suggested so we waited in the pissing rain sharing umbrellas with two amused students who, upon leaving, pointed out the bus shelter 10yards behind us ... read more
September 22nd 2008
I left Rogliano station around 11am with fellow helpex'r Hannah. Our train was a single carrige and looked resplendent as fook covered front to rear in graffitt - see photo above. The Italians seem to love graffitti, it's everywhere. Not your average UK attempt, oh no. If an Italian writes on a wall it's to declare his undying love: "Princepessa ti amo!!" We arrived in Cosenza around midday - bad idea. The traffic was not what I had expected. Streets were rammed, horns were blaring, the whole Italian-shebang. Shops close at 1pm for siesta so food was needed before we walked any further. I don't do walking on an empty stomach....After a quick bite we walked through the newer part of town for about an hour, marvelling at the mad Italian parking: parallel parking on a ... read more
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