http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Hoze/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Hoze en-us Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:19:05 +0000 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:19:05 +0000 We said goodbye to Paris on the 13th and boarded a comfortable second class French carriage on a train heading for Munich. In Germany at Mannheim we had to change to another train. We noted that this train left precisely on time give or take 10 seconds or so. Unfortunately our faith in German efficiency was soon to be destroyed. Our train broke down and we had to disembark and wait for the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Germany/Bavaria/Munich/blog-9596.html A city of contrasts. Unbelievably extravagant buildings with fantastic statues and ornamentation. Dog droppings on the pavement. A superb public transport system in the Metro and RER train networks. But you are in danger of being run down when crossing the road even when on a pedestrian crossing with a green light.Incredible cathedrals we visited Notre Dame Sacre Coeur and Saint Chappel http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-8613.html It takes around 40 minutes to take the tube from Heathrow into Earls Court station. Just around the corner is the Mayflower Hotel. Our room is small but comfortable. We had a delicious meal at an Indian Restaurant very nice. It's odd seeing Policeman walking around the streets. It's a shame that we can't have them doing that at home. Apparently Chelsea won today It seems that football fans who http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/London-City/blog-8226.html Heathrow is not very nice. Well not the bits I have seen anyway. We have arrived safely and are trying to stay awake. There is a three hour wait until Sandra arrives from Madrid. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/blog-8204.html Two days left well less actually before I leave home for a month in Europe. As usual I am not ready. Have looked at suitcase but not packed anything yet. The list of things to do before leaving seems to be getting longer not shorter. Having recently read The Art of Travel by Alain De Botton I have convinced myself that travel is almost a necessity if one wishes to find the time and were http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington-Region/Wellington/blog-8048.html