Jdame
JennyF Joined: May 2nd 2007
Logged in: February 10th 2012
Logged in: February 10th 2012
Travel Blog Posts
Pilbara Region
A 3 day outback camping tour in the Pilbara and Karijini National Park, then our stay at Cossack in 2003 The Pilbara is the heart of Western Australia's huge iron ore mining industry. On the drive across the country into the Karijini National Park the landscape is so varied with colours from daybreak to sunset changing as fast as the sun moves across the sky. The heat of the day changes accordingly and when you step down into the gorges the temperature drops but the water may be freezing so hypothermia can be a problem. We camped out under the stars and beside an Aussie icon, the windmill, in sleeping bags that kept us warm at night but had ice on them when we woke in the morning as temperatures drop low after sunset. Cossack is ... read more
England, London
Day 53: Fri 14th. August: Week 8: ENGLAND, London: Temp 23C: We arrived at Heathrow at about 1735, collected our luggage and purchased a 7 day Travel Card that allowed us to travel within 6 zones. Down to the train and off we went - on the fast train - not the right thing to do so we had to pay for that train fare BUT we were in London in 20 minutes - wow. Onto the Barkerloo line to Oxford Circus then up and onto the street, read the street signs and hauling our cases we trudged to the hostel in Noel Street. Well, the entrance was small, the lift was small so getting in/out was difficult. Reception was OK but then came the stairs - some young man helped us with cases which was ... read more
Munich
Day 46: Fri 7th. August: Week 7: MUNICH: Temp 20C After yet another early breakfast we had the 1 1/2 hour train ride to Munich and then taxi to hostel. BEWARE at the Hostel Munchen Park anyone over 26 has to pay extra rate which we were not aware of when we booked the room. The hostel is good and there are lifts. We checked in our luggage and walked to the nearby Underground to Central Station - hopped onto a tram and out to the Botanical Gardens - very lovely place to while away and hour or so. Back to the Hostel for tea at €5.50 - soup, cooked meal and salad bar, sweets and fruit. Very good value. Day 47: 8th August: Munich: Temp 23C: Down to Dining Room for breakfast - they ... read more
Venice to Vienna
Day 36: 31st. July: Week 6: VIENNA: Temp 26C: As we started on the next adventure we looked back at Venice as the train sped out across the flats into areas of green pastures and hills and into the mountains - such very different scenery. Arriving in Vienna at 11.45pm. we taxied to our hostel (Vienna Hostel Huttledorf) where the staff were waiting and greeted us warmly. We had a 4 bunk room for the 2 of us so lower bunks each and private bathroom. Good!!. Day 37: 1st. August: Vienna: Temp 29C: Early brekky of cereal, bread, water, coffee or tea, fresh fruit. Down the road to the bus and only 2 stops (so well within easy walking distance) to the station and the U4 train into town. A short walk about then onto ... read more
Italy: Venice
Day 31: 26th. July: Temp 28C: Another early breakfast so we could go out on deck on a beautiful clear morning and watch as we approached Venice. We had been to Venice in 1995 - one day to see not much, so it was with great anticipation that we stood with cameras at the ready as we glided through what appeared as very shallow water, into the Giudecca Canal , where we overlooked the buildings and small canals as we passed by to our berth. After lunch it was off the ship and a walk to the nearest spot (the Parking Garage) to collect our pre-paid Venice Connected Card. We found the No. 41 vaporetto (public water bus) to take us to the hostel where we would be staying as of tomorrow, then on the vaporetto ... read more
Turkey: Istanbul
Day 27: 22nd. July: Week 5: TURKEY: MAMARA: ISTANBUL: Temp 29C: Today as we approached Turkey we could see the beautiful skyline of Istanbul then onto the coach we drove across the Galata Bridge and went on our booked "Walking Tour of Historical Istanbul". That amazing first view gave way to traffic chaos where nothing was moving, horns were being honked and we were caught in the middle of it near some old walls so our guide had the driver park elsewhere and we walked up extremely narrow stoney footpaths and roads to our first place of interest and cemetery, onto the Sokulla Mosque then admiring the minarets of the Blue Mosque as we walked to it. We strolled on past St. Sophia to an historic Ottoman House where we had refreshments, then back to ... read more
Day 26: MYKONOS
Day 26: 21st. July: GREECE: MYKONOS: Temp 29C: Today after another delicious early breakfast it was onto the tender and over to the Island of Mykonos where we went on a tour around the hot, dry and barren island with many nice looking hotels - stopping at the beautiful Kalafatis and Ioannis Beaches where we had time to paddle in the cold water before visiting a Monastery, Ano Mera village, then walking through the narrow streets of the town, up to the windmills and through Little Venice. Days 27 - 28: TURKEY Day 29: 24th. July: Week 5: GREECE: ATHENS -CORINTH: Temp 34: Today was full of expectations - a tour through Athens then a climb up the steps to the top of the Acropolis to see the Pantheon, a temple dedicated to the virgin goddess ... read more
Day 22: Livorno - Lucca
Day 22: 17th. July: Week 4: TUSCANY: Port of Livorno (Florence, Pisa, Livorno) - City of LUCCA: Temp 36C: Vera and I had opted for a tour of the walled city of Old Lucca, home to the ancient Etruscans, reached by driving through the Tuscan countryside with the occasional glimpse of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in the distance. We had a guided walk along narrow streets, through the medieval center with a stroll from one piazza to another to the Duomo - the Romanesque cathedral with Gothic interior and holding the magnificent painting of The "Last Supper" by Tintoretto. Lucca was a lovely city, small and quiet with a lot of residents riding bikes. Back on board the ship we sampled the English afternoon tea and chatted with other passengers then watched as the ... read more
Day 21: Monaco - Monte Carlo
Day 19: Wednesday 15th. July: Temp 27C: We met up with Vera's sister and husband and friends at the hotel before going to the Ship, the Ruby Princess to start our cruise around the Mediterranean. On Board: - we had a twin cabin with en suite (small but adequate), could hang our clothes up on hangers and close our suitcases for 12 days, the food was good and plentiful and we dined together as the ship sailed out of Barcelona in the evening. Day 20: 16th. July: Ruby Princess - Monaco and Monte Carlo: Temp 27C: We were alongside the coast of France and berthed at the Port of Monte Carlo where we disembarked to join our escorted tour in Monaco walking through the Princess Grace Gardens, St. Nicholas Cathedral where the Prince and Princess ... read more
Day 2: Madrid
Day 1: Friday 26th June 2009: Departing on our next holiday adventure started with flying PERTH - SINGAPORE - FRANKFURT - MADRID; taking in all of what seemed liked neverending hours in the air. Flying over Spain showed the varying countryside (brown like Australia and then areas of orchards) which we were about to explore over the next 12 days. I used my video camera for both video and photos with only 2.3 mega pixels for still recording, far below what is the normal practice . Day 2: Saturday: MADRID: Found us in Madrid - such a large city where did one start to look around. I noticed most of the shops were closed in the afternoon, but McDonald's was open so lunch was there before taking a stroll around the local area and through ... read more
