http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/RachelleD/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from RachelleD en-us Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:13:42 +0000 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 11:13:42 +0000 Can you believe this is my 40th blog What a great place to blog about as well. It's been a fabulous weekend in Vienna. Not really a fan of the 4am rise to catch the plane but it was well worth it. This time there was 7 of us. Clare Emma Jenny Stephanie Sharaneya Tina and Me. As soon as we landed we dropped our stuff at the hotel and headed straight to the christmas markets or should I say http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Vienna-State/Vienna/blog-460369.html What a way to end Everything had been leading up to this day our stay at The Ashford Castle. One of Irelands Top 5 Hotels we were Literally Princesses for a whole 24 hours.Irelandrsquos grandest castle hotel with a history going back to the early 13th century Ashford is set in 350 acres of beautiful parkland. Grandeur formality and tranquillity are the essential characteristicsthat you firs http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/Westport/blog-459894.html FUN few days as we headed to the Dingle Peninsula. Definently the prettiest part of Ireland I have seen. By this stage Rita and I were well and truly into a routine and use to each other 247. It took a while to drive to the Peninsula but the coast line is very untouched and filled with sheep and farms. We arrived after dark and settled into our very cool Hostel. Probably the best one we stayed at http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Kerry/Dingle-Peninsula/blog-459747.html Days 3 to 4 have taken us right along the southern coastline. Within minutes of driving out of every major city we have hit lucious countryside which makes the long long drives really nice. We were up and out of Wexford early to make a few pitt stops along the way. First stop was the Johnstown Castle and the clear but cold morning made for a perfect photography day. I was completley caught up wit http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Cork/Blarney/blog-456339.html Just spent the last week driving through th south of Ireland. So here is the first leg. After a scary landing in windy Dublin we jumped in our hire car which was upgraded to a very cool Nissan something and headed to The Wicklow Mountains. We stayed in the middle of nowhere at a great family run hostel called Mountain view. Fresh air and drinking water from the local spring. Hospitality was fab. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Wicklow/Wicklow/blog-449735.html It has been far too long since my trip to Sardinia and I am appalled that it has taken so long to update my final destination on my 7 week backpack but I guess better late than never.After weeks and weeks of partying like no tomorrow I left Croatia bound for Bari on the east coast of Italy via boat. I took a plunge 10 weeks earlier and booked a cabin room on the boat which although expensive we http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Sardinia/Cagliari/blog-440330.html OK........ I have literally spent the last week sailing in Croatia. I began in Split and took seven days to sail down to Dubrovnik. I joined an organised tour of 27 people and shared a room with an Aussie country girl Jodie. It was a fantastic week and one of the highlights of my summer. I flew into split from Milan Malpensa italy where I had stayed for 1 night. I never would have thought that g http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Croatia/Dalmatia/blog-434328.html After a very long flight I have finally found myself in Greece. Starting in Athens and only staying there for 1 day was a great choice. Besides the Acropolise there is not much else and they don't take very good care of their city. It has loads of grafitti and is dirty. I can't believe that when I got to the Acropolis my camera decided not to work and I was unable to take any photos. Ah well I wil http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-427411.html Thank goodness for my few days rest in Valencia because IBIZA has a life of it's own and you can not help but get caught up in the chaos and party that they deliver. I must start by letting you know about my initial preIbiza plan. I was meeting Jessica an old friend from primary school and we said we would go to 2 clubs because entry fees are 50 euros and then spend the rest of our 9 days beac http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-424352.html Well after an experience I hope is never repeated in Bene I headed for some sleep and relaxation in Valencia. What a pretty place and at this point one of the favourite places I have visited this year. It is very easy to find your way around and I stayed in a really great Hostel called HOME. I can't actually say that Valencia has had anything that makes it stand out above the rest. I think that I http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-424350.html OMG where to begin this time. Last week 5 hopeful travellers set off for some partying in Spain excited by the idea of seeing Kings of Leon live in concert and aprehensive about camping for a whole week. We left London in the wee hours of the morning and I think I was still half asleep when I landed head first into the train to Gatwick airport. YES thats right Backpack on and smaller bag attac http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/blog-420407.html Ahhhhhhhh what a week it has been More life changing events happening and more chaos in my life. It has been a crazy time but all things happen in threes and my three happened in Pareeeeeeeee.After an early rise on saturday morning Jen and I made our way to St Pancras Station to catch the eurostar at 6.55 am. As soon as I got there disaster struck as I realised I had left my passport at home. GRR http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-409551.html Well....... I do not know where to begin Portugal has been a great chance to throw all the rules out the window leave the sites behind and drink party and sit on the beach. I can't remember the last time I had a holiday like this but it was much needed. Kelly an Aussie teacher I work with at Bannockburn Primary and we planned to fly into Lisbon and see where life took us. The Algarves were se http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Algarve/Lagos/blog-403019.html The search for all things Princess Mary Royal began in the early hours of the morning at Gatwick Airport. Very quickly I came to my first obstacle as the easy jet lines went the distance of the entire airport terminal. There were many frustrated flyers including myself and I automatically began to think of back up plans in case I did not get on my flight. The only way the line kept on getting sho http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Denmark/Region-Hovedstaden/Copenhagen/blog-400585.html My birthday fell on the bank holiday weekend this year. It was kind of bad because most of my friends had gone away but 4 of us managed to organise a day trip to Oxford. It took a 1 hour train ride and we were in the land of the brainiacs. Although it's a small town it is filled with grand buildings manicured gardens and cobble stone roads and you can't help but feel extra brain cells and motivat http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Oxfordshire/Oxford/blog-400075.html SIENNAIn our last week we decided to take a side tour to Sienna before we headed right into the wine country. After a long day of train delays we did not feel like hunting for accomodation so we got off the bus and walked straight into the hotel across the road and booked a room. OMG what an expensive dive. But luckily there was so much to see in Sienna that we only headed back to the room to sle http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Montepulciano/blog-396274.html You step off the train at the fifth village Monterosso and the first thing you see is a stunning sea of clear blue water. This combined with the orange flowers that had just bloomed at the beginning of spring was the view from the trains take away food shop and made me think that I was in for a beautiful 5 days at Cinque Terre.Almost like a mirage I sat on the balcony in amazement. It was great t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Liguria/Cinque-Terre/blog-396005.html Five days in Florence probably sounds like alot but it was fantastic. After leaving Rome I felt pumped to move on and see Florence for the second time. Last time I was here was for less than 24 hours and there was only time to shop shop shop but this time we had time for everything. Once again Rick Steeves took us on an adventure when we visited the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. This has a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Tuscany/Florence/blog-393276.html I am currently travelling through some more of Italy. The Last time I was in this country was to travel along the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii. Previous to that I had been to Rome during an infamous Contiki tour so after such a brief visit I was determine to return and now seven years later here I am. The second time in Rome has definitely been worth it. I don't know if it's looking at the same thin http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-388642.html A few weeks ago I ventured out of central London for a relaxing day by the beach. Now as an aussie I have expectations of what a day at the beach would look like sun surf sand and lots of people walking around in skimpy bikinis and shorts. While teaching over here I have had many conversations with many students about their favourite summer past times and all of them love going to the fun fai http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/blog-387929.html