http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Tav/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Tav en-us Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:57:53 +0000 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:57:53 +0000 Next morning we had brekky then went to Central to try to get our tickets to head to Lake Como also referred to as Lario. This is the third largest lake in Italy and the deepest with a maximum depth of around 410 mtrs. While the Como section is relatively narrow and the mountains behind are somewhat uniform the Lecco branch is more rugged and rocky. The northern part features deep valleys and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Milan/blog-94329.html It was then time to move on so we went for a wander and decided to look for Castello Sforzesco which we finally managed to findhellip turns out when we were at the Dumo we were within a few minutes walk but because we wandered the other way we ended up having to trekked half way across Milan to find it I like to call it the scenic routeOk so the castle have to say Nat and I were too busy http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Milan/blog-94325.html 15th SeptemberWe went for a walk to Piazza della Scala home to the city's famous opera house which was designed by Giuseppe Piermarini in 17761778 to hold up to 2000 spectators. We decided that rather than take a tour through the theatre we would try and get last minute tickets to the final performance for the month. The deal was you had to come back at 6pm.We went for a walk had lunch the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Milan/blog-93330.html Whilst waiting at the airport I got a message from Nat saying she was delayed by 1.5hrshellip but thatrsquos the way it goes with us Nat had set about planning it perfectly so that our flights coincided with each other but alas it wasnrsquot to be After checking through and a long wait and a relatively short flight I finally arrived in Milan where it was raining glad I had taken out http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lombardy/Milan/blog-91602.html The next day I went for a walk through the streets and look at all the shops and the donkeys making their way through the steep winding hills as they made their way up the stairs... Sarah thought that there was an overwhelming smell of pepper turned out to be donkey pepper Awesome view awful smellNext day woke up and it was cloudy after Arty told me that itrsquos NEVER cloudy in Santorini http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/South-Aegean/Santorini/blog-92029.html Hi AllWell the start of the next adventure had finally arrived I hadnrsquot been excited in the slightest in the lead up to the trip as work has been twice as hectic as usualMum took me to the airport and we had some lunch then it was finally time to go to boarding and my gate was half way to China or at least it felt like it anywaysThe minute I boarded the plane I knew that it was goin http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Greece/South-Aegean/Santorini/blog-91454.html The scenery has changed a lot since crossing into Austria. Reminds me of the west coast of Canada somewhat with the massive hills and blue water.The service stop we went to was regarded as the best service stop in Europe and damn was it good Pork with crackle creamy potatoes and veggies all just like your Grandma made it Had the drink they suggested which just tastes like fizzy apple http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Vienna-State/Vienna/blog-21495.html We had a 9.15am start this morning and made our way to Niagara Falls which is what most of us had been waiting forhellip The first thing that strikes you is that you can see the falls from the road on the way into town and we could see it from the bus I guess I had expected that it would be in a National Park somewhere and be somewhat like the Grand Canyon out of the way of the town but it http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Ontario/Niagara-Falls/blog-10962.html Today we left the province of Quebec and continued along the St Lawrence River Valley to Toronto.We stopped along the way to take a boat cruise along through 1000 Island District. We saw the famous Boldt Castle which originally had a bowling alley hotel and all sorts of other extravagant things in it We also saw the worldrsquos shortest international bridge which looked about 4 metres long http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Ontario/Toronto/blog-32791.html Well hello from CanadaWe are currently in Toronto started out by headed up the New England Coast through Connecticut and Maine where we stopped for lunch. Nat and I made a salad in the grocery store in an effort to be goodBefore we knew it we were at the boarder where we did some duty free shopping and had our passports checked they pulled a few of the dodge looking characters aside for mor http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Quebec/Quebec-City/blog-32781.html Met the new tour group the next day there are 57 people on the new tour so the bus is full I am thankful that there are 10 people on it for at least the first part of it less names to remember.The saddest part was saying goodbye to Amy my friend and partner in crime Irsquom going to miss you AmsBoarded the bus and headed for our usual seat and we finally got moving I was glad to stil http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Boston/blog-10223.html I arrived late and we had to circle for awhile as the weather was bad and there was thunder and lightening so didnrsquot really get a good view coming in. Finally arrived in the Bahamas after 2pm and it was absolutely pouring and I had to remind myself that I was going to see my good friend Julia and meet Jon and Nikita for the first time not taking a tropical holiday so the weather was ir http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Bahamas/blog-32699.html Got up tired again Only 2hrs sleep it doesnrsquot seem to stop or get any betterGoing to Annapolis the Capital of Maryland and home to the US Naval Academy we were all fairly quiet and not particularly energetic. The town was preparing for the Memorial Day Parade.We went for a quick walk then back on the bus crossed the Potomac and stopped in to see the lsquoRockyrsquo Statue in Phi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-32696.html All is well here except for having the flu fairly badly now but I'm guessing it's my own fault since each night consists of drinking my own weight in alcohol and eating again then and only getting 4 hours or so of sleep a night. Went to the Chemist and got some stuff though so hopefully it will help.Nat and I went for a jog this morning it wasnrsquot great but it was a startWe travelled t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/District-of-Columbia/Washington/blog-9701.html We arrived in St Augustine They oldest permanent city in North America Pensacola was first settled but got flattered by a hurricane. It is a great little city with historic houses in both southern and Spanish styles.Anna Meg and I decided to go for a walk before dinner. We walked down to Castillo de San Marcos fortress. It was built out of a mix of shell and concrete called Conquina. They http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Louisiana/blog-32680.html Anyways we left Pensacola on route to Orlando where we were due to stay 3 nights and 2 days. We had lunch at Tallahassee stopped at Walmart and it was raining. It was a 9.5hr trip so we were glad to have a break to see the USS Alabama.We arrived at our hotel the Days Inn Suites in Old Town.Nat and I went to the Laundromat and met 2 locals there we chatted for a bit and tried to find out the b http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/blog-9443.html Anna Meg and I went to lsquoBravorsquo and Italian Restaurant not far from our hotel. It was really nice inside and the food was excellent as was the service. We stayed there for ages and chatted and relaxed as we got to know each other a bit better.We caught the trolley like a tram to the French Quarter to see the big Church. Then we went to do the river walk. It started sprinkling whi http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/blog-32673.html Started off the day by going to the gym again this morninghellip Then to Dennyrsquos to try and get breakfast which was a mission and a halfWe crossed into the state of Mississippi where the capital is Jackson and the population is about 200000.There have been a lot of problems here over the years especially in the 1950rsquos60rsquos. You see the main economy was agriculture and the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/blog-9113.html Well just thought that I would do a quick update on what's been going on...Anyways can't quiet remember where I left off so I will just start with our arrival in Dallas. Then we got tickets to the Play offs game like I think I mentioned. Natalie and I got No 41 Dirk's singlet so that we looked the part and I swear to god the atmosphere was amazing and just went Nat and I thought that we'd d http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Texas/Dallas/blog-8891.html Before I start I forgot to tell you all that I got married by Elvis at the Gracelands Chapel in Vegas Can't believe that I forgot that I've got the marriage certificate and all....Oh yeah then I did a Britney and got it annulled and so then I was divorced it was a joke I had been 'volunteered' for a dating game on the contiki bus and then when we were in Vegas it was part of the plan http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-Mexico/Albuquerque/blog-8607.html