calandbradineurope

well the plane flight wasn't too bad at all. watched Disturbia - i would not rush out to see this one...read a bit of one of my books. slept ate and got off the plane in singapore. singapore was fun this time - totally blurry because our plane was delayed and we only had 10 minutes to get from one end of the airport to the other. it was a 2 km marathon. well it felt like it after sitting down for 15 hours. 5 hour plane ride to perht wasn't bad. very bumpy tho, it made reading very difficult. finished my book!!! got off the plane and (ann's town is considered rural and i had eaten local lamb) NEWS: foot and mouth scare in england heightened restrictions and checks etc the checks were no different ... read more

Dinner tonight - an Angus Burger with cider. very tasty!!!! my arteries won't ever thank me. roamed london again today, buying a few souvenirs here and there. Dinner: GBK (Gourmet Burger Kitchen) now this burger was tasty!!!!! Well time flies and it is nearly time for us to fly but we still have some time so it is off to the british museum tomorrow. i was thoroughly impressed by this museum. apart from its layout (which was utterly confusing) it has some fantastic exhibits and some fantastic stone and cermic items (sorry mum, i think they will arrest me if i try to bring them home for you). a short tube ride to the airport (45 minutes) and its time to check in and make our way through the horrendous crowds to our gate. spent 40 ... read more

caught the bus up to Birmingham again!! it was delayed a bit because of some crash on the other side of the road. i met George at the station and we drove back to Fazely. it was great to catch up with George, Sandra and Greg again. went out with Greg and his mates to the movies and then to the pub! the simpsons movie is even funnier when you can actually read the subtitles!!!!! (for the animals speaking etc) there is a first for everything...i tried Fosters. yes i'm not proud of it but i had to discern why all foreigners think we drink the stuff (did you know it is brewed in scotland, well the uk version is anyway). it was surprisingly ok...so i had another one. cricket!!!! went to the cricket to watch ... read more

I love London. it is an awesome city, easy to navigate and has an endless plethora of things to do as long as you are willing to pay to do them. even then there is a vast amount of free stuff that you can do. Lords cricket ground is quaint. the home of cricket!!! watched the county game here today. Middlesex v Glamorgan! nothing exciting happened...until we left. well it is nearing the end of the trip so i can afford to do a little bit of shopping. spent a couple of days checking out the shopping areas i.e. oxford street (why they made streets this long back in the days when you had to walk everywhere i will never know!) i finally conceded to the fact that my jeans were ready for pasture. i bought ... read more

Arrived in Zurich ok and went to the airport. unfortunately i was three hours early for Bradley's plane so i had to buy a book and chill somewhere. there wasn't a plane viewing area which was really disappointing. Brad arrived, we ate and decided that we really, really liked Switzerland so we would stay and explore this fantastic little country a little further. so: train ticket (check), Money (check), accommodation (ch...uh oh). a quick 30 minutes internet fixed that problem and we were again on the train to Bern. Bern: now this really is a fantastic city. i take my hat off to the town planners because it is the only city in Europe that i have found myself lost in. even Vienna at 3 am was easier ot navigate! the funny thing is that Bern ... read more

well the night train in a seat was certainly a different experience. the seats were kind of special seats so it wasn't to bad. the lights however didn't go out too well so i rigged up an eyemask out of a strap and my sunglasses cloth because i am too stingy to buy myself one. why should i when i should have received it complimentary of singapore airlines!!! the conductor on the train was quite thorough. he was the first one to actually ask for my passport with my eurail ticket. i read a bit of harry potter (when i say a bit i mean i am 100 pages from finishing a 600 page book i bought 48 hours ago) and then tried to sleep. unfortunately reading a book without finishing it before bed has never ... read more

Well i arrived back in Berlin by the skin of my teeth. the train to Norway was delayed which meant i had to catch a later train to the airport (only just made check-in) - and it was forward planned dad!!! doesn't always work ;) caught up with Brad and Em and boarded the plane. a very very quick all wheels landing. not very pleasant. bit of shuffling happening around on the run way but we got there in one piece. i grabbed my luggage and said my good byes to Brad and Emma as i was catching a different train which......isn't there. it is dark i am at the end of the line, no map. I said my Hi's to Brad and Em again and boarded their train to catch a connection a little further ... read more

Stockholm!! Climbed off the boat and on to the bus after a banana and muesli bar breakfast. I was checking out the map when I realised the place I needed to be was not where the bus was going so I quickly regained my cash and headed out on foot. My hostel is quite a neat place: it is actually a school. The classrooms have been turned into dormitories for the summer holidays. The only downside is that the doors don’t lock and anyone can walk in or out as they please. Spoke to the family on the phone for a bit and then I headed into a place called Skansen. The entire place is a recreation of traditional Swedish (and some Finnish) settlements. Inside is also a zoo with Scandinavian animals. I was very ... read more

July 8th Well the trip on the night Express wasn't too bad. the people in my couchette wanted the windows and the blinds closed which was great!!!! Lisa met me at the train station in Halmstad!!!! it is great to see her again and catch up!! it's like she never left Perth!! we drove back (on the wrong side of the road) to her and Johan's apartment. its fantastic!! i love what they have done with it. it is right in the centre of town. chilled out today. Lisa and johan were a bit under the weather from the wedding yesterday. SHOPPING: Maxi: the first real supermarket i have found in Europe. the place is huge and reminds me of a combination of coles and Big W. Lisa lead me to the Swedish lolly section ... read more