http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/dwebster/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from dwebster en-us Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:25:15 +0000 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:25:15 +0000 Day 18 Thursday July 9 2009BRUSSELS BELGIUMAs mentioned in my last blog I had wanted to head north to Hannover Germany from France but couldn't get on the train I wanted. So last night I headed to Brussels instead. So that's where I find myself this morning. I'd been to Brussels before twice so had no desire to explore. My objective now was to get to Hannover Germany.I stayed at the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Germany/Lower-Saxony/Hannover/blog-427181.html Day 17 Wednesday July 8 2009BAYEUX FRANCEBayeux is one of the closest towns to the Normandy DDay beach landings and was the first town liberated. While most Normandy towns suffered great damage during WWII Bayeux is one of the few to sustain none. This is due in part to how quickly it was liberated but also I read somewhere that the mayor got word to the allies that the town was of no str http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Lower-Normandy/Bayeux/blog-427041.html Day 16 Tuesday July 7 2009SAINT MALO FRANCESlept pretty well but woke up a couple times. I think I first woke about 5 am perhaps earlier. When I noticed the sun wasn't up yet I went back to sleep. I think some part of my brain was trying to tell me something because I awoke again at 6 am and roughly every 15 minutes there after. Had I listened to my brain I would have caught an earlier http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Lower-Normandy/Bayeux/blog-426826.html Day 15 Monday July 6 2009MONTST. MICHEL FRANCEAlarm went off at 600 am but no point in getting up that early. Not only was I tired but it was very overcast outside. Went back to bed. Decided to get moving around 7 am or so.Today the plan is to tour Mont. Saint Michel. This UNESCO listed site was a former abbey built on a rocky island mount. Around the base of the mound were built protec http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Lower-Normandy/Mont-Saint-Michel/blog-426796.html Day 14 Sunday July 5 2009CAEN FRANCEAwoke 700 am. Paid the 6 euro 8.40 USD to have breakfast at my hotel. The breakfast was ok. I thought it pricey for what I got. They offer the following Cereals 3 kinds Yogart fruit or plain orange juice coffee tea hot chocolate and 3 kinds of bread croisant roll sliced bread. Maybe I'm just cheap.Today's plan is to tour Normandy. A http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Lower-Normandy/Caen/blog-421523.html Day 13 Saturday July 4 2009PARIS FRANCE4th of July Independance Day in the United States. Yet I'm in France. Doesn't mean a thing here.Having completed my research yesterday I am ready to travel south to Normandy. Aside from it's other attractions many would know that the Normandy area is where the DDay landings took place during WWII.After checking out of my hotel it took about half http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Lower-Normandy/Caen/blog-420131.html Day 12 Friday July 3 2009PARIS FRANCEI'd set the alarm to awake at 700 am but didn't really get up until a bit later. Was scheduled to check out today and had intended to go to Normandy but that didn't happen. I spent morning gathering information and planning but it became evident at 1000 am that I really wasn't ready to go to Normandy yet. So I opted to stay in Paris another day to re http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-419861.html Day 11 Thursday July 2 2009PARIS FRANCEDecided today I would visit The Chteau de Versailles or Palace of Versailles. According to the Versailles website it is one of the most beautiful achievements of 18thcentury French art. The site began as Louis XIIIrsquos hunting lodge before his son Louis XIV transformed and expanded it moving the court and government of France to Versailles in http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-419528.html Day 10 Wednesday July 1 2009PARIS FRANCENew day my first full day in Paris for this trip. Paris holds so many opportunities there is so much to see and do. However as I said in my last blog I'd been to Paris before and wasn't interrested in doing the same things I've done before. Three objectives for this trip were Chteau de Versailles Muse d'Orsay and Muse Rodin. My friend and I http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-419181.html Day 9 Tuesday June 30 2009LONDON ENGLANDWoke around 800 am. Was still tired as I'd stayed up late last night cruising the Internet using the WiFi in the hotel lobby. Unfortunately that was a waste of time as I didn't find what I was looking for.Today taking the EuroStar to Paris. A friend decided to come along so we agreed to meet at St. Pancras station at 1145 am. That should give us http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-418967.html Day 8 Monday June 29 2009LONDON ENGLANDAwoke to a very sunny morning. Up and going just before 10am. Went to Internet cafe to check on a few things 1 eurohour 1.65 USD. Internet was a bit sluggish.Today I thought about a visiting the Victoria Albert Museum located south of Hyde Park. Decided to walk. On the way through Hyde Park I stopped by Kensington Palace and the Sunken Garden. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/blog-414967.html Day 7 Sunday June 28 2009LONDON ENGLANDLeft room around 1145 am. Was up late the night before so slept in. Artists have paintings for sale hung along the exterior wall of Hyde Park. I took time to check them out. Most didn't really interrest me but one fellow was particularly good. A number of his paintings were of Koi fish and exotic birds. He had others as well but they all were so http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/blog-414965.html Day 6 Saturday June 27 2009LONDON ENGLANDSlept in. Didn't get going until 1030 am. I'd had thoughts of going to Salisbury today as I haven't been to Stonehenge before but didn't put much effort into my planning. The late start wasn't helpful.Stopped by ATM to get an extra 200 pounds mailed two letters and a postcard 3 pounds 10 pence total 5.12 USD then I was off to Paddington statio http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/blog-414964.html Day 5 Friday June 26 2009LONDON ENGLANDHad already decided that today I was going to visit the RAF Museum in north London. I'd wanted to visit it on a previous trip but it never happened.830 am Had breakfast in hotel restaurant as it was included in price of room. Pretty basic choice of tea or coffee then a choice of how you want your eggs. I had coffee with scrambled eggs and toast. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/blog-414963.html Day 4 Thursday June 25 2009REYKJAVIK ICELANDFell in and out of sleep all night. It was light all night but that wasn't it. Up at 6 am. Took shower. water smelled a little of sulfer. Was told at power plant yesterday that even when they heat cold water they add sulfer to remove oxygen so as to kill off any organisms that might be in the water.Had breakfast just after 7 am. Breakfast was http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/Reykjavik/blog-413380.html Day 3 Wednesday June 24 2009REYKJAVIK ICELANDI awoke in a panic convinced I had over slept and missed a tour. Still very groggy from lack of sleep I rolled out of bed threw on some cloths and rushed down stairs just in time to see an Iceland Excursions van pulling away from the hotel entrance. I rushed after it only to find that is wasn't there for me it was simply turning around. Ugh.Looke http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/Reykjavik/blog-412640.html Day 2 Tuesday June 23 2009 KEFLAVIK ICELANDLanded in Keflavik Iceland around 615am to light rain and heavy overcast. I was worn out. Starting my third day without sleep. Keflavik is about 30 minutes south of the capital city of Reykjavik. So after exchanging Dollars for Icelandic Kronur I caught the FlyBus to Reykjavik. The FlyBus costs 1700 Kronur 13.29 USD oneway and is really the b http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/blog-412112.html Day 1 Monday June 22 2009My trip started smoothly enough but became one of the longest and most frustrating days that I can remember. I left home at 445am to catch the MARC train for DC. The cab to take me to the train station was right on time so I caught the MARC train without a hitch. I used the time constructively so the ride passed quickly. At Washington's Union Station I had to tr http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Maryland/blog-411706.html