Shirley Hinkley
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Chart our adventures around the globe from Melbourne, Australia, to Dubai, London, Paris, Singapore and back home.
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Travel Blog Posts
April 22nd 2007
The long trip home Europe » Germany » Frankfurt By peteandshirl April 22nd 2007 We are now in Frankfurt, two days here to "prepare" ourselves for the flight home, I am probably being a bit over dramatic because I decided to break the 25 hour flight with another stopover in Singapore. I think a night at Raffles wont be hard to take. The purpose of this blog was mainly to catch up with all the photos. I need to back track to Berlin, so the photos will follow our trip from there. We had so much fun in Berlin, staying with Nicole for 3 days whist we all explored this fantastic city. Too much shopping, too much eating and I think you will see from these photos a lot of laughing. Next will be... read more
April 19th 2007
Today was a day of mixed emotions, I told you earlier that Pete and Nicole were keen to fly to Poland to go to Auschwitz but the flight connections made it impossible to do that. I personally was content to see the memorial to the holocaust in Berlin, I thought that would be the end. Well I have learnt not to give Pete a travel book to read and amuse himself while I am at my conference. He read of another infamous concentration camp Bergen-Belsen where among 100,000 people including Anne Frank died. So we set off on our mission to find it. We often joke about "don’t mention the war" but today I realised this generation of Germans are truly embarrassed and ashamed of their history. It was almost impossible to find out how to ... read more
April 17th 2007
We are now in Hamburg but I should back track a little because I was working under stressful conditions in Berlin, so my blog was short...with only the internet cafe to work from and no English from my friendly shop owner it was impossible to add photos. Berlin was great!!!our time with Nicole was priceless as well as being very expensive. Dean was reunited with his dad and so they were together - he has a very interesting family history from Berlin and he and his dad were off to trace their "roots". This left us exclusively with Nico...to shop and eat and only pause between funny stories to shop again. Deans dad had booked her to stay at the same hotel that Michael Jackson dangled his baby from the balcony....its a story that the hotel ... read more
April 15th 2007
"ich bin ein Berliner" - (I am a Berliner) These words were famously quoted by JFK. I can almost say I am enjoying it just as much. I am sure my reasons are different to his, but you really feel part of this wonderful city when you are here. Most people speak some English, its only when you get into the less "touristy" places that you struggle - but everyone is so friendly its been part of the fun trying to be understood. Yesterday Pete and I were in a supermarket trying to buy sausage (back to the eating) and by the time we finished there were about 10 other customers involved all with some input into the translation.....everyone applauded us, when we finally got it right and left with our half a kilo of ... read more
April 12th 2007
We hit the jackpot when booking our hotel on the net to stay in Cologne. It’s often very difficult to imagine if the accommodation you are booking is exactly what you want - but our room is literally right beside the Dom Cathedral - right in the centre of the city. My balcony overlooks the court yarn to the cathedral and gives us an appreciation of the magnificent carvings and decorative structures that cover this huge church. Today was spent discovering Cologne. We first did a short cruise down the Rhine and then spent the rest of the day walking around shopping and eating. The weather has been so great it makes it pleasant just to wander from one sight to the next. If you understand the Hinkleys holidays then you would already know they ... read more
April 11th 2007
Right in the centre of Mannheim is a huge ornate water tower, it’s so old and yet so decorated you can’t believe it’s just a water tower. Well this was the only building left standing after the war. This city was flattened, there were no 2 bricks together after the allies bombed it and yet this enormous structure was untouched. I think the Poms should have taken better target practice. Before the war the BASF manufacturing site was both sides of the Rhine. One side Ludwigshaven and the other Mannheim. It was a prime target to hit because it was used the manufacture weapons. You might well ask "how do I know this stuff”? Well Pete and I went to BASF, to the recently opened Visitors Centre. How fantastic was this. We were the first ... read more
April 9th 2007
Interested bloggers, another exhausting yet enjoyable day in London. I should first explain that Nico and Dean decided to give up their "hole in the wall" so we could get a good nights sleep. Now this is not an ATM, but in fact where their bed is in their small studio apartment. You open 2 doors and climb into the wall space - actually quite comfortable, and we were refreshed ready to go. First, we had to feed the squirrels; a trip to London is not complete until you go with Nicole to the local park armed with your bag of nuts to feed the some what tame squirrels. They are actually quite cute with their little hands holding the cashews. Dean now has a car and we drove to Windsor Castle to see how ... read more
April 8th 2007
Finally after many hours of sitting in the plane without sleep we arrived in London. This flight gives true meaning to the phrase "are we there yet" it just never seems to end. We felt more special than the other 450 passangers as we managed to get exit rows...at least we were able to stretch our legs. Nicole and Dean were there to meet us, and convinced us that the worst thing we could do was sleep. Infact, it became their mission to keep us awake for another 12 hours. The theory was that we would then just slip in to their time slot, I was not quite so convinced. What better way to keep me awake than to go shopping!! It was off to Bond street (Green on the Monolopy board) We did a lot ... read more
April 4th 2007
As before with the Hinkleys travel diary, the idea of planning ahead and packing early never happens. Both Pete and I have very full days planned for tomorrow and then only one more sleep before we head off. Bags still not packed and Hannah and Tully feeling the stressed knowing that their survival for the next 20 days depend on Lee. They both lament that they dont have thumbs so they can open those damm cans by themselves. I will use this first blog to test my skills in transfering photos from my camera. I need the practice and I dont have Lee to push the right buttons this time....so wish me luck. I will try and do this regularly, definately from London where we expect Nicole and Dean to meet us at the airport. ... read more
June 28th 2006
Every good story has to end one day, sadly Hinkleys travel blog has only this entry left. After waving the kids off, and sending them both back to London (Lee for another week and Nicole promises she will be home for Christmas) Pete and I headed home. One more stop over was required. The opportunity to catch up with Sharon and Peter in Singapore was something that we had wanted to do ever since they were expatriated with BASF nearly 3 years ago. We had a great night, the weather was perfect for what has now become our traditional "crab dish". These guys have not changed one little bit. The only change is that Peter has succumbed to the aging process and he too needs to wear glasses. We swapped glasses ideas and both agreed there ... read more
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