Geo: 40.3834, 49.8932Time check: 0750 local but 3:50am UK. Dawn broke at around 0700hrs. The sky is blue and tinged with a golden hue. A haze is already gathering over the Caspian Sea just visible from our room on the 8th floor of the Central Park Hotel. The surrounding buildings are an eclectic mix of rather ornate white high rise Middle Eastern style apartments interspersed with older Russian style colonial properties sporting little domes and pointy spires. First impressions of the City are one of an oil boom fuelled benevolent oligarchy. The President's name is festooned on every concert hall, sports stadium and cultural centre. Last night we passed along magnificent boulevards lined with fountains and topiary. The state run petrol station are works of art in themselves........not a Wild Bean Cafe in sight!A quick glance ... read more

Geo: 50.0751, 6.04568TIME: 13:35 HOURSLOCATION: Chateau Urspelt, Clevaux Luxembourg.Weather: Grey and drizzly......SUMMARY: After battling across Central Germany on "C" Roads following a 40km tail back on the Autobahn (A6) we were relieved to reach The Hotel Panorama in Heidelberg on Friday night. Overlooking the Rhine we were within 5 mins walk of the Old Town and Castle........as this was only a one night stop we just had time for dinner comprising tasty but rather anaemic looking sausages "bobbing" about in tepid water and Schnitzel. The next morning we made quick tour of the Old Town mainly involving Cathy visiting about 30 local shoe shops........Setting off at a "geriatric" 1100hrs we had a comparatively short drive (300km) to Luxembourg. After a week of dumplings, pork lardons and gherkins we were looking forward to the refined culinary d ... read more

Geo: 48.9745, 14.47460800hrs: Breakfast as usual consists of rather good chipolata sausages (Czech sausage "Technology" is second only to German and as we are close to the border, the pre-requisite skill sets have rubbed off)........ fried egg and salami.We then head for the Hotel carpark which is situated on the first and second floors above the Reception. We press the small "HOOTER" button which summons "Mikey" the slightly bandy concierge. The 1920's car lift arrives......a heavy metal door opens and we slow rise............all very "Tracey Island"........I carefully drive "Neddy" into the same lift and we descend to the street level below and after a quick "tweak" of "Margeret/Svetlana" the Sat Nav we head due South in the general direction of The Austrian Border.In CZ it is law to drive with the main he... read more

Geo: 48.9744, 14.4747"Don't underestimate Europe".....! These words were said in wisdom by Cathy back in 1994 after my first ever week in New Zealand...........Europe......bah!.... full of oikes and really boring....I piped back in reply. "The scenery is rubbish as well .......far better to sit on a plane for 24 hours".....I retorted. She was right and distance is not always proportional to enjoyment!TIME CHECK: 0600hrs. After a busy night of dumpling and sausage fuelled dreams I am up and grinding coffee beans..........Down below in the Square (which claims to be the 2nd largest in Europe), I spot brightly dressed Oriental Tourists in pork pie hats snapping each other and naturally themselves on their Samsung phones.......they contort into silly postures in front of the fountain and wave at each other taking photos of.........guess what........each other... read more

Geo: 49.3007, 10.5715Time Check: 0525 am up and ready for action! Last night (Friday) we had a great blow out at the Restaurant Leo. You enter through a converted railway carriage reminiscent of the Orient Express and are greeted by waiters in crisp white double damask aprons. The walnut veneered interior is superb and exudes 1920's pre-war opulence. We we were ushered to our table overlooking a local cafe outside. The local inhabitants are cultured but have a slightly weather beaten look..... from our vantage point we watched local Bastognian life pass by........Dogs perched on motorcycles.....young chic Belgians out for a stroll....however the overriding memories are of short skirted farming stock sipping local brews with tattoos...........in all sorts of unusual places! The maiden below us who looked like an extra from Conan The Barbarian (Uncensored version) ... read more