TravelStream™ news feed for member alicat_1 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/alicat_1 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:29:16 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217506320/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217506320/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217506320/tpod.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:29:16 -0400 A Canadian Adventure for two, work or play these Aussies know the way!!

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Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Leaving Germany, we make our way back into Austria this time to the capital of Vienna.  We were both very much looking forward to this city an it did not let us down!!Vienna was the home of the Royal Family, the Habsburgs an we stopped to see the Palace an the fantastic gardens that surrounded it. After leaving the Palace we made a quick stop at the oldest Schnaps museum in Vienna.  Here we did a full tasting of the range, one of which was inspired by the Aussies, as we love our butterscotch schnaps.  It is still a family owed business an has been handed down for the last 5 generations.  They made some wonderful flavours, an I think that everyone enjoyed themselves.Whilst we were in the city the FINAL of the Euro Cup was being played.  There was a large sectioned off area dedicated to the fans.  Here you could play football games, test your skill an buy offical merchendise.  After browsing the beautiful city we decided to go an get ourselves some serious Vienna Schnitzel.  We found this little place that could accomodate all 7 of us, an it was pretty much schnitty's all round.  They were Enormous, the enitre size of the plate, but with no sauce or topping just a lemon wedge. They boys cleaned up though an there was not a crumb on any of the plates!! Good job.Walking back though the city, there was a massive buzz with all the hype of the final looming.  There were supporters out in force cheering on their team...there were people trying to buy an sell last minute tickets.  It was great to see Vienna at its best  =)The next day saw us venture back into the town, some of the group went to see the Spanish dancing horses, while the rest of us roamed around taking in the spirit an culture of the city.  There were some fantastic buildings an churches here.  We spent the last hour inside the Fan Zone checking out all the fun activities, when we left it was only 6hours till game time!!Pitty we couldn't stay for the final...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217505240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217505240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217505240/tpod.html Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:00:23 -0400 A Canadian Adventure for two, work or play these Aussies know the way!!

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Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Leaving the Tyrol of Austria, we head towards Germany.  There is a lot of Dark history surrounding this country, an we got a quick history lesson on the rise an fall of their most notorious dictator-Hitler (even though he was really an Austrian!!) To better understand their history an plight of the German people Contiki took us into Dachau, the first Concentration set up under the Nazi regime. What a place...so full of sadness, knowing what happened there an the difficulties the prisoners faced for many years.  It was a working camp an there was no GAS chambers here, but to be worked to skin an bones an to your eventual death is just as sad to envision.  After leaving it was a quite an solem bus ride into Munich.  May the world never let it happen again!!After settling into our Best hotel thus far, we got ready for our night out in the heart of Munich. We had a bit of a look around in the square, saw the famous Glockenspiel an took in the awe of Oktoberfest's home.  We perused the markets an all their goodies, before we headed into the largest beer hall of the city called the Hofbrauhaus.  There we sat for a good few hours eating classic Bavarian cuisine...Pork knuckles, spaztle an goulash with dumplings-Yum!!  The Beer was flowing freely into 1Lt steins brought to you by a traditionally dressed young lady.  There was an entire wall of "family owned" steins, that were ceramic with lids which were kept on the premises for when the owner came in an decided to drink.  Some of them have been there for generations, an are secured in a locked cage.  The bus ride home was very loud an quite entertaining!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1216482660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1216482660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1216482660/tpod.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:26:53 -0400 A Canadian Adventure for two, work or play these Aussies know the way!!

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Hopfgarten, Austrian Alps, Austria

We left Italy an headed towards the scenic north of Austria, we travel though the Alps via Brenner Pass on our way into the Tyrolean village of Hopfgarten.  However, before we get to our resting destination we have a small matter of "White Water Rafting" to do before we get there.  Wow, what a crazy, scary an enthralling experience.  We had a pretty strong team with 4 boys an 4 girls to paddle our way down the grade 3 rapids. It was awesome once everyone was comfortable with falling out, getting back in an knowing the calls of our guide.  We were the only group to hit the hardest rapid an make it over without flipping-Woohoo, it was magic.  So very glad that we did it, an what scenery to look at on the way down the flowing river.What a fantastic little part of the world this is. Coming from a winter season in the rocky mountains I can see the draw card for this area for all those Skiers an Snowboards, it is one of the biggest ski areas in Austria.  But here in summer is just as impressive with the quiet life of traditional Austria.  Simon & I decided to go for a 3 hour walk around the area as there were many walking/hiking trails, while some of the others went on the endurance mountain bike ride through the area.  There were a few sore butts an scuffed elbows on their return!!Day two saw us head down to the adventure park an go for a swim in the lake.  There were great climbing things an inflatable toys that the boys had a great time with.  Then it was off to the trout farm where you can catch ya own fish an then the ladies would prepare it an cook it for you.  Delicious!!After dinner, it was off to the Silver Bullet where we could drink traditional Flugals an hit the Kareoke stage.  What a great night full of laughs an entertainment!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1216482540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1216482540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1216482540/tpod.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:44:18 -0400 A Canadian Adventure for two, work or play these Aussies know the way!!

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Venice, Veneto, Italy

The SINKING CITY !Leaving Rome travelling through the changing scenery of golden plains, vineyards an quaint hilltops we crossed the Apennine Mountains coming into Venice.  We made it to our Hotel an there we have a lovely dinner, an chat about the day with the group.In the morning, we took the train into the the outskirts of Venice.  From there we take a short boat ride into the center where we saw St.Marks' square, the Bridge of Sighs an Doge's Palace. We got to see how the Famous Venetian glass is made, they are such craftsman, they way they can mould things out of Hot Sand.  Every shop had some sort of glass ornaments that you could buy, an some of them were thousands of dollars, but amazing pieces!!We walked the city for hours taking in all of its beauty, getting lost in the waterway maze was half the fun =)  It was ever so HOT in Venice the day we were there, that you became dehydrated very quickly an that lead to fatigue.  So to re-charge the batteries we found this great park to have a rest in the shade of the large trees, it was nice!!  Then it was nearly time for our GONDOLA ride, what fun that was...so many on the canals all at the same time, it was madness for while there.  Its a pitty the Gondoliers are no longer aloud to serenade there occupants as it has been outlawed an you need to have a license to sing on the water!! I know crazy.....We had a great time in Venice, even though it was very hot an full of pigeons!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1214235960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1214235960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1214235960/tpod.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 02:10:21 -0400 A Canadian Adventure for two, work or play these Aussies know the way!!

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Rome, Lazio, Italy

Today we left Florence on our way to rome, not before seeing the city on a guided tour stopping to see the leather makers.  There were also a lot of Gold an Silver Merchant, where Alicia bought her "puzzle" ring.Moving into Rome, we did an orientation tour of the city, then we stopped at the Famous Trevi Fountain, where we threw in our Canadian pennies for luck!! We hoped the Gypsies appreciated the lack of usable currency =)We then saw the oldest building in Europe 5000 BC the Pantheon, what an amazing building indeed, I don't know how they built it in those days but it still stands today, unchanged.  It still has the origianl doors an locking mechanisms from then-Incredible!!We had a Traditional dinner of Brushetta an hand made fresh pasta, delicious.  After dinner it was time to look around the square eat some Gelato an watch the busking entertainment, it was great.In the morning we decided to have a bit of a relaxed day an not go out till the afternoon.  Most of the others did an Imperial Rome tour that took them 2 hours with lots of walking...they wished they had done similar to us!!  After we picked them up in town we all went to a lake a few towns away, it was a great day all round.  The lake was a lot of fun, it was near the Castle where Tom & Katie Cruise got married-Very plush .The next moring we left Rome not before going into the Vatican City.  The line was long but we got through quite quickly, we B lined it to the Sisten Chapel saw the work of Micheal Angelo who lied on his back for 4 years to produce such greatness.  Then it was a race again to St.Peter's Basillica to get in the line, though the security checks an into the World's Biggest Church.  What an amzing place full of wonder an awe.  This place was truely sacred an it humbled you to be inside a living work of art, that Rafael himself painted at the same time M. Angelo created the Sisten chapel. So beautiful, I'm glad that we had just enough time to see them both!!Enjoy Rome....
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217509200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217509200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217509200/tpod.html Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:42:37 -0400 A Canadian Adventure for two, work or play these Aussies know the way!!

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Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Some find an some lose there way in this city!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217508240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217508240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217508240/tpod.html Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:42:01 -0400 A Canadian Adventure for two, work or play these Aussies know the way!!

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St. Goar, Germany

Lorili Rock an more!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217507520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217507520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1217507520/tpod.html Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:41:14 -0400 A Canadian Adventure for two, work or play these Aussies know the way!!

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Prague, Bohemia, Czech Republic

On to the Czech Republic
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1214148900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1214148900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1214148900/tpod.html Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:32:41 -0400 A Canadian Adventure for two, work or play these Aussies know the way!!

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Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Well, moving from the French Riviera we headed to Italy.  1st to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which quiet a small little village with nothing more than an old building thats on a lean that has made it famous.  There is a lot of market sellers on the way in, illegal or legitimate but you were hassled all the way to the tower!!After our shot visit we got back on the coach an continued through the vineyards an olive groves of Tuscany to the birthplace of the renaissance, Florence.Here we had an amazing Italian Dinner, with Antipasto, pasta, Lasagna an salads galore. We were entertained by a live Opera singer who was unbelievable, it was a fabulous night out.  After dinner we headed to the Disco Club.Lots of fun to be had here, as I'm sure all Contiki groups who were there did!!It was a quick stop over in Florence, an the morning we left, we stopped in the town to see the Leather maker.  Some of the stuff there was wonderful, an such a great deal of work to actually make it.  We now know the difference between real an fakes in the markets. Alicia also got here famous Puzzle ring from here, it took a good 45 mins to put back together the 1st time it fell apart!! Not so Fun....We did a guided tour around the old city an found out about all the floods an the wars which have threatened Florence over the years.  We saw an amazing church that was completely painted on the outside, it was quite a sight.I hope you like it!xoxo
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1215177960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1215177960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/alicat_1/canada_ay_07/1215177960/tpod.html Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:29:30 -0400 A Canadian Adventure for two, work or play these Aussies know the way!!

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Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

keeping it in the family.
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