TravelStream™ news feed for member jm-bvm on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/jm-bvm en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:10:50 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186524480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186524480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186524480/tpod.html Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:10:50 -0400 Around the world in 64 days

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London, United Kingdom

Wanting to include Don and Delia in my address book.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186523820/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186523820/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186523820/tpod.html Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:00:47 -0400 Around the world in 64 days

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London, United Kingdom

Back in London with Don and Delia. Visited Gunnesbury Park today and even managed to find Grandad and Grandma Brett's graves without any trouble. Took a few photos. Then went out with Don and Delia to The Orchard at Ruislip for a really lovely pre-Anniversary dinner. Have to leave tomorrow for last few days in Singapore.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186413120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186413120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186413120/tpod.html Mon, 06 Aug 2007 11:19:32 -0400 Around the world in 64 days

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Solihull, United Kingdom

Really feel like we are "at home" hear with Margaret. Great to see her again, she always makes us so welcome. Carolyn, Andy and Katie have just gone on holiday to Egypt so we wont be seeing them this time. Margaret is looking after their various animals while they are away, so already has several "boarders" living here! Had another good night's sleep and spent today walking around Solihull looking for the last few gifts for those back home as well as Anniversary cards for each other ready for Wednesday.
Paul and Vicky are joining us for our "last supper" together before we make the journey back down to London. We will spend our last evening with Delia and Don in Acton before catching the flight to Singapore at 10pm on Wednesday, where we will spend a couple of nights to break the journey back to Adelaide.
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Liverpool, United Kingdom

Had a very easy and uneventful journey in lovely sunshine (27 degrees) up to Liverpool to stay overnight with Janice and Brian. Just sat and chatted for several hours before Jan made us a lovely evening meal of poached salmon with a stilton and dill sauce - delicious! Had an early night and slept soundly. Mark, Debbie and Charlie came around in the morning and we had plenty of laughs with them all before taking off for Solihull to spend a couple of nights with dear cousin Margaret.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186239540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186239540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186239540/tpod.html Mon, 06 Aug 2007 11:07:08 -0400 Around the world in 64 days

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London, United Kingdom

After our last breakfast with several of our friends from the tour, we enjoyed a leisurely morning on our own, in the warm sunshine outside the Coral hotel in Piraeus awaiting are transfer to the airport. Fourteen of the 42 who had been on the tour with us, were taking an optional 3 day cruise around several of the nearby Greek islands so we said good bye to them at 8.30am, several others having departed on very early morning flights back to the States.
We joined Ermine and her family from Brooklyn (New York) in two taxis which took the 7 of us to the International airport in Athens for our return journey. We left right on schedule and duly arrived at 4.30pm at London Heathrow. Barry and I spent the night at the Travel Lodge at Feltham near the airport meeting up with Sylvia Nicholson - an old school friend for the evening.
The following day we returned to the airport to collect our hire-car for the next few days to continue our journey around the UK.
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Athens, Greece

Reached our final hotel The Coral at Piraeus - a beach side town about 1/2 hour outside the city of Athens. After a quick shower and change we met up with Lorraine and Jim (our Canadian friends from our tour group) and had a leisurely drink at the bar before joining Dom and Veronica from Melbourne and Candy and Troy from Texas for a really great evening meal at the restaurant within the hotel, while most of the others went on a "Grecian Night" out which included a late night disco which didn't interest us much. I think it was the right choice as we had a nice restful evening after our long journey.
The following day we took the very long climb up to the Acropolis to view the various ancient buildings including the Parthenon which are currently being renovated and rebuilt (not sure we agreed with this as it will surely lose some of its ancient appeal) it was a really strenuous climb for some of us and Lorraine, Jim, Barry and myself decided not to join the rest of the group going on to a further "optional excursion" to Cape Soulian, instead opting for a downward walk to the Plaka and backstreet markets. Had a great look around and bought various small souvenirs before finding a nice cool bistro for a light lunch and the usual cold beers.
For our last evening we joined the whole group for a final typical Grecian meal. First though, we were taken on a tourist train around all the local sites to view Athens by night and were able to see the Acropolis lit up - a wonderful sight indeed. The meal consisted of bread with various dips and cheese and spinach pastries followed by pork fillet in a garlic gravy washed down with copious amounts of red and white local wines then a desert of baclava (of course!) and cream followed by optional strong coffee before returning to our lovely beach side hotel.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186409760/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186409760/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1186409760/tpod.html Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:41:37 -0400 Around the world in 64 days

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Athens, Greece

Enjoyed a wonderful early morning walk (in cool conditions) around ancient Olympia - place where original Greeks trained in athletics and other sports to show how fit and strong they were. Apparently all sports of the time were carried out nude, hence the various statues always showing the male of the species naked. The area was discovered by a German in the 1800's and was further excavated by both the British and later by Greeks. Most of the valuable artifacts found there are on show in a museum close to the site or at the National Museum in Athens. By the time we had finished our walk, the place had filled with masses of tourists who had arrived by coach and taxi and the sun had began to have a real sting in it - got to almost 40 by late afternoon!
We moved on to our lovely Hotel in Toulon - the best yet, with a crystal clear swimming pool and stunning rooms. Enjoyed a long cool dip in the pool then sat in the shade drinking long cold beers before having a good 4 course Grecian meal at our hotel, finishing a thoroughly lovely day.
The following day we made a visit to another ancient site at Myceania to view 4,000 year old ruins some of which were in exceptional condition, then on through to Corinth for our lunchtime stop next to the incredible deep Cornith canal dug during the 1800's allowing large ships to pass through from one sea to the other saving more than 200 miles of the journey to Athens.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1185784380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1185784380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1185784380/tpod.html Mon, 30 Jul 2007 04:43:13 -0400 Around the world in 64 days

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Olympia, Greece

Had a fantastic time in Venice. Such a beautiful place and so much to see and do. Enjoyed a fun time at our Tuscan night out - great food and lots of dancing - late night out. Took optional trip on gondola, but it was a bit of a rip off - only got around 25 minutes instead of the 45 that we'd paid for! As it was VERY hot and we didn't want to do too much walking about so just had a quick look at St Marks Basilica and then went to find a nice cool bar before lunch, then had a boat trip to Burano to see local lacemaking and bought a piece to take back home. Overnight at hotel near Venice then we drove down to the ferry to Greece. Bit of a muddle getting rooms sorted, but finally made it and was very nice indeed more like a cruise ship than a ferry. Should make Patras at around 3pm today then on to Olympia overnight.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1185390180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1185390180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jm-bvm/uk-can-it-gr-07/1185390180/tpod.html Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:08:01 -0400 Around the world in 64 days

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Florence, Italy

Arrived in Florence at around 5pm and went directly to our hotel. Have an orientation trip around the city tomorrow morning then we intend to find our own way around for the day and return to our hotel by train as it is about 15 minutes out of town. Tomorrow evening we have been invited to a typical Tuscan evening at a night club which includes a 5 course meal and lots of wine (chianti is the local wine) had a good meal tonight - usual salad, soup, pasta, main course of chicken, fish or meat and a tiramasu icecream for desert. Lots of wine of course at every meal. We really like this place!
The following day we'll be off to Venice - one of my favourite places in all the world!
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Rome, Italy

Left Heathrow after uneventful journey from Solihull. Arrived in ROMA right on time but had to wait a few hours for a transfer to hotel: weather was hot and humid around 38 degrees but great to be back in Italy after 25 years. Our tour guide Michael was there to meet us and the hotel was reasonable (3 star) and we took the opportunity of an "optional evening trip" which included a good meal and gave us a night time look around ancient Rome. Went to the famous Trevi fountains and threw a few coins in. This time at least it was full of water (when I'd been with Barb 25 years ago it was empty).
The following day we had a terrific tour of the Vatican Museum and the Sistine chapel really fantastic to see Michelangelo's fresco in all their colour glory (they were cleaned in the 80's after my previous trip) we also went the Forum and the Collesium which was just mind blowing.
Then today we went on to Pisa to see the wonderful Basilica and of course the leaning tower. Wonderful trip through the beautiful countryside of Tuscany. What a great place Italy is!
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