TravelStream™ news feed for member ka.duncan on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/ka.duncan en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:19:48 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1217721060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1217721060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1217721060/tpod.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:19:48 -0500 My Big OE - Europe and Beyond!

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London, United Kingdom

Have been in London since the end of my Europe Tour and it has been a blast. Can be a bit of a drag on your own but was still awesome. Am off on a tour of the UK and Ireland tomorrow (Sunday) so will be back with people.

So far this is what I have seen and done in London.

-Visited the British Museum-bloody awesome. So many artefacts and many of them from the places in Greece and Turkey etc that I had been to.
-Went to the Museum of London. Very small but excellent collection and very well set out.
-Visited St Pauls. Was awesome-right up there with the Vatican. Was very beautiful. Climbed up the dome to the Whispering Gallery (you really can hear people on the other side!!) and then up to the next two levels. Was a really good workout-and worth it! The views from the stone gallery and golden gallery were amazing. Was up in the whispering gallery when the choir and organist started practice-the acoustics were amazing. Stayed for 'Sung Evensong'/ Great sermon and beautiful choir-is so worth checking out-is at 5pm every day and free entry. Missed out on going to the crypt but everything else was worth it.
-Walked over Millinium Bridge to the Tate Modern.
-Visited Westminster Abbey. Really beautiful. As good as St Pauls. Saw the tombs of Chaucer, Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Nice how every hour they pray.
-Went to the Tower of London-really really awesome. So much history-am in history heaven. had an awesomely funny Yeoman guide.
-Visited Hampton Court Palace. Was worth the train journey out there (a good 40 mins). Interesting Palace and the Gardens are AMAZING. Would be a great place for a picnic lunch. Would allow a full day though as I ran out of time to see all the gardens.
-Checked out the Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum. Really really interesting. The war rooms are still as they were during the war-haven't been touched which is cool to see (they were sealed up after the war). The Churchill Museum is great in itself-very hands-on and cool displays.
-Checked out the Globe Theatre. Amazingly how they replicated it. Really well done and so worth a visit. Really want to check out a play when I get back from my next tour.
-Buckingham Palace-very cool. Got to see the Banquet Rooms all set up for the Queen's Yearly Banquet which has never been seen by visitors before. Kinda impressed-though am sure a couple of chairs and knives weren't lined up completely straight.......the Queen might want to talk to the steward of the cutlery or whatever he is called. Also got to visit Kensington Palace. Was actually better than I thought it would be. Had some interesting historic rooms from era of Queen Victoria etc.

Pretty much it so far. Have a ticket for the London Eye which will use when back in London at end of tour. Tomorrow another tour, another group I'll be living with for the next 20 days.

Wish me luck!
;)
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London, England, United Kingdom

Friday we spent all day on the bus. Everyone was very quiet-kinda sad. I think no one wanted it to end! Many were leaving that night so sucked saying goodbye to everyone. A few people were staying on at the hotel.

Saturday spent all day with one of the girls from the tour. Very very tired. Didn't get much sleep the whole tour. Had a great day though. Went to try and see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace but it had been cancelled. Had lunch at a nice Italian place and then checked out Harrods. Very crowded as there was a sale on. Had High Tea at tea rooms downstairs!!!Very fun!!!

Went out for dinner and had Fish and Chips!!! YUMMY.

Sunday went out for dinner with some of the aussie girls and our italian bus driver from tour. Was a great dinner at a thai place in Soho!!! Sad saying goodbye to people all the time.

Monday had my first full english breakfast with one of the girls from the tour. Then had afternoon tea with the aussie girls before saying goodbye to the last people from the tour. Very sad. Am on own again :(
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1216349160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1216349160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1216349160/tpod.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:12:38 -0500 My Big OE - Europe and Beyond!

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Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Yesterday we left hotel and drove from the Rhineland to the Rhine Valley for a cruise up the Rhine. Saw world's biggest free-hanging cuckoo clock. Cruise was nice-very beautiful. Went past Lorelei Rock (who lulled sailors to their deaths) and also saw a church where there is a pub attached!! And saw lots and lots of castles!!!

Back on bus and on to Cologne. Got stuck in major traffic jam so only got to spend an hour in Cologne. Just enough time for lunch-so missed out on going inside the Cathedral (apparrently has the oldest stained glass windows).

Arrived in Amsterdam then off to dinner. Was OK. Went on tour of redlight district. Not as bad as would have expected. Some people on tour decided to go to a cultural show and have brownies-though I was good and refrained and hung out at a bar and played pool with some others :).

Today my tour guide left me behind for an excursion. Was seething. He left early thinking he had everyone (he didn't do a headcount). They all gave him hell for it. YAY for lovely tour group. Anyway sounds like I had a better day than them cause made my own way into Amsterdam and went to Anne Frank House Museum. Was fantastic. Didn't realise they would actually let you go up the secret staircase behind the bookcase. Very amazing and sad. Went on a canal ride and also went to the Van Gogh Museum and saw his paintings. They really are fantastic in the flesh.

That night went out for farewell dinner with Group. Afterwards had a canal ride and then back to hotel for farewell drinks in the bar.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215821640/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215821640/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215821640/tpod.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:05:56 -0500 My Big OE - Europe and Beyond!

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Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Spent most of yesterday travelling on the bus to Vienna, Austria, with the usual stopoffs. Arrived at our hotel which was nice-was in the shape of a pyramid.

Had dinner at a vineyard with musicians. Food was OK. Nothing to rave about. Went to a classical concert afterwards which was fantastic. Was in the music room at one of the palaces and included orchestra, opera singers and ballet dancers. Very tasteful and even those who don't like classical music would enjoy it. They played mainly Mozart and Strauss (of course).

Today we went to the Schonbrumm Palace of the Hapsburgs with a local guide. Was very beautiful inside-definitely worth a visit. The gardens were amazing-there is even a labriynth and a zoo. Would have been nice to have spent longer there so we could have seen more. The local guide was lovely and very interesting.

Free time in the afternoon so walked the ringroad of Vienna-as you get to see many of the famous buildings this way. Stopped off for Viennese cake in a cafe (they are famous for their cake). Then we ran into some of the others and ended up going to this aussie pub for vegemite on toast-I have missed my vegemite!!! They have this famous slogan in Austria 'There are no kangaroos in Austria' which is on t-shirts etc everywhere because they keep getting asked it by tourists who mistake Austria for Australia.

This evening we went to a Schnaps Distillery run by the Fischer family for generations. Was great fun-the owner/guide was hilarious. Very nice schnaps too! He was trying to convince me to get the rocket fuel schnaps to heal my cough. LOL.

Then went to this rural restaurant or heurige (wine tavern) for dinner. Very ecletic and funny. The toilets were very interesting.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215648360/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215648360/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215648360/tpod.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:02:35 -0500 My Big OE - Europe and Beyond!

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Venice, Veneto, Italy

Yesterday we had a late arrival at Venice-so a quick change and then off to the water taxi for a ride into dinner at an old hotel in Venice. Dinner was ok-the canal ride afterwards at night through Venice was awesome.

The next day we had an early start off to a glass-blowing demostration. Not much of a demonstration-lasted all of 5 minutes-think we were really there more to buy stuff. Disappointed as didn't really find any veneatian glass that I liked in Venice-or any masks-oh well-got to see a few sights!

Went up the Bell Tower in St Marks Square and into the Bascilica. Then had a look at the shops and a gelato! :)
At 3pm met up with the tour and went on a gondola ride with muscians. Interesting experience. And no the canals don't smell. LOL.

After the gondola ride we caught a water taxi to the Island of Burano (sp?) which is where all the lace is made. Here we had a nice dinner and then back to the hotel.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215379740/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215379740/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215379740/tpod.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:59:23 -0500 My Big OE - Europe and Beyond!

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Kusadasi, Turkish Aegean Coast, Turkey

This afternoon we docked in Kusadasai for an excusion with a local guide up to Ephesus and the ruins up there. Amazing remains. Saw all the water pipes and pillars. Also saw the ruins of the temple to Apollo which was the temple St John refused to worship at and so was exiled to the prison at Patmos. Was amazing to see. There were great mosaics and even public toilets still intact. Near here is where St John and the Virgin Mary are buried.

We then headed back to Kusadasi to a carpet factory. Amazing demo but resisted the temptation to buy a carpet-they were so expensive!

Back to the boat for another formal dinner. Then drinks and bed.
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Pátmos, Dodecanese, Greece

Very early start today as arrived at Patmos Island first thing in the morning. Took some transfer boats to Patmos then caught a bus to go to the Grotto of the Apocalypse of St John. It is the cave where St John got a visitation from Christ and wrote the Book of Revelations. They have built a church by the cave. As it was Sunday there was a mass going on. You could hear the Byzantine chanting-it was very moving. You could see where St John used to sleep and where his scribe wrote for him. You could also see the cracks in the cave where the vision of Christ came into the cave. Very moving. Would recommend visiting.

Went back to the port of Scala for a drink then back to the ship.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215292380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215292380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215292380/tpod.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:52:42 -0500 My Big OE - Europe and Beyond!

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Rhodes, Dodecanese, Greece

Left the ship at 9am for excusion to Rhodes. A fantastic guide', Dimitris (a.k.a. Jimmy the Greek), met us at shore to take us up to the village of Lindos where there are ruins of a temple to Athena. Supposedly a bad walk up to the top but I found it OK.

The ruins were fantastic. No other way to describe it. After taking lots of pics we headed back down. Checked out a little chapel in the village then we headed to a pottery making place where could see them making traditional Rhodes pottery. Yes I brought some. LOL. The guide then took us on a walking tour of Rhodes. It is basically medieval and pretty original. Is a cool place. Used to be the home to the Knights of St John.

Back to the ship for lunch-had it at a table with lovely american family. The lady used to be a librarian at Yale. Spent the whole time trying to convince me to do MLIS (Master's in Librarian Information Studies to become Librarian-haha don't think so). Very interesting people.

Had a formal dinner that night with the tour on board ship. Went to Karoake afterwards-bit of a laugh.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215216240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215216240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215216240/tpod.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:47:50 -0500 My Big OE - Europe and Beyond!

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Mykonos, Cyclades, Greece

On board the cruise ship 'Aquamarine' (Luis Lines). Pretty basic but way cleaner than the ferry! Not much to do here but the staff are lovely. Started off this morning with a lifeboat drill-kinda funny.

Stopped off at Island of Mykonos-was amazing! All whitewashed buildings with blue shutters and cool windmills. Brought some pottery distinct to the island. Went with one of the girls from the tour to 'little venice' to a famous bar there and sat on the deck and had a 'san francisco'. Bit lethal-amazingly made it back to the transfer boat and ship before it left. Had dinner on board and we were seated with this fantastic french family-was fun trying to talk to them when we both couldn't speak each other's language very well.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215564780/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215564780/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/ka.duncan/1/1215564780/tpod.html Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:45:53 -0500 My Big OE - Europe and Beyond!

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Athens, Attica, Greece

Woken up by what seemed like a bomb yesterday-think it was actually fireworks. Headed off for tour of Pompeii-was so excited!!

Had a hilarious guide and was fantastic being at Pompeii-so rich in archaeology. Was great weather too and not too hot.

Got to see some mosaics and a water fountain that was still working! Ruins of a temple and a brothel! Also saw many statutes and pots they had found and the plaster casts they had made of those who had perished. Very interesting and also very sad.

Then back to bus for drive to Port of Bari (Italy) for overnight ferry to Athens. Ferry was very late. Rooms a very good size but a bit grotty.

Ferry arrived in Athens very late today-was meant to get in at midday but didn't get in till early evening. So missed seeing the Acropolis and Parthenon. Guide promises us we will see it at the end of our greek cruise. Bit boring on ferry. Jeff and Jen tried teaching me Texas High Roller Poker. Though I'm not very good. ;)

Hotel was terrible-seemed to be in middle of druggy area and shower didn't work. Great view of the Panthenon from the roof though.

Had dinner at a greek taverna with show. Was great-just think we were all very tired as didn't get to eat till after 10pm.
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