So...it all comes to an end...
Trip Start
Jun 03, 2008
1
5
Trip End
Jul 09, 2008
Wellington,
North Island,
New Zealand
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
I'm writing the final entry to this blog from the comfort of my dad's office back in Wellington, New Zealand. Yes, that's right folks I'm home again at last. I know you're probably wondering why I say that with a tinge of...finally...but well I know it's cliche, but there really is no place like home!!!
When I last blogged you guys I was in Austria (Vienna to be precise). Cool place, wished we'd had more time, but then that's the way it goes, no more than 48 hours in any one place.
Next up was Munich, and this is where things started to go downhill. This is where I hit the Contiki wall. This is where I wanted to tell everyone to get stuffed (especially the tour guide) and just pack my bags and go home. Well actually I could've done that if I'd wanted to as Bruno (the tour guide) always stressed that we could come and go from the tour as we pleased and that it wasn't a school trip where you had to stay and do the whole thing whether you wanted to or not. I don't think people quite got this concept and so complained constantly about not having enough time in one place or another, but no one was forcing them to get on the bus, they could've stayed on and met up with us somewhere else, but when Bruno said this everyone piped down all on a sudden, fuuny that... I had it up to wherever that point is where you can't take it anymore with Australians, boozers, stupid immature boys, catty girls, tour guides that wouldn't listen, insomnia, carbs (where are the veges, and no potatos don't count as vegetables in my books), getting on and off the bus all the time, no getting any decent exercise in, and the list went on. I didn't even eat breakfast (and people should know by now that I love breakfast so for me to not eat it there's something seriously wrong!). I had to get mum to phone me to tell me to buck up and put things in perspective. I only had a week to go and then I'd be back in London and with family. After the wee pep talk I thought, she's right, I have to make the most of the time I have left. And make the most of it I did...I:
1) White water rafted in another part of Austria (Tyrol)
2) Hiked up a large hill to where a gondola platform stops (I did it the hard way :) - you know me)
3) Did a proper training session with a couple other girls from the tour (they both loved and hated me for it)
4) Went up the Jungfrau mountain on a cog train (the highest train station in Europe and possibly the world) and played with husky dogs
5) I wine tasted in St Goar, back in Germany (finally some white wine!!!)
6) I canal water biked through Amsterdam
7) I saw a live sex show also in (you guessed it) Amsterdam
8) Spent more than a normal amount of time in the redlight district of Amsterdam than perhaps was necessary, but it was just fascinating - the history and the current state of play (if you catch my drift).
9) I pretended to drink a beer stein at a beer hall and instead got a stein of fanta which I only had about 5 sips of (seriously, who drinks that much fanta?!)
10) I navigated my way through the Underground tube system by myself with pack and hand luggage upon return to London (I was pretty stoked about that)
The closest friends I made on the trip were the 3 American girls and the girls I roomed with (2 kiwis living abroad and an Aussie girl). Will make an effort to keep in touch. As for the rest, well I think 25 days was long enough...
Back in London, it was sooooooo great to be back with family and staying in a house and staying in one place for more than 48 hours. Highlights from my second half on London experience:
1) Stabbings and murders literally happen just around the corner (twice in the space of a few days)
2) The Dobosn's (Emma - Mike my brother's girl) are one of the few white families in Croydon (get the picture?!)
3) Went to a real life proper theme park for the first time ever and it was awesome, thought my stomach was actually going to come out of my mouth several times, but othere than that it was awesome!!! Yes I know I said awesome twice in the same sentence, but it was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4) Went to Harrods, bought 50% of DKNY and CK purfumes (way cheaper than on tour or at duty free - score), got lost trying to find Mike after going to the ladies', ate fudge (yum)
5) Went to Brighton and the pier and played a slot machine thingy that takes 2p coins (one pound of fun lasts for ages!)
6) Did the Underground, overlander, DLR, double decker bus and dodgy cabs
7) Saw Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Sq, Covent Gardens, Canary Wharf
8) Had several all you can eat meals (that would probably help to explain why my jeans were so tight on the plane on the way home...hmmm)
9) Met up with friends for lunch in Covent Garden, how cool to catch up for lunch on the other side of the world!
10) Saw a big fat sparkly rock on the ring finger of Mike's girl Emma (they're engaged!!!)
11) Watched the Formula One and Wimbeldon Men's final live on TV
12) Went to the airport on Sunday 6th only to find out I wasn't actually flying home until Monday the 7th (don't ask...)
13) Bought cheap clothes cos pretty everyone had sales on and thought I'd splurge just a little. Wouldn't have spent more than 50 pounds and got shorts, 3 tops, a skirt and a dress (sweet).
14) Got to know my new family in law (now I'm part English - haha)
Hmmm, I think that just about covers it.
As for the flight home, it was long, transit sucked, spent a lot of time walking around departure lounges, watched a couple of decent movies (Run Fat Boy Run, Hitman, Fool's Gold) and genuinely shed a wee tear when I got home to Auck this morn at 5.25am in the pitch black (no one could see me!).
It's been a beaut day here in WElly today, but I'm freeeeeeeezing so will take a while to get used to this weather. Say goodbye to the tan Vanessa, cos like my trip to Europe it's going going gone...
Until next time
Ness :)
