manningroad

Plans Afoot

Today  I booked a flight !! I have been planning and researching . I had been thinking of New York and Canada then India  but a final decision has been made. So Europe it is in June/July. I will fly to Salzburg and hike around the Bavarian lakes and then head on to Finland for a cycle trip - WOOHOO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

London Day 7

Our final day ! We decided to squeeze in as many sights as possible today plus do our last minute shopping. We spent a lot of the day walking but resorted to the overcrowded tube when it got dark and frosty late this afternoon. Our itinerary included Carnaby St, Covent Garden, Picadilly Circus, Soho, Chinatown, the West End theatre district and a walk through Green Park to Buckingham Palace. S even ran into an old school friend serving in Mimco in Covent Garden - talk about a small world !! It was a very overcast, grey day which meant all the Christmas lights were visible and twinkling all day but such bad light makes taking photos pretty tricky with my point and shoot. The first photo is of Foyles, a famous Charing Cross bookstore that if spread out would cover 7 miles. The London sales are full of temptations and our cases are just bursting. The dread of having excess baggage hangs over us. Our taxi to the airport is booked and our online check in complete. No further blogging till my long haul flight home is behind me. Goodbye London.

London Day 6

We departed our B&B today and took a taxi to Hyde Park for 2 nights in a hotel. A new, gigantic suitcase was purchased as my travelling companion was in dire need of new luggage. We did attempt to send some clothing home but British Post was enjoying a public holiday. After checking in to the Ramada we took a long walk through Hyde Park. It was dismally grey and drizzly but the ducks and swans were out in full force. We saw loads of dogs enjoying the open spaces and horses being ridden around the perimeter and Hyde Park corner was full of the usual types on megaphones and soap boxes. We walked to Knightsbridge and Harrods. Once again the sales had drawn seething crowds. We met up with L and A and went to a delightful cafe across from Harrods. Grandma had given us some English pounds to spend on some Christmas cheer so I enjoyed a glass of rose prosecco - thanks Grandma ! After this we meandered home still in the grey drizzle making purchases at Topshop on the way.

 

 

 

 

 

London Day 5

Today, unlike many others on this holiday, we got an early start and headed into the city to walk across Tower Bridge, it spans the Thames and was built in 1894. Then we headed to lunch with old family friends who live very close to Hampton Court Palace. We went by train to Surbiton from Waterloo. By the time we headed back it was dark. It gets dark here by 4pm !! I, then, had an appointment with a local hairdresser here in Golders Green to adddress my depressingly grey hairline. I left the salon with copper highlights so will return home with a little bit of new look. Tomorrow we pack up our spread out belongings - it doesn't take us long to make a big mess it seems. We move into a hotel on Hyde Park just for the 2 nights ahead of our return to Melbourne. Our luggage seems to have expanded every time we move possibly resembling our waistlines !!

 

 

London Day 2

We have had yet another FABULOUS day. After a classic English breakfast , enjoyed whilst watching little grey squirrels playing in the snow we headed for the Tube. Our destination was Notting Hill and the Portobello Rd markets. It was all such fun - so many stalls - antiques, fruit, veg, fish, mittens, jewellery, vintage furs and loads more. We stood in a long queue in the Hummingbird Bakery - cupcake heaven ! You might want to click here ! We did indulge ! An antique teddy  caught my eye and  according to the vendor is over 100 years old. We could not leave a nearly threadbare bear sitting in the cold market so he/she/it will be making a new home in Melbourne. The girls picked up bits and pieces as we wandered along and of course we visited The Travel Book Shop made famous in the movie "Notting Hill". Now we are back at the B&B armed with cupcakes and magazines . Our Christmas Eve will be spent relaxing and hoping Santa will drop in and watching our favourite movies, Parent Trap and Chocolat. HAPPY, HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !!

 

Prague Day 3

We had a list of sights still to see on this our last day in Prague. We did manage to squeeze most of them into our morning as today after lunch we said a sad goodbye to J. It was just wonderful to share our visit to Prague with such a darling girl. Our first photo stop was a contemporary building inspired by Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire called the Dancing House.Then further meanderings bought us to the Old Town and J made souvenir purchases and I bought more raspberries still at the bargain price of 50 cents per punnet. We had a coffee stop at a big and beautiful city coffee house called Cafe Louvre. It has been serving coffee and cake for well over 100 years. The main form of public transport is the tram it seems. I thought Melbourne's trams were unique but we have seen them now in all 3 cities. We made a final trip out in the early dark to the closest cluster of Xmas markets and bought some edible gifts to take to friends in London. Now for the dreaded packing !! Goodbye Prague.

Prague Day 2

Our day of sightseeing in Prague has been non-stop sensory and visual overload. We have crunched over many kilometres of snowy pavements and oohed and aahed over the most glorious architecture, the exquisite Czech handicrafts, marzipan in all forms, the Astonomical clock, more Christmas markets and taken 109 photos !! It has been a day full of awe and icicles . I purchased raspberries and blackberries for 50 cents a punnet and we all bought fur trimmed snoods to stave off the arctic chills. We have eaten gnocchi and marzipan, drunk hot, honeyed mead and capuccinos, eaten coils of licorice and large fragile wafers , stared agog at the amount of absinthe for sale and walked and walked. We crossed the famous Charles Bridge and wandered the cobbled lanes of the Old Town, loved Cafe Slavia founded in 1881, paid our respects at the Jewish Cemetery and marvelled at palaces and cathedral spires. It was just the most wonderful and memorable day.

Prague Day 1

We left our hotel at 0730 and took a train to Prague. Waiting at Bratislava station was chaotic as the platform number of the designated departing train comes up on a screen at the last minute resulting in a type of Slov.akian stampede. No travelators either, only stairs - not so user friendly for those with luggage or babies in prams !!! We are staying in a great little hotel and tonight a friend is flying in to make us a party of three for the next 2 nights. This afternoon we navigated the postal system of the Czech Republic and managed to send a parcel home by sea. We walked into town via very icy pavements and walked back again in softly falling snow. Purchases were made at Sepahora as we do not have this marvellous store in Melbourne. Warm apple strudel was our very late lunch. We perused the glittering Xmas markets but only briefly as we are saving this treat to enjoy with J.

 

 

Bratislava Day 2

Today's photos will look like we did a coffee/cafe crawl ! The crawl consisted of two cafes and happened at either end of the day. When we ventured out into the winter wonderland this morning is was close to minus 11 celsius. We headed straight to a chocolatier whern your hot chocky is of a spoonable consistency. I chose white hazelnut - such heaven. I did do 50 push ups prior if any one out there is raising their eye brows !!! We walked across the Danube to a large shopping centre, found a supermarket and purchased some fruit - minimal choice - all flown in from warmer climes. After perusing the shops we walked further through snow and brown slush along the river. The next coffee stop involved coffee, liqueur, cream and a marzipan potato. The cafes are all jam packed but despite all the cake consumption that seems to go on here there is very little obesity. We are back in our room now and need to get an early night as our train leaves at 8.10am in the morning. Goodbye Bratislava.

Bratislava Day 1

Our day started early as we had a train to catch. I am convinced the cost of living is pretty low in Hungary after purchasing 2 capuccinos and 2 fresh and delicious pastries for 890 HUF = $4.30 AUD = $4.30 USD. There is no way that would be possible in Melbourne. We found our train OK and travelled for 2 hrs 30 mins to Bratislava, capital city of Slovakia. We are 69 kms from the Ukraine !! The scenery from the train was white, icy and bleak. All I could think of was those Russian novels I read at school like Anna Karenina and War and Peace. After a bit of a miserable trek lugging luggage in the snow we reached our hotel, dumped it and headed into the Old Town of cobbled pedestrian only lanes. The Xmas markets were in full swing with crowds drinking hot mead and a hot punch. We saw lots of types of strudel, poppyseeds are rife on and in both sweet and savoury dishes and we tried a type of crepe filled with runny blue cheese. Now back in our hotel room , out of the snow, we are catching up on the news via the BBC. Weather is in the headlines - snow and freezing temperatures. It is going to be -16C here tonight !!!!!!!!!