Saturday, May 9, 2009
Venice
Beautiful old city with amazing history. I loved the canals and the gondolas. We had a group of 5 Gondolas together with a singer on one. It was very entertaining. Loved the architecture, and San Marcos Cathedral was unbelieveable. No pictures inside, bummer, But I believe it contains the tomb of the Gospel writer Mark. Mom went inside the tomb to look. I was unable (more on the later). I just walked the streets, alone, looking, searching, and exploring. Tomorrow Verona and then on to Switzerland.. B
Rothenberg, Germany
A medieval walled city. Oldest medieval walled city in Europe. I walked the walls and the battlements. Very interesting. The walls were very high. To keep enemies out. The churches and buildings were very old and in Gothic style. A Local told me the wall wasnt there for normal enemies, such as armies of men,,, but more like supernatural ones. That when started to notice all the crosses in all the windows of the houses. Many of the walls had very strange scratch like marks along them. Very weird, but I will investigate this further.
Longing
Today, I stood in a field of Gold.
face up to the sky. Warm sun,
thinking of you. Are you thinking of me?
Looking at the stars. Secret song. Wishes unfulfilled.
Can you hear me? Can you hear my heart? Beating
" Season may change, winter to spring. No mountain too high, no river to wide, storm clouds may gather and stars may collide "
Night time, twin stars blinking.
Do you miss me?
Come What May.
face up to the sky. Warm sun,
thinking of you. Are you thinking of me?
Looking at the stars. Secret song. Wishes unfulfilled.
Can you hear me? Can you hear my heart? Beating
" Season may change, winter to spring. No mountain too high, no river to wide, storm clouds may gather and stars may collide "
Night time, twin stars blinking.
Do you miss me?
Come What May.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
3 posts for price of one Euro
Let me first apologize for late posts. Wifi when I pay for it, works beautifully, but when its free, no good.
Germany was nice, but intimidating, its reputation had me a little uneasy, weird I know. The people were ok, not overly friendly, but polite. The weather was very cool, almost cold.
Austria was absolutely beautiful, gives my New Zealand a run for its money as far as beautiful mountains, and scenery. We were in the Alps. And it was warm, unbelievable. The hotel was gorgeous, and we got the biggest room so far. Our view was breathtaking, and Im not exaggeratting. We stayed overnight in Innsbruck.
We travel and sightsee all day, from early morning, up at 6 on the bus by 7 or 730 and then in the hotel for the night at around 8. We see lots but even im tired at night. Mom is a trooper, somehow she is getting around and seeing everything,,, she has made plenty of friends, everyone seems to love her as much we do. There is a couple from New Zealand, I'm their stalker, poor things. The trip so far is lovely.I'm having a nice time and taking plenty of pics,, posted a few, I dont like to post too many unedited, I do have a reputation to uphold. I will flood flickr with them and with better explanations of what you are looking at, when i have time, probably when I get home,, but flickr does have a taste...... Brian
p.s I'm being followed.
It started late one night in London. I felt the need to walk around and get my bearings. Mom was tired so I left her in the room. It wasnt too late around 10, and the moon was full,, air cool, but dry and there was a fine misty fog blowing in. Perfect London weather. Just what you see in the movies. We stayed in Kensington, which I was told is a very expensive area. Diana had a place there. So I felt safe to walk at night. I got mixed up to where I was and must've made a wrong turn. I happened past an old church, very Gothic, very old looking. Appeared to be abandoned. There was a very well dressed man standing at the bottom of the stairs. He had long blonde hair. Wore a beautiful long black coat, almost a cape, which is why I started to stare. My first thought was, wow I love that coat! I decided to cross the street away from him, my 911 instincts telling me to be careful, esp in stange lands. Before I got to the curb, he was at my side, startling me. In beautiful French accented English, he asked if I knew the time. 1/2 past 11. I said. A noise in the alley behind me, made me jump, straight up, I almost flew, right there. Merci Beacoup, he said. As his very icy blue eyes, scanned the place where the noise came from. He then walked in that direction. me. I hurried across the street, running more like it. Freaked out. All the while wondering if my hair was now a pale white.. I heard him chuckle. Chills went up and down my spine. I broke the Olympic 100 meter dash back to my hotel. Mom thought I was crazy, asking if I had stopped in a pub and had some English beer. Laughing, I went to bed, thinking I had read to many horror stories, and seen Too many movies. The next day, we arrived in Hamburg, Germany. No a/c so we left the window open. Beautiful breeze, made sleeping very peaceful. Innsbruck was another story. The weather was so warm, no breeze thru the windows and I kept hearing voices. The windows in our room, were these huge Gothic windows, that opened over the street. Both windows opened. While changing, Mom whispered to me, that someone was trying to get into our room. I crept over and heard someone trying first the door handle and then the lock. My hair stood straight up. Who is there I yelled in the deepest voice I could muster. Whover took off running. The wind suddenly blew the curtains in our room so hard,I ran to the window, thinking a storm had hit. As I approached the window, I thought I heard someone whisper my name. Looking down onto the street below I saw a young boy perhaps a teen arguing with his girlfriend, she was running from him and he kept calling out to her. Bela was her name I think. He gave me a very odd look. But across the street. under the only lamp light in the whole town, was the Frenchman!!!!Im sure of it. I saw long blonde hair. He had a hat on, I could not see his face, but thought he was smiling! Mom was yelling to close the windows, she was cold, as I grabbed the handle, he looked directly in my face. I peed my pants and farted. No kidding. This is too weird. Am I dreaming! Mom suggested I see the Hotel Doctor. Maybe he could give me something, She thinks the high altitude of the Alps is affecting me. I told her, I have my own sleeping pills, and I was too embarrassed to talk to anyone. But I slept like a log, best sleep I've had in years. As a matter of fact,Mom had to wake me in the morning. I was soo tired. In the bus I couldnt keep my eyes open, first tie for that, usually Im soo busy looking out the windows snapping pictures, I dont notice how long we are sitting on the bus. But today, I couldnt keep my eyes open. Normally I dont pay any attention to the chatter on the bus, butI thought I heard someone mention Vampires. My ears pricked up. Evidently the hotel staff were talking about Vampyri, and old mountain myths come to life.. Probably to scare us... Today we are off to Venice, I'm going to ask around, and keep my eyes and ears open,,,,,,,, B
Germany was nice, but intimidating, its reputation had me a little uneasy, weird I know. The people were ok, not overly friendly, but polite. The weather was very cool, almost cold.
Austria was absolutely beautiful, gives my New Zealand a run for its money as far as beautiful mountains, and scenery. We were in the Alps. And it was warm, unbelievable. The hotel was gorgeous, and we got the biggest room so far. Our view was breathtaking, and Im not exaggeratting. We stayed overnight in Innsbruck.
We travel and sightsee all day, from early morning, up at 6 on the bus by 7 or 730 and then in the hotel for the night at around 8. We see lots but even im tired at night. Mom is a trooper, somehow she is getting around and seeing everything,,, she has made plenty of friends, everyone seems to love her as much we do. There is a couple from New Zealand, I'm their stalker, poor things. The trip so far is lovely.I'm having a nice time and taking plenty of pics,, posted a few, I dont like to post too many unedited, I do have a reputation to uphold. I will flood flickr with them and with better explanations of what you are looking at, when i have time, probably when I get home,, but flickr does have a taste...... Brian
p.s I'm being followed.
It started late one night in London. I felt the need to walk around and get my bearings. Mom was tired so I left her in the room. It wasnt too late around 10, and the moon was full,, air cool, but dry and there was a fine misty fog blowing in. Perfect London weather. Just what you see in the movies. We stayed in Kensington, which I was told is a very expensive area. Diana had a place there. So I felt safe to walk at night. I got mixed up to where I was and must've made a wrong turn. I happened past an old church, very Gothic, very old looking. Appeared to be abandoned. There was a very well dressed man standing at the bottom of the stairs. He had long blonde hair. Wore a beautiful long black coat, almost a cape, which is why I started to stare. My first thought was, wow I love that coat! I decided to cross the street away from him, my 911 instincts telling me to be careful, esp in stange lands. Before I got to the curb, he was at my side, startling me. In beautiful French accented English, he asked if I knew the time. 1/2 past 11. I said. A noise in the alley behind me, made me jump, straight up, I almost flew, right there. Merci Beacoup, he said. As his very icy blue eyes, scanned the place where the noise came from. He then walked in that direction. me. I hurried across the street, running more like it. Freaked out. All the while wondering if my hair was now a pale white.. I heard him chuckle. Chills went up and down my spine. I broke the Olympic 100 meter dash back to my hotel. Mom thought I was crazy, asking if I had stopped in a pub and had some English beer. Laughing, I went to bed, thinking I had read to many horror stories, and seen Too many movies. The next day, we arrived in Hamburg, Germany. No a/c so we left the window open. Beautiful breeze, made sleeping very peaceful. Innsbruck was another story. The weather was so warm, no breeze thru the windows and I kept hearing voices. The windows in our room, were these huge Gothic windows, that opened over the street. Both windows opened. While changing, Mom whispered to me, that someone was trying to get into our room. I crept over and heard someone trying first the door handle and then the lock. My hair stood straight up. Who is there I yelled in the deepest voice I could muster. Whover took off running. The wind suddenly blew the curtains in our room so hard,I ran to the window, thinking a storm had hit. As I approached the window, I thought I heard someone whisper my name. Looking down onto the street below I saw a young boy perhaps a teen arguing with his girlfriend, she was running from him and he kept calling out to her. Bela was her name I think. He gave me a very odd look. But across the street. under the only lamp light in the whole town, was the Frenchman!!!!Im sure of it. I saw long blonde hair. He had a hat on, I could not see his face, but thought he was smiling! Mom was yelling to close the windows, she was cold, as I grabbed the handle, he looked directly in my face. I peed my pants and farted. No kidding. This is too weird. Am I dreaming! Mom suggested I see the Hotel Doctor. Maybe he could give me something, She thinks the high altitude of the Alps is affecting me. I told her, I have my own sleeping pills, and I was too embarrassed to talk to anyone. But I slept like a log, best sleep I've had in years. As a matter of fact,Mom had to wake me in the morning. I was soo tired. In the bus I couldnt keep my eyes open, first tie for that, usually Im soo busy looking out the windows snapping pictures, I dont notice how long we are sitting on the bus. But today, I couldnt keep my eyes open. Normally I dont pay any attention to the chatter on the bus, butI thought I heard someone mention Vampires. My ears pricked up. Evidently the hotel staff were talking about Vampyri, and old mountain myths come to life.. Probably to scare us... Today we are off to Venice, I'm going to ask around, and keep my eyes and ears open,,,,,,,, B
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Hello European Continent
Hello There,
Sorry for the long delay, but we traveled far and wide yesterday and it was a late night. We left England via ferry out of Dover, saw the white cliffs, and travelled over the English Channel to Calais, France. Back to driving on the right side (correct side ) but into foreign language territory. French, German and Dutch. German is very hard to understand, much more so than French. It sounds like someone clearing their throat, very gutteral.
Drove thru France on our bus to Brussels. Just before the German border we stopped for a much needed bathroom and leg break. Mom has met an Australian couple whom she enjoys and who, along with her have become the rebels of the group. They have already been scolded by our tour guide. They chat so much together that Mom has decided that she needs to learn about Australia, ratther than listening to our tour guide about the countries we are currently in. Case in point. Bathrooms cost money, they are not free. Dont tell her that, she thinks she can just wink her eye at the attendant and not pay, becuase she didnt have money on her. The man spoke to her in German, she didnt understand him, and had to go, so she winked and proceeded into the loo. I had to take care of him, on my turn to the urinal! They laughed about this incident for at least an hour, causing everyone else on the bus to stare or possibly glare, I dunno , I was too busy trying to ignore them and snap photos out of the windows.
Brussels has a beautiful square, where there are 2 palaces and a beautiful church, exquisite architecture, but thats it. I wasnt impressed. It felt like a big city and nothing more.
Rhine River cruise. This I enjoyed. Cold weather on the water, especially up top, but I was prepared. I had a warm sweater, and a coat, along with my winter cap. Many, many castles dot along the top, looking down on the Rhine, some occupied, some not. All interesting. I wish we were able to go inside. We were on the river for about 2 hrs. Then off Hamburg, were we are at now. Early morning tomorrow, we have to be up at 06:00 and onto the bus by 07:30, and off to Lucerne,, more later
ps the Euro is killing us! ITs about 1 to 1:50, so for every hundred i spend its costing me $150.00, yikes,,, we are running out of money fast. We need donations to get home, western union us soon . lol
P.s.s. unedited pictures are up on Flickr, no criticisms, they are unedited! That means you Bill and Sue!
Sorry for the long delay, but we traveled far and wide yesterday and it was a late night. We left England via ferry out of Dover, saw the white cliffs, and travelled over the English Channel to Calais, France. Back to driving on the right side (correct side ) but into foreign language territory. French, German and Dutch. German is very hard to understand, much more so than French. It sounds like someone clearing their throat, very gutteral.
Drove thru France on our bus to Brussels. Just before the German border we stopped for a much needed bathroom and leg break. Mom has met an Australian couple whom she enjoys and who, along with her have become the rebels of the group. They have already been scolded by our tour guide. They chat so much together that Mom has decided that she needs to learn about Australia, ratther than listening to our tour guide about the countries we are currently in. Case in point. Bathrooms cost money, they are not free. Dont tell her that, she thinks she can just wink her eye at the attendant and not pay, becuase she didnt have money on her. The man spoke to her in German, she didnt understand him, and had to go, so she winked and proceeded into the loo. I had to take care of him, on my turn to the urinal! They laughed about this incident for at least an hour, causing everyone else on the bus to stare or possibly glare, I dunno , I was too busy trying to ignore them and snap photos out of the windows.
Brussels has a beautiful square, where there are 2 palaces and a beautiful church, exquisite architecture, but thats it. I wasnt impressed. It felt like a big city and nothing more.
Rhine River cruise. This I enjoyed. Cold weather on the water, especially up top, but I was prepared. I had a warm sweater, and a coat, along with my winter cap. Many, many castles dot along the top, looking down on the Rhine, some occupied, some not. All interesting. I wish we were able to go inside. We were on the river for about 2 hrs. Then off Hamburg, were we are at now. Early morning tomorrow, we have to be up at 06:00 and onto the bus by 07:30, and off to Lucerne,, more later
ps the Euro is killing us! ITs about 1 to 1:50, so for every hundred i spend its costing me $150.00, yikes,,, we are running out of money fast. We need donations to get home, western union us soon . lol
P.s.s. unedited pictures are up on Flickr, no criticisms, they are unedited! That means you Bill and Sue!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Goodbye London
Hello All,,
Yesterday we toured the Queens Castle, Windsor. Very nice. Very medieval. Very Lord of the Rings. It was a little much for Mom to walk, but she perservered. What a trooper. English breakfasts, yuck. I remember not liking them in New Zealand too. Today we are off to the continent. Belgium and the capitol city of Brussels. We take a ferry over, hopefully it wont be too cold. London was a beautiful city, and very friendly people. I definitely want to return for a longer visit.. Pictures are turning out great, I will try and post them in our next hotel.... Brian
Yesterday we toured the Queens Castle, Windsor. Very nice. Very medieval. Very Lord of the Rings. It was a little much for Mom to walk, but she perservered. What a trooper. English breakfasts, yuck. I remember not liking them in New Zealand too. Today we are off to the continent. Belgium and the capitol city of Brussels. We take a ferry over, hopefully it wont be too cold. London was a beautiful city, and very friendly people. I definitely want to return for a longer visit.. Pictures are turning out great, I will try and post them in our next hotel.... Brian
London
Sorry for the late post, but yesterday we were exhausted. Plane ride was fine, but tiring. We had good seats, right up against the bulkhead, so plenty of leg room. But I cant sleep on a plane, and evidently neither can Mom. We werent allowed in our rooms until 2. I had to sweet talk a pretty Italian girl named Imma to get into them early, we so wanted to sleep. against everyones better advice.But Mom was sooo tired and her legs were bothering her. We slept about 3 hrs, and then joined a night tour to Tower Bridge which included dinner and a nice but very chilly boat ride along the Thames. It was very enjoyable. No wi-fi in hotel, so no pics yet, but hopefully when we move on. Today. we just finished a bus tour of London, very enjoable tour guide, Carlotte. We saw St Pauls Cathedral, ST James Palace, Buckingham Palace, the changing of the Guard, Big Ben, and many others. Lots of pics forthcoming. We are now waiting for another bus, which will take us to Windsor Castle. Mom is meeting lots of people from all over the World, and from other states in America. We leave London tomorrow,,, oh and before I forgot. Funny Story. I called yesterday for a 6:30 wake up call, just to make sure Mom had breakfast before our London Tour. We got a wake up call at 05:30 this morning, via FIRE ALARM. And let me tell you it was loud and a little frightening. People were running thru the hallways in their pajamas. We got dressed very quickly and walked down 5 flights of stairs, and everyone congregated in the streets.No one panicked, but I broke a major rule of mine,,, I LEFT my camera in the room!!!! How I wish I wouldve grabbed it. I did remember to grab my wallet, the room key and Mom without her teeth , mind you, but I did think to take her with me. , so at least that! No injuries, someone evidently was smoking in their room and set of the alarm. London is marvelous and exciting. I do think I will be back, so much to see... until tomorrow and hopefully I will post pics,,,,ps I am getting video tho, which takes away from reg photos, so I'm a little aggravated. I do like taking pictures,,,,,,,, Brian
P.S,, European keyboards are different, I remember this problem in France, configuration different, and its in a foreign language, I dont know how to change it, so pardon the misspellings...
P.S,, European keyboards are different, I remember this problem in France, configuration different, and its in a foreign language, I dont know how to change it, so pardon the misspellings...
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