Hi All,
Rick is in the shower so I have taken the opportunity to seize the laptop and post an "Elk" comment. Oh yeah, and contrary to a number of comments, my "little legs" are yet to run out of steam. But thanks for the concern....
Quick summary of my thoughts to date:
London is brilliant. Am stunned by the history and the architecture that just seems to be on every street we walk. Many times during our travels I found myself wondering whether grandparents / great grandparents etc had walked a similiar path in years gone.
In terms of location Bayswater was perfect, being walking distance to most places of interest and well supported by the public transport system.
Will definitely be returning to London.
Ireland is a beautiful place to visit, not sure I could get the same level of enjoyment beaching myself on Inch Beach as opposed to Coogee. Nevertheless the countryside is breathtaking and the people are extremely friendly (especially after a couple of Guinness!)
Well the shower has stopped so I best be off.
Take care all, keep the comments coming.
Love Jane
Saturday, April 25, 2009
When Ozzie Eyes are Smiling!
Hello there all
Well, if I recall correctly the last blog ended with us having arrived in Dingle and about to go and explore the town.
Dingle is a wonderful little town on the western coast of Ireland and even though it has been bucketing down since we arrived, the place was one of those classic Irish villages you instantly fall in love with. We found a pub called the Marina Inn which, coincidently, is located right on the Marina in town and managed to secure a window seat so we could see the rain and the mist from the comfort, and warmth, of a historic little hotel which served steaming hot food, ice cold beer and wine and huge portions of good humour, entertainment and plain old Irish "craic" (irish slang for gossip, chit chat, passing the time, shooting the breeze - you get the drift!).
Dingle is famous for two things - one is a Dolphin named Fungi (pronounced "foooooon - ggeeee") who has been a regular visitor to the bay of Dingle for many, many years and is known to all the local fisherman. We were advised that no one could remember a day that Fungi had not shown up for a feed or to say hello to newcomers to the village - therefore it surprised everyone that there was no sign of Fungi to welcome Rick and Jane into Dingle. Personally, I question whether Fungi isn't in fact another Irish 4 leaf clover, a Scottish Loch Ness Monster or even a polite Frenchman - a myth which continues to be propogated yet never actually seen by anyone!!
The other thing that Dingle is famous for is the movie Ryan's Daughter which was made in and around Dingle in 1969. For the older readers of this blog, you will remember it starred Robert Mitchum, Leo McKern, Christopher Jones and Sarah Miles - just to name a few. We drove around the Dingle Peninsula and Jane and I both fell in love with the place. The windswept cliffs, the winding little roads that take you from one breathtaking landscape to another coupled with seagulls, cranes and terns swooping down from the heavens whilst the rain poured down amongst the mist covered hills will remain one of the most poignant visions of our trip I am sure.
There were old fishermans huts made of shale and stone, beautifully green and lush fields resplendent with cattle, sheep and coloured wildflowers - all resembling a continually moving mosaic of form and colour. The rural aspects of Ireland are akin to the great artistic treasures held in national galleries except they are 3 dimensional and, if inclined, the observer can actually get out and touch, see, smell and feel the history, the poetry and beauty of the country. We are both so pleased that we took the time to tour the Dingle peninsula, it was a 1 hour -45 mile trip -that has left a lasting impression of beauty and wonder on us both.
Having said that, I am at a loss to identify what it is that they put in the soil, however, I have never seen rocks grown so successfully anywhere in the world!! I understand now why so many fences, homes and other structures are made of the darn things - they are everywhere the eye can see.
A quick breakfast in Dingle, then off to the Ring of Kerry. Again, Jane and I strapped on the helmets, got the navigational equipment and maps in order, and set out on the rally circuit the Irish call their road system. 100kph drag races along tiny country lanes with blind corners and, when ever near an Irish Pub, blind (drunk) Irishmen, saw us travel south along the west coast. The Ring of Kerry is in fact a Regional area in the S/W pocket of Ireland (just helping those that don't know!!!) and it is very picturesque and is very much like the road trip south of Sydney to Wollongong and Kiama for those that need comparisons. The only differences are that the roads are half the width as those in Sydney, the speed is a matter of choice (or in some cases pure adrenalin) and is is not uncommon to see either a long haired sheep or an even longer haired Irishman grazing on the side of the road as cars roar past.
We stopped at a place called Inch Beach, in the County of Kerry (that's how everything is described in the South - no town gets a mention without reference to the County that it is in) and took the attached photo of Jane with 3 coach loads of German tourists all walking across the sand flats into the ocean behind her. Our immediate thoughts were:
1) Was this a "pod" of Germans engaging in some freak act of nature - a "mass floating" (in direct contrast to the "mass beaching" we often associate with pods)
2) Could we be witnessing a cultist ritual of evangelistical proportions resulting in group suicide
3) Did they all need a wash?
We engaged the expertise of one of the coach drivers and were informed that most of the Germans came from land locked areas and, in some cases, this was their first ever glimpse of the ocean and a beach. Jane and I were relieved to hear this as we had commenced to don our speedo's with full intentions of doing a "Hoff and Pamela" run down the sand dunes - in acutely slow motion off course to ensure our most endearing "bits" shifted in symphonic timing to our run - to save as many of the poor souls as we could wrestle, headlock and hog tie onto the beach.
As an aside, and again for our older readers, this beach also happened to be the spot where Christopher Jones and Sarah Miles filmed a memorable scene - he in his black and red soldiers outfit and she in her pink bonnet whilst shading under an umbrella - where he professes his admiration for her. I'm sure you all know the exact scene I describe and recall it most vividly. No - well never mind, we have hundreds of photo's!
We then drove into Killarney and had lunch at a place named Ryan's Daughters Cafe. The owners were completely underwhelmed when I told them there was a film named the exact same thing made not far from them many years earlier -from the look on their faces I can only assume they were a bit slow and probably didn't believe me!!
Anyway, back into the Rally car, erh I mean Peugeot and off we went to the next port of call which turned out to be Cork. This was a very large town however, we must have hooked the rain at Galway and dragged it all the way through Tralee, Killarney and into Cork with us. It was absolutely belting down here which, I am reliably informed, is par for the course. We managed to secure accommodation at the Jury's Inn (maintaining my connection with the Justice System you see), parked the car and off we went to scout the township. We wandered through the streets and window shopped whilst comparing prices and goods. An ongoing debate Jane and I are having relates to the price of goods. When converted to Australian Dollars, things appear quite expensive however, it must be remembered that the price of goods in Ireland is relative to its economy therefore, comparatively, most things are reasonably priced. We went into Marks and Spencer which was very much like an upmarket Westfields and sold at least one of everything I could think of in the way of food. Great varieties on offer and some of the finest pastries I have ever eaten!
We stumbled into a little pub and settled in for an evening of Guinness (medicinal reasons only you understand), Irish music (a guy playing guitar whilst drinking pints of Guinness and wearing sunglasses in the dark all at the same time) and general "craic" with the locals. Found a bar man from Boston, USA who left college to play Rugby Union in Newcastle, Australia, then played in Japan, came to Ireland as a contracted player and was now playing third grade rugby with a local Cork team. He was 33 years of age, had been playing Rugby Union around the world for 17 years and was heading home to Boston next week for a 11 day visit to his folks - his first trip home in nearly 3 years. Nice guy and a wealth of information of things to see and do in Cork. His main tip? - stay indoors and drink Guinness!
A restful night's sleep and we were on the road again - this time to Blarney Castle to see the world famous stone. Before I get to the stone, let me just say the Castle is one of the most imposing and brilliant bits of architecture you will ever get the chance to actually climb on, in and around and really get a feel for what it was like living in one of these structures in the very early ages. Truly magnificent 360 degree views from the towers and very eerie climbing through the cave like tunnels and dungeons that permeate the interior of its walls.
Anyway, I have attached a photo Jane indulging in the local practice and kissing the Blarney stone. As can be seen, a certain amount of dexterity is called for as you are required to lay on your back, grip the two black bars behind you and slide head first down the wall until such time as you reach the stone. A quick peck on the rock and you are assisted back into an upright position and off you go. This all occurs on the very top of the castle wall after climbing up a circular stair well which appears to be as wide as the brim of a decent size hat and is as dark as three feet down a bears throat! The wind howls through your bones, guard rails are very small and the whole experience brings on a sense of anxiety yet, excitement. Difficult to describe really save to say well worth doing.
Did I peck the rock I hear some of you ask? Well, all I will say is that a gentleman never kisses and tells, so I will leave it to you to guess.
On we went, rain well and truly in tow, to Mallow, Mitchelstown and into a tiny little village called Cahir. We stopped for a quick lunch and then on to Cashel, across to Kilkenny and came to rest in a place named Carlow. We had intended to go via Waterford however, were informed the Waterford Crystal Factory is now closed - something about a bus load of soprano's from an opera company having visited the place and spontaneously broken into song during their tour of the place!!!
We found a gorgeous little bed and breakfast called the Red Setter B&B in Dublin Street, Carlow. Most B&B's cost about 30 Euro per person per night - some with breakfast included - and we then set out on the compulsory walking tour of the town. I had a quick haircut performed by an all girl barber shop for a reasonable 10 Euro and then on to the pub which was recommended by the girls (and happened to be right next door).
Once inside, our Australian accent endeared us to all and in no time we were sharing "craic" with the locals including one particularly great bloke named Terry. He was 80+ years of age, had been married for 60 years to the one woman, came into the pub every single day for a "sup" or two (Powers whisky was his pleasure - doubles at that) washed down with a half pint of Guinness. We quickly came to realise that Terry had 2 things in large quantities - one being time and the other being a thirst!
I have attached a photo of Jane and Terry and I can truly say he was a lovely bloke who was as interesting as he was entertaining. All in all a fantastic night with him, Patrick the Manager (Terry says he's an arsehole but God Bless Him!) and a couple of "locals" from Angola and Durbin who happen to now reside in Carlow and have adopted the pub as their home.
We left the pub and were shocked to see it wasn't raining however, no sooner had we shut the pub doors behind us and down it came. A slow stroll in the rain on the way home finally took its toll on those little legs and after a quick shower, Jane put herself to bed with a book under one arm and the television remote in the other. Another good day had by all.
This morning, we started the day with a classic full Irish breakfast of eggs, sausages, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, toast, juice, cereal and a pot of tea. Into the car and on the road again, this time bound for Dublin and nearing the end of our time in Ireland. We made our way back into Dublin Town via the M1. As per our last experience on the motor ways, the speeds were unbelievable and after a while became less daunting. Toward the end of the motorway, I actually overtook a police vehicle which was in pursuit of another car with lights and sirens going - I don't know who was more surprised however, after a quick wave and a thumbs up from me they kept chasing the other car and Jane and I drove into Dublin.
We did a couple of laps of the city to get a better feel for the place by daylight and we saw a lot more of the city than we saw the last time we were here 5 days earlier.
Jane and I drove through Dublin to the Airport as we have booked a motel very close to the main departure terminal. We have an early flight to Paris tomorrow morning so we decided we would stay nearby and tend to some last minute jobs, including this blog, without having to rush around madly in the morning. As it is, we are on a 5.30am shuttle bus to the airport from the motel (its only about a 7 minute trip) and then onto our flight to France.
I dropped the little hire car off and have a completely new respect for Peugeot motor cars. Great little units, good on fuel and capable of speeds beyond the speedometer's measurement, as I proved during this week in Ireland.
Anyway good folks, hope you are all well. I have attached a couple of additional general photos other than those I have referred to within the blog just for interest.
Jo - your (not so) subtle hint has been noted - a postcard is on its way to you.
Love to all
Jane and Rick
Well, if I recall correctly the last blog ended with us having arrived in Dingle and about to go and explore the town.
Dingle is a wonderful little town on the western coast of Ireland and even though it has been bucketing down since we arrived, the place was one of those classic Irish villages you instantly fall in love with. We found a pub called the Marina Inn which, coincidently, is located right on the Marina in town and managed to secure a window seat so we could see the rain and the mist from the comfort, and warmth, of a historic little hotel which served steaming hot food, ice cold beer and wine and huge portions of good humour, entertainment and plain old Irish "craic" (irish slang for gossip, chit chat, passing the time, shooting the breeze - you get the drift!).
Dingle is famous for two things - one is a Dolphin named Fungi (pronounced "foooooon - ggeeee") who has been a regular visitor to the bay of Dingle for many, many years and is known to all the local fisherman. We were advised that no one could remember a day that Fungi had not shown up for a feed or to say hello to newcomers to the village - therefore it surprised everyone that there was no sign of Fungi to welcome Rick and Jane into Dingle. Personally, I question whether Fungi isn't in fact another Irish 4 leaf clover, a Scottish Loch Ness Monster or even a polite Frenchman - a myth which continues to be propogated yet never actually seen by anyone!!
The other thing that Dingle is famous for is the movie Ryan's Daughter which was made in and around Dingle in 1969. For the older readers of this blog, you will remember it starred Robert Mitchum, Leo McKern, Christopher Jones and Sarah Miles - just to name a few. We drove around the Dingle Peninsula and Jane and I both fell in love with the place. The windswept cliffs, the winding little roads that take you from one breathtaking landscape to another coupled with seagulls, cranes and terns swooping down from the heavens whilst the rain poured down amongst the mist covered hills will remain one of the most poignant visions of our trip I am sure.
There were old fishermans huts made of shale and stone, beautifully green and lush fields resplendent with cattle, sheep and coloured wildflowers - all resembling a continually moving mosaic of form and colour. The rural aspects of Ireland are akin to the great artistic treasures held in national galleries except they are 3 dimensional and, if inclined, the observer can actually get out and touch, see, smell and feel the history, the poetry and beauty of the country. We are both so pleased that we took the time to tour the Dingle peninsula, it was a 1 hour -45 mile trip -that has left a lasting impression of beauty and wonder on us both.
Having said that, I am at a loss to identify what it is that they put in the soil, however, I have never seen rocks grown so successfully anywhere in the world!! I understand now why so many fences, homes and other structures are made of the darn things - they are everywhere the eye can see.
A quick breakfast in Dingle, then off to the Ring of Kerry. Again, Jane and I strapped on the helmets, got the navigational equipment and maps in order, and set out on the rally circuit the Irish call their road system. 100kph drag races along tiny country lanes with blind corners and, when ever near an Irish Pub, blind (drunk) Irishmen, saw us travel south along the west coast. The Ring of Kerry is in fact a Regional area in the S/W pocket of Ireland (just helping those that don't know!!!) and it is very picturesque and is very much like the road trip south of Sydney to Wollongong and Kiama for those that need comparisons. The only differences are that the roads are half the width as those in Sydney, the speed is a matter of choice (or in some cases pure adrenalin) and is is not uncommon to see either a long haired sheep or an even longer haired Irishman grazing on the side of the road as cars roar past.
We stopped at a place called Inch Beach, in the County of Kerry (that's how everything is described in the South - no town gets a mention without reference to the County that it is in) and took the attached photo of Jane with 3 coach loads of German tourists all walking across the sand flats into the ocean behind her. Our immediate thoughts were:
1) Was this a "pod" of Germans engaging in some freak act of nature - a "mass floating" (in direct contrast to the "mass beaching" we often associate with pods)
2) Could we be witnessing a cultist ritual of evangelistical proportions resulting in group suicide
3) Did they all need a wash?
We engaged the expertise of one of the coach drivers and were informed that most of the Germans came from land locked areas and, in some cases, this was their first ever glimpse of the ocean and a beach. Jane and I were relieved to hear this as we had commenced to don our speedo's with full intentions of doing a "Hoff and Pamela" run down the sand dunes - in acutely slow motion off course to ensure our most endearing "bits" shifted in symphonic timing to our run - to save as many of the poor souls as we could wrestle, headlock and hog tie onto the beach.
As an aside, and again for our older readers, this beach also happened to be the spot where Christopher Jones and Sarah Miles filmed a memorable scene - he in his black and red soldiers outfit and she in her pink bonnet whilst shading under an umbrella - where he professes his admiration for her. I'm sure you all know the exact scene I describe and recall it most vividly. No - well never mind, we have hundreds of photo's!
We then drove into Killarney and had lunch at a place named Ryan's Daughters Cafe. The owners were completely underwhelmed when I told them there was a film named the exact same thing made not far from them many years earlier -from the look on their faces I can only assume they were a bit slow and probably didn't believe me!!
Anyway, back into the Rally car, erh I mean Peugeot and off we went to the next port of call which turned out to be Cork. This was a very large town however, we must have hooked the rain at Galway and dragged it all the way through Tralee, Killarney and into Cork with us. It was absolutely belting down here which, I am reliably informed, is par for the course. We managed to secure accommodation at the Jury's Inn (maintaining my connection with the Justice System you see), parked the car and off we went to scout the township. We wandered through the streets and window shopped whilst comparing prices and goods. An ongoing debate Jane and I are having relates to the price of goods. When converted to Australian Dollars, things appear quite expensive however, it must be remembered that the price of goods in Ireland is relative to its economy therefore, comparatively, most things are reasonably priced. We went into Marks and Spencer which was very much like an upmarket Westfields and sold at least one of everything I could think of in the way of food. Great varieties on offer and some of the finest pastries I have ever eaten!
We stumbled into a little pub and settled in for an evening of Guinness (medicinal reasons only you understand), Irish music (a guy playing guitar whilst drinking pints of Guinness and wearing sunglasses in the dark all at the same time) and general "craic" with the locals. Found a bar man from Boston, USA who left college to play Rugby Union in Newcastle, Australia, then played in Japan, came to Ireland as a contracted player and was now playing third grade rugby with a local Cork team. He was 33 years of age, had been playing Rugby Union around the world for 17 years and was heading home to Boston next week for a 11 day visit to his folks - his first trip home in nearly 3 years. Nice guy and a wealth of information of things to see and do in Cork. His main tip? - stay indoors and drink Guinness!
A restful night's sleep and we were on the road again - this time to Blarney Castle to see the world famous stone. Before I get to the stone, let me just say the Castle is one of the most imposing and brilliant bits of architecture you will ever get the chance to actually climb on, in and around and really get a feel for what it was like living in one of these structures in the very early ages. Truly magnificent 360 degree views from the towers and very eerie climbing through the cave like tunnels and dungeons that permeate the interior of its walls.
Anyway, I have attached a photo Jane indulging in the local practice and kissing the Blarney stone. As can be seen, a certain amount of dexterity is called for as you are required to lay on your back, grip the two black bars behind you and slide head first down the wall until such time as you reach the stone. A quick peck on the rock and you are assisted back into an upright position and off you go. This all occurs on the very top of the castle wall after climbing up a circular stair well which appears to be as wide as the brim of a decent size hat and is as dark as three feet down a bears throat! The wind howls through your bones, guard rails are very small and the whole experience brings on a sense of anxiety yet, excitement. Difficult to describe really save to say well worth doing.
Did I peck the rock I hear some of you ask? Well, all I will say is that a gentleman never kisses and tells, so I will leave it to you to guess.
On we went, rain well and truly in tow, to Mallow, Mitchelstown and into a tiny little village called Cahir. We stopped for a quick lunch and then on to Cashel, across to Kilkenny and came to rest in a place named Carlow. We had intended to go via Waterford however, were informed the Waterford Crystal Factory is now closed - something about a bus load of soprano's from an opera company having visited the place and spontaneously broken into song during their tour of the place!!!
We found a gorgeous little bed and breakfast called the Red Setter B&B in Dublin Street, Carlow. Most B&B's cost about 30 Euro per person per night - some with breakfast included - and we then set out on the compulsory walking tour of the town. I had a quick haircut performed by an all girl barber shop for a reasonable 10 Euro and then on to the pub which was recommended by the girls (and happened to be right next door).
Once inside, our Australian accent endeared us to all and in no time we were sharing "craic" with the locals including one particularly great bloke named Terry. He was 80+ years of age, had been married for 60 years to the one woman, came into the pub every single day for a "sup" or two (Powers whisky was his pleasure - doubles at that) washed down with a half pint of Guinness. We quickly came to realise that Terry had 2 things in large quantities - one being time and the other being a thirst!
I have attached a photo of Jane and Terry and I can truly say he was a lovely bloke who was as interesting as he was entertaining. All in all a fantastic night with him, Patrick the Manager (Terry says he's an arsehole but God Bless Him!) and a couple of "locals" from Angola and Durbin who happen to now reside in Carlow and have adopted the pub as their home.
We left the pub and were shocked to see it wasn't raining however, no sooner had we shut the pub doors behind us and down it came. A slow stroll in the rain on the way home finally took its toll on those little legs and after a quick shower, Jane put herself to bed with a book under one arm and the television remote in the other. Another good day had by all.
This morning, we started the day with a classic full Irish breakfast of eggs, sausages, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, toast, juice, cereal and a pot of tea. Into the car and on the road again, this time bound for Dublin and nearing the end of our time in Ireland. We made our way back into Dublin Town via the M1. As per our last experience on the motor ways, the speeds were unbelievable and after a while became less daunting. Toward the end of the motorway, I actually overtook a police vehicle which was in pursuit of another car with lights and sirens going - I don't know who was more surprised however, after a quick wave and a thumbs up from me they kept chasing the other car and Jane and I drove into Dublin.
We did a couple of laps of the city to get a better feel for the place by daylight and we saw a lot more of the city than we saw the last time we were here 5 days earlier.
Jane and I drove through Dublin to the Airport as we have booked a motel very close to the main departure terminal. We have an early flight to Paris tomorrow morning so we decided we would stay nearby and tend to some last minute jobs, including this blog, without having to rush around madly in the morning. As it is, we are on a 5.30am shuttle bus to the airport from the motel (its only about a 7 minute trip) and then onto our flight to France.
I dropped the little hire car off and have a completely new respect for Peugeot motor cars. Great little units, good on fuel and capable of speeds beyond the speedometer's measurement, as I proved during this week in Ireland.
Anyway good folks, hope you are all well. I have attached a couple of additional general photos other than those I have referred to within the blog just for interest.
Jo - your (not so) subtle hint has been noted - a postcard is on its way to you.
Love to all
Jane and Rick
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Top of the mornin' to ya!
Hello all
Well here we are in the land of the long white.........potato!
We arrived safe and well after a reasonably early flight out of London and touched down at Dublin Airport on a cool yet sunny day - temperature about 11 degrees. A quick bus trip into town and a short walk, back packs strapped on tightly, to Blooms Hotel which is located in Temple Bar - a favourite location for young, trendy and absolutely gorgeous tourists. Nonetheless, they let me in to join Jane only after I had produced my police id, signed an undertaking not to leave the room after dark to ensure the young tourists were not put off by the sight of an old bloke shuffling around and a promise that I would leave Dublin early the next day.
Despite my promises and undertakings, Jane and I did venture out and found our way to St Patricks Cathedral which is an absolutely wonderful piece of architecture - grand and imposing from all angles and worth just looking at to take in its sheer dominance and majesty. From there, we went on to Christchurch Cathedral where, it is rumoured, the body of Strongbow (the warrior, not the cider!) is buried. Again, a magnificent example of medieval building and the most striking feature is that you can just imagine what it was like during the time of the Saxons, the vikings, the Normans and days of Knights (interesting oxymoron what - days of Knights) jousting.
We then made our way to the Dublin Castle and this was truly incredible. The guided tour took us through the various rooms of the Castle which are still used, particularly the Kings Room which is utilised every 7 years for the inauguration of the newly elected (or re-elected as is the current case) President of Ireland. The walls are adorned with the coat of arms of the Presidential Families and this really was a fantastic trip back into history. We then ventured underground to actual sections of the castle that were used to provide the water from the River Poddle which also facilitated servants entry to the castle. They travelled by small punt on the river into an entrance under the castle. From there, they made their way to a small set of steps which provided direct entry into the kitchens and work rooms thereby negating any need to be seen either entering or leaving. I could not do justice to all the works of art nor the interior of the castle by trying to describe it. Thankfully, I took quite a few photos and will post those if any one is interested.
A quick stroll around Dublin saw the day ending in a classical Irish pub to the taste of Guiness, cold and strong, and the lull of an Irish balladeer sharing tales of love, of heartbreak and how he overcame both through the healing powers of Guinness!!
Day 2 began with a tour of the Guinness Storehouse (brewery). Contrary to the view you may be forming, not everything in Ireland involves Guinness - just most things. Anyway, back to the tour. We were given a great explanation of the making of Guiness...."You put de stoof in here, ya give it a shake and mudder of god, it's Guinness!"
The tour was well worth the trip and we then took possession of our arranged hire car. This one was entirely different to the one we got in London from Karma Cars. This is a Peugeot 207 - 5 door hatch. It is a very small car however, it comes complete with an assistant whose principal role it is to try and get me into, and out of, the car each time we need to stop or go anywhere.
We headed out of Dublin about 1pm on Tuesday afternoon bound for Galway which is due west of Dublin on the opposite coast of Ireland. To undertake this journey, motorists are given the option of a Motorway or a Freeway. The difference in these, just like in Oz, is the price you pay and the speed at which you travel. I opted for the Motorway and for the first 100kms, it took me some time to get used to the paint getting sucked off our little hire car by the other vehicles overtaking us as something close to Mach 1. Anyway, it was at the 100km mark that I decided I was going to use all 5 gears that came with the little car so into 3rd I went and before too long, I almost had the baby Peugeot at subsonic speed. Unfortunately, the sound of wind rushing past us meant that Jane and I were unable to communicate at all during the trip without shouting so loudly, our eyes watered. I tried to answer her at one point however, almost ran off the road through loss of vision.
215km's later, we arrived in Galway and found ourselves a B & B that Dad and Gwen recommended to us as a nice clean place that they had stayed at when they were over here. It is about 3km out of Galway proper, on the road to Clifden which is to the North West of Galway. As described by Dad and Gwen, it was lovely and clean, warm and the hosts were most welcoming. A quick unpack, and off the nearest pub for a Guinness and home made vegetable soup together with Roast of the Day (Turkey and Ham) for Rick. Of note was the fact that the Roast came with Carrots, Cauliflower and Broccoli, together with roast potatoes, mashed potatoes and chips. Jane made do with a Steak and vegies washed down with a glass or two of Sauvignon Blanc. The pub was a fantastic little find away from the mainstream however, was particularly busy when we arrived as there was a wake taking place after a funeral earlier in the day for a well known local.
I enquired as to the details to be told that the deceased had been badly burnt. When I asked was it an accident, they looked at me and laughed before telling me that getting burnt often happens during cremations. I laughed too and was struck by the fact that no matter where you go in the world, the good old lines still get used! Jane and I were absolutely transfixed by the conversations surrounding us, the Irish and Gaelic tooing and froing that seemed to be everywhere and the interspersed roars of laughter, slapping on the back, and orders for more Guinness to remember and toast the recently departed. What a great night and we felt no need to go into Galway township so we headed back to our room as Jane's little legs were getting tired from all the sitting in the car and sitting in the pub. When last seen, she was no more than a blur diving into a wonderfully soft and warm bed and bidding me a genuine, albeit sleepy, good night.
Up at 7am this morning for a home cooked breakfast, packed up our goods and chattels and on the road to Dingle (that's a place, not a bodily function, for those who may not be aware). On route, we passed through some lovely little villages and townships and went via the Cliffs of Moher. This is a tourist mecca and everyone who stops here makes the trek to the top of the cliffs to see the cliffs and the sea!
The country side around the south west of Ireland is spectacular. It is lush and vibrant and reminds me of the Canterbury plains in New Zealand. The roads are no more than laneways yet have 100kph speed limits all the way along. Driving in Ireland is not for the faint hearted, particularly when you encounter the frequent blind corners, the hidden driveways and the other tourists who, like Jane and I, have no bloody idea where they are going but are having a great time trying to get there.
We went through towns named Liscannor, Lahinch, Lilltown Malbay, Kilmurry and finally to a place called Killimer where we had to take a ferry across to Tarbert. This was a 20 minute trip costing €18 (that's Euro rather than pounds) and an opportunity to take in the scenery, the pleasantness of the country and reflect on the character and steadfastness of the Irish. I say this because Dublin struck Jane and I as "tired" and "sombre". Temple Bar was a hive of activity, bars and entertainment but some of the surrounding areas were very much working class and the people seem to have a strong resolution about them. We are in Spring here and it is bitterly cold on the coast so we can only imagine what winter here must be like! Nonetheless, the locals seem content with their lot and get on with it.
Speaking of which, I better get on with it too. We continued along the "high speed laneways" into Tralee and the weather started closing in. The local radio station gave the following weather report and I quote it word for word ..... "If you can see the mountains, it's about to start raining. If you can't see the mountains, the rain's already begun". So simple and yet so descriptive! Beats me why we need a weather guy on television talking about all the high pressure, low pressure and other systems coming towards us or going away from us. Perhaps we could learn a lesson from the Irish after all.
340klms away from Galway, we touched down in Dingle. A quick trip up the main street saw us secure accomodation at a lovely B&B called The Lantern. €30 per person, breakfast included, and advice regarding what to see, what to do and where to go thrown at no extra cost.
So dear friends, we are now off to explore the sights of Dingle on foot. It is 5.50pm local time and I hear the calling of that great Irish Poet, Sir Havanotha Guinness, beckoning us.
Please keep your comments coming. Jane and I are enjoying reading your feedback as much as we hope you are enjoying our tales of travel and expressions of adventure.
Love to all and a quick thanks to Brooke Langford - your travel tips have been gold!!
Jane and Rick
Well here we are in the land of the long white.........potato!
We arrived safe and well after a reasonably early flight out of London and touched down at Dublin Airport on a cool yet sunny day - temperature about 11 degrees. A quick bus trip into town and a short walk, back packs strapped on tightly, to Blooms Hotel which is located in Temple Bar - a favourite location for young, trendy and absolutely gorgeous tourists. Nonetheless, they let me in to join Jane only after I had produced my police id, signed an undertaking not to leave the room after dark to ensure the young tourists were not put off by the sight of an old bloke shuffling around and a promise that I would leave Dublin early the next day.
Despite my promises and undertakings, Jane and I did venture out and found our way to St Patricks Cathedral which is an absolutely wonderful piece of architecture - grand and imposing from all angles and worth just looking at to take in its sheer dominance and majesty. From there, we went on to Christchurch Cathedral where, it is rumoured, the body of Strongbow (the warrior, not the cider!) is buried. Again, a magnificent example of medieval building and the most striking feature is that you can just imagine what it was like during the time of the Saxons, the vikings, the Normans and days of Knights (interesting oxymoron what - days of Knights) jousting.
We then made our way to the Dublin Castle and this was truly incredible. The guided tour took us through the various rooms of the Castle which are still used, particularly the Kings Room which is utilised every 7 years for the inauguration of the newly elected (or re-elected as is the current case) President of Ireland. The walls are adorned with the coat of arms of the Presidential Families and this really was a fantastic trip back into history. We then ventured underground to actual sections of the castle that were used to provide the water from the River Poddle which also facilitated servants entry to the castle. They travelled by small punt on the river into an entrance under the castle. From there, they made their way to a small set of steps which provided direct entry into the kitchens and work rooms thereby negating any need to be seen either entering or leaving. I could not do justice to all the works of art nor the interior of the castle by trying to describe it. Thankfully, I took quite a few photos and will post those if any one is interested.
A quick stroll around Dublin saw the day ending in a classical Irish pub to the taste of Guiness, cold and strong, and the lull of an Irish balladeer sharing tales of love, of heartbreak and how he overcame both through the healing powers of Guinness!!
Day 2 began with a tour of the Guinness Storehouse (brewery). Contrary to the view you may be forming, not everything in Ireland involves Guinness - just most things. Anyway, back to the tour. We were given a great explanation of the making of Guiness...."You put de stoof in here, ya give it a shake and mudder of god, it's Guinness!"
The tour was well worth the trip and we then took possession of our arranged hire car. This one was entirely different to the one we got in London from Karma Cars. This is a Peugeot 207 - 5 door hatch. It is a very small car however, it comes complete with an assistant whose principal role it is to try and get me into, and out of, the car each time we need to stop or go anywhere.
We headed out of Dublin about 1pm on Tuesday afternoon bound for Galway which is due west of Dublin on the opposite coast of Ireland. To undertake this journey, motorists are given the option of a Motorway or a Freeway. The difference in these, just like in Oz, is the price you pay and the speed at which you travel. I opted for the Motorway and for the first 100kms, it took me some time to get used to the paint getting sucked off our little hire car by the other vehicles overtaking us as something close to Mach 1. Anyway, it was at the 100km mark that I decided I was going to use all 5 gears that came with the little car so into 3rd I went and before too long, I almost had the baby Peugeot at subsonic speed. Unfortunately, the sound of wind rushing past us meant that Jane and I were unable to communicate at all during the trip without shouting so loudly, our eyes watered. I tried to answer her at one point however, almost ran off the road through loss of vision.
215km's later, we arrived in Galway and found ourselves a B & B that Dad and Gwen recommended to us as a nice clean place that they had stayed at when they were over here. It is about 3km out of Galway proper, on the road to Clifden which is to the North West of Galway. As described by Dad and Gwen, it was lovely and clean, warm and the hosts were most welcoming. A quick unpack, and off the nearest pub for a Guinness and home made vegetable soup together with Roast of the Day (Turkey and Ham) for Rick. Of note was the fact that the Roast came with Carrots, Cauliflower and Broccoli, together with roast potatoes, mashed potatoes and chips. Jane made do with a Steak and vegies washed down with a glass or two of Sauvignon Blanc. The pub was a fantastic little find away from the mainstream however, was particularly busy when we arrived as there was a wake taking place after a funeral earlier in the day for a well known local.
I enquired as to the details to be told that the deceased had been badly burnt. When I asked was it an accident, they looked at me and laughed before telling me that getting burnt often happens during cremations. I laughed too and was struck by the fact that no matter where you go in the world, the good old lines still get used! Jane and I were absolutely transfixed by the conversations surrounding us, the Irish and Gaelic tooing and froing that seemed to be everywhere and the interspersed roars of laughter, slapping on the back, and orders for more Guinness to remember and toast the recently departed. What a great night and we felt no need to go into Galway township so we headed back to our room as Jane's little legs were getting tired from all the sitting in the car and sitting in the pub. When last seen, she was no more than a blur diving into a wonderfully soft and warm bed and bidding me a genuine, albeit sleepy, good night.
Up at 7am this morning for a home cooked breakfast, packed up our goods and chattels and on the road to Dingle (that's a place, not a bodily function, for those who may not be aware). On route, we passed through some lovely little villages and townships and went via the Cliffs of Moher. This is a tourist mecca and everyone who stops here makes the trek to the top of the cliffs to see the cliffs and the sea!
The country side around the south west of Ireland is spectacular. It is lush and vibrant and reminds me of the Canterbury plains in New Zealand. The roads are no more than laneways yet have 100kph speed limits all the way along. Driving in Ireland is not for the faint hearted, particularly when you encounter the frequent blind corners, the hidden driveways and the other tourists who, like Jane and I, have no bloody idea where they are going but are having a great time trying to get there.
We went through towns named Liscannor, Lahinch, Lilltown Malbay, Kilmurry and finally to a place called Killimer where we had to take a ferry across to Tarbert. This was a 20 minute trip costing €18 (that's Euro rather than pounds) and an opportunity to take in the scenery, the pleasantness of the country and reflect on the character and steadfastness of the Irish. I say this because Dublin struck Jane and I as "tired" and "sombre". Temple Bar was a hive of activity, bars and entertainment but some of the surrounding areas were very much working class and the people seem to have a strong resolution about them. We are in Spring here and it is bitterly cold on the coast so we can only imagine what winter here must be like! Nonetheless, the locals seem content with their lot and get on with it.
Speaking of which, I better get on with it too. We continued along the "high speed laneways" into Tralee and the weather started closing in. The local radio station gave the following weather report and I quote it word for word ..... "If you can see the mountains, it's about to start raining. If you can't see the mountains, the rain's already begun". So simple and yet so descriptive! Beats me why we need a weather guy on television talking about all the high pressure, low pressure and other systems coming towards us or going away from us. Perhaps we could learn a lesson from the Irish after all.
340klms away from Galway, we touched down in Dingle. A quick trip up the main street saw us secure accomodation at a lovely B&B called The Lantern. €30 per person, breakfast included, and advice regarding what to see, what to do and where to go thrown at no extra cost.
So dear friends, we are now off to explore the sights of Dingle on foot. It is 5.50pm local time and I hear the calling of that great Irish Poet, Sir Havanotha Guinness, beckoning us.
Please keep your comments coming. Jane and I are enjoying reading your feedback as much as we hope you are enjoying our tales of travel and expressions of adventure.
Love to all and a quick thanks to Brooke Langford - your travel tips have been gold!!
Jane and Rick
Monday, April 20, 2009
Comments
Dear All
We have arrived in Dublin and will be posting an entry describing today's activities which included a quick tour of Dublin Castle, Christchurch Cathedral and St Patricks Church. I will go into far more detail and, as usual include pics for your viewing pleasure.
The point of this entry is to let you know that through the genius of my son Luke, an amendment has been made to the blog deleting the need for those wishing to make comment to have a profile. In a nut shell, anyone now wishing to utilise the "comment" box at the bottom of each of our blog entries should be able to do so without any restrictions whatsoever.
Therefore, comment away!!
To be sure, to be sure
Jane and Rick.
We have arrived in Dublin and will be posting an entry describing today's activities which included a quick tour of Dublin Castle, Christchurch Cathedral and St Patricks Church. I will go into far more detail and, as usual include pics for your viewing pleasure.
The point of this entry is to let you know that through the genius of my son Luke, an amendment has been made to the blog deleting the need for those wishing to make comment to have a profile. In a nut shell, anyone now wishing to utilise the "comment" box at the bottom of each of our blog entries should be able to do so without any restrictions whatsoever.
Therefore, comment away!!
To be sure, to be sure
Jane and Rick.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
More from London
Hello again blog followers
Its Sunday morning in beautiful down town London and the sun is shining magnificently. The temperature is expected to be in the high teens so it is a typically gorgeous spring day with just the slightest hint of a cool breeze intermittently reminding us that it isn't quite speedo and block out cream time just yet.
I have loaded some additional, and more contemporary, photos for your viewing pleasure. The first shot is of a particularly interesting vehicle Jane and I were able to hire (not without some notably aggresive bartering on Jane's part I might add) to use on a day drive around London. I must admit that once inside the vehicle, my childhood memories of being an Italian in Kurnell came flooding back and I automatically felt right at home inside the lavish interiour fit out coupled with the distinctively adorned bumber bar. It seems we were mistaken whilst driving around for someone obviously both famous and funny, which would explain the continual pointing in our direction coupled with belly laughing and general guffawing. For anyone intending to come over, the vehicle is available from Karma Cars and comes complete with enough unleaded fuel to actually get out of the sight of the hire firm. I am since advised that the spare tyre was an option (which we hadn't taken out as part of the policy however had no need for same as it turned out) and the road map, curiously, came with instructions which indicated it could only be read using the glow from a low amp torch behind barracaded windows during air alerts or periods of sustained blackout (I did note the version we had was printed in 1943 so perhaps a couple of the street names have changed). None the less, a great days driving around the thriving metropolis of London in our own little "Merryness Motor".
Whilst walking around the streets of Soho, Jane and I happened upon a little Hotel called the Crooked Ledge and by chance witnessed an early heat of the "Junior Miss Britain" competition. I was fortunate enough to meet the early winner and got this photograph of her going through one of her posing routines, this one depicting her shy, profiled image. Very demur don't you think? No wonder she was an early favourite with the judges.
The next couple of shots are of Amy Pearce from Wodonga who is teaching over here and has been for about 4 years. Amy's mum is Jane's cousin so we made a point of catching up with Amy last night in an irish pub called Waxy O'Connor's and it truly was one of the best pubs I have seen in a long time. Amy showed us a great night out including Japanese dining in China time (made sense at the time!) and on to the night sights of Picadilly Circus, the West End and finally a night viewing of Big Ben, The Eye and parts of Charing Cross. The photo is of the girls in front of the Houses of Parliament at Westminster with Big Ben visible on the right. A truly beautiful sight at night however, the wind cut through us but the view was well worth the momentary discomfort.
The final photograph is of Jane with her good friend Santino - old mates from Sydney - and this was taken outside of great little place called The Sun (its a pub) in Clapham Common which is where Santino lives with his gorgeous wife Anna and the newest little addition to the British population, 6 day old Eva. We had a great visit with them and really enjoyed the change in scenery from the built up area of London and its immediate surrounds to the more gentle countryside of Clapham and the surrounding rural vista.
Jane and I have both been astounded by the simplicity in which the British move about by rail. In describing it, there are only really two things that need to be remembered (in the borough of Westminister and surrounding areas at least). Train routes are coded by colours and destinations fall within Zones. As such, it is extremely easy to determine both where you need to go and what the cost will be by simply identifying the colour of the line you need to travel on and the zone in which the end destination falls within. We have taken to using what is called an "Oyster" which is a card you buy for £3 pounds and then "top it up" with however much credit you wish to put on it. You then swipe the card entering railway station turnstyles and swipe it when leaving at your point of destination and it automatically calculates, at a reduced rate, the fare you will have paid (eg we paid cash for one fare and it cost £4 yet the same fare using the "Oyster" cost us £2). You can top up the credit level at any time you want to do so, electronically via machines at railway stations, and when we leave England tomorrow to go to Ireland, we return the card to any railway station and receive a refund of whatever credit remains on the card AND the original £3 purchase price of the card. Simple, smart, convenient and terribly British!!!
Alas, we leave tomorrow for the green pastures of Dublin and the wonderfully gregarious reputation of the Irish. We have both thoroughly enjoyed England, or at the least the bits of it we saw, extending in contrast from the solemness of St Pauls Cathedral, the majesty of Westminster Abbey, the historical significance of the Marble Arch and Trafalgar Square to the sheer entertainment, and delight, of Portobello Road and the West End.
I for one have certainly come away with an altogether different view of the country and its people. Jane and I could not have asked for better hospitality on the part of the Brits and it really is a place worth seeing time after time after time.
I give London a "Rick's Rating" of 8/10 and would encourage anyone even thinking of coming over to do so. The architecture, the history and the magnificence of the place, albeit viewed daily through over cast skies, is worth the 23+ hour (business class of course!) trip.
Hello to Leigh and Ian Pearce - my apologies for my alcohol encouraged wife insisting that your daughter ring you at some ungodly hour this morning to say hello.
Thanks for continuing to monitor the blog - keep the comments coming because when we read them "it's just like having you here with us"!
Love to all
Jane and Rick
Friday, April 17, 2009
Photos
Good morning all
I checked the blog this morning and noted that the photographs don't seem to have been attached, therefore I am trying again and hope my efforts are not in vain.
Thanks to those who made comments - I am inspired by your encouragement and will continue with my "travel guide" posts whilst ever they remain of interest. I will include issues such as costs and addresses for the information of anyone who may wish to travel over here or have an interest in the daily cost of living.
As an example, our own internet connection is a bit slow (using my lap top and a 3G enabled PCMCIA card) so we checked with our hotel and they charge internet use at the rate of £3 per 15 mins. We then walked around the corner to an internet cafe and costs there are £1 for 95 mins!! It really does pay to shop around and I guess this applies for all things really.
Whilst in Portobello Road the other day, Jane and I had a look at a butcher shop and sirloin steak was £29 per kilo. Makes you appreciate living in a country where beef is readily available at an affordable cost rather than as a "treat".
Anyway, enough of that. Will post again in the next day or two when we have more adventures to discuss and more thrills to share (provided those "little legs" can keep up with me!)
Cheers to all (oh no - even starting to sound like a local)
Rick and Jane.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
BBC calling from London
Hello and a cheerio to all!
Arrived safe and well after an initial mix up with seating at Mascot resulted in Jane and I being upgraded to Business Class - got to be the only way to fly!! Great food, great service and best of all, full size flat beds for sleeping which made the trip just that little bit easier. Had a brief stop over for an hour and a half in Singapore in which we had to get off the plane however, Jane and I were both missing our newly found appreciation of the finer ways to fly and were first in line to get back on the plane. From there, decadence continued with fine champagne, wine and gourmet meals which prepared us for the tranquil rest that ensued.
We arrived at Heathrow right on time, 5.45am local time on Tuesday 14/4, and managed to clear customs within 5 minutes due to express facilities provided to Business and First Class passengers on British Airways. Another 5 minutes to collect our baggage (express priority unloading) and we were on a train from Heathrow within 15 minutes of disembarking from the flight. Having seen the size of Heathrow Airport for the first time, and having since found out the number of flights and passengers they handle there each year, I am baffled as to why it takes so long to clear a flight at Mascot - nothing seemed to be an issue and there was no major interrogation before being "allowed" to collect your bags and actually leave.
So, as a grey dawn broke over Mother England, we were confronted by clean trains, friendly people, neat houses and a sense that perhaps there were still some decent Poms living in England rather than all having migrated to Australia.
We changed trains at Earls Court and got off at our destination, namely Bayswater which is nearby and about 10 mins by bus into Central London. Our backpacks weigh about 20 kgs each so we hefted them onto our backs, headed off from the railway station and had gone about 100 metres only to find we had arrived at our Hotel!! Thanks to Joanne (our good friend and Jane's colleague from Telstra) we had been advised to stay at a hotel called the Berjaya Eden Park Hotel (35-39 Inverness Terrace, Bayswater Tel. 44 20 7221 2220)
We walked in about 7am and were advised that not only was our room ready for us but that we had also been upgraded (there's that magic word again) to a suite. Our room is called the Eden Suite and consists of a bedroom with its own balcony and television, a dining/lounge area with a separate dining and lounge area (and another television) and a large bathroom which is all accessed from a mezzanine level entry into the suite. Both of us needed a hot shower to relax a little bit more after the hectic activities on the flight deciding which wines, champagnes and menu items to indulge in prior to arriving.
Once unpacked, we ventured off to the streets of Bayswater and the very first impression we gained was the melting pot of nationalities living in England. We experienced a virtual cacophony of languages ranging from the cultured tones of the utterly British, through the harshness of eastern block Russians, Ukrainians and Poles, to the velvet like romance of Italian and French, with just a little bit of polished Aussie drifting into our hearing each time we passed a quaint little English Pub!!
Seriously though, the (ethnic) mix of people here is incredible. For those readers who are seasoned travellers to this part of the world, I guess this is a no brainer however, remember this is a first for Jane and I so we resemble the proverbial "kids in the lolly shop".
With the assistance of well meaning locals, we found our way to Portobello Road (scenes of which, I am advised, were used in the Hugh Grant film "Notting Hill") and we spent quite a few hours wandering amongst the ecclectic and bohemian shopkeepers, stall holders and shoppers who all contribute to the reputation of this great little area.
From there, we wandered to Notting Hill and eventually found our way into Kensington Gardens which borders onto Hyde Park. We toured Kensington Palace, the past home of Princess Diana, and spent a short time strolling amongst the gorgeous gardens and lawns. From there, we headed back home and it was at this point that those little legs of Jane's finally gave out and with a sigh, a flick of the hair and a short, but sincere, "good night", Jane was no more that two eyes and a slightly tussled forehead peeping over the doona - gone to blissful sleep.
Day 2 saw us up early - me with a 6am teleconference with my project team for Uni and Jane just keen to get going after having a 14 hour cat nap!!!
Weather reports predicted a "scorcher" today with an expected top temperature of 20 degress celsius so after smearing ourselves in block out and zinc cream (NOT), we had a quick breakfast, then off to catch "The Big Bus Company of London" hop on - hop off tour. This turned out to be the best thing we could have done (25 pound each) and unlimited useage for 24 hours from the time you first get on. For any one intending to come over here, I suggest you use this service as they also offer discounted tickets for major attractions such as Madam Tussauds and The London Eye (which Jane and I took advantage of). Prices are very much cheaper if bought from the Tour Operators rather than at the venues and you receive express entry rather than having to queue up.
Anyway, we then did the usual tourist things including Madam Tussauds (which by the way is absolutely amazing - Jane got to meet and be photographed with John Travolta and Brad Pitt whilst I got to spar with Mohammed Ali, shared a joke with John Wayne and gave Johnny Wilkinson a gob full over the 2003 Rugby World Cup with a special mention of that bloody kick that gave them the win!). We have photos to prove all this of course, some of which will find their way onto this blog during our trip.
We continued on our way via Oxford and Regent Streets, famous for their shopping, and into Picadilly Circus (interesting point here - Circus is latin for circle, hence its use to discribe the circular designs of some areas such as Picadilly, Oxford and others.) Okay, I can hear some of you yawning but I found it interesting!!!!
On to Trafalgar Square, then via 10 Downing Street to Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. We then jumped on a boat and headed up the Thames on a river cruise to the Tower of London, along the way noting Shakespeares Globe Theatre (which is a accurate reproduction of Shakespeares actual theatre in which he performed) and other attractions including Southwark Cathedral and the HMS Belfast, the (then) longest ship commissioned by the British Navy which was built in the same dockyard in which the Titanic was built (although slightly more successfully in that the Belfast is still floating!).
Next, St Pauls Cathedral which really does need to be seen to be appreciated (quick note to Jane's mum - Judy, you would be very impressed if you how magnificent the inside of the Cathedral was). Then a quick look at the Tower of London and over the Tower Bridge (I kept looking up as we crossed the bridge expecting the head of Marie Antoinette to land on the roadway in front of us!)
Jane and I then cruised back up the river, onto another bus and this time found ourselves getting off at Buckingham Palace. Strangely disappointing when compared to other buildings within Central London. The magnificence with regard to the architecture and construction of some buildings tends to overshadow the Queen's Palace however, there still exists a sense of royalty and palatial existence when one views the Palace through the grids opf the security fences that surround same.
We walked around the exterior boundaries of the Palace, which takes up an expanse of land consisting of very many city blocks, and then moved on to Harrods, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Royal Albert Hall. All magnificent and absolutely mind boggling when one sees the conditions these buildings are in whilst remaining aware of how long they have been standing.
It was at this point that Jane's little legs got tired again, so we returned to our own Palace and then to a nearby typical English pub for a quick drink before indulging in a local Greek restaurant.
Overall, a busy day but well worth the effort and we both came away absolutely in awe with the history and expanse of London.
Today, the 16th, we woke to rain and an expected 11 degrees so we rugged up and headed to the London Eye, a 135 metre high Observation Wheel, which (on a clear day) has views for 25 miles in all directions around London. Due to rain, we only managed 23 miles however were informed by attendants that the 2 miles we couldn't see were mostly paddocks with not much to look at anyway.
This was great viewing over all of London and puts the travels we have done thus far into geographgical perspective. London really resembles Melbourne in the layout of streets and the ability to navigate between points (not to mention the weather as well).
The "flight" on The Eye takes about 30 minutes and Jane and I then walked home in the rain, stopping for lunch in Soho at another great little English Pub called the Red Lion. Interior of the pub was exactly as depicted on television programs filmed inside pubs over here, namely dark, claustrophobic, old world style timber and full of Pommies!!!. Food was fantastic and we then undertook classic tourist activity including strolling along Carnaby Street and other well known shopping areas.
It was at this point that we actually remembered you all, so we rushed home to complete this blog and give you all an update of what we have been up to for the past couple of days.
As you can see, it has been a relaxing, leisurely couple of days and we will be having a reasonably early night tonight in preparation for lunch tomorrow with Jane's friends Santino and Anna who welcomed a new baby into the world last Saturday.
We will continue posting updates and are looking forward to your comments and responses.
Our love to you all, have attached a couple of quick pics for your viewing.
Take care and thanks for reading the blog.
Jane and Rick.
Arrived safe and well after an initial mix up with seating at Mascot resulted in Jane and I being upgraded to Business Class - got to be the only way to fly!! Great food, great service and best of all, full size flat beds for sleeping which made the trip just that little bit easier. Had a brief stop over for an hour and a half in Singapore in which we had to get off the plane however, Jane and I were both missing our newly found appreciation of the finer ways to fly and were first in line to get back on the plane. From there, decadence continued with fine champagne, wine and gourmet meals which prepared us for the tranquil rest that ensued.
We arrived at Heathrow right on time, 5.45am local time on Tuesday 14/4, and managed to clear customs within 5 minutes due to express facilities provided to Business and First Class passengers on British Airways. Another 5 minutes to collect our baggage (express priority unloading) and we were on a train from Heathrow within 15 minutes of disembarking from the flight. Having seen the size of Heathrow Airport for the first time, and having since found out the number of flights and passengers they handle there each year, I am baffled as to why it takes so long to clear a flight at Mascot - nothing seemed to be an issue and there was no major interrogation before being "allowed" to collect your bags and actually leave.
So, as a grey dawn broke over Mother England, we were confronted by clean trains, friendly people, neat houses and a sense that perhaps there were still some decent Poms living in England rather than all having migrated to Australia.
We changed trains at Earls Court and got off at our destination, namely Bayswater which is nearby and about 10 mins by bus into Central London. Our backpacks weigh about 20 kgs each so we hefted them onto our backs, headed off from the railway station and had gone about 100 metres only to find we had arrived at our Hotel!! Thanks to Joanne (our good friend and Jane's colleague from Telstra) we had been advised to stay at a hotel called the Berjaya Eden Park Hotel (35-39 Inverness Terrace, Bayswater Tel. 44 20 7221 2220)
We walked in about 7am and were advised that not only was our room ready for us but that we had also been upgraded (there's that magic word again) to a suite. Our room is called the Eden Suite and consists of a bedroom with its own balcony and television, a dining/lounge area with a separate dining and lounge area (and another television) and a large bathroom which is all accessed from a mezzanine level entry into the suite. Both of us needed a hot shower to relax a little bit more after the hectic activities on the flight deciding which wines, champagnes and menu items to indulge in prior to arriving.
Once unpacked, we ventured off to the streets of Bayswater and the very first impression we gained was the melting pot of nationalities living in England. We experienced a virtual cacophony of languages ranging from the cultured tones of the utterly British, through the harshness of eastern block Russians, Ukrainians and Poles, to the velvet like romance of Italian and French, with just a little bit of polished Aussie drifting into our hearing each time we passed a quaint little English Pub!!
Seriously though, the (ethnic) mix of people here is incredible. For those readers who are seasoned travellers to this part of the world, I guess this is a no brainer however, remember this is a first for Jane and I so we resemble the proverbial "kids in the lolly shop".
With the assistance of well meaning locals, we found our way to Portobello Road (scenes of which, I am advised, were used in the Hugh Grant film "Notting Hill") and we spent quite a few hours wandering amongst the ecclectic and bohemian shopkeepers, stall holders and shoppers who all contribute to the reputation of this great little area.
From there, we wandered to Notting Hill and eventually found our way into Kensington Gardens which borders onto Hyde Park. We toured Kensington Palace, the past home of Princess Diana, and spent a short time strolling amongst the gorgeous gardens and lawns. From there, we headed back home and it was at this point that those little legs of Jane's finally gave out and with a sigh, a flick of the hair and a short, but sincere, "good night", Jane was no more that two eyes and a slightly tussled forehead peeping over the doona - gone to blissful sleep.
Day 2 saw us up early - me with a 6am teleconference with my project team for Uni and Jane just keen to get going after having a 14 hour cat nap!!!
Weather reports predicted a "scorcher" today with an expected top temperature of 20 degress celsius so after smearing ourselves in block out and zinc cream (NOT), we had a quick breakfast, then off to catch "The Big Bus Company of London" hop on - hop off tour. This turned out to be the best thing we could have done (25 pound each) and unlimited useage for 24 hours from the time you first get on. For any one intending to come over here, I suggest you use this service as they also offer discounted tickets for major attractions such as Madam Tussauds and The London Eye (which Jane and I took advantage of). Prices are very much cheaper if bought from the Tour Operators rather than at the venues and you receive express entry rather than having to queue up.
Anyway, we then did the usual tourist things including Madam Tussauds (which by the way is absolutely amazing - Jane got to meet and be photographed with John Travolta and Brad Pitt whilst I got to spar with Mohammed Ali, shared a joke with John Wayne and gave Johnny Wilkinson a gob full over the 2003 Rugby World Cup with a special mention of that bloody kick that gave them the win!). We have photos to prove all this of course, some of which will find their way onto this blog during our trip.
We continued on our way via Oxford and Regent Streets, famous for their shopping, and into Picadilly Circus (interesting point here - Circus is latin for circle, hence its use to discribe the circular designs of some areas such as Picadilly, Oxford and others.) Okay, I can hear some of you yawning but I found it interesting!!!!
On to Trafalgar Square, then via 10 Downing Street to Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. We then jumped on a boat and headed up the Thames on a river cruise to the Tower of London, along the way noting Shakespeares Globe Theatre (which is a accurate reproduction of Shakespeares actual theatre in which he performed) and other attractions including Southwark Cathedral and the HMS Belfast, the (then) longest ship commissioned by the British Navy which was built in the same dockyard in which the Titanic was built (although slightly more successfully in that the Belfast is still floating!).
Next, St Pauls Cathedral which really does need to be seen to be appreciated (quick note to Jane's mum - Judy, you would be very impressed if you how magnificent the inside of the Cathedral was). Then a quick look at the Tower of London and over the Tower Bridge (I kept looking up as we crossed the bridge expecting the head of Marie Antoinette to land on the roadway in front of us!)
Jane and I then cruised back up the river, onto another bus and this time found ourselves getting off at Buckingham Palace. Strangely disappointing when compared to other buildings within Central London. The magnificence with regard to the architecture and construction of some buildings tends to overshadow the Queen's Palace however, there still exists a sense of royalty and palatial existence when one views the Palace through the grids opf the security fences that surround same.
We walked around the exterior boundaries of the Palace, which takes up an expanse of land consisting of very many city blocks, and then moved on to Harrods, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Royal Albert Hall. All magnificent and absolutely mind boggling when one sees the conditions these buildings are in whilst remaining aware of how long they have been standing.
It was at this point that Jane's little legs got tired again, so we returned to our own Palace and then to a nearby typical English pub for a quick drink before indulging in a local Greek restaurant.
Overall, a busy day but well worth the effort and we both came away absolutely in awe with the history and expanse of London.
Today, the 16th, we woke to rain and an expected 11 degrees so we rugged up and headed to the London Eye, a 135 metre high Observation Wheel, which (on a clear day) has views for 25 miles in all directions around London. Due to rain, we only managed 23 miles however were informed by attendants that the 2 miles we couldn't see were mostly paddocks with not much to look at anyway.
This was great viewing over all of London and puts the travels we have done thus far into geographgical perspective. London really resembles Melbourne in the layout of streets and the ability to navigate between points (not to mention the weather as well).
The "flight" on The Eye takes about 30 minutes and Jane and I then walked home in the rain, stopping for lunch in Soho at another great little English Pub called the Red Lion. Interior of the pub was exactly as depicted on television programs filmed inside pubs over here, namely dark, claustrophobic, old world style timber and full of Pommies!!!. Food was fantastic and we then undertook classic tourist activity including strolling along Carnaby Street and other well known shopping areas.
It was at this point that we actually remembered you all, so we rushed home to complete this blog and give you all an update of what we have been up to for the past couple of days.
As you can see, it has been a relaxing, leisurely couple of days and we will be having a reasonably early night tonight in preparation for lunch tomorrow with Jane's friends Santino and Anna who welcomed a new baby into the world last Saturday.
We will continue posting updates and are looking forward to your comments and responses.
Our love to you all, have attached a couple of quick pics for your viewing.
Take care and thanks for reading the blog.
Jane and Rick.
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