A slow day in london

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Well its been a slow day in London today. I checked out of my stay at the Royal Bayswater Hotel and went to the Smart Hyde Park Hotel for my last day/night in London. I wish I had found this place earlier as it is much better, oh well.

I checked in to the Smart Hyde Park Hotel and headed off to go get a DVD I had purchased from HMV fixed. They had left the security tab in the case stopping me from opening it. Well I could have opened it but it would have ruined the case. As I wasn’t feeling too good I just got some KFC chips and a drink which didn’t help me too much.

After HMV I went back to the stay and went downstairs to charge my phone and iPod. While they were charging I started reading “The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest” as I had finished “The Girl Who Played With Fire”, which is coming out to the movies soon, excited.

I used the free wifi for a while then retired to my room to freshen up and re-pack my bag in the best way to accommodate the purchases I made. Although I had dumped all the packaging I didn’t need. I had to make room for an xbox game and 3 other DVDs, plus a book. Further to that I had another xbox game to pack, Halo Reach, which I paid a little more for a special edition with a rather large “black box”, but I found room.

After that I just relaxed in the room and tried to get in an early night as tomorrow was going to be a big day. I decided to meet Mel and Sim’s friend Ryan to pickup some stuff to take back home for Melinda. After that I planned to go straight to Heathrow airport via the tube to get there super early as I had had enough of London. I think all the other travel had gotten to me, especially with the occasional bouts of feeling a little off.

I’m really excited about the flight home, I cannot wait to get home and see my loved ones, and my computer, haha. But unforunately somehow my trackpad on my Macbook Pro had died and I won’t have it back until Wednesday night, 2 days after getting home from the trip. Oh well it gets trashed a fair bit.

Anyway, thats enough from me, bye

A trip down to the dungeons

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I woke up early after a pretty poor sleep and layed in bed pondering when to get up. I eventually got up after an hour and decided to start the estimated 2 hour walk to the London Dungeon. I was going to get the  tube but it was only 8am and it wouldnt be open for a fair while.

I started on my way and stopped in to pick up some McDonalds for the walk. A bacon and egg mcmuffin and an OJ filled the spot well.

Just before the 2 hour mark I had reached the dungeon just 5 minutes before they opened. I went straight in due to a pre-purchased ticket.

The London Dungeon was actually really good, albeit a little corny in some bits looking like something out of an 80s slasher film, it was still good entertainment and worth the money.

After the dungeon I walked back to Regent and Oxford Street to look at some of the shops. I went into HMV and ended up picking up a couple of xbox games and DVDs. What a score, so much cheaper than back in Aus.

I ended up getting some more info from the resident pro on audio in regards to headphones and decided to go with the Bose headphones which was my gut instinct. But they had none in stock. Luckily the other HMV store down the road had six, so I started on my way to the HMV store to get them.

I stopped in at the quicky store as Curt was going on lunch. We went and got the headphones and Curt gave me an awesome tip about getting my HMV stuff tax free, which saved me nearly 50 pounds! Score.

After that we went and got some Maccas, I wasn’t too hungry as I was feeling a tad bit off, but I needed to eat. We ate and then Curt had to go back to work.

I headed back to my stay while stopping in on places looking for some floor polish that Vern wanted. After searching and asking some people in a few stores I could not find the one that he wanted. I gave in for the day and went back to the stay.

I wasn’t feeling very well so just sat on the bed for a while and eventually had some panadol for my headache. After that I packed my bag with my newly bought stuff and then headed downstairs for some time to write this  blog and checkout a few other things to take my mind off feeling ill.

The panadol started to work I think as the headache went, my stomach still felt a little queezy and my face still quite hot, but I felt a little better.

Only two nights left and Ill be on my way home. I cannot wait to come home. The trip has been great so far besides the few odd little hickups with not feeling well here and there for unexpected reasons and a few other little things.

I stayed on the net for a while then retired back to my room for the night. Thats where this  blog ends…

London Wanderings

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This morning I woke up and had to check out and check back in as I was moving rooms. I had to wait until 11am, so I killed some time with a croisant and a hot chocolate at the cafe next door while I read some more of “The Girl Who Played With Fire”, which I’m nearly finished, only a few chapters left.

I then went on the net for a while to catch up on a few things and then checked into the new room.

It had been raining all morning and I wanted to go out and see some sights, so I waited for the rain to0 stop. Finally it got light enough and I decided to go check out Buckingham Palace. On the way I ran into what looked like some running alien cut from Aliens, but it was a squirrel. I chased it for a while trying to get a photo and got a couple OK photos from my iPhone. After walking up a bit further I seen two more, then three, then six, soo many. These ones were quite trusting, one even ran up to me. I got a fair few good little shots from my iPhone.

After my fun encounter with the squirrels which I got quite distracted with, I went on to Buckingham Palace. I had just missed the changing of the guard, but still got to see them walking around. It wasn’t as grand as I thought it would be. After that I walked down the road to checkout Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. Big Ben really is quite BIG.

I then walked back towards Regent Street to go to the Apple Store again and meet curt for a late lunch. On the way I stopped at Trafalgar Square and had a quick look around.

Curt was running a bit late so I decided to walk up to McDonalds and get a little something as I was starving. I stopped in at HMV which was quite impressive with everything that was there. I had a quick look and decided to come back when I had eaten.

After I had filled my stomach I went back to HMV on the search for two books, “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest”, then next book after the one I am currently reading, and The Long Way Round, the book with Ewan McGreggor and Charlie who go around the world through some crazy terrain on motorbikes. I didn’t find The Long Way Round but I got “The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest”.

I then had a good look at all the high quality headphones which I really want a pair of. I found the Beats by Dr Dre to be really good headphones but I didn’t think they were surround sound which I really wanted as well in some good headphones, especially if I was going to spend that sort of money on. 279 pounds for them. I decided to wait as it was quite busy in there and research further on the Bose headphones there and some others.

I went back to my stay and went on the net to do some research into xbox games pricing at home and more headphones information as I had decided tomorrow will more than likely be my shopping day. I had talked to Courtney and Curt a fair bit about iPads and I was nearly talked into getting one, but it worked out to be cheaper to buy one in Australia and even then, its still a bit too expensive.

I sat up in the room and finished off “The Girl Who Played With Fire” and got out the third book to read in the series, “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest”.

After that I got some snacks and decided to finish this blog, but still didn’t have wireless to add the photos from today. Will have to go to Maccas, Burger King, KFC or the Apple store to do that.













First day in London

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I started off the day with a croisant and a hot chocolate while heading off to Madame Tussauds. I decided to get the wax museum and the London Dungeon pass to save a little coin. The lineup took a fair while before opening but went fairly quick once the doors opened.

The museum was pretty good, a lot of the wax sculptures were very spot on and I found myself mistaking some for real people at times, haha (ones I didn’t know who they were).

After that I went and had a look down Oxford and Regent Streets to look at the shops, which included the Apple store. I know, it can’t be helped. I stayed in there for a fair while killing time before meeting Curt for lunch, as he worked next door at the Quicky store.

I got playing with the iPads far too much and nearly found myself buying one, but resisted. See how I go as I will be heading past the Apple store a few more times before I leave. It definitely is a want and not a need.

After forcing myself to leave empty handed I met Curt for lunch and a good catch up. We had a good chat catching up about what has been happening, what his birthday was like and what he’s doing in the coming months, which happened to be a Las Vegas and Canada trip with his Mum and sister, all paid for, lucky lad.

After lunch we went back to the Quicky store and I got a $10 shirt from him and said goodbye and made some arrangements for catching up throughout my remaining days.

I left Regent Street and onto Oxford street walking passed all the shops to my stay along the end of Hyde Park on Bayswater Road. I bought a couple of mags to read when I had some more downtime, albeit I still have about a quarter of “The Girl Who Played With Fire” to finish reading.

Once I got back at the stay I went and caught up on some articles and my general web activies which I hadn’t done too much of over the trip. Probably for the best though.

Once that was done I settled in for a quiet night as I plan on doing Buckingham Palace tomorrow which Curt told me could take a fair bit of time and required a bit of a trek across the city. I thought about using the tube more but I got to see more by walking.











Back to London

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We woke early in Cinque Terre as we needed to drive to Pisa to leave for London, which was the last leg of my trip, but the start of Sim and Mels big trip.

We arrived in Pisa fairly quickly, it was only a 40 minute drive or something.
We quickly went and seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa and did some tourist style photos.
We ran into a student protest while there. What it was about, I am not sure of, but they were quite vocal.

After the tower we drove to the airport for out flight. As we were early for check-in we looked around and got some food.

We finally checked in and were on our way. Kind of sad as it felt like an end to my trip was coming and back to a lot of work which I’m sure has piled up. But on the other hand I’m excited to be going home.

We arrived in London which had some cloudy and rainy weather. We took the train to a friends place of Sim and Mels so I could find where I had to go before I left to go back home.

I then set off to go meet up with and stay.



On to Cinque Terre

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We started off an early morning and then picked up the car just before 9am. We were leaving Florence to head for Cinque Terre, north of Florence.

The drive went fairly quickly and we were soon into La Spezia, which is the main town before you head up into the moutons and into Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre is built into the high mountainside along the coast. It’s quite beautiful but very high and on very steep cliffs. The road runs pretty much to the edge of the cliffs.

We arrived in to Cinque Terre and found our stay. It was a beautiful little town with one main strip of restaurants, convenience stores and places to stay. As you may have guessed, it’s all down hill to the water.

Our stay was in this cosy little place on the side of the cliffs looking across the lower northern part of town and the ocean.

Mel and Sim decided to do the ocean track walk along the side of the cliffs (few hours of walking). Not my cup of tea so I decided to go explore the town and get some food and drinks for the afternoon.

After I got what was needed I headed back to the stay to soak up the view and read more of my book.

When Sim and Mel got back from the walk they told me I wouldn’t have enjoyed it and it was a bit sketchy in places. I was glad I made the decision to not go.
We sat on the deck and watched the sunset for a bit then went into town for some dinner.

We went to dinner and got some pizza and pasta. I ended up starting to feel really off, so I went back to the room for the rest of the night.











A day in Florence

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We started off the morning by visiting the Galleria dell’ Accademia to see the perfect man, David.

The line up was massive. Hour long waits to get in. Luckily Mel and Sim got tickets so we got in within 30 minutes.
David was quite surprising in the size of the statue. The amount of detail was unbelievable. No photos were to be taken inside but Mel got a couple off. I wasn’t game.

After David we walked down to the Ponte Vecchio (a bridge over the water) and had a bite to eat and a drink.
After that we walked to what we thought were parks for the public but they were all gated. We finally found a park to sit in but it wasn’t ideal.

After our sit in the park, we walked around town a bit more and headed back to our stay for a quiet afternoon and night.

We have a big day ahead tomorrow doing a 5 hour walk through the beautiful Cinque Terre. .

On to Florence

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We started the morning a late one as we all slept in.
It was time for us to leave Rome and make our way on to Florence. We packed our stuff and were on our way to breakfast before making the trek to the outskirts of the city to pick up the hire car.

We picked up the car and headed off to Sienna for a look and maybe lunch before heading on to Florence where we were to stay for 2 nights.

It was a wet drive to Sienna, a little over 2 hours driving from Rome. Although it was a bit wet when we reached Sienna it was still a nice little place. There was some nice churches and other buildings in the centre of town. We had a quick lunch and then picked up a few things from the supermarket for the drive to Florence.
We go some italian Twisties, but they are called “Fonzies” here. I also picked up some biscuits.

We took a different way out of Sienna and went on the country road instead of the highway, albeit not totally on purpose. But it turned out to be the better option as we drove through some stunning countryside with vineyards, quaint little towns such as Castellina and Greve, which are is in the Chianti region which is known for it’s wines I believe.

While driving through Greve we ran into a classic car race meet that was either about to happen or had already happened. All of the streets had been turned into a racetrack. It made you want to race around the road.

Once we arrived in Florence we had a great time trying to find our stay. Eventually i used my data roaming on my iPhone to find where we needed to go. Hopefully it didn’t download too much data. Oh well, it solved our problem in the end.

We parked the car and went to our room. I stayed in for the rest of the night as I was buggered and read more of “The Girl Who Played With Fire”. At the moment it may seem a little boring as it gets in depth to each of the characters day to day lives, but it really gives you a sense of the character.

Tomorrow we have a look around Florence but we haven’t decided in what to do exactly yet. My Achilles tendons are killing me something chronic, but nothing else hurts in my legs or feet. I’ve been dealing with that for a few days but the rest of the trip is fairly downhill so I’ll just put up with it.
I have also got some lower back pains when I tilt my head down or make certain movements. Not sure where that can from. Woke up with it this morning. Getting too old i think. Haha.























On to the city that is another country

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Today we set out to do the sights on the other side of town. The highlight was to be the Vatican City, which with our Roma passes did not allow us free entry as I was classes as another country. It looked pretty big on the map too!

We went and checked out some of the surrounding sights of the Vatican including the Vasilica which was quite amazing. There is so much detail in everything inside. It’s quite remarkable all of the artwork.

But that did not top the artwork inside the Vatican City. Rafael’s paintings that covered every wall and ceiling in multiple rooms was breathtaking.
There was plenty of other amazing artwork and sculptures as well. It’s too hard to explain, something you just need to experience.

After that we went and got some Burger King. It was good going down but made us feel pretty rotten after.

Then we went on a walk through the gardens to the Galleria Borghese.

The Borghese was actually pretty good. Lots of great paintings, tiling and sculptures. Also there was quite an interesting exhibition of “The Passage” by Nedko Solakov which was to provoke thought about life. Very interesting as it was done in 1957 and had a lot of ironic doodles around the main features artwork all around the aisle and back of the artwork.

After that we headed back to our stay to get ready for our last dinner in Rome.

The dinner was at this quiet little restaurant at the other end of town. I had a great lasagne. Just melted in the mouth.

Then it was time to call it a night. Now on to Florence tomorrow.

Hello Italy

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After a good nights sleep full of awesome pizza we woke to a beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky.
We packed our bags and headed up the blokes to our booked stay at Funny Palace.

When we finally found it, it was in an Internet/Laundromat place. Another funny reception area. But despite the look the service was fantastic. We were shown the best way to go to the sites we wanted to see, how we could see them over the two days and to get in cheap and avoid the massive tourist lines.

As the room wasn’t ready we left our bags with them and headed off on our first day adventure in Rome to go see the Colosseum and surrounds.
We stopped and got a Roma Pass which saved us a fair bit of money.

We trekked to the Colosseum, which wasn’t a long trek. It was an amazing first sight. We skipped the massive lines for tickets and got it fairly quickly.
There are no words for how amazing it truly is. You can see video, photos and hear stories about it but nothing comes close to being there in real life.

It was speculated to hold 40,000 to 70,000 people. The scale of the Colosseum is just massive. I pondered on how they built it, and that was just from what was left. There is still a bit of the marble etc lying around but not much.

After the colosseum we had a look at the surrounding sights for a while and then caught the bus back to our stay.
We were taken just around the corner to our stay which was pretty good I thought, and we had our own keys. That was a first.

I had been snacking around lunch so Sim and Mel went and got pasta. I decided I was full enough until dinner.

I just relaxed in the room relaxing my feet while reading more of “The Girl Who played With Fire”.

After that we went for another walk into town to look at some more of the attractions. We stopped for some nice gelatis towards the end. They were pretty good. I got chocolate and nutella.

After that we went and had a look at the Pantheon and a few others. The Pantheon was amazing. I was shocked by it. Quite surprised. Inside was remarkable. Something I never expected. The architecture itself was amazing but so was everything else, even the drainage system from the open ceiling.

After that we stopped for some drinks and then it was on the bus back to our stay. But we had to get some pizza again before heading in for the night.