carscasone

Went to Carscasone on our way to Bordeaux and it is really cool just like a castle from a fairytale you read when you are young and also it was where robin hood prince of thieves was filmed.

Stencil Art

Well due to working with John Paris for 4 years I have developed an interest in street art (only not the kind he would have chosen) I am really startign to notice and appreciate stencil art and am finding it everywhere in the world but in Europe it is different to Australia as instead of being political and somewhat dark its usually cute and seemingly meaningless. here are a few examples.

Street performers/statues

Its very strange how many people dress up in statue costumes and stand still to make money they are everywhere here.

Barcelona

Have to say I love Spain - it has great buildings food, sights and the people are not super thin and immaculately dressed. I am even more in love with Gaudi than I was before can't wait to come back when the Sagrada Familia is finished what an achievement in creativity that is. Feel like I am getting fit as Europe seems obsessed with stairs. Also had a weird spaniard rub his foot up my leg in the train and smile at me as though something might happen - he laughed when I replied ina very hoighty toighty voice "Now don't do that". Also love tapas and Sangria and they are both soooooo cheap its great.

charm bracelet

Thanks to all at Whirlwind for buying me a charm bracelet as my farewell gift. You will all be happy to know that I have been adding to it along my way and have some really fun and beautiful symbols of the cities I have been to so thanks it was a great gift.

Venice, Florence, Monaco and Nice

Well have to say I love Venice and will definately go back again. on the other hand was dissapointed with Florence after so many people telling me how much they loved it. Italy as a whole has been great love the gelati. Nice and Monaco are beautiful could happily live here if I had a spare million or two. Only - days left on Contiki which has been heaps of fun but there is no way I could do a trip longer than 3 weeks as even the nicest people get a little annoying when you are stuck in rooms and coaches with them.

I am stqrting to realise I like cities with some kinda water round them must be the Aucklander in me.

You never realise how good at typing you are until the keyboard changes to euro when you suddenly appreciate that you werent as bad as you thought.

have the coach cold so am having a quiet day today to let my body recover.

can't seem to get my pics to work on blogger sorry will keep trying though.

Switzerland, Liechenstein, Munich and Austria

Sorry but there really are not many places with internet where we stop. I am having a fabulous time not too many crazy things to report. Switzerland would have been beautiful except we had terrential rain and fog the whole time so were not able to see any of the alps. however we did go to a cool cultural show lunch with accordions horn blowers cow bellers and fondue yummmmmm. liechenstein was cute and had beautiful sculptures everywhere. The beer fest was a great time I think everyone should go atleast once in their lives. More like a carnival with rides and games and the best part is all the locals get dressed up in leiderhausen and the dresses. I managed to make it through half a litre of beer which is pretty good for me. Met a group of 20 german guys from the airforce they were very interesting to talk to and taught us all the beer songs. I am now in Austria which is just simply stunning clear blue skies surrounded by mountains very scenic and peaceful.

eidelweiss

i am standing on the top of mount pilatus right now writing as there is no visability but it was still exciting going up the cable car and we could see the view right until the last leg of the journey.

i have also been through amsterdam and germany which were both great will tell more soon and sorry to dissapoint no hash taken as ran out of time

Brussels and Contiki

Well apart from the fact that I am struggling to kick the jet lag I am having a wonderful time. Joint my contiki group this morning and it is predominantly Aussies and Canadians with a few kiwis, japanese and americans. All seem nice so thats a good start.

Our first stop was Brussels and as you would expect I am loving it waffles, chocolate, haagen daas icecream what more can a girl ask for and all set in a beautifully romantic setting - Grand Place is definately all it is cracked up to be.

Anyway am off to bed now before I drop dead. see you in Amsterdam.

Jet Lag in London

Well I am now in London and feeling very tired after a gruelling time in San Francisco Airport - All I can say is avoid travelling to either UK or USA at the moment as it is truely painful.

My last day in USA was beautiful clear blue skies beaming sun and atleast 30. a little too hot to stay out for too long so I went and did the tosh tosh cultural thing and viewed modern art at the MOMA. it had so many of the works I studied in Art History so was cool to see the real things. Also had a Ben & Jerrys icecream which was great on a hot day.

London is definately more funky in summer and romantic in winter so many more people on the streets which makes it a bit more fun only I am experiencing jet lag for the first time and its horrid feel like a cross between a space cadet and a dopey dog.

Oh and the backpackers listed me as Australian as my licence was that and the perth born staff member decided that trumped my passport so funny you can't even escape it across the tasman.

I apologise for my lack of photos but the internet speeds I have been using are super snail speed. as soon as I have a faster one I will send some more.

I'm off to bed now at 3:30 so I won't look even older than the oldest on the contiki bus.

sore feet and sunburn

Well its day two in the USA and I am really enjoying it. Apart from the saddness at seeing quite alot of poverty and an amzingly high number of black teenagers that have scarred legs and limps it is all good. I still haven't managed to see the bridge out of fog but went on a cruise under it which was kinda fun in the fog as made it spooky - aparently 1400 people have leaped to there deaths off it not nice. also saw Alcatraz from the outside as couldn't see the point in queing for two hours to just see the inside of an abandoned prison. Also had the famous boudin bakery sourdough (They claim to have invented it). Also got propositioned by a black beggar saying he could work for me for a penny an hour and once I went black I would never go back - I unfortunately had to decline as was short on cash myself te he he :). Anyway back at the hostel now for my free dinner and to rest my feet and apply lotion to my sunburn as forgot to reapply my sunblock.

first pics

attached is the famous bridge shrouded in clouds which is apparently very common. I got to see its sister the bay bridge though and apart from being grey it looks the same.

San Francisco

Well I have made it finally left Melbourne after 3 metal scans and xrays 1 full bag search(of which they did everyone) and alot of throwing out of liquids later. And it didn't stop in OZ as had to be fingerprinted and photographed on entering the states ah the joys of post terrorist travel.

on the upside my wireless is working as I am sitting in my dorm room at present on the net in not the cleanest or easiest hostel ever as you have to trawl all your luggage up 5 flights of stairs (sorry sis as know you liked it). But it makes up for it with free internet, breakfast and dinners.

The weather is amazing 30c and bright sun so after settling in for a bit I am off out to make the most of it.

speak soon and I might even have a pic or two to share.

Wednesday 4 days to go

In the morning I got to hang out with Sara and Daisy which was fun so hard to say goodbye. Daisy was super cute too and kept saying Tanna - oh how to make a girl feel special.

Then in the evening I had the pleasure of catching up with Chanty(my sister). We enjoyed a beautiful dinner at Florentinos on Bourke Street in the city. I had a beautiful Savignon Blanc from NZ called Huia.

My Melbourne farewell at Anglers

First of all thanks to Kevin, Nao, Ellen, Coral-Lee, Chris, Isabel, Christopher, Regan, James, Michelle, Monica, Sara, John, Andrea, Darren, Cara, Melissa, George, Amanda, Gab, Greg, Rachelle, Damien, John and last but not least Nancy for all making my last visit to an aussie pub and my farewell such a memorable and great night. I really enjoyed myself and it made me realise just how much I am going to miss everyone when I am gone - will definately have to allocate one weekend every season to come back for a shopping/catchup trip I think. I had a parma as my last supper te he he what else could be a more aussie fare.

I'm outta dis joint

To coin the phrase that was written on a giant badge for me by Nancy - I'm outta dis joint. Friday the 1st of september 1st day of spring last day at Whirlwind kinda a weather theme going on. I was not the only one to leave on this day my good friend Monica also had her last day so it was a nice shared experience and we had our final dressup to honour it. The theme was black chilli. Black as in all blacks for me and Chilli as in hot food and passionate gal for Monica and I am proud to say that we almost had full participation (apart from a mysterious group of green wearing staff who swear it was fluke but I am still sold that it was a planned conspiracy :0) ). It was a very emotional day and had some great moments like my great pal Sara's daugther daisy coming in and saying "Hello Tanya" its was the cutest and most touching thing ever. I also got helium balloons, bubbles, chocolates, mini suitcases, red and black licorice, mullah, and a charm bracelet with my first charm to start the collection so needless to say I was very spoilt. The final meeting was a happy/sad affair too many lasts and way too many goodbyes. Anyway I am looking forward to Monday morning and not waking up to the train and work it will be weird. Only a couple of pics sorry as too many to put them all online.

Thankyou to everyone at Whirlwind that has made my time there over the last 4 years special and a whole lot of fun (you know who you are).