tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71380841322407703902011-06-08T06:18:41.783Zprimarily a blog documenting our Grand European Van Tour from April 2008, peppered with personal references and irrelevant details of interest to only a few...Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.comBlogger2211100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-81295329511381416392008-10-11T07:25:00.003Z2008-10-11T09:32:50.211Z

Here it is, our final entry - hopefully one you'll never forget!!For those not in the knowHere is a poem of our trip, just so we can crowLike all our other adventures we have doneWho knows how we came up with this oneAn eventful weekend to London was the planSmashed up one vehicle but bought a big red vanYou all voted for its name which we chose to ignoreWe added our own touches throughout the

danielverryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16431856676464322978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-76396746606424423142008-10-07T09:07:00.001Z2008-10-07T09:07:51.044Z

Wow!!! We're finished!!! Back to London in one piece. What a feelingof satisfaction, sadness, joy, reality check, relief. You name theemotion - its probably in there somewhere.I think its a sure sign that we had seen enough of this greatcontinent and were ready to finish when we arrived at the ferryterminal 3 hours early. That was alright though, we got put on anearlier crossing meaning we

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-30734552623631019592008-10-07T09:06:00.001Z2008-10-07T09:06:41.924Z

Two mysteries remain this morning - what is a Mairie? and what iswrong with me? I felt fine in bed, but as soon as I stood up I gotall dizzy and almost fell over!!As for the Mairie - we could see a desk through the window? And asign nearby did have the word 'chapel' on it, but surely chapels aremore interesting than this plain brick building??Onwards then to Giverny - home town to the

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-29674592447015320022008-10-04T11:05:00.001Z2008-10-04T11:05:25.508Z

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-78666314444601472212008-10-01T18:03:00.001Z2008-10-01T18:03:27.336Z

I'm not sure whether it was the mussels last night, or just a bug -but I felt like total shit all day today. Luckily Marea has notfallen the same way (touch wood) - so the driving duties were totallyhers today.A slow morning where the fog had taken over our view of the MulberryHarbour before we were off on the road to see if I could handletravelling. We made it as far as Pegusus Bridge - just

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-12020450161158473412008-10-01T18:02:00.001Z2008-10-01T18:02:37.413Z

Only 3 more sleeps until we finish our Grand European Tour and get onthe ferry to Dover. After some early starts the last two mornings,Marea was taking it easy and hardly even glanced at the sun risingover the sea. Our sleeping spot was about 6km north of Utah Beach soabout 10:00 we headed there to eat breakfast.We then spent the day driving south-east around more of the D-Daybeach sites. We went

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-70347588044969755852008-10-01T18:01:00.001Z2008-10-01T18:01:34.638Z

Another beautiful sunrise this morning as it came up over the hill,and shed light on what remains of what was the busiest harbour inEurope during the summer of 1944. Port Winston or Mulberry Harbour ismade up of huge concrete blocks that were towed over from England anddropped into the water to create this huge artificial harbour. In the1st few weeks of Normandy invasion, the Allies had no

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-7634915487034645502008-10-01T18:00:00.001Z2008-10-01T18:00:27.038Z

A short drive through the quickly clearing fog for our first stoptoday - St Malo. Once a fortified island at the mouth of the riverRance, this walled town is now joined to the mainland by way of apromenade and resulting beach. We walked along the beach to anoutlying fort, past huge breakwaters and got a feel for the extremelylarge tidal differences in this area - this difference, between lowand

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-88699872823594668812008-10-01T17:58:00.000Z2008-10-01T17:59:00.190Z

Crikey this country is big!! Here I thought it would take about a dayto drive around the whole coast of Brittany, but the general consensusof the crew was that we take the shorter route across country - andthat still took a whole day!!! With a few stops of course.A quick look around Quiberon, before we headed back up the peninsula -which in some places is only 50 metres across. Then we were

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-40085557639634038022008-09-26T14:05:00.001Z2008-09-26T14:05:11.264Z

A grey morning greeted us as we set off for a patisserie to get ourbread for breakfast - just like the rest of the French population. Afew croissants, pain au chocolat and baguettes later we weresufficiently full enough to drive through the rain for a couple ofhours around Nantes, and north towards Brittany.A symbol of a castle on our map meant we took a stop at the village ofMissillac, where we

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-54261150984728635222008-09-26T14:04:00.001Z2008-09-26T14:04:20.219Z

The plan today, was to get some miles behind us, as we head north. Insaying this, we still had to take the scenic coastal road and not themotorway.Around Gironde - a big inlet that reaches down to Bordeaux, past a fewof surf beaches and up to Rochefort - luck would have it that westumbled across France's last operating transporter bridge!! Thiswouldn't normally be much to excite us, but Dave

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-75058940881963508222008-09-26T14:03:00.001Z2008-09-26T14:03:19.561Z

A chilly morning was had amongst the grapes, but soon we were on themove and off to the supermarket, before heading back to St. Emilion tohire our transport for the day - bikes.Kerryn was armed with the list of wineries that looked like they maybe accommodating to a bunch of amateurs like us, so we headed into thecountryside. First mission was to make it up a hill to get the view,then feel the

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-19399651033208055452008-09-26T14:02:00.001Z2008-09-26T14:02:29.481Z

Marea seems to have a thing about sunrises at the moment - she was up,and heading up the sand-dune at about 7:15 this morning, even thoughfrom our experience in Spain it would still take another half anhour!! Still, as cold as it was sitting up there - when the brilliantred sun made its appearance, it was worth it! Though we couldn'tconvince Dave to get out of bed!Today's plan was to head around

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-34564971973503732522008-09-26T14:01:00.001Z2008-09-26T14:01:24.351Z

Another first today, it was dark enough this morning that we had toturn the lights on - summer is coming to an end!! Of course the otherreason was that there wasn't any sleep-in today as a quick drive upthe road to Pau airport was required as Kerryn is re-joining us alongwith our token Englishman - Dave. That will ensure a cosy van for aweek.A little investigation of the map, and we decided

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-36912122806633419142008-09-26T14:00:00.001Z2008-09-26T14:00:26.301Z

One last day in the mountains and for once our view is spoiled by mistand clouds - sort of makes you thankful for all the great weather wehave had.We did drive up to the village of Cauteret which is the setting offpoint for lots of walks in the French Pyrenees National Park, thoughwe didn't venture much further. We took a walk through the cute townwhere we found a street market in process and the

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-38667347264980305932008-09-26T13:59:00.001Z2008-09-26T13:59:14.496Z

It was a bit of a driving day today. Although when you look at themap, as the crow flies - we haven't gone far at all. Just gone overthe hill really.An hour of along the valley and over a small pass (that cheated bysticking a tunnel at the top to deny us a view), before we reachedBiescas, the first town that could be described as bigger than village- however we still weren't able to find a

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-42606037927396712902008-09-18T15:37:00.001Z2008-09-18T15:37:31.730Z

Ah ha!! Finally we can say we have seen a sunrise. And some of usdidn't even have get out of bed to enjoy it!! Of course some of ushad to get up and be the photographer. Either way, it was fantastic.The plan for the rest of day was hopefully going to be pretty relaxed- keep following the green scenic roads. Can't go wrong!Our road continued to wind its way through the rocky, dry butbeautiful

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-80620678782922969822008-09-18T15:34:00.001Z2008-09-18T15:34:49.138Z

Feeling almost 100% better this morning, we set off to explore thecapital Andorra la Vella. Andorra is pretty much only known for it'sskiing and shopping meaning this country of 70,000 absorbs 11 millionvisitors every year. It enjoys something of a tax free status too so alot of French and Spanish visit, to buy cheap cigarettes, alcohol andother goods.Andorra la Vella is the only village which

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-28140161866182465962008-09-18T15:33:00.001Z2008-09-18T15:33:37.373Z

It was almost disappointing as a clear, cool, blue sky day greeted usthis morning - why couldn't it have been like that yesterday when Iwas scaling the peaks above us!! Never mind - A perfect day to visitthe tiny nation of Andorra!First, Pat had to do some climbing - up and out of The Great Valleyvia the French pass of Col de Puymorens (1915m), then down, then upagain to Port d' Envalira (2408m

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-63114892889075410702008-09-18T15:32:00.001Z2008-09-18T15:32:22.192Z

It was rather hard getting up this morning as the night had broughtsnow to the hills above us, and unfortunately the clear blue sky thatwe ordered hadn't quite arrived yet!! A look across to the other sideof the valley, showed us that we should be over there instead, asthere was a big patch of sunshine that just wasn't budging - hopefullyit will wait for us.A quick stop for bread in Puigcerdá

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-50548578556956760072008-09-18T15:27:00.001Z2008-09-18T15:27:29.757Z

A beautiful sunny Saturday meant our carpark quickly filled up withthe day's tourists. Our plan though was to head down and back up theother side of the valley to the village of Serrat, as Marea's eagleeyes had spotted a poster advertising a festival there this weekend.Unfortunately, on arrival we found that this mountain pueblo very veryquiet, with only a hint that bigger things could be taking

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-66096410696089992802008-09-18T15:26:00.001Z2008-09-18T15:26:12.315Z

Our morning view was non-existent, as the fog had rolled in overnightmaking it almost impossible to see the other end of the car park!!This gave a perfect excuse for another slow morning.Once we finally made it on the road and picked up some groceries(Marea found the freshest bread ever - yum yum), we headed into thePyrenees and the little hillside village of Queralbs where the sun wasstarting to

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-60686375621653596192008-09-13T15:56:00.001Z2008-09-13T15:56:28.092Z

Wow - a sleep in till 9.30!! We should really be making the most ofthings like this, cause it won't be long till we are back in the realworld!!With the hot, dry Mediterranean wind whipping off the ocean, dryingall of our washing only took half an hour. Then it was Pat's turn tohave quick wash and get all the salt off him. We then took one lastswim in the Mediterranean, then headed inland with

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-80922698770178238472008-09-13T15:55:00.001Z2008-09-13T15:55:23.077Z

Our big day in Barcelona didn't start too well, when we got off thebus at the wrong stop. The area that we hopped off at looked prettydamm fancy, and huge - you can't blame us for thinking we had reachedthe city centre - Placa de Catalunya. Instead we had only made it asfar as Placa d'Espanya.Anyway, down one of the streets was a rather grand looking buildingsitting up on a hill. This looked

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-69446577593594255242008-09-13T15:53:00.001Z2008-09-13T15:53:54.276Z

Another day to remember. Marea was up and out of bed first!! Thedrawcard - a chance to witness a sunrise.Unfortunately, the beautiful sunny day of yesterday was replaced byclouds today - so our sunrise was less than spectacular I'm afraid,and looked more like a milky moon:-(Once packed, we were heading south, past numerous working girls on theroad to the Catalan capital of Barcelona. We read

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-87273684323650037102008-09-13T15:51:00.001Z2008-09-13T15:51:30.017Z

A beautiful sunny hot day today - didn't really help us get into gearthis morning. But by late morning we'd made it down to the Cadaquesinformation centre. There, we obtained some maps of the walk along thecoastline out to Cap de Crues. There was a road, but driving the vanout there was knocked on the head when we were told about the finesyou can get for taking a campervan on their precious

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-59251415179546778252008-09-13T15:50:00.001Z2008-09-13T15:50:35.797Z

We had a lazy Sunday morning watching the canal boats do their thingalong the Canal du Midi. This canal is 240km long and was built inthe17th century to enable cargo vessels to sail from the Atlantic tothe Mediterranean without needing to go around Spain.Although we were still a couple of hours from the border - it didn'ttake alot of driving to feel that we had left France behind, andentered into

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-41515173559919929082008-09-13T15:49:00.001Z2008-09-13T15:49:40.898Z

The area around our non-descript town of Salin-De-Giraud lies theCarmarge - a 780 square km delta of the Rhône river. A quick visit tothe information centre and we were equipped with what we decided was apretty, but not so accurate map. We headed out of town, found a placeto park and started walking alone one of the numerous dykes thatcrisscross the delta forming lagoons that flocks of Pink

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-91791904824321732452008-09-13T15:48:00.001Z2008-09-13T15:48:33.606Z

We thought we'd been pretty good at checking out Pat's tyres -'thought' being the operative word, because on inspection yesterdayevening we were taken by surprise by how worn two of the four backtyres had become!! We'd been thinking about replacing them back inthe UK before selling Pat, but all of a sudden it had become a littlemore urgent! Another inspection this morning even found some

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-59032829892289723912008-09-06T16:40:00.001Z2008-09-06T16:40:26.094Z

It was up and over Col de Braus at a mere 1,002m first thing today.Then down-down-down where a more and more Mediterranean feel came witholive groves thriving and pink and terracotta houses perched on thehillsides. Finally, after getting on the crazy French toll roads inNice, we got our first view of the sea since leaving the Baltic allthose weeks ago.We got off the motorway at Cannes after

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-61370664490999529822008-09-06T16:39:00.001Z2008-09-06T16:39:28.936Z

After yesterday's lazy evening we were up bright and early to do ourround trip which according to our guide book should take about 8 hoursof walking. Hopefully their estimates are favoured towards to slowside.The first hour and a half was a gentle climb around the valley, past amountain dairy farm and up to a rocky basin where hopefully we wouldbe able to find some of these rock carvings. While

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-92225979815636737862008-09-06T16:38:00.001Z2008-09-06T16:38:32.724Z

We didn't quite account for all factors in when choosing our parkingspot last night - I think we found the shadiest spot around, as thebeautiful morning sun warmed everything up except for us!! Once wemoved a bit to get the sun, and given the inside of Pat a bit of aclean we were off down to the little village of Tende to find out whatthere was to do round here.All it took was a walk up the main

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-23860136143240860422008-09-06T16:37:00.001Z2008-09-06T16:37:40.354Z

One more month to go!!!! To be honest - I think when the end comes,we are going to be more than ready to get out of the campervan andback into the real world. As enjoyable as its been, we are here for agood time, not a long time.It was a relatively early start for us this morning, as we had tobrave the Milan rush hour traffic, get Robyn to the airport and seeher off back to London. With that

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-49371646596940399212008-09-06T16:36:00.003Z2008-09-06T16:36:50.774Z

Since we are enjoying the best that Lake Como has to offer, we thoughtwe had better check out the main town of the area - the town of Como.Situated at the far south end of the left leg of our lake, for somereason I was expecting Como to be fill of rich swanky people and theirflash boats all over the place.Unless we ended up at the wrong end of town, or could be because todayis the last day of

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-18347435386080547952008-09-06T16:36:00.001Z2008-09-06T16:36:09.519Z

We were off on our daily excursion a little earlier today - justbefore lunchtime ;-). The destination was across on the ferry to theeastern side of the lake and the fishing village of Varenna.Fishing on any grand scale may have finished long ago, but Varennastill proved to be a very quaint, pretty little village with steepnarrow pedestrian streets/stairs running down to the waterfront and

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-77049703159420239352008-09-06T16:35:00.001Z2008-09-06T16:35:20.065Z

Our morning of go slow dragged on into the afternoon as we got rightinto holiday mode. Brilliant!!!In saying that, we did get the gazebo up to give us some much neededshade, plus the front driver's speaker now works after a bit oftinkering. Unfortunately I still can't work out why the leisurebattery is not charging off the main battery when the van is going??We are coping with the help of the

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-38644098055026409612008-08-29T13:35:00.001Z2008-08-29T13:35:03.782Z

Huh, quite road my a#€e! Not the best sleep, so we were up and on theroad relatively early as we have a bit of travelling to do today. Upto the top of Simplon Pass (2,005), then down to the Italian border,where there was such an obvious contrast between the Swiss Chalets onone side of the border and the Italian stucco houses on the other. Wedrove up a pretty forested valley, down around some

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-57161469601269576442008-08-29T13:32:00.001Z2008-08-29T13:32:21.409Z

There are enough alliterative superlatives this time - Wow!! Our wishhas come true. A clear blue sky day when we need it most!!We weren't about to trust that it would last though so we were up andabout, bright and early. We took the train up to Zermatt, then afunicular, gondola, and finally a cable car to 3,103m.In one word - magnificent!!! The Matterhorn is not actually thehighest peak around

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-55964582252928161602008-08-29T13:31:00.001Z2008-08-29T13:31:12.151Z

Believe it or not, but Santa Claus showed up last night!!! Asupermarket bag fill of Asda canned food was sitting outside our vanwhen woke. Thank you very much to the two Newcastle bus drivers whoobviously rise a little earlier than us. I hope the long trip homewas a good one.For us it was another day of up-down-up-down-up. First wasOberalppass to 2,046m, this pass was a little different to

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-92040077010616040102008-08-29T13:30:00.001Z2008-08-29T13:30:02.070Z

After goodbyes the Annj and Bartli - Dankeshen (thank you very much),we were off down the valley headed for Liechtenstein. Why??? (as Annjand Bartli asked) - just because its a country of its own. Anyway,what other capital city can you visit where finding you way to thecentre and getting park is so so easy!! That capital city is Vaduz -population 5,000. On population, the country has 35,000

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-63281713119165953742008-08-29T13:29:00.001Z2008-08-29T13:29:02.945Z

We were so comfortable in our big bed, that we didn't get up earlyenough to say goodbye to Kirstin (sorry Kirstin, we look forward toseeing you in New Zealand). After morgengessen (breakfast) we got onquite well communicating with Annj and Bartli using all sorts ofdifferent means (hands, pictures, maps, feet, dictionary). We werethen joined by friends/translators Susanne and Peter for the

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-22166453212396485832008-08-29T13:27:00.001Z2008-08-29T13:27:46.171Z

We awoke this morning to a chorus of church bells or so it seemed, aquick glance out the window, and we saw 200 sheep, all wearing bells,being herded right past our sleeping spot. Crazy!After getting some good photos of that and 'little' red Pat stickingout like a sore thumb amongst all the big flash white campervans, weheaded down the hill into Livigno. It is easy to see that not longago this

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-31808529063253089812008-08-29T13:26:00.001Z2008-08-29T13:26:07.957Z

Our 'free' campervan friendly spot that we found on our first night atMadonna di Campiglio turned out to have an overnight parking charge.Still we got away with it the first night, so why not try again -however come the morning, we weren't hangin' round... Just in case!!Anyway, today is another driving day - so it was good to get awayearly.Note to the people who make the road maps, if you put 'no

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-82395545639538131772008-08-23T14:25:00.001Z2008-08-23T14:25:39.425Z

Again we can thank our travel insurance company for putting thepreviously unknown 'sport' of Via Ferrata into our heads, and becausewe paid extra to be covered for Via Ferrata we absolutely have to makesure we experience it!!Referring back to the "07/06/08 - Ropes, ladders, glaciers and fiords"blog - our previous experience of Via Ferrata was a little moreunofficial than this one. For a start we

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-69135900863522431412008-08-23T14:24:00.001Z2008-08-23T14:24:38.120Z

A short stroll from our sleeping spot, was a stone building that,apart from being covered in scaffolding, looked to be of no particularinterest to us. However, come round the other side and there was anentrance to a small museum that explained the mysteries of thetrenches above us and apparently every other mountain top around us.Before the 1st World War, the whole area - the Südtirol (South

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-88868223486748259602008-08-23T14:23:00.001Z2008-08-23T14:23:37.557Z

Continuing alone the Drau valley, it was time to say goodbye toAustria and head into Italy. With the already impressive Dolomitestowering above us, our first town was that of Toblach, where we werefinally able to spent some time on the internet and catch up on allNew Zealand's Olympic stories, and send our blog stories.With that out of the way, it was up a side valley where we stopped bya small

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-18409052921165520222008-08-23T14:20:00.001Z2008-08-23T14:20:48.578Z

If only we had taken photos of Gloßglockner yesterday, as while everyother peak around us is beautifully clear - a little bit of cloud isjust sticking to the highest peak!!!Still, it is a fantastic sunny day for venturing up into the mountainsand enjoying the stunning views. Starting at Lucknerhaus, the firstleg was up the valley to Lucknerhütte - where Marea who hasn't beenfeeling 100% decided

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-23661327023311985542008-08-19T12:17:00.001Z2008-08-19T12:17:05.223Z

Finally we started to leave the Zell am See area as we drove towardsthe Großglockner Hochalpenstraße road - a major tourist road that goesover the Hohe Tauern Range. We stopped and took a 'one hour' walk for2.5 hours up a very steep hill. It would be fair to say we had noidea where we were going and that the walk's description of where we'dwanted to go, was woefully inaccurate. Oh well we did

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-20988617493928909472008-08-19T12:04:00.002Z2008-08-19T12:13:43.995Z

It was another beautiful morning of rain, rain, and more rain!! Verycozy when you are snuggled up in bed listening to the rain come downon the roof, with no guilt at all about not getting out and doingstuff :-) In saying that, our temperamental lap top decided it was going to worktoday - so finally I have got around to updating my CV!!! I'm afraidwe can't live out of the real world forever. The

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-55271382027309966662008-08-19T12:01:00.002Z2008-08-19T12:21:07.342Z

This is going to be the easiest blog to write from our whole trip.Today it rained and we did nothing!!!!!!! It was a fantastic breakfrom being a tourist :-) Well almost nothing - a bit of reading, a bit of CIMA study, and awalk around Zell am See. Here we found a cafe where we watched some Olympics, it helped us feel that we are not completely isolated from the world.

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-16204482724739004802008-08-19T11:53:00.001Z2008-08-19T11:53:46.239Z

Poor Pat had driven up such a steep hill from last night, we couldn'tjust drive back down it this morning without exploring the mountainsabove us!! With no clue whether there were any walking tracks on ourroad, we continued along it for another couple of km's before we founda small car park. With a few cars already there, it was a good signthat there were walking tracks - not that we had any

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-78361894664407791672008-08-19T11:44:00.001Z2008-08-19T11:44:18.649Z

It was a good thing we had a wash and swim in the lake yesterdaybecause we awoke to a very overcast day, though the low mist over thelake was very romantic. We forgo visiting what was sure to be a verypicturesque Halstaff for the bright lights of Salzburg. A mistake asit turns out because whilst we thought this little town wouldn't ratea mention in our lonely planet, it is apparently a 4000 year

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-62573976808715887452008-08-19T11:39:00.001Z2008-08-19T11:39:03.129Z

More walking and taking in the fresh mountain air was on the agendatoday. However, we weren't about to take it too far - why walk up themountain when you can take a funicular up, then enjoy a less tiringwalk high up where everything just seems so much more peaceful :-)How to describe our scenery ..... photos might do a better job, butI'll try. 1300 metres above sea level at the top of the

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-20221449476092641782008-08-19T11:34:00.001Z2008-08-19T11:34:39.318Z

A very pretty morning greeted us on the banks of the Danube. I gotthe Blue Danube song in my head as I watched the murky gray watersflow past. I wonder how many years it has been since the Danube hasactually looked even remotely blue??Then it was on the road, up and out of the Danube Valley and intobeautiful fertile green rolling countryside with our first amazingview of the Alps. With this

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-47614806160331781742008-08-19T11:28:00.001Z2008-08-19T11:28:58.815Z

Rise and shine at 07:15 today because we are off to church. High Massin fact at Saint Stephen's Cathedral in the centre of Vienna. I amvery excited because it is a full Haydn mass with a orchestra andchoir. We arrived half an hour early whilst the musicians were warmingup and the sound of this huge Gothic Cathedral filled with music, justas it was written 300 years ago, was magic. It was

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-16058900713472472872008-08-19T11:24:00.001Z2008-08-19T11:24:57.342Z

Our 7th capital city in 7 countries - Vienna!! (and to think we tellpeople we rather stick to nature). We'd heard so much that I wasdisappointed by my first impressions. This was not helped much byarriving in a rainstorm, and that Vienna is just so big! But Viennamust be a city that grows on you and I am glad that we purchasedtickets for the hop on hop off bus, because from that perspective

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-15374428061318406342008-08-10T16:19:00.001Z2008-08-10T16:19:21.703Z

We got out of our dodgy parking area before breakfast, and headed downthe hill to the Dyje River which borders the Czech Republic andAustria. Once we'd eaten, we left the van on the Czech side andwalked over the pedestrian bridge to check out 'the smallest town inAustria' - the very pretty town with the unfortunate name of Hardegg.This town definitely has a castle that fits the perfect

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-22536100921726461512008-08-10T16:18:00.001Z2008-08-10T16:18:10.396Z

After yesterdays exploits we were in no hurry to rush, but comelunchtime we were back on the road in search of some cooking gas -which we finally found as the temperature crept up and up. Feelingthe effects of no air-conditioning in van, the consensus was that anafternoon at the movies was best!! Given we were in a English nonspeaking country our options were limited but we settled on a 15:

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-23565368565215138792008-08-10T16:17:00.001Z2008-08-10T16:17:15.654Z

It was back on the tram into the town centre of Prague at about 9.30for a full days sightseeing around 'the City of a Thousand Spires'.The morning was taken up with a 'free' walking tour of the east bankof the Vltava River where the old and 'new' towns are.We appreciated the different eras of Prague's architectural styles:Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism, Neo-Classicism, Neo-Gothic,Art

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-11909937926311812512008-08-10T16:16:00.001Z2008-08-10T16:16:11.230Z

With a little more energy than yesterday we drove across some verypretty rolling countryside, tree-lined roads, and little Czechvillages before making it to the big city of Prague.First site when entering the out-skirts was hundreds of rather ugly1970's style apartment buildings that dominated the skyline. Not thebest introduction to the city that we have been told by many that youabsolutely

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-60588400494970079662008-08-10T16:15:00.001Z2008-08-10T16:15:10.908Z

Still in a far too relaxed state of mind (or should it be lazy), weheaded for the Czech Republic and the town of Broumov. With noadvance planning, the first task was to find out what the exchangerate was before we could get any Czech money out - you can't expect usto remember from being here 3 years ago.With that sorted, some compulsory yellow reflector vests purchased,and information for the

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-47742146505462948572008-08-10T16:13:00.001Z2008-08-10T16:13:01.765Z

Finally we couldn't be waited on and spoilt by Ania and Piotrek anylonger. As hard as it was to leave, there is still far too much tosee in the 2 remaining months of our travels.In saying that, we still didn't get to leave until we had filledourselves up on lunch - thank you very very much Ania and Piotrek ;-)Then it was on the road heading west sort of parallel with the Czechborder, although we

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-17096020949926267292008-08-03T08:18:00.007Z2008-08-03T09:55:36.244Z

We were having such a lovely time catching up with Ania and Piotrek that we extended our stay by another day. With Ania off to work for a few hours Piotrek played guide and took us to Szyndzielnia where we took the gondola up the steep mountain walked to Klimczok.We enjoyed some beautifully hot weather and wonderful views over Biesko but with another thunderstorm threatening we didn't stray too

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-28794924414591990272008-08-02T06:17:00.008Z2008-08-03T09:57:22.290Z

We had timed our visit because Ania, an air traffic controller, had a day off and as Piotrek works from home he was able to take a day off and they had a big trip planned for us. We took a drive into the mountains near Ustron to Park Linowy where you have a big playground to get into and enjoy the mountain air. Piotrek, Marea and I took to the trees on an Areial Trekking Course. With the help of

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-70232849644920448992008-08-02T06:01:00.003Z2008-08-02T06:17:26.037Z

After driving all day in the very hot sun we finally made it to Bielsko-Biała, where we are visiting with Ania and Piotrek. Daniel met Ania on a trek America tour around Mexico in 2003, and we caught up with them in 2005 when we visited Kracow but now we are visiting them in their own home town. Bielsko-Biała is a city in southern Poland with 180,307 inhabitants (1999). Charmingly spread at the

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-60818138890411714112008-07-30T08:57:00.001Z2008-08-03T09:53:14.530Z

Warsaw, never a city on my list, but one of my favourite yet! I'd always assumed that Warsaw whould be a bit war sore (pardon the pun) but the beautifully restored old town is testiment the Polish people's spirit. Once a prospering city, things drastically changed in 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Warsaw and began rounding up the large Jewish population of Warsaw and terrorising the city. Then

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-48112361588232059402008-07-29T13:48:00.002Z2008-08-01T08:34:12.418Z

Our sleeping spot was another random place dictated by a 'point ofinterest' sign off the main road. This point of interest was amemorial obelisk in the middle of nowhere. To add to our lack ofunderstanding was the fact that the words on the obelisk were allLithuanian (fair enough I guess). The only words I thought Iunderstood were okupantais (occupation), partizanu (partisan), and1944 - 1953.

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-71406433513226224942008-07-29T13:47:00.003Z2008-08-01T08:48:48.914Z

We'd parked up late last night in the Keremu national park among sometrees overlooking a small fishing lake. When I got up at 0430 thismorning there was already a fisherman trying his luck! Not me (Marea)though, I went back to sleep and awoke at eight to yet another perfectday. Our 4th in a row of 27ish degree blue sky days. It seemed a pitythe plan for today was to put a few miles behind us,

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-5561357241099373462008-07-29T13:46:00.003Z2008-08-01T08:58:52.779Z

Today was the Latvian capital Riga's turn to be 'ticked off'. Wenegotiated the bumpy road & traffic into town, and chanced upon a veryhandy car park very close to the information centre where we didn'tfind alot of helpful information - so set about seeing the sites withour very large Europe lonely planet book that only had a couple ofpages dedicated to Riga's sites.Like Tallin, Riga's development

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-44369797297532723942008-07-29T13:45:00.003Z2008-08-01T09:09:53.859Z

Its not as though we slept in too badly this morning, but a mixture ofbeautiful hot morning sunshine, blueberry omlette?? (Marea'screation), and just a general relaxing morning - meant we didn't goanywhere till about 11 o'clock.Our first stop, came recommended by the tourist office - was the 9thcentury Âraisi Lake Fortress. It is one of 10 lake fortresses thathave been discovered in Latvia and

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-69538780330800757722008-07-29T12:59:00.000Z2008-08-03T09:22:18.383Z

It was to be a bit of a travelling day today, but first, since we hadfound another national park to sleep in - we'd better at least exploreit just a little bit. The park was Dzûkijos National Park - right inthe bottom corner of Lithuania, next to Belarus. We chanced upon one walking track that took us through some forest,then into a village of farm houses, at which point we lost our trailmarkers.

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-78265192567678143022008-07-27T12:58:00.000Z2008-08-03T09:21:30.950Z

It was our final Baltic capital city today - Vilnius. In our usualunorganised fashion of showing up to a place without a real clue aboutwhat we actually wanted to see - we headed straight for theinformation centre to find out a walking tour was starting in an hour.We thought that would be something different to do - so with our hourof free time we roamed the streets before finding cathedral

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-21742834946560159632008-07-25T14:44:00.003Z2008-08-01T18:14:18.697Z

First job for today was to find out what was so great about ourparking spot that caused it to have a place of interest sign pointingoff the main road. After a pleasant walk up a hill (yes believe it ornot, Estonia DOES have hills) and through some forest we didn't findanything until we were almost 'home' when Marea spotted what shethought was some sort of fish digging into the sand in a

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-39284385219478863862008-07-25T14:43:00.003Z2008-08-01T18:33:58.516Z

Today was our last full day in Estonia and we had a bit of a problem -too much money! Estonia do not use the Euro and as of this morning wehad 1300 kroons or about £65. Our old trick of using superfluouscurrency to buy gas seemed a bit misguided as we have it on goodauthority (The Lonely Planet) that gas is cheaper in Latvia andcheapest in Lithuania.After another lazy morning we checked the

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-30466332239773595062008-07-25T14:42:00.002Z2008-08-01T18:41:02.930Z

It was a good thing we went for swim last night, cause our beautifulcamp spot was just a little windy this morning. Never mind, goodexcuse for another sleep in then we were off down the road to Parnu.The guide book described Parnu as Estonia's leading seaside resort.More interested in old medieval towns, this didn't really tickle myfancy too much, but nonetheless we had to go see for

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-66900526889969418152008-07-25T14:41:00.002Z2008-08-01T18:47:06.804Z

Haapsalu is a town where until 1943/1944, there was a large Swedishpopulation that has been around since the 13th century. Parts of thetown definitely still have a Swedish feel to them. It has beautifullykept tidy streets with lovely parks and promenades but sadly is inneed of some investment, with faded buildings some even right in themiddle of town badly needing painting and repairing.After

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-39115060689455678502008-07-21T10:23:00.002Z2008-08-01T18:53:53.127Z

My birthday was less than an hour old when I got the first of manywell wishes, Thank you Mum for getting the time difference all wrong;-)By the time morning came, the blue sky was out and everything waslooking very promising for a nice hot day!! After a fantastic BLATbreakfast, we were on the road heading for the only thing you shouldbe doing on a day like this - the beach!!Our drive south-west

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-11045028103658989272008-07-21T10:22:00.003Z2008-08-02T05:44:07.164Z

For once we sort of had a plan and it was going to be a long day!!!Alarm at 7 am, the first order was to take in the bog lands ofLahemma. What should have been a half hour of boardwalking overswampy terrain, took over a hour as Marea was on the look out for alltypes of berries and trying not to get her feet wet whilst pickingthem. The biggest find was the ellusive Cloudberry we'd thought

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-2736146727892703852008-07-21T10:21:00.002Z2008-08-02T05:56:19.292Z

Today turned out a lot better than it started. First of all it wasraining again. Then Pat got stuck! After rejecting a number of campingspots last night for just that possibility, we found ourselves alovely spot (if we ignored the now derelict Soviet era observationtower) at the northern end of a peninsula in the Lahemma NationalPark. However, this morning, as we were leaving, we were so

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-73675350217275473942008-07-21T10:20:00.002Z2008-08-02T05:59:20.968Z

After scouring Cina and Magnus's house for all our clothes that werescattered about busy drying, it was time to say goodbye and end ourperiod of luxury from yet another fantastic host. Then it was ontothe ferry, across the Baltic Sea and into Tallin, Estonia. From thetop deck as we sailed in we were greeted by overcast weather, 20minutes later as we drove off the ferry we were in the middle of

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-10254198174514509342008-07-21T10:19:00.002Z2008-08-02T06:01:02.658Z

After saying goodbye last night to Magnus who headed back to theisland with Luftsen, and this morning to Martina who's off on asailing trip down the Gulf of Bothnia, we were off into the city to dosome more exploring.First point of business though was to find an all elusive store thatsold the right kind of cooking gas. The price here for a 3kg bottlewas €40 whereas in Ireland we'd paid €21! So we

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-28778223393493269282008-07-15T21:45:00.009Z2008-07-15T22:29:16.148Z

We have had an amazing week with Magnus and Cina and Martina, but we have at times been so relaxed and at others so busy that our blog up dating has been a little slack. So for those of you that are regular readers ,we have added lots of photos for a change. Take your time catching up on the last 7 days and enjoy. Don't forget to check out the photos from 'The beard lament'.We are off to Estonia

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-17146767655472875662008-07-14T21:20:00.000Z2008-07-15T21:24:21.640Z

After our morning swim and collection of the long-line, which to everyone's disapointment, Marea's pessimistic bet won - even her guess was way over the mark. Still, two fish is better than none!! It was then time to pack, wake Pat up from his sleep, and head for the big smoke of Helsinki.After finding Magnus and Cina's house, and getting the first of many loads of washing on the go - we were off

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-30475669730967454232008-07-13T21:17:00.000Z2008-07-15T21:20:52.366Z

I think we got off lightly yesterday when we declined an early morning swim. Out of politeness, our hosts didn't make us go. But it became apparent that when you are staying at the summer house, a swim before breakfast is very much part of the daily routine!! We were not let off so lightly today but enjoyed a very refreshing swim off the rocks, into the calm archipelago waters.The itinerary for

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-88056709677736694832008-07-12T21:15:00.001Z2008-07-15T21:17:53.338Z

After a phone call home for the parents on both sides of the world to catch up with their respective children (timed perfectly to not interrupt the All Blacks vs South Africa test match), we were off to the mainland and Inga where a craft day was being held. A lot of old ways of doing jobs, chores and crafts were being demonstrated.We saw in action: the making of slats by a cutting plane that was

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-45713875206820341112008-07-11T22:17:00.000Z2008-07-15T22:20:01.453Z

Staying with Magnus and Cina, we were soon able to answer some burning questions about Finland and its relationship with the Swedish language.We are always confused because we always assumed the road signs had the Finnish name first, then the Swedish name - but it sometimes seemed like the Swedish name comes first??The answer: Which name comes first, depends what part of the country you are

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-68747423705263324082008-07-11T21:11:00.001Z2008-07-15T21:15:22.872Z

Shock of all shocks this morning when Marea was out of bed before Daniel; at 0630 she went for a walk!!!!! It didn't last long as she was soon ("whadda ya mean soon? It was 08:00!") back in bed with the news that weather wasn't very good to be outside but by the time I got up it wasn't too bad at all.However, it wasn't all good, and we soon decided we'd have to change our plans because the quick

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-3056066647022751282008-07-10T21:07:00.002Z2008-07-15T21:10:55.818Z

I (Marea) have with us a fairly good collection of the standard classical repertoire and as we travel, so continues our musical education with context. We are sitting down after dinner listening to Sebelius' Finlandia. In Norway I made Kerryn and Daniel listen the Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite and here, Sibelius is Finland's most famous musician (after Lordi, the Eurovision song contest winner, of

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-75521343900249802082008-07-09T21:25:00.001Z2008-07-15T22:41:17.722Z

It's true it's gone:-( The red wooley mammoth is no longer. Apparently the Daniel's birthday present to me was to keep the beard until after my birthday. Thanks, I think?Still I know that certain a Mrs Verry was not very appreciative of Daniel's facial hair, so at least someone is happy.I did suggest that Daniel buy a razor and let me shave various beard/moustache/sideburn combinations all the

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-63872948204861563842008-07-09T21:06:00.000Z2008-07-15T21:07:40.092Z

The coolest thing we did today was see a couple of woodpeckers at the Helvetinjärvi National Park near Virrat. We got some good photos, though even in sport mode they are a little blurred because the birds peck really fast just like the Woody Woodpecker cartoons.The worst thing that happened today was Daniel shaving his beard:-( But first we had a Cosmo photoshoot including Daniel chopping wood!

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-34352392500086328212008-07-09T12:01:00.005Z2008-07-15T22:30:47.541Z

A couple more photos - as usual I've back dated a few on the last weeks blogs. The first is of a nineteenth centuary windmill that we saw this morning and the second is one of those anthills we wrote about a few weeks ago - ick!

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-23902094106163595702008-07-09T11:40:00.002Z2008-07-09T11:50:49.248Z

This morning we woke bright and early. Start how you mean to go on Isay, so I cut up cucumber to put on my poor 31 year old eyes. I thenapplied my new eye cream which scandalised Daniel by costing €15 (itwas half price). This, and wanting a shower every 4 days means Danielthinks I'm a high maintenance woman!I've requested a bottle of wine for my birthday so somewhere ontoday's To Do list is

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-73444749323494991052008-07-09T11:38:00.002Z2008-07-09T11:54:58.395Z

It felt a little like winter had come back to us today!! We'dplanned to hire cycles to explore this beautiful area, but instead wewent for a long walk after breakfast. We'd parked overnight at thenorthern end of the island Hietasaari and so our walk was to thesouthern end of the island. It was lovely despite the weather thoughthe lifeguard and icecream sellers looked a little redundant.After a

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-24161888149619913092008-07-09T11:37:00.001Z2008-07-09T11:37:15.873Z

A lazy lazy morning this morning meant we didn't actually move fromour parking spot in the forest until about midday, then after stoppingat Rovaniemi information centre to pick up a Finland road map, we havenow turned the corner, and are headed south.Around 14:30 when our rumbling pukus told us it was time for lunch. Westopped off at a rest area which also boasted a 'point of interest'.This

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-42123717476331076022008-07-07T11:39:00.000Z2008-07-15T21:41:35.646Z

Gossip Mirrors The Kokkola Shipping StraitToday we woke late, partly due to the overcast weather but probably because we sat up half the night watching Bro town, ow.Went to Kokkola and stocked up on reading material from the information centre. We took a self guided tour around Nerista which is the old wooden part of town now populated by the hip and trendy artisan community. To get there, we

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-22845660258718476622008-07-05T18:47:00.002Z2008-07-09T11:57:30.859Z

We made a quick exit from our ill-fated, mosquito invested camp spotand headed east towards the border with Finland. This involved aferry crossing over a lake (free again, thank you Swedish government)that we managed to miss by only a minute.This meant the race was on. Will Marea be able to cook up a super,hearty omlette for breakfast in less than half an hour!!! Of courseshe could :-)

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-78819662861850498472008-07-05T18:45:00.001Z2008-07-05T18:45:43.619Z

Sometimes driving is a bit like dodgems negotiating round thereindeer. When we stopped and crossed back over the Arctic Circle wesaw two of them just wandering about.They are certainly king on theroad around here.On one occasion a car up ahead had slowed right down and we spotted areally large animal just ambling on the side of the road. We got quiteexcited cause it might be a moose - but no, it

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-22287885026199442452008-07-05T18:42:00.002Z2008-07-09T12:00:23.977Z

Images taken at 22.38 and 01:53Our morning walk was not the most comfortable; we had to cover up asmuch skin as possible from the mosquitoes and at the same time the sunwas breaking through the clouds making things very very muggy!! Butwe found some cross-country ski trails in the forest which made somevery nice summer walking paths. Marea seems to be getting keener andkeener at giving

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-6318999362763174312008-07-01T18:27:00.003Z2008-07-01T18:42:50.601Z

The first day of a new month, I got in first with the pinch and a punch!This morning we got to the Moskosel Navvy Museum before it opened. The museum depicts life and conditions of the railway builders in the 19th century, but what we were really there for were the genuine northern Swedish dumplings. But we had to wait til about 11:00 when out they came steaming hot! I'm sure we were doing

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7138084132240770390.post-50145172566355986982008-07-01T17:09:00.001Z2008-07-01T17:09:25.768Z

Today was a little bit of a failure in terms of getting out and aboutand seeing all the scenery. After taking in the view of LakeStorumond from a handy vantage point, we headed down to the lake andnavigated numerous causeways and bridges hopping from island to islandall populated with summer houses. We found a promising walking trackbut, after 5 minutes walking it petered out to nothing (we

Mareahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06112481500192109349noreply@blogger.com0