Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Cards

Went to the bank to make sure our cards were up to date for the trip. Our Credit Union likes to know if we are travelling. They stop payment on any suspicious or unusual transactions, so if they see a withdrawal from Estonia and we live in Australia, they are alerted and stop payment. New cards are ordered for our trip and are activated for the dates of travel and cancelled immediately when we come back to avoid fraud. Our old cards are then back in use. Cards to arrive in the next few days. Glad I thought to do this - could have been awkward.

Anyone have any last minute suggestions or advice?

Monday, May 30, 2011

Checking

Making confirmations for all bookings for accommodation - found one mistake in Estonia - Richard had booked for the wrong month. All fixed now. Two weeks to go now. 

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Ireland



Ireland
Language
English
Currency
Euro /pound
Capital
Northern Ireland – Belfast/ Eire - Dublin
Religion
Catholic
Known for
Joyce, Giants Causeway
Weather
Warmer in summer – warmer than freezing
Population
6 million
Area
84,000 sq kms – bigger than Tassie



24th – Sunday – leave Stranrear for Belfast (stay at Sleepy Cedars)
literary/art/food/fashion research
25th – Monday – leave Belfast for Derry to stay at Saddlers’ House
literary/art/food/fashion research
26th – Tuesday – leave Derry to go to Galway (stay at Devondell)
literary/art/food/fashion research
27th – Wednesday – look around Galway
literary/art/food/fashion research
28th – Thursday – leave Galway and head to Ennis (stay at Glenmora House)
literary/art/food/fashion research
29th – Friday – leave Ennis – travel to Killarney (stay at Neptune’s Town Hostel)
literary/art/food/fashion research
30th – Saturday - leave Killarney – travel to Dublin – (stay at Times Hostel)
literary/art/food/fashion research
31st – Sunday – spend the day in Dublin
literary/art/food/fashion research
1 Aug – Monday catch the plane to Singapore

Saturday, May 28, 2011

England and Scotland and Wales

England/UK

7th – 24th July

Language
English
Currency
Euro /pound
Capital
London
Religion
Protestant
Known for
Lots – too many attractions to list
Weather
Warm - hot
Population
52 million approx
Area
130,000+ sq kms


7th – Thursday – arrive London – stay at YHA Thursday night
8th – Friday – in London all day art/food/fashion research
9th – Saturday – in London  art/food/fashion research
10th – Sunday – travel from London to the Isle of Wight (stay at the Belmont)
Jane Austen’s cottage – then see the whole island - literary/art/food/fashion research
11th – Monday – leave the Isle of Wight and travel to Dartmoor (stay at Ring of Bells)
Touristy sight seeing, literary/art/food/fashion research
12th – Tuesday – leave Dartmoor and go to Mevagissey (stay at Honeycomb House)
See Doc Martin territory  literary/art/food/fashion research
13th – Wednesday – leave Mevagissey and go to Berwick St James (stay at Mill House)
Visit Dee and Phillip literary/art/food/fashion research
14th – Thursday – leave B St J and go to Castle Combe (stay at Castle House)
See the Cotswolds literary/art/food research
15th – Friday – still at Castle Combe
See the country – art/food research
16th – Saturday – leave Castle Combe and travel to Llandudno (stay at Lighthouse)
Driving through Wales – art/food/mmmm no fashion
17th – Sunday – leave Llandudno and travel to York (stay at Mont Clare)
Sightseeing art/food/fashion research
18th – Monday – leave York and drive to Lakes (stay at Yew Tree Farm)
Beatrix Potter’s house literary/art/food/fashion research lots of writing stuff
19th – Tuesday – leave Beatrix Potter’s house for Edinburgh (stay at Doris Crook)
literary/art/food/fashion research especially bookishness
20th – Wednesday – see Edinburgh (stay at Doris Crook B&B)
literary/art/food/fashion research – lots of history
21st – Thursday – leave Edinburgh for Urquart (stay at Old Church)
literary/art/food/fashion research + history
22nd – Friday – leave Urquart and drive to Mull (stay at Glen Gorm Castle)
literary/art/food/fashion research – lots of history and architecture
23rd – Saturday – leave Glen Gorm for Stranraer (stay at Harbour Lights)
literary/art/food/fashion research plus history and off to Ireland


PLEASE add must do things to the list

Friday, May 27, 2011

France


France
5th , 6th  July

Language
French
Currency
Euro / Franc
Capital
Paris
Religion
Catholic
Known for
Art, fashion, cuisine
Weather
Sounds like it will be hot
Population
65 million
Area
674,000 sq kms – smaller than NSW but 10 Tassies


Art, art and more art with food and fashion in between

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Russia

Russia

3rd, 4th July

Language
Russian
Currency
Ruble
Capital
Moscow
Religion
Orthodox
Known for
Winter palace in St Petersburg
Weather
Warmest month is July
Population
142 million
Area
17 mill sq kms – a whole lot bigger than Tassie


Going to the winter Palace not to Moscow (this time)

Has anyone been there?

Estonia

Estonia
1st, 2nd July


Language
Estonian
Currency
Euro (EEK)
Capital
Tallinn
Religion
Evangelical Lutheran (yay)
Known for
General prettiness continued
Weather
Getting up to 20 deg C
Population
Just over 1 million
Area
45,000 sq km – 2/3 the size of Tassie


- very pretty places to walk around
- fantastic architecture that I am etremely interested in
Any ideas from anyone out there?

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Latvia

Latvia

29th, 30th June


Language
Latvian
Currency
Lats
Capital
Riga
Religion
Lutheran / Catholic
Known for
General prettiness – villages, scenery
Weather
Warm
Population
2 million
Area
64,000 sq km – just smaller than Tassie


29th travel from Lithuania to Latvia.
30th Going to a rifle range to shoot an AK47 and a Glock in a Russian bunker/rifle range (my nephews’ birthday.)
Any other ideas?

Monday, May 23, 2011

Lithuania


Lithuania

27th, 28th June

Language
Lithuanian
Currency
Lithuanian Litas
Capital
Vilnius
Religion
Catholic
Known for
Nice scenery, pretty villages, architecture
Weather
Warm – up to 30+
Population
Just over 3 million
Area
62,000 sq km – smaller than Tassie

Itinerary is free at the moment. Any suggestions

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Poland

Poland is our third country we will be visiting.

Kracow on the 23rd and 24th
Warsaw on the 25th and 26th


Language
Polish
Currency
Zloty
Capital
Warsaw
Religion
Catholic
Known for
Marie Curie, Chopin, Kosciuszko, Carpathian Mountains
Weather
Warm – spring/summer – best time to travel apparently
Population
38+ million
Area
313,000 approx -


Planning to see Auchwitz

Any suggestions?

Saturday, May 21, 2011

The Czech Republic


The Czech Republic

17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 June

Language
Czech
Currency
Czech Koruna
Capital
Prague
Religion
Catholic or nothing
Known for
Castles and villages and walking, Bohemia, Moravia, Cesky Krumlov
Weather
Beginning of summer – warm - hot
Population
Just over 10 million
Area
Nearly 79 sq km – similar to Austria – a bit smaller

Friday 17th June - We will be starting at Mikulov and walking from Valtice to Lednice
Saturday 18th June – Telc
Sunday 19th  June – Telc
Monday 20th June – Cesky Krumlov (that gorgeous medieval village)
Tuesday 21st June – Prague
Wednesday 22nd June - Prague


Suggestions for what to do in Prague? Please add comments.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Austria

Austria is our first destination in Europe.


Austria
Language
German
Currency
Euro
Capital
Vienna
Religion
Catholic
Known for
Music, art, cities like Salzburg, snow in winter, beautiful scenery and outdoors activities
Weather
Early summer in July – best time to travel
Population
Over 8 million
Area
Nearly 84 sq km – a bit bigger than Tasmania


Really looking forward to the walks and arty culture.

Our itinerary 15/16 June
- arrive very late on 15th so we only have one full day in Vienna
- Giselle at the Vienna Opera House that night
- walking around Vienna, sampling the local fare and fashion and art.

Any suggestions? Please comment.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Panic

26 days to go and all the preparation seems lost. I have over prepared and have to do all the work again.
Fitness gone, clean rooms now dirty and general tidiness generally messy.

I have to learn how to use a camera, different computer and start a weight-loss and good eating regime. Lose 10 kilos, walk 15 kilometres a day and look 10 years younger..... and it is less than a month. The micro-planning is like an old trip gone. I have to relearn and relive. Marking to do, programs to write and reports to be done in less than a month!

There have been a few other things I was not ready for - prepared but not ready for them to be over - my fourth child to be born, my fourth child to be weaned and my full time working life to end. I have filled my life with three jobs that are more than a full time work load but it doesn't feel the same. Time does not wait for one to be ready. There are other things I expect but may not be ready for at the time.....

I am so not ready for this trip despite having my bag packed and everything booked. Even my handbag is packed and ready, but not my mind.
Heart is ready, body not, mind muddled.
Count down - it is actually 25 now - this day is nearly over....panic.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Tiny Spiders and Travel Fat


New camera to play with and learn before we travel meant our walk to Shellharbour was all the more interesting and rewarding.  The Canon Eos 550D is very nice and easy to use but has lots of little dials and knobs to customise photo shots.

There will be much videoing and photographing to be done on this trip - so many places and such a short time in each place - only one, ONE day in Paris. Must be content that one day is better than none. The travel fat will last a long time and one does not have to have the food in one's mouth to appreciate the fare. So many times have I revisited experiences by a waft or a noise, sight or sound, that even the most poorly composed shot will evoke memories - take me there - even for just a little while.
Sometimes I will find myself walking around 'in another place' or examining more closely the detail that I had no time for before.

My little camera is great for everyday photos but it is limited when I want to photograph little spiders and tiny bugs. I love to photograph doors and walls, textures and colours, the everyday and the extraordinary, the panorama and the sidewalk grate. Ancient doors and ironwork, stained glass and cobblestones tell stories from long ago with worn down bits and makers' hand all too obvious upon the looking.

We will take them both - the little and the new. Between them both I hope to capture the tiny little things and tall towers, building up the layers of travel fat for years to come.

Does anyone have any advice or experience they would like to share? Please comment.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Better in the Dark


My mother’s favourite story of when I was young was when she gave me the task of watching the chips. Watching chips boil in oil, watching paint dry, watching grass grow – yeah I will do that. In the meantime watching the stars is also exciting – so while the chip sizzled I ducked off the look at the stars from the backyard toilet roof. I could pick out favourite stars and planets and work out where the south celestial pole was. “Keeerrriiieee” …ummmm ooops. Dark acrid smoke filled the kitchen. No chips for tea. Open every window. Repaint the kitchen. I still don’t see the fuss. The sky was so interesting.

The night sky is so different in the northern hemisphere. It is yet another thing I am really looking forward to. The stars are new and weird. The celestial orb not right, empty in places that should be full. No north celestial pole to be drawn – they have a star - the idiot’s guide to north. We desire a greater challenge here down under.

The planets Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter aligned today on Friday 13 May 2011. Spectacular to see from the deck at Montclare. The telescope made it even better. Jupiter still could be seen at 8 o’clock although it looked like a big shiny plane. The planets are still there doing their aligning thing but you cannot see it now in the full light of day.

Troubles and dramas in our lives, heartache and illness are not fun. Not fun for the heart, mind or soul. While going through such suffering some things magnify. Love and family, beliefs and fears (softened, fuzzy, hallmarked when drowned out by those precious daytime living things) firm and petrify. Time passes and the scars become lighter but suffering continues. Lost lives, lost opportunities, lost minds, anniversaries of good and bad. 

We carry on under the sunny sky unaware. Closing eyes against the pain, unseeing the alignment. One thing is sure with the stars and who you really are – both are seen more clearly in the dark.



(Stories behind the people to match this post - add your own .....please share your thoughts)

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Castaway and Glitzy

The visa application process for St Petersburg was quite a task - details and invitations - photos and proof, numbers, money and more numbers. The information was sent away with the promise that if everything was in order the visas would be sent within two weeks.
They came today - and very pretty they are, too.
Pasted in prettily, printed prettily and glitzy with a lovely shiny Russia sticker to herald its authenticity.
St Petersburg is pretty too. All beautiful buildings and scenery or so the brochures say. We may have a distinctly rosy impression of Russia for our two night stay.

Castaway showed the Tom Hanks character in agony with a troublesome tooth - the message left for any traveller to get the teeth done before any travel. Dentist appointment made and today was the day. Teeth are sorted and bless you Daniel Wong. Would hate to be cast away with dodgy teeth and no ice skate.


How does one prepare to be cast up on an isolated island for years and how should one pack and what could one expect to have washed up. What five things would be essential to have in the back pack in a deserted place.....

1. Knife of some sort (must pack Swiss Army knife and hope it is with me at the time)
2. Water bottle (with never-ending fresh water issuing forth)
3. Matches (unlikely they will be mine - they may have to belong to someone else)
4. Bear Grylls (to show me how to survive - but he can eat the bugs by himself)
5. A make up crew with Bear Grylls so I look okay when we have survived the harsh environment for a whole day - or even two.

All in all between St Petersburg and castaway it should be fairly glitzy.




What 5 things would you want with you on a deserted island?

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Adventuring in Thirroul today. Lovely seaside village with cafes and shops and art and craft. Nice Mothers' Day lunch on a beautiful Sunday.

Time to watch the world go by, enjoy the sunshine, have a cuppa. The walk from Sandon Point passes the tent embassy, beautiful beaches, seal-like surfers and lovely houses nestled on the cliff tops. We have our favourite places - the Ann of Green Gables house, the D H Lawrence house where he wrote "Kangaroo", the ancient trees casting shadows across the tiny weatherboard cottages where miners lived in times gone by.

We fit in and join what others do, alike yet having never met. It's funny how we swarm and socialise all by ourselves. All doing the same types of things, echoing mannerisms and finding entertainment in the simple pleasures of life. There seems to be a relaxed mingling on this sunny afternoon. The smiles and hellos.

The curved tiled pattern on the path was a pointed invitation to follow the line. And they did - the little boy followed along, the father, the girl on the scooter and Richard.

It was not the sort of urgent socialism of 'we are a swarm with no single soul' following the line, nor was it the 'you cannot get through unless you walk the line' line, nor was it the consumer mindlessness of everyone else is doing it that is why I will too. It was just the fun and flick back to childhood moment where no one else is there. The dreamy thoughtful bare-souled moment over all too soon then back to where we are.

Thank you to the people who thought to put it there - for no purpose but to be contrary and imaginative. Thank you for the chance to play for just a while. I am looking forward to finding other-landed windows in places over-seas. I will let you know when and where I find them.




Saturday, May 7, 2011

How Many Maccas Equals a High Tea?

We missed the Wedding in England. We will miss the other grandchild getting married in Scotland by a few days. We will not get to visit the Queen (God bless her) or take tea or a stroll in the garden with Her Majesty but it was just as special to be taken out for High Tea by Bethany in the Queen Vic in Sydney.

The glorious windows and artiness around, the relaxed atmosphere with the way, way, way above ceiling, the gorgeous lights, precious, fine crockery, sliver teapots and impeccable staff, all made for an experience fit for a queen.

The High Tea came out - delicate sandwiches, cucumber, ham, egg - and refills when desired. Fine pastries and tiny layer cakes, tasty tarts and pecan pies so tiny - just a mouthful. Delicate china, old and oozing love by artisan's hands, careful detail, hand painted gold matching plates and stand and pot.
Crisp white linen, impossibly crisp and white and fresh.
Scone with jam and cream, so simple yet so divine the joint of jaw tingles with the buzz of glands made active all at once.

The cup refilled, the pot topped up, Chantilly cream, attentive staff, the team of chefs, the tiny touch and not a burger to be seen. No fast food here - just love and care and care for art. Not a 'Mac' in front of anything.
It is true we could have had at least a few meals at other places and they would have been quite quick. They have their place - you don't have to book and on the run they are a welcome sight. They do not clog the memory space or muddle with imagination. They are right next door, not hours away, they are not the dressy uppy types of places.

This Mother's Day was special for so many reasons - for spending time with my daughter, being able to appreciate the love and care, creation and design of artisans of times gone by, tasting oh-so-many yummy things, being waited on so well and feeling like a queen.

Thank you Bethany.