Brighton, Bath and Boats....and Christmas

Victory

Brighton "beach"

Roman bath's, Bath



Did a bit of sight seeing while staying with relatives down in the south of England (thank you so much for everything John!!) I found Brighton lovely, athough they have a poor excuse for a beach-beaches have sand, and not pebbles the size of golfballs!!! But non the less, I enjoyed my day there, seeing the Old pavillion and the Pier.

I also went to Portsmouth, and visited the old dockyards, having a look on the Vicory and the Warrior, both amazing ships, and completely different to each other. You could easily spend a day or two there, looking at all the museums and boats etc.

Christmas was spreak over two days, with family coming over on Christmas day, and then more on Boxing Day. Both were lovely, meeting all these relatives, and enjoying a Christmas somewhat different to home (although there was no snow, it was cold).

On my last day John and I headed out to Stonehenge and Bath. Both are amazing places, I found Stonehenge facinating-how they could move the stones as far as they did (some all the way from Wales at least 150 miles away, and weighting up to 45 tonns), the actual making of the circle (the rocks were shaped so they fitted together and locked in place) and what it was actually used for.

In Bath we had a look at the Roman Baths, again I found it interesting how they could build such a thing so long ago. And to think that over 2000 years later it is still standing, complete with the lead piping, admittedlty with parts missing.

24 Hour bus oddsey

The joys of catching buses and trains while traveling-love the budget travel. While catching a train from Munich to Bonn, I was told that Bonn station was closed, and I would be dropped off a station early-at 5.30am, in a country where I really dont speak the language, and with no sleep all night-I was told that I would have to find my own way to Bonn via either a taxi or the tram. Thankfully I found the tram to the correct station!!!

A week later I was catching a bus from Berlin to London-a lovely 18 hour trip. Unfortuanately, there was a train stuck in the Eurotunnel, and after a 6 hour wait (we did managed to move about a mile in that time) on the bus to get onto the Eurotunnel train, my 18 hour bus ride, turned into a 24 hour bus ride.

Gotta love budget backpacking-thankfully I had my book, talking book and MP3 player, so managed to pass my extra 6 hours without too much bordam, but did miss out on my 4 hours sightseeing in London.

Opera, Ice Skating and Culture

Have been out and about in Berlin, went on a walking tour, where I met a couple of Aussies (Melanie and Alex) from Melbourne and an American (Chris). After the tour we went to a museum on Museum Island, and then decided to be very cultured and go to the Opera. We couldnt understand a word of it (it was in Spanish??? with German subtitles), could see about 3/4 of the stage if we stood up and peered over the edge of the railing, but thoroughly enjoyed it. What more can you expect for a very well spent 8 euro's.

We then decided to meet up again the next day and go to some more museums. Unfortunately Alex didnt make it and Chris was running late, but Melanie and I enjoyed the Nues Museum, then met Chris and went to the Anne Frank Museum, the Bodes Museum and the Altes museum before we decided that we had been museumed out, and went to the Christmas market. We decided to have a go at Ice Skating, as I was the only one who had been, and my one attempt was many moons ago, and I failed spectacularly. We were quite proud of ourselves, were passed by everyone on the ice, but had fun.

It has been snowing for the last couple of days in Berlin, and been thoroughly cold-not above 0 for the last few days, and just getting colder-send warm thoughts to me!!!! One more day in Berlin, and then a night bus back to London, and Christmas with family.

Berlin

The tour around Germany has continued, I left Nuremburg, and headed to Munich for a few days, then up to Bonn to stay with a second cousin (Geoff), and then up to Berlin for my last few days in Germany.

Loved Munich, it is such an interesting city. Visited the toy museum (gotta relive that childhood!), the Residence, the Christmas Market, the Glockenspiel, famous beer house (sorry no beer, urgg) and the English market.

I also took a day trip out to Neuschwanstein Castle. It was beautiful, really is like a fairytale, painted inside in scenes from fairytales and legonds. It was never finished as King Ludwick died, but the parts that are there are spectacular. Also went to the other castle which was there, which was also spectacular. It was different in that the outside was painted a yellowish colour-unusual!

In Bonn I stayed with Geoff, who very kindly showed me the local area-thank you so much Geoff, I loved it!!! Took in some museums, saw some lovely scenery (was really lucky with the weather and had sunshine most of the time)and went to some awesome mineral baths.

Stopped off at Cologn on the way to Berlin, for a whorlwind tour, saw the Cathedral (amazing, nearly died climbing to the top-5 months of no exercise is not good!), the old city gates and walls, then onto Berlin where I arrived last night.

Germany

Glockenspeil

Nuremburg Christmas Market

Nuremburg City Walls

Frankfurt Christmas Market

Ruins, Bonar Bridge

So I have finished in Scotland for the moment, and have arrived in Germany. Made it up to Inverness before leaving, and visited the ruins of where some relatives came from. I then headed back to Forfar, where I went to a wedding (Darrens brother), and then after a day of relaxing, caught a flight across to Germany.

Unfortunately it is just a quick visit to Germany, landed in Frankfurt, and am now in Nuremburg, leaving tomorrow to head to Munich.

It has been warmer here than it was back in Scotland, but still quite cold, no thermals, just jacket, gloves, scarf and hat!!! Wasnt hugely fond of Frankfurt, it was basically destroyed during the war, so not many old building survive, but they did have a lovely Christmas market.

Nuremburg is lovely, have spent the last couple of days wandering the old city, walked the entire lenght of the city walls, been to a few museums, and have thoroughly explored the (world renowned) Christmas Market, even managed to find the red light district by mistake (and beat a hasty retreat out of it).

I have fallen in love with Christmas markets, so many differnt foods to try, lights, decorations. Have been trying the different foods from the areas, potato cakes in Frankfurt, hot fruit punch, Gluckwein (yes it was disgusting but it had to be tried), gingerbread, lebkucklein (kind of like gingerbread).