We did it! Below is our road map of the trip:
View Larger Map
Link to map
Countries driven through:
Wales
England
France
Belgium
Netherlands
Germany
Czech Republic
Croatia
Hungary
Slovakia
Slovenia
Italy
Switzerland
Luxembourg
Monday, August 30, 2010
Oh good, more steps
Lausanne, SWITZERLAND, Day 2
During a smoke break at the German restaurant, I found some awesome tarot cards. I guess there really is a deck for everyone.
During a smoke break at the German restaurant, I found some awesome tarot cards. I guess there really is a deck for everyone.
Friday, August 27, 2010
The Swiss are always on time
Lausanne, SWITZERLAND
Here's a video of our drive from Italy to Switzerland, through the Alps:
Here's a video of our drive from Italy to Switzerland, through the Alps:
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Relaxing is hard work, but someone's gotta do it
Pisa, ITALY, Day 2
Waking up in Nicolo's apartment in Pisa was a combination of heat and hangover, but it was all offset by the fact I was here in this city!
I took the chance to wash some of my clothes before we went to visit the Piazza del Duomo, you might recognise it :)
It was as beautiful on the inside as well, there was even the skull of a saint mounted as part of a display in the Cathedral - totally awesome.
Let me also make a point of saying I am proud to not of joined the innumerable photos of people propping up the leaning tower :P
Tonight we are hopefully going to a restaurant owned by a friend of Nicolo for some food and wine... life is a struggle!
Waking up in Nicolo's apartment in Pisa was a combination of heat and hangover, but it was all offset by the fact I was here in this city!
I took the chance to wash some of my clothes before we went to visit the Piazza del Duomo, you might recognise it :)
It was as beautiful on the inside as well, there was even the skull of a saint mounted as part of a display in the Cathedral - totally awesome.
Let me also make a point of saying I am proud to not of joined the innumerable photos of people propping up the leaning tower :P
Tonight we are hopefully going to a restaurant owned by a friend of Nicolo for some food and wine... life is a struggle!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
I know my chicken
Pisa, ITALY
Fencing
Nicolo
PISA CITY
Going out by river
Amaro
Motorcycle tales, Silvio B
ITALIAN PHRASE I know my chicken lol
Fencing
Nicolo
PISA CITY
Going out by river
Amaro
Motorcycle tales, Silvio B
ITALIAN PHRASE I know my chicken lol
What do you do when you live in a shoe... or should that be a scarpetta?
Pescara, ITALY, Day 2
Italian 101 - How to Speak Italian with 3 words or less
Chiati beach
Italian Beach rules and rituals :)
Birthday (Claudio)
Obvious extreme sunburn for Aaron
Drive to Fish Restaurant in Vasto with Lisa, Annalisa and Claudio
Puzzles (open window and water, surgeon and desert)
Visit to Vasto old town
Italian 101 - How to Speak Italian with 3 words or less
Chiati beach
Italian Beach rules and rituals :)
Birthday (Claudio)
Obvious extreme sunburn for Aaron
Drive to Fish Restaurant in Vasto with Lisa, Annalisa and Claudio
Puzzles (open window and water, surgeon and desert)
Visit to Vasto old town
Du Pain, Du Vin, Du Tracteur - Du Boursin
Pescara, ITALY
Okay I know the title is in French, but it was impossible to have anything else :)
We checked out of the hotel and packed Milly the Mazda with all our woldly possesions, while ahead of us lay the Julian Alps, which create a natural border between Slovenia and Italy. And we were heading right into them!
A few tunnels later and some twisting and turning, we were in Italy. This was my first time so it was quite a thrill. On the other side of the Alps the scenery changed very quickly into Italian fields and houses, no messing about :)
To get to Pescara, we would be driving south along the coast, and we would be taking the Italian motorway the whole way there. And here is a fun fact - Italy and the movie the Matrix share a similar rule: Never drive on the highway. After an hour we had a very good sense of why that is so - cars swerve unexpectedly, change lanes without warning, 4x4s take up two lanes whenever they please and driving on the hard shoulder is not unusual - I mean its like a spare lane right?
Okay - I may exxagerate slightly, but you do almost lose your shit when a truck decides to take your lane (with you in it).
Anyway, we made it to Pescara! The town is beautiful - you have to drive up a massive hill as it sits above the countryside. Our friend Annalisa was as the beach when we arrived so we took a short stroll as we waited for her to meet us. If there were any doubts that we were in an Italian town they went away quite quickly. There was enough time for a beer (and a holiday cigarette?) before we had to rescue our car from the meter lady.
So! We met Annalisa (who is looking great and much more tanned than us!) and we followed her to the B&B. She had already sorted out the keys and everything, and we were the only ones there so we had a full run of the place.
I must say now that the place was gorgeous, there was an incredible view of the country and we had a vinyard right beside us. She left us to freshen up for a while and get to know our legs a bit after all the driving, but while doing this we heard for the first time the sounds of a local Italian legend - a twisted being from the netherworld that stalks the vinyard at night.
Or it could of been a farmer and a rusty piece of farm equipment, but it sounds the same.
She then picked us up to go into Pescara's old town for some food, and we got some really nice fresh pizza, none of this frozen stuff thanks! We had a nice bottle of wine too mmm.
Bullet points (not enough time to write just now)
Window devils
Aaron breaking a bed in two
People dont know english oh noooooooes
Okay I know the title is in French, but it was impossible to have anything else :)
We checked out of the hotel and packed Milly the Mazda with all our woldly possesions, while ahead of us lay the Julian Alps, which create a natural border between Slovenia and Italy. And we were heading right into them!
A few tunnels later and some twisting and turning, we were in Italy. This was my first time so it was quite a thrill. On the other side of the Alps the scenery changed very quickly into Italian fields and houses, no messing about :)
To get to Pescara, we would be driving south along the coast, and we would be taking the Italian motorway the whole way there. And here is a fun fact - Italy and the movie the Matrix share a similar rule: Never drive on the highway. After an hour we had a very good sense of why that is so - cars swerve unexpectedly, change lanes without warning, 4x4s take up two lanes whenever they please and driving on the hard shoulder is not unusual - I mean its like a spare lane right?
Okay - I may exxagerate slightly, but you do almost lose your shit when a truck decides to take your lane (with you in it).
Anyway, we made it to Pescara! The town is beautiful - you have to drive up a massive hill as it sits above the countryside. Our friend Annalisa was as the beach when we arrived so we took a short stroll as we waited for her to meet us. If there were any doubts that we were in an Italian town they went away quite quickly. There was enough time for a beer (and a holiday cigarette?) before we had to rescue our car from the meter lady.
So! We met Annalisa (who is looking great and much more tanned than us!) and we followed her to the B&B. She had already sorted out the keys and everything, and we were the only ones there so we had a full run of the place.
I must say now that the place was gorgeous, there was an incredible view of the country and we had a vinyard right beside us. She left us to freshen up for a while and get to know our legs a bit after all the driving, but while doing this we heard for the first time the sounds of a local Italian legend - a twisted being from the netherworld that stalks the vinyard at night.
Or it could of been a farmer and a rusty piece of farm equipment, but it sounds the same.
She then picked us up to go into Pescara's old town for some food, and we got some really nice fresh pizza, none of this frozen stuff thanks! We had a nice bottle of wine too mmm.
Bullet points (not enough time to write just now)
Window devils
Aaron breaking a bed in two
People dont know english oh noooooooes
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Onwards and downwards - 22 AUGUST
Zagreb, CROATIA
Ljubljana, SLOVENIA
We drove out of Budapest and ordered the GPS to take us to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. This is another tourist stop to slash another country/capital off our list!
After arriving, we tried in vain to get close to the city center but roadworks seemed to block every path. Do they not want us in there? What are they hiding?! This made us more intrigued. After parking our car we walked in, and it was very nice :) Although being a Sunday, most of the shops along the way were closed - but we got to check out the city center and have some lunch and see a cathedral. Marc also bought some souvenirs (I still don't know what he got. A souvenir landmine from the last war? I'll ask him later)
After a bit of a walk back - my feet are hurting - we turned Milly in the direction of Slovenia.
SLOVENIA
After some border crossings, some frownings at our passport photos, and some payings of euros for 'highway tax sticker' we have arrived! We are staying at a hotel, but apparently everyone ends up at this hotel after arriving in Ljubljana, so we had no choice but to stay in a bit of luxury it seems :-)
This city is really cute! Nice! From what I saw from a car window I was highly impressed. We're going to have a shower and check out some stuff. Marc lost his power converter so soon we are going to begin watching all of our electrical accessories slowly die little deaths.
Tomorrow we start a very long drive to Pescara, Italy. Oh joyyyyyyyyyyness
Ljubljana, SLOVENIA
We drove out of Budapest and ordered the GPS to take us to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. This is another tourist stop to slash another country/capital off our list!
After arriving, we tried in vain to get close to the city center but roadworks seemed to block every path. Do they not want us in there? What are they hiding?! This made us more intrigued. After parking our car we walked in, and it was very nice :) Although being a Sunday, most of the shops along the way were closed - but we got to check out the city center and have some lunch and see a cathedral. Marc also bought some souvenirs (I still don't know what he got. A souvenir landmine from the last war? I'll ask him later)
After a bit of a walk back - my feet are hurting - we turned Milly in the direction of Slovenia.
SLOVENIA
After some border crossings, some frownings at our passport photos, and some payings of euros for 'highway tax sticker' we have arrived! We are staying at a hotel, but apparently everyone ends up at this hotel after arriving in Ljubljana, so we had no choice but to stay in a bit of luxury it seems :-)
This city is really cute! Nice! From what I saw from a car window I was highly impressed. We're going to have a shower and check out some stuff. Marc lost his power converter so soon we are going to begin watching all of our electrical accessories slowly die little deaths.
Tomorrow we start a very long drive to Pescara, Italy. Oh joyyyyyyyyyyness
Hungarian women can't dance, but we forgive them
Bratislava, SLOVAKIA
Budapest, HUNGARY
Like a meteor streaking from the skies we crash landed in Bratislava, and executed many a hair raising maneuver until we found the least shady looking car park to leave our Milly in :)
The Danube runs through this city too, and as we only had a couple of hours we went straight for the Hrar, the castle overlooking the city. From there we got some excellent views of the city and the river. We then went to the historical quarter and sent some postcards to our families, aww. Not just thinking of ourselves here you see!
The flux capacitor was fully charged, so next stop Budapest. We parked under a bridge, and then set out to find someone who would give us some beds for the night. After a bit of walking we found Marco Polo hostel, they had some free rooms. Yay!
Budapest is lovely, we had some traditional Hungarian food at the Blue Rose restaurant (MMMMM fried duck liver) and then went to a big outdoor summer festival pub place (I forget the name) by the river. We got totally ripped off by the cabbie getting there but eh, what can you do. After getting in (we needed instructions from the bouncers on how to use the turnstiles, lol dorks we are) we had a great night drinking some beer, having some shots, a bit of dancey dancey until we left at 3am. Not bad for two people checking out early the next day from a hostel :P
Budapest, HUNGARY
Like a meteor streaking from the skies we crash landed in Bratislava, and executed many a hair raising maneuver until we found the least shady looking car park to leave our Milly in :)
The Danube runs through this city too, and as we only had a couple of hours we went straight for the Hrar, the castle overlooking the city. From there we got some excellent views of the city and the river. We then went to the historical quarter and sent some postcards to our families, aww. Not just thinking of ourselves here you see!
The flux capacitor was fully charged, so next stop Budapest. We parked under a bridge, and then set out to find someone who would give us some beds for the night. After a bit of walking we found Marco Polo hostel, they had some free rooms. Yay!
Budapest is lovely, we had some traditional Hungarian food at the Blue Rose restaurant (MMMMM fried duck liver) and then went to a big outdoor summer festival pub place (I forget the name) by the river. We got totally ripped off by the cabbie getting there but eh, what can you do. After getting in (we needed instructions from the bouncers on how to use the turnstiles, lol dorks we are) we had a great night drinking some beer, having some shots, a bit of dancey dancey until we left at 3am. Not bad for two people checking out early the next day from a hostel :P
Friday, August 20, 2010
All music in Vienna stops at 10pm
Vienna, AUSTRIA
About to check out of our hostel here, we are now going to Vienna! Super excited. We took it easy on the drinks last night so we are pretty fresh. It will be a four hour drive if we keep the amount of deer hit to a minimum.
Update: We have arrived in Vienna! We are staying at the Wombat Hostel or something. We only have one night here so we are going to have a few discount drinks in the hostel bar and head into town. I was going to upload a shedload of video but these guys have locked down the USB ports the bastards. But they gave us vouchers for free drink when we arrived so I can forgive.
Here's a video of a Mozart performance we managed to see:
About to check out of our hostel here, we are now going to Vienna! Super excited. We took it easy on the drinks last night so we are pretty fresh. It will be a four hour drive if we keep the amount of deer hit to a minimum.
Update: We have arrived in Vienna! We are staying at the Wombat Hostel or something. We only have one night here so we are going to have a few discount drinks in the hostel bar and head into town. I was going to upload a shedload of video but these guys have locked down the USB ports the bastards. But they gave us vouchers for free drink when we arrived so I can forgive.
Here's a video of a Mozart performance we managed to see:
Free tour is not free
Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC, Day 2
It took some time to recover after the previous night. Had to wake up before 10 and pay for another night in the hostel - painful - and Marc had to find a new place to park the car - extra painful. But by lunchtime we were both feeling better so we decided to go on a free tour of Prague.
It was the first time we got to see the city by day, and yes omg. You realise you need more than a couple of hours to see everything. Wow.
Got some video, got some pictures, and I even contributed to the artistic output of the city by creating the 'Marc-pic'. Careful, he's pointy.
After the tour we got some food, got some rest, and went out to a bar by the river and met Jiri, his gf and some friends of theirs. We had some drinks, then moved onto a Slovakian bar, and it was really cool! We met some people there, Michael and Kaitlen, a couple who who live in Baltimore - home of my favourite TV show - and they even said they have met two characters from the show at a bar - Keema and Lester.
I also have some footage of Michael doing a hip-hop impression that is sure to make him a Youtube sensation... watch this space :D
It took some time to recover after the previous night. Had to wake up before 10 and pay for another night in the hostel - painful - and Marc had to find a new place to park the car - extra painful. But by lunchtime we were both feeling better so we decided to go on a free tour of Prague.
It was the first time we got to see the city by day, and yes omg. You realise you need more than a couple of hours to see everything. Wow.
Got some video, got some pictures, and I even contributed to the artistic output of the city by creating the 'Marc-pic'. Careful, he's pointy.
After the tour we got some food, got some rest, and went out to a bar by the river and met Jiri, his gf and some friends of theirs. We had some drinks, then moved onto a Slovakian bar, and it was really cool! We met some people there, Michael and Kaitlen, a couple who who live in Baltimore - home of my favourite TV show - and they even said they have met two characters from the show at a bar - Keema and Lester.
I also have some footage of Michael doing a hip-hop impression that is sure to make him a Youtube sensation... watch this space :D
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Dont park on the blue lines
NETHERLANDS, GERMANY and
Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC
We are here in Prague! And I have found out how to make an exclamation mark!!!
We have arrived at 2130 at night, from what we have seen the place looks lovely... we are staying at the Travellers Hostel in the Old Town of Prague. We have found out very quickly from the hostel that there are good places to park in Prague and bad places. Good place is parking along a white line. Bad places are parking along a blue line, this is residents only. So Marc is moving the car before the policemen seize our vehicle lol
We are meeeting an old friend here tonight, Jiri, at a place called Technika or something... Im glad he didnt mind about us leaving it so late to call him :P He advised us not to get a taxi on the street or we risk getting ripped off bigtime!
BTW Im also happy to report driving on the right side is not the epic mindfuck I feared. Its total easymode. Just get out of the way of any Germans driving Audis, Mercs, BMWs etc. Some of them approach the speed of light on the motorways.
Update: We met Jiri and some friends at a beer garden overlooking the river and the south city of Prague - amazing view! After a drink or two they stopped selling booze - so then of course all that is left to do is to go to an illegal bar :P
And that we did... it doesnt look too obvious from the street and you have to know someone to get in, but we have local tour guides so this wasnt a problem. The beer was cold and the shots were unforgiving :S Great fun
--Marc Baggins, there and back again--
Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC
We are here in Prague! And I have found out how to make an exclamation mark!!!
We have arrived at 2130 at night, from what we have seen the place looks lovely... we are staying at the Travellers Hostel in the Old Town of Prague. We have found out very quickly from the hostel that there are good places to park in Prague and bad places. Good place is parking along a white line. Bad places are parking along a blue line, this is residents only. So Marc is moving the car before the policemen seize our vehicle lol
We are meeeting an old friend here tonight, Jiri, at a place called Technika or something... Im glad he didnt mind about us leaving it so late to call him :P He advised us not to get a taxi on the street or we risk getting ripped off bigtime!
BTW Im also happy to report driving on the right side is not the epic mindfuck I feared. Its total easymode. Just get out of the way of any Germans driving Audis, Mercs, BMWs etc. Some of them approach the speed of light on the motorways.
Update: We met Jiri and some friends at a beer garden overlooking the river and the south city of Prague - amazing view! After a drink or two they stopped selling booze - so then of course all that is left to do is to go to an illegal bar :P
And that we did... it doesnt look too obvious from the street and you have to know someone to get in, but we have local tour guides so this wasnt a problem. The beer was cold and the shots were unforgiving :S Great fun
--Marc Baggins, there and back again--
Monday, August 16, 2010
Oh, Jack! Oh, Rose!
WALES, ENGLAND, FRANCE and
Brussels, BELGIUM
Our mini-titanic is currently steaming into Holyhead, it's a foggy morning in Wales! (I'm keeping my eyes peeled for any Welsh noodle miners)
Currently on board there is a medical emergency - I have no idea what - maybe it might have to do with one of the small number of people proceeding to drink themselves blind at the start of the trip? Who knows :P
Anyway, we're hoping to be let off the boat soon and then we'll make a dash for Dover on the other side of the country ^-^
Update: Port of Dover rocked.. busiest passenger ferry port in the world. I got some neat video of squillions of cars driving into a giant ship. Nice.
After the ferry journez we arrived in Dunquerke, France and then we drove on to Brussels111 ... sorry... im using a Czeck keyboard at the moment and dont know how to make exclamation marks lol. Anyway, we spent a night at the Sleep Well hostel, and after a few pints and some hearty Belgian food, we definitely did sleep well :D
Brussels, BELGIUM
Our mini-titanic is currently steaming into Holyhead, it's a foggy morning in Wales! (I'm keeping my eyes peeled for any Welsh noodle miners)
Currently on board there is a medical emergency - I have no idea what - maybe it might have to do with one of the small number of people proceeding to drink themselves blind at the start of the trip? Who knows :P
Anyway, we're hoping to be let off the boat soon and then we'll make a dash for Dover on the other side of the country ^-^
Update: Port of Dover rocked.. busiest passenger ferry port in the world. I got some neat video of squillions of cars driving into a giant ship. Nice.
After the ferry journez we arrived in Dunquerke, France and then we drove on to Brussels111 ... sorry... im using a Czeck keyboard at the moment and dont know how to make exclamation marks lol. Anyway, we spent a night at the Sleep Well hostel, and after a few pints and some hearty Belgian food, we definitely did sleep well :D
Set phasers to fun
List of countries we're planning to drive through:
Calais, France
Prague, Czech Republic
Vienna, Austria
Zagreb, Croatia
Pescara, Italy
Pisa, Italy
Lausanne, Switzerland
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Calais, France
Prague, Czech Republic
Vienna, Austria
Zagreb, Croatia
Pescara, Italy
Pisa, Italy
Lausanne, Switzerland
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Monday, August 9, 2010
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