Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
internet is shite but the hiking is incredible
check flickr link to the right for more pics.
how is this shot for classic switzerland. More pics when we get a decent internet connection and computer to work with.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
swiss alps and amazon jungle
Today was day 1 of our 6 day hiking trip. Did I mention 6 days?? Did I also mention today was day ONE?
Its 830 at night here and we are both in bed already! Talk about endurance atheletes... Not.
The walk today took us from Meiringen to grindlewald, ome of the most popular walks in switzerland. It is around 4 hours of hiking in which you climb about 3000ft. The hike for today ends on top of the highestt point of the walk a bit like those stages in the Tour de france. Except without bikes, and the elite athletes, and the crowds, apart from that, identical.
The walk allegedly goes beside the wetterhorn mountain and its glacier. It is about 8000 ft above you and is incredibly impressive. As I said, apparently.
It seems this would be the case if it wasn't pissing down rain the whole way and in cloud the rest of the time. Seriously when we got the end point the only thing we could see were water vapour circles about 2mm in front of our face.
We then jumped the bus down to grindlewald with, again,allegedly, one of the best views of the North Face of the Eiger in the World. We have not seen anything above 376 ft high and probably wont for our walk tomorrow either. Diasppointing, but as rob consoled me with, "at least its not as hot as the amazon.
Its 830 at night here and we are both in bed already! Talk about endurance atheletes... Not.
The walk today took us from Meiringen to grindlewald, ome of the most popular walks in switzerland. It is around 4 hours of hiking in which you climb about 3000ft. The hike for today ends on top of the highestt point of the walk a bit like those stages in the Tour de france. Except without bikes, and the elite athletes, and the crowds, apart from that, identical.
The walk allegedly goes beside the wetterhorn mountain and its glacier. It is about 8000 ft above you and is incredibly impressive. As I said, apparently.
It seems this would be the case if it wasn't pissing down rain the whole way and in cloud the rest of the time. Seriously when we got the end point the only thing we could see were water vapour circles about 2mm in front of our face.
We then jumped the bus down to grindlewald with, again,allegedly, one of the best views of the North Face of the Eiger in the World. We have not seen anything above 376 ft high and probably wont for our walk tomorrow either. Diasppointing, but as rob consoled me with, "at least its not as hot as the amazon.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
the thing is....
That I was never that keen to visit France. It was never on my wish list of places to visit. Clearly I am an idiot because it is gorgeous. I loved it. Wondefuul food, great scenery, and good people. Like so many nationalities the people you meet in the country are different from those who travel.
We have had a fantastic time in france and we will definately be going back sometime soon and spending more time there. Prefferably when it isn't european holidays!
What I have discovered is that Queue is a French word. And they certainly do love it. Especially in summer. Queue for attractions, queue in shops, queue at toll booths, queue to take a leak, queue to get food, queue for the sake of queuing. I think they just like standing close together:)
We loved it all regardless.
I am of the opinion that some people are sedintary and some are travellers. Rob and I are both travellers. We love seeing new things and meeting new people. I am thanful for this and also for the fact we get the chance to travel.
We are on the train on the way to interlaken then to a little place called Meiringen where we start our self guided walk tomorrow. It is 6 days of hiking in the swiss alps. Firrst couplke of days are through grindelwald and lauterbrunnen. Look them up online, then youy will be really jealous!
Hope you are all well.
Toodles
We have had a fantastic time in france and we will definately be going back sometime soon and spending more time there. Prefferably when it isn't european holidays!
What I have discovered is that Queue is a French word. And they certainly do love it. Especially in summer. Queue for attractions, queue in shops, queue at toll booths, queue to take a leak, queue to get food, queue for the sake of queuing. I think they just like standing close together:)
We loved it all regardless.
I am of the opinion that some people are sedintary and some are travellers. Rob and I are both travellers. We love seeing new things and meeting new people. I am thanful for this and also for the fact we get the chance to travel.
We are on the train on the way to interlaken then to a little place called Meiringen where we start our self guided walk tomorrow. It is 6 days of hiking in the swiss alps. Firrst couplke of days are through grindelwald and lauterbrunnen. Look them up online, then youy will be really jealous!
Hope you are all well.
Toodles
Saturday, August 1, 2009
done and dusted
Well we are now at Nancy railway station after finishing at chambley
last night after robyn and I got a great last flight until sunset last night.
The event has been, to put it simply, incredible!
To be part of an event that has set a world record for balloons in a row
And also for the number of balloons in the air at the same time
Has been brilliant.
Michel and Monique, our host balloon family were wonderful and we felt
Very privelidged to be part of their team. Some of the highlights were:
329 balloon line up along 4.5km of runway!
351 balloons in the air at once
Flying with Rob in France
The comraderie of all the people at the event
The views, oh my god the views
Flying davina and jason on their way through the town
Instructing in Fringlish
Flying a brand new experimental balloon
Spending time with the locals
IT WAS BRILLIANT. We will be back.
We have about 2000photos of the event and will try and get
Them up when we find a useable internet connection!
Roll on switzerland
last night after robyn and I got a great last flight until sunset last night.
The event has been, to put it simply, incredible!
To be part of an event that has set a world record for balloons in a row
And also for the number of balloons in the air at the same time
Has been brilliant.
Michel and Monique, our host balloon family were wonderful and we felt
Very privelidged to be part of their team. Some of the highlights were:
329 balloon line up along 4.5km of runway!
351 balloons in the air at once
Flying with Rob in France
The comraderie of all the people at the event
The views, oh my god the views
Flying davina and jason on their way through the town
Instructing in Fringlish
Flying a brand new experimental balloon
Spending time with the locals
IT WAS BRILLIANT. We will be back.
We have about 2000photos of the event and will try and get
Them up when we find a useable internet connection!
Roll on switzerland
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
WOW!
hello faithful readers. my sincerest apologies for not updating sooner but we have been having too much time to get to any computers.
After leaving Paris we headed to Mont St Michel on the west coqst of france qnd it was breathtaking. A grey overcast day suited the old monastry perfectly. It is probqbly the highlight of our trip so far. I will try and get some pics up soon........ when I can find a computer to upload them to.
We then spent the night in Honfleur which is ne of the most bequtiful port towns in France, right at the mouth of the Seine River, we LOVED this place.
From there we headed to villers-bretonneux in the Somme bqttlefield region in the North. This is the home of the Australian WW1 war memorial. It is a stunningly beautiful place that has an amazing sense of peace. We had the whole place to ourselves with the exception, strangely, of 3 elderly german tourists. You may not know this but the memorial is the original resting place of the unknown soldier who is now in Canberra.
If you do not know about villers-bretonneux qnd its incredible significqnce in WW1 you should google it qnd become a proud Australian. It was one of the key parts of our trip and it was incredibly memorable.
We then headed to the ballooning event in the Lorraine region of France. I q, flying a french homebuilt balloon with the Frenchman who built it. I hqve a whole extra post for the event dqys to come, but let me leave you zith this thought, 329 balloon world record........
http://hotairballoon.ning.com/photo/chambley-0043?context=latest
until then readers..................
After leaving Paris we headed to Mont St Michel on the west coqst of france qnd it was breathtaking. A grey overcast day suited the old monastry perfectly. It is probqbly the highlight of our trip so far. I will try and get some pics up soon........ when I can find a computer to upload them to.
We then spent the night in Honfleur which is ne of the most bequtiful port towns in France, right at the mouth of the Seine River, we LOVED this place.
From there we headed to villers-bretonneux in the Somme bqttlefield region in the North. This is the home of the Australian WW1 war memorial. It is a stunningly beautiful place that has an amazing sense of peace. We had the whole place to ourselves with the exception, strangely, of 3 elderly german tourists. You may not know this but the memorial is the original resting place of the unknown soldier who is now in Canberra.
If you do not know about villers-bretonneux qnd its incredible significqnce in WW1 you should google it qnd become a proud Australian. It was one of the key parts of our trip and it was incredibly memorable.
We then headed to the ballooning event in the Lorraine region of France. I q, flying a french homebuilt balloon with the Frenchman who built it. I hqve a whole extra post for the event dqys to come, but let me leave you zith this thought, 329 balloon world record........
http://hotairballoon.ning.com/photo/chambley-0043?context=latest
until then readers..................
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
It's amore!
I am in love, I have broken the news to Robyn and she is happy to share me which is nice of her. I am in awe of her beauty and sophistication, and pleasured by her surprising alleys. Paris really is an incredible city.
We got the good oil on a walking tour of Paris from two different people and we headed out this afternoon to learn about the French Revolution. It was brilliant. So much history in 5 blocks.
We learnt so much about the history of the country and got a great insight into what makes the French tick when it comes to getting what they want from the government.
We found an original guillotine, concerninglyt now residing in a pub, expect no-one questions the bill there! Also got to have a squizz at some very cool things like the original measure for the metre.
Seriously, if you get to Paris look up the guys at Paris Walks, brilliant!
We head out from paris tomorrow as we get the car and head for Mount St Michel and the Normandy coast before setting course for the battlefields of the Somme.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Totally amazing
WOW! what a day. today was everything you imaginge paris to be in the Summer. it was a beautiful blue sky, 28 degrees, and just stunning.
Rob and I headed back to the Louvre today to give it a bit of a going over. Knowing ful well we wouldn't be able to do it all in the time we had given ourselves we targeted those things that we were most keen to see. Obviously, the Mona lisa was one of those things.
So we rocked up at spot on 9am to get in before the crowds, we were pleasantly suprised to see that only a few others had also decided the same thing, so we got in and it was all pretty cruisy really, not too many people, we could even get relatively close to it. It was not anywhere near as disappointing as others have mentioned to me.
We spent quite a bit of time in the French artists area of the museum and it was really really awe inspiring. Not being a bit fan of art myself, it was quite an experience and I was absolutley dumbstruck and in awe at some of the pieces there. I LOVED it!
We also headed to the egyptian antiquities part of the museum as well which was also mindblowing. I was standing face to face with a stone statue that was 4500 years old, no crowd, no guards, no barriers, just amazing. To think you are getting the same look at it as the craftsman who made it all that time ago is fantastic.
From the Louve we headed to the museum that houses Monet's work. Apparently he was too out there for the mainstream and the louvre wouldn't take his art, so they built him his own museum. Must admit, not a great fan of the stuff he was doing, but if it lifts your skirt then good on you.
from there it was a boat trip on the Seine and down to the eiffel tower. no climb today, justa look as we have that in for tomorrow. A few beers under the tower and a great walk back to the hotel made for a great outing.
Lots of daylight here at the moment. sunrise is 3:30am, you heard me right, and sunset is around 9:30pm. So plenty of time for things that must be done.
Hoping to get some pics up soon. Hope you are all enjoying work :)
Rob and I headed back to the Louvre today to give it a bit of a going over. Knowing ful well we wouldn't be able to do it all in the time we had given ourselves we targeted those things that we were most keen to see. Obviously, the Mona lisa was one of those things.
So we rocked up at spot on 9am to get in before the crowds, we were pleasantly suprised to see that only a few others had also decided the same thing, so we got in and it was all pretty cruisy really, not too many people, we could even get relatively close to it. It was not anywhere near as disappointing as others have mentioned to me.
We spent quite a bit of time in the French artists area of the museum and it was really really awe inspiring. Not being a bit fan of art myself, it was quite an experience and I was absolutley dumbstruck and in awe at some of the pieces there. I LOVED it!
We also headed to the egyptian antiquities part of the museum as well which was also mindblowing. I was standing face to face with a stone statue that was 4500 years old, no crowd, no guards, no barriers, just amazing. To think you are getting the same look at it as the craftsman who made it all that time ago is fantastic.
From the Louve we headed to the museum that houses Monet's work. Apparently he was too out there for the mainstream and the louvre wouldn't take his art, so they built him his own museum. Must admit, not a great fan of the stuff he was doing, but if it lifts your skirt then good on you.
from there it was a boat trip on the Seine and down to the eiffel tower. no climb today, justa look as we have that in for tomorrow. A few beers under the tower and a great walk back to the hotel made for a great outing.
Lots of daylight here at the moment. sunrise is 3:30am, you heard me right, and sunset is around 9:30pm. So plenty of time for things that must be done.
Hoping to get some pics up soon. Hope you are all enjoying work :)
Monday, July 20, 2009
Paris baby...YEAH!
After a very easy flight I got to paris about 7am to a lovely 15 deg day. Got the bus into paris and walked to the hotel. Rob was very happy to see me although I had to wake her up to get into the room.
We headed out for breakfast on the champs elysees......as you do. Our hotel is 100m from the Arc de Triomph and we climbed to the top after breakfast for the most superb view of the city.
We walked the length of the champs elysees where they are in full swing setup for the finish of Le Tour in 5 days.
We walked down to the Louvre. Oh my god, I had no idea how big it is. Tomorrow is a full day there and we are both looking forward to it!
Time to pull in for a snooze after a long day over many timezones.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
KL 10 years later
I am sure the last time I came through KL was in 1999 before the ballooning worlds.
I remember it distinctly as I arrived on a slightly earlier flight than the rest of the team and was charged with converting cash and making sure beers were ready on their arrival. Tightarses :)
That was back in the day when you could get into the cockpit for landings. And so it was that danny galbraith and I in seperate 777's followed each other into Vienna with our prime view from the cockpit. Alas, no longer possible.
So I sit in the same bar, now a noodle bar, sipping on a tiger and reminiscing about an airport that seemed much more exciting back then. I may have been as well!
Kind regards
Adam Barrow
Operations Manager
Beonic - every visitor counts
D +61 (0)3 9637 7812
F +61 (0)3 9637 7899
M +61 (0)433 110 697
E adam.barrow@beonic.com
www.Beonic.com
Saturday, July 18, 2009
At the airport -1
I am now at the airport with my regular traveling companionan, MiniNICK or MINUTE for short.
Its been a while since he has joined me on an adventure so it will take us a while to adjust to each othere again.
I am missing my other travelling companion as I put her on a plane last night. Seems she got to HK alright and is now on the way to GP(Gay Paris).
Update again from KL on the stopover. Woohoo, finally going.
Kind regards
Adam Barrow
Operations Manager
Beonic - every visitor counts
D +61 (0)3 9637 7812
F +61 (0)3 9637 7899
M +61 (0)433 110 697
E adam.barrow@beonic.com
www.Beonic.com
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Only a couple of days to go
So the week before we leave has arrived. Seemed like it would never arrive sometimes and now it is here and passing wayyyyy too quickly.
I knew what to expect of this week, when on Saturday morning at 3am Robyn woke up and started panicing about what she had to get done and started making lists in her head of vital things like, washing up, mail redirection, and tidy of the house. None of these of course are critical to the process of holidaying in my opinion.
I was however, blissfully unaware of these processes as I was in a deep, beer induced slumber after what could only be described as a "quiet" evening of drinks and Karaoke to mark the passing of another financial year. I was snoozing away remembering glories of the night, such as our stunning rendition of "To be with you" formerly done by Extreme, now about to be re-recorded by Adam and Jo.
So it was with slightly heavy head that I awoke to find Robyn at the computer working, asking how she was, she said "you better have some breakfast before I tell you"........ Not good.
So after a slow, hungover day of washing up, tidying the house, mowing, washing, Rob was placated and could start to adjust to the week before the holiday.
Roll on Friday!
I knew what to expect of this week, when on Saturday morning at 3am Robyn woke up and started panicing about what she had to get done and started making lists in her head of vital things like, washing up, mail redirection, and tidy of the house. None of these of course are critical to the process of holidaying in my opinion.
I was however, blissfully unaware of these processes as I was in a deep, beer induced slumber after what could only be described as a "quiet" evening of drinks and Karaoke to mark the passing of another financial year. I was snoozing away remembering glories of the night, such as our stunning rendition of "To be with you" formerly done by Extreme, now about to be re-recorded by Adam and Jo.
So it was with slightly heavy head that I awoke to find Robyn at the computer working, asking how she was, she said "you better have some breakfast before I tell you"........ Not good.
So after a slow, hungover day of washing up, tidying the house, mowing, washing, Rob was placated and could start to adjust to the week before the holiday.
Roll on Friday!
Monday, June 15, 2009
The longest winter
This is nothing to do with winter, but I am merely posting to say that I have again re-incarnetd the blog in time for our upcoming trip to Europe. We head off on the 18th july to paris and then spend some time in France Switzerland and Italy.
In other words this blog is just to piss you off that we will be there and you will not.
Stay tuned.
In other words this blog is just to piss you off that we will be there and you will not.
Stay tuned.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)