Wanderings

I love to travel and one day I hope to be able to say that I've seen the whole world. So far studies and lack of money have restricted me somewhat, but I am hopeful for the future. For now here are a few notes on the places I'm been to, with some suggestions and tips. Bon voyage!

Austria

I have only been a few hours in Austria during a daytrip from Lido di Jesolo in Italy. It seemed a lovely place though and I hope to go back soon. A few brief thoughts. We started in the town of Klagenfurt before moving on to little Maria Woerth on a lake. Both were very nice places. I preferred the town while my father preferred the quiet of Maria Woerth. Some beautiful scenery all round.

Prices - Austria is expensive. We learnt that much in the short time we were there - and not just for tourist things - everything was expensive. Language-wise I found that in the places we visited knowing a little German was a must. Again...just a few phrases for please and thank you, ordering food and asking where the toilet is should suffice if you don't speak the language more fully. I hope to get back to Austria soon.

Oh and if you like nice stationary you can of course buy Diddl stuff in Austria...I got myself a couple of pads while I was there!! (;o)

Barcelona

I spent 3 nights in Barcelona and can say it was one night too many really. This is a wonderful city if you are very wealthy and if you like Modern Art and expensive clothes shops. Then you can visit all the modern art galleries (there is little 'older' art around) and the designer stores. Otherwise you run out of things to do. Entrances fees to most places are rather high although the public transport is reasonably priced and fairly good. It is nice to wander down Las Ramblas and see the street artistics then to cut through the smaller lanes to the Barri Gotic. The waterfront at Barceloneta is also pleasant. The big must-see is of course the Sagrada Familia, although again it is not a cheap exercise and for anyone not into modern art it is rather ugly. Barcelona is a city and that's about it. Aside from the language on signs etc you could easily have been in London. This is not a place to come to if you want to experience Spanish culture and even the traditional drink I had heard about and wanted to try was not available at any of the cafes or restaurants we went to. For shopping and modern art - visit Barcelona; to experience Spain - don't! Language wise English is generally not a problem though some people do pretend not to understand you! Try a few words in Spanish or better yet in Catalan though and you'll get a better response.

Black Forest

I spent 5 days working in the Black Forest as a concert tour manager in Spring 2006. Being at work meant I didn't get to do a lot of sightseeing but the area was lovely and I would definitely go back. We stayed in a nice town called Lahr and spent time in Freiburg too. The cathedral there is lovely and it has some gorgeous architecture and a wonderful market. Nearby is also the Schauinsland cable car that takes you up into the mountains for superb views. For the more fun-loving sort there is the Europa Park at Rust with rollercoasters and other rides as well as some nice restaurants and gardens. It is also possible to cross the border into France to places like Colmar or a bit further up to Strasbourg. I would certainly like to explore this area of Germany further as a tourist when I have more time to take things in and appreciate them fully.

Crete

I visited Crete for a week in the summer of 2003. One of the Greek islands, it lies in the Mediterranean Sea. I think it is a nice little place, well worth seeing.

Highlights and must sees include the ruins of the legendary Knossos, involved in the famous Greek myth of the Minotaur in the Labyrinth! This is fascinating. Or there is a trip to the island of Spinalonga - which was once the last ever Leper colony. Finally there is a boat trip to the island of Santorini. This is a long trip and a very long day but it is worth it. The island is beautiful - the playground of the rich these days. You can see the little islands in the sea just off the coast where most of the land broke away during a volcanic eruption and the whole place is gorgeous and idyllic - but expensive...I believe I paid about £4 for an orange juice.

The main island of Crete is cheaper....especially for food and such. Again watch out for souvenir stalls and shops over-charging. Greeks are friendly and sometimes a little too much so as they try to force you into their restaurants. It helps to learn just a few phrases of Greek - most importantly "no thank you". Say that and generally they'll leave you alone! In tourist areas you will usually be understood in English, but are likely to get more hassle for it!

Italy

South Italy - About 7 years ago I spent a week in Sorrento in south Italy and that was my first time abroad. South Italy is beautiful - especially the area around Sorrento and the Amalfi coast. There is a wonderful coastal drive with lovely views.

If taking the coast drive take lots of water and be preapred to sit in queues! With all the coaches, there are often road blockages and it can get very hot stuck there! Another good trip we did was to the island of Capri, which involved a trip in a submarine too! Then you can also visit the nearby ruins of Pompei and the volcano Vesuvius. Unfortunately I wasn't interested in history then and I'd love to go back one day to look around Pompei again!

North Italy - While the south of Italy is beautiful, I prefer the north and in 2002 we spent just over a week at Lido di Jesolo (just off the coast from Venice). From here it is possible to visit most of the main northern towns including Florence, Verona and Venice as well as taking a trip through the Alps into Austria.

Venice is lovely - a very romantic city (and the smell isn't anywhere near as bad as some people claim!) Gondola rides are expensive but it is possible to go on something tour group organised, which, though of shorter duration, is much cheaper. St Mark's Square is a must to see the Basilica, bell tower and Doge's Palace. Buy a colourful mask from one of the many shops!

Verona is a wonderful busy place and is dominated by the opera arena. We saw "la Traviata" here and it was quite an experience. Take plenty of drink though as in the cheaper seats you are very much wedged in and you are pretty much stuck there for the duration of the performance -often several hours. You should definitely rent at least one cushion too as the stone seating gets very uncomfortable. Don't forget to see Juliet's balcony as well!

Florence is one of my fave cities. It's gorgeous and busy and cosmopolitan. History wise try to see the galleries, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Duomo, Dante's house and the Ponto Vecchio. Little expensive (mainly jewellery) shops are all along the bridge and there are lovely views of the Arno.

Outside the main cities once again you can get a pretty cheap meal etc but in the cities - especially Florence - the prices go right up! Entrance fees aren't too bad but souvenirs can cost the earth and so can food and drink if you are in cafes, bars or restaurants in main tourist areas - St Mark's square is particularly bad for this. English is fairly widely spoken in the main tourist areas but again, learning a few phrases can really help!

London

It occurs to me that I should mention my own capital city. I live just under an hour away by train and go there often. So London...it is a great city though some areas should be avoided. All the main tourist areas are fine though and there is plenty to see and do. Get a travelcard for getting around as you can use it all day on tubes, buses and some trains too. I prefer the tube - it takes you to all the main places easily. For me the best thing about London is the theatre scene. To get cheap tickets go to the main booth on Leicester Square. There are other smaller places around too and most are above board but some are a little dodgy so it's best to stick to the main seller. If you like Shakespeare and don't mind standing, the Globe season runs from May to September and tickets start from as little as £5.

If you like museums and gallerys I would suggest the Tate Britain or the National for Art (Tate Modern if Modern Art is more your thing) and the British Museum, where you can see the famed Rosetta stone. These are all free entry for main exhibitions. Also free is the lovely theatre museum in Covent Garden. For lovers of Shakespeare a trip to the Globe it a must. You do have to pay for this one but the exhibition is wonderful and you can do a guided tour of the theatre too.

Covent Garden is a lovely place to visit for the atmosphere and shops. I would advise you to avoid Madame Tussauds like the plague. It's nothing special, it's always packed so you can't see much anyway and it is the most expensive attraction in London! More worthwhile are the London Dungeons (always a laugh) at London Bridge or the Tower of London.

I always think though that London is a city where you don't so much need to visit particular places - it's nice just to wander round the streets. Shopping wise head to Oxford Street or if you like toys try Hamleys in Regent Street. Prices are high of course, being in a capital city, but England is not the cheapest of places anyway.

Watch out for pickpockets as you would in any major city - it's best to keep your arm over your bag as you walk. Take particular care of this at the tube stations.

New Zealand

I spent about four and a half weeks in the south island of New Zeland in the summer of 2004. It was one of the best times of my life! The whole country is simply beautiful and I took over 600 photos! I stayed with my penpal in Christchurch for the first week, the next week we went with her boyfriend down to a little house in Cromwell, near Queenstown, then the third week my penpal and I went on a road trip back to Christchurch, taking in the west coast and north of the south island. The final week I spent just doing a few activities - horseriding (brilliant fun but harder than it looks) and skydiving. Compared to prices over here it is cheap to do adventure sports out there. I payed just £80 for my tandem jump. Plus the views are spectacular!

Highlights of the south island then...if you get chance take a trip into Milford Sound in the Fiordland National Park. It cost about £100 but was worth every penny. We took a 35min flight in (a 7 seater plane) and then took a 2 hour boat trip round the fiord before catching the coach back. A wonderful experience and indescribable scenery. If you are a Lord of the Rings fan like me there are many trips on offer. I went on a 4x4 safari from Queenstown, which takes you round on a number of sites. City-wise Queenstown is only good if you are a skier...stick to Christchurch for city life/shopping. Another good trip is to take the train from Christchurch to the West Coast and back, passing through Arthur's Pass and the Southern Alps. If wild-life is your thing visit Kaikoura for Whale-watching. Watch the weather for this though...my trip was cancelled due to high winds! If the weather turns bad there are some good indoor things - most notably the Antarctic Centre, which is interesting and fun

If you are on a bit of a budget try backpacking! During our road trip we stopped at different places overnight and you can usually get a twin room, with toilet and cooking area for around £7-10 per person! Low budget accomodation there is very good - nice, clean and affordable! No language problems here of course though you could try learning a little Maori. Kai ora!!! (;o)

Paris

This is a gorgeous city. The French capital has everything - peaceful gardens like Luxembourg, bustling shopping either in the Grands Magasins or in the smaller streets of Montmatre and a whole lot of culture and history.

It's hard to pick highlights. Try and see the Louvre even if you don't go in for the art - the building is amazing. The Eiffel Tour is famous of course but so are the queues so it depends on how much time you have to spend, waiting to get up there. The Iles are beautiful. The larger hosts the Conciergerie and Notre Dame while the other is quieter and is just a nice place for a walk. Napoleon's tomb is at Les Invalides or the tombs of other famous Frenchmen are at the Pantheon (worth seeing). Try to go up to Montmatre in the 18th too. There are amazing views from Sacre Coeur and lots of lovely little streets, not to mention the Moulin Rouge. The museum of eroticism there is fun and interesting. The Paris Story is also near the Opera Garnier. This is a 45min film about the city. It is highly romanticised and glosses over certain periods but is enjoyable none the less and can be heard in several languages.

Paris is fairly expensive but then capital cities often are. Entrance fees average £4/5 for an adult. So not as expensive as London, but not as cheap as Prague. Food can be expensive too but it depends on where the restaurant is located. There are varying priced places along the Boulevard des Italians and Rue Caumartin (both near the Opera Garnier). There is the metro for getting around, though again it is not always the cheapest exercise, but it is possible to walk between most of the famous sites anyway. The walk along the river from Les Invalides to the Eiffel Tour is pleasant. Try to speak some French. People are much more recepetive and happy to help if you try. You can get by speaking English in an emergency though as the majority of people will understand you.

Prague

The city of Prague in the Czech Republic, central Europe, has to be one of, if not the, most wonderful city ever. I've been there three times now and it grows on me more each time. It's beautiful; full of lovely buildings and architecture from the Old Town Hall to the castle, up on the hill. You can see why many films are shot here as it retains an old-world sort of feel in the historic centre. Prague is a great cultural centre with a wealth of theatres and concerts, museums and galleries. Street artists are often found lining the wonderful Charles Bridge.

Highlights include the wonderful castle, the old castle area of Vysehrad and the old town square. Shoppers will want to head directly to Wenceslas Square. Go the theatre! If possible see one of the many original musicals that are always showing! Czech musicals are fantastic but not widely known!

Prague is cheap...a top price theatre ticket will set you back about £10-15, a two course meal and drink around £5-10, double CD's about £8. The only time prices really rocket are in the tourist orientated souvenir shops but if you steer clear of those you can get some very good buys! Public transport there is cheap, efficient and easy to use. You can buy a week-long ticket for use on metro, tram and bus and it will only set you back about £6! The metro is the best way to get around and it has three lines. Most things are walkable though if you are based in the centre. English is widely understood, though an attempt at Czech is always appreciated. German is also quite often heard.