Travelling

Day 22- this was one of my favourite days so far. One becauae we accidentally found a gorgeous restaurant with amazing food for once. Two because we didn't get scammed when we brought a colosseum tour from a random tour guide. Three, got to witness a Christian preaching and being shut down (no offense to Christians but I dispise when people think it's ok to push their beliefs on to random people. There were also a few eye openers other then what went on in the colosseum. One, it's was disgusting how much The city is falling apart. It's obvious that the church is obtaining all the money and not going to the people but I will investigate further when I get back. Two, the people are just really unfriendly towards foreigners. We have being treated like lessees beings the whole time we have been in this country.
Ended the day with a appalling meal at the camp restaurant.

Travelling

Day 21- A day spent mostly driving around the Italian country side on our way to rome. Not much happened today except Jez and I experienced the most disgusting lunch and had to do a sneaky run back out to the car because we felt ashamed by not eating it. Was a fail day food wise as we ran out if gas trying to cook dinner and had bought the wrong gas bottles! Fail! The camp ground we are on is called happy village, however there isn't much that is happy about it. I'm finding most people in Italy are rude towards us, more then France and Spain and it's very disappointing. It's making me appriciate Australia for the attitude we have towards people.

Travelling

Day 20- today we headed into Florence on the train for a full day of sightseeing. After arriving at the main station we wondered over to a large dome like structure and went inside even though not knowing what it was. Of course it cost money. It turned out to be the chapel of the princes, it was a massive tomb for the royals. Beautiful but like all the Italian historic monuments, it was being restored. This meant that indefinently they are covered in scaffolding and covered in drapes. Next we headed to see the famous David. The line wad huge, but we were determined and not disappointed when we finally arrived at the huge statue of David from david from golithe. We finished the day with some ice-cream and a mad run back to the station, so so unfit ATM. Dinner tonight was s feast of camp fire food. Well baked potatoes with trimmings and bananas with marsbars. After all the shit food we had eaten, this was a welcome change.

Travelling

Day 19- it was time to see Pisa's main attraction, the leaning tower of Pisa. Whilst Pisa wasn't too impressive, the tower was! We took some dorky photos and walked around however didn't go up it because it was $15 euro each! Italy seem to want to milk the tourists as much as they can. After that we headed to florence where we found a couple of campsites trying to charge $40-60 euro a night! Wtf! So we headed further out and crashed at a cheaper one. Ended the night with a campfire and toasted marshmellows!

Travelling

Day 18- today we hit the road again and head into Italy! We were all very excited to hit the homeland of pasta and pizza. It was going to be a fairly long drive and as we didn't hit the road until 2pm we booked a hotel room for the night in Pisa. Not much occured except we sore a lot of hookers.

Travelling

Day 17-

So today we spent the say crusing down to nice and Monte Carlo to check out what all the fuss was about. Well as soon as we hit the main beach road, battlecar galactica was out of her comfort zone. Cars worth more then houses, continually sped by as we clung to the side the mediterrianian coast. The roads were windy, the views spectacular. We stopped for some strawberries that were being sold on the side of the road. Most amazing strawberries any of us had ever tasted! Also at $17 euro a kilo, were still worth it.
When arriving in Monte Carlo, Jez had a bit of a drive around the circuit and we stopped to stare at all the amazing yachts. One even had a helicopter on top of it! The amount of money that some of these people have is crazy and actually a real eye opener to see such wealth up close.
That night we got glammed up and hit the casinos. Jez and I lost money and then before it got too bad, called it a night. caity got to try blackjack and she won some money which was good. It was all a bit out of our comfort zone and many people were not very accommodating towards us because of our inexperience. After that we decided to drive around a bit more (Jez was dese) and we all got pulled over for a rutine car check. They were not used to our battlecar at all. It was a bit awkward when about 8 of them came and shined their torches on our massive pile of alcohol and a tad funny when one of them thought dugalds name was a joke, but we got their in the end.

Travelling

Day 16- today we had a very successful day I'm marsille. We where on a mission to find a mattress for the tent and after being misdirected we found a mattress shop next to a shoe shop for the boys, double win! After that we drove to our next campsight near nice. Bit of a rip off but there is a pool!

Travelling

Day 14- today we travelled to Perpinong to visit some of jez's relatives. Unfortunately they were a tad mistrusting so didn't offer even a patch of grass to camp on (they had the room). We headed off to find a spot to camp. after searching for ages we decided to camp on the beach but it didn't last long as a woke up to hearing someone trying to open the car. Scary!!! So we decided to pack up everything and sleep a few hours in a surburban street. Around 10am we headed back to the relatives, who owned a beautiful property which they renovated themselves, it would be good to stay there one day. We stayed for lunch, a chat and a shower then headed to marcsilles and crashed in a cheap hotel.

Travelling

Day 13: after a late start getting up, we a headed into town to buy food for our planned free camping the next night. Paid a ridiculous amount if money for sausages! Never again!! We then rushed off to have lunch at the amazing tapas again we headed back to get ready to hit the town. First off we went to a flamenco show which was amazing and so passionate! Then we went to a few Irish bars because it was st Patrick's day. I'm not cut out to drink pints of beer and cider...the Irish can drink me under the table in no time. The irish were dressed up crazy and were so smashed, we were content just to observe. No one was feeling the drinking too much so we got our st Patrick's day hats and headed home to bed.

Travelling

Day 12: today we spent the day visiting some of barcelona's sights. First off we made our way to a hedge maze which looks like it was someone who was very riches backyard! Someone silly forgot to lock a door in the castle so I snuck in and had a look. After that we headed to the famous cathedral sarada familia (fix spelling) which was crazy amazing! My favourite one yet! Lastly we got the train to the magic fountain which after discovering only operated at night, spent the next few hours wondering around the area, had some food in a plaza. I managed to find more headbands to buy! At 7pm the fountain started and it was well worth the wait, beautiful! After eating dinner at a amazing tapas resturant we headed straight to bed!

Travelling

Day 11- today was our first day in Barcelona. We all seemed a little anxious today as I think this is when ppl started to be tired and cranky. We headed to a info center and gathered all we needed for the next few days. First off the st Maria church which well....was just like the other churches we had seen. I think ive almost had enough church sight seeing haha. But we also found a amazing coffee shop opposite the church as well as a Lollys shop called happy pills. Just what we needed! Next we encountered a lovely old lady who's payment for helping us find the Picasso museum was to make the boys wear their backpacks on their fronts to combat 'theft' was pretty funny and she reminded me of mum a bit!
Well the Picasso Museum was exciting.....
Next we headed to the dock to go zorbing. The buildings around this area were really weird and modern. Unfortunately zorbing was shut however we did get offered some pot by a scateboreding youth. So instead we headed to the Barcelona zoo which was good in the fact that you were close to the animals however the zoo itself was a tad depressing. Exhibits needed a bit of a clean. Exhausted and footsore we headed out for dinner which after trying to find two of the recommended places, found some tourist tapas which was really not very pleasant! We however did find a food market near licue station that had the yummiest fruit juice and fruits, so we stocked up for the next day!

Travelling

Day 10- today we headed to Barcelona off toll roads to try and save money. It worked in our favor since we witnessed more breathtaking sights. Because I was behind the wheel for the first run, the guys had to put up with me stopping at every possible interesting sight that could be found.
I found Spain to remind me of a less Barron version of Mexico, however it was interesting to see entire medieval towns built on top of hills when there is flat grassland as far as the eye can be. Must of had flooding issues. Tr weather was so nice compared to France and it was a nice change, about 15 degrees. The nights are still freezing though. The trip took 7 hours and after stressful gps and direction fails, we located our hotel. Parking is ridiculous here, i don't recommend it!

Travelling

Day 9- today was spent wearing a dummy made by the dentist and laying in the tent wanting to die! The end

Travelling

Day 8- today we spent te day hiking through San sebastion, starting from our campsite on mount igeldo to this castle/fort on the mountain. Was a beautiful view of the bay. The food of Spain has been a tad disappointing so far but I'm sure we will find somewhere good. From the amusement park fort thing we travelling down the mountain, along the beach to then hike up the other side where a massive Jesus overlooked the city.
Tonight was our night to go out so with our new friend viktor in tow we travelled to his favourite bar. Unfortunately the night didn't go to plan as we suspect that caity and I may have got our drinks spiked and the result was myself dislocating my jaw from vomiting so much...how brutal is that guys! It was made much worse by the first doctors telling me it was all in my head. Doctors are shit everyerre I suppose. We apparently made friends with some American ppl but I can not remember anything

Travelling

Day 7;
Today we woke up early to travel to San sensation! Nearly didn't get to go into the hotel room to change but did. Soz bit drunk right now after 2 vodkas (going soft). We are not travellih on tolls so took the Sceneic route to Spain however there was no welcome sign which was disappointing. Saint sensation is beautiful!!!!! Coastal town which a perfect beach! We are camping on mount igwarto and it's pretty high up! We went to the aquarium today which was amazing since there was a auto headset for all of the exhibits. After that we travelling back to the campsighrd and had a MASSIvE dinner of steak and salad. Also cheap drinks didn't help my current situation. Lots of laughs again today and the realization that we are well above schedule so more time in Germany has been booked in!!! Love you all!

Travelling

So because I fail at writting in a diary i have decided to write up a blog post instead. I will fix up spelling later as French keyboards are a little weird.
So im a little behind but ill start now.

Day one: 5th march.
Picked up the van from middlesex, van is called battlecar galactica. After that we travelled to folkstone to catch the ferry


Day 6: 10th march
Today was wine day! We travelled from bordaux to margaux, home of the red wines where we travelled to a info center and found out that not many wineries where open on the weekend or they needed an appointment. This area was really pretty and I felt totally relaxed here. After travelling to one winery that was open, we then headed to saint emission, which was a medieval town with fancy restaurant, poo covered public toilets and a view that cameras just can't Capture. We had to wait till 2pm to do anything because everyone has lunch then. We went to look at a underground celler and Doogs had another wine tasting. We then took battlecar galactica on the road and tried to find more wineries that were open. After stopping many times for pics and listening to much lonely planet and queen we arrived at a shack like place and did a make shift tour through a very small winerery. I had my first real experience with rd wine and honestly it was not that bad at all, I think Doogs may think he might have a new follower. Next on the list was dessert wine country and trust me, caity and I were definitely looking forward to all they has to offer. With only a few main wineries that Doogs had in mind, we set off to Barsac. Here it was hit and miss, most were shut but after trying one last time we knocked on the door of chateau de Gravis and someone answered!!! She was a amazing dramatic womean who easily could switch from grinch to English and provided a in depth tour of the entire process of wine making. I surely do appriciate my wine a lot more now. I brought a bottle of glorious de uplink which was the most amazing wine I've ever tasted! Now it was time to head home, only to go 15 mins befour coming across the moat beautiful sight so far in this wine country, ruins of a castle. We parked the car and ran inside. Beautiful! My only regret is not camping there. France is amazing so far, however it feels pretty pretentious and I'm getting over the dismissive looks and comments. However with every ome rude French person there is 5 nice, helpful ones so it's a good ratio! Eating pretty crap food (yum but bad for me) so that's taking a bit of a toll on my self esteem but I'm hoping all the exercise will combat it in the end. It's my first night sleeping in the van so that should be interesting! Everyone is getting alone mostly. With every one awkward stessed moment there is 5 that are full of laughter, so it's a good ratio :)leaving for Spain tomorrow so looking forward to some drunk times!