Alton Towers – fun and frivolity for all the family!

indeed!
www.altontowers.com

the UK’s version of the theme park…and what a hoot.
Daughter was well chuffed spending the two days upside down, round about, squealing, shrieking, and stopping for a breather occasionally.
Not only that, we were staying in the “chocolate express” room, which lived up to its name; decked out like a railway train carriage, with chocolate stasked in many places, waiting to be found.

And then of course, there were the rides. The big kahuna thrill rides had names like:
* Air
* Nemesis
* Oblivion
* Rita
* Ripsaw
* Spinball Wizard
with a couple slightly more delicate ones thrown in for good measure.

As you’ve no doubt guessed, a fab time was had by all. Daughter was very sad leaving, not only the park, but all her new found buddies as well. She has all these mates in England now. Good luck to her I say!

The reason we had this adventures “finale” at Alton Towers was because it was our friend Geraldine’s 50th birthday, and she obviously wanted to spend it as child-like as possible. Can’t be too serious @ 50 surely? As a result, we all got a chance for our inner child to come out for a mighty romp!

Excitedly enough, we’ve received an invitation to another 50th, this time to be held in Bali in May 2010. If this keeps up, we’ll get to continue to swan around the world just doing birthday parties… excellent! Aren’t we lucky we have such creative birthday thinkers/planners friends…

Leaving Alton Towers began our 6-leg journey back to Melbourne…

London and the 6 H’s….

Hyde Park
Hop On, Hop Off bus
Hamleys
High St shopping
Harrods and Harvey Nichols
Hard Rock café….
this list of “H’s” pretty much sums up our London campaign, this time around. To explain…

Hyde Park…
We are staying @ the Mitre House Hotel in Sussex Gardens, spitting distance to Hyde Park; which is also where we have spent much of day 2. Dawdling with intent, together with the horses. What a nice part of the world it is.

Hop On, Hop Off bus…
We sat in the glorious sunshine, up top, front and centre, of the infamous double decker bus, listening to one of the local geysers deliver some home truths (and some made up ones) in a rather entertaining fashion for most of the morning. Until we hit a traffic jam…

Hamleys…
Eventually we got off the bus at the earliest convenience, and walked Regent St. Low and behold, Hamleys toy shop presented itself, with raining bubbles. Famous in London for 249 years (allegedly), and certainly now more famous for one 11 year old daughter. After a few doll house purchases (because we had already bought the fashion plate threads for Barbie in Paris! as you do) and much sweet talking, I/we finally made our escape.

High St shopping…
Then it was my turn! Into all the shops along Oxford St. My usual favourites featured ie Zara, Desigual and Banana Republic. Must say though the summer fashion, which will feature soon enough in Australia, doesn’t push my buttons at all (except for the first floor of both the following two emporiums of course!). blah blah really. So much for the “London Look”. One good thing about not being tempted though… saved using the cash.

Harrods and Harvey Nichols…
Don’t we love these stores! Difficult to extract both of us from either one, so we just took our time and savoured the moment anyway. No hurry.

Hard Rock café…
The original and the best, since 1971. Had to go there as it was one of the first specific Hard Rock café shot glasses I had collected (I collect them you see). Had a bite to eat there also. Hasn’t taken us long to get straight back into greasy finger licking scoffing. Spent time in the vault also. Many priceless memorabilia pieces in there.

All in all, a heavenly, hassle free, heavily trafficked few days. Not to be missed!

We finish off this adventure shortly, at “Alton Towers” in Birmingham, the UK’s version of Disneyland. Daughter can’t wait…

Choco-Late in Bruges Belgium

We feel sick…
We’ve just been scoffing sample after sample of the real deal Belgian chocolate at the annual chocolate festival…and didn’t we enjoy that! I wish I could say we had so much that we’d never do it again… as if!! If only it was on tomorrow too.

We left Paris, and grandma, this morning. Daughter was very upset leaving both, however I think the choc-fest took her mind off it for the time being! There’s already been plans made re daughter returning to study at the Sorbonne University, and that grandma will visit for an extended period. I guess time and talent will tell…

We must have been in Paris on one of the busiest weekends ever. Not only was it May Day, it was a long weekend. All Parisians out, all weekenders came in, blimey! We must also confess we had nothing to do with the riots either; no, nothing (didn’t even see evidence of them). Still a great 3 days had by all. We love Paris too.

A day spent swanning around Bruges tomorrow will be a very pleasant way to spend a Monday. And then London, here we come!

Bonjour from Paris!

The train travellers have arrived.
After a rather long, uncomfortable 24 hour train ride, we made it. Actually not all was tough; just the sleeping leg… fabulous!
Well worth getting here though, especially given we get to catch up with grammy {my mum}, daughter is very excited also.

The rest of today will be about resting the weary bones, in readiness for the marathon of walking commencing start tomorrow. Oh La La!
Not sure how much shopping will be done; and that`s OK as we already have more than enough luggage. You should see us struggling on and off the trains… it`s hilarious really.

Au revoir…

Loitering with Intent in Lisbon…

…well, with no credit card and minimal access to cash at present, window shopping is becoming our favourite pasttime.

Lisbon is a fab old place. Lots of uphill and down dale – all good for the thigh muscles! It runs at a slower pass than what we’d previously set so its been good to catch our breath…

The night train was as lacklustre as you can imagine. Cold one hour (thank goodness for sleeping bag), hot the next (where’s the water?). We had been spoilt on the initial leg as it was “first class”, but not the sleeping legs. We go through it again Lisbon to the border – Hendaye. Oh Joy!

We’re finally adjusting to travelling on our own. We do miss the Hornes though. Their help on that final day was so much appreciated. Funny thing about life; let your vulnerability show through and it allows others to shine! Certainly another good reminder for me.

Paris – next stop

GOAL! @ FC Barcelona & Sevilla FC

We arrived in Barcelona yesterday after two fabulous weeks in Morocco. Spent a fortune; and definitely intend to return.

Barcelona is also a fab spot. Last night climaxed with the FC Barcelona vs Sevilla game, @ Estadi Camp Nou Barcelona.. The two teams are #1 and #3 in their league, and FCB feature the #1 player in the world – Messi. Mind you, he didn’t come on. The team had managed to goal 4 times to nil, so extra flair wasn’t really required. The atmosphere was a hoot, sitting up in the gods with 80,000 of our closest friends!

Today is the Horne’s last day. Very sad to be saying goodbye to them too. It’s been an absolute pleasure, and look forward to our next adventure already! (with Peru and Bolivia on the agenda for 2010-11).

It’s more Barcelona, here we come!
Then we take on Lisbon Portugal…

Adios

Kasbahs and Camels…

…that is the name of the tour we are about to embark on… sounds rather exotic doesn’t it!

In fact it commences tomorrow morning, which is why we are flying out of Fez 19:45 this evening, to Ouarzazate via Casablanca. That will be an interesting flight I’m sure.

We spent all of yesterday lost in the medina, with our fabulous guide Hakima (so not really lost!). We were however offered all the camels in the Sahara for daughter, and as many Moroccan carpets we wanted… blimey!

We did shopping and eating, battled for path space with donkeys, and were called to prayer 5 times… as you do in this mysterious place full of nooks and crannies.

balak, balak!

Today has been spent on chores, repacking, and performance. Yes that’s right. The girls ended up performing for all guests of the riad, miming and moving to ‘Words’ by Kate Miller-Heidke. Suffice to say they were a hit. Click on this to enjoy!

As Easter doesn’t really get a look in here! and who knows whether internet coverage features in the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara, we bid you all a fab Easter break and will report in again when next possible.
insha’Allah

There really are Kasbahs and Camels in Morocco…

This is straight from the Kasbahs and Camels Family Adventures dossier…

The tiny villages which lie in the valleys and cling to the flanks of the Anti-Atlas Mountains are inhabited by the hardy and hospitable Verber people. The few rough trackes which venture through this massive rock barrier eventually dissolve away into the Sahara sands beyond, bringing a final end to all attempts at a settled existence.

The chief objectives of this exciting trip are to enjoy the amazing contrasts of Southern Morocco. From exploring the fortified kasbahs and ksours of the Draa Valley, palm-fringed desert oases and the wilderness of the Sahara, to the mountainous interior and the coast.
Everywhere there is scenery of exceptional beauty.

We visit the ancient walled town of Marrakech, camp for a night in the desert, and stay in simple accommodation in a Berber village during our time in the Amein Valley – a unique experience not easily forgotten.

and a select few of our photos… we have soooo many more!

Tough like Berber in Marrakech…

`looky looky
shifty shifty
come have a butchers`…
…cries from in and around the souk {market} of Marrakech

What fun we had today.
Apparently I`m `tough like Berber` in relation to negotiating, and had a really good time doing it too I must say. Although I did need to spend some time discussing the fine art of negotiating with daughter because at some points she decided to bid against me to secure the booty! hhhhmmmmm. All good fun though.

Our plan is to have all present shopping done by the time we leave Morocco, where costs are considerably more tolerable than Europe {especially when tough like Berber bartering comes into play!}. We are only three gifts short of our goal, and we still have all day tomorrow to go.

We have just returned from our final dinner with our Moroccan tour group. Given it is Karstens birthday today, Mohamed {tour main man} and I organised a cake and gift and surprised him, and everyone else, with it at the restaurant. It worked a treat! hip hip hoorah.

We`ve had a grand old time. We leave the tour hotel in the morning; where we move to our last riad for one night, which is based in the medina. Then it`s off to Barcelona for our last three days in Spain, where we leave our travel buddies {the Hornes} and head to Lisbon, Portugal. Before that though, we are going to the Barcelona vs. Valencia football {soccer} game Tuesday night. That should be fun.

I have to admit that I will be very sad to leave Morocco, and so will daughter. We have had such a delightful introduction to the place, and of course, now have `new best friends` in both Fez and Marrakech. It will definitely be sad to say goodbye. Especially after a good dose of banter again tomorrow…
We would really like to return.

ps. Text messaging is still not working, but hopefully it will back on track again once we return to Spain.

Beautiful Berber People, high in the ante-Atlas Mountains…

I am sitting in the foyer of the Hotel Les Armandiers, Trafout, at the base of the Ante Atlas Mountains, “borrowing” their wifi! as you do…

We have just spent 24 hours high in the mountains, in a traditional Berber village. What an experience! Definitely a highlight to date. Even though the accommodation and toilette were most basic (think yoga mats and starting blocks!), the people and climbing a wee small part of the mountains more than compensated. Our guide, Mohamed, is also Berber and as lovely as all we’ve met, so its been delightful and a privilege. We love Morocco.

One lady who stood out today as the entrepreneurial mother kind was Hatudo. She took us on an extended tour of the village, invited us for mint tea, and drew henna creations on our arms, mostly with baby on breast! All for approx $20 AUD per person, equivalent to a months wages in local currency Dirham. And she, and the little ones, are also gorgeous.

We love the Berber spirit and their generally happy and optimistic outlook on life. All credit to them we say. We have much to appreciate, and learn, through their perspective.

Or as Jimmy Buffet sings about…
“Changing Latitudes Changes Attitudes” (thanks Karsten)
Amen!

ps. Not much shopping to be had so far, and not without trying! The kaftans are not pushing my buttons either unfortunately. Maybe we’ll have better luck in Marrakech… hope so.

pps. FYI… I’m receiving text messages. I can send apparently, but not receive. If you’re expecting a response, hopefully it will happen once we return to Barcelona in a few days. Cheers