European Vacation

Today is our last day in London before taking my first overnight coach to Paris. A 9 hour trip which should be fun...at least I keep thinking that I don't have to pay for a nights accommodation- just not sure how much sleep we'll actually get??

Last week we spent a couple of days in Bath. A beautiful town...couldn't really say the same thing for the hostel we were staying in though.

The Roman Bath Museum was very interesting. Turns out the Romans built a Bath house to take advantage of the thermal springs. This then became overgrown and lost under the building of future generations until rediscovered after another Bath house had been built above it!

After Bath we travelled to Brighton on the Friday for one night before heading back to London. We splurged on a budget hotel for the night as we couldn't find any hostel accomodation. Certainly was a nice change to have our own room and a shower which you could actually turn around in without hitting the walls!

As the photo shows, the weather when we arrived in Brighton wasn't the best, though it did clear up nicely the following morning, enough anyway to allow the Brits to lie on the pebble beach without getting frostbite!

Europride has come and gone! We had a great weekend at the pride festival, though I'm not sure whether it was because we were tourist's or whether that was just the case but it all seemed a little disorganised! The main problem was finding out information of what was on, and then actually finding out where the venue was!

I didn't find the actual Parade on Sunday very exciting I must say, though it was rather entertaining watching the drag queens walk down the length of the parade in their stiletos, sequins & make-up given that it was an incredibly hot day! (I would hate to have seen them after partying all night long!)

After attending the Soho street festivities we went to the after party in this great venue which was a converted warehouse. We had been standing in line waiting to buy tickets, observing the fact that the people standing in line did not look like those who would normally attend such a party. Luckily we realised before paying and going in that there was a straight party occuring at that venue and we had actually wanted to go next door! (and no, it would not have been the end of the world, just unusual to end pride activities in such a way!)

Will probably be leaving London either tomorrow or the next day so will let you know where I go to next. PS: In case you're wondering, I haven't been able to log on to my email since leaving Munich so if you've sent me something, I will reply as soon as I can!

I arrived in London on Tuesday. Had a good trip from the airport into the city and then had to catch the tube. Was walking around Piccadilly Circus trying to find the hostel trying to inconspicuously look at the map so as not to look like a complete tourist. Then realised I looked like a pack horse anyway with my backpacks on so there was absolutely no hope in blending in. So, after looking around and seeing the neon signs of Piccadilly I forgot about any embarrassment and enjoyed the experience...only to realise I was probably walking around with a cheesy grin on my face therefore making myself look even more ridiculous!! Oh well!

Our time in London has been great so far. We've been doing the normal tourist things and seeing the sights, even went to see Chicago last night which was great. It doesn't matter what day it is, or what time for that matter- London really is a city that never sleeps. Though I've also noticed that it's the city that smells- sometimes at least, well often enough anyway! You'll be walking along the street and suddenly get a smell similar to being on a tip or a public toilet. Apart from that though it's absolutely gorgeous!

We went to a German pub this afternoon to watch the Germany vs. Argentina game. What an exciting game and fabulous result. Given that Australia has bowed out in the most unfortunate fashion I figure I may as well go back to my heritage! So, until my next entry I'll leave you with probably the only words being spoken by Germans at the moment...Berlin, Berlin - wir gehen nach Berlin!!