Lots of cruel comments about my latest leather purchase!
Found an ATM and we now have Euros. Packed. In an hour we are picked up to go to the cruise liner. Don't know when I will be back online. In the hotel we have had wireless on Tina's laptop.
Sunday 26 April continued - many days later.
We were picked up from the hotel and taken to our cruise ship (the Cristal [sic]). We had paid extra for a cabin upgrade and we got a 2 seater, single seater, big window (cabin 7017). There was a nice bathroom, single and double wardrobes. All in all, a compact but very nice room. We also met David, our Insight tour guide. He turned out to be a lovely man; very caring and organised. Cannot speak too highly of him. There were only 400 on the cruise (economic downturn? or early in the season?) which was great as there was no pressure on facilities (they can take just under 1200). And with 400 staff on board there was always someone there to meet every need or whim. One of the key people for us was Lucas, our steward. Indian (so many of the staff were Indian or Philippinos), always available and every night folded towels into an animal shape!
We were immediately whisked into lunch – a 3 course meal that had our stomachs groaning. The food on the cruise was fabulous. Before every meal, as you entered the dining room, your hands were squirted with hand cleaner. Nice touch.
We unpacked totally and at 4pm had life jacket drill.
We met David again to learn about things and my head started spinning with info overload. We signed up for every optional tour available – about $1200 worth! Tia booked a $90 luxury pedicure, foot massage/spa and toenail painting session.
There’ll be no internet on the cruise – it is by satellite and is $20 an hour!
We got dressed up and went to the captain’s cocktail party, followed by excellent 4 course Gala dinner and finished off with the Musical Odyssey show – songs and dances from Cats, Chicago, Phantom, Cabaret and Moulin Rouge. Very slick – good dancers and singers. Off to bed very satisfied.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday 25 April ANZAC Day
Received an early morning text from Kirsten - tomorrow is their 3rd anniversary so we rang her and then rang Helen. Lovely to talk to them. Drivers licence still has not arrived in Palmy but Kirsten is on to them!
Breakfast and then a relaxing start to the day. Tina does handwashing and laundry.
About 11am we gently stroll to the Grand Bazaar, about 15 minutes away. Over 4,000 shops. We enter Gate 7 (the biggest gate number we saw was Gate 18).
First shop we see has a coin purse I have been after (don't laugh Kirsten - she mocks me for my small Turkish coin purse from 2006).
Second shop I see the evil eye symbol with Ataturk on it - I had been looking for one for my classroom. I end up buying 2 Gallipoli themed ones (no evil spirits in my classroom!!!). I'm on a shopping roll!!!
A few minutes later I am in chess fashion heaven as I find a black and white crazy hat and scarf!!!! And the haggling is going well.
I buy artificial pumice as the soles of my feet are very dirty!
Tina buys pashmirs as gifts. She is looking for a gold bracelet and the Grand Bazaar is the home of gold (I bought her two necklaces here in 2006). She is getting the feel of prices and finally sees a piece she likes. They are not pleasant people. They will not take anything off the asking price. We agree to pay their price but when she takes out her VISA card they go into orbit wanting part of the amount in cash. We walk out. Tina doesn't look at another gold bracelet in the Bazaar ("I'm over it").
One small thing she does want is a little pill tin. She bought one in the $2 Dollar shop at home but it is difficult to open and the pills spill out everywhere. She sees a nice one in the Bazaar - 10 lira and they won't budge. Across the alley is another one - 10 lira and they won't haggle. Less than 20m down the alley is another shop and his price is 6 lira. She buys it.
Excellent lunch in an authentic place - down a side alley on a steep slope (I am sitting uphill; Tina downhill) where we are the only non Turkish customers. Nice spiced lamb, salad, bread and rice. No bloody chips!!!
We find our way out of the Bazaar and stroll back to the hotel. On the way we stop at an open air leather jacket place I spotted last night. I buy a cheap black sleeveless leather vest (Tina calls is a jerkin).
For once I do not sleep in the afternoon but Tina does.
We go for a wander looking for a money machine that dispenses euros and a restaurant. Find neither. Just masses of expensive shops catering for the new rich from Russia. Ate at hotel. Sleep interrupted by noisy party in restaurant below our window - lots of laughing, singing and clapping. How dare they enjoy themselves!
Breakfast and then a relaxing start to the day. Tina does handwashing and laundry.
About 11am we gently stroll to the Grand Bazaar, about 15 minutes away. Over 4,000 shops. We enter Gate 7 (the biggest gate number we saw was Gate 18).
First shop we see has a coin purse I have been after (don't laugh Kirsten - she mocks me for my small Turkish coin purse from 2006).
Second shop I see the evil eye symbol with Ataturk on it - I had been looking for one for my classroom. I end up buying 2 Gallipoli themed ones (no evil spirits in my classroom!!!). I'm on a shopping roll!!!
A few minutes later I am in chess fashion heaven as I find a black and white crazy hat and scarf!!!! And the haggling is going well.
I buy artificial pumice as the soles of my feet are very dirty!
Tina buys pashmirs as gifts. She is looking for a gold bracelet and the Grand Bazaar is the home of gold (I bought her two necklaces here in 2006). She is getting the feel of prices and finally sees a piece she likes. They are not pleasant people. They will not take anything off the asking price. We agree to pay their price but when she takes out her VISA card they go into orbit wanting part of the amount in cash. We walk out. Tina doesn't look at another gold bracelet in the Bazaar ("I'm over it").
One small thing she does want is a little pill tin. She bought one in the $2 Dollar shop at home but it is difficult to open and the pills spill out everywhere. She sees a nice one in the Bazaar - 10 lira and they won't budge. Across the alley is another one - 10 lira and they won't haggle. Less than 20m down the alley is another shop and his price is 6 lira. She buys it.
Excellent lunch in an authentic place - down a side alley on a steep slope (I am sitting uphill; Tina downhill) where we are the only non Turkish customers. Nice spiced lamb, salad, bread and rice. No bloody chips!!!
We find our way out of the Bazaar and stroll back to the hotel. On the way we stop at an open air leather jacket place I spotted last night. I buy a cheap black sleeveless leather vest (Tina calls is a jerkin).
For once I do not sleep in the afternoon but Tina does.
We go for a wander looking for a money machine that dispenses euros and a restaurant. Find neither. Just masses of expensive shops catering for the new rich from Russia. Ate at hotel. Sleep interrupted by noisy party in restaurant below our window - lots of laughing, singing and clapping. How dare they enjoy themselves!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Friday 24 April
An easy day. It starts with the usual excellent breakfast - I cut down the number of courses as I am eating far too much!
We are met by our guide (Barch) at 9am and the programme is MEANT TO BE: Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, St Sophia and Grand Bazaar. Remember this sequence.
We travel in a really nice van - I have never seen such a cool van. Having a van is excellent as you could walk to the places but with my achilles I am happy to save it for walking around things rather than to and from them. The weather is beautiful today. Probably the same temperature as yesterday but without yesterday's wind chill.
First stop is the Hippodrome - already filled with dozens of tour buses/groups. Then its across the road, remove shoes and into the outstanding Blue Mosque - jostling with hundreds of others (both Turks and foreigners like ourselves). Truly a magnificent sight inside.
A gentle stroll 100m to the Hagia Sophia which in its life has been both a Christian church and a mosque and is now a museum - not one with artifacts; the building is the museum. It looks impressive from the outside but once you are inside its dome is breathtaking.
Back into the van and we are off to the Grand Bazaar - no, wait a minute, our guide takes us to this carpet shop. Now there's a surprise - NOT. Every few steps on the street you are accosted by a carpet seller. But to be hijacked by our guide?????? What is really surprising is that Tina buys a carpet! She tells me it costs less than $4,000!!! What does she mean by this??? She also tells me that she always planned to buy one! What's going on here? How much of a cut did our guide get?
So, the rest of the group get to the Grand Bazaar and we don't. No worries here as we have a full day free tomorrow with nothing planned and only the Grand Bazaar to go to as the last of the big things in Istanbul. We'll be able to spend a long time there whereas the others had less than an hour which is insufficient time to take in the over 4,000 shops.
So, after the carpet purchase we have a light lunch. Finally I find a fresh roll with salami and salad things in it. Plus my second cup of apple tea (I have 3-4 a day - I love the stuff. Back home I have to go to Bulls to get a cup of it!!!). It is good to have a light lunch as I have staggered from huge meal to huge meal.
The van takes us back to the hotel where I have my daily nana nap then blog time.
Some musings on Istanbul/Turkey:
- Why don't Turkish hotels do in-room info so you know what services are available? They are a voyage of discovery
- Turks don't do dessert/soup spoons - you either get a teaspoon (and their teaspoons are tiny - we got one to eat cornflakes!!!) or a giant tablespoon.
- The traffic in Istanbul is ridiculous and being on a pedestrian crossing is no guarantee of sanctuary
- Why do they do chips with everything? I got chips INSIDE a kebab - not surprisingly it was a crap kebab AND they do chips so badly! Cold, limp.
- Lentil soup with a squeeze of lemon is absolutely delicious.
I must describe where our room is in the Crowne Plaza, Old City (room 1201 - tower 1, room 201). As I said in a previous entry, this hotel is 4-5 stars and is mighty fine. There are 3 windows in our large room - 2 overlook the long entrance way/foyer whilst the third window overlooks the reception desk (about 50m away). Very unusual. Nothing wrong with it but I find its location unusual.
Tonight the group goes to a seafood restaurant (the Neyzen). Because of the rush hour traffic it's a long drive to not go very far. The meal is excellent and shows you can have a pre-paid, set menu and it can be good. It starts with meze, a big selection of yummy little things you have on bread (olives, minted yoghurt, stuffed vine leaves, salsa type mixes, beans etc), followed by two seafood offerings (one of which is nice calamari). The main is fish (with its head still on) or chicken (I have the chicken - I am not going to have my meal look at me!). Of course, my main comes with chips. Why? As Tina says, the mains are fine but she has noticed that the weakest course in Turkish places is the main. Then there is a lovely fruit platter (the oranges in Turkey are divine) with a pastry stuffed with banana and honey. Finish up with my 3rd apple tea of the day - I am addicted to the stuff (at home I have to drive to Bulls [20mins away] to get a cup)! All very satisfying and in a pretty street by the sea where every business is a mainly fish restaurant.
We are met by our guide (Barch) at 9am and the programme is MEANT TO BE: Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, St Sophia and Grand Bazaar. Remember this sequence.
We travel in a really nice van - I have never seen such a cool van. Having a van is excellent as you could walk to the places but with my achilles I am happy to save it for walking around things rather than to and from them. The weather is beautiful today. Probably the same temperature as yesterday but without yesterday's wind chill.
First stop is the Hippodrome - already filled with dozens of tour buses/groups. Then its across the road, remove shoes and into the outstanding Blue Mosque - jostling with hundreds of others (both Turks and foreigners like ourselves). Truly a magnificent sight inside.
A gentle stroll 100m to the Hagia Sophia which in its life has been both a Christian church and a mosque and is now a museum - not one with artifacts; the building is the museum. It looks impressive from the outside but once you are inside its dome is breathtaking.
Back into the van and we are off to the Grand Bazaar - no, wait a minute, our guide takes us to this carpet shop. Now there's a surprise - NOT. Every few steps on the street you are accosted by a carpet seller. But to be hijacked by our guide?????? What is really surprising is that Tina buys a carpet! She tells me it costs less than $4,000!!! What does she mean by this??? She also tells me that she always planned to buy one! What's going on here? How much of a cut did our guide get?
So, the rest of the group get to the Grand Bazaar and we don't. No worries here as we have a full day free tomorrow with nothing planned and only the Grand Bazaar to go to as the last of the big things in Istanbul. We'll be able to spend a long time there whereas the others had less than an hour which is insufficient time to take in the over 4,000 shops.
So, after the carpet purchase we have a light lunch. Finally I find a fresh roll with salami and salad things in it. Plus my second cup of apple tea (I have 3-4 a day - I love the stuff. Back home I have to go to Bulls to get a cup of it!!!). It is good to have a light lunch as I have staggered from huge meal to huge meal.
The van takes us back to the hotel where I have my daily nana nap then blog time.
Some musings on Istanbul/Turkey:
- Why don't Turkish hotels do in-room info so you know what services are available? They are a voyage of discovery
- Turks don't do dessert/soup spoons - you either get a teaspoon (and their teaspoons are tiny - we got one to eat cornflakes!!!) or a giant tablespoon.
- The traffic in Istanbul is ridiculous and being on a pedestrian crossing is no guarantee of sanctuary
- Why do they do chips with everything? I got chips INSIDE a kebab - not surprisingly it was a crap kebab AND they do chips so badly! Cold, limp.
- Lentil soup with a squeeze of lemon is absolutely delicious.
I must describe where our room is in the Crowne Plaza, Old City (room 1201 - tower 1, room 201). As I said in a previous entry, this hotel is 4-5 stars and is mighty fine. There are 3 windows in our large room - 2 overlook the long entrance way/foyer whilst the third window overlooks the reception desk (about 50m away). Very unusual. Nothing wrong with it but I find its location unusual.
Tonight the group goes to a seafood restaurant (the Neyzen). Because of the rush hour traffic it's a long drive to not go very far. The meal is excellent and shows you can have a pre-paid, set menu and it can be good. It starts with meze, a big selection of yummy little things you have on bread (olives, minted yoghurt, stuffed vine leaves, salsa type mixes, beans etc), followed by two seafood offerings (one of which is nice calamari). The main is fish (with its head still on) or chicken (I have the chicken - I am not going to have my meal look at me!). Of course, my main comes with chips. Why? As Tina says, the mains are fine but she has noticed that the weakest course in Turkish places is the main. Then there is a lovely fruit platter (the oranges in Turkey are divine) with a pastry stuffed with banana and honey. Finish up with my 3rd apple tea of the day - I am addicted to the stuff (at home I have to drive to Bulls [20mins away] to get a cup)! All very satisfying and in a pretty street by the sea where every business is a mainly fish restaurant.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday 23 April
A relaxing morning: great breakfast (we both like a good breakfast!), internet, laundry, recharging various batteries.
We set out early afternoon for lunch and Topkapi Palace. The other day we went into the grounds and relaxed. Today we will pay and explore. We go by taxi and it seemed a very roundabout route but only cost 8 lira ie very cheap. Remember that number - 8 lira.
It was 11 degrees C at 2pm when we had lunch ie it is COLD! Sunny but cold wind off the water.
It is a children's holiday today so the place is crammed with them as well as more and more groups of young NZers and Assies arriving for Gallipoli. They are very noisy.
Tina loved Topkapi Palace - beautiful ceilings, tiles, decoration and historical items eg dresses, jewels, helmets, swords and a HUGE diamond. Nice time.
Came out and wanted a taxi but there was a fight going on between who we presume were two taxi drivers which then escalated into fighting between the original man and a third. Shouting, pushing and open hand slapping.
We finally get a taxi; Tina has to remind him to start the meter; it's a shorter, more direct trip but comes to 27 lira!!!! Tina gave him 10. He screwed it up and threw it on the ground shouting to us to get out, which we did hurredly. A rip-off artist.
At 6pm we met the 8 others in our tour group (6 Americans and 2 Canadians) and our tour guide (Barcin Taran - with a squiggle under the c; said to call him Barch). He warned us about various things including catching a taxi from ouside the Topkapi Palace!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Light dinner (soup and salad - excellent), rang Kirsten (waking her up) and to sleep nice and early. The dinner featured a waiter who stepped right out of Fawlty Towers - he would be Basil's son. He had us in fits of laughter as he was a hair's breadth away from chaos and confusion. His facial guestures, gesticulations, rapid fire Turkish and racing around the dining area were very amusing. Free entertainmnet!
We set out early afternoon for lunch and Topkapi Palace. The other day we went into the grounds and relaxed. Today we will pay and explore. We go by taxi and it seemed a very roundabout route but only cost 8 lira ie very cheap. Remember that number - 8 lira.
It was 11 degrees C at 2pm when we had lunch ie it is COLD! Sunny but cold wind off the water.
It is a children's holiday today so the place is crammed with them as well as more and more groups of young NZers and Assies arriving for Gallipoli. They are very noisy.
Tina loved Topkapi Palace - beautiful ceilings, tiles, decoration and historical items eg dresses, jewels, helmets, swords and a HUGE diamond. Nice time.
Came out and wanted a taxi but there was a fight going on between who we presume were two taxi drivers which then escalated into fighting between the original man and a third. Shouting, pushing and open hand slapping.
We finally get a taxi; Tina has to remind him to start the meter; it's a shorter, more direct trip but comes to 27 lira!!!! Tina gave him 10. He screwed it up and threw it on the ground shouting to us to get out, which we did hurredly. A rip-off artist.
At 6pm we met the 8 others in our tour group (6 Americans and 2 Canadians) and our tour guide (Barcin Taran - with a squiggle under the c; said to call him Barch). He warned us about various things including catching a taxi from ouside the Topkapi Palace!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Light dinner (soup and salad - excellent), rang Kirsten (waking her up) and to sleep nice and early. The dinner featured a waiter who stepped right out of Fawlty Towers - he would be Basil's son. He had us in fits of laughter as he was a hair's breadth away from chaos and confusion. His facial guestures, gesticulations, rapid fire Turkish and racing around the dining area were very amusing. Free entertainmnet!
Wednesday 22 April
Average breakfast at hotel (but better than last night's dinner). It is VERY cold - I certainly did not expect it to be this cold this far south at this time of year. Out come the longs and a jersey along with my rain coat.
We leave the hotel and head for the Hassle Free office, put our luggage on the bus and we are off to Troy. Here we have another excellent guide, Mustafa Askin (with a little squggle under the s). As you tour about this area there are two widely sold books, one on Gallipoli and one on Troy and Mustafa wrote them both. I bought his books in 2006. Today people are buying them and he is signing them - aah, an opportunity missed.
Mustafa makes Troy come alive. He is knowledgeable and humourous. It is very cold and light rain but annoying only. Tina loved Troy.
We now have over 5 hours to kill in Canakkale whilst the bus is used for another Gallipoli trip. First step is an excellent lunch with Bronwen and Andrea. The rule of eating where the locals eat is certainly proved - the place is doing freat business and the lentil soup followed by a main was outstanding. Tina had a magnificent dish of diced lamb, yoghurt and tomato.
Then we all wanted an internet session. Three had success but I could not log on to catch up days of the blog. I went to another internet cafe and failed also. I suspect the Turkish keyboard settings. Finally I went back to the Hassle Free office which had one machine for free. No-one was on it so I hogged it for hours.
Later in the afternoon I had a fascinating conversation with Tom who debunked the Simpson and his donkey myth. Tom had worked in the Australian War Museum and his insights were excellent.
The good company of Andrea, Bronwen, Dave and Tom made the hours fly by.
Then the 5 hour bus trip home, broken by a meal at another petrol station/restaurant combination. I slept a lot. We farwelled 4 new friends and were dropped off at the oppulent Crowne Plaza Old City. just after midnight. Shower and bed about 1am.
Finally, thanks to Andrea, Bronwen, Dave and Tom for your friendship. You are welcome at our house anytime.
We leave the hotel and head for the Hassle Free office, put our luggage on the bus and we are off to Troy. Here we have another excellent guide, Mustafa Askin (with a little squggle under the s). As you tour about this area there are two widely sold books, one on Gallipoli and one on Troy and Mustafa wrote them both. I bought his books in 2006. Today people are buying them and he is signing them - aah, an opportunity missed.
Mustafa makes Troy come alive. He is knowledgeable and humourous. It is very cold and light rain but annoying only. Tina loved Troy.
We now have over 5 hours to kill in Canakkale whilst the bus is used for another Gallipoli trip. First step is an excellent lunch with Bronwen and Andrea. The rule of eating where the locals eat is certainly proved - the place is doing freat business and the lentil soup followed by a main was outstanding. Tina had a magnificent dish of diced lamb, yoghurt and tomato.
Then we all wanted an internet session. Three had success but I could not log on to catch up days of the blog. I went to another internet cafe and failed also. I suspect the Turkish keyboard settings. Finally I went back to the Hassle Free office which had one machine for free. No-one was on it so I hogged it for hours.
Later in the afternoon I had a fascinating conversation with Tom who debunked the Simpson and his donkey myth. Tom had worked in the Australian War Museum and his insights were excellent.
The good company of Andrea, Bronwen, Dave and Tom made the hours fly by.
Then the 5 hour bus trip home, broken by a meal at another petrol station/restaurant combination. I slept a lot. We farwelled 4 new friends and were dropped off at the oppulent Crowne Plaza Old City. just after midnight. Shower and bed about 1am.
Finally, thanks to Andrea, Bronwen, Dave and Tom for your friendship. You are welcome at our house anytime.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tuesday 21 April
I woke at 4.50am and the Mullahs made sure I was awake at 5.04am - you don't need to set your alarm here is you need to get up early. Breakfast this morning was a glass of water and bread purchased the night before as we are off to Gallipoli and Troy before breakfast is served in the hotel.
We are picked up by bus from the Hassle Free Travel Agency. Luggage is put on and away we go. The tour director asks us what time our flight is as we are off to the airport. We are confused and try to explain we are on the wrong bus as we are supposed to be on tour. Everyone laughs as he pulls this joke on every new person!
The drive is the same as in 2006 - we even stop at the same place for a break.
What was different were 4 lovely people we met.
Sitting behind us were two hillarious guys form Australia - Tom (Canberra) and Dave (Perth). Despite being Australians they are my kind of guys - great sense of humour and a passion for military history. After this two day trip they were off to the Western Front in France for ANZAC Day - that's dedication. They were fascinated by the huge number of petrol stations along the way and had bets when the next one would appear. They had a point - why, within 400m would there be two petrol stations of the same brand on the same side of the road? Their manical musings had me in fits of laughter. I became an Aussie ("Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free")!!!
Beside us were two lovely young women - Bronwen for Dunedin (coming from Dunedin she has to be nice!) and Andrea from Gisborne. Both were teachers in international schools, currently in Romania but previously Shanghai and Pakistan. Like our Helen, the world is a small place to them as they confidently move around it. They were so friendly and we spent much time with them over the next two days.
Lunch was pleasant at Maydos Restaurant in Eceabat - on the European side of the Dardanelles. We meet our guide Murat and then we are off on our guided Gallipoli tour.
Highlights:
- Gabatepe Museum
- "Brighton" Beach - where we were supposed to land
- Beach Cemetery - where Simpson (but not his donkey) is buried; more on him later from Tom - Hell Spit
- ANZAC Cove and Ariburnu Cemetery
- the Turkish soldier and wounded enemy statue
- Lone Pine - saw the name of James Martin, the youngest Australian to enlist/die - 14 years of age!
- the trenches at Johnston's Jolly
- the monument and cemetery of the Turkish 57th Regiment. Here we lose Tina. Everyone (apart form Tina) is on the bus waiting to go but she has locked herself in the toilet!!! She finally breaks free.
- The Nek
- Chunuk Bair
Everywhere we go there are preparations for upcoming ANZAC Day ceremonies: banks of seating, lighting and sound systems.
Our guide, Murat, was oustanding. So knowledgeable and passionate. Nothing was too much trouble eg I missed Malone's name at Chunuk Bair so Murat took a photo for me the next day!
We cross the Dardanelles by ferry to Canakkale (now in Asia), go to the Mados Hotel (nice room overlooking the harbour), have a rubbish dinner there (second bad evening meal in a row) and crash. A very good day.
We are picked up by bus from the Hassle Free Travel Agency. Luggage is put on and away we go. The tour director asks us what time our flight is as we are off to the airport. We are confused and try to explain we are on the wrong bus as we are supposed to be on tour. Everyone laughs as he pulls this joke on every new person!
The drive is the same as in 2006 - we even stop at the same place for a break.
What was different were 4 lovely people we met.
Sitting behind us were two hillarious guys form Australia - Tom (Canberra) and Dave (Perth). Despite being Australians they are my kind of guys - great sense of humour and a passion for military history. After this two day trip they were off to the Western Front in France for ANZAC Day - that's dedication. They were fascinated by the huge number of petrol stations along the way and had bets when the next one would appear. They had a point - why, within 400m would there be two petrol stations of the same brand on the same side of the road? Their manical musings had me in fits of laughter. I became an Aussie ("Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free")!!!
Beside us were two lovely young women - Bronwen for Dunedin (coming from Dunedin she has to be nice!) and Andrea from Gisborne. Both were teachers in international schools, currently in Romania but previously Shanghai and Pakistan. Like our Helen, the world is a small place to them as they confidently move around it. They were so friendly and we spent much time with them over the next two days.
Lunch was pleasant at Maydos Restaurant in Eceabat - on the European side of the Dardanelles. We meet our guide Murat and then we are off on our guided Gallipoli tour.
Highlights:
- Gabatepe Museum
- "Brighton" Beach - where we were supposed to land
- Beach Cemetery - where Simpson (but not his donkey) is buried; more on him later from Tom - Hell Spit
- ANZAC Cove and Ariburnu Cemetery
- the Turkish soldier and wounded enemy statue
- Lone Pine - saw the name of James Martin, the youngest Australian to enlist/die - 14 years of age!
- the trenches at Johnston's Jolly
- the monument and cemetery of the Turkish 57th Regiment. Here we lose Tina. Everyone (apart form Tina) is on the bus waiting to go but she has locked herself in the toilet!!! She finally breaks free.
- The Nek
- Chunuk Bair
Everywhere we go there are preparations for upcoming ANZAC Day ceremonies: banks of seating, lighting and sound systems.
Our guide, Murat, was oustanding. So knowledgeable and passionate. Nothing was too much trouble eg I missed Malone's name at Chunuk Bair so Murat took a photo for me the next day!
We cross the Dardanelles by ferry to Canakkale (now in Asia), go to the Mados Hotel (nice room overlooking the harbour), have a rubbish dinner there (second bad evening meal in a row) and crash. A very good day.
Monday 20 April
Woken at 5.15am by the Mullah's call to prayer - lasts a minute (I hope he had a good night's sleep). Read, drop off to sleep and wake up after 8. Very good breakfast; long, free internet session whilst Tina does washing (aren't these gender roles great!).
Around midday take a taxi to Spice Market. Buy Helen rose tea - beautiful little purple roses. Taxi to Topkapi Palace - lie in the shade eating fresh nuts we bought at the market. It's a lovely relaxing time.
Crap lunch - you would think the Turks could make a good Turkish kebab but, no. Chips in it for godness sake!!
We find post office to send postcards and tea to Helen. We negotiate security at door (airport style screening) and a guard redirects us to the post office - a tiny room underground, very hot and full of people. We stand there for a bout 10 minutes. Tina suggests we might be on the wrong side of the room so we go to the other side and stand some more. I notice that everyone who comes in is getting a ticket out of a machine behind us. We ask someone who pushes one of many buttons and we get a ticket. We stand some more. Sweat is pouring off me. I make the point that none of the people around us has letters. Tina suggests I go back to our original place. This turns out to be an inspired move as I do my helpless puppy look and a man behind the counter motions me to come over. He speaks English and is very helpful! Postcards are quickly dealt with but now we need an envelope to post to tea to Helen. We have to leave the post office and go upstairs where we are rescued by a lovely man who speaks English and seems important. We quickly get an envelope and go back down to the post office where we bye-pass all the ticket and waiting stuff and head straight of the helpful man behind the counter. I have no idea whether Helen will get the tea - the envelope was not a strong one and there was no customs declaration.
We sleep, have a crap meal (Tina's especially - she described the main as a child's meal) but nice Kapadockya read wine. More internet and an early night - early start tomorrow.
Around midday take a taxi to Spice Market. Buy Helen rose tea - beautiful little purple roses. Taxi to Topkapi Palace - lie in the shade eating fresh nuts we bought at the market. It's a lovely relaxing time.
Crap lunch - you would think the Turks could make a good Turkish kebab but, no. Chips in it for godness sake!!
We find post office to send postcards and tea to Helen. We negotiate security at door (airport style screening) and a guard redirects us to the post office - a tiny room underground, very hot and full of people. We stand there for a bout 10 minutes. Tina suggests we might be on the wrong side of the room so we go to the other side and stand some more. I notice that everyone who comes in is getting a ticket out of a machine behind us. We ask someone who pushes one of many buttons and we get a ticket. We stand some more. Sweat is pouring off me. I make the point that none of the people around us has letters. Tina suggests I go back to our original place. This turns out to be an inspired move as I do my helpless puppy look and a man behind the counter motions me to come over. He speaks English and is very helpful! Postcards are quickly dealt with but now we need an envelope to post to tea to Helen. We have to leave the post office and go upstairs where we are rescued by a lovely man who speaks English and seems important. We quickly get an envelope and go back down to the post office where we bye-pass all the ticket and waiting stuff and head straight of the helpful man behind the counter. I have no idea whether Helen will get the tea - the envelope was not a strong one and there was no customs declaration.
We sleep, have a crap meal (Tina's especially - she described the main as a child's meal) but nice Kapadockya read wine. More internet and an early night - early start tomorrow.
Sunday 19 April
Tina buys gold errings at Dubai airport.
There are large numbers of European elderly in groups - heading for Gallipoli no doubt.
On the flight to Istanbul (Turkey) is the LOUDEST snoring I have ever heard. Watch goes back an hour; now 9 hours back from NZ time.
At Istanbul Airport luggage carousel Tina is chatted up by a 50 year old (he told us - his birthday is on ANZAC Day) Australian. "Are you travelling with your father?"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tina thinks this is great. She feels young.
We are met at the airport and wait and wait for our van. Tina is not amused ("This has never happened in Asia").
We go to Hotel Fehmi Bey, room 113.
What to say about this hotel? On the plus side it has fantastic location - at the end of the Hippodrome, excellent desk service, free internet and is clean. On the other hand it is an odd little building, totally unsuited to be a hotel, tiny lift, no tea/coffee facilities in room.
We fell asleep and are woken around 11am by prayers coming over loudspeakers.
We go the Hippodrome and have lunch, the prayers continue and there are 3 giant screens relaying what is happening inside the Blue Mosque to the hundreds of people sitting in the Hippodrome, all sitting on paper prayer mats.
We then go to Yerebatan Sarnici (the Basilica Sistern) (look it up in Google) which is unreservedly recommended.
Stroll back to hotel window shopping: beautiful windows of food, carpets, jewellery. I fall asleep.
We are picked up for an evening meal on the Bosphorous. Meet a lovely Swedish couple, have a 3 course meal with masses of entertainment (a play, folk dancing, belly dancer, general dancing, and the ladies playing musical chairs) all as the boat glides past the beautiful night lights of Istanbul. Very expensive (70 Euros each!!!!) but Tina loved it.
We are back just before midnight - still no "normal" night's sleep. But we are back in pjs after 2 nights without them! We decide to have a quick read before going to sleep - it is a really quick read as there is a power failure!
There are large numbers of European elderly in groups - heading for Gallipoli no doubt.
On the flight to Istanbul (Turkey) is the LOUDEST snoring I have ever heard. Watch goes back an hour; now 9 hours back from NZ time.
At Istanbul Airport luggage carousel Tina is chatted up by a 50 year old (he told us - his birthday is on ANZAC Day) Australian. "Are you travelling with your father?"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tina thinks this is great. She feels young.
We are met at the airport and wait and wait for our van. Tina is not amused ("This has never happened in Asia").
We go to Hotel Fehmi Bey, room 113.
What to say about this hotel? On the plus side it has fantastic location - at the end of the Hippodrome, excellent desk service, free internet and is clean. On the other hand it is an odd little building, totally unsuited to be a hotel, tiny lift, no tea/coffee facilities in room.
We fell asleep and are woken around 11am by prayers coming over loudspeakers.
We go the Hippodrome and have lunch, the prayers continue and there are 3 giant screens relaying what is happening inside the Blue Mosque to the hundreds of people sitting in the Hippodrome, all sitting on paper prayer mats.
We then go to Yerebatan Sarnici (the Basilica Sistern) (look it up in Google) which is unreservedly recommended.
Stroll back to hotel window shopping: beautiful windows of food, carpets, jewellery. I fall asleep.
We are picked up for an evening meal on the Bosphorous. Meet a lovely Swedish couple, have a 3 course meal with masses of entertainment (a play, folk dancing, belly dancer, general dancing, and the ladies playing musical chairs) all as the boat glides past the beautiful night lights of Istanbul. Very expensive (70 Euros each!!!!) but Tina loved it.
We are back just before midnight - still no "normal" night's sleep. But we are back in pjs after 2 nights without them! We decide to have a quick read before going to sleep - it is a really quick read as there is a power failure!
Saturday 18 April
After our sleep we meet Vicki (lives in Dubai - sister of a friend). She has a list of places of interest to show us. First quick stop is the photo opportunity with Burj Al Arab in the background (the 7 star hotel which looks like a sail). First major stop is the Jumeirah Mall (Souk) beside the Burj Al Arab. I twist my achilles and am in agony. If you don't know about my achilles I stupidly damaged it a couple of months before leaving and for a month before we left I had physio. It is constantly painful but ok. Nursing it through. Vicki buys stronger anti-inflamitories (you can get anything in Dubai). I stopped the tour and it's back to our hotel.
Late afternoon we go to Deira City Centre Mall which is testament to consumerism. I found it all tedious as there are masses of shops that are the same as in NZ. But I did buy deoderant in Carrefour! Had a light meal.
Packed, slept, set alarm for 12.45am! As Tina said, all she wants is one normal night's sleep!!!
Late afternoon we go to Deira City Centre Mall which is testament to consumerism. I found it all tedious as there are masses of shops that are the same as in NZ. But I did buy deoderant in Carrefour! Had a light meal.
Packed, slept, set alarm for 12.45am! As Tina said, all she wants is one normal night's sleep!!!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Friday 17 April
We set alarm for 10am but wake at 8 ie 2-1/2 hours sleep. Ravenous! Tina organises laundry. Magnificent breakfast. Great service in this hotel. Brave the blast of heat and go for a boat trip on the Creek. Great contrast of old and new - modern buildings with old trading dhow. Lovely, cool breeze on the water and I am greatful that my excellent new travel hat bought by Kirsten and Isaac has a clip which attaches to my shirt collar.
Excellent lunch in Twin Towers (oh, the irony) featuring the music of John Denver! Tina had a magnificent plate of fresh fruit - including the best kiwi fruit that we can't get at home as it is exported.
We rest until 4pm then we go on our Desert Safari. Already we see the wisdom of grabbing this room as otherwise we would have had to check out and no rest. Our young driver is Bangladeshi (the porter in the night was Indian - 13 years in Dubai) who has been here 3 years. In our Toyota 4wd suv are 2 Japanese young women.
A 40 minute drive north-east from Dubail to a petrol station for the 15 car convoy rezendevous. Impressions on this drive:
- 120kph for cars/80kph for trucks
- 7-8 lanes going one way! Later "narrows" to 6 lanes - 4 for cars, 2 for trucks
- sand blowing across road, hazy sky
- a totally man- made environment (literally!) - scrap away the thin layer that people have made and all you see is sand
- huge electricity pylons and masses of them everywhere
- a bus park with thousands of spare buses
- convoys of trucks carrying Dubai's waste water
The young driver has his radio set loudly to Virgin Radio.
The convoy heads further out into the desert, pulls off the road and stops on the sand. Every tyre has its pressure reduced by half for traction on the sand (from 30pps to 15).
Now the fun begins - dune bashing. The driver races up dunes, drops down the steep side; slides down dunes; whips sand over the windscreen in a slide. This is done in short bursts and then convoy regathers to check all vehicles are ok. Our 2 Japanese girls are screaming! I, of course, get car sick so leave a little bit of myself in the desert (to be honest, what I left was Dubai's breakfast and lunch). This forces the driver to go slow. He loves being number 2 in the convoy but now we are like a lame duck left behind as he takes the easiest route.
We stop at a camel farm and then on to the safari campsite.
[Aside, it is 2 days later and huge frustration in trying to update using Turkish keyboards and internet cafes where there are language difficulties. Back to the story]
The camel farm is in the desert. All food and water is imported. It's just a bare patch of land with a high fence.
The camp site is very impressive. A semi-circle of huts for guests and the other half of the circle is buildings for activities.
The first thing Tina does is a camel ride. I refrain due to stomach unease - it is already rolling. Tina hangs on gamely and lurches along. Photos will be published plus we have the dvd!
There is sandboarding, holding a falcon and heena painting which we don't do. But we do the following:
- dressing up in traditional costume
- smoking the bubble pipe (sheesha) - nice taste!
- an excellent meal
- very good belly dancer
It's 8.30pm and over 60 people leave. There are only 4 guests and our driver left; Tina and I and the 2 Japanese. We never knew that there were two options.
A nylon, 2 person tent is set up inside a hut for us (and one for the Japanese). A wafer thin mattress is put in tent, along with a sleeping bag (hot, hot, hot!) and a rock hard cushion that we sat on during the meal is the pillow.
Problems:
1. It is stifling hot in tent with the sleeping bag
2. It is rock hard concrete under the thin mattress
3. The pillow is a neck breaker
4. Little high pitched flying insects
We immediately pull the tent out into the open sand where it is cooler. Lights out at 9pm!
Little sleep. So uncomfortable.
At 1 in the morning we drag the mattresses out and sleep under the stars; Tina using a jersey as a pillow and I use my pack. It is cooler but the insects increase. Still uncomfortable and little sleep.
We wake around 5, climb a dune and enjoy the light increasing at the start of the day.
Breakfast was a hard boiled egg mashed up on slightly stale bread (ie an egg sandwich) and a cup of tea.
Conclusion - do the desert safari but don't do the overnight. And yet with a few simple changes it could have been lovely.
Then we were off. Our lovely driver (who says he found the night hot and who slept in his suv with air con on!!!) asks if we want to go to Camel Rock. Mistakenly we all say "yes". Mistake. More dune bashing (although gentler than yesterday). I had to get him to stop. Didn't chunder but it was close.
We are back at the hotel at 8am and here, once again, Tina's decision to hold our room pays off as we have a shower, eat a proper breakfast, Tina organises laundry and we sleep.
Excellent lunch in Twin Towers (oh, the irony) featuring the music of John Denver! Tina had a magnificent plate of fresh fruit - including the best kiwi fruit that we can't get at home as it is exported.
We rest until 4pm then we go on our Desert Safari. Already we see the wisdom of grabbing this room as otherwise we would have had to check out and no rest. Our young driver is Bangladeshi (the porter in the night was Indian - 13 years in Dubai) who has been here 3 years. In our Toyota 4wd suv are 2 Japanese young women.
A 40 minute drive north-east from Dubail to a petrol station for the 15 car convoy rezendevous. Impressions on this drive:
- 120kph for cars/80kph for trucks
- 7-8 lanes going one way! Later "narrows" to 6 lanes - 4 for cars, 2 for trucks
- sand blowing across road, hazy sky
- a totally man- made environment (literally!) - scrap away the thin layer that people have made and all you see is sand
- huge electricity pylons and masses of them everywhere
- a bus park with thousands of spare buses
- convoys of trucks carrying Dubai's waste water
The young driver has his radio set loudly to Virgin Radio.
The convoy heads further out into the desert, pulls off the road and stops on the sand. Every tyre has its pressure reduced by half for traction on the sand (from 30pps to 15).
Now the fun begins - dune bashing. The driver races up dunes, drops down the steep side; slides down dunes; whips sand over the windscreen in a slide. This is done in short bursts and then convoy regathers to check all vehicles are ok. Our 2 Japanese girls are screaming! I, of course, get car sick so leave a little bit of myself in the desert (to be honest, what I left was Dubai's breakfast and lunch). This forces the driver to go slow. He loves being number 2 in the convoy but now we are like a lame duck left behind as he takes the easiest route.
We stop at a camel farm and then on to the safari campsite.
[Aside, it is 2 days later and huge frustration in trying to update using Turkish keyboards and internet cafes where there are language difficulties. Back to the story]
The camel farm is in the desert. All food and water is imported. It's just a bare patch of land with a high fence.
The camp site is very impressive. A semi-circle of huts for guests and the other half of the circle is buildings for activities.
The first thing Tina does is a camel ride. I refrain due to stomach unease - it is already rolling. Tina hangs on gamely and lurches along. Photos will be published plus we have the dvd!
There is sandboarding, holding a falcon and heena painting which we don't do. But we do the following:
- dressing up in traditional costume
- smoking the bubble pipe (sheesha) - nice taste!
- an excellent meal
- very good belly dancer
It's 8.30pm and over 60 people leave. There are only 4 guests and our driver left; Tina and I and the 2 Japanese. We never knew that there were two options.
A nylon, 2 person tent is set up inside a hut for us (and one for the Japanese). A wafer thin mattress is put in tent, along with a sleeping bag (hot, hot, hot!) and a rock hard cushion that we sat on during the meal is the pillow.
Problems:
1. It is stifling hot in tent with the sleeping bag
2. It is rock hard concrete under the thin mattress
3. The pillow is a neck breaker
4. Little high pitched flying insects
We immediately pull the tent out into the open sand where it is cooler. Lights out at 9pm!
Little sleep. So uncomfortable.
At 1 in the morning we drag the mattresses out and sleep under the stars; Tina using a jersey as a pillow and I use my pack. It is cooler but the insects increase. Still uncomfortable and little sleep.
We wake around 5, climb a dune and enjoy the light increasing at the start of the day.
Breakfast was a hard boiled egg mashed up on slightly stale bread (ie an egg sandwich) and a cup of tea.
Conclusion - do the desert safari but don't do the overnight. And yet with a few simple changes it could have been lovely.
Then we were off. Our lovely driver (who says he found the night hot and who slept in his suv with air con on!!!) asks if we want to go to Camel Rock. Mistakenly we all say "yes". Mistake. More dune bashing (although gentler than yesterday). I had to get him to stop. Didn't chunder but it was close.
We are back at the hotel at 8am and here, once again, Tina's decision to hold our room pays off as we have a shower, eat a proper breakfast, Tina organises laundry and we sleep.
16-17 April continued
Free internet in Istanbul so I continue. Couldn't easily get internet in Dubai so gave it a miss.
Singapore - Dubai: we both slept (Tina more than me). Arrived in Riveria Hotel, Dubai 3.55AM (!!!) local time. Short taxi trip from airport to hotel. It is now 29 hours since we got up in Palmy. Nice hotel - modern facilities with old style decor. It is an executive room - spacious, separate wardrobe, balcony with lovely view of the Dubai Creek (don't be put off by the work creek - it is a major waterway). Recommended.
On the way over Tina has been thinking and she realises we have made a mistake in our hotel booking. The plan was this night in our hotel, check out, spend our night in the desert and check back in but what do we do withourselves and our gear in all the gaps? The room is free so we pay for the extra night. This turns out to be a great decision for a number of reasons in what is coming over the next day.
Priority #1 is a shower after 29 hours. Being a gentleman I let Tina go first. After 15 minutes I gently inquire if everything is ok. She has had nightmare with the shower hoe/nozzle and EVERYTHING is wet - my fresh towel, the wall, the ceiling (THE CEILING!!!!) ..... How can you run a school when you can't control a shower???
Lights out 4.54am. Lights back on 5.17am - can't sleep. Tina reads laundry instructions - she is now happy and we fall aslep before 5.30am.
Singapore - Dubai: we both slept (Tina more than me). Arrived in Riveria Hotel, Dubai 3.55AM (!!!) local time. Short taxi trip from airport to hotel. It is now 29 hours since we got up in Palmy. Nice hotel - modern facilities with old style decor. It is an executive room - spacious, separate wardrobe, balcony with lovely view of the Dubai Creek (don't be put off by the work creek - it is a major waterway). Recommended.
On the way over Tina has been thinking and she realises we have made a mistake in our hotel booking. The plan was this night in our hotel, check out, spend our night in the desert and check back in but what do we do withourselves and our gear in all the gaps? The room is free so we pay for the extra night. This turns out to be a great decision for a number of reasons in what is coming over the next day.
Priority #1 is a shower after 29 hours. Being a gentleman I let Tina go first. After 15 minutes I gently inquire if everything is ok. She has had nightmare with the shower hoe/nozzle and EVERYTHING is wet - my fresh towel, the wall, the ceiling (THE CEILING!!!!) ..... How can you run a school when you can't control a shower???
Lights out 4.54am. Lights back on 5.17am - can't sleep. Tina reads laundry instructions - she is now happy and we fall aslep before 5.30am.
Friday, April 17, 2009
16 April (Thurs)
The day got off to a lovely start: woke early, nice shower, pleasant breakfast and a relaxing hour in our room, Due at airport 10am and courtesy shuttle is booked for 9.30am - these times become critical in the disaster that is about to unfold ........
I flick Tina small bunch of pamphlets that came with the tickets (remember I only sorted these yesterday). Tina sees a good idea (writing VISA card number somewhere separate from where the card is kept. I do this and decide to do the same for the rest of my cards.
Drum roll please!
I pull out my drivers licence and find that it will expire BEFORE we get our car in France and England! We have a problem, especially as for part of the time I have the car to myself ie Tina can't rescue me. Quick ring to Andrea who luckily works in same building as the firm which does the licences (the AA). Their advice is to go to nearest AA, say I have lost my licence, get an emergency one as well as a replacement. There is now less than an hour to shuttle. Order a taxi, long wait ... so I hijack one that arrives for someone else! Explain situation to lovely Samoan driver and way we go ... and I mean, away we go. The speeds he drove at were crazy and the cornering flung me around. I get him to wait and in I go. Long queue, I speak to them and, bless them, they let me go to the front of the queue. A nice young woman at the counter is very helpful - especially as I did not have all the required id eg I had nothing with my address on it. She started to write out an emergency licence and then discovered my licence was about to expire. I act surprised so she cuts more admin corners and the renewal will be sent to him. In the meanwhile Andrea has been finding out the quickest AND most secure way of getting the licence to Paris. It's all up to Kirsten (and $80)!
Back out to the waiting taxi who rushes me to airport ($90). Tina has caught shuttle with all the luggage. We arrive at the same time and Tina smiles at me.
But there is more ... at the check-in counter I don't get away with my small, carry-on case. If only I had sorted those maps!!! Procrastination is the thief of time. My suitcase is slightly under weight so I am about to do a transfer when the young woman behind the counter gives me a Singapore Airline's bag and says to put 5kgs in it to get the case down to 7kgs. OK.
Turbulent 10 hour flight to Singapore, ok food, I watched Frost/Nixon (good) and Marley And Me (rubbish). A Boeing 777 300 ER. Tina was bad: 1. she broke the little latch that holds the tray and 2. she sang Elton, ABBA and Bee Gees songs very loudly with her headphones on!
4 hour wait in Singapore Airpost and then off to Dubai.
I flick Tina small bunch of pamphlets that came with the tickets (remember I only sorted these yesterday). Tina sees a good idea (writing VISA card number somewhere separate from where the card is kept. I do this and decide to do the same for the rest of my cards.
Drum roll please!
I pull out my drivers licence and find that it will expire BEFORE we get our car in France and England! We have a problem, especially as for part of the time I have the car to myself ie Tina can't rescue me. Quick ring to Andrea who luckily works in same building as the firm which does the licences (the AA). Their advice is to go to nearest AA, say I have lost my licence, get an emergency one as well as a replacement. There is now less than an hour to shuttle. Order a taxi, long wait ... so I hijack one that arrives for someone else! Explain situation to lovely Samoan driver and way we go ... and I mean, away we go. The speeds he drove at were crazy and the cornering flung me around. I get him to wait and in I go. Long queue, I speak to them and, bless them, they let me go to the front of the queue. A nice young woman at the counter is very helpful - especially as I did not have all the required id eg I had nothing with my address on it. She started to write out an emergency licence and then discovered my licence was about to expire. I act surprised so she cuts more admin corners and the renewal will be sent to him. In the meanwhile Andrea has been finding out the quickest AND most secure way of getting the licence to Paris. It's all up to Kirsten (and $80)!
Back out to the waiting taxi who rushes me to airport ($90). Tina has caught shuttle with all the luggage. We arrive at the same time and Tina smiles at me.
But there is more ... at the check-in counter I don't get away with my small, carry-on case. If only I had sorted those maps!!! Procrastination is the thief of time. My suitcase is slightly under weight so I am about to do a transfer when the young woman behind the counter gives me a Singapore Airline's bag and says to put 5kgs in it to get the case down to 7kgs. OK.
Turbulent 10 hour flight to Singapore, ok food, I watched Frost/Nixon (good) and Marley And Me (rubbish). A Boeing 777 300 ER. Tina was bad: 1. she broke the little latch that holds the tray and 2. she sang Elton, ABBA and Bee Gees songs very loudly with her headphones on!
4 hour wait in Singapore Airpost and then off to Dubai.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
15 April (Wed)
Free internet at Singapore Airport so I will start with yesterday.
I was sitting at home organising the tickets (yes, a bit late considering we are leaving in the afternoon) when I noticed that the rental car place we are picking up a car from in Paris on a Sunday is closed on Sunday! Brilliant!!! First panic call to Andrea (our travel agent). It's sorted.
I then finally pack my case (Tina did hers 2 days ago). It's too heavy so out comes spare pjs, a vest, monopod (which I had purchased for this trip), nice walking jandals and toiletries. But the real problem is my small, carry-on case. Limit is 7kgs and it weighs 12! The weight is mostly maps and info that I never got round to sort so it all goes in. I've been slack and the case is unstable.
Off to Palmy Airport and I misplace my board pass. Great start. Tina is building up ammunition.
At Auckland Airport I buy a new, stable and slightly larger carry-on bag. Hugely expensive - they saw us coming - but it's a great case.
Stay the night at Ventura - pleasant little room, air con, clean, good for a night. No meals so we order in Indian. I can recommend the very green Lamb Saagwala but the Onion Bhaji was stodgey.
I was sitting at home organising the tickets (yes, a bit late considering we are leaving in the afternoon) when I noticed that the rental car place we are picking up a car from in Paris on a Sunday is closed on Sunday! Brilliant!!! First panic call to Andrea (our travel agent). It's sorted.
I then finally pack my case (Tina did hers 2 days ago). It's too heavy so out comes spare pjs, a vest, monopod (which I had purchased for this trip), nice walking jandals and toiletries. But the real problem is my small, carry-on case. Limit is 7kgs and it weighs 12! The weight is mostly maps and info that I never got round to sort so it all goes in. I've been slack and the case is unstable.
Off to Palmy Airport and I misplace my board pass. Great start. Tina is building up ammunition.
At Auckland Airport I buy a new, stable and slightly larger carry-on bag. Hugely expensive - they saw us coming - but it's a great case.
Stay the night at Ventura - pleasant little room, air con, clean, good for a night. No meals so we order in Indian. I can recommend the very green Lamb Saagwala but the Onion Bhaji was stodgey.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Communicating
I have had emails saying you could not respond on our blog. You have to register first. This blog is part of the Google family so once you have registered you can use all of the Google services. It's worth it.
One sleep to go! Tina is packed. She is nagging me. Today we both had haircuts. For some reason hers took a lot longer than mine!
One sleep to go! Tina is packed. She is nagging me. Today we both had haircuts. For some reason hers took a lot longer than mine!
Monday, April 13, 2009
GPS tested
Kirsten and Isaac have moved in - no more student flats for them. They were exhausted at the end of the move. The four of us went on a road trip to test out the TomTom gps unit. We set sail for the greatest kebabs I have ever tasted ... in Bulls!!! The gps delivered us to the front door and even beeped when there was a fixed speed camera. Today's plans are to pack. Two more sleeps.
Friday, April 10, 2009
GPS
We have bought a TomTom gps. Tina is worried that with my inability to read signs it is going to be chaos, especially when I am alone and won't have her to rescue me! Have downloaded maps of France and UK. This Easter Friday I might give it a whirl by going on a quick drive from Palmy to Paris! This is how it works, right? Stay tuned.
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