Pussy cat, pussy cat!

After the train ride under the sea we arrived at st pancras station - across the road from kings cross station - and that begat my feeling that I was in a scene from honey I shrunk the kids - for the next three days we were little people trying to find our way around the monopoly board that we would call home - all the while dodging cars and hats and terrier dogs and dreaming about going to Mayfair.  

Somewhere in my dream I wear yellow to Coventry, Leicester square and Piccadilly and purple to Trafalgar Square.  Green to regent and Oxford st.  mmm ... bond street is green too but we didn't go to bond st.  when you already own the cow ...?  Just sayin 

Oh the Book of Mormon was outrageously good.  Not for children and not for old aunts- ok for naughty aunts - but seriously good.  Funny.  Spoiler alert: Albert Cunningham turned out to be the hero and the doctor has still got maggots in his scrotum.  MMM.  Funny.

We went to high tea at the Langham.  Very la de dah!!  There was a piano player and everything.  We had bubbles and ribbon sandwiches (better than CWA sandwiches.). No soggy tomato or anything.  Scones with PRESERVES AND CLOTTED CREAM.   That's jam and cream for any hobbits reading along.  Those of us who go to high tea all the time know to say PRESERVES WITH CLOTTED CREAM in just the acceptable accent.  Thanks to the benefactors who sent us along.  We're grateful.  The deserts didn't disappoint.  Five thingies but the best one was the little trifle in a cup thing with cherry liquor cake in the bottom and chocolate mousse on top and chocolarte ( have to say it a little bit French to look like you fit in). 

There was birthday cake with a candle and the piano guy played happy birthday.  Oh ..  the benefactors had thought of everything.  Jo-Anne was chuffed!! 

I think Andrew is still asleep so I will continue the London report. 

So, what else did we do in London?

• Went to the Natural History Museum - was surprised by the traditional displays and info.  Not as high tech and interactive as Melbourne.  But we did see a real dinosaur!!  And the building is amazing!

• Went to mass - weird.  Altar and communion rail pre-Vatican II and the priest did everything!  No involvement by the community.  He was in a hurry too! 

Paris continued!

After our trip to The Somme we still had a few days in Paris to enjoy and walk and walk and walk....  We also had a couple of hot days (mid 30s) so where better to spend some hours than at a shopping centre and museums!!!  

We headed out of Paris old centre to the Paris new centre and found their version of Chaddy. Unfortunately their idea of a food court and Andrew's are a bit different but we found a good place for lunch anyway - and afternoon tea!  We noticed that all of their shops were either clothes, shoes, accessories or all three. No book stores, gift shops, electricals etc. Maybe there is another Chaddy for them. 

We fought the crowds and finally got into the Louvre, with the crowds.  Mona, Veronese's Wedding at Cana, Winged Victory, Delacroix's Victory leading the people, The Coronation...  As we are writing this we are sitting beside the Thames in the middle of nowhere at The Trout at Tadpole Bridge (pub and hotel - that means two different things here - you can drink and sleep). Andrew thinks it's a bit like the Louvre???

Ina - the artist from Munich - had given us tickets to Musee Rodin that she hadn't used on her recent trip to Paris. In the museum you can see Auguste Rodin's sculptures in a beautiful French garden. On previous trips to Paris I had only seen The Thinker over the fence from the HOHO bus. How exciting to get inside the fence and see it from all angles. There was however a bogan there at the same time who must have been more excited than us. He sat himself on the bottom of the pedestal, at The Thinker's feet, and rolled his sleeve up to show off his very own Thinker tattoo!!  His wife and kids were very excited and snapped away!  Wonder what Rodin would ponder?

The Gates of Hell was a work that was commissioned and Rodin spent years of his life creating the many, many figures upon it - including Le Penseur.  It was fascinating to see the many works he created as individuals over and over and then the final work - which I don't think was ever installed as intended. 

And for another bit of culture in Paris - Melbourne's own Pierce Brothers, live and free at Supersonic Club!!

I see dead people!

I see dead people!  Everywhere dead people... we caught the morning train to Arras to meet Jackie - an hour out of Paris.  Jackie was a former police officer AND former army officer.  Her husband is a former army big shot.  Their daughter is in the British army.  Their other daughter is a Muslim.  First she was a goth then an Emo and now a muslim.  Next she will be a Mormon called Arnold.  So try telling Jackie the hundreds of thousands who died in wars was a waste.  Different perspective when a soldier is giving the tour.  

We visited Thiepval with museum and English memorial, Mouquet farm which the Australians called moo cow farm, then they died.  We visited Villiers Brettoneux school and museum, Pozieres, Le Hamel where Monash was amazing.  Ask us when we get home.  It was like a symphony orchestra.  He planned it to take 90 minutes and it took 93 to kick the germans' ass.  

The whole battle of the Somme seemed to be about a windmill - just can't keep Collette out of the game.  The windmill was on the high ground.  They all died trying to get the windmill, because then you could see where everybody was and you could get them before they got you.  They nearly all died trying to get the windmill which seemed to defeat the point of getting to the bit where you were safer on high ground.  There's no windmill there now - pity - they went to so much trouble to capture the thing.  A few days after we were there (at the windmill) they were opening a memorial to all the war animals - horses, dogs, pigeons donkeys - apparently not to the rats although rats seemed to have featured often in the story.

As I write this there is a chinook flying overhead?

It was a big day.  

Do you hear the people sing?

Firstly, our final day in Budapest was the best weather!  Did you know it's summer here?
A spot of shopping (Andrew's credit card!!) and then off to the Castle. Prague Castle is the largest in the world and is on the top of a hill - so we got the tram up!
Visited St Vitus' Cathedral - not sure who he was but Good King Wenceslas is buried in there!  Young guys who walked in behind us - "This building is unreal!  Did they live here or is it a church?"  The roof did not fall in!
After a few more interesting sights we walked down the hill!

Charles Bridge

Oh Paris!  We arrived on Bastille Day!!!  After running smack bang into a Laduree shop when we got off the plane (there was a Nespresso shop next door) we thought we should stop by!

Our hotel is in a great spot for walking everywhere so the Camino continues. After some valuable time at the laverie we went for a leisurely stroll for the next six hours!!  Paris was very busy - boats, buses, cars, pedestrians everywhere!  There was a free concert at the Eiffel Tower followed by fireworks for Bastille Day. While we made a quick decision to skip the concert we weren't going to miss the fireworks!! Which didn't start until it got dark - AT 11PM!!!

What else have we done?

• Walking
• Musee de Orsay - saw the blue ballerinas Evie!!!

• A Saturday afternoon in the Tuilleres Gardens

• Ferris wheel at the fair in the Tiulleres 

• A visit to the Louvre (another one for your fridge Irene!)

Off on a Battlefields Tour tomorrow- bright and early!!

Budapest to Prague

We're sharing our lollies.  How are you going Tricia?
Last day in Budapest.  Spent good time at the Fisherman's Bastion.  Nothing to do with fishermen in general or any particular fisherman.  Back in the day it was a look out tower and the fishermen had the job to protect it.  So there was security to protect the security?

Went on a dinner cruise on the Danube at night.  Oh the fame!  Bit of a treat - the FINA world swimming championships are on after we leave.  Saw the British team hanging out at Starbucks.  No accounting for taste.  No, we didn't go to Starbucks.  Just passed by.  Oh, the treat - they weren't the treat.  We happened past the rehearsal for the opening ceremony and then at night they were testing the light show projected on the wall of Buda Castle.
Got a photo for Irene's fridge!!

Next day - yesterday - longest 6 hours of our lives - train ride WITH NO WIFI FOR SIX HOURS!  Anyway, back in the first world, arrived in Prague.  Was actually sort of interesting I admit talking to each other for six hours.  First world, yes first world WE'RE STAYING IN A PALACE!  Just near the Charles Bridge.  Jo-Anne is cranky because I'm doing the blog!?

View from our Palace apartment!

Yesterday - missed out on the swimming championships but arrived in Prague just in time for the bohemian jazz festival.  Didn't get to play on stage.  Apparently they couldn't afford us.  Had lunch in a 12th century cellar.  That's way old.  Half way back to Jesus.  Did some shopping.  Jo-Anne bought some leather gloves as you do in the middle of summer, but they were a bargain.  Jo-Anne made me do another church crawl of Jewish churches.  She thinks that doesnt count as a church crawl but I just think that's racist.  Was interesting how we've (Christians) have been finding new ways to annoy the Jews for 1000 years before WWII etc.

Maisel Synagogue - now a museum

You know how they wouldnt let us on the stage for the jazz festival - well - went to a black light theatre (remember when we used to be young and stupid enough for night clubs with UV light and your bra glowed in the dark (that's what Jo-Anne said anyway but only when she remembered to wear her white glow in the dark bra) lost track of where the brackets go) well we went to one of those theatres and they made me be on stage.  I was the beak and eyes of the glow in the dark angry bird.  Apparently the beak and eyes are the hardest thing to do and the most important so that's why I had to do that job.  The people with lesser talent just had to flap the wings.  Was high class theatre sort of like Les Mis.  Jo-Anne wants me to delete the bit about how she used to hand pick the glow in the dark bra when she went clubbing.  To quote Pilate ... what I have written I have written.

Last night - to quote Evie Ann - we had FOLKIE TICKETS!  Had dinner after my magical performance as the beak of the angry bird (that was the most important part) at the Irish Times pub.  Great band playing singalong tunes just like the real thing at Folkie.  Apparently.  I've never been invited.  Jo-Anne just swore.  I think she's bored.  Band was good and dinner was good.
I don't think Jo-Anne will let me do the blog again.  She's trying to get the iPad off me.

Hungary or hungry?

Have you ever had goulash?  Hungarian goulash?  When you are in Hungary you can actually have it for lunch and dinner - washed down with apple streudel and cherry streudel!!!

Budapest is a very beautiful city!  We have been pleasantly surprised by how easy it has been to work our way around.  There's probably more English speakers here than in Munich and signs and info is all in English as well as Hungarian.

So... where have we been?  What have we seen?

• The best apartment!  In an art nouveau style building with a fancy door - very much like Spain's Gaudi - Google him!
• Bubbles - the laundromat

• While our washing was soaking in the bubbles we checked out the revolution taking place in the streets - Budapest Pride March. Police and riot squads everywhere. 
• Found a great restaurant for tea just around the corner - goulash!
• Mass in Hungarian at St Stephen's Basilica. Not to worry - we had the readings in English on the phones. 

• A looong walk to the Buda Castle on the other side of the river including a visit to the Budapest History Museum. 
• A memorial on the banks of the Danube for those who were shot into the river in 1944-45. There is a line of brass shoes of all sizes and styles 
• The best way to get to the castle? FURNICULAR!!  Yes - sing it loud!!

• After a rest - it's very hot and steamy today - we had a spin on the Budapest Eye. 

'Honour the dead, warn the living'

This is Kevin
Or he might be Darrell
Or Brian
Or Gustav
Or Maria
(Just hit 235 kms on the sort of fast but not really fast train)
Kevin?
 Is the statue of the unknown survivor
We went to Dachau concentration camp yesterday
Unbelievable
The Catholics did most of it

Had dinner last night with Ina Mar - yeah - I'm in love

Jo is farting on the train now - in first class and all

Just crossed the border into Austria
All together now - high on the hill is a lonely goatherd

Tonight - concert at Mozart's house
Oh the fame! The fame! The fame!