Oktoberfest II

Being one year older and wiser and after last year’s shenanigans, the phrase for 2011 was pace. It was great to have large crew together this year to discuss old times and simply enjoy each others’ company. Oktoberfest will be up there with San Fermin as ‘do not miss’ festivals in any European conversations.

I’m not sure we have really seen much of England yet...

After realising that we hadn’t seen enough of the UK to make a fair overall judgement, our last two weeks was spent exploring the country areas. The adventure in Gerard was calling and so a three day, 100km trek was quickly put together taking in part of the Great South West Walk from Weymouth to Exmouth. With tent, camping gear, food, boiler and the trusty compass packed it was time for some ‘individual pursuits.’ The walk was tough to say the least and thank god for Ipods and Ministry of Sound is all I can say. Pumping through gale force winds and showers on the first day from West Fleet to Lyme Regis was a tough welcoming. This 50km stretch took in some delightful scenery including the longest sandbank I’ve ever seen in Chesil Beach – it never seemed to end! The variety of the terrains of the walk, scenery of the Jurassic Coast cliffs and fresh seafood experience (especially the Lyme Bay crab) was glorious.

The second and third days took in about 25km on each day but proved to be more challenging due to the constant changes in altitude. I’ll tell you what, everything just works out. I was one hill from defeat at 6.30pm when the sun was setting, 25kg on my back was feeling like I was carrying a horse and I didn’t have a campsite in sight. It was looking like a night of sleeping it rough! Darryn to the rescue. A fellow walking his dog tells me to take his lead and after a good yarn leads me to a remote caravan park. It gets better. After setting up the tent (fairly shattered by now) an old fellow, Charlie, comes over with the offer of a cup of tea (‘because it looks like you could do with one’). I will be forever grateful for the Earl of Grey. After a morning trek through some jungle like conditions out of Sidmouth, the last day was a day of much the same, great scenery, great food and lots of ‘holiday parks.’ I don’t know how you can holiday in a park with 1000 other fellow Chavs but each to their own. I suppose the lovely beaches get them through.....Oops. All in all it was a great challenge and a very worthwhile expedition.

The expeditions didn’t stop here though. As we’d already conquered Wales’ highest peak, Mt. Snowdon, it was time to do England’s highest peak, Scafell Pyke (this leaves Ben Nevis but we know we’ll be back to Scotland!). Scafell Pyke lies in the Lake District of England and has some of the best mountains and lakes in the UK in addition to little villages. The pictures tell our story!

P, P, Pretty Prague

What a beautiful, oh I mean, pretty city to put the smiles back on our faces after some sad goodbyes. We arrived on the train from Austria in to the Czech delight and found our bed (not bad, not bad – a small plug for the Czech Inn Hostel). We were lucky enough to arrive just in time for the 6.00pm entertainment that the much talked about clock tower had to offer... a tad overrated but nice, oh and quite funny to see all the tourists with their cameras at the ready!!

Speaking of lucky, we also had timed our visit to the Czech capital to absolute perfection – Teychney was in town! It was so nice to have a beer and a meal (even if we were charged for margarine, bread, salt, sauce... you name it) with a wonderful chick – and what an infectious laugh!

The remainder of our time in Prague was spent strolling the streets, skipping out on a walking tour (boy was that guy frustrating), watching the AFL at our hostel (GO CATS!) and ended with a visit to the Prague Castle. Ok but not a must do... Thanks Praha!

Ahoy again in Austria

Our second home for over a year would say so long after many great memories. On the agenda for the last visit (for this trip) was some quality time in Hans and Gerty’s shack just outside of Vienna in Ollersbach, a nice couple day trek through the Wachau and of course Hans’s 75th birthday celebration.

The days spent lounging, dining and talking in fluent German and English were so very relaxing and exactly what we needed. Wasp collection counting was a particular interest with Hans and Gerty’s collector, obviously being of a higher quality red apple juice, out smarting the wasps on numerous occasions, just edging out Bee and Gerard’s collector on the less potent green apple juice. Talking about juice, the farms in Austria put on a great local spread for about two or three weeks a year for the locals lucky enough to be in the know how. Cider flows and fresh ham of every variety is available during this time at the actually place of production, that just happens to land itself on top of a hill (mound in Austrian terms) with a sunset view to go blind for. A visit to delightful Erlauf ‘See’ (lake in German), Mariazell (one of the most famous churches in Austria) and numerous villages in the Ollersbach region capped off a great few days.

A particular highlight of this trip was Hans’ birthday celebrated in true Austrian style with a family gathering at a wine festival - bringing in some of the best food Austria has to offer. Schnitzel wasn’t the choice this time, but after the ‘soft sausage’ it will be top of the list for the next visit... It was great to meet and see so many of the clan and share stories of travel and life at home on a fantastic afternoon.

Last on the list was two day trek through a region made famous for ‘housing’ Richard the Lionheart in his time in exile (be it for a couple months, it still happened!) – the Wachau. Durnstein itself was the starting point and after a quick bite and load of supplies it was off to climb some mountains that towered over the Danube river. A great couple of days, but relief was finishing, partly because of the feet but partly because we wanted to get back to Vienna to spend some more time with Hans and Gerty before our final goodbyes for 2011... Sob sob!!

Buda & Pest

We arrived in the Hungarian capital in search of a comfy bed, some local goulash and perhaps a beer or two, and we were not disappointed. We stayed at a wonderful hostel located in the heart of the city, a perfect base for exploring the city and indulging in the cheap tucker.

A walking tour (although not the best one we have ever been on) took us through the streets of both Buda and Pest, separated by the Danube. It was just so nice wandering around the streets... tagging along, taking photos – not a care in the world!

Major highlights: Fisherman’s Bastion, Castle Hill, Parliament and the lovely dinner at a beautiful local restaurant. Oh and an afternoon relaxing at the world famous Szechenyi Thermal Spa and Pools – pure bliss!!

Downfalls: trying to get the head around the Hungarian Forint after using the Pound and Euro. How can 20,000 only equate to about $6???

On to the train and off to Wien....

'Lovely' Liverpool

After the freedom of travelling around in a little jet car, we came smack down to earth with a visit to Liverpool. Lowest rate of recycling, top levels of unemployment and truancy were just some of the figures that hit you in head in the Liverpool Museum, this is after scrambling over the crowds adoring the section (75%) on the rivallry between Liverpool and Everton... Manchester, Liverpool similar basket really and if I were biblical I’d sent them down the river as well. Highlight of this part of Liverpool was visiting an Aunty and Uncle in Chester, a cute little town just out of Liverpool (mind you she loved the town because so many buildings over a couple of hundred years old were covered in black and white).

Not to dampen our spirits, was the fact that we thought we had a nice little apartment all to ourselves for the night, until some loud noises reverberated at 10.30pm up the stairs and turned our apartment into a six bed hostel... At first sceptical at these noisy Aussies who had taken the last train out of London, this was a warm welcome to the weekend of festivities that was ahead. B (a male with dreads to his rear and the loudest voice from the South, but hilarious), sidekick one (intellectually challenged Aussie miner, recently split from girlfriend) and sidekick two (Aussie girl, ‘stuck in London’) came crashing through the door.

The next three hours of shenanigans was immense. A summary:

• Sidekick one – broke up with girlfriend, planned trip around to Europe with mates, one mate turned up.

• One mate who turned up (B) came from Indonesia where he works as a link between locals and the mines, illegally. An Aussie working in Indonesia, ILLEGALLY!

• Sidekick one booked accommodation for B and him for 10 nights at Oktoberfest @ 100 Euro a night - each. B not happy.

• Sidekick two has allegedly been picked up by more girls than guys in London..... discussion ensues.

Bed 2am. Next day to rain we awake and welcome in the trip to Creamfields.... In slosh and mud up to the ankles, the next two days of camping, dancing, sloshing and sleeping were enjoyable to say the least.... Next stop Budapest for recovery and a much needed shower!