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August - October 2016
A 61-day adventure by Michelle Read more
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  • Michelle CreasyEurope
    Day 1

    Definitely Not To The Manor Born

    August 24, 2016 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    I'm writing this blog for my family anf friends to follow while I'm away. It is likely to be long, rambly and mundane in parts but that is me.

    I'm flying business class. Not because I am overly wealthy (it would be first class then) but because I don't like flying; I find flying extremely uncomfortable and sitting in a cramped space means trouble for my knees, hips, back and neck.
    So when I planned this trip business class airfares and 1st class train trips were put into the budget.

    But I'm such a dork! I could deal with sitting in the backseat of the car that picked me up. Seriously, Emirates will pick you up and drop you off when you fly business.
    Coming to the business lounge though, my lack of experience in the finer things in life shows.

    All I wanted was a drink of water. I have a cold, the Dr told me to stay well hydrated on the plane to help combat DVT and I'd been running around for the last couple of hours so I was thirsty. There was plenty to drink - alcohol, juice, cool drinks, tea and coffee but I couldn't see a jug of water. Turns out it is in little bottles - I'm on my third 😀.
    I hadn't planned to eat anything as we get two meals on the plane but then remembered I hadn't lunch so thought I'd have some soup. So I picked up my bag, coat and backpack and took it all up to the servery, looking for a bin for my little bottle on the way because I was taught not to leave mess for others to clean up. I didn't find one but the lovely staff member who showed me where the water was took it for me.
    Then I saw the soup. Cream of zucchini. Not quite what I was hoping for.
    "No worries, I'll have some other food" I thought, I was about to pick up a tiny bowl to put my food in when the same staff member showed me where the plates were hiding. So I sat up at the table and had my meal. It was only when I'd finished and once again relocated I saw most other people with their food and drinks at the comfy chairs.
    I have two hours to practise being business class before i get on the plane.    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyEurope
    Day 3

    Stranger in Strange Lands

    August 26, 2016 in England ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    I made it to London, via Dubai.
    I was patted down in Dubai as I went through secruity. I still don't know what set the machine off but it was a bit disconcerting to be beckoned to a small cubicle by a female security guard to be patted down, especially as I had to leave my belongings behind. It really brought home to me that being a female travelling on her own can have it's difficulties.
    I even questioned whether I should get into a lift with two men (I did and we travelled up one floor uneventfully).

    London has surprised me on several counts.
    There are so many people around. The wide footpaths are full with people, enough to remind me of the Royal Show on a slow day. Given the population is over 8 million it shouldn't have been so unexpected.
    There are lots of people smoking on the streets and the cigarettes smell different (more herby maybe?)
    The rubbish bags on the streets and in dooorways. Why is this better than wheelie bins? Who picks it all up?
    The street signs are painted on the buildings. It just looks weird.

    I did a hop on hop off bus tour this afternoon, I had a good view of central London.

    Photos:
    London eye from the other side of the river
    Big Ben
    River Thames
    Red bus
    Street signs    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyEurope
    Day 4

    If I only had a fridge...

    August 27, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    A long day today. I'm writing this in a little Korean restaurant as I know I will be too tired when I get back to the hotel.

    I had a river cruise included in my Hop on Hop off tour and so made my way to the London Eye Pier. I had to walk past the London eye, saw the queues, thought "no way" then saw the fast track and thought "why not".
    The views were great. The pod/capsule wasn't crowded but I am glad I didn't wait for half an hour or more.

    From there I took the river cruise down to London Bridge. The cruise was lovely, if a bit short. The guide had a great sense of humour and on his recommendation I decided to give the Tate Modern a miss (half a cow wrapped in plastic, a pile of bricks arranged to look like...bricks). I hadn't actually planned to go anyway.

    Next was the Borough Markets. Like tbe Queen Victoria markets but so much better.
    There was raw cheeses, raw milk being sold as raw milk, cheese direct from the maker. There were butchers selling any British meat and all the game you can think of. Olives, truffles, breads, fruit and so much more.
    I could have bought so much, if I only had a fridge to store it in. I had to be content with lunch of an icecream, game burger and fruit juice as well as looking forward to Paris where I have an apartment.
    From the markets I went to Shakespeare's Globe theatre but disappointingly there was a performance on and so I couldn't go inside.

    I got lots of advice before I started my trip (which I welcomed). One piece I wish I had followed, the other I'm glad I ignored.
    Someone told me not to worry about packing too many clothes as I could just buy stuff over here. I do 90% of my shopping at one store so wasn't confident I'd find much here, and it would be too hard to find anything.
    Oxford st has everything. I did a (little) bit of shoping in Evans and could have bought more but I just bought a short sleeved top.

    Someone else told me not to bother with the underground as it was hot, dirty and difficult but I found the short trip quick and easy.

    A trip to Selfridges completed my day, except for the aforementioned Korean restaurant which was very nice. I found it be simply decided to walk down the street and turning into a sidestreet.

    Photos
    Butcher at the markets
    View from London eye
    Tower bridge
    Salami
    Oils
    Underground    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyEurope
    Day 4

    An Impressive Nation

    August 27, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    This is a rambly post so in summary:
    Westminster Abbey - amazing
    Greenwich with Caroline - amazing
    The Bodyguard - amazing

    I'm writing this in the hotel bar as I wait to leave for "The Bodyguard". I had originally intended to see a show last night as I am in the West End. I was so tired I didn't even consider it. It was an effort to go out for dinner.
    Why The Bodyguard? It was my favourite movie ever and ... Actually I chose it because the theatre is just up the road, I didn't have anything I really wanted to see and as I perused my options I thought a musical would be good. I could also buy my ticket as I got off the bus.

    I promise I won't buy a box of chocolates and rustle the papers (can someone please tell me which book that is from, I keep thinking The Ballet Family or Ballet Shoes). On a similar note I walked past Bloomsbury Square gardens and had an urge to dance. Rest assured I didn't.
    [Edit: No-one had boxed chocolates but they did bring their drinks and snacks it. I think I live in the wrong century.]

    I started the day at Westminster Abbey.
    Wow. The building is so old and so impressive. I could have done without the crowds but it was still manageable. I think my favourite (not sure that's the right word) graves were of Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I. They didn't get on in real life so bury them one on top of the other so they will be together in death. Mary Queen of Scots has her grave exactly on the other side of the Abbey to Elizabeth.
    The actual building is incredible, as are so many of those that I have seen.
    I've never really thought to much about England as a great nation. I know at one stage they controlled a large portion of the world (and indeed all my ancestors are British and Irish) but as an adult I've given more thought to those whose lands they colonized rather than how they did it.

    I met up with my friend Caroline today. We think it has probably been 13 years since we saw each other.
    She met me at Westminster Abbey and after my first cup of tea in England we headed to Greenwich, at Caroline's suggestion.
    The boat trip down was quite quick despite the long stops at several piers.

    After a lunch in the park, which was brown, no greenness here however England is in the middle of a heatwave we went to the National Maritime Museum. Apart from seeing the jacket Nelson was wearing when he was shot, complete with bullet hole we saw some of England's naval history. The boats were were feats of engineering and the paintings gave context.
    We also saw some of the amazing buildings.
    The painted hall and chapel were breathtaking.
    Unfortunately I just missed the last boat to the Thames barrier so just came back up the river.

    I'm now in a little Italian restaurant having dinner. The Bodyguard was amazing. I think it's the first musical I've since I saw Grease at the Burswood Dome in the 90s. I must go more often.

    I can't work out how to add comments to the photos so they are:
    Cloisters at Westminster Abbey
    My cup of tea
    The Painted Hall at Greenwich
    The organ in the Chapel at Greenwich
    Dominion Theatre    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyEurope
    Day 6

    Service at St Pauls

    August 29, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Fantastic day today. I started at the Museum of London. Unsurprisingly it gives a great history of London. I spent an hour there going from pre Romans up to the Victorians before going just up the road to St Paul's.

    I attended the Sung Eucharist service and it was one of the highlights of my trip so far. It was certainly a different style of worship to what I am used to. The Cathedral is magnificent, very different to Westminster Abbey. As I was there for a service I didn't take any photos inside.

    The place is large that the voices of the Deacon and Canon echoed throughout the Cathedral as they spoke.
    The majority of the service was sung by the choir, the usual choir is on holiday so it was a visiting choir we heard.
    We were handed an order of service as we entered so I could follow along.
    You'll be please to know that I didn't repeat the faux pas of years ago when instead of offering the greeting of "peace be with you" I was telling people "pleased to meet you"
    Communion was held at the end of the service. I could not bring myself to drink from the communion cup, instead I dipped my wafer in. I know that the cup probably held less germs that what I picked up during the rest of my travels today but I still couldn't do it.

    After the service I returned to the museum to follow London up to the present day.
    I then went to Harrods, more about that later and finished the day sitting in Hyde Park watching the world go by. I didn't see much of the park but what I did see was lovely.
    Photos:
    St Pauls
    St Pauls
    1st car in London?
    1920s dresses
    Hyde Park    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyEurope
    Day 6

    A Post Of It's Own

    August 29, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Harrods is so impressive I thought it deserved it's own post (plus I'm only allowed 6 photos per post).
    Getting there was easy, the underground is great although it was a lot busier today than yestetday.
    Getting from Knightsbridge station to Harrods was easier said than done. Between googlemaps not being quite sensitive enough when using walk mode and me having lost all sense of direction I walked twice as far as I needed to.
    A side note - I never realised how much I used the sun to guage my bearings. I was really struging until Caroline pointed out the sun will be in the south, now I just struggle sometimes.

    Well there is no sun in Harrods so I don't have that excuse for getting lost in there. I'm sure one of the reasons everything is so expensive is that you'll buy almost anything if they'll tell you how to get out.

    It was very crowded but I expect that now. I started in the food hall. The cheese! I bought a lobster club sandwich to have when I was finished. There is a photo below of the price/100g of steak. Incredible prices.

    I wandered through perfumes and modern art (neither what I wanted to see) until I found the household goods section and the books. I had a good wander round. Near the gift registry I realised I nothing seemed to have a price on it. The first thing I looked at was the peacock in the photo below. £69,000!!!!
    I then found a cutlery set for about £23,000. Incredible and if I'm honest, a little distasteful.
    The crockery section was amazing. I took these photos for you Jodie but don't expect me to bring anything back for the next high tea.

    Coloured glasswear seems to back in fashion mum. Did you keep all yours?
    And Margaret I'm guessing its been a while since you were at Harrods? The toilets were a big disappointment. Iv'e seen better ones at wineries down south.
    It then took about 30 minutes to find my wayout. The place is huge.

    Photos:
    Cups and saucers
    Steak prices/100g
    Cheese!
    More dining sets
    Coloured glasseear    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyEurope
    Day 7

    Very fast trains

    August 30, 2016 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Today was a travel day. The Eurostar to Paris and the TVG to Munich (I hope, we are currently stopped somewhere between Ulm and Augsburg).

    The Eurostar was great. I hadn't realised French passport control is at St Pancras. The trip went smoothly and quite quickly, mostly because I hadn't factored in the 1 hour time difference.
    I arrived at Gare du Nord and managed to find my way to Gare de l'Est with the help and hindrance of google maps.
    In my short walk my main impression was lots of people and not very clean (to be fair the area around most major train stations probably isn't very clean.
    Everyone speaks English, as everyone said they would. People have been very helpful and I didn't encounter any disdain for only speaking English. I just say merci a lot.
    The other thing that surprised me, and again maybe it shouldn't is the visible security presence. There was three army(?) guys walking around, each with a big rifle sized gun. As I got on the train there were police and rail security watching us approach the train.
    The TGV has also been very comfotable. The woman in the seat in front of me and I both managed to sit in the right seats in the wrong carriage. The poor teen boys whose seats we were in were very gracious.
    There is a group of young women a few seats up who I really want to go and give the spare headphones I got from the hop on hop off bus. Every hour or so they play music for a few minutes
    We are on the move again. Hopefully we won't be too late getting into Munich. The hotel is a mile up the road from the main train station.
    Photos:
    On the Eurostar
    Crossing the Thames
    French countryside
    Gare de l'Est
    Crosding the Rhine
    German town with a huge cross on the top of the mountain    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyEurope
    Day 8

    Activist Juice

    August 31, 2016 in Germany ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    A slower day today. I am writing this in a beer garden in the English gardens. More about that later.
    I started the day with a hop on hop off bus.
    Last night I walked from the train station to the hotel but with sore feet from all the walking I did in London I wanted to save the walking for touristy things, not getting there.
    The tramline right outside the hotel is being dug up (although I found out later there is a replacement bus) but there is a train station a few minutes from the hotel that takes me into the main station. It took me about 5 minutes but I eventually managed to buy myself a 3 day ticket.

    The sightseeing bus was just okay. The sights are wonderful but the commentary was about 30 seconds behind the bus so somethings were missed. I do have a good idea of the city, there aren't the crowds like I saw on London, given the population is 1.8 million no wonder it feels similar to Perth crowd wise.

    After the tour I made my way to the Viktualienmarkt which is an open air market that sells a lot of bratwurst. It sells much more that that but wurst shops must have made up 1/4 of the shops.
    I received my first "God's greeting" at the market.

    From now until I get to Dijon my posts will most likely contain references to The Chalet School series I read as a child and continue to read as an adult. If you aren't one of the small group who recognise these then ... I don't know, just pretend you do?

    I had bratwurst and krautsalada (badically a cheese kransky and cabbage salad) for lunch at the market.

    The two apps I use most are google maps and now itranslate. Itranslate was very helpful today at the market. I was trying to translate the ingredients in a fresh juice, orange was easy, erdbeere is strawberry but I misspelt ananas and it came out activist! It was actually pineapple.

    I bought several cheeses, ham, liverwurst, olives, tirol schuettelbrot (a really hard flat rye bread but nice), dip, brambleberries, figs, yoghurt and probably other stuff I haven't mentioned.

    There was only one place where the server didn't speak english, she was the one who gave me the first "gruss gott" and I managed to make myself understood and bought some alm butter.

    It was a really nice day until about 3pm or so when it started to get hot. I finished up and came back to the hotel.
    This evening I packed up my purchases and went to the English gardens for a picnic. Rather than gardens it is more of an english park in which you would expect to find deer.
    When the bus entered the park I saw how dense it was in parts so decided to get off one stop earlier where the beer garden was and there were lots of people.
    To give you an idea of the size it has more than 70km of paths.

    As the sun went down I made my way to the beer garden and decided to have a drink. I bought a pretzel as well which I'll have for breakfast.
    The beer garden is the place to go if you want meat and lots of it. People had plates with half a chicken or a massive shank, some just that while others had sides as well.

    Photos
    Berries
    Nymphenburg Castle
    Juice
    Cheese
    Just to prove that it is me - relaxing on the english gardens.    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyEurope
    Day 9

    Oh to be a royal Baravian

    September 1, 2016 in Germany ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    I spent most of the day at Nymphenburg palace today. It was the summer home of Baravian rulers and would have been lovely to live there throughout summer. The buildings are opulent and I can't say the decore was generally to my taste but the grounds! They were so cool even though it was warm in the sun.

    Once I was done I made my way back to the English gardens. This time to the Surfer's wave. The bridge contruction over the Isar resulted in a permanent wave. The signs say it is only for experienced surfers but I am not sure how you become an experienced surfer in Munich. The gardens are so lovely. The spot were I was today had many people sunbathing and playing in the river.

    Lauguage mix up of the day: I had lunch at the palace. The kiosk by the restaurant was self service so I took a tray, lift the lid on a pot to see what was inside (hot potato salad?) I was severely told off by the woman behind the counter. Apparently self service is you take it to the table, not serve yourself from the kiosk.

    Photos:
    A stream at Nymphenburg, my favourite photo of the day.
    Inside the great hall
    Looking from the palace into the gardens
    The dog accommodation in the hunting lodge
    Surfer's wave
    Isar river in the english gardens    Read more

  • Michelle CreasyEurope
    Day 10

    A day of contrasts

    September 2, 2016 in Germany ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    I started the day at Dachau concentration camp. I won't say much but it was a very sobering experience.

    From there I went to Dachau palace. The building wasn't open but the gardens were. They were gorgeous. An old orchard, rose garden and overgrown linden trees. Its up high and had views to Munich and the alps, including the Karwendal range which is where I'll be next week.
    I had a look around the town of Dachau, it is a very pretty town.

    This evening I went into Marienplatz for tea. I found a Baravian restaurant in a building that was over 400 years old.
    I had chanterelle dumplings followed by spatzle with cheese. It was all very nice.

    Photos
    Entry to Dachau concentration camp
    Memorial
    Linden trees
    Dachau town
    Marienplatz
    Atler Hof restaurant    Read more

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