The second bank holiday weekend (gotta love two long weekends in one month) started when we had to get up at half two to catch our flight to Geneva. The good thing about leaving so early was that we landed at 9 and had the whole day in front of us to explore Geneva, an unexpectedly beautiful city. We saw the Jet d'Eau (massive water fountain), Flower Clock, and took a boat trip across Lake Geneva. Dinner that night included cheese fondue and a massive, albeit brief, hailstorm (great when you're eating outdoors). After surviving that we decided to treat ourselves to coffee, a shared banana split, and an evening watching the final of Eurovision (living on the edge I know).
The following day we hopped on a train out to Lausanne, which was absolutely beautiful. Sights to see included the Olympic Museum (Lausanne is the home of the IOC), the cathedral (quite a hike to reach), and the botanical gardens. The photos speak for themselves.
Our final day was spent visiting the United Nations building and the International Red Cross Museum, before stocking up on Swiss chocolate (to share with our housemates...hehe) and heading home to London.
Work is still going well for us both - it's looking as though I will stay where I am until the end of the year - I should be on a six month contract by July which will provide some security. Dave is still going strong at the pub.
We are planning to head out to Wimbledon or Greenwich this Saturday morning, and are planning to attend a Superleague game - Harlequins v Warrington - next weekend, and after that is the long awaited arrival of Brendan and Jess.
Hope all is well with everybody, go the mighty Roosters.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
"Is Anybody Listening....Does Anybody Care"
Our May bank holiday weekend in Belfast began when we woke up at 4am (a little early, as it turned out) to catch our 8.30am flight from Luton Airport (those cheap flights are always too early, I'm in denial about what time of the morning our flight departs for Switzerland - but I digress.) Upon arrival, we found our hostel (quite plain, but nice...and cheap), dumped our bag, and set off to explore the city. After a quick Tesco sandwich and a visit to the tourist office where we booked our Giant's Causeway tour, we headed off to the Shankill Road side of Belfast where there are murals depicting the Catholic/Protestant conflict. We then walked down to the waterfront via the Albert Memorial Clocktower, and crossed the bridge to check out the big arena complex (sorry, the name of it escapes me).
Next day was our tour. After filling up on a good breakfast at the lovely Causeway Cafe, we hopped on our coach. Our guide was very chatty on the microphone the whole day, occasionally punctuating his sentences with the wry remark 'Is anybody listening...does anybody care.' Yes, we were listening and we did care. Our first stop was Carrickfergus Castle, followed by the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge ('if ye are afeerd of heights, doon't be crossing the rope bridge'). We stopped for our lunch at the Causeway Hotel, before spending a good 2 and a half hours at the Giant's Causeway, clambering over the stones and taking many photos.
Our final day in Belfast was spent just strolling around the city. The May bank holiday is also the day of the Belfast Marathon, so we watched the runners go past for a while, before jumping on the airport shuttle.
Since then, we have been to the theatre at Covent Garden, and I have done a bit more exploring of London while Dave works at the pub.
Hope everyone is doing well.
The Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway
Carrick-a-rede rope bridge
At City Hall in Belfast
Next day was our tour. After filling up on a good breakfast at the lovely Causeway Cafe, we hopped on our coach. Our guide was very chatty on the microphone the whole day, occasionally punctuating his sentences with the wry remark 'Is anybody listening...does anybody care.' Yes, we were listening and we did care. Our first stop was Carrickfergus Castle, followed by the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge ('if ye are afeerd of heights, doon't be crossing the rope bridge'). We stopped for our lunch at the Causeway Hotel, before spending a good 2 and a half hours at the Giant's Causeway, clambering over the stones and taking many photos.
Our final day in Belfast was spent just strolling around the city. The May bank holiday is also the day of the Belfast Marathon, so we watched the runners go past for a while, before jumping on the airport shuttle.
Since then, we have been to the theatre at Covent Garden, and I have done a bit more exploring of London while Dave works at the pub.
Hope everyone is doing well.
The Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway
Carrick-a-rede rope bridge
At City Hall in BelfastThursday, May 1, 2008
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them
Those heroes that shed their blood
And lost their lives
You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country
Therefore rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies
and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side
Here in this country of ours.
You, the mothers
Who sent their sons from far away countries
Wipe away your tears
Your sons are now lying in our bosom
And are at peace.
After having lost their lives on this land they have
Become our sons as well.
Our 7 day tour of Turkey began on a Sunday afternoon in Istanbul. After collecting our tour shirts and being briefed by our guide, the 4 of us, accompanied by Central Coast local Matt, decided to skip the official welcome dinner in favour of a night on the town. What happens on tour....suffice it to say that a great night was had by all involved! (And Dave and Bec B on the motorbikes was a real Kodak moment.)
The next day was spent sightseeing around Istanbul. We visited the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, the Topkapi palace, the Underground Cistern and the Grand Bazaar. That evening we had a boat cruise on the strait between Europe and Asia - Turkey is the only country that straddles two continents.
Our first stop the next day was Gallipoli. The first thing you come across when they stop the bus is the huge plaque with the moving inscription above. We had a while to just explore on our own - the beach, gravesites and memorials, including the Australian memorial at Lone Pine and the New Zealand one at Chunuk Bair. After a solemn couple of hours, we headed to Ayvalik, where we stayed in a resort with a huge pool and BBQ area and rooms with spectacular sea views. After dinner and showers to freshen up, we headed down to check out the hotels' discotheque, complete with smoke machine on the dance floor. The following day was set aside for sightseeing in the remains of the ancient city of Pergamum. We also visited a carpet place, where we were shown the beautiful Turkish carpets. I made the mistake of pointing out one I liked, the Turkish salesman saw me, and proceeded to chase Dave and I all the way out to the bus giving us the hard sell. Although when I found out that a lot of the couples on our tour had expressed interest and been taken aside into separate rooms to haggle prices, I didn't feel so bad. That night a BBQ was put on for us at the hotel.
The morning of the 24th we set off at 7am, the result of much pestering of our guide and convincing him that we were very keen to be among the first at Anzac Cove. After a lightning stop to visit the ruins of Troy, we arrived at Anzac Cove at 3. Our persistence paid off as we were the third group in. We all grabbed good spots on the grass for our sleeping bags, only to watch those spots grow smaller and smaller as the night wore on and more and more people filed in. By the time we wanted to lie down and attempt to sleep we were shoulder to shoulder, and the announcer kept coming on the PA telling us to move up even more. Dave and I were only able to manage a couple of hours, at most. There was also stuff on the big screens all through the night. Dawn started to break around 5.15am, and the service began at 5.30. It is difficult to describe how emotional it is to be at Anzac Cove for the service. Just being there at the place where it all happened, wrapped in the flag and listening to the national anthem and the Last Post brought a tear to more than one eye. Afterwards we trooped up to Lone Pine for the Australian service, and then up to Chunuk Bair where the Kiwis had their service and most of us Australians crashed on the grass.
All up, a very memorable week. We got back home on Saturday, and for the past 4 days have had Fiona and Matt staying with us. Dave and I have gone sightseeing with them, although I only got in one day before I had to go back to work. That Sunday we went down to Lords and did a tour, saw the famous Beatles crossing at Abbey Road and went down to the Thames. It has been great having them here, we only wish London could have been a little kinder with the weather!
Saturday we are off to Belfast for the long weekend, so will update you again soon.
Love to all xxoo.
And lost their lives
You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country
Therefore rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies
and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side
Here in this country of ours.
You, the mothers
Who sent their sons from far away countries
Wipe away your tears
Your sons are now lying in our bosom
And are at peace.
After having lost their lives on this land they have
Become our sons as well.
Our 7 day tour of Turkey began on a Sunday afternoon in Istanbul. After collecting our tour shirts and being briefed by our guide, the 4 of us, accompanied by Central Coast local Matt, decided to skip the official welcome dinner in favour of a night on the town. What happens on tour....suffice it to say that a great night was had by all involved! (And Dave and Bec B on the motorbikes was a real Kodak moment.)
The next day was spent sightseeing around Istanbul. We visited the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, the Topkapi palace, the Underground Cistern and the Grand Bazaar. That evening we had a boat cruise on the strait between Europe and Asia - Turkey is the only country that straddles two continents.
Our first stop the next day was Gallipoli. The first thing you come across when they stop the bus is the huge plaque with the moving inscription above. We had a while to just explore on our own - the beach, gravesites and memorials, including the Australian memorial at Lone Pine and the New Zealand one at Chunuk Bair. After a solemn couple of hours, we headed to Ayvalik, where we stayed in a resort with a huge pool and BBQ area and rooms with spectacular sea views. After dinner and showers to freshen up, we headed down to check out the hotels' discotheque, complete with smoke machine on the dance floor. The following day was set aside for sightseeing in the remains of the ancient city of Pergamum. We also visited a carpet place, where we were shown the beautiful Turkish carpets. I made the mistake of pointing out one I liked, the Turkish salesman saw me, and proceeded to chase Dave and I all the way out to the bus giving us the hard sell. Although when I found out that a lot of the couples on our tour had expressed interest and been taken aside into separate rooms to haggle prices, I didn't feel so bad. That night a BBQ was put on for us at the hotel.
The morning of the 24th we set off at 7am, the result of much pestering of our guide and convincing him that we were very keen to be among the first at Anzac Cove. After a lightning stop to visit the ruins of Troy, we arrived at Anzac Cove at 3. Our persistence paid off as we were the third group in. We all grabbed good spots on the grass for our sleeping bags, only to watch those spots grow smaller and smaller as the night wore on and more and more people filed in. By the time we wanted to lie down and attempt to sleep we were shoulder to shoulder, and the announcer kept coming on the PA telling us to move up even more. Dave and I were only able to manage a couple of hours, at most. There was also stuff on the big screens all through the night. Dawn started to break around 5.15am, and the service began at 5.30. It is difficult to describe how emotional it is to be at Anzac Cove for the service. Just being there at the place where it all happened, wrapped in the flag and listening to the national anthem and the Last Post brought a tear to more than one eye. Afterwards we trooped up to Lone Pine for the Australian service, and then up to Chunuk Bair where the Kiwis had their service and most of us Australians crashed on the grass.
All up, a very memorable week. We got back home on Saturday, and for the past 4 days have had Fiona and Matt staying with us. Dave and I have gone sightseeing with them, although I only got in one day before I had to go back to work. That Sunday we went down to Lords and did a tour, saw the famous Beatles crossing at Abbey Road and went down to the Thames. It has been great having them here, we only wish London could have been a little kinder with the weather!
Saturday we are off to Belfast for the long weekend, so will update you again soon.
Love to all xxoo.
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