Catch up

So time has been hard to come by which is not a bad thing but i thought it was high time that i updated starting with the beautiful Venice.

VENEZIA
I simply loved Venice, from the moment we stepped off the train the night we arrived. You walk out of the terminal and its simply wow. It almost doesnt seem like a real place, like its a movie set or a theme park or something. We then dragged our bags to our accomodation in Canareggio. The canal that our place is on is gorgeous. It was in this really cute little courtyard. I got to practise my Italian right away as the lady at the desk didn't speak any English. We then pretty much put our bags down on the ground and turned around again to find somewhere to have dinner. We ended up choosing a place with lots of crowds walking by so we could sit and watch the world go by.
The next day we just simply decided to wander. Everywhere you look is amazing. We ended up finding the Rialto area and then wandered through the many shops and canals and somehow found ourselves in San Marco's square. By this stage it was the heat of the day and there were thousands of people around. You couldn't really see the square much. We then started walking back through the many shops selling Masks, Glass wares, souvenirs etc. We then got lost in the maze of canals, even buying a map didnt help us too much... luckily though we happened to stumble across what become our favourite spot in Venice. Il Fondamento di Nuovo. Its a sort of boardwalk except not made of board right on the sea. It was so pretty and best of all it was shadded by the walls of the city. We ended up coming back here most days on our way home. Also because we could find our way back to our accomodation from here no worries. We sat at the waters edge for a while and let the water spray our feet. Our time in Venice was really sooo hot which tired you out quickly but it was hard seeing water everywhere and not able to go for a swim to cool down. In our accomodation we left the fan on all day so that when we got back late afternoon the room would be cooler. Most of our days in Venice followed this same sort of thing. Mornings wandering until early afternoon where we escaped for the afternoon. Then an evening usually with pizza (and on many cases some complementary Limoncello which we loved!)
We walked up to the very end of the island the next day were we had our packed lunch in the park and avoided the heat of the day. The views back towards San Marco from here were pretty awesome. I was also pretty happy to visit San Elena down the bottom there too. (hehe Im a saint). That evening we had a pretty amazing picnic at the end of our accomodations canal/street. We bought these folded pizzas from the corner store and walked down the end to a pier and watched the sunset. Was simple yes but still amazing!We were saving the next night, our last night, for one of the restaraunts along the 'fondamento' in our favourite spot.
The next day was spent shopping for souvenirs and presents for our families and friends back home. Shopping here is quite fun as there are so many little stores. They must do well because there were soo many and alot seemed to sell similar things. I then got a few opportunities to actually speak some Italian (most Italians had heard my accent and then gone straight back into English) when we tried to send somethings home to the post office and in a few of the shops.
Dinner that night was definitely a highlight for our time in Venice. The resteraunt was right on the water and it was great. After dinner we strolled back towards the Canareggio district where the shops were still open, music played and people strolled around like us. We then got some gelato and enjoyed our last hours in Venice.

ROME
After a long train ride through Bologna and Firenze we arrived in Rome. It definitely wasnt any cooler than Venice. We had a bit of hassle getting into our hotel after being given the wrong room, it was pretty late by the time we got there so we stuck pretty close to the hotel that evening, opting to do some much needed laundry.

The next day was Sunday so we headed to the Porta Portese down the south of Rome in the Canareggio district where there were some Flea markets. It wasn't so much a tourist place and was definitely attended by locals. It was definitely a good place to learn abit more about Rome. Erin got some good bargains.

So then after a look through the many market stalls we headed up through Trastevere, stopping for some gelato and across the river to the Campo de Fiori where there are usually fruit markets (except on Sundays). We had lunch here at the Il Nolan which we had to go to! We then continued up to the Piazza Navona another gorgeous square which used to be where the Roman games were held back in 90 AD (I learnt lots of Roman history while in Rome) anyway the square has these three huge fountains making it pretty spectacular. The next stop was just as amazing. The Pantheon. Now to be honest I've heard of the Pantheon but I never really cared much about it.. just thought it was a monument.. bit like the pathenon in Greece cause as a kid I got them confused.. actually I think I thought they were the same thing. Anyway the Pantheon is amazing. We rounded a corner and were just so taken aback. After walking through thin streets and little squares you walk around a corner and there is this huge amazing structure infront of you. When you walking inside it is pretty amazing too. I was really pleasantly amazed/surprised. We then had a similar reaction when just a few streets away we came across Trevi Fountain. It is just sooo big it takes up pretty much the entirety of the square it is in. The walking then continued as we headed up to the Spanish Steps and then up the steps to the Rome Metro where we caught a train back to our accomodation..

The next say we got up early to head to the Vatican Museum. Id recommend anyone to get up early and head there. It was amazing. There are some pretty amazing works of art there. I really liked all the Greek and Roman mythology behind most of the things too. The place is huge though. By the time we got to the Sistine Chapel we were starving. we ate breakfast at about 7am to get to the museum when it opened at 8am and we got to the chapel around 12:30pm. The Sistine Chapel wasn't as magnificent as we had been told all the time. Still amazing but every room had been and it wasn't as large as I immagined and you were crammed in like sardines to get in. Still it was something I wont forget anytime soon.

Our plan for that day was to go to the Basilica also but by the time we got out it was pretty close to 40 degrees celsius and there was a very long line so we decided to do it another day. So we decided to go back to our accomodation for the afternoon to rest and to get ready for an evening in Roma.

We ended up right in the middle of town for dinner. Just up from the Altare della Patria a big white national monument. We had some pretty entertaining waiters at this dinner. It was a pretty funny dinner just for that alone! After we escaped the waiters we walked around some of Rome at night to see some of the monuments lit up. We then finished at the Trevi Fountain where we had some gelato (hey when in Rome!)

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Rome.. for photos see my facebook page :)

Italy left London baby

Ok so we have spent ten days in Rome and Venice. Had a great time. The history there is amazing. I will post more about our adventures there soon. (I know ive been pretty hopeless) I will skip onto the Rome to London and London.
So we left Rome and headed to the Ciampino airport. There we had fun waiting in a long huge queue which i know cant be avoided in airports but this one was just to check in our bags and we waited 70 minutes. Over an hour. Then we had to go pay for luggage before we could get our boarding pass. This meant another 30 minute line. By the time we did all that then we were running very late after having got there early. After that the flight went pretty good and we arrived in London. It was so nice to have lines on the left hand side and to not feel like a dill trying to speak the local language or resorting to English. Most Italians didnt like to give you the chance to speak their language. They speak English at you. I used to fight them for the chance to speak Italian. Only on a few occasions when I said something that definitely wasnt in a guidebook would they oblige.
So we then caught a bus into the city of London itself. Even that was cool as we passed through most of the main sights. Tower Bridge, House of Parliament Big Ben, Westminster. Our hotel here in West Kensington is pretty great. Its a pretty good spot, close to everything but still pretty quiet. Yesterday we went and saw Buckingham Palace. With 50 million other people at the changing of the guards. Then we wandered up to Trafalgar square and Picadilly (yes we played Monopoly!) and then around SoHo and Oxford Street. Erin and I lost each other in TopShop. It was a very scary hour or so were both of us wandered and then eventually found each other.

Today we are going to see a show on Londons West End. The Lion King infact! We are also going to see Harrods. The next day is Monument day :) Having a blast here!

Venezia

Only a quick blog for now. Internet here is damn expensive. Time has flown here in Venice. I looove this place. I love the streets and its soo easy to just wander and lose yourself here. The best discoveries have been when we've been lost. It has been quite hot here and the water although sooo dirty has actually looked tempting. The heat has made it so. Erin and my favourite spot in Venezia is one on the edge of the island right near the sea. Its always cool there (in both sense of the word) and Erin and I have enjoyed watching the boats and the world go by.
Tomorrow morning we leave and head for Roma!

Leaving Austria

So we have come to the end of our stay in Austria. It is now pouring rain and we are just waiting around the bahnhof to board our train. It was a pretty interesting trip to the station with all the rain and us with all our luggage. We have dried off now and stopped laughing.
Luckily it didn't rain on us too much yesterday. We had an awesome day! We hired bikes from the accomodation and went for a bit of a tour. We found some pretty sweet shooting locations from the sound of Music too. The cool gardens they dance around, the back of their house- which looks like in belongs in Austen and the front of their house which we made a few locals laugh as we started running around the front of. When we had seen all that and rode around for a while and had lunch in town we went on a cruise (which was part of our card) and as we were doing that it started to rain.
We ended up gunning it back to the accomodation and were absolutely soaked by the time we got there.
So today we head to Venezia via Innsbruck and Verona. Its going to be a long day travelling. We'll end up in Venice around 9pm. So by that stage we'll be well tired! But Im looking forward to seeing some countryside out the window. And we have an our or so stop over in Innsbruck which i hear is pretty nice! Anyway till then! Ciao!!

Salzburg

Time is going way too fast. Two days have passed soo quickly in Salzburg. Its Sunday evening and my feet are killing me, we have walked a hell of a lot. Currently being a very diligient blogger as the place we are staying at has free internet for half an hour.

Saturday
A beautiful sunny day! Another one! I#ve finally experience some Summer weather here in Europe. It has seemed to rain alot for me otherwise. Not to say that it has never been warm or sunny. Just that there are only Sunny patches and then clouds.

So today we have seen plenty and walked far and wide. We headed down to the altstadt this mornin, just a short walk along the river from our hotel. We then visited the information centre and got these 'Salzburg Cards' which you can buy for 24 48 or 72 hours and they give you free transport and entry into pretty much every attraction around.

So in an effort to get everything out of our card we went to the closest one of these free attractions- the Salzburg museum. It was right across the road and we were definitely eager. The museum had quite a bit on historical figures and the history of Salzburg. Quite interesting to know the background of where we were but I think after the giant Residenz museum in Munich we were over the Museum quickly.

We went for a strool past the cathedral and the main squares. We stopped and grabbed some ice-cream cause we were a bit peckish at that stage. There was a giant chess board at this square so we had a quite a good time watching people play while we tucked into our Eis. We then caught the cable car up to the Festung Hohersalzburg which is a giant fotress up on a hill above the town. It had the most amazing views of the city. So after a walk around there for an hour or two we headed back down the hill to have some lunch and then we went back up the hill abit to visit the Nonnberg Abbey which is where Maria Von Trapp (the real one) was a nun. They shot some scenes from the movie there too.

We then headed back to our accomodation, stopping at the Birthhouse of Mozart (a very strange museum but kind of inspiring at the same time) before we were going to head out to the Augustine Brewery which was the hostels activity for the night. We seemed to be the only people that turned up for that though so we went for a stroll around town before deciding to give up and head back to our accomodation.

Sunday
Its another hot sunny day! I could definitely get used to this.

Today we took a bus a little way out of the city and headed to the Untersberg. WE caught a cable-car up the top of the summit. Another absolutely stunning view, this time much more higher up than yesterday's fotress.
So we went for a bit of a stroll around the mountain (no I did not burst into the Hills are Alive, but I was slightly tempted) We had a lovely lunch on the mountain. I did end up being very Aussie and did say 'Hows the serenity a few times'. There really was soo much serenity.

We then went and checked out Hellbrunn castleß which was owned bz a rather kooky emperor. He had trick fountains all around his gardens which sprayed his unsuspecting guest with water. The tour we did around there was a good laugh and it was perfect because it was pretty hot by the time we got there. The rest of the grounds were really pretty. I'd almost get into gardening (or be very rich and have someone do it for me). We even stumbled across the gazebo from the Sound of Music. Unfortunatley you can't get inside. So no reinactements. Erin did it around the outside. We've seen quite alot from Sound of Music now. Tomorrow we make it really official cause we are hiring bikes from our accomodation and are seeing the Von Trapp house and the Mirabell gardens. Im just excited to get back on a bike.

Im very excited to go to Italy in a few days too. It seems crazy to me that soon I'll finally get to go to the place where the Italian language is spoken. A language Ive been learning now for over 5 years. Everyone there will speak Italian. Awesome.

Augsburg, Munich and Salzburg

Am sitting here in Salzburg at our hostel. The sound of Music has just started playing here in the room. So here is a bit of a catch up. Didn't have any internet lately so Ive been writing my blogs for a later date.

AUSBURG; Ich liebe Dich
So the time came to say goodbye to the wonderful town of Augsburg, which has been my home for almost a month. I would recommend to anyone to come here. The middle/main part of town is soo gorgeous with its cobbled streets and all the shops. I've loved been able to just cruise my bike into town.
I also love training at the course. Its a lot of fun and best of all was free and there were three canals where you could train. Each very different. So I reallly never was bored. Back hoem in Australia I get bored quite quickly of the flat water.

So we had Tommy and Fritsi and their daughter Helene over for dinner on my last night in Augsburg. It was really good to catch up with them again and to hear all their exciting news about new family members, new jobs and new houses. Helene has grown so much since I last saw her in Australia. She is still so cute though.

On my last day in Augsburg, after paddling, I took my bike for one last spin around town. It was a really warm beautiful day so it was just soo great around town. Almost made me not want to leave.

Then that afternoon I said goodbye to the girls and headed out on the train to meet Erin

MUNICH
After eventually finding Erin at the very large Munich HBF, we took the short stroll with our bags to our accomodation, a hostel '4 U Munich' just one street away from the station. The place was pretty cool, and the room was just what we needed, full of Australians apparently- or so all the British people we met kept telling us- yet I only think we managed to meet one.

Once we settled in we went for an evening stroll down to the Marienplatz which is lined with streets, cafes and full of people.

The next day we got up early and took advantage of the hostels free breakfast (which unbeknown to them also provided lunch for us). We then decided to stroll down to the Marienplatz, as that is where alot of the monuments and the main Rathaus and glokenspiel are, so we could look around there before the Glockenspiel went off at 11am. The Glockenspiel is pretty much a very elaborate and large cookoo clock. Which enacts a huge big scene. Yet our one day in Munich happened to correspond with a large military demonstration/parade, with lots of VIP in attendance (apparently their PM was their).

So large areas of the city was cornered off and I swear every policeman, policewoman and officer in Germany was there in Munich. There were buses and buses full. It was pretty crazy. Luckily though we were early that morning and caught the Glockenspiel before it became really crazy. We went then off to the Royal Residenz where it wasn't quite so crazy.
This palace was absolutely huge. I was exhausted walking from room to room and very easily lost. I can't imagine what it would have been like living there back in the day. Would have spent most of my life lost! SOme of the coolest things we saw where some of the large ballrooms, a room with religious relics which was also slightly disturbing ( they had in these elaborate carvings bones and peoples skulls and even in the middle of the room there was likea baby mummy that was massacred by the order of herrod- look education trip, i learnt things!) and there were rooms full of crockery. I'm pretty sure mum would definitely been jealous of the plates they had there. The treasury room was pretty amazing too! After looking in there I've decided that I really would like an ornate gold sword encrusted with rubies, so if you're ever looking for a good present to get me :P)

We were pretty damn spent and hungry so we sat down for the lunch that we packed (thanks for the bread again 4 U Munich!) in the palace gardens. We went then went up fro a stroll to the Englischer gartens where we same some guys surfing in a small wave which made me wish for my boat and then we proceeded to get very lost.

Once we made our way out of there and got back to the accomodation we were so tired that we decided to go up the road to the cinema we heard about at the hostel and saw HArry Potter in English. I'd been really looking forward to seeing it for a long time so I was pretty excited to get to see it. Not very cultural i know but it was a relaxing way to rewind.

We ended the day having some pizza back at the accomodation and had a fun evening meeting fellow travellers from around the world and then ended up playing some Wii on the bar big screen.

This morning we headed to the train station to head here to Salzburg. I had a good giiggle because one of the trains had accidently failed to stop in time and had collided into the end of the platform. The platform came out the worst in this fight.

SALZBURG
Erin adn I are now chilling out here at Strawberry Youth Hostel. Tonight is movie night. Movie night is every second night and they always start off with the SOund of Music. Maria right now is having confidence. Anyway must be off. Till next time

Another week gone by

Wow this week has literally flown by!!
Most days have been spent training in the morning. If it is nice enough not to rain this we bike it to the course. Then middle of the day is usually spent in relaxing. I've enjoyed still biking around and exploring parts of Augsburg or biking it up to the internet cafe. I've read quite a few books this week as its so nice to sit out in the sun!
On Monday the girls had their rest day so we went out on the town... shopping! As I had already been walking around town for my first week I knew where all the good stores were. We also checked out the Rathaus (Town Hall) and the Goldener Saals (The golden Hall) which is pretty cool. The town hall is in the middle of the town. Its pretty much all been rebuilt as the original was pretty heavily bombed during World War 2. The Hall is amazing. The ceiling is made entirely of gold and frescoes. Its a pretty impressive scene. Later that night too we finished off our day by biking back into the middle of town for some yummy ice-cream!
Tuesday it was back into training and I definitely enjoyed that rest! It was also my turn to make dinner. So when the girls went of to do another gym session. I decided to go for a stroll around to see what I could find for dinner. I ended up getting quite inventing and decided to make homemade kebabs. Turned out alright. I think I could open up a kebab store back home!
My amazing dinner was topped off with some ice-cream in town again with some of the other paddlers here. They are part of team Amadonsa which is a pretty cool concept. They paddle for all different nations but work together in training and with getting coaching. So we had a really nice chat to them, although sometimes one half of the table was speaking in English and the other French. I love how everything over here is so multi-lingual. Guess I am such a language student still!
Wednesday saw Heather arrive in Augsburg and join our girly apartment. Heather is just recently engaged (Big Congrats to Heather) and so we decided that a celebratory drinks and dinner was in order. We went out to a place quite near where we are staying called "Joe Penas' Mexican". We though seeing it was a Wednesday it wouldnt be quite busy but the place was packed. We only just managed to scrape a table thanks to Heather's brilliant German skills. Was a really great night. Again we went into town for some ice-cream. I don't think I've ever been sooo full in my life after that night! Was great fun and I really love the fact that you can just hop on your bicycle to get anywhere.
So the last two days have been busy paddling and then resting in between. Roz,Kate and Leanne are of to Oetz for the weekend to get some river runs in so the apartment will be quite quiet for the next couple of days. Then only a few more days here in beautiful Augsburg until I meet Erin in Munich to start our touring of Europe. First stop Munich! Erin arrived here yesterday and I can't wait to see here and be really touristy. People here keep thinking i'm a local which is kinda cool but I really want to be a tourist now. I'll head up to the net cafe tomorrow and add some pictures. Especially of my sweet wheels :)

After speaking to Mum and Dad on skype I have only a few minutes left.
Last couple of days has been good.
Bought myself a bike which I think I mentioned. It is a kids siyed bike apparently.- thats what I was told by the man I bought if off for 50 Euros at the bike store. He said 'This bike is too small for u'. When I got on it and it was the perfect size I didn't know whether to be proud or incredibly embarrassed. The bike goes pretty well though. The girl and I all have a bike now so we have been biking it to the course everyday twice a day to go training.
The apartment is pretty good too. We have plugged my ipod into the video projector of the AUstralian team and have been enjoying some movies in our down time! Not too shabby eh?
Have finally got on the course too. Bloody brilliant! I love it! I was very kindly given soem gear to use by Ciaran and by Tommy. Champions. The gear is too big for me but I couldn't care less its great on the water. The big gear means I get tired a lot quicker but I don't mind!!
Anyway must be off. As I think I have probablay a minute left on my net time!
Ciao! Till next time

Augsburgers with fries

Have now moved from Tiinas fantastic apartment to the north of town. I am staying with a few Aussie paddlers and now I have finally managed to get some gear am so very very happy. The sun is shining here at the course this afternoon where we are taking advantage of the free wireless. Our accommodation is pretty basic but I have my own room and last night I slept in a bed for the first time since I've been over here ( I think maybe Tiinas couch was just as comfy but a bed's a bed)
Bought myself a bike today. Firstly before you get too worried its a safe childs bike. I went to the bike store with Leanne today who had to repair her bike and found this small secondhand bike for 40 Euro. I thought it looked to be a perfect size for me so I decided since we'll be getting around on bikes its pretty damn perfect. I went and asked the guy at the counter to buy it and his reply was "Thats a kids bike, it is too small". Yeah I dunno whether I should have been smug or embarrassed when I got on and its my perfect size. So now I have a much safer way to get to the course each day. Well safer than my previous biking experience.
So I am here now for two weeks before Erin arrives in Munich and we start our travels. I can't wait for her to get here! In the meantime I am making myself very tired training hard. I bypassed the second paddle today as my muscle are kind of hating me right now and I think I want to take an evening jog (ok more likely stroll). Hopefully we'll get some travels in while we are here too. There may be a few days in Oetz coming up. Its a possibility.
Anyway must be off. Little Internet time soo much to do! I'll try hard tomorrow to get some photos up. Cause whats the fun in blogging with just words??

World Cup

This weekend gone by was the third Canoe Slalom World Cup race here in Augsburg. Was definitely a great weekend. Racing was exciting, especially yesterday in the womens where if you didn't 50 (miss) a gate you were pretty much in the finales.Sarah Grant an Aussie managed to get into the finals which was really exciting and Roz managed to win the ladies C1 event so there was plenty to cheer about. Has been great seeing some familiar faces from back home and the world paddling community.I am enjoying it much more now that i have people to hang out with. Also finally managed to get me a boat to borrow from Thomas. Now just the rest of the equipment! I guess i could try no deck and paddle but i dont think i would go so well! Have been out to dinner a few times now aswell.. mainly to an Italian Trattoria where I actually tried speaking to the waiters last night. I think i did alright until I forgot the very simple word for 'have', luckily i remember it a few seconds later. I found my Italian was much better the night before when I talked to a few of the Italian paddlers. Apparently a drink makes it easier!
So today I move onto an appartment somewhere in town with a few Aussie girls, Kate and Roz Lawrence and Leanne Guinea. I am very grateful that they have let me stay with them. Staying here in Tiinas apartment has been amazing. She has such a beautiful place and she has been so lovely so a BIG THANKS TIINA!!
Anyway I have to make sure I've packed everything now. Until next time