From Paris to Lyon, Barcelona and Monaco...

Hello Everyone, it takes more time getting on to a computer than i expected, so please forgive me cos i wish i could tell you everything thats going on, when it happens!

Lets try and start at the beginning... Well, since i left you last!

We packed up early morning after a great night out at the Caberet in Paris, we also saw the moulin rouge, which was a bit of a let down. not qwuite as good as i expected. (please forgive my spelling, i need to type quickly but this french keyboard makes it very hard!)
Caberet was fantastic, it was everything i expected it to be, the girls were fantastic dancers and it had great acts in it too, so with the champagne and other little treats, it was just awesome! After that, we headed back to our camp site and got to be for an early start!



Off to Lyon in the morning and when they say the day is a travelling day, they are not kidding! It is on the bus first thing in the morning, then 3 hours later, we stop for a toilet break and then it's back on again for another 3 hours, then lunch stop and back on again for another couple of hours. It's not a problem, cos there is such bneautioful country side, but my back side is numb a lot of the time!

We did make a stop on the way to Lyon in the Chataeu de cruix, that is owned and ran by Contiki, but we didn't get to sleep there. We did some wine tasting though and that was great, but i'd like to say that i am happily biased and we have beeter wine! this stuff is very dry!

After that we finished our journey into our campsite and stayed at a little campsite with the best host ever! His name was Stefano and he didn'ìt speak much english, but he certainly attempted to help us with our french. he was a great asport, set up a disco for us, gave everyone cheap drinks and really just proved that not all french people are ..... French!

Late to bed, after we amazed the tour manager that it could be so easy to have a huge night in such a small place, and up early for Barcelona. Another traveling day and lots more to see!On the way to spain, when we all weren't asleep, we checked out the different countryside. Also stopped off at the Pont du Gard, which is a massive aquaduct built over 200 years ago. Google it, if you like, it'ìs a wonder of the world! Then we got to Spain! Readed our campsite at 7pm and set up next to the beach - which stunk to high heaven of rotting seaweed. Anyway, was all good, sat up for a while and walked down to the beach, nice to see and then palyed games in the picnic area with tour mates. Aff to bed, for an early start to our day sight seeing in Barcelona.

First we did a walking tour of the Gothic Quarter, and because of our wonderful tour guide i now understand gothic and medieval and some of those things... Our tour guide is most amazing and has passion and enthusiasum about what he knows, so it's very interesting to hear him talk about it all!

Then a caught the underground with my 2 best tour mates and headed to the sangrada Familia, which is a church that has been in the middle of construction for over 100 years and won't be finished for another 50. JUST AMAZING! Google that one too!

Also got lost in the streets of barcelona, changed our clothes in a galati shop toilet and qwent out for the flamenco dancing night. Wow, thay knoe how to stomp alot!

(Sorry i'm being brief, but i need to hurry!)

Went down to the Port Olympica and had tea at a fancy little restuarnt and then headed off to our first night club experience! If i was a little worried we might get pushed around, i shouldn't have been, cos it's hard to compete with a tour load of aussies! Anyway, it was a great night that lasted til the wee houras and we causght a taxi home. Unfortunately my little friend had her bag stolen, so you really got to be so careful.

Anyway, up early the nexty day and i was sure it was leaving at 9am (after packing our tents up in the rain) but apparently it was 8:30 and my punishment for being 3 minutes late was the first one to have to do "coachioke"! This is where you stend up the front of the bus with the microphone and your ipod. You pick a song and start singing. ùYOU can hear the music, but no one else can.... NOT GOOD!

Thank goodness i managed to pull off the performance of I will survive.... but no one else has been late yet, so i haven't been able to see anyone else do it yet.

Off to French rivirea where it was pouring like we wish it would in Mildura and we put up our tents, with great difficulty then once we had finished, they offered us cabins! So i took that option. I'm not soft, but there is brave and stupid! I'm not stupid. So anyway, then we got our clothes washed and dried and our tents dried out too, packed them up and spent the day in Nice, a really nice place! Sight saw around the place, ate french fries on the beach of the medditerainein (so help me spell it!)and then had frogs legs for tea (so very tiny, but TASTES LIKE CHICKEN!) anyway, off to Monaco with all our glad rags on and saw the palace and went to the Monte Carlo Casino too. Amazing place but not very interesting, if you don't have a lot of $$$ to gamble.

Up early this morning and in the bus for a travelling day to Venice! A long day, but we are in Italy and it's very cool here. In fact its pouring with more rain and we were upgraded to free cabins YAY! very good, cos it is raining and pouring and thunder and lightening! Should be a great gondoloa ride tomorrow!

Anyway, on the drive, we stopped at Verona and saw a huge ampitheatre and Juliette's balcony from the shakespere play.

Here we are near Venice and i'm about to go join my friends at the bar!

Looking forward to hearing from you all soon!

Love you all and missing you, but I'm having a ball!

Sheri xoxoxox

Paris, the Grand old Dame!

Wow! Paris is way more amazing the London in terms of highlights to see! Though London has a much better public transport system! I'm about to spend my 3rd night here and i'm so glad i forked out the extra $$$ for the minus 5 sleeping bag, as the main conversations in the morning are about how much you froze the night before!
It's not so bad, i don't think, but i'm a seasoned camper and i do believe this helps!
Now, quickly, as i'm paying by card - what have i been doing???

We arrived from London on Tuesday and crossed the english channel by Ferry. I can so totally understand why that Dame sang about them becasue they are absolutely breathtaking! Thay are so high, the birds fly below them and so white, it's like talc powder! I was very impressed. Then after a long drive and some rivitting history lessons from Alex, the tour guide we made it into france. After tea (where i have the job of filling the wash bowls with water for 9 days) we went on a sight seeing tour. But not before we had to get into the spirit of it and eat Es Cargots! yes, the good old snail! We also drank some bubbly champagne, cos this is france and had lots of cheese! They certainly eat well over here!
Our sigh6t seeing tour was great, Effiel Tower, Notre Dame, um every thing. The opera house that Phantom is based in, the tower where Marie Antionette and Louis were held capative! so many things that i didn't think i would see!

ipn the morning, we were taken to Versailles where King Louis the 14th built this amazing palace for his residence and i can't even begin to discribe it. Such a pompous man who took so much money from his people and he didn't even share it! It was just amazing! Afterwards I went to the Lourve, and that was great - I spent 3 hours there and didn't see a 3rd of it, but it just all starts to blend together like a blur in your head, so you are better just to sit back and slow down and enjoy what you do see, rather than trying to squeeze everything in.

After the Lourve, we went to a French dinner with several bottles of different woines and 3 courses of fabulous french food - oh and an accordian player, because what french dinner would be complete with out one?
I have also managed to remember and meet all of the people on our tour, so that's great. They all seem to be a nice bunch and i think we'll get along really well for the whole tour.
After tea, we went back to the Eiffel tower and climbed it in the dark. Was brilliant to look aver the lights of the city of lights. Was also good to get Gary on the phone so i could have a chat seeing as my nephews weren't awake at the time! Happy birthday boys!
Today i have walked my legs off and climbed even more steps/1 Arc du Tromph this morning followed by a stroll down Champs Der Eillies and a walk to natre dame where we climbed the tower! Is there nothing without stairs here?
Anyway, my money is out! Off to see the Moulin Rouge tonight, and to lyon tomorroiw, so will write again soon! Locve you all!


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Sunday April 19th, 2009

Hello again, just a short blog for tonight.

Today I went out for breaky with Cherann to a little cafe' down the street and had a chocolate milkshake, now this is acceptable at that time of the day, but the chocolate over here tastes quite different from ours. I Like ours better, but the english disagree - i will spent time trying all sorts of chocolate around the world in the next 50 days!

Anyway after that, i went off to the london eye and took a ride, awesome views from every direction and plent of time to see it! I bought the map of the area, so i can remember where and what i saw.

After that i went to the Victoria and Albert museum and looked around, my goodness there is so much history to learn and so little time (and memory space...)

Righto, that will do for now!

Post me some coments slackers!

I have learnt.....

I have learnt..
1. That even though this country created the English Language, very few people actually speak it...
2. It is not only acceptable, but fashionable to wear slippers out in public...
3. Oyster Cards ROCK! (Public Transport tickets)
4. Anyone who takes the time to find out where you're from has a relation living some nearby...
5. London does actually have sunshine, despite what everyone says...
6. I have muscles that i never knew i had- and they are screaming in pain at too many stairs...
7. that you can be freezing and sweating in the time it take you to walk through a door...
8. that i am very happy to live in a country of 22 million, rather than a city of the same amount...
9. i have so many more things to learn!

My first 2 days in London

Wow, there is so much to tell you and i've only been here a couple of days! I'm absolutely buggered, but i'm seeing as much as i can and i'm being a really big girl! I just took myself off to the theatre to see WICKED, which was fantastic! but i should start from the beginning! Arrived here 5:30am Friday morning and met up with my friend from home by 8am. After some vegemite on toast, we headed out to look around. Cherann's been here for 4 years, so i had a great tour guide. After a starbucks (not sure what the really big deal is...) we headed off to St Paul's Cathedral and looked around there. There is so many steps to get up the top and it's just brilliant to imagine how old and how much history it all has, strange coming from a 221 year old country! so we looked around there and enjoyed the lovely London weather - raining, which was fine, seeing as i had forgotten what it looks like, then we headed off to the monument to the great fire of 1666, which aparently burned London to the ground (not the monument...) Anyway, another 300+ stept to get to the top and another magnificent view. Was Awesome! After that we went to the Borough Markets and looked around, then a couple of drinks and dinner at a quiet pub and off to the Tower of London for the Ceremony of the keys. That was great, really enjoyed it! After the delirium that set in due to lack of sleep, we headed home via tube and finally got some sleep, thanks to Cherann who religated herself to the floor, seeing as i'll spend 7 weeks on a Lilo! This morning, we got up early and headed off to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the Guard, loved the pomp and ceremony, but couldn't believe the amount of people there! Forgot to get my photo taken with the guards though, hopefully will do that when i get back to London. Afterwards with was Lunch by the Thames and then Cherann headed home and i took myself off to the Tower of London to see the crown jewels and torture chambers and display of armour and all things royal. That was a great experience, well worth the £17 which is about $40. ~As i was heading home, i found a sign offering last minute tickets to shows, and got one for this evening at Wicked. So i am pleased to have seen that now! Was brilliant, now i understand the raving about it from those who saw it in OZ (pardon the pun...). After that, i bravely attempted the Tube on my own AND SUCCEEDED! Even with closed stations, i got it right the first time (i did have some directions from Cherann, but i was impressed with myself! High Five! Well now it is 11:48pm and i have eaten my dinner that Cherann provided me with, from the flashiest supermarket I have ever seen and i'm quite tired. Tomorrow holds another day of unchartered territory and i'm hoping we'll get to Westminster Abbey, the London Eye and either Grenwich or Hyde park or something. Might even try to catch up with some more Mildurians! Anyway, love you all and i'm having a great time. Will write again soon. Love Sheridan xoxox

I have arrived in London

Hello from the other side of the world! I have arrived safely, thanks to Pat and Ted the lovely couple who i met at the Melbourne airport. They've kept me company and now am sitting on the floor of Cherann's lounge, awaiting my vegemite and cheese toast! Go figure :)

Tonight we are ging to the ceremony of the keys at the Tower of London, which should be exciting and I'm not sure what the rest of today holds, but for now it's breaky time!


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Singapore Airport!

Yes, I can here you say it... "what, she's blogging and she's only just made it to singapore?" It's 11:20 EST and 9:20pm singapore and it's 26 degrees here! I have met 2 lovely people from England and they are holding my hand so i do't get lonely, scared or lost, so that is wonderful. They also have to take the same train, so that's BONZA too!
Well, that will do for now, let the adventure begin!




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So exciting, but a little scary too!

Well, here i sit in front of mum's new computer... It's just starting to sink in that in 14 hours, i'll be heading off on my trip! So exciting, but a little scary too!
I've had family tea, and it's nice to say bye to all the kids, (and the adults...) and in the morning, it's full bore!
My bags are packed, i feel a bit like a turtle though, carrying my house on my back, cos it's a BIG bag, but i'm sure it will be within the limits (20kg).
Well, I'll catch you all again on the flip side! xox

14 Days to go!

Well, I have 5 days of work left, so the count down is on its home stretch in terms of days til holidays begin! I have started packing and now i have a huge list of things i have to do before I go, so hopefully it will all be done by 10am Thursday the 16th!
Yeah, and i couldn't help blogging again, as it's so much fun :)