Day 14 31 July

Our day around Prague with the tour guide was so good. We walked at least 7 kms and the history was so interesting.  NZ is a really young country by comparison.  We spent a lot of time at Prague castle and around the St Vitus Cathedral.  There were crowds of people and it reminded me of the time we spent in Rome.  It is summer holiday break in this part of the world.  Our medieval meal was an experience.  We went down into the bowels of the building, dark and candlelit.  The food, simple yet tasty consisted of a nourishing thick soup and a hearty meat and verge of choice.  The boat trip gave us good views of Prague - narrow canals, river and evidence of 2002 flood when the bridge collapsed. We finished our day at the Jewish quarter and that was another story.  The German influence was evident throughout as was the separation of Czechoslovakia into Czech Republic and Slovakia.  There is so much we do not understand.

We were weary and had a good rest on return to the Hotel before enjoying a light meal.  Early night for us tonight.  The weather today was not as hot. The expected rain did not come.

Tomorrow we will venture out again and of course we need to prepare to leave for Paris on Friday.

I found the history shared today by an outstanding guide had me interested throughout the day. Not having a background in history learning or reading it was a challenge. His knowledge and presentation skills made the 6 hours and the 7 kms enjoyable. Faye was in her element and together we had a an eye opener. Prague offers so much in so many ways. It is any experience to be hear.

We are becoming more confident as the days pass.  It is two weeks today since we left NZ. We are taking it day by day. Success is a journey not a destination!

Day 13

Enjoying Prague.  Weather has broken with some rain and cooler temperatures to just about 25 instead of 41 degrees.

This is a beautiful city with lots to do.  We went shopping today and strolled through one huge mall of 200 shops.  Found shirt and jacket for Simon but could not find any suitable shorts.  Things are so much cheaper here compared with the NZ prices.

Tomorrow we have booked a tour - 6 hours to see Prague Castle complex, lesser town area, old town area, Jewish quarter.  We are promised lunch in a medieval restaurant dating from 15th century, a 40 minute boat trip, a typical Czech meal.  It is forecast to rain but it will not be cold.

We still spend a lot of time sweating over the currency.  Had to buy Czech money, could not use Euro.  The hotel is meeting expectations - food and room ideal.  

We have reflected a great deal over Budapest and found it a very interesting place.  I think the very hot weather slowed us up and the hotel hospitality did not encourage or excite us greatly.  The streets varied from those with lovely outdoor eating places to depressing, dusty and uninviting venues.  It may have been different over the river.

In all,  a most enjoyable day.  Off to have a quiet meal In the hotel and an early night.  Have yet to work on the Skype experience.  Maybe Thursday morning, NZ evening time?  We as following the news by the Herald site.  Hope to take photos tomorrow and include them on the blog - next learning for us.

Love to all.

Day 12 29 July

We note that yesterday's blog is still sitting to be sent.  We had trouble with the wifi at the hotel so  you will probably receive both together.

We write this on the train to Prague.  No wifi on this trip.  We were up early, good breakfast and taxied to the station.  Had a few concerned moments as no one was available to help us with directions.  There were people everywhere but no one spoke English.  We finally made it with a little help and an overly enthusiastic guard who insisted he change our Hungarian money to euros!  I think we may have lost on this deal!  He was very helpful with the luggage and liked the tip.

Once again the first class travel is paying off.  It is extremely HOT and the air conditioning although struggling is very welcome.

We left Budapest on time and have passed through a wide variety of countryside, some good farming, some desolate.  Our europass did not cover Slovakia so had to pay 53.20 euro to the guard.  Just as well we had it with us!  It is a six hour trip and I believe the temperature is up over 40 degrees. 

Will pick this up again tonight once we are settled in to our hotel.

Prague

We were met at the station and are now at the hotel and it is superb.  It has air conditioning, and is well appointed.  It will be a good place to take some time out.  We have been surrounded by different cultures and experiences and today's trip was quite long.  Bistro tea is available here at the hotel so we do not need to go out.  

All trains have been different.  Today we were in a six seater cabin with another couple. They were  psychoanalysts from Argentina.  Spoke a little English and very pleasant.  We travelled through a lot of agricultural land, irrigation, crops, evidence of war, many villages.  Train is the way to travel if you want to see things.  Auckland could learn a lot from Europe - trains and bikes!  

Hope first day at school went well.  Good to hear from you all. 

Day 11 28 July

An extremely hot day.  Slept well, good breakfast, mass at 11 am, not that we could understand the readings or the sermon!  The church is so ornate, so historic.

We walked to the Danube and explored a market but did not buy anything.  We gave up and decided that we really needed to get out of the intense heat, so returned to the hotel to read and rest.  We had a super lunch and tea all outside - really good food and service.

Hope the photos got through. This iPad is in constant use.  We will now pack for tomorrow and think about taxis and luggage and getting on that train.

We have enjoyed our stay here, know there is much we have not seen but are very satisfied with what we have achieved.  Everyone comments on the beauty of Prague so we are looking forward to that.

Hope all is well with everyone.  Will be in touch tomorrow.

Day 10 27 July

It was too late last evening so we write the blog after breakfast on the 28 July.  We have yet to work out a time to Skype. Our day went slowly and quietly as it was excessively hot and not a day for walking around.  We visited the museum briefly, enjoyed a lunch in a garden area and took some photographs which I will attempt to send.  We had a lovely meal and were serenaded by a violin, cello and guitar - had to tip of course!  Have finally found a Catholic Church so will go to 11 am on Sunday.

There were no shops open not that we looked too hard.  Shop windows are minimal - you have to go in to quite often dark rooms etc.  We are going to bed quite early and sleeping well.  I am enjoying my kindle and on to my third book.  We miss the newspaper but have found some contact with the western world through BBC world programme.  We noticed the low temperatures in NZ!

It is busy here this morning as people are moving to the Hungarian Motor Grande Prix.  Thought we would give this a miss!

We miss our toast and find the white bread rather dry.  Plenty of fruit which is good.  

Have just checked this blog and noticed I have left the l out of blog in my first sentence - need to change that!

Thanks for comments.  Always good to know what is happening.  Best wishes for Term 3.  Hope all goes well.  Love from the travellers.

Day 9 26 July

Our train trip from Salzburg to Budapest was so comfortable.  What a way to go!  We hit 225 km/h at times.  Budapest is so hot and we are told that it could hit 41 degrees tomorrow.  The hotel is very modest, a cog down from Salzburg except it has air conditioning.

We were met by a driver as planned and he could speak English so we were given a good bit of background to Hungary, two cities we are told divided by the Danube.  The first thing we did was to go in search of some Hungarian money and what a fistful that is.  My little head just cannot cope with it but I guess we will get used to it.  20000 forint notes!  However, our meal tonight was 11321 forint so we will work our way through to budget.  

This looks like a place for lots of walking.  Very impressive old buildings, signs of history in the architecture.  Some buildings in disrepair, other maintained.  Lots of tall buildings create many alleyways.  Very easy to get lost!  The River Danube would be a place to go out if tours are available.  The Museum is a must.  Would like to find out more about effects of communism up to 1989 and what has changed since. 

Will take the iPad with us tomorrow and have a go at sending some photographs.

The views from the train were impressive with many signs of agriculture in hand.  Once we got our bags on and found our seats we were very comfortable throughout.  We will sleep well tonight.  Faye.

Simon comments.......

The amount and apparent quality of the cropping and agriculture activity really did surprise me. From the time we left Salzburg at 9am till 2pm close to Budapest the scenery was dominated by agriculture and many towns and buildings that were supporting and servicing this agriculture.

Agriculture is big. Did not see many animals. All cooling off from the heat in the barns, maybe.

Irrigation was prominent but things beginning to get dry.

Our perspective of what  is the make up of Austria has changed. There is a lot more than its beautiful scenery, mountains and the history.

A very enjoyable day.  It is the Hungarian grande pris this weekend - could be a noisy one!

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Faye & Simon signing off.

Day 8 25 July

I write this blog on the train from Salzburg to Budapest.  It was too late to record Day 8 when we got home.  We Ispent the morning walking and exploring the area close to our hotel.  Found a place to set up Skype.  Found out that our phones were now German phones and our plan was suitable while in Germany!  Not to worry though we can use up the prepaid and take it from there.  We will have further questions for vodofone going forward.  Not sure what it would cost to text nz.  Our language is quite a barrier when it comes to doing a deal.

After a pasta lunch enjoying the sunshine and leisurely pace, we went back to the hotel to pack.

Our evening experience was quite something.  We visited the fortress a massive castle/fort, took a cable car to the top - very high and amazing view of Salzburg.  It was here in this fortress that the Salzburg festival is held every year and where that scene was filmed in the Sound of Music.  We had a beautiful dinner, candles, Austrian hospitality in this impressive and biggest fortress in Europe.

At 8.30 we found our way to the very top - many many steps up to the concert chamber.  The stringed orchestra was something to listen to.  Will bring home the programme and some photos too.  A great night to remember Austria.  The presence of the love of  the arts is very evident in this city.  On a beautiful warm night it was almost magical in this huge fort, built by a number of archbishops centuries ago.  Go on line and look up Festungsbahn, I think that is right.  I have not the leaflet with me.

All going well.  Am in contact with Denmark about changed flight arrangements.  Very well looked after there.  Our struggles with language, currencies, and luggage are small in comparison with what we are achieving.  All good fun.  Closing off day 8.

Day 7

Another great day in Salzburg.  Walked this morning, enjoyed an Italian lunch and joined the tour group to do the Sound of Music thing.  As expected, the tour guide took us by bus around all the sites where the film was made, gave historical perspectives and entertained us with a very clever and humorous commentary.  It was really interesting and did not destroy my love for this film.  The story of the von Trap Family family was brought alive and it is evident that there was a lot of film licence taken by the American company who actually base their story on the stage show by Rogers and Hammerstein.

We were treated to a lot of the countryside and beautiful lakes.  A great four hours.

It is raining now, storms expected.  We are settled in for the night.  Still quite hot and humid but using the fan has helped.  The days are just merging.  It is dinner and Mozart experience tomorrow evening. We has begun to think about out next journey.  Will repack tomorrow afternoon.

Apparently our cell phones cannot be used in nz, network not covered. We are looking into the possibility of using Skype.  Will keep you posted.

Love from us both.

Day 6

I wrote this blog last night but hit the wrong button and keyboard parted and camera stuff appeared so the only way I could get out was to abandon!  So here,s hoping.

We had an interesting train trip once we found platforms etc.  Station was huge and with very few English speakers around us we felt a bit lost.  Trip was great and we did see some great countryside.  The train was late and so our transfer at Munich did not work out.  There was a fire along the track some just sat for some time.  Of course the was no food left and we did not think to take some with us!  At Munich we just grabbed the first available seat on a later train.  All OK.

Salzburg was so hot.  Our hotel is very basic with no air conditioning so it proved to be a hot and noisy night because we needed to open the window.  But that is just another experience for us.  Must do some washing this morning and we have booked to go to the Sound of Music production site this afternoon.  Going to orchestra experience on Thursday evening.  Place is rich in history.

Good to hear from you.  We are having an enjoyable time.  Missing our English language!  Have brought too much stuff so will probably parcel up some and send it home.  Any advice here?

Mum and Dad

Faye and Simon

Day 5

Another super day.  We actually went shopping - shorts and sandals for Simon.  Very hot 35 degrees but o so lovely especially when the room is air conditioned.  

Just back from a meal on 7th floor.  This hotel would take some beating for service and hospitality.

Now to think about that train trip and once again to pack the bags.  Hope we manage the change at Munich.  Frankfurt has been a good call for stopover.  Managed to get our cellphones sorted. Our new numbers are

Simon 015257462465

Faye 015257462467

Have received some interesting texts in German but note that our communication is in English.  So al s well. 

An early night as sun disappears.  Will keep in touch.  Hope you are all having super experiences whether it be snow, sea or sand!  Back to the kindle.........

Love to all

Mum & dad

Faye & Simon

Day 4 evening

We have just finished a lovely evening meal at our hotel Flemings delux. A country wide chain.

The temp at the moment is 33 c. Degrees. 

We arrived in Frankfurt at 7am this morning. It has been Another hot calm day.. we have had restful day sleeping and walking. Catching up. We have realised today how long flight travel does affect the body etc!

The part of the city we are based at is having a rebuild of their business centres.

The skyscraper new buildings, roads and motorways are very impressive. Germany I understand have an engineering mind. that can be seen throughout the city.

Every structure is finished perfectly.

Observing or riding the motorways are an interesting pastime. People actually race on the motorways. They are able to legally drive 120. And we saw that driving with the taxi.

Day 4

Arrived in Frankfurt 6 am so it has been a long day - a short walk, early lunch and dozing in this rather lovely room.  Am on to my second book, already had to charge the kindle.  Hope we sleep tonight.

Frankfurt is high rise, fast cars, very little english spoken, lots of bikes.  No shops open on Sunday, could not find a catholic church so tomorrow we will have to do some exploring to find out more about the place.  All good though.

We are getting our heads around the euro and what it will buy.  Working out the menu tonight will be our next challenge.  

We are enjoying the warm sunny day, no jacket needed.  Good to receive the emails and to keep up with you all.  Housekeeping has just checked to see if all is well - she spoke English too.  Hope we have a more interesting blog to share tomorrow.

Still Day 3

Back in the hotel packing to travel.  We will probably have a snooze as we fly out after midnight.  This travel is hard work.  Love my kindle and it's good to have time to read.  Fish photo is a beauty!  We will miss the rugby. Can you email us the result?  Must put this machine on the charger.  How is the skiing going?  High humidity here so difficult to think about cold and snow.  Signing out until Frankfurt. Love to all.

Day 3

Have just spent time replying to your comment but have lost the lot!  

We are going to have another walk around Hong Kong before we pack for the next flight.  I spent ages writing but do not know where it has gone!  

A good night.  It is quiet. Will pass to Simon and see if he can give you news.  Faye.

We have just a lovely breakfast. Fruit and bacon egg!

Getting ready for our 12 hour flight this night.

We are rested and ok to fly again.

Hong kong is interesting. You can very clearly see the influence of British controll. The older buildings and less in the population.

Also they have large percentage of building up as a result of limited flat land. The activity and speed how people get around town can be frightening. The living apartment buildings are very high. Every body seem to have a job or responsibilty however apparently small it maybe. Hence the busyness.

Off to explore for the next 3 hours.

Just a bit of NEWS!! The Marist u21s won their quarter final. Now to ten semis.

Must go 

Love MuM and Dad.

Day 2

Had a great flight. Not much sleep but a good rest.  Hotel is comfortable, warm but overcast day. The challenge today is to work out this iPad and wifi so that we communicate with you all.  Let's know if you are able to read this.

Hong Kong is big so we will venture out tomorrow to see a little of it.  Not sure if it will be the shops!  

We have managed to connect with everything so far.  Hotel support is very attentive and gracious.  Food is different.  Have yet to see how far the Hong Kong dollar will go.

Have found a newspaper in English but no TV as yet.  Room is very ornamental - a big screen which looks like a mirror so we need to do some exploring and push some more buttons.

Thinking of you all as you settle into Papamoa/the Mount.  Enjoy!  

Learning how to use a blog

Mum and Dad are learning how to use a blog to keep us all up to date about their travels

Two days to go

Time is ticking on. We are ready to pack our bags.

Readying Up

Getting sorted!
Looking forward to our trip overseas
Can't wait. Only three days to go

Getting ready

We are busy getting ready for our massive trip overseas.