Tuesday, April 30, 2013
The historical city of Athens
Here are some of the photos taken during the day we spent wandering around Athens...
Greece
Unfortunately my last post that I wrote about Athens didn't publish for whatever reason. Last Friday night we arrived in Athens and stayed there for 2 nights where we had the opportunity to see some of the wonders of such an ancient and historic city.
This included getting lost, looking at a really interesting archeological museum and then wandering through the ruins of the acropolis and the surrounding archeological sites also. It was really amazing to be standing on the grounds of a building that is so old. The acropolis is even mentioned in the bible, that's how old it is...
From there we went to Mykonos a beautiful Greek island where we could soak up the sun and the wonders of God's creation. A little holiday within our big holiday. The place where we stayed was run by a beautiful Greek lady named Maria who had very limited English in her vocabulary, and looked down over one of the beaches on the island. We could even watch the sunset out of the door of our room as it went down over the sea. It was a beautiful break from everything including technology and the Internet :) (not that I think that Jemma would wholeheartedly agree about the break from Internet :P)
Now we are in Santorini another beautiful island. We got here today so we haven't seen that much apart from an amazing sunset. But it most certainly is beautiful
xxx
Ps. As the iPad doesn't let me give the pictures captions i might upload a few separate posts of photos so you know where they are all from
This included getting lost, looking at a really interesting archeological museum and then wandering through the ruins of the acropolis and the surrounding archeological sites also. It was really amazing to be standing on the grounds of a building that is so old. The acropolis is even mentioned in the bible, that's how old it is...
From there we went to Mykonos a beautiful Greek island where we could soak up the sun and the wonders of God's creation. A little holiday within our big holiday. The place where we stayed was run by a beautiful Greek lady named Maria who had very limited English in her vocabulary, and looked down over one of the beaches on the island. We could even watch the sunset out of the door of our room as it went down over the sea. It was a beautiful break from everything including technology and the Internet :) (not that I think that Jemma would wholeheartedly agree about the break from Internet :P)
Now we are in Santorini another beautiful island. We got here today so we haven't seen that much apart from an amazing sunset. But it most certainly is beautiful
xxx
Ps. As the iPad doesn't let me give the pictures captions i might upload a few separate posts of photos so you know where they are all from
Saturday, April 27, 2013
On the road again...
It's Sunday today. Unfortunately we find ourselves on a ferry travelling to one of the Greek Islands. Not my choice of a way to spend a Sunday but the ferry is quite relaxing and we do have wifi and some sermons to listen to while we are in transit. Jemma organised a tour for us in Greece that takes us through a few of the Islands, its great cause just the transport and accommodation is organised and we can do what we want on the other days. Unfortunately we didn't realise that with the travelling from place to place is that we would be travelling on a Sunday when there is the choice not to... still we can relax with the sea below us. I've been able to get up to date with my journal (properly up to date) and now I am getting everyone reading this up to date too :)
After ANZAC day we had another day with our tour guide who took us all over the battle fields and the sites of Gallipoli. We went to "Brighton Beach", the place of the intended landing of the ANZACs and saw that it was actually possible to get to the high ground with ease especially because the Turks were waiting for landing elsewhere. Then to Anzac cove where we could seethe steep incline and cliff faces that the ANZACs faced during landing. We also visited the different cemeteries from the battles, even saw the grave stone of Simpson (the man with the donkey), at the request of our tour guide I read his story unfortunately substituting the word donkey for monkey providing amusement if nothing else. We went to the location of the battle of Lone pine, the ridge that is in the last scene of the Gallipoli movie where they keep sending more and more men over the top (I cant remember the name of it), the high ground of Tunic Biar, and even saw the remains of the trenches. It was a really beautiful area with all the trees and shrubs that had grown over the top, so hard to imagine all the horrors of the war that went on, yet still you were standing on ground that so many soldiers had died on.
It was a really really great experience. I learnt heaps and it was just really moving to actually be on the site that we think about each year. Following an amazing lunch of fish, we started the 5 hours bus ride back to Istanbul. We had a flight booked for 8.55 to go to Athens, when we asked about getting to the airport our tour guide nicely organised that we would have a private bus ride for half of the trip back and would be dropped off at the airport right on time. That was great. After being on a tour for a few days with the same group of people, you get to know the people in the group. When we left we said goodbye to everyone and I heard someone saying that 'the girls' are going (being the only single young people in the group that obviously became our name :P)
Being so full of Gallipoli and everything that happened there, I found it hard to get into the mind set of Greece. But here we are now. On a ferry to one of the Islands (after spending some time in Athens). I've put up photos from Gallipoli and will write another post on Athens.
xxx
After ANZAC day we had another day with our tour guide who took us all over the battle fields and the sites of Gallipoli. We went to "Brighton Beach", the place of the intended landing of the ANZACs and saw that it was actually possible to get to the high ground with ease especially because the Turks were waiting for landing elsewhere. Then to Anzac cove where we could seethe steep incline and cliff faces that the ANZACs faced during landing. We also visited the different cemeteries from the battles, even saw the grave stone of Simpson (the man with the donkey), at the request of our tour guide I read his story unfortunately substituting the word donkey for monkey providing amusement if nothing else. We went to the location of the battle of Lone pine, the ridge that is in the last scene of the Gallipoli movie where they keep sending more and more men over the top (I cant remember the name of it), the high ground of Tunic Biar, and even saw the remains of the trenches. It was a really beautiful area with all the trees and shrubs that had grown over the top, so hard to imagine all the horrors of the war that went on, yet still you were standing on ground that so many soldiers had died on.
It was a really really great experience. I learnt heaps and it was just really moving to actually be on the site that we think about each year. Following an amazing lunch of fish, we started the 5 hours bus ride back to Istanbul. We had a flight booked for 8.55 to go to Athens, when we asked about getting to the airport our tour guide nicely organised that we would have a private bus ride for half of the trip back and would be dropped off at the airport right on time. That was great. After being on a tour for a few days with the same group of people, you get to know the people in the group. When we left we said goodbye to everyone and I heard someone saying that 'the girls' are going (being the only single young people in the group that obviously became our name :P)
Being so full of Gallipoli and everything that happened there, I found it hard to get into the mind set of Greece. But here we are now. On a ferry to one of the Islands (after spending some time in Athens). I've put up photos from Gallipoli and will write another post on Athens.
xxx
Friday, April 26, 2013
Accents and ANZACs
ANZAC Day. That one day a year when Australians all get up ridiculously early and attend a dawn service somewhere in their area. We attend the service and think back on all the Australians (and New Zealanders) who have fought and died for our country.
In Turkey this wasn't really any different. Only instead of waking up super early, we didn't really sleep and camped out at the sight of the service and some of us had to travel quite far to get to the service. It was cold and really challenging to get any more sleep than that which we got on the bus earlier (it didn't help that there were some really loud snorers right in front of us).
Despite all that, commemorating the ANZAC legend on the very point that it was born is an experience that cant really be put in words. Standing on the site where so many people had fought and died heroically for our country and being surrounded by others from all over Australia is a memorable moment. A moment that makes you proud to be Australian and one that makes you really realise what it means that you are Australian.
It has been amazing to hear the Australian accent. I hadn't realised how much I missed hearing people speak in the right language and now almost everyone you talk to has the same accent. It's amazing to find so many people from your own country gathering together for a significant event on the other side of the world.
xxx
In Turkey this wasn't really any different. Only instead of waking up super early, we didn't really sleep and camped out at the sight of the service and some of us had to travel quite far to get to the service. It was cold and really challenging to get any more sleep than that which we got on the bus earlier (it didn't help that there were some really loud snorers right in front of us).
Despite all that, commemorating the ANZAC legend on the very point that it was born is an experience that cant really be put in words. Standing on the site where so many people had fought and died heroically for our country and being surrounded by others from all over Australia is a memorable moment. A moment that makes you proud to be Australian and one that makes you really realise what it means that you are Australian.
It has been amazing to hear the Australian accent. I hadn't realised how much I missed hearing people speak in the right language and now almost everyone you talk to has the same accent. It's amazing to find so many people from your own country gathering together for a significant event on the other side of the world.
xxx
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The friendly people of Sophia
So right now we are in the central train station in Sophia waiting for the train that goes to Turkey. This morning we caught our flight from Berlin and made it safely to Sophia, all the while the thought in the back of our minds was 'what might go wrong this time?'. Well it was in Jemma's at least especially because she kept bringing up the thought.
We made it to Sophia quite easily and I think the passport check coming in was the easiest we had yet. The biggest problem we had once in the city was finding where we were and where we had to go. I did pick up a map at the airport which proved to be a little help but mostly the help we got was from locals. They would see us standing there looking lost or looking at the map and offer their help , even if they didn't speak much english at all. Once we got on the metro train line the most helpful and friendly person was a young guy who actually showed us the exact platform that we had to be on by walking us all the way there and it wasn't even the train that he had to catch... Every one does seen very willing to help which is great!
So now I think we have a bit of a competition as to who can get the friendliest local to help us. I think I'm ahead at the moment with the guy who walked all the way to the platform, but Jemma isn't doing too bad :)
xxx
We made it to Sophia quite easily and I think the passport check coming in was the easiest we had yet. The biggest problem we had once in the city was finding where we were and where we had to go. I did pick up a map at the airport which proved to be a little help but mostly the help we got was from locals. They would see us standing there looking lost or looking at the map and offer their help , even if they didn't speak much english at all. Once we got on the metro train line the most helpful and friendly person was a young guy who actually showed us the exact platform that we had to be on by walking us all the way there and it wasn't even the train that he had to catch... Every one does seen very willing to help which is great!
So now I think we have a bit of a competition as to who can get the friendliest local to help us. I think I'm ahead at the moment with the guy who walked all the way to the platform, but Jemma isn't doing too bad :)
xxx
Monday, April 22, 2013
Moving on
So we've been in Berlin for a whole week now. We have done and seen a lot, but at the same time we have been able to spend some time just relaxing and resting as well. We decided not to go to Prague at the last minute which meant that we have had more time to spend here. This also gave us the opportunity to see things outside of the city and soak up a bit more of the scenery and greenery.
Other things that we have done in the past few days have included going to visit the sight of a concentration camp that was located close to Berlin (it was a really emotional and tough experience and who would have thought that seeing the way that they were treated and lived would remind me of being in Thailand), going to the Berlin Dungeon and enjoying the sights and greenery of Potsdam (a town on the edge of Berlin that had some castles and trees).
Tomorrow we make our way by plane to Sophia and then take the overnight train to Istanbul. Another city and another adventure. I wonder how our travelling will go?
xxx
Other things that we have done in the past few days have included going to visit the sight of a concentration camp that was located close to Berlin (it was a really emotional and tough experience and who would have thought that seeing the way that they were treated and lived would remind me of being in Thailand), going to the Berlin Dungeon and enjoying the sights and greenery of Potsdam (a town on the edge of Berlin that had some castles and trees).
Tomorrow we make our way by plane to Sophia and then take the overnight train to Istanbul. Another city and another adventure. I wonder how our travelling will go?
xxx
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Being in Berlin
Today we did LOTS of walking. We walked to a train station to meet up with a walking tour which took us through Berlin showing a lot of the sights and talking about the events of the third Reich. We got to see some original Nazi architecture (which has now been put to use by the current German government), various memorials for victims of the war. A fascinating one made of lots of different sized blocks for all the Jews killed in concentration camps, one that the Russians set up immediately after WWII, another memorial of "terror" that was set up as information regarding what the Nazi party did located on the sight that the SS and Gestapo headquarters were orignally. We saw the sight of Hitler's bunker, the Reichstag and had a very passionate, well informed tour guide. It was really a great tour. Tomorrow we plan to go on one about the concentration camps.
Following that we went to Checkpoint Charlie. The third American checkpoint in the Berlin Wall. They had a museum there which had a lot of interesting information about the wall, East and West Berlin and the many escapes and attempted escapes through the wall.
It was a long day. Following that we did some shopping, came home for a nice home cooked meal and now it's time for bed xxx
These photos are to go with yesterday's post. Enjoy.
Following that we went to Checkpoint Charlie. The third American checkpoint in the Berlin Wall. They had a museum there which had a lot of interesting information about the wall, East and West Berlin and the many escapes and attempted escapes through the wall.
It was a long day. Following that we did some shopping, came home for a nice home cooked meal and now it's time for bed xxx
These photos are to go with yesterday's post. Enjoy.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Time to catch up...
So now we are in Berlin, Germany. A beautiful city with an amazing history. So far we have done some walking around, looked at giant Lego giraffes and people at Lego world, gone up in a really tall tower to look down on Berlin and had a wander through the oldest part of the city. There is still so so much to see especially in relation to WWII and the Cold War which will be happening over the next few days.
It's been a while since I last wrote anything about what we were up to or where we were. You might have seen some photos of us on bikes in Amsterdam but nothing else since. Do not worry. We are both still alive and healthy and lots has still been happening even without us writing about it.
After leaving the busy bustling streets of Amsterdam behind last Friday, we went to stay with Mum's Auntie for the weekend. This was really nice. We were really spoiled and got to see some of the sights of the town of Enschede, the Netherlands. This included beautiful walks in the dutch country side and, watching the leaves and flowers start to bloom on the trees. On the Saturday we went to the town center for the markets and a nice coffee, and on the Sunday we attended a dutch church service. Not that we understood that much of what was being said but we did know the psalms and hymns (in English) so we could sing along. In the afternoon we listened to a sermon which we actually could understand everything of.
Unfortunately I am on one of the computers from the hostel right now so I cant put up any pictures of the past few days. But that definitely will happen. Not too many though because otherwise I wont have anything to show everyone when we get back home.
It's been a while since I last wrote anything about what we were up to or where we were. You might have seen some photos of us on bikes in Amsterdam but nothing else since. Do not worry. We are both still alive and healthy and lots has still been happening even without us writing about it.
After leaving the busy bustling streets of Amsterdam behind last Friday, we went to stay with Mum's Auntie for the weekend. This was really nice. We were really spoiled and got to see some of the sights of the town of Enschede, the Netherlands. This included beautiful walks in the dutch country side and, watching the leaves and flowers start to bloom on the trees. On the Saturday we went to the town center for the markets and a nice coffee, and on the Sunday we attended a dutch church service. Not that we understood that much of what was being said but we did know the psalms and hymns (in English) so we could sing along. In the afternoon we listened to a sermon which we actually could understand everything of.
Unfortunately I am on one of the computers from the hostel right now so I cant put up any pictures of the past few days. But that definitely will happen. Not too many though because otherwise I wont have anything to show everyone when we get back home.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Amsterdam, the city of ships, bikes and canals...
Today we leave Amsterdam to go and visit one of my mum's aunties in Enschede. We've had a good time here, seen lots, done lots and had a good time. Here are a few more photos.
We went on a canal cruise one night which was a really nice way to see the city. Apart from going to some art exhibitions we also went to the maritime museum (it was actually interesting also because the dutch and the VOC had a lot to do with the discovery of Australia) and spent a day riding around on bikes.
We went on a canal cruise one night which was a really nice way to see the city. Apart from going to some art exhibitions we also went to the maritime museum (it was actually interesting also because the dutch and the VOC had a lot to do with the discovery of Australia) and spent a day riding around on bikes.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Neederland
Amsterdam. Another beautiful city full of history. In the last 2 days I've been able to get my fill of art and artists going to exhibitions of both van Gough and Rembrandt. Both artists were born somewhere in Holland and the exhibitions both showed the progression of their art and the ways in which their individual styles developed. Very interesting and inspiring.
We've had lots of fun, also going to the Amsterdam Dungeon, a 'museum' showing the darker history of this beautiful city. Presented in quite a scary way :) Still it was lots of fun.
Trains in another city are always fun to figure out... we've been travelling mostly by train to and from the hostel and unlike London there isn't a clear route for all the trains or even a distinct separation of the different lines, as a result yesterday we ended up on a train that was going to the next town rather than the next station. It was a funny experience if anything...
We've had lots of fun, also going to the Amsterdam Dungeon, a 'museum' showing the darker history of this beautiful city. Presented in quite a scary way :) Still it was lots of fun.
Trains in another city are always fun to figure out... we've been travelling mostly by train to and from the hostel and unlike London there isn't a clear route for all the trains or even a distinct separation of the different lines, as a result yesterday we ended up on a train that was going to the next town rather than the next station. It was a funny experience if anything...
Photos of the Beautiful country of Ireland...
Photos in no particular order from our time in Ireland... enjoy.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Beautiful Belfast
After a great weekend in Belfast, we now find ourselves in Amsterdam. Once again, getting to a new place wasn't all smooth going (our bus to the airport was stuck in traffic, there was a breakdown in a tunnel and we spent an extra 45mins waiting which meant we missed our plane but fortunately we could just be put on the next one) but we are here safely.
We spent the weekend in Belfast, Northern Ireland. A really beautiful city. We didn't spend that much time there but we did get to see some of the amazing country side and coastline that Ireland is known for in a day tour that we went on. This took us to see some of the coastal cliffs and such including the Giants Causway.
Amazing
We spent the weekend in Belfast, Northern Ireland. A really beautiful city. We didn't spend that much time there but we did get to see some of the amazing country side and coastline that Ireland is known for in a day tour that we went on. This took us to see some of the coastal cliffs and such including the Giants Causway.
Amazing
Friday, April 5, 2013
Dublin, a city of amazing history
This morning we make our way to Belfast, Northern Ireland. Dublin has been a wonderful adventure full of amazing things and great experiences. For the past 2 days we did a hop-on hop-off bus tour around the city with a live guide which was a really great way to see the city and learn about the amazing history that it has.
Some of the things that we went to included Dublinia, a viking and medieval history museum that taught us all about those times in London, the national museum and the Giunness storehouse. It was all a really great experience and on the way we got to see a lot of the other parts of Dublin, such as the very large number of churches they have here, and some really nice parks.
Last night we also did a ghost bus tour which also looked at all the history of Dublin but with a much 'darker' perspective. It was all very fascinating.
Some of the things that we went to included Dublinia, a viking and medieval history museum that taught us all about those times in London, the national museum and the Giunness storehouse. It was all a really great experience and on the way we got to see a lot of the other parts of Dublin, such as the very large number of churches they have here, and some really nice parks.
Last night we also did a ghost bus tour which also looked at all the history of Dublin but with a much 'darker' perspective. It was all very fascinating.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
From Ireland with love
We are now safely in Dublin. To say the least, our trip here was eventful. Lots of things happened while we were trying to get here, to say the least we couldn't find the swipe card for the luggage storage room and then we had to carry our suitcases up and down LOTS of steps at the train station just because the train we were supposed to be on decided to change platforms, we were late for the plane and then my bag was searched because I had a metal bookmark that looked like it was sharp and lots more happened (have a look at Jemma's blog for a more detailed explanation of all the numerous mishaps that delayed our process coming here see: taleofjemandcam.blogspot.com )
We haven't seen that much of Dublin yet, really only have explored our hostel and the roads that we had to walk along dragging our suitcases to get here. But from what I saw out of the bus window it looks very green and pretty....
Stay tuned for more on Dublin
xxx
Ps. I love you
We haven't seen that much of Dublin yet, really only have explored our hostel and the roads that we had to walk along dragging our suitcases to get here. But from what I saw out of the bus window it looks very green and pretty....
Stay tuned for more on Dublin
xxx
Ps. I love you
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