Packing

Tasks for today are packing and cleaning the bathroom. Just when the sun has come out…Winter stuff staying here, summer stuff (what little of it) and paperwork and other bits and pieces coming back. Also been thinking about furniture…sell, give away, keep…

Getting restless and brain working overtime.  Need to chill, chill, chill.

PS – read back some old posts from this time last year yesterday…very interesting to see what was going on, state of mind etc.  Things can change a lot in 18 months can’t they.  Well, they have for me in the last 18 months for sure. Anyway, better go pack..

Farewell London

Had my last day in London for a bit.  Got a train in and caught up with a friend for lunch.  We wondered through the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and then had lunch in a nice cafe in South Kensington.  She is also in the midst of job hunting so had to head off and do some things, so I popped in and saw a few of my old workmates at RT, for a quick farewell also.  Had a stroll through Harrods on route to Paddington station. It is a strange feeling saying farewell..but I will be back, maybe sooner rather than later.

Just had some dinner and glass of wine back in Crowthorne and feeling very full.  Tucked up for the night. Counting down the days till lift-off. Aussie summer here I come.

Also, interesting notes and observations, I can now eat mashed potatoes without gagging and I appear to be awfully good at whistling at the moment!

Action shot

So…do I look like I know what I am doing??

Chilax me

My least favourite part of travelling I think, is the lead up to going away. Short trip, long trip, doesn’t seem to matter. My brain tends to get ahead of me, so in some respects I have ‘already left’ mentally, while physically I still have time to enjoy that I should be taking advantage of.  Thus is the mood of today.  Yesterday was great, had a sleep in and a potter around and then had lunch at a great pub called the Highwayman with my cousins.  Relaxed evening TV viewing.  Today don’t really know what to do with myself. Should get out and walk for a bit…that’s what I am going to do.  Nearly went this morning but the rain came, right now there is sun so I should take advantage of that. Yes I should..step away from the computer…

In between phases can be tricky. There is more to come though, so I best get used to it and make the most of it.

Quote of the day

Space is big. You just won’t believe how vastly, hugely, mind- bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the chemist’s, but that’s just peanuts to space.
  – Douglas Adams

One more week

A nice leisurely trip back from Stanstead airport hotel to Crowthorne today, although did have to get myself up at 7am. Got a bus to Victoria station, just as it was a bit cheaper than the train, was actually a nice ride, through the autumn colours and then through London.  Nice enjoyable busride and not too long, about hour and half.  Then some tubes and 2 trains.  Made it a bit after lunchtime.  Not been up to much this afternoon. A bit of washing, coffee and chat with Jeannette and the obligatory internet time to check a few emails etc. I have nothing too much planned for this week.  Going into London on Tuesday to catch-up with a few people and need to get my gear organised and packed later in the week as well.

Might try a bit of job hunting as well.  Just in case I can managed to score something in Adelaide.  Looking for temp work - 2 or 3 months worth if you see or hear of anything going in IT, Local Government or Communications, please yell, email, phone or all of the above.   OK, time for tea and TV Saturday viewing nearly…. BFN

Travel day

Not a terribly exciting day today, travelling and waiting most of the day.  Had a bit of a sleep in and a lazy breakfast at my hotel and then headed back via the public transport to Stanstead.  Had some lunch, waited, waited and finally checked in for flight back.  Got back to Stanstead around 6pm and rather than try and tackle it all the way back to Crowthorne, I pre-booked at one of the airport hotels.  It is actually quite nice, and reasonable priced and they appear to have upgraded me to a superior room as well, so I can’t compain.  Internet not free but at least the £5 worth that I purchased is fast!  Dinner was KFC.  There is no restaurant here, just a series of fast food places in a little complex down the road, so overall today has been REALLY bad food choices.

So, this is my last hotel stay for a while and in 1 week, the next plane that I get on will be back to Oz. Things to organise then and work to find. Hard to not start to disconnect a bit, but I still have a week left to enjoy.

Have to make some decisions next month though, as I am starting to stress and have sleepless nights!!  Re-focus girl.

Day 3 – Prague

The Bridges of Prague

Final full day in Prague was spent in ‘total emersion’. This is basically exploring on the fly, which the guidebook recommends to get a real flavour of the place.  I started in Josefov district had a walk around a few of the streets and a peep in some of the synagoga.  I then ended up at the water, as I invariably do and tackled another hill back up to the Prague castle again.  This time I wanted to explore the parks and gardens and basically did a round loop and ended up back where I started. The Royal Garden was unfortunately closed, but I walked around the surrounds and went to Letenske sady.  More great views of the town and the bridges to be had.  I actually found a bagel place for lunch which I was looking for on Monday.  It seems it has moved location though, which is why I couldn’t find it on Monday, but today, stumbled on it…for a great bagel and coffee lunch. 

After lunch I walked all the way up the main shopping district road and ended up at Wencelas square and then all the way back again.  My legs by then were absolutely killing me, all these pebbled roads!!  so I stopped for a frappuccino at starbucks before winding my way back.  I think tonight might be dinner at the hotel and then tomorrow is back to London.  Wow..those 3 days just flew by, but it has been a great way to wind up my 18 months of travel, work and blogging.  Only 1 week till I am on that killer of a plane journey back to the land of 40 degrees..please let it have cooled down by the time I get back.. I am not used to the heat.  Farewell for now.

Day 2 – Prague

Prague - Charles Bridge

What a fabulous sunny day I had in Prague today.  Given the time of year I am here, it really was a stunner.  Sunny blue skies, spattering of clouds and not a drop of rain in sight. I spent most of the morning walking around Prague castle and also visited St Vitus’s Cathedral which is my favourite location so far.  I didn’t actually go in the castle, as it was really expensive, just explored the surrounds and took some photos had a walk around. Lots of steps and hills was the name of the game today that’s for sure.

I had some beef goulash and potatoes for lunch, continuing in my ‘test out the gut with local cuisine’. It was quite nice, although I am missing vegetables and salad at the moment, distinctly lacking in my diet.  After lunch I ventured up another set of steps and explored Loreta and Strahov Monastery, mainly looking through the library which was very interesting.  I then ventured back and timed my return to Charles Bridge with the sunset and took some long exposure shots, with my mini tripod balanced on a ledge near the water (I had the camera around my neck).  Then back into the market square for some more shots, a chicken baguette from my new hangout (half price after 5pm).  Oh yes, stopped on the way back as well for a really yummo hot chocolate with cinamon and spices and a piece of gingerbread cake which I took away and I am currently having for my dessert.  I feel like I have been eating heaps and solid foods, hopefully all the walking is helping!!

Tomorrow planned, so another night of BBC and photo editing for me…

PS – JC has just posted his new Iceland portfolio from last month. He has some stunning shots and some of these locations I have been too which is very cool.  Take a look if you get a chance.

Day 1 – Prague

Prague

First day of Prague, involved lots of walking!  Started off around 9am, after a hotel breakfast and mainly explored the Mala Strana area today.  This involved a walk through one of the main squares from the hotel, visit to St Nicholas church, crossing of Charles Bridge, up to a viewing tower for views over prague and the bridge..and more wondering and walking.  Stopped for a late lunch of pancakes along one of the streets after my legs were getting really sore and then ended up in the town square watching the ‘enchanting’ astronimical clock strike and being brave and having a sausage in baguette with the locals. So far…so good regarding digesting that as well!!.

Had some really nice light when I was on the charles bridge, lots of clouds and a hint of yellow sun. Photos taken at around 11am look like they were taken at dawn or dusk!  Also saw a bit of the preparations for the Velvet Revolution walk..heaps of police and people crossing one of the main bridges.  Was going to try and take some photos but it started raining just as I got there, so was a bit tricky.

Lots of cobblestone/paved streets in Prague and they are really slippery when wet, nearly lost it a few times.  Can just imagine it in the snow!  Gorgeous autumn colours still around as well which is fab. Tomorrow is planned, so just getting ready for some sleep now.