After my first interesting experience with the rude and arrogant British Immigration officials, Brett met me at the arrivals hall. I was going to declare a large bottle of rum I had purchased for Brett, but there was no-one screening in Customs / Quarantine.

Getting to Brett’s place was an interesting experience - it took several different tube trains!!

In an attempt to overcome jet-lag, Brett and Therese took me for a tour around the main areas of London city - including West End and Piccadilly Circus.

written by  Tickles on April 9, 2006 from London, United Kingdom
from the travel blog: First European Adventure - A Gallipoli Experience
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On the way home Brett took me to Soho - a very very busy shopping area - quite metropolitan.

written by  Tickles on April 10, 2006 from Greenwich, United Kingdom
from the travel blog: First European Adventure - A Gallipoli Experience
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Caught the training from Brussels airport to the CBD - attempted to find my hotel. Tip for new travellers - don’t ask the Police for directions - I ended up walking to the other side of the city before a friendly local pointed me back in the right direction.

Stayed at the Hotel Arlequin.

I took a walk around Grand Place and the surrounding area - managed to stumble upon Mannikin Pis. Had dinner on Rue De La Boucher - a very busy eating area with lots of pushy sales people.

My first experience with the European Hotel lifts was interested - they are hidden behind a door and are barely the size of a small cubicle - trying to get in with a backpack is interest , let alone trying to get more than one person in the lift!!

written by  Tickles on April 11, 2006 from Brussels, Belgium
from the travel blog: First European Adventure - A Gallipoli Experience
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Met with Belgian Customs today at the Zaventam Airport.

Spend the remainder of the afternoon wondering around Brussels - visited the Cathedral of St Michael & St Gidula. This places is spectacular on the outside and only gets better on the inside.

After wandering around today, I’ve started wondering about the Australian attitude towards international visitors. Here in Brussels shop owners seems to have to be able to converse in several languages in order to survive, but how many Australians have ever bothered to try to learn another language to assist international visitors who enter their stores. Isolation as a nation really does make us quite selfish.

I was having a wonderful dinner of Moules and Frites until some loud obnoxious Americans entered the place…god they shit me at times.

written by  Tickles on April 12, 2006 from Brussels, Belgium
from the travel blog: First European Adventure - A Gallipoli Experience
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Started the day once more looking out across the Grand Place whilst having breakfast - if only the weather had been better.

Decided to brave the inclement weather and caught the Metro (train) out to the European Union area of Brussels. Wandered through Jubilee Park, just beautiful and green - even in the wet.

Spend several hours wondering around the Musee De Larmee Et De L’History (Museum of Military History) - quite an interested array of modern and ancient war artefacts.

Took a walk through Leopold Parc and visited the EU Parliament.

Visited the Konklisk Paleis / Palais Royal - whilst on my way to collecting some of the important and very tasty Belgian chocolates from a couple of small but well known stores (on the recommendation of some locals I had met).

I arrived at the airport early evening and had to sit around until about 2100hrs before I left - time to catch up on emails etc.

written by  Tickles on April 13, 2006 from Brussels, Belgium
from the travel blog: First European Adventure - A Gallipoli Experience
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Stonehenge was interesting - especially given it was cold and wet - this just added to the aura of the place, but the 45 minutes spent there was probably about 30 minutes too long - there really isn’t that much to see or do, and you can’t get close to the stones as they are fenced off.

The weather improved dramatically between Stonehenge and Bath - it was just absolutely fantastic. The old Roman baths were amazing. The architecture was special.

Had my first “Cornish Pastie” since arrive - Dad would love these!!!

Two hours in Bath just isn’t long enough - it is a lovely town and one worthy of a weekend.

Purchased the first of my local rugby jerseys.

We passed Windsor Castle on the drive back from Bath - quite an impressive site and worth a visit if I have any days free towards the end of this trip.

written by  Tickles on April 14, 2006 from Bath, United Kingdom
from the travel blog: First European Adventure - A Gallipoli Experience
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Therese and Sarah decided to do a roast for dinner tomorrow and purchased all the meat and veggies here.

After a few hours at the Borough Markets we headed out to Nottinghill to visit the Portobello Markets - these are more arts, crafts and fashion markets. These markets expend over about 5 blocks and include a huge number of antique stores. I found some nifty bookstores. Well have to try to get back to this area during the week when there are less people.

Dinner at Brick Lane with Brett, Therese, Sarah, Chris and their friends. Brick Lane is famous for its curries - and the place we ate at was no exception. We stopped off at a couple of pubs on the way home - the amount of smoke in the pubs is awful - I certainly appreciate Australia’s hardline on no smoking indoors even more now.

written by  Tickles on April 15, 2006 from London, United Kingdom
from the travel blog: First European Adventure - A Gallipoli Experience
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