Camping in Amsterdam & home to London

A great stay in the Swiss Alps but with no time to waste we were back into Germany for a 1 night stopover in the uni town of Heidleberg. This was a funky little place with a very lengthy main strip of shops where last minute supplies were bought for our dress up night back at camp.

Funky Heidleberg



The dress up/dress down party!



This old geezer rode past... came back with his camera.. and then left again!


Now on the home stretch we had a drive day to Amsterdam. Tents were set up and then it was straight into town for the nights shenanigans. A visit to a coffee shop, some FEBO dinner (burgers ready to eat from a vending machine, sounds gross but actually AMAZING!) Next the nights excursion got interesting as we were whisked into the red light district and into a sex show. Lets just say it was a laugh..

The next morning we made a visit to a cheese and clogs factory and then took a fantastic bike tour through a small town called Edam. After almost being collected by multiple cyclists, we headed to the interactive Heineken Beer Museum where 2 beers were included in the ticket price. Our final dinner together was a chinese style buffet which was then followed by a visit to multiple bars in Amsterdam.



Myself & Anna ready for the red light district



Clearly very excited for more FEBO! This stuff is gold!



Clogs, clogs, clogs, clogs....

I promise i did not cause this mayhem!



On the grandma style bikes we go.


After 46 days it was time to depart the camspite and head for London. Tired of sightseeing...... Yes, Exhausted...... Yes....... But what a great trip!

I was a little unsure of how Contiki would serve up a tour around Europe but I have to say it was extremely well organised with plenty of sight seeing and most importantly good food. We had a brilliant group and I think that made the 46 days feel like only a couple of weeks. It was a great way to get a taste of Europe and now I can confidently choose which countries & cities are worth a second look. And best of all you get to meet a great bunch of likeminded travellers!
Europe + Contiki = 5/5 gold stars!



Next I am off to Edinburgh in search of some work and a place to call home for a few months. Hopefully I can fit in a few weekend trips around Europe and drop back into Asia before I get home in January.

Talk to you all soon!
Andrew/Andy/Pelly

The Swiss Alps

Goodbye to Germany and hello to Switzerland. With stunning views from both side of the coach we travelled past Liechtenstein and made a stop in the beautiful alpine town of Lucerne. The rain was coming down steadily but that didn't stop the views from getting even more stunning as we approached our picturesque campsite in Lauterbrunnen. The views from the campsite were beautiful. I think you could see about 5 waterfalls in the distance.

The next morning we awoke to fresh snow on the peaks of the mountains and the decision was made to take the cog train up Mt Jungfrau. It was expensive but the views on the way up were well worth it. There was somewhat of a blizzard up the top so the views weren't great but it was still nice to experience -12 coldness and the 'wind factor' on the 'roof' of Europe. After slipping and sliding through the ice caves followed by a hot chocolate we then took the cog rail back down and wandered over to the waterfalls. Once again not expecting too much we soon found out that these waterfalls were in a cave. The noise and energy from the rushing water was awesome. Nothing but smiles as we walked around all the different lookouts. That night with a few more contiki and topdeck groups in the same campsite we headed to the bunker bar to unwind.

Camping is definetly the way to do it! Especially when you can stay at places like this!



We awoke to fresh snow on top of the mountains.



So up the cog rail we went....

Stunning views on the 2 hour journey up Mt Jungfrau




Wowzess!

I prefer the beach but how could you not like this!




:)



So cold at the top, apparently thats why my eyelids stuck together in this photo.....




Ha. Found him!




Dave, Daren, Me, Harlie, Caitlin, Becca, Derek & Ben in the flowery fields




Creativity!




I thought this little fella deserved to be in my blog!



The Trummelbach waterfalls.



Inside the waterfall caves



Some Swiss sunshine.

Camping in the Czech Republic & Germany

A long day on the bus as we left Vienna and headed for Prague. Another delicious and expensive schnitzel for lunch in the world heritage town of Cesky Krumlov broke the day up a little bit. We had enough time for a quick walking tour of Prague before heading to the campsite. The next day was a free day where most of us visted the lets say the 'interesting & weird' sex museum, wandered through Old Town Square, and then joined a cruise with another buffet lunch. The afternoon was spent enjoying pouring your own beers at the beer factory, Irish pubs, live music and helium balloons at an election campaign and then finishing up in the famous 5 storey nightclub!

Changing of the guards Praha style

Myself, Geoffrey & a massive church

The funniest statue in Europe! You can even send a text message to a number and the fella to the left of me will write it out in the water for you!



Views over Prague








Myself & Hayley - This wall of mist was a clear winner in the 5 storey nightclub


Back on the bus after 2 fun nights in Prague and next on our list was the beer capital of the world, Munich. After setting up tents it was then straight off to a beer hall for some steins! For dinner we had a traditional pork knuckle with some tasty crackling on top! With the steins flowing freely, live dancing, patriotic singalongs, cow bells and 3 other contiki groups attending the same beer hall things got very loud and extremely fun very quickly! With a few steins under the belt we headed to the famous Hofbrauhaus for some more gold ales and of course some more fun times.

Dinner time! Pork knuckle! Yum! And see that weird cricket ball shaped thing.... It was supposed to be potatoe but tasted more like stale fart!

Beer time - 5 in each hand!



Harlie & myself enjoying the local treat



Team Canada! Greg, Bronny & Derek



Jodie the superstar cook, me & Tara the terrific tour manager!




German dancing & German undies!

A few sore heads the next morning with a walk around the streets of Munich. We made it in time to see the famous Glockenspeil go off - it isn't really that exciting! We then made a visit to the Dachau concentration camp memorial which had a great museum detailing the horrific events that occured during the Holocaust. After an action packed few days we made our way back to the campsite for an early bed in preparation for our next stop, the Swiss Alps.

Dachau concentration camp memorial

Camping in Croatia, Hungary & Austria

After Albania we continued along the stunning coastline passing through tiny but beautiful Montenegro towards another highly anticipated stop in Dubrovnik. The 'Pearl of the Adriatic' didn't let us down either. After a pretty quiet night at the modern campsite we hit the town for a walking tour. After some free time to explore the winding streets we then set off on an island hopping cruise. I have never see water so blue! Even more blue than Thailand. After a swim and a jump or two of the boat it was time to indulge in some very tasty seafood by the waters edge. YUM! We jumped back on the boat and after another swim we headed back for camp in time for some showers and an afternoon nap before heading into town for a pub crawl through Dubrovnik.

The night started off in the usual fashion, a few drinks at one place and then onto the next and so on. However, come about 1am Dubrovnik plunged into darkness with a power blackout over the whole city. After a few discussions it was decided that the group weave its way out of the city's walls and hop into taxis heading for home. Walking through the pitch black streets was interesting & somewhat fun but the blackout put an early end to a night that was just warming up. After the disappointment of being back at the campsite Geoff & Ben decided to throw a tent party and we somehow managed to get 9 people inside a 2 man tent. Fun times!

Our first glimpse of Dubrovnik! Super excited to get off this damn bus.



Island hopping cruise time :)

A tasty lunchtime, pretty much on the water.


Finally we had a sleep in the next morning which was just bliss! A free day to do whatever we

want then followed. A few of us headed in to walk around the 2km old city walls of Dubrovnik which gave some tremendous views at each stop. After some pizza for lunch we headed back to the campsite and down to the beach which was only a short stroll away. We once again skimmed thousands of rocks across the calm waters before I headed back to camp for another chill out ipod session with the best kiwi in the group with the best taste in music - Anna!

Kiwi Anna! My bus & music buddy across Europe!

'A great day for washing' in Dubrovnik

My camera doesn't do the blue water justice.

Views from the old city walls



Walking the walls



Dave, Bron, Benj, Derek & myself on the wall with some awesome views



Sunset at the best rock skimming beach in Europe!

The next morning we said a sad goodbye to Dubrovnik and set off for Zadar with a lunch stop in the funky little city of Split. We arrived in Zadar to a very muddy & wet campsite which was right on the water. Of course there was time for some more rock skimming for those who could still feel their arms. One night here and then we continued onto the 'Paris of the East', Budapest. Buda & Pest sit on different sides of the river but together produce a lovely city. We enjoyed a bus tour during the day with more free time to explore ourselves. That night we all enjoyed a cruise along the river with a delicious buffet dinner and wine to match.



Sunset in Zadar


Group photo time in Budapest.

Buda, myself & Pest

The dinner cruise through Budapest

From Budapest we crossed into Slovakia and made a stop for lunch in the capital, Bratislava. I had little expectiations of this place but it definetly suprised me. A relaxed wander through this clean city and the gardens made for a great lunch stop. After lunch it was then back on the coach for Vienna, Austria where a fun night awaited. Yes we all felt like 10 years old again as we hit up the city's famous amusement park! Speedy go carts, bumpy rollercoasters that invloved lying prone along with the usual favourites such as fairy floss were enjoyed by all. The 'boomerang' rollercoaster (half of the ride forwards and then backwards) was awesome! The next day we had a bus tour around Vienna, a big Schnitzel and beer for lunch followed by a visit to the Old Vienna Schnaps museum for some tasting. The highlight of Vienna was the Mozart & Strauss concert in one of the city's imperial palaces that most of us went to on our last night in Austria.



One of the many odd statues through Bratislava

Dave & myself enjoying a Schnitzel (in the shape of Australia) and a thirst quenching pint.



Amusement time!