PLEASANTVILLE, otherwise known as Copenhagen

Do you remember that film years ago called "PLEASANTVILLE"? Well if you saw it you would get a handle on Copenhagen cos that´s what it is like. The people are all so friendly and always greet you warmly, the drivers are the most patient and polite we have ever witnessed, everyone is young, blonde and beautiful, they are all so healthy looking and are all attached to their bikes which they scoot around the city on...... Ms X could go on............Our hotel was also the best accommodation so far of the whole trip.....yep, nothing but pluses.

We got taken in by all the stories of their old King Christian 4th who seemed to be responsible for all things good in Copenhagen. When he wasn't fornicating to produce 23 kids that are known about, he was busy building things-castles, summer palaces,moats,bridges and anything else with a foundation basically. His other hobby was posing as there are millions of portraits and statues of him everywhere.

Visited Carlsberg brewery where they even give you 2 free beers before you exit. Nicked around at lunchtime to see the changing of the guard outside Mary and Frederick´s Place which
has no big fence, you could basically walk up and knock on the front door!

Lovely canals, neat and manicured lawns and parks, no graffiti........................all so........pleasant!
It ain´t Tasmania but we think OUR MARY could live in worse places.

Okay, I do have to post some warnings for those considering visiting Mary:

1. It is expensive and they make you pay for EVERYTHING....even phonecalls when you aren't even connected
2. The old Danes refuse to adopt the EURO so you end up having to have another currency rattling around in your pockets getting mixed up
3. Oh, and a lot of places refuse to accept coins! So there you go- if you haven't got a note there is no entry for you or no coffee
4. Theres a few OH&S issues-just ask Mr X when he nearly had 2 great falls on the cobblestones. Ms X was so worried about who would come off the interchange bench to carry the bags if he was injured and
5. Ms X got so excited when she saw one of King Christians pieces of lacy underwear that she did not see the glass separating her and the item and she walked smack bang into it-

Otherwise you will have a lovely time in the City of Pleasantville!

Amazing Amsterdam

As stated previously, Amsterdam welcomed us immediately. The trams took us to the doorstep of our hotel which was right on a canal. The narrow steep staircase tested Mr X with 2 pieces of luggage that seem to be getting heavier,but he was up to the challenge of working through such predicaments- Ms X's role was to encourage and offer lots of "Well done, good job, my hero" as Mr X caught his breath at the top of the stairs.

After unpacking we wasted no time in setting out to explore the city so we walked and walked and walked (just for a change) The place was amazing- we felt out of place being on foot as everyone else was biking it ( and despite Ms X pleading to rent some bikes, Mr X just wouldn't give in................no, you don't think it happened that way? You must know Ms X well!)

The narrow houses appeared to be crooked, almost ready to all come down like dominoes if one gave in, however that added to the charm. Everyone seemed to be out in the streets ignoring their "Sunday night wind-downs" of which Mr and Ms X are quite fond. There was a ´Battle of the Cover´ bands going on, bars and restaurants were overflowing and everyone seemed to be having a hell of a good time- a lot like Barcelona. And the extra bonus was that everyone seemed to be fluent in English.

After enjoying a great meal, we stumbled on a beautiful cinema complex, an old theatre which was a cross between The Como Cinema in South Yarra and the Sun Theatre in Yarraville. Two Tickets later found us in Amsterdam's version of GOLD CLASS watching Indiana Jones- subtitled in Dutch.

The next day was rainy and a bit cold however after consuming the hotel breakfast of cold meats, cold egg and cheese, we joined the queue to tour ANNE FRANK`S HOUSE which was a great experience. We both found it very moving and easily spent a couple of hours there. next stop- The RED LIGHT district which Mr X found a bit disappointing and Ms X was happy there were few girls around as the feminist in her made her have mixed feelings about walking around that area- she told herself that they had all found other forms of employment and wouldn't listen to Mr X trying to tell her that they were all upstairs. A bit of culture was needed so there was a trip to see old Rembrandt's house- the house he lived in and painted in before he declared bankruptcy

Mr X seems to be adventurous in his beer tasting but alas not so in his food tasting. Ms X had the traditional Dutch mushy pea soup and a banana pancake for dinner-yummo

Time to board the train again to head off to visit OUR Mary and Frederick in Copenhagen. We were offered a 6 berth couchette compartment......sorry, but all those backpackers together sometimes means party time and we wanted to sleep. We asked for a 4 berth one, happy to pay more, crossed our fingers and what do you know, we ended up having it all to our selves- don´t you just love the Dutch for organinsing that for us!

There's nothing like being in 3 countries in one day!

Breakfast in Paris:

Boarded our luxurious Thalys train bound for Brussels- before it had even pulled out from the station they served us lovely breakfast on a tray- a la plane style. very nice and much appreciated by Mr and ms X who were feeling parched and peckish at that stage.

Lunch in Brussels

After 2 hrs our train arrived in Brussels where our plan was to get off and have lunch. Over the last 2 weeks Mr and Ms X have always felt very safe but this all changed in Brussels! What can we say- the moment we walked out of the station there were poor homeless people everywhere, the place was littered with rubbish and debris, bottles etc.... all over the place
Still, the intrepid travellers soldiered on and on and on, on this bright Sunday morning
EVERYTHING was closed, even the churches on a Sunday! So we gave up our idea of lunch, took some happy snaps and headed back to the train

Dinner in Amsterdam

From the moment we got out of the station we LOVED Amsterdam. The trams seemed to be waiting for us as we entered the street outside. We found our hotel easily....it was situated right on a canal- perfect........ and yes, mr and ms X enhoyed a delicious dinner in Amsterdam

J'adame Paris-tres' chic!

Mr and Ms X loved Paris...it was everthing we thought it would be.

Loved:

• Loved the metro- Mr X became an expert on all the stations from Pigalle to Abbesses to St Michel. he knew what changeovers we needed and even found escalators and lifts sometimes for ms X's arthritic knee, to avoid all those steps





• Loved the pastries, the desserts, the dips, cheeses and fresh bread





• Loved the free 4 hour walking tour- it was fantasic and took us everywhere





• Loved the Lourve and 'the wedding at Caana'- so big! Ms X loved finding the Vemeer paintings (Mona didnt do it for us- she's so small and who says she's the best!)





• loved sitting on Champs elyss and having a drink in sidewalk cafe





• loved standing on the roundabout at the arc de triumph to watch the traffic- this amused us for ages





• enjoyed finding Rolan Garros and understanding why the Aust Open is number 1

Highlight:

Would have to be our special night at the Eiffel Tower. Sitting in the restaurant on the first level and having our special 3 course meal was fantastic. Mr X even had the apperetif and wine! To see the lights get turned on and then the twinkling fairy light/laser show followed by the cruise in the Seine was a night we will never forget.

Snaps of Barcelona

Ms X enjoying a breathtaking view of Barcelona waiting for her Sangria(and for the table to be cleared!)

Outside our lodgings in the Gothic Quarter Maze in Barcelona- if only we remembered how to find it after the huge beers and sangrias!

Our first meal in Barcelona, complete with a glass of the amber fluid that could break the drought back in Aus.

At 5.20pm our Barcelona to France train pulled in at the stattion. Mr and Ms X enjoyed their 15min train ride until they realised that it was ythe wrong train! After lots and lots of negotiations with the railway workforce, we soon learned that we had missed our connection and therefore had only one alternative left- a night train which would see Mr and Ms X in separate compartments (male and female only ones)
Mr X had Saheed, a gay Bangladeshian whose watch chimed every 2 mins, Monet, a French Pig who said one word on the whole trip ("Monet") and an Indian dude who "hates all
people"....fortunately he disappeared for the entire trip.
Ms X on the other hand had the pleasure of the 'twisted sisters' from Brazil who had 6 pieces of luggage to Ms X's one piece! Consequently poor Ms X tried to explain that she did not have anywhere to sit so they moved one piece onto the floor- then Ms X said she didnt have anywhere to put her feet and legs and then that is when Mr X appeared to calm the waters.... alas, it would not be for long! Mr and Ms X both thought it time to head to the bar and stayed there until it was necessary to return to their cheerful sleeping partners- Ms X tried to be quiet and tippy toe however Ms X was of course relegated to the top bunk and in the dark, after she had made it to the top, her ladder dropped on the floor- It was then that 'twisted sister 1' stuck her head up, picked up the ladder and screamed ' see this' and then threw the ladder....suddenly she had learnt to speak English.
By morning Mr X had Saheed's contact deyails in Paris!

and the Amazing Race continues.....just call us Rob and Amber!

For those who know the "AMAZING RACE" we have been referring to each other as Rob and Amber as you will begin to understand..........................

Set the alarm for 5.15am with what we thought was plenty of time to make it to Stansted airport for 8.05am flight to Barcelona....................................WRONG!


With hindsight we should have slept in our clothes or not even gone to bed.


Got cab and headed to Victoria Station to hop on a bus, only to be told they dont take credit cards and we didnt have sufficient English pounds left to pay the fare. Mr X sprinted to nearest hole in the wall with Ms X minding the luggage and the bus about to take off. As driver about to close the doors, Mr X sprinted around corner a-la Sebastian Coe and we made it on bus....time to relax? WRONG!


Got to check-in at Ryann Air only to be greeted with "Are you the ODowds as we have been waiting for you" We were the last to check in (about to be eliminated again)


Next challenge for Mr and Ms X was to find the accommodation with a map and very little else to assist. Weaving our way through the maze that was Barcelona, again, looking for signs and clues that will either help us to get to where we want to go or help us to find our way home.

Of course there were plenty of Chevy Chase "Theres Big ben kids" moments as we tended to go around in circles in the barcelona maze.

Checked out the gorgeous cathedral, ate and drank on the Las Ramblas, visited the Olypmpic site and the Temple de la Sagrada Familia, checked out Gaudis other works, strolled the La Ramblas with all 1.5 million Barcelonians , as well as walking and walking and walking the streets of Barcelona.

P.M.I. on Barcelona

The pluses in Barcelona:


The paella


Mr X loves the beers, the size of which he could go deep sea diving in


Ms X loves the sangria



Barcelonians love their dogs- often seen walking 2 at a time



The metro



The wonderful meandering lanes

The minuses in Barcelona:
Lots and lots of grafitti with lots of rubbish around

The cars and motorbikes that appear out of nowhere and nearly run you over in the wonderful meandering lanes



The wonderful meandering lanes especially after you have had a sangria or beer

Interesting points on Barcelona:

Everyone seems to be short. old and suited up

The Church of the Holy Family- Gaudi started building it in 1888 and they still havent finished it. wont be finished till 2020

NEXT STOP: PARIS

LOVE London!

Sitting through a session in the House of Commons, browsing the Food hall in Harrods, checking out Churchill's bunker, strolling Portebello Road in Notting Hill, dropping in on Kensington Palace, checking out No. 10 Downing St, dinner in Leicester Square, Scones Jam and Cream at Wimbeldon, inside Westminster Abbey................it's all been fantastic! Love the tube and oyster cards.... off to Barcelona in the morning but Mr and Ms X plan to return to Old London town soon

Observations and thoughts....

1. Lots of rules in London eg. on subway stairs you walk on left-and on subway escalators you go to the right.....look out if you are confused and do the opposite as there will be angry Londoners who will try to walk over you (known from personal experience)

2. There is confusion here as to what goes into a cathedral and what goes into a war memorial.

You can't combine the 2.....but guess you can if you are British. trip to St Paul's proved that. Impressed by the work of old Chris Wren however, did they have to go and put statues and plaques for every Lord Tom, Sir Dick and Admiral Harry who ever suited up in armour, jumped on a horse, flew a plane or took part in a bloody battle? Don't know if that's what Sir Christopher wren had in mind all those years ago when he designed it. Much time spent by Ms X is reliving Chuck and Di's wedding, and checking out where Queenie sat in her blue ensemble that day etc and looking down that HUGE aisle down which poor Di had to lug that mighty gown!

3. The Brits love a pageant.

Almost gave up on trip to St Paul's as it was surrounded by army in all sorts of uniform (none matching) and lots of funny looking men in tights and red velvet gowns with feathers in their hats- cathedral was place where army was celebrating their 100 th anniversary of something?? not quite sure what but had to come back in afternoon when all had got back to normal.

4. The Brits welcome all artists and we mean ALL

Being a drizzly morning and St Paul's being unwelcoming we walked across the millennium bridge to the Tate Modern Museum (free also!) Shared the place with all the french Yr 7s who are on camp here in London this week (don't think there are any student left across the channel) After trying to defend modern art for as long as she could, Ms X agreed with Mr X that it was crap however Mr X did fancy a white semi-circle on a white wall. Visited Willy Shakespeare's theatre which was next door and reminisced about Yr 11 and 12 Eng Lit

5. Cricket grounds are magnets to Mr X (and Ms X is so flexible)

At Ms X's insistence, a visit to Lords took place. Eng V NZ and of course rain delayed in morning. After doing walk-by with sad puppy-dog face, Mr X still couldn't manage to get beyond peeking through gates (unless he was prepared to pay £65)

6. Randall- you walked across the wrong Abey Road crossing in 2005

Walked up to Abbey Road in St Johns Wood and did the usual dangerous activity of stopping all tjhe traffic on this busy road by walking backwards and forwards....just cos u can! Mr X and Randall had done this 3 years ago but on wrong crossing

7. The national dish of Londoners is no longer fish and chips but curry

Weaved our way on tube to Liverpool St for a short walk to BRICK LANE.... sort of a an Indian Lygon Street. £6.95 for 3 courses- great deal

8. Ms X had better get serious about shopping

Playing Monopoly!

After listening to many security warnings from 'Daughters X' , a chat with Ian Claridge and another guy from cricket club who were on same flight, we relaxed into the upgraded-leg-room seats that Mr X had secured for us all the way to London!

A quick stop in 35C Dubai airport that seemed like a smoky refugee camp with people camping all over walkways yet hogging all seats with their baggage (very big ugh!) we re-boarded in what seemed like a Daddy day care creche on the plane (very very big ugh!) Lucky we had the leggy seats as compensation. Whilst Mr X shared his choc bullets and minities with other passengers, Ms X wasnt impressed when one man tried to snaffle her Aust OK mag as well as her Maddison mag- feeling a sudden rush of kindness, she offered him one to borrow..... and then proceeded to watch said-magazine passed around plane.....even the air-hostess had it at one stage....it was last seen under arm of model-like Jamaican lady.

After settling in to the Warwick (words cannot do it justice) a walk around Paddington and to Hyde Park was the perfect activity for 2 very jet-lagged travellers. Ms X suffered 2 unexpected blood noses (she was wearing a WHITE t-shirt) which resulted in a major depletion of the clothing items now available in the luggage!!! Those who know Ms X, know she loves the challenge of a stain however she didn't pack the PREEN.

Sitting in the Paddington sun outside a Paddington Pub enjoying 2 very large chards, Ms X was heard to say some of her fave words ' Now this is living'

Like obedient travellers, the next day started with the 2 travellers at Tower Hill looking for the sun-dial which was to be the meeting place for the FREE walking tour, recommended by unofficial travel agent Caitlyn.
After what seemed like a whole episode of 'Amazing race', the two sat proudly in front of a small sundial that they had managed to find. Tapping watchers and tut-tutting that the volunteer guide was late, Mr X glanced over his shoulder only to find a whole group gathered in another spot in front of another HUGE sun-dial......boy did they move fast. (think theywould have been eliminated by Phil) Tour was FANTASTIC.... saw lots and heard lots while playing the best sort of Monoploy you could ever imagine all through London. Covent Garden and a Cornwall Cornish Pastie-yummo for lunch
In afternoon went back to explore Tower of London in depth with Ms X having to relate each King or Queen to a movie in order to understand (Natalie Portman-The Other Boleyn Girl, Cate Blanchett- Elizabeth, Sean Connery and Richard Gere- The First Knight etc......)

Leicester Square to buy 1/2 price West End tickets to 'Buddy' which we thoroughly enjoyed- no wonder we collapsed into bed after reading 20.6kms on Ms X's pedometer

"Don't forget the medication, the spectacles and oh, yeah the passports!"

This is a research project which will inquire as to whether two 52 year olds can survive alone for 7 weeks, after 20 odd years of holidaying with kids.

With nothing but a map, a rail pass and their pill boxes (plus, in Ms X's case, a hairdryer, sensible shoes, nice black pants, facial products, eyemask, et al) they embark together on this social experiment.

1. Will the combined luggage total of 40 kilos (30 kilos when receiving the hospitality of RyanAir) be adequate for the above listed items?


2. Will there be sufficient topics of conversation to last them for the duration of the eurailpass?


3. Will Mr X be able to walk past Lords without applying for British residency?


4. Will Ms X be able to resist the lure of Harrods and the Parisian boutiques?


5. Will the elimination of Norway and Minnesota from the watertight itinerary be too much for Mr X?


6. Will Mr X continue to complain about the absence of Norway (and Thermopoli), yet the inclusion of Denmark (and Santorini), at any opportune moment?


7. Will Mr X be chivalrous and allow Ms X to always have the bottom bunk on all the overnight trains (and also willingly carry all listed luggage up narrow stairways)?


8. Will the 'Romantik Hotel' in Rothenburg (partcularly the LOVE ROOM) live up to ALL expectations?
   
9. Will Ms X be dragging Mr X out of all those War museums in Berlin, Potsdam et al in order to visit OUR Mary in Copenhagen?
   
10. But most importantly, will Mr X's arthritic buttock amd Ms X's arthritic knee last the distance?

This project which will provide answers for all 52 year olds who wish to embark on a Trafalgar-free tour whilst maintaining sanity (and movement in their joints!)