Back in Melbourne - back to reality....

by Jo Spong

What a great month Al and I shared on holiday overseas! So many sites, experiences, and photos - approx 700! But we are home now, back to "the real life".

We arrived back in Melbourne last Wednesday at 1:30am. One week later now and I think we are only just starting to overcome the jet lag. We have both been fighting some sort of throat infection which has been a pain....we will fight on however (just had a glimpse of the William Wallace statue in Aberdeen and felt inspired to fight on! :p).

Not much has changed in Melbourne since we were gone. Good news is - Melbourne is getting a Costco. Bad news is - our basil plant has completely died (basil plant number 3!). Other than that, things are the same: the neighbours are still arguing and australian tv is still very very ordinary (thank god for foxtel - dr phil and oprah around the clock...bring it on!).

We will soon be updating the OS holiday photos on this blog to include the Italy ones, so if you get a chance, check them out. There will be a great photo on there of a gypsy woman approaching Al at a cafe :p

x Jo and Al

ITALY: Tuscany and Rome

Well we are nearing the end of our trip and have possibly saved the best for last. Bella Italia. Arrived into Pisa airport and managed to get to our wee isolated tuscan farmhouse apartment with a mix of Jo's high school Italian and my arm-waving and pointing.

We stayed a few miles outside of a medieval Tuscan town called San Gimignano in a beautiful little converted farmhouse. Is this starting to sound like a Frances Mayes novel? I cant help it, it was sensational and we'd go back in a second. Our 3 days there were a delight. The first night there we had a nice meal then walked into one of the main piazzas to find a 40-piece orchestra playing to the public. What a setting.

The second day we went to Florence which was a 45min train ride away, and we saw the Duomo, the Uffizzi and the Statue of David amongst other sights. David may have a small piece, but his hands are enormous and he's a handsome chap. Florence is beautiful, although it gave us an early insight into Italian city life, rammed with tourists, people out for themselves, sleazy blokes perving on every passing bit of skirt. But enough about me...

So then it was onto Rome on the Eurostar. We had been pre-warned about the pickpockets in and around the stations and busy tourist areas so we were well prepared. Jo had her bag clutched tightly and i was mincing around Bruce Willis stylee, glaring at anyone in a 10 metre radius and happily we didnt encounter any problems.

So Rome was brilliant, the whole atmosphere of the place is so alive and the sheer size and abundance of ancient architecture is fantastic. We braved the hour long queue at the Colloseum, went to the Vatican Museum including the awesome Sistine Chapel. That bloke Michelangelo was a talented fellow. We also took in the Roman Forum, which was the town centre in Roman times, the Borghese Gallery and the Trevi Fountain. We attempted to get into St. Peter's Basilica but the dude at the gates blocked our entry on the grounds that Jo's dress was too short. It was about 3millimetres above the knee. The pope was actually in Oz at the time servicing 500,000 Bruces and apologising for the paedophilia which has dogged the catholic church over the years.

Each night we went out and had dinner in a different spot but found the same atmosphere and vibe and had a thoroughly great time. We would love to go back to Rome, so we better get saving.

Time to get packing for home. The trip has been great, but its over now :(

Ciao

Al and Jo
x

SCOTLAND: Family, Friends and Castles

A'right blogfans. We greet you from Al's hometown of Aberdeen, North East of Scotland. Otherwise known as the Granite City, or the Oil Capital of Europe. Nothing to do with the high cost of fuel, blame Bush or the taxmen or Bin Laden.

Its been a great few days, firstly we managed to negotiate the ferry trip from Belfast without any problems, leaving the black skies behind us we enjoyed a very comfortable sailing accompanied by some Mushroom Soup and copious amounts of Tea. We arrived on Scottish shores to be met by my Mum and Dad, of the clan McKelvie, although depending who you believe these roots actually lie in the clan Stewart, the clan Campbell or the clan McGheesabreak... So this was a fantastic welcome and we had a smashing day driving around the windy roads of Southern Scotland. We also had the privelidge of seeing my Uncle Ian's Whisky collection.

Then it was onto the family heartland of Ayrshire, where we saw my Nana, Bessie, still going strong at the age of 91, and we took in the beautiful coastal sights including Jo's first castle, Rabbie Burns' cottage and Electric Brae - an optical illusion which has you feeling your car's being pulled up a hill. Nae bad. We then had a great night with my extended family, the booze was flowing and the sun shone into the night, and Jo even got a surprise birthday cake.

On Saturday we went up to rainy Glasgow and met up with Mur and Sue, then George and we sampled a few more pints and many a laugh. On the way up to Aberdeen we slithered past Loch Lomond and Perth, complete with dramatic skies and very average pub grub. Jo had her first experience of Aussie/Scottish misunderstanding, classic really. On asking for a coke, the 14yr old scottish waiter said 'erm, no problem', only for the older waiter came back to confirm her order after the wee man had scribbled 'kirk' on the pad. He then took Jo's food order of 'Cheeseburger' and managed to come up with a cheese baguette. We are sure to regale that one many times to whoever will listen, suitably embellished of course.

We are off to the highlands this week to see Loch Ness and Balmoral Castle (the Queen's favourite residence) among other things and to catch up with more of Al's pals. The end of the week brings a suitably magnificent occasion upon our travels, Aberdeen v Manchester United. Enough said.

Well, i think i've banged on enough for now. I am off to watch UK Big Brother and quickly fall asleep.

Back soon, fare ye well.

Al and Jo

x

BELFAST: Giants, Murals and the Water of Life

Well our time in Belfast is fast approaching its climax, we're just about to head to the ferry for our onward journey to the McFatherland, hoping that the pending storms will hold off. Could be a choppy ride.

We've enjoyed our stay in N Ireland, we done a wee tour of the city and seen lots of great murals from the troubled times and soaked up a bit of the history of the place. It's marching season here and the unionist flags dominate the landscape of the streets in much of the city. Yesterday we went to see the Giants Causeway, site of the mythical Irish and Scottish giants' cat n' mouse chase many moons ago, which is an amazing place. Beautiful scenery along the Antrim coast up there. Also went to the Bushmills Distillery, got tipsy by osmosis and learnt the differences between Irish and Scottish whiskies.

After that we watched Andy Murray being annihilated by a Spaniard wearing a thong, and we've generally had a great time catching up with James and Shelley.

So its onward now to Scotland, arrive in Stranraer this afternoon where we'll meet my (Al's) folks, so cannae wait for that.

Funniest part of the trip so far, has to be Jo's innocent comment upon seeing an old hippy in medieval gear protesting at Stonehenge: "He's dressed like Jesus and he's using a mobile phone. Is that allowed...?"

Right, more to come very shortly.

Ta-ra for noo

Al and Jo
x

LONDON/STONEHENGE: Pub Meals, Royalty and Big Stones

Awight! Just a quick update, out first since leaving down under. We've just arrived in Belfast, staying with our good friends James and Shelley, having just spent a great 3 days in London. Managed to fit in a fair few sights in our short time there and even a trip to Salisbury and Stonehenge, which was smashing.

When in London we met up with our pal Mel, who is staying there for a few months, and is hopefully now suitably convinced to support Fulham instead of the rich fancy dans of Chelsea. Went on the London Eye, saw the changing of the guards at Buck Palace, Trafalgar Square, the Tower of London, Westminster, Harrods (although it was closed at the time, so we'll have to buy the cheapest thing they've got on sale next time we're in the capital...), Covent Garden, Leicester Square and we had a pint in The Warrington, owned by Chef F**king Ramsay.

We will be uploading a few photos and adding a more detailed blog in a couple of days, which I know you are dying to see.

In the meantime, we're off on a wee tour of Belfast and hopefully a few pints too.

Laters

Al and Jo x