Eurovision

I have so many AWESOME things to update on, but by far the MOST awesome is EUROVISION! Therefore I am skipping chronology for the sake of AWESOMENESS.

Whoa, slow down buddy - you hve just exhausted your CAPS and awesome quota.

 Firstly we got to catch a Eurovision ferry to Eurovision Island. The we got to enter the Eurovision pre-party and enjoy refreshing Eurovision beer (the beer wasn't actually branded as Eurovision beer, it was Carlsberg, but I was kinda excited). Ringing the outside of the party space were the European flags. After much searching I was able to locate Malta's behind stall, a couple of coils of rope, and a wheelbarrow.

 And the costumes, of the costumes!

 Eurovision was held in a massive warehouse that was decked out in ways that only Eurovision knows how. At the entrance there were blokes dressed as Conchita offering free hugs, in a great show of support for the Austrian entrant.

Free hugs! Bargain!

Charles, Aleena, and got in nice and early so that we were only a one row from the front. Looking to my left I chuckled as I saw a bloke in a green top that looked surprisingly like a Raiders jersey.

Wait, wait wait...that IS a Raiders jersey! Everyone meet Rowan!

Turns we weren't the only Aussies to travel to Eurovision. In fact, there were Aussies everywhere. Pretty soon the acts started up; unfortunately I did not get any good photos of the Polish act  but I was there for the atmosphere and not photos. Whie not as intense as many concerts I have been too as it is a family event, everyone was super friendly and the music was really good. The acts sound much better live. Despite common conjecture, the British singer was really good when seen and heard through digital media.

They even had a halftime show!

 We smashed a few beers while rocking away to classics like Tick Tock (Ukraine), My Słowianie (Poland), Coming home (Malta), and Cliché Love Song (Denmark). And, of course, we went crazy when Conchita sang Rise like a Phoenix.

Guess which my favourite was (hint, even though it was ruled by my more basic of instincts it was not Conchita).

The countdown was less exciting than watching on TV, but we covered that by throwing back a few test tube shots. It then took us all of three seconds to decide that next year we should travel to Austria in May...

 Clearly the Norwegian behind us are impressed with our drinking skills.

Scotland the first

After my job interview I headed back to Swindon to visit Goof and Amanda to await the result. Upon hearing of my success and celebrating with not one, but two grilled cheese sandwiches I decided on a final trip to finish off my six months of traveling: Scotland.

Scotland: Cloudy, misty, wet. This is Glencoe and it sums it up perfectly.

I decided on Scotland because it has awesome mountains, was recently voted the best holiday destination in the world, and because Alison. We hired a car and so started the 10 hour drive to THE NORTH (yup southern UK has road signs that don't indicate what cities are ahead, just that you are heading to THE NORTH).

Commando Memorial - because the Brits realised if you could survive here the war would be easy.

Our plan was to visit Alison, who was at the time managing a hostel on Oban - a small town on the west coast of mainland Scotland and to visit the isle of Skye because Goof told me it was a good idea. Amanda, well, she had a job and had to work for living; someone had to pay for Goof's jetsetting lifestyle!

When Goof and I travel only the most luxurious travel methods are used. 

For the uninitiated (like I was), Scotland is essentially a whole bunch of islands very close to northern mainland Britain. Most are connected by bridges. It is really mountainous, and hence, incredibly scenic. Common myth suggests that it is extremely cold in winter - these myths are true. It is also full of Scots; they drink a lot and punch each other, which is hilarious. Many of them are extremely difficult to understand. It has Lochs, which is their name for a lake; no one could tell me what the difference was (not even Google could give a conclusive answer). Similarly it seemed that Glen was just a fancy name for a valley.

There are also cows. Lesson complete.

We arrived in Oban just in time for a Halloween party at Al's place, Oban Backpackers. Al gave us some costumes and we drank our way into the social cliques of the hostel. The following two days we toured the small town visiting places such as McCaig's tower, a nearby castle, and a quick visit of the distillery.

A lovely view from McCaig's Tower over Oban with the Isle of Mull in the background. Don't let the blue sky fool you, it was both freezing and raining.

We also drank a beer; lots and lots of beer. This was not out of any desire to please our baser needs, but more an attempt to fit in with the locals. We also broke up a fight (this became a habit of Goof and over our next few adventures together...). Then we set off on an epic adventure to Isle of Skye.

An Aussie incognito in Scotland.

This drive took us the better part of a a day and we some of the best scenery I've come across that rivals that of Switzerland and the Blue Mountains. We stopped off at a memorial to British commandos, which if I remember correctly were first introduced into the British army in the Great War; Loch Ness, but it was waaaay to cold to go swimming; and Glencoe, a famous glen that was used in Skyfall because the moutains and mist make it look so spooky.

Loch Ness - even Baiky didn't want to swim.

We stayed overnight in another hostel in Kyleakin, a small town on the east coast of Isle of Skye before our next day of sightseeing. We spent the day following a coastal road around the northern part of the Isle. This included rock formation the Old Mann of Storr; Staffin, a place where dinosaur fossils were found; Fairy Glen; and Uig. Uig just had cows, but it has a cool name (and cows).

  Old Man of Storr - it was also raining in this photo.

That's pretty much it. We drove back to Oban, and the next day back to Leicester where I was to start my first full-time and permanent job. I believe academic term this a career. By the way, in case you were wondering - Scotland deserves the title best tourist destination.

 Fairy Glen - the fairies had little quaint little messages for us.

Leicester, UK

Sadly this is where my travels come to an end. You see, this visit to the UK was for a job interview, and, well...apparently I am awesome (who knew?!). But its okay, Leicester is not a bad place and I'm really close to lots of stuff, like Europe, and Eurovision, and ... castles. Hell, even the States are just across the Ocean (Hi Max!).

Yup, another working fountain. My fascination with these has not changed since leaving Russia. This one is in the Leicester Town Square.

As with my job interview in Exeter, I used the opportunity to see what Leicester had to offer. Very early on I found pubs and pool tables. In fact, it was the evening after my interview that I joined a clan, Clan McTwat, in a local pub. While I promised I would see them again if I actually got the job I have only ever seen one of them since, and that was in the distance on the main street.

 

The main street, complete with a street performer.

Leicester is not a bad place. Similar in size to Canberra and has a pretty good uni (where I work). It is probably most famous for King Richard III. The uni recently dug up his remains. Archeologists have been trying to find his burial place for quite some time so this was a well recognised feat.

  

King Richard III, in all his glory before brained by a poleaxe.

 They also have a comedy club, which I have visited on many occasions and is really good. Next door to the comedy club is a Walkabout bar. This is an Aussie bar that sells Aussie beers. Hell yes have a sunk a few VBs there. I had an awesome time on Australia Day too (don't tell work - it was a Sunday this year).

A hard earned thirst deserves a good cold beer...

There are a few sites around town such as guild halls, museums, and even a space centre. But it does lack the nature reserves of Canberra, so I haven't enjoyed running as much since I got here. I've been checking out the greater Leicestershire area (no photos yet) and there are a few breweries, parks, and even a steam train - so there no shortage of stuff to do.

A Guild Hall. You know, I went through the Hall, read all the signs and took lots of photos and I still don't really know what Guild Halls were actually for...

There was one important aspect of Leicester though I had to suss out as quickly as possible. It did not take me long but it had been a while since I had had...

Airport security can't foil me this time!

Well, in brief, that's Leicester. There will be more on this as I do live here now. But before I started work I got one last hurrah, cause Goof and I went to Scotland! 

 

 Clan McTwat! Sadly, no one in the clan is actually Scottish. I assume one day I will see them again in a random pub and we can once again try to take over the pool tables.

Germany: Berlin

In Malta I met an EF teacher who was from Berlin but had spent years in the great Southern Land I still call home, Ina. As I am a charming lad we soon became friends and she invited me to join her for her 30th B'Day if I happened to find myself in Berlin on the correct date. So, I made sure that I was and thus began a journey of wander and awe.

Awe(some) - trees made of lights and light shows on buildings.

You see, Berlin has never held in interest to me. I was never a fan of modern history in school and my understanding of its development after WW2 was limited to knowledge gleaned from Top Secret!. This however was all to change - and this is that story...

I also learnt that Germans are weird...this, however, was my favourite shop.

I arrived in Berlin by train and met up with Ina brother Hanno. Together (with his missus) we taxied to Ina's house where I was introduced to Ina's husband (a West Australian). From there I shopped for clothes as her B'Day appropritely named Dirty Thirty Denim Do.

 Rockin' the Denim at the afterparty

Then the drinking began. The party was held mostly on a tram, and then we moved to a pub (thankfully I did not have to DJ) where Baiky and I rocked the dance floor. Thus my introduction to the German Drinking Culture was complete.

Party on a tram!

Next on my list to cross off was modern history. This was achieved in two ways, the first of which was a walking tour that pretty much covered the end if WWII and the involvement of Berlin in the Cold War. The tour went past the site of Hitler's grave, remnants of the Berlin War, the Jewish memorial, a chocolate factory (it wasn't all war and death), Brandenburg Gate, and the Bebelplatz.

 

Hitler's final resting place is now a carpark.

I followed this with a visit to the DDR museum, an interactive museum that concentrates on line in the German Democratic Republic. As I had pretty no understanding of the divide in Berlin (it was taught in school but I actively did not learn it) this was a hugely educational.

  

The Jewish memorial.

For Culture I visited the flea market in Mauerpark on a Sunday. I'm not much of a market person but it was good to poke around (and their was a Berlin wall marker there too).

 

Remnants of the Berlin wall, interestingly, the cylinder on top is carefully designed to ensure that it cannot be climbed. It is impossible to reach around and grip the other side.

What was cool though, was I got to see the beginning of the Bearpit Karaoke Show. Story goes that a random guy started turning up every Sunday with a karaoke machine attached to his bicycle and a few people would have a go. Now its an institution, with crowds of people turning up every week.

 And I mean everyone - even Hallinan turned up!

And it is still run from his bike! I also paid to go on a pub crawl that visited "alternative" pubs in Berlin. They were super quirky, with one having a continuous table tennis competition on (I did well the first time but went out early in the following games). Apparently the pub tour changes every time, but it was a good way to go out and meet people.

 

We even visited an Absinthe bar! Last time I had shots of absinthe Baiky had to carry me home.

Finally, I finished my Berlin trip with a beer guide book that listed a bar crawl that meandered past all the major sites in the city centre (many of which I had already visited on my first tour).

 

Brandenburg Gate.

Baiky and I gave it a go, but there were a shitload of pubs and I'm only one guy. I got through about thirteen, but by then the weather had turned horrendous. It was cold, bucketing down in rain, and dark. I did get to see a few more sites though including a lego giraffe!

This giraffe is pretty much the best thing I have ever seen and I do not know who that person is trying to gratify him orally.

Breaking News

I interrupt this story of adventure to bring some sensational news.

 Its arrived! Its ARRIVED! Ahahahahahahahaha.

Hell yes; Copenhagen here I come. Trust me, there will be more news on this coming your way on after the 10th of May! (I may be slightly excited)

Interlude #7: Um, are you lost?

I do not think anyone who actually visits this blog will get this entry. Anyway, there I was minding my own business eating lunch in a pub in Exeter when who should wander past...

Ne...Neil! What are you doing here?

Italy: Milan

While I was staying in Switzerland I realised something totally amazing; I was really close to five different countries. As an Australian this bordered on the surreal. The next thing I realised was that I had friends I had met friends in EF in nearly all of them. I quickly jumped on a map to see who was closest to Winterthur and BAM I ended up in Milan visiting Paola.

I had no pictures of Paola in her native habitat, but I found a picture of her from the EF Malta activities office (she's the blonde one, the other EF leader is clearly Maltese).

I stayed in Milan for four or five days and Paola showed around all the local sites. We visited the Duomo of Milan which rivaled the massive Russian cathedrals in sheer massiveness. The artworks inside I am sure are also very impressive but I do not know too much about art to be able to truly appreciate their historical significance (sorry art buffs) but I particularly liked a statue of an emaciated man, which after visiting another blog I have found is called the St Bartholomew statue. There was also sarcophagi of multiple archbishops scattered inside. The decor, both outside and inside is extremely complex and there are not enough words residing inside my head to be able to do it justice, so you'll just have to visit it for yourself...

Milan Duomo. I had to stand waaaaay back just to fit it in.

We visited her boyfriends house and he kindly cooked me pasta. I was pretty excited about my first Italian prepared  pasta meal. I told him this and I think it made him slightly self conscious and he complained bitterly that it had been overcooked. This was fine as he is not a chef. He also made up for it by taking us to a restaurant that served the BEST pizza ever. We visited the San Bernardino alle Ossa, a nearby church with a famous ossuary that what pretty much full of human skulls. This was about the time Paola regaled us with her ghost stories of the area.

Its okay, I took photos of the ghosts' bodies to steal their souls. This is the ossuary in San Bernardino alle Ossa, ij case you were wondering.

Next up I convinced her to take me around the castle Sforza. Most importantly it had a working fountain (which, if you have read my previous posts will realise that after seeing so many fountains turned off for winter I am now excited every time I see one spurting out water) and a magnificent park out the back.

The fountain (and some castle if you think that is important).

Other than that Paolo took me to the local restaurants and eateries as well as a tour of the fashion district, you know; Armani, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, etc. The eateries were actually quite cool; if you rock up during happy hour you get a table and as long as you are buying drinks you get to help yourself to a buffet that included all the Italian favourites; bread, cured meats, pizza, etc. Fashion I don't quite get but its good to know where I will be shopping once I have earned my millions.

Baiky in Sempione Park (near the castle).

I spent one day by myself, so I took a tour of the San Siro stadium, home to AC Milan and Inter Milan football clubs. As I'm not really a soccer fan I wasn't blown away by the being in the dressing rooms but the stadium was pretty advanced. There were TVs in the backs of the seats for those with the dosh to fork out for the expensive area, you know, just in case watching the game live is not quite your thing. I wandered through the sports museum there. It had the history of soccer in the area and various pieces of apparel worn by famous players but nothing I really recognized. That evening I stressed out a local restaurant trying to order food even though there was a slight communication barrier (I love ordering food when no one shares a common language).

Baiky enjoys the good seats at San Siro stadium.

All too soon it was time to head back to sunny Switzerland (Milan was overcast the whole time, although I insisted on wearing my sunglasses anyway). I found my way back to the Central train station (Milano Centrale, which in itself is an architectural masterpiece) for the long trip back through the Swiss mountains. One thing I regret was not being able to see the Last Supper by Da Vinci, the waiting list to see that artwork as longer than visiting Chernobyl so I guess I'll have to postpone that until my next visit!

The biggest foosball table I have ever seen; just outside Milano Centrale. Milano, what a place!