Spain

Thursday the 6th

Today was our first glimpse of Spain and it definitely a place that I would like to visit again. Its a pity that you only really get 1 day in the city but thats the way it works on Contiki. Our day began with a drive to the top of Barcelona's highest point for a quick photo shoot over the city. For those who have been here you can imagine our first thoughts. Going from an old city of Paris where things are spread to here where there is a clutter of building all on top of one another was a sight to see. After the usually pics we head down for a bit of a city walking tour and went to the Temple Espiatori De Is Sagrade Famillia. This church was degisned by a famous Spanish man and is still being worked on today. They are predicting that it will be completed in another 50 years! That will be a massive party.

After our city tour the rest of the day was ours so we headed to the food market wandered around and walked to the Christopher Columbus along the Las Rambles. After lunch we headed up to the Olympic grounds of the 92 games and wondered around before relaxing with a Gelati and some views of Barcelona. Once we made our way back into the city we met with the rest of the group and went to a Flamingo Dancing Show (Monique you would have showed them up). It was ok and a little slow but the San Greai (Spanish Red Wine) helped it along and also the audience participation at the end livened it up. I was one of those and I got and tried to dance in front of around 100 people. I wasn't too bad either if i don't say so myself. After the show we headed out for dinner with 7 others and we ordered some Tapas and more San Greai. Headed back to camp around 11 and finished up for the night.

Friday the 7th

Up nice and early this morning for a loooooong drive in the bus to the French Rivera. Arrived there around 7pm, had some dinner and headed to the bar. I managed to stay out till around 4:30 and couldn't find my cabin!

Saturday the 8th

After a slow start to the morning (Krystal had to tip water on me to revive me) I decided to stay put at camp for the day and relax down the beach. Krystal headed into Nice with a few others on the tip and went to a Perfume Factory. Had the afternoon to herself and did the usual contiki lunch.....wine and some nice local food. She climbed and mountain slash hill with two others and ate up there. Pretty nice photos of the views that they had. I managed to find a Pub that had the Australia Vs Japan World Cup game so me and about 10 others headed there for a beer and a sport booster shot. I really really miss my sport! Once everyone got back from Nice we had dinner and then jumped on the bus and headed to Monaco!!! Was a great drive along the coastline which lead into proberly the richest place in the world. They have competitions here as to who has the biggest boat! They look like the size of shipe some of them! We headed to Le Casino Monte-Carlo, the original casino! Out the front there were Ferrai's, Lambigouni's (car spelling is terrible) and others that had a price tag of $400,000 plus. You had to pay to get in the bloody joint! 10 Euros each so we were 20 down and hadn't placed a bet yet. We lost our 20 euro budget in about 2 minutes so we got a little bored sitting in a casino with so betting money left. I watched this guy burn massive amounts on the Roulette table and really wanted to ask him if he would like to just give the money to me! Krystal found the best this of the evening and that was inside the toilet. Each time you flush the thing a device comes out and cleans the seat automatically while the seat rotates in a 360 degree motion. We headed back to camp about midnight and checked in for the evening.

Sunday the 9th

Hi everyone, my turn now (Krystal)

Today was a travelling day, we got up early and made our way to Venice, crossing the Italian boarder. On our way we stopped off at Verona, the place of Romeo and Juilet's balacony (not actually the real deal). Very touristy spot. We were only in and out as there wasn't really much to see. In the court yard however there was graffiti everywhere. But sweet graffiti of little love notes saying so and so loves so and so, stuck on the wall with clumps of chewy. Was waiting for Matt to write something on the wall, but he didn't, how rude! We then jumped back on the bus and made our way to the campsite which is like a 20 minute boat ride from the actual island of venice.

Matt wasn't feeling the greatest, he only drunk two beers at the bar and then headed for well deserved rest! I solidered on for a little and then joined him (I have normally been beating him to bed).

Monday the 8th of September

Today was soley for Venice. We got a biggish speed boat over to the main island late morning.

Venice is apparently well known for its lace making and also hand made glass. So first thing up we went to a glass blowing show which was really cool. A guy stuck a head of glass on the end of a stick into a really hot oven, pulled it out and then started to spin and pick at it with plyers. Took him about 2 minutes to make a jug type thing and a horse. He was pretty skillful. We were then taken through their entire shop, a few levels of glassware just incase we wanted to make some purchases. Prices were not cheap!
Next we went to a lace making demonstation which was ok.

Headed out to the main square, St Marks Square, and soaked in the atmosphere for a little and had a look at the out side of the main church. Decided not to go in coz it would have costed us like 35 australian and the line was massively long. Had a little wonder around at all the canels and a few back streets and then decided that there isnt alot to do in Venice if youre not shopping. Ended up getting a bottle of wine and some takeway lunch and headed back down to the back streets where it was alot quieter. Sat there for most of the afternoon with another girl from the tour (Monica) on a bridge looking over a little canel. Was a very relaxing afternoon. We ended up buying a few more bottles of wine and some beer!

Head back to meet up with the rest of the group for our gondala ride. Jumped on that, and had some wine left over and plastic cups so we all sat on our little boat drinking wine taking in the sights with the water shinning on the water as it was starting to get a little dark. Topped off a good afternoon. After that we had to wait around for the other groups to finish so we went to look for some more wine. The tour leader took me to a place where they fill up your water bottles straight from the barrel. So yes, three litres later out bottles were full! Was soooooo cheap. But yeh, not the classiest!

We were sitting in one of the main squares drinking it while waiting for the others when the police started to head over to us. Was starting to think o oh but they walked straight past us and told the boys off for kicking the footy. So yeh, get that, its okay to drink in public but not play ball in france!

Headed back to the camp site for a few drinks at the bar. Ended up being quite a few! Matt and I both managed to get to bed at the same time, the first for the trip, but dont remember!

Cairo for now! Love yous all.