I'm back

I've spent the last two months travelling around 'Down Under'. While I was away I kept a separate blog about the places I went to on www.itchyfeet23.blogspot.com - a blog which is currently running about 21 days behind schedule - so I'm back to writing this blog on my day to day life alongside the travel blog which I will update until it's complete.

I had a really great time. I left on December 6 and spent a couple of days in Singapore before flying to Perth in Australia. I stayed there for 11 days and then flew to Sydney in time for Christmas, where my kids joined me and we spent the Christmas and New Year with my brother and his family. After the kids went back to their various jobs/studies/travels, I flew to Christchurch in New Zealand, and spent the next three weeks travelling by coach and train and ferry through the South and North Islands, ending up in Auckland where I spent a couple of lovely days with some good friends. Back to Sydney, and a few more (less hectic than at Christmastime) days with my brother and family, before setting off back home via Bangkok (2 days).

I had a brilliant time, and found out that I have a lot more stamina than I gave myself credit for. Two months living out of a suitcase with no responsibilities is a great way to reduce stress levels to absolute zero. And yes, I was moving around so much that I didn't unpack, which made sure that I didn't accidentally leave anything anywhere. Though I must admit I spent one whole day as I travelled from one place to another thinking that I'd forgotten my phone charger at the last motel, because I couldn't remember putting it back in the suitcase after using it. However, when I checked in to that night's motel or hotel and opened my suitcase I found that it was safely there, much to my relief.

I met a lot of really nice people. Once or twice I would meet the same people again in another place a few days further along, and that was always a real treat, and we'd greet each other like long lost friends! But the best ice-breakers were winery tours where you'd start the day with a group of total strangers and end the day with everyone chatting and laughing and on the best of terms.

Let's get the bad news out of the way

I'm sorry to say that I was robbed during my little jaunt to Barcelona. It's very embarrasing for me to have to admit that I was taken in by some very clever pickpockets, but in the interest of making as many people aware of what to beware of, I've written an article about how it all happened, and if you're interested you can read it here.

Happily, it could have been worse, and I feel as if I got away with minimal damage, both to my finances and to my person. My pride, however, is another thing. I put it behind me as quickly as I could, and got on with enjoying my trip.

Okay, now that's out of the way we can talk about happier things.

Street Performers on La Rambla in Barcelona

La Rambla is the avenue that goes down from Catalunya Square to the Port of Barcelona. It's lined with shops, restaurants and cafes, and it's where people go almost any time of the day, but particularly in the evening. There's always something going on in the central pedestrian area of the road, and the street performers were quite spectacular.

Tuesday Morning

I've been back from my short trip to Barcelona for four days now, and still haven't posted pictures or spoken about my trip. So that's my priority for today.

I went with a friend and we caught a flight from Heathrow Terminal 1 (not 5 - phew!) on Monday morning last week. We'd used the online check-in system, and were very pleasantly surprised by how efficiently it worked. We arrived in Barcelona, and were checked into our hotel and out and about in the town by 2 pm.

Barcelona is a beautiful town with wide avenues that have a central walkway as well as standard sidewalks. The architecture is quite amazing, and for me the highlights were the Gaudi buildings with their distinctive wibble wobble appearance (called organic). But that wasn't all. The museum, the art galleries, the sights and sounds on the street, and St. George's day - all will be revealed.