Belgium

Last weekend we jumped on the super fast Eurostar train and ducked over to Belgium for James's 26th birthday (yes, he is getting old isn't he!) The trip only took 1 hour and 55 minutes and it seemed like it went even quicker than that.

The first day was spent in Brussels, where we walked around town looking at old churches and buildings. We found out that a celebration was about to start that very afternoon, which they called 'The planting of the tree'. Apparently it was the 700th year that they had been doing this and there was a parade going throughout town, finishing in Grand Place. So, we found a good spot on the street to watch the parade go by and then followed it into Grand Place, where there was quite a crowd. It was quite interesting, but I must admit, we never saw them plant any plant. What they did was carry a huge chunk of a tree through the town and then hoist it up in the air once they got to the end of the parade... quite strange. I suppose it's more symbolic than anything.










Grand Place

We also came across The Glass Pyramid, which we were highly disappointed with. We had heard so much about it and were not very impressed with it in real life.













The Glass Pyramid

The next day, we caught a train to Bruges. Here we visited the Markt and the Burg, which are pretty much two big squares of of old buildings around a big empty space. A particular building in the Burg actually holds the Basilica of the Holy blood! (Just a few coagulated drops of Christ's blood apparently). We didn't go inside though, as it was closed at that particular time, so instead we just stared at the building for a while and took a few pictures.













Where the holy blood is kept

We then took a canal tour through the town, which was a good way to see the sites. Before we set off, the driver claimed he could speak every language and made a point to find out what languages people spoke on board (this I understood). But throughout the tour, I didn't understand one single word! James suggested we hire some bikes and follow the horse and carriage tours around town to see the sites and 'do some skids', but unfortunately we ran out of time for that. Damn.













Canal Tour

Throughout the weekend, James tried quite a few different local beers, ranging from 9%-14% alcohol. Enough to get you smashed after just one! I tried a very small selection of chocolates, and would have tried a whole heap more, only they were ridiculously expensive. The ones I did try ranged from a champagne chocolate through to your plain chocolate praline. I recommend avoiding the really fancy ones though, as they always let you down.

It's pretty amazing, the places you can go in one weekend while living in London. When we arrived back home on the Sunday night, we felt as though we'd been away for a whole week, but it had only been two nights. And as usual at the end of a trip, we were buggered.

In about two weeks time, we're off to Spain for the 'La Tomatina Festival'. The one where you throw a whole heap of tomatoes at everyone in the streets. That should be lots of fun... Until then, good bye for now :-)

Leah and James

Wales and Bath

Melissa and Brett popped over to pick us up for the massive trip to Wales. Melissa was chief Navigator, Brett was driver, Leah was 2nd Navigator and I bought myself a can of beer (or 8) for the drive to Wales.

After a few wrong turns, dead ends, swear words and a shit load of U turns Brett finally got us out of London by popping into a pub and getting some old Codger to draw a map on a napkin. We were finally on our way.

I probably knew it was going to happen as I have a bladder about as weak as the English cricket team's middle order but I am glad Dad wasn't driving because we had to stop several times so I could relieve myself.

Once over the bridge into Wales (which you have to pay to get into) our hotel was to be 20 minutes away. After an hour of driving we ended up about 30 miles from our hotel. It was 11.00pm and we were all rat shit so we got our hotel transferred to a different location.

It's Leah here now... After that enticing introduction, James decided he wasn't bothered to continue writing. So, you're stuck with me again.

The first day, we met up with one of Brett's friends who visited Australia 7 years ago. His name was Owen and he took us to some sites, such as 'Worms Head' on the south west peninsula and a castle in Swansea. We then went back to his place in Aberdare, which is a country town in Wales and then headed out for the night. James decided to bust some of his famous moves again on the dance floor, but sadly, I don't have the photos to use as proof of his skills, as they're on Melissa's camera. (Melissa if you're reading this, I need a copy of all your photos!) After a few too many drinks, we headed back to our Premier Inn Hotel, where Brett became the entertainment for the rest of night until we all passed out on our beds.













Pictures of Swansea Castle, and the peninsula at Worms Head.


The next day, we met up with Owen's previous girlfriend Claire who also came to Australia 7 years ago. Her family was lovely and insisted that we stay the night at their house, also in Aberdare. Claire took us to a party, a few clubs and finally back to her local pub, which was very much like the Shamrock Hotel in Muswellbrook but dodgier, so we felt right at home. The locals kept asking us all night, "What the bloody hell are you doing in Aberdare?" because most tourists head to Cardiff when visiting Wales, and Melissa and I had to explain to them that we were headed to Porth the next day (in the next valley), as that is where our parents grew up. Then they'd go on to say, "Porth! You'd better watch your handbag!" and, "Porth is a shit hole!" (Valley rivalry most likely). All in all, it was a ripper of a night. There were people dancing on tops of tables (not mentioning any names Melissa), people dancing on top of James's shoulders (who would do that?) and a bar owner walking around offering people swigs out of a bottle of Tequila!













Melissa, Claire and I, James and I out, James and I at Worms Head


Back in the day, Porth was an old mining town in the Rhondda Valley. Even though my family members have said to me how much it has changed over the years, and Kay, our family friend and old neighbour from Wales, has told me several times that she doesn't even like going back there, I personally didn't think it was all that bad. I guess because they remember what it used to be like, they've got something to compare it to. We had Hilary (my Dad's cousin) to show us around Porth on the Sunday and she pointed out the two houses where my Dad used to live and the school they went to. The town was quite pretty and not as dull and grimy as it used to be from the mines apparently, however, there wasn't much happening and it seemed very quiet.

Earlier that day for lunch, we were invited around to my Dad's other cousin Carol's house for a roast dinner where we also had lots of fine wine. She and her husband Dan have an amazing old house. The main part of the building was built in the 1500s! The gardens were spectacular, and the day was beautiful, so we spent quite a lot of time taking photos outside... along with the peacocks! That night, after our short trip to Porth, we stayed with Hilary at her house, in Pontyclun.










Night out with Claire . With the family, At Carol and Dan's house


On the last day, we left Hilary's in the morning and headed to Cardiff. Here we stopped for a short while, just to have a quick look in the shops and at Cardiff castle before venturing to Bath.

As you probably all know Bath is where the ancient Roman spa baths are located. Melissa and I paid our money to go inside and have a look at an ancient bath, while Brett and James stayed outside, peeking in through the walls because they were too stingy to pay. We then went to the modern 'Thermal Spa Baths' where you actually get to hop in. There were also a range of saunas, which had different scents in each one and were extremely relaxing...

Avoiding the main highway, we made our way back through old, windy roads and cute, little country towns until we found ourselves weaving through the familiar, smelly and littered streets of London. From there we managed to find our way back to our house on Brecknock Road quite easily, thank God, as we were all absolutely buggered and in no state at all to get into yet another navigational war.