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Nuremberg 🇩🇪 to Innsbruck 🇦🇹

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We had originally planned to do Nuremberg to Stuttgart, however when we realised how close we were to Austria (believe it or not.. my geography is terrible!) we decided to change things up a bit and tick a new country off for Mark. Due to travel time that meant we had a shorter morning in Nuremberg, so it was all about cramming in as much as possible in 3hrs!

We started the day by looking at all the pretty historical bridges located around the town. The blue sky and still water meant perfect reflection photos. The American in the pub the night before recommend we walked the city walls – unfortunately, they are now closed for the season.. but we still got to see more of the medieval buildings so the walk was still worth it.

As it was now the 25th it meant the markets were open! It’s not the same in the daytime, but we still wanted a quick explore before heading to our next train. As we had only had a croissant for breakfast, it only seemed right we had more local cuisine to top us up – 3 sausages and sauerkraut in a roll. Delicious! Every other stand was selling a fruit bread called Hutzelbrot so this was our breakfast pudding. Advertised as deliciously dense, chewy, moist and flavorful. I’ll give them dense…. but everything else about it was absolutely foul, and for the first time we had to bin a market treat 😭

You won’t be surprised to hear that the first leg of our journey train (to Munich) was delayed. This gave us super twitchy arse as the original time only gave us 15 minutes to change – however it turns out German trains communicate with each other, and our connecting train to Innsbruck would be waiting for us! The trains in and around Germany (ICE) have been relatively quiet and we’ve been able to get a seat. The trains to Europe (EC) were the total opposite, and because we hadn’t booked a seat we spent the whole journey wedged by the toilet with a constant stench of fishy piss 🤢

We arrived in Innsbruck with about 2hrs daylight left and were keen to get to the Hungerburg Christmas Market half way up the mountain. Although small it was definitely worth it for the views, the Glühwein and Kiachl (deep fried in boiling lard.. yummy!) As if we hadn’t eaten enough, we got back to ground level and sniffed out a few more treats before heading to a pub to watch the England game. One thing I will say is the price of everything seems a lot more expensive here! Unfortunately the main sports pub was full, so we found another sports bar just on the outskirts. This was a much more ‘manly’ place with the scent of Lynx Africa in the air 🤣 but we got a seat, they had beer for Mark so that’s all that’s needed. A win would have been nice though…

Nuremberg 🇩🇪

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We had a few hours left to kill in Frankfurt before heading to Nuremberg, so we went back through skid row and to the love lock bridge across the river. Although nowhere near as impressive as the one in Cologne, it’s still worth visiting to see the skyline and the pretty Autumn colours on the other side. We grabbed a much quicker breakfast in one of their coffee shops – Mark thought his bagel was delicious, but I thought it tasted like sweaty armpits 🤢

Onto the train and the dodgy characters continued. I’m all for doing whatever to make yourself feel fabulous, but when you look like Pete Burns and Katie Price’s love child I really feel it’s time to stop… Behind us there was a big arguement going on. I would love to know what it was about because I’m a nosey cow but unfortunately it was all in a different language (definitely not German) I did however understand the part where he called her a stupid bitch 😬

No picture of Pete.. so here we are supporting a local German business 😬

We arrived in Nuremberg and instantly fell in love with the place. No more dodgy characters for a start! We dropped our cases off at the hotel and headed out to find the markets. Turns out we hadn’t researched the dates as thoroughly as we thought, and the markets actually started the following day! There is so much to see and do in Nuremberg that it didn’t matter, and we would still get to see them the following morning when they opened.

One of the very few streets starting the markets early!

Nuremberg is such a pretty place and just what you would expect a Bavarian town to look like. It’s famous for it’s imperial castle, half timbered houses, cobblestoned squares and bridges. We walked up the giant hill to the castle and were really lucky to pretty much have the whole place to ourselves. There’s some gorgeous views up there and a great place to watch the sunset. It was here that we had our first taste of Lebkuchen – the German spiced treat traditionally eaten at Christmas. We also found a German bar selling beer tasters, which Mark loved (and I hated because beer is foul 🤣) but they also sold wine so all was good!

On our walk to another watering hole we grabbed another snack – Mandeln. Crunchy, warm, sweet nuts.. what more could you want! We fell into yet another Irish bar because it looked like it had good atmosphere. It was here that we met a group of blokes, one of whom lives in Birmingham.. and even knows a paramedic Mark used to work with. The conversation with him was beyond fascinating, but certainly not suitable for the blog 🤣 we also got chatting to an American who shared our views of Frankfurt. Trying to explain the difference between Birmingham and the Black Country was particularly challenging and he was incredibly animated about the whole thing!

What we’ve seen of Nuremberg so far has been great as its such a charming place – we cannot wait to explore again in the morning.

Viewpoints and mozzarella 🇮🇹🍷🧀

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This morning we had a bit of a lie in as we weren’t being picked up until 08:30 – what a treat! It was a bit of a strange and disjointed day.. we but still got to see some beautiful places. Our first stop was a tiny hamlet called Marina del Cantone; a quiet and hidden area towards the end of the Sorrentine peninsula. As it is on the smaller side and not very well known, it’s mainly just locals buzzing around (although in the summer it does become heaving with tourists) and it was lovely to watch them go about their day from the local coffee shop. It also boasts not one, but two Michelin star restaurants! Unfortunately we didn’t have the time (or the dollar) to experience these.

Our next stop (after nearly having a head on collision with another bus) was Termini, another lesser explored place. Although incredibly small, it has everything needed for everyday life, including a butcher and a grocery store. Here you get fantastic views across to Capri and Li Galli islands from the piazza. It also has a church with some very interesting pieces inside, including a creepy doll holding a smaller version of the same creepy doll. As I was walking around, a questionable gentleman came up to me and asked if I wanted to buy some of his mother’s lemon cake from his house down the road. It was of course homemade and the best in the area. As much as I love lemon cake and was incredibly tempted, I declined his offer, just in case they were more the Amsterdam style, or I’d be kidnapped.

We were then taken back into Sorrento for a walking tour. As we have already walked around Sorrento 100s of times over the last few days we were convinced we had seen it all.. wrong! Going around with someone who lives here means you get to explore some of the more hidden streets and ‘attractions’, such as The Chiostro di San Francesco (cloisters) and a 12th Century arched doorway with a feature modern day air-conditioning unit. I had an ice cream which claims to be the world’s best, and I have to say it was one of the best I’ve ever tasted!

This afternoon we were looking forward to a ride out into the countryside to learn how Mozzarella is made. The farm however was only 5 minutes from Sorrento, and it turns out this is an incredibly popular spot for others wanting to see how it’s done! Maria and Rosa are experts in their field, and they bashed out the Mozzarella no problem. We were all then squashed around a table and given some lunch, which I have to say was absolutely delicious. Who can beat Mozzarella, tomato, Italian meats and olive oil. We were also given homemade cake which this time I was happy to have, and it was absolutely soaked in limoncello, along with a glass of homemade red wine.

Mama Maria

This evening we ventured back into Sorrento to see what a Saturday night has to offer. The streets remain bustling, and we found a bar in the main square to sit and watch the lads lads lads, the crazy cyclists and the world go by. We were given a dish of olives to have with our beverages 🫒 but as hard as I try, I just cannot stand the taste, texture, or anything about olives!

Dinner tonight… beginning to feel 2D!

Staycation Day 1

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As it’s highly unlikely that we will be getting on a plane anytime soon 😭 and because you have definitely missed it 😉 I’ve decided to blog our few days away! What a treat.

    As there was no airport run, I wasn’t dragged anywhere 4 hours early – always a bonus!

    The first half of the day was spent at a brand new Trust! New Trust means new stamp in the passport. Stourhead has plenty of grounds to walk around and is 100% one I’d recommend if you’re in the area. The trees were just starting to turn so it was lovely to see the start of the autumn colours. Momma was in photography heaven.

    For the afternoon we headed over to Watchet for some sea air. Apologies if this is anyone’s favourite place.. but it wasn’t quite as ‘quaint’ as I was expecting. I was especially upset by the viewpoint wall that I was too short to see over! Although it had plenty of watering holes to keep Santa happy, it isn’t somewhere I would rush back to.

    We’ve gone for a quirky Airbnb and are staying in a static caravan in the middle of a horse riding school 🤣 it is however a perfect base for exploring the local area. Tomorrow is another new trust.. bet you can’t wait to find out which one it is!!

    Santa’s Sesh 🎅

    We found a lovely local pub in Williton which served Tribute so he was well happy. The food was delish as well. Just a shame the table behind were absolute animals and spent all evening belching 🤦‍♀️

    P.s… I can’t work out this new website on my phone 🤣

    Stourhead

      Day 1 – Arrival in Banff

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      20200205_201729Its back! But just a short one today as it has been mostly travelling.

      As is tradition we arrived at the airport far too early, but that gave us enough time to enjoy a posh coffee and croissant (which was definitely filled with a whole tub of Nutella) and a Boots meal deal 👍🏼

      We flew with Air Canada and we certainly did not go hungry. Unfortunately the last snack was a spicy sausage roll which meant the plane was particularly fragrant by the time we landed.

      By the time we drove into Banff National Park it was dark so we were unable to get a good look at the mountains, but we are very much looking forward to this tomorrow!

      Tea tonight was McDonalds obvs – got to keep the world tour going!

      Nearly 24hrs awake so off to bed. Please don’t be a little bitch body clock!!

      Day 1 – Old & New Delhi

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      Blogging day 1 a day late due to lack of wifi and extortionate charges from EE for data!

      As Steve will be pleased to know, we got to the airport with plenty of time to get checked in, eat and find Santa a bottle of whiskey to keep him well watered every evening. The 2 flights over were very pleasant (still unable to sleep for any of it. Will never have Tilly’s awesome skills) although some of the food was questionable. The breakfast was especially odd, but hey.. it’s free!
      A warning to anyone coming to Delhi airport. When it says the immigration queue is 10 mins, that is a total lie. Nearly 2 hours we queued for! The poor woman in front of us fainted; although could have been a cheeky way to get to the front of the queue. Of course every other queue moved far quicker than the one we were stuck in. Standard!

      Finally we got out the airport and had our first experience of India. Wow. Words cannot describe the absolute chaos that goes on on their roads. We very nearly had a bus go into the side of us. One of those twitchy arse moments.
      We visited the Jama Masjid Mosque, one of the largest in India, where I got my first selfie request. Next we were treated to a very terrifying rickshaw ride through the streets of Old Delhi. Again, words cannot describe just how busy these streets are. They are lined with people selling fruit, food, chicken feet, fabric and car parts (I wonder if that’s where FAF ended up)

      We had the wonderful news that the wake up call tomorrow is 5:30… as we have now been awake for 36hrs, we had best get some shut eye!

      New York New York

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      This morning as per tradition we arrived at the airport 4 hours early. Santa was getting hangry so we headed straight for the breakfast. Momma couldn’t finish all hers so Santa of course offered to help. Unfortunately he got a bit too excited and the sausage ended up on the floor. Santa’s pal Martin just happened to be in T5 at the same time; what are the chances! So was lovely to have a catch up.

      The flight over was pleasant. One day I will do enough bank to have a bed at the front with White Company bedding, posh cutlery and gormet cuisine. Instead we settled for chicken with a herby roll. I decided to watch the only film suitable for a Christmas break in The Big Apple – Home Alone 2. This cheered me up after I had a recliner in front and a kicker behind.

      A pissy subway ride later and we arrived in Times Square. We decided to visit the 9/11 museum this evening as we haven’t been able to do it the past 2 times and I would definately recommend that you do this. They say you will never forget where you were the day it happened. I know we won’t as it was the day before Mommas 40th. The museum is huge and full of stuff donated from families and recovered items from the site. Its so quiet walking round; you can only hear our footsteps and the recordings of family members as they recall what happened. I could have easily spent so much longer in there.

      Dinner tonight was the always inventive Mcdonalds. After being up for over 24hrs it was definately worth the beyond ridic price for it.

      Last day of another incredible adventure

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      Today I had planned a lie in, but the noise of the local traffic had other ideas. I didn’t mind too much, today was all about being lazy.

      Yesterday I bought a ‘lucky moonstone ring’ but at the price I paid, I’m 99.9% it’s not real. It didn’t however bring me any luck today as I fell over in the sea and cut my knee, got very badly sunburnt, walked into the sunbed and bruised my shin and got bitten on the arse cheek by a mosquito. Thank God for aloe as I am currently very much on fire.

      Decided to treat myself to a full body massage as well. No whale music here, just the sound of all the local tuktuk. It was so relaxing until she turned me onto my back, took the towel off and started massaging my stomach. She was edging ever so close to the boobies.. I think she saw my shocked ‘please don’t touch the nips’ face and decided to move onto the shoulders instead.

      During our walk along the beach we were joined by some more local wildlife; the cows! It was nice to see some well kept animals rather than the scabby dogs.

      Santa has enjoyed plenty of beer and wine today as he took full advantage of happy hour. We sat and watched the last sunset, enjoyed another varied buffet dinner, quality controlled the whole of desert corner and got the cases packed ready for an early start and long long day of travelling tomorrow.

      Nilwala & Galle Fort

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      This morning Santa was left in bed whilst we went on a boat! Again we were treated to an array of wildlife as we cruised down the Madu River, including Kingfishers, fruit bats and water monitors. We were taken to cinnamon island where we watched them prepare… you’ve guessed it… cinnamon sticks and oil. I will never look at a cinnamon stick in the same way again due to amount of work that actually goes into it!

      After the boat safari we headed to a turtle hatchery and conservation site and were able to see babies that had been born this morning 😍 we were able to hold some that were three days old, as well as seeing the work the project does with turtles who have been injured. They even had albino turtles which unfortunately could never survive in the wild. It was great to see their work and how passionate they were about the turtles.

      On the way back to the hotel we stopped at two of the monuments Sri Lanka has in memory of the 2004 Tsunami. I hadn’t really thought about Sri Lanka being affected by it, but 30,196 lost their lives here alone. Passing through the village where the monuments stand and you see empty houses where whole families lost their lives and they have been left untouched since that day.

      We got back to the hotel and found Santa who had been sunning his rhino skin by the pool and beach. We grabbed a tuktuk and headed back to Galle Fort to do some shopping. A few ice creams and fridge magnets later and we hopped back into a tuktuk to tackle the rush hour traffic. I think I might invest, they manage to dodge everything!

      This evening alcohol was back on the menu so we enjoyed cocktails and beer whilst watching the sun go down over the ocean. It doesn’t get much better than that!

      Galle

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      We left Udawalae this morning ready for the long drive to Galle where we will be spending the last three days. Before hitting the road we stopped at the Elephant Transit; an orphanage for baby elephants to try and rehabilitate them. All 40 of them came for their 9am feed of milk and leafy branches which was so lovely to watch. I particularly liked the baby who was getting very stroppy because he wanted more food; he is literally me in elephant form. There was even one with a wooden leg! Unfortunately it includes one of the worst toilet stops. I don’t even want to know what I was paddling in….

      We arrived at Galle Fort around lunchtime so headed straight for a beer; however no alcohol could be served today (for some obscure reason) so Santa had to settle for a Sprite instead. Hopefully the rule doesn’t extend until tomorrow as the hotel has a 4hr happy hour!

      We had a short time in Galle Fort as is definately somewhere we will head back to tomorrow; via tuktuk of course. There’s some fabulous little shops there, I might have to buy a new case just to take it all home.

      We enjoyed another sunset over the ocean tonight. Not as spectacular as our first one here but still a beautiful one. I am looking forward to relaxing on the beach on Friday, and finally getting a lie in.