Holidays + #Instagram

Following a recent trip to Australia’s other top dog city in Victoria, I can safely say that I’ll never take my iPhone or Instagram account for granted again.

People laugh and poke fun at those who even have an account that’s not Facebook – that too was once laughed at and mocked – simply because they deem it uncool or, as some people tend to put it these days, is “for mere hipsters and not us mortal folk.” Yes, I’m almost certain I didn’t just make that up in my head.

There’s a particular joy that comes with having the ability to achieve photographer genius in under 27 seconds with the use of another glorious Apple product. And then receiving a bulk of ‘likes’ from people who appreciate/admire your creative efforts is just the cherry on top.

Melbourne was a highly Instagrammable city (that too is something I don’t think I just made up), where delights and a European-style sense of street life paved the way for my photographic prowess as I captured all of the most glorious moments for the entire Instagramming public to see.

Interested in Innsbruck?

Not so much as I am, for sure. I have a little crush on Austria, I’m not going to lie. Ever since wandering by in April, I’ve craved a trip to one of Österreich’s gorgeous cities.

A country of culture, Innsbruck certainly doesn’t let down that reputation. Heading off with my host mum, Sam and that gorgeous French girl from the day before, we stopped numerous times on the way to take in the gorgeous views of the Bavarian Alps. :]

Some of the lovely little stops included Ettal Abbey, Klais and Swarovski Kristallwelten (Crystal World).

We eventually made it to Innsbruck’s centre just before sunset, and had enough time to head up to Hungerburg with a cable railway, where we visited a tiny little Christmas Market claiming to be at the highest altitude of any in Austria. From that point, we could peer over the vast valley that was Innsbruck.

Here are some of the photos from our adventurous day!

Lots of love from snowy Europe,
Ryan
x

Oh the joys of Google Maps

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I’m proud to let you know I’ve created a new feature. :}
An interactive map that allows you to see where i’ve been and link to the related post. :]

So go on then, give it a whirl.
The map will be featured permanently on the [the stats] page. ;]

View Larger Map

Have fun. :]

Ryan
x

Como? Lake Como… in Italia

Firstly, this is a very important post!!! It’s my 80th post, and as of publishing it, my blog views are at 5,000since I began this joyous thing in April this year. My comment box is also on a nice and even number… but that one’s a secret ;]
Lots of whole numbers… feels good. :p

But that’s beside the point… onto Italia (technically a continuation of these two posts here and here)!

The last part of my Summer holidays was spent in the North of Italy. Two nights at Menaggio, Lago di Como (Lake Como) and then the latter three in Venice, the city of Canals. What a grand finish to a holiday that was… bellissimo. :]

Whilst in Menaggio, we met a lovely english couple and a bunch of backpackers who wanted to stay at the cheapest, yet incredibly comfortable, accommodation in town. The only hostel in the area, Menaggio Hostel was somewhere that I’d seriously recommend!

On the first day we went for a hike through the national park that borders Italy and Switzerland… such a strange thing to say… and we went to a trout farm nestled in an old farming valley. Made fresh… I’m certain the fish is killed as it’s ordered, the food was prima and I couldn’t go past the trout and cream pasta. :] Nom nom nom! I also admired the smoked ham from the region… was rather… smoky. Haha. Quite yummy. :]

Later that evening we headed to a pub at the ferry port… and let me tell you, when you think pub, in Italy it’s a whole different thing! Sure enough live music and what not… but do pubs serve buckets of fresh mussels, fish platters the size of your table or pasta dishes as big as your head? No, I don’t think so… so this one was pretty special. The food was delicious and the music was great. Good evening… couldn’t have improved it if I tried. :]

The next day was the final stretch… driving all the way to our camping ground in Venice with a stopover for lunch in Verona, the only Italian city I’d seen prior to these holidays… which is also a personal favourite of mine. :]

Verona, famously known as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, was beautiful… I’m certain the photos in the gallery below tell it all, but I really enjoyed giving my aunt and uncle a tour of one of Italy’s most romantic cities. Bella to say the least. Whilst there I nibbled on a basil pesto spaghetti and later a delicious gelato! Once again, YUM! Sights we saw included the well-known Casa di Giulietta, Piazza dei Signori, the Ponte Scaligero and the Amphitheatre, all of which were outstanding in their own right.

After relocating our vehicle (swapped in Rome for a shady little Fiat), we piled in and headed off into the sunset… direction Venice. :]

Once there (and after attempting to deal with a dodgy Navi), we did the unspeakable and broke our code of never repeat-dining… a.k.a never dining at the same restaurant more than once. The campsite’s food was cheap as chips and did taste all that bad… plus our waitress was kind of a rockstar. :] The one thing that caused me problems with this campsite wasn’t its popularity and cheap food… it was the fact that Contiki stay here… every time they’re in Venice. Thus, I couldn’t get a wink of sleep with the thumping of the bass all night long.

The next day I struggled out of bed and scoffed down an omelette… much appreciated as well… and we headed into town with the ferry. Over the next two days we explored the entire city, doing a bit of shopping, a lot of eating and walking over many, many bridges. :] We saw all the sights you could possibly think of… If it’s in Venice… we probably saw it. We even saw Peggy Guggenheim’s collection. (I’ve been dying to see the museums since I first took art back in year seven). Shame though we didn’t get to see the Carnevale di Venezia though… wrong time of year. :/ I’ll have to go back for that then ;]

Congratulations, you’ve made it to the end of a long series of posts that retells my European adventures with my aunt and uncle. :] If you’d like a high five or congratulatory hug, get lost. You don’t get those over the internet. ;] A

Hope you enjoy the photos below.

Lots of Love,
A thoroughly exhausted Ryan!
x

Time to gamble… in Monte Carlo

This was the break from Italian food we all deserved.
WAIT! I know what you’re thinking… who could ever tire of pasta, pizza and a ton of mozzarella? Well, I can. After one and a half weeks gorging on stomach-expanding Carbonara’s and Capricosa’s, a break from our temporary diet was blissful…. and we all know how delicious French food can be. :] Think fresh bread, croissants and Beef Bourguignon.

So… this little chapter started when we arrived in Nice, France and spent two nights enjoying the city… my new favourite in France. However, the true gem was discovered on a day trip on the first day there: the Principality of Monaco. With a spotless city, gorgeous buildings and a view to die for, it quickly became my personal favourite. And with the world’s highest GDP per capita at $151,630, I think you’d understand me when I say they’ve clearly got the money to keep things looking pretty. ;]

Strangely though, because it’s the densely populated country in the world, the layout of the city is rather… chaotic, yet charming. Nestled between the Mediterranean and sheer drops, the mountain backdrop means that architecture is scaterred, with high-rises all over the joint, and highways jutting in and out from historic buildings… such as the highway overpass that crosses over a church! Bizarre! Yet fascinating. :]

That evening we headed into Old town Nice and dined like the french with a three course meal, entrée, main and dessert! Fantastique is all I can say. :]
The next morning we were on the move again… and for some details about that story… stay tuned. :p

Love,
a very nostalgic Ryan!
x

Mamma Mia! I’m in Italia!

People, people, people. It’s hard to believe isn’t it? I’ve hit another European superpower… and lived to tell about it. :] But first…

…here’s your opportunity for two things. ;]

1. Let out all the anger I may have caused you in delaying this post for such a lengthy amount of time.
2. Get over it and read this to the end, enjoying all the lovely photos I’ve uploaded specifically for your enjoyment. :] mmk?

Anyway, the last time I left you wondering about my adventures in Italy, I’d just finished speaking about London, Albania and Croatia. Finally I’ve gotten around to the big one, so enjoy the photos below!

Arriving in Bari on Italy’s Eastern coast, we had our first overnight in an odd little hostel (thankfully with air conditioning) and the next morning picked up our hire car (a sexy Ford Fiesta) and drove west, just as the Village People first suggested in 1979. We were headed to Sorrento, on the furthermost tip of the Sorrentine Peninsula. One problem though, we had to drive across the country in a day (literally) and the last strip would turn out to be the worst… four hours along the infamous Amalfi coast; beautiful but deadly… for driving. The entire journey as we weaved along the narrow cliffside road, dodging buses and other cars by centimetres, with mopeds ducking in and out of the traffic at top speeds, I was scared. In fact, I remember saying something along the lines of “I’m frightened for my life”, whilst clenching the front seat with all my might.

Thankfully we made it there, and I was rather impressed with Sorrento, particularly after having seen so much of it on account of our non-functioning GPS not being able to get us to the camping ground we’d call home for the next three nights. By night, the camping ground would come alive, filled with Italians traveling from far and wide, as well as numerous German, Spanish and Australian tourists, all flocking to the bar that was served well with some delightful Karaoke music. Have you ever seen a fifteen-year old Italian sing Karaoke? Don’t. It might ruin your opinion of Italy.

The first day we visited the town that was ruined after nearby Mt. Vesuvius erupted and its gases suffocated the townsfolk. Pompeii was truly fascinating. We saw how the old Roman world functioned, from the collecting of water, to satisfying the sexual appetites of city officials. (There’s a famous brothel, noted for its erotic murals). Being a large city (see map below) with absolutely no shade whatsoever, the 40 degree (celsius) sun certainly had a bite. Sunburn was imminent and no matter how much sunscreen I applied, my skin couldn’t help getting sunburnt. Thanks pastiness, you’ve done it again. When the day was out and we’d done all the wandering our feet could manage, we headed back to the campsite and dined out… again. Italian food, I have to say, is the real deal. :]

Island hopping in the Adriatic

 

 

First of all, I’d like to update this post by letting you know that one of my photos is featured in a fascinating little blog called Toemail. 

Croatia may very well have been the best part of our European trip. A lack of sand was the least of our concerns… with golden sunshine, crystal clear waters and cheap seafood to dine for! ;]

Beginning in Dubrovnik, where we recently arrived from Albania, our one-week round trip cruise consisted of stopping at gorgeous locations such as Mljet, Korčula and Hvar, as well as numerous smaller islands dotted along the Central and Southern Dalmation Coasts. Each night we would dock in port and discovered the best of the local seafood and other traditional meals… all for very reasonable prices. In places a bit off the beaten track, we found cheap souvenirs, and I swear I could not find one dodgy postcard…. it was so damn hard to choose just one!

Anyway, I suppose you’d be wanting to see the photos. So here you go, sorted by the location. :]

Dubrovnik:

50 Things I have to do before I kick the bucket.

I have to admit, I’m a rather superstitious person… but when it comes to those clichéd lists of 100 Things I do before I die… they’re rather interesting… truly… and I think achieving each thing on this list, may be a very good idea. :]

So, in honor of my 50th Blog Post, I’ve done the truly unthinkable and come up with 50 of the most exciting and inspiring events, cities and worldly wonders that I simply must see before I end up facing St. Peter, or whoever in the next life that’ll be holding a key to enlightenment… As well as things I must learn, things I must try, places I must live, and people I must meet.

So here goes… with most things even put into preference…

Bring on the Balkans.

“Oh look a drug-dealer”… was one of many phrases we threw around whilst in Albania. It joined other brilliant lines such as “that Merc was stolen from Germany”, and “that BMW was stolen from Switzerland…”
My god, I thought, what on earth had our Lonely Planet guide gotten us into now?
After an amazing four days in London, it certainly didn’t turn for the worst when we ended up in the Balkans… but it was by far the biggest eye-opener.

First stop was an overnight in Corfu, Greece, with a view from our hotel, The Pink Palace, that looked a little something like this:

Apart from arriving at 10 o’clock at night, having a street post that blocked our stunning view and being fed sandwiches as a replacement dinner, I had a good night. I met a few lovely gals from Sydney and even discovered an old school friend was working there… small world.

We woke up early the next day and headed for the port where we then set off to infamous Albania by ferry (apparently you can hear gunshots at night from Corfu). This was the sight we saw on arrival:

Looking slightly nicer than one would expect, this coastal city of Saranda was certainly the jewel along Albania’s coastline. Looking like a slightly under-developed French Riviera, the city left an impression I won’t easily forget.

After we got off the ferry, we located our tour bus (that would take us to Dubrovnik) and were informed just how young Albania was… they only got cars in the early 1990′s… and everything there is dirt cheap. Goes to show that their economy is a little out of whack… clearly aren’t aware of inflation.

London’s calling…

It’s been quite a while since I’ve told you how things are going for me. But now I’d like to mention just how good it is on this holiday so far. With many thanks to Lonely Planet‘s hit travel guide Europe on a Shoestring, we’ve made it from London to Corfu in Greece, survived Albania, swum in Montenegro and sailed for a week through Croatia‘s gorgeous island coast.

But, as there is simply way too much to talk about for one post, I think I might start things off with a mention of Sunny London- the place I’d love to live in a few years time (followed in the next post by a brief run-through of what we got up to before hitting Croatia’s beautiful coastline). :]

So, it’s a city and the capital of England with a population of about…. pssh you all know the stats. Onto the juicy stuff :]

Flying in from Munich was just the beginning. Independent from the get go, I was looking forward to London for a bundle of reasons, ranging from it’s culture, world influence and importance, to its people, infamous weather and funny looking phonebooths. Upon arrival, I wasn’t too impressed. Heathrow is a BIG airport… I was in terminal 5 (Sydney only has 3 terminals…). Thus, it was a chaotic rush just figuring out how to locate the train that would connect me to the city itself.

The other thing that came as a worldly shock was the fact that everyone was speaking english… it felt so strange to see it everywhere on signs, posters and all over people’s lips. Clearly i’ve been stuck in a german frame of mind. :p No english what so ever.

Once I eventually found the hostel, I got to share a room with some lovely Swedish girls and we ended up going out together for an evening stroll through Buckingham Palace gardens, Trafalgar Square and a Tesco’s supermarket aisle, and then hitting up a nightclub till four in the morning. (Then we hit up Maccas) :] Then eventually I ended up in bed…. at 5am :p It was a good night…. that’s all to be said.

Above are some photos I took on the very first day in London. It wasn’t till the next day however, that I caught up with my aunt and uncle. 10am in the morning (yes, that works out to be only five hours sleep) I was startled by a knock at the door and I finally saw the faces of my two relatives. So naturally I said hello: “Can you grab me my towel? You were supposed to bring it right?”.