It’s the final countdownnnnn (I can’t believe that song popped into my head, I love you Mordialloc skate rink). Horrible memories of 80’s music aside, its now 12 hours before the pilot asks the cabin crew to take their seats and i’ll be on my way to Portugal beginning my journey of self-discovery (how deep and spiritual). The journey starts in Porto, north Portugal. I’m hiring a car and travelling south towards Lisbon and ultimately the Algarve to meet up with Fi and half of the rest of London. The excitement is starting to hit - i’ve been too drunk over the last week to think about what lies ahead (I’ve had four 4am finishes in 8 days - at least i only fell asleep on one train). Everyone is totally concerned with my preparation (I haven’t packed yet) but i’m a last minute specialist so my confidence isnt soured. I’m going to try and update the site as much as possible for all of you as I go along (Read: expect an update in about 3 months).
The past month or so has been hectic at work and play. The frivolity began in Brussels. Verity (mate from uni and work) and Carl (mate from work) joined me for 3 action packed days drinking some quality beer and sampling the local delights (chocolate and seafood). Brussels is not the greatest city in the world but it was nice and quiet and had lots of stunning parks. A very relaxing weekend until I got lost one night, couldn’t wake up Vez or Carl and ended up sleeping in some random hostel room. I missed check-out and had the other two searching Brussels for my body, on the verge of calling the police. Oops. All good fun guys!
So now that I have ridiculed myself once more, it’s time to sign off. I’ve promised about 18 people that I will send postcards from every city, so I may do more writing than sight-seeing. But whatever I get up to, make sure you watch this space for the next 3 months of fun. Good luck me.
Despite me telling most of you 2 months ago about my travel plans, it is now officially announced at work that i’ll be taking 3 months off at the start of June to swan around Western Europe. Details at this stage are sketchy (i’ve got at least 3 weeks to plan everything, heaps of time right?) but here’s a rough guide that I wrote on a napkin last night:
Starting in Paris on 3rd of June I’ll make my way down the west coast of France to the D-Day beaches in Normandy, Brittany, Bordeaux wineries and Biarritz surf beaches.
Then i’ll make a mad dash through Bilbao for the Guggenheim Musem, Lisbon and onto Lagos to meet up Fi and some mates for the middle of June.
Post-Lagos i’m headed to Madrid for a short stay and then taking a flight back to London for a week including Ascot Races, the O2 Wireless Festival in Hyde Park (Massive Attack, DJ Shadow, Flaming Lips and Pharrell) and Roger Waters playing Dark Side of the Moon in all its glory at the same venue a week later.
I’ll then return to the Southern coast of Spain slowly making my way up to Valencia for the Benicassim festival (Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, Babyshambles, Placebo and lots of dance crap) in late July to meet up with Fi and some more mates. Essentially a Glastonbury set on the beach in much better weather.
After Valencia i’ll continue north up the coast towards Barcelona and then onto SE France to Nice, Monaco and the Cote d’Azur.
Early August i’ll meet Verity in Italy and then jet off to Croatia for a cruise around the islands and coast.
August is hazy at this stage but will most likely consist of some Italian slumming (at this stage i’ll be broke) and somehow making my way back to London for an inglorious return to work.
In the meantime Fi is moving in with Kate Mac, Jules and Reusse (which worries me a lot) for two months and then will move back into our current house at the start of August. Thankfully another couple are moving back to Oz and we get to stay in our beautiful house.
I’m off to Brussels with Verity and Carl this weekend for some outlandish drinking behaviour and then have 3 weeks of preparation before departure. Life is moving very fast at the moment.
Comments:
Ross (May 11th, 2006 at 12:07 pm)
Do you need people to carry your bags—Mum and I have decided we’re available! Do you move back into the same room at wandsworth?
Campbell (May 11th, 2006 at 12:21 pm)
We’re moving up in the world - to the top floor that is. We are trading having our own entrance and the clothes washer for a 4th floor balcony with views across to North and East London, less street noise and less storage space.
Sarah (May 12th, 2006 at 3:11 am)
Oh…..the youth of today!!!
