I'm home now - 

Sad that I couldn't stay longer but I had a fantastic time and I am happy to be home in my own skin and in my own bed (instead of the mattress on the floor LOL)!

Anyway I should update you on the last week of my trip... I got lazy towards the end - or too busy being out and about in London/Paris/Bern/Venice.

Well Thursday night...

Rowan and I packed up and headed to the bus stop for our 8 hour bus ride to Paris (Rowan tells me that it was only abut 6 hours and the other two hours were spent screwing around), I was asleep after the first hour, then I slept all the way to Dover, woke up to get off the bus and on the ferry, fell asleep in the corner on the ferry while Rowan drank beer (it was approx 3am), woke up to get on the bus and off the ferry and then slept all the way to Paris. Which was fantastic because I didn't have to entertain myself for 8 hours (but it was still that uncomfortable bus sleep). On the other hand Rowan didn't sleep until after we got back on the bus and so he was bored because there was no one to talk to!

Friday.

Dumped our bags in the hotel and headed straight to the Louvre. The buildings were amazing! Everything else was great too but the highlight for me was definitely looking at the actual buildings - the artistry and the architecture,. The building was a piece of art itself! It was also the easiest tourist attraction to get into and find our way around in my whole trip - and not very expensive!

Couldn't spend long in there, too tired. So after about 4 hours, we went back to the hotel and went to sleep. That night, we had dinner and drank French wine. Then we bought some supper and more wine and sat in the park below the Eiffel Tower to watch it light up. Brilliant! amazing! fantastic!

Saturday.

This was the day to do the tourist attractions and historical monuments.
Started off with the Eiffel Tower in daylight, (thought we might climb it, but the queues were way too long, an estimated 3 hour wait!), then went to the Arc de Triumph - we climbed that and it was excellent! the view and the history etc
From there, off to Moulin Rouge, unfortunetely we didn't have time to see a show but the outside was pretty cool. Then to Sacre Coeur, which was also pretty fantastic but we saved the best til last - Notre Dame.

This church was amazing and inspiring. It was fantastic to walk through and look at the stained glass and the candles - quite an emotional experience.

More French wine on Saturday night!

Sunday

Happy Easter. This was the day that we went to Disneyland! Euro Disney to be exact and it was cool! Lots of rides and people everywhere but it was still awesome. Our favourite ride was Space Mountain. It was pretty exciting seeing all the Disney characters everywhere. (Yes, I am a big kid at heart!) Sorry, Sally, but we didn't have time to do the tea cups but we did see lots of Cheshire cats!

Monday

Time to leave Paris. I left Paris on the train to go to Bern. Rowan left Paris on the bus to go back to London to work.

As it is nearly 4am (I need to be up in 3 hours, obviously there is a little bit of jet lag going on!), I will leave my story here but continue my adventure next time!

Hugs

Current Location: my house!
Current Mood: awake

Hey,

I thought I'd update you on my last couple of days!

Monday:

Emma, Malte and I went to Hamley's - the worlds biggest toy store! - 7 storeys of FUN! As you can imagine, I was quite excited! I found the new 10th Anniversary Tickle Me Elmo and I want it! We'll have to see how much money I have at the end!

We also went to Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square and then went for a walk down Regent St. A nice day!

Tuesday:

I dropped Rowan off at Kings Cross Station (and saw platform 9 and 3/4) and went for a long walk - lovely and peaceful. Emr and Malte met me at Madame Tausaad's.

We saw some famous Bollywood actor (he was real, not wax) there for some premiere - so there were hundreds of screaming people.
After waiting in the queue for just over 2 hours, we finally made it in. It was great! They are so life like... Took lots of photos!

That night, we saw Wicked. It was excellent! (I think I already commented on this)

Wednesday:

Yesterday, Emr and I went to see Les Mis which, of course, was wonderful! I had never seen this before but I'm glad i did. Beautiful voices and music!

Last night, Rowan and I went to see Evita (as you can imagine, I am now theatred out!) The guy who played Che was really good - I was a bit concerned, it is hard to live up to Antonio Banderas! The lady who played Eva though - I didn't like her. But the show was great and the scenery amazing. This was better than the movie.

Today:

Doing washing ready for the journey to Paris, Switzerland and Italy. Then I'm going to Oxford St for some shopping!

Hope everyone is happy in Australia,

Love
ME

Current Mood: happy

Hey hey,

We saw Wicked last night! The lady who played the Wicked Witch - amazing, fantastic, brilliant, awesome, inspiring - the show was really good too!

Will write more tomorrow (before I go to Paris!) and fill you in on all of my travels...

Lots of love to everyone,

DT

Hey everybody,

Another installment from the world of London!

Yesterday, Rowan and I did some touristy stuff! We went to the Tower of London which was cool.... Saw the crown jewels, learnt about Guy Fawkes (which I knew nothing about!)

Then we were heading to Hyde Park on the tube (I like the tube here, really quick and easy!) and we got off at Westminster. we walked out of the train station and the first thing I saw was Big Ben and Westminster Abbey which was very cool. Then we walked through St James Park and looked at squirrels which are so cute!

Saw lots and lots of monuments including the Australian War memorial which is fantastic!!!! We went to see Buckingham Palace which was just a big house with guards and police outside it. The police did have automatic weapons.

We walked through Hyde Park, found a gum tree in the middle of it, kept walking, stopped to play with squirrels, kept walking, ended up in high Street Kensington where we met up with Emma and Malte - went out for dinner and caught the tube home.

I had a really nice day - today Rowan is at work. Emma and I are going to book our tickets for Wicked, Evita and Les Mis. I think we are going to Leicester Square to book them and then we're going to Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus to look around.

Should be another great day!

Hope everyone is happy back in Melbourne,

DT

Current Mood: happy

Well, my first posting from London!

I arrived yesterday after a very long flight... I slept a lot, nearly every time I turned on the TV or a movie, I was asleep within the first 20 minutes. So now I've seen the start of lots of films including casino royale, happy feet and dream girls - I finally finished Devil wears Prada within about 1 hour of landing.

The best part about the plane ride was looking out the window and realising that you were looking at som completely different  country!

I arrived in London over an hour late (plane was delayed in Hong Kong) and hen spent 90 minutes getting my passport stamped. Emma and Rowan picked me up from the airport and we caught the tube home.

It took me awhile for it to sink in that I am actually in London. The tube looks like the trains in Melbourne - it seemed like we were just doing the city loop a lot!

We went out for dinner last night with Emma's friends which was really nice, however, by 9.30pm London time, I couldn't keep my eyes open so Rowan brought me home on a double decker bus!

Went to bed, slept for 11 hours, woke up and here I am!

Hope everyone is having a good one back home,

Lots of love,
Daniella

Current Mood: bouncy

On the 2nd of February - on my way to a Scout camp in Mt Martha - my little yellow car, Cornelius, decide it was all too much, too hot etc and decide to stop working.

No matter how much I pleaded and begged, Cornelius refused to start again. After waiting 2 hours for the tow truck, Cornelius got on the truck and headed home (from Frankston!)

I said goodbye to Cornelius last Friday and picked up Alfie, my new car. I bought a '98 Ford Laser. I am very excited. She is a cute little hatchback!

Anyway thought I'd share my excitement with everyone else!

Hope everyone is well,
Yella

PS I have my ticket to London. I leave on March 30th. Also very exciting. Rowan and I will be spending Easter in Paris! :) 

Current Mood: lazy
Current Music: RENT

Finally I am home again!

After 2 showers - I still feel grotty. Elmore was the dustiest place I have ever been.

Anyway it's time to start thinking about Showtime or school or something like that!

It was good to catch up with people last night! Hope everyone else is well,

Love me.

Current Mood: happy

Hey everyone,

Hope all  is well in Melbourne and everyone is having  a great summer!

I'm in Elmore at AJ2007, the Ausralian Scout Jamboree. I'm working on the entertainment. (You may have seen our  Opening  Ceremony on TV). We had the Rogue Traders perform at the Opening which was cool but even cooler was last night when Evermore played!
That was really cool and exciting and the boys were really nice.

The weather up here is hot and dusty - I think I will never be clean again. I come back on Saturday night (hopefully by dinner time), to have a shower and go to Ange and Lee's engagement! YAY!

Hopefully I'll see everyone soon!
Lots of love
DT

Current Mood: dirty
Current Music: Anything by Evermore!

What a day!

I've been standing in an oval for 7 hours in 42 degree heat with 120 kids sooking at me that it's hot! As if I didn't know! The day was really good and productive but I am so hot and sweaty!!!

Anyway - I spoke to Rowan last night. After about a billion attempts to call including Rowan leaving his phone in the other room, 2 calls to some guy in Japan accidentally and pausing to clean up the mess after I threw a mini tantrum and threw stuff against the wall!

After all that, in typical Rowan fashion, we chatted for 10 minutes and then he had to get back to his coffee! (Just joking!) He seems to be having fun - has promised to update his journal on Monday or Tuesday. He has been spending time with Malte and Emr and going sightseeing so far.

Some exciting news from me: I started looking for my dwelling. I call it a dwelling because it won't be a house but not sure if it will be a unit or flat or apartment etc. Just looking for the moment - hopefully will purchase in the first half of next year... I was putting it off, you know getting some money together etc but my parents are loaning/giving me $10,000 to get me started. So I'm excited about that.

Anyway time to wash off all the dust/grime/dirt and sunscreen...
Hugs

Current Mood: exhausted

Hey guys,

A quick note to let you know that Rowan is now in the air. 

He's been flying for just over an hour. He'll land in Dubai at 5am local time (about 12 noon tomorrow our time), leave at 7am local time and be in London at 11.38am local time Monday morning (which is 10.38pm Monday night for us)

I was pleased with how well i coped with the goodbye at the airport. I only cried once and didn't even use all my tissues! It was a very sad time though...

Anyway such an emotional day - time to sleep now,

Yella

Current Mood: sad