Pete and Bamss Blog on RealTravel

Fethiye journal: Paradise in the East

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 15:49:15 GMT

The overnight bus trip between Celcuk and Antalya (on the south coast of Turkey) was forseeably painful and quite eventful, with a couple of propositions from sleazy Turkish men....directed at Amber of course. From Antalya we took a Dolmus (local bus) for another couple of hours to Olympos. Much to our great regret, we only stayed in Olympos for a few hours, resting on the comfortable Turkish couches amongst the treehouse hostels. We aim to go back!! From there we were shuffled off to another bus to Demre, from where we set sale for paradise in the (relative) east.

Four days and ...

Europe journal: Pete and Bams' European Adventure

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 15:29:16 GMT

3 months of deep rest.....

Istanbul journal: Istanbul, Gallipoli and St Paul

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 15:08:46 GMT

As some of you may know, we intended to visit Greece before Turkey. However, we couldn't be bothered eating peanutbutter and bread for a month and so decided that Greece would have to wait for another trip...and hotter weather.

After deciding our new budget, we arrived at Rome airport to be told that, despite having paid a travel agent for plane tickets to Istanbul via Athens, we would have to buy them again. Sweet. We still haven't heard from the travel agent.

Olympic Airways may try to convince you on its website that it is now cutting edge but, well, its not. We flew from ...

Sorrento journal: The Amalfi Coast on a Vesper

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 04:20:56 GMT

After picking up our little Fiat at Rome train station we left Paris for the Amalfi Coast 300km south of Rome. On our way we experienced the famous Italian autostrade. Driving at 160km an hour, I was in the slow lane as cars screamed past us, yelling something about 'Grandma driver'.

In the evening we arrived at our destination, Sorrento. We were staying about 500 metres outside Sorentto centre in a wooden bungalow with magnificent views of the Mediterranean with Naples, Pompei and Mt Vesuvius in the distance. That night we explored main street Sorrento, which is closed off to cars on ...

Rome journal: When in Rome....

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 04:39:51 GMT

We arrived in Rome to find that our bed and breakfast accomodation was just outside the Vatcican city opposite the Vatican Museum, great location. We were met at the B&B by a lovely young couple who were very keen to show their warm hospitaliity by telling us exactly what we should and should not see in Rome, providing us with a cup of tea. and showing us where the cheap places were to eat (which was good as the 'Italy experience' was begining to severly eat into our bank balance).

We decided to make the most of the afternoon and walked to St Peter's square and the Bascillica. The ...

Florence journal: Toscana: Sienna and Firenze

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 10:32:03 GMT

After a relaxing time in Umbria, we took in the sights and sounds of one of Italy's most beautiful towns - Sienna. The church or Duomo was absolutely spectacular with unique zebra marble stripes. While eating lunch in the main square, we were treated to the sight of thousands of children releasing bright yellow balloons into the air while singing songs. We have no idea why they were doing it, but it was fun to watch!!

Then on to Florence, where our commitment to art was tested with a 3 hour long queue to get into the Uffizi. Once in, we discovered a special Da Vinci exhibition which ...

Trevi journal: Trevi, Assisi, Black Celery and Olives

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 15:57:40 GMT

After a train trip from Venice into the heart of Italy (the province of Umbria), we picked up our hire car in Perugia. This was our first experience and attempt at driving on the wrong side of the road and the wrong side of the car. There were near misses with the local post box, dairy cows and on coming traffic, but we arrived safely in Trevi, a delightful historic village in the hills of the Umbrian provence.

Trevi is known as the olive oil capital of Italy and for its fine black celery (?!) - unsurprisingly, it is surrounded by beautiful olive groves and is comprised of very old ...

Venice journal: The floating/sinking city

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 03:50:49 GMT

After sharing a couchette on an overnight train from Nice with a man who snored very, very loudly, we arrived in Venice in the early hours of Sunday morning. We were greeted with the sight of the Grand Canal (Venice's equivalent to George St). Following a bleary eyed few hours strolling along the beautiful boardwalk next to Piazza San Marco, we checked into Hotel Caneva. We highly recommed this place to anyone wanting to do Venice on a budget. It may have been one star, but it was clean and comfortable. Our room had a beautiful view down a canal and breakfast was ample!

Over the ...

Paris journal: I love Paris in the springtime, but winter will do

Sat, 18 Mar 2006 10:56:32 GMT

Disappointing....we had to carry our packs for the first time this trip....for 200 metres....

After flying from Leeds-Bradford to Paris CDG, we took the RER to Gare du Nord. With no trouble we found the GRAND HOTEL MAGENTA just a few steps down the road. We recommend this place to anyone who wishes to spend only 32 euros per night per couple....just one tip....bring a towel to sleep on so that you don't have to touch the sheets. What a dive, but what fun!

Our second hotel was our first taste of one of Amber's ebay finds. While we were worried the hotel may not actually exist, ...

Isola journal: Skiing rocks...snowboarding sucks

Sat, 18 Mar 2006 10:48:49 GMT

We flew into Nice and just 1hr and 30 minutes by bus later, arrived at the beautiful purpose made skiing resort of Isola 2000 (so called after the village of Isola, just below it). After a massive dump of snow on our first night, our first week was spent skiing on beautiful snow under clear blue sunny skies.

The resort is not as interesting as some in terms of apres ski and diversity of slopes - but let us just say, that the weather is divine and, it is super cheap!

During the first week, we took group classes during which Pete (having only skiied for 4 days before) improved out ...