My tour of one!

Amazing! I met the GAdventures person (GAP) at the Amman Airport to find I was the only tourist! So I have had a driver all to myself, Mohammed. Strange! I presume you've seen the photos on fb from Jerash. I spent several hours there wandering around. The driver doesn't guide, I now know. So I guided myself by the signposts, then googled Jerash when I got to the hotel, matched up photos on Wikipedia. I enjoyed it though, especially meeting the Jordanian Military bagpiper! I'm glad he spoke English, lol.

Yesterday Mohammed drove me four hours to Wadi Rum, a Bedouin camp in the desert. The drive was really boring, just a long, long road with stony, tussocky scenery. When we arrived, three Bedouin staff had tea cooking in an earth oven, a Bedouin speciality, lol. About an hour later I climbed into the back of a 4*4 small truck, something I haven't done since 1974, & was driven around the desert sights & watched the sunset. Being in the desert was awesome & when we stopped for the sunset, the silence was lovely, just a bit of wind. Lots of tourists in the backs of lots of little trucks were being driven round, plus one group on camels. Later a group of about ten Dutch tourists had arrived in the camp for the night & the earth oven was opened ceremoniously, everyone invited to take photos. I didn't see any need, think hangi. It was a good tea, a good evening, but with a full moon. I had hoped to see an amazing starry sky without light pollution but Mother Nature intervened. The moon sent the stars scurrying, completely washed them out. Still a good night, though.

Today we have driven to Petra & Mohammed arranged a local guide for me, Omar, not Omar Shariff sadly. He was interesting, knew his spiel well, & walked me around for about three hours. I loved Petra, a marvellous place with lots to see. The photos will go on fb. To see all of Petra you need several days & good knees, lots of walking in/on sand, stones, stairs, hills, etc. The colours in the stone were great, would be even better in the rain though I'm glad it wasn't raining. My dream of visiting Petra fulfilled, eh.

Tomorrow it's back to Amman to the Larsa Hotel again & I fly to London on Friday. Jordan has been lovely.

The Dead Sea!

Things happen, things change. I am now at the Holiday Inn at the Dead Se in Jordan. Really cool resort!
Vienna was great, more sightseeing, went back to Schonbrunn Palace 'cos I left my jacket behind. Christine & I had gone there on Monday to wander & lunch & went to the Strudelshow. I got picked to assist the baker putting on the show, complete with hat & apron. Well, I now have a certificate declaring me a Master Baker of Appelstrudel! Haha! Take that Jan! But I left said jacket behind, silly me. I wandered around there for a while, zoo, labyrinth, gardens, etc, nice place.
The next day I went to the Pandora shop & picked up charms for Switzerland, Holland & Belgium, yay. Then spent the arvo at the hospital 'cos I had acquired an infection that needed antibiotics, so not nice. I knew there was a possibility of recurrence so the doc in Australia had given me antibiotics in case. Again silly me, I only brought half of them with me, the rest are at Michelle's in my other case. No good to me there, eh. But all sorted now & I have enough now for 10 days. That should kill it!
Yesterday, thanks to strenuous efforts on Jan's part, I flew to Cairo, didn't leave the airport, then on to Amman, Jordan & transferred to the Dead Sea. I am staying at a v spiffy resort till the 22nd, then I join the Jordan tour as originally booked.
So no Egypt! I had planned to stay in Cairo for 3 nights, visiting the Pyramids one day & Alexandria the other. The 2 seemingly worst cities for rioting & deaths are Cairo & Alexandria! The tour company cancelled, & I like being alive, no brainer, eh. The Pyramids & the new Alexandria Library built on the site of that famous ancient Library will not be seen by me, so disappointed.
The resort is great, four pools, a spa, & the Dead Sea! I've been in the pools already, so warm. I got talking to a 14 year old Armenian girl who wanted to practice her English. She's v good too, learning English, French & Italian. She wants to be a translator after university. Larout, not sure of the spelling, but there has to be a roll of the R in the middle.
Anyway, more swimming tomorrow. I might even float in the Dead Sea, but there is only a small area cordoned off for swimming. Not sure why, maybe we might float out to sea, lol.
I loaded five new books on my iPad & I've nearly finished the first. So these few days are R & R, swimming, reading & relaxing.
Then the tour to Petra & the desert!

Emmersdorf & Melk

I'm now at Christine & Erich's home in Emmersdorf, a lovely house with pine features. After Christine picked me up from the hotel we went to lunch & on to the Viennese version of Luna Park in Sydney, maybe a bit smaller, for a ride on the Ferris Wheel & a literal overview of Vienna. We visited a Porcelain Museum, which was interesting, some lovely pieces. Emmersdorf is a small village near Melk Abbey, which is a big tourist attraction. So far I have seen it from the garden glowing in the sunset. I will visit there soon.
Yesterday was a challenge as we went to an obstacle course built in the trees in a forest park. I only did the easiest course, including a couple of v short flying fox descents. I had hoped to do more on the longer flying foxes but when I had to step off, essential to start flying!, I couldn't. My infamous fear of falling kept kicking in, drat it. So Christine did it, Vickie did it, Theresa did it but not me .
After lunch we went to a Most tasting, including an amusing interactive explanation of Most. Think apple cider with pears added. Nice actually.
Lots & lots of sightseeing for three days, photos on fb later. Austria is a lovely place, so like NZ, only more forested. The weather has stayed in the high 20's, summer is definitely here.
I've learnt to ride a Segway! Really easy & such fun.
You all should see the fire in this place, so amazing, fb later, called 'kachelofen'. I loved it.
I'm now back at the Marc Aurel Hotel in Vienna till Friday.
Jan's still working on the alternative for Egypt for me. So disappointed I can't go there. But it's like me not driving, I like being alive. It's just too dangerous in Cairo now.
More news in a few days!

Sunny Vienna

I'm enjoying being back in Vienna. The hotel is in District 1, the centre of the city, so everywhere is within easy walking distance. I went on a Red Bus Tour yesterday which was really interesting & I saw several places then that I checked out today. If you have seen my photos on fb, if you're able to view them, you will have seen the architecture in the style of Gaudi. That was a pleasant surprise, I had no idea. Amazing!
The walk I did in the arvo was a free addition to the bus tour. The tour guide was an elderly man & seemed v frail. But he had lots of historical knowledge in his head & became the first person I've ever tipped! I got the impression the tours were his retirement money. I was just afraid he might fall over on the cobbles. I'll put up photos later, including the only horses left at the Spanish Riding School. All the other horses are on holiday. Along with the opera, the orchestra, & the ballet! I know some of the ballet were performing in Paris. July/August, they all leave the city, lol..
Last night I attended an operetta movie at the Film Festival at the Rathaus, Town Hall, a really ornate Town Hall.
Today I went on a tour of the Vienna State Opera House which was fantastic. Not the biggest at seating 1,700 but capable of doubling in size by judicious use of side stage, back stage, covering the orchestra pit & other tricks of the trade. The decor is fabulous, lots of marble & gilt, about 13 floor to ceiling tapestries, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. (No, not you this time, Jan.) I then went to the Opera Museum for a look see, then on to lunch at the Opera House again. Afterwards was the Butterfly House which was a real treat. Everyone was walking around with smiles on their faces. The butterflies seemed to be v playful. One woman reckoned they were flirting with her when she was trying to get photos of them. I walked home via another park, of course, & the other half of the Ring Road. Another good day.
Tomorrow Christine is picking me up & I'll stay at her place near Melk  for the weekend, then back to the same hotel till 19th. After that is a whole other story!

Paris to Vienna

My last day in Paris I went walking in a different part of Paris armed with my trusty map. After several inadvertant detours, I found Lac Superieur & Lac Inferieur right where they were supposed to be. Forested surroundings, rowboats on Lac Inferieur, cafes for cups of tea, lots of walking tracks, my sort of place. Success!
Now I'm in Vienna, checked in at the hotel, & of course I've been walking, found several parks. Christine, I've already walked half the Ring Road! Even been to the Rathaus. Did you know about the Film Festival? I may go there tomorrow night. Big Red Bus tour booked for tomorrow to be followed by a guided walk.
Night folks!

Sunshine in Paris!

Sunny days are here again! It's been great, mid-20's, blue sky, fluffy clouds, all that.
Friday I had a totally lazy morning & joined another walking tour in the arvo, Trendy Marais. Another enjoyable time listening to the guide's stories. I was a bit slow the first few days though. I saw lots of 'Soldes' signs in shop windows, didn't think much about it until the guide of this tour mentioned 'the Paris sales'. That's what Soldes means! Apparently the Paris sales started this week, last for a month I think, & everyone comes to town to shop. (Now I'm not a shopper but there were a few things I wanted.) Anyway I wandered around quite a bit more before heading out for tea then hotel, got out my map & found a likely looking shopping centre.
Saturday I went to the Galleries La Fayette & shopped. I had been needing some sandals, got a pair, & a summer top, got it, & more souvenirs for my Pandora bracelet. I bought a birdcage to represent France, think interior decor French Chic motifs, & there was a teapot I just couldn't resist, so me! When I was in Austria I bought a couple of enamelled spacers, one champagne (really brown), one purple. In Bath I found a matching Pandora champagne ring, grabbed it. So, in Paris was the purple ring, now I have both matching. The Pandora wasn't on sale but there was an offer, buy enough, which I had, & get two spacers free, good deal. Sadly they only had one of a colour to blend with all my others but that was okay, it was free.
Marie, you would be proud of me. I have Pandoras from most countries, only Switzerland, Holland & Belgium to decide on still. The Catholic Basilica will be in good company.
Moving on, I did a tour in the arvo starting from the Paris Garnier Opera House wandering right bank Paris. That was fun & because I was there I saw an ad for the Ballet on at the Opera House. If you read fb you know I bought a ticket, yay! Great ballet, good night, back to hotel.
The Galleries La Fayette are in a heritage building with a fantastic high dome in the centre & each floor has galleries around the core. I'll put photos on fb later. It's lovely & reminded me of the restoration of the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney, though a different style obviously. This is Paris, after all! There is a great roof terrace with amazing views over Paris, another photo. Also separate buildings for men's & women's shopping. The women share with kids clothes, etc, the men with gourmet food, lol. Lots of other stuff too of course. Worth a look if you're here.
I'm going to be so broke by the time I get home! Save my money for me, Jan. have you replaced all my wine yet?
Love to everyone.

Paris!

Well, Paris is definitely a different place in fine weather. I arrived about 9 pm & found my hotel after a few wrong turns. Blessings for daylight savings, I wasn't having to find my way in the dark. No tea making equipment in the room, most European hotels don't bother, but 24hr supply in the lobby.  That's a bonus. I grabbed a cup from the breakfast room & just wander down whenever I want. The lift's a bit jerky though, got to watch I don't spill it. Mustn't separate me from my cups of tea, eh!
Anyway, Tuesday I just wandered around the locality & checked things out. Wednesday I took a bus tour to Versailles, which was v interesting. An amazing place with v formal gardens, massive gardens! You can walk for a mile straight back from the palace & still not  be at the end, I think 3.5 miles around. Well worth a look.
After Versailles, the bus went on to Giverny, Claude Monet's home & gardens. That place is awesome, to be wandering around the same gardens, viewing the same stream & lily ponds that he had planted & painted so often. Definitely the highlight of my day!
Today I joined a walking tour around the outside of Notre Dame Cathedral & environs, that was fun, the guides always have amusing stories to tell. Then another walking tour with a different guide along the Seine seeing more sights. Then I went on a ferry trip on the Seine with a guy from the second walk, an Iranian student studying Civil Engineering at RMIT University in Melbourne. Go figure! Amazing the people you meet. After all that I went to an Italian restaurant for tea, had Salade Pavarotti! & got to the hotel at 9.30pm, still daylight.
Life can be fun! Now it's midnight, time for another cup & bed.