This day was ridiculously packed, i'd quickly realized chatting to people and reading up in a few of the hostels books there was no way i was going to see all i wanted to in 4 days. I'd done the fish market and imperial palace but still wanted to look around Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku (which are all fairly close together) Akibara, Rippongi, Tokyo bay, ginza, and so on. I'd said originally i wasn't going to rush any one place, preferring to see less but more of it. Yet everything here was so intriguing i decided i'd go against my own rule and just see how much i could see in the one day. It was a Sunday so it's the main cos-play day in Harajuku, plus there's loads to see and do in the surrounding areas. I thought a start there would be as good as any. I got there to find an empty bridge, obviously cos-players aren't as eager as i was to get out of bed on Sunday morning. No worries the garden that it leads across to is incredible. I got to see a little Japanese wedding and morning prayers, i also wrote a best wishes wooden plak for Joni back home as i missed his birthday and hung it on one these giant trees.
By the time i'd done all that the bridge had begun to gather a crowd, not as many as i hoped but i'd also found out that the kids were back to school that monday and so quite a few would probably be leaving it :( i did get to see the worlds politest punk band though. Dressed in overly cliched punk outfits, they screamed through song after song and in between bowed, smiled and said thank you. Not quite the 'f*** the world' attitude expected, but entertaining never the less. Around the corner the path leads you into the park where all the high quiffed Elvis dancing groups hung around. God knows how they must have their hair during the week as some of them were comically big. They were just out enjoying themselves i think irrespective of whether we were there or not. The park itself tops the list as being the busiest, happiest park i've ever visited. Everyone in there was doing something, not like at home where u get a few kids scrapping and and the others sit in the corner drinking strongbow. Everyone was either skipping, throwing frisbees, practising theater shows, couples were juggling to one another or hula hooping. Loads of people were playing all types of instruments or singing in groups. No-one was doing it for money, just purely to entertain themselves. A girl ran over at one point and dragged me into this massive skipping line thing. It was just amazing to see everyone so busy as a means to relax. Towards the end of the park was this b-boy festival going on. It was free to walk in, they had loads of food stalls, break dancing competitions, a MC stand, Mixing tent. Like i said Tokyo is just busy, i'd planned so much for today and yet finally when i dragged myself away from here half the day had gone. I decided i'd pop over to Shibuya as that was close, so i got my move on and left only to be distracted at the bridge by more cos play people.
The main reason for wanting to visit Shibuya was 'guiltally' the crossing you see in near enough all guidebooks and films based in the city....and for anyone laughing that i went all them miles to see a zebra crossing, well it was ace. End of that, and on to Shinjuku.
The sun was starting to set by now, so really i'd just managed to time the day right. Shinjuku is good for two things; shopping and the neon lights, and seeing as i was on a budget shopping would be a bad idea.
I started to make my way over to the government offices as you're allowed to ride the elevator to the 42nd floor, but i had no idea what time it stopped running and as it was unlikely i'd return here before leaving i got my skates on. The View from here was quality, they say during the day in good weather you can see mt Fuji from the south viewing station..
That was it, my feet were killing now, i was horribly sweaty (god help whoever was sitting next to me on the metro ride home, and my eyes were having difficulty keeping open. On the return to the hostel, i saw Viktoria and a bunch of Manchester lads, 2 of which i'd met the other day, having a drink. You could tell by the way they were dressed they were obviously off out and by the types of lads these were, I knew I'd end up following.. "you coming karoke? It's that one from lost in translation!" "I don't know, I'm an awful singer, and i had a bad experience in Amsterdam" "no worries none of us are". As anyone who knows me, also knows it doesn't take alot for me to change my mind, so I popped to the nearest 7-11, bought a few cans and got up to speed, popped on a different top and was done. Ready for a night out.
I think everyone woke up the next day in a near life threatening state, but there was no rest, we'd decided to go see mt fuji at like half 10. God knows how we dragged our lazy drunken arses out of bed but we did and after pratically racing to the station found out it was booked up for the day. To think I could of stayed in bed, lol, oh well at least I had the day to go explore Tokyo some more. Fuji can come later. There's a section on the metro that leads to Tokyo bay, it's made from reclaimed land and is easily one of the quirkist places I could ever imagine. There was a sort of art instalation piece in the shape of a life size gundam model. I mean I love these things when there like 30 cm big. Seeing one this big was like a life achievement ticked off. Saying that I did keep staring at it hoping it'd start walking on it's own accord, you know like the statue of liberty does in ghost busters *spoiler, sorry! 
Next door to this, well 5 mins walk was the sega amusement building, joypolis, a muscle park amusement, a 9 storey mall and a Market called decks 'oh there was also a huge ferris wheel that could be seen a short distance away. Seriously it's the sort of place 10 year olds go to in their dreams. I bumped into 2 of Victorias friends in the sega place and she gave me a little plush toy of stich, as from 'lilo and...' so currently I'm walking around like a Japanese schoolgirl with this fuzzy little blue fella sticking his head out of the side of my bag.
I got back mid afternoon, everyone had gone back to the hostel and there beds, and were still asleep! I gotta admit my hangover had passed but tiredness was kicking me in the face everytime I tried to do anything.
So that's where we started these Tokyo posts, since then I've arrived in nikko. But as for the rest of time in Tokyo.... Once they woke we eventually ended up playing cards and finger twister (funnier than it sounds) into the early hours and i ended up agreeing to going akibara with ben in the morning before leaving for nikko. I really should of gone to akibara mid-day at some other point, but the morning would just have to do as I wasn't going to miss it. Computer games have been a massive part of mine and my brothers life it'd just be wrong to not go to the so called gaming meca while I was here. I kept looking for motorstorm, so I could take a picture to send to work, but no luck. There was some awesome arcades though, there's nothing like seeing a 60 year old dude giving this teenager an absolutle tanning on street fighter 2 turbo. For a country so camera happy, their not big on taking photo's in these places, but I did the best I could.
Ok it's been a while since writing in this thing, I've had 4 days in Tokyo and leave for nikko in the morning. It's the first place I really wish I had an extra day at. It's just been soo busy I really haven't stopped. I decided that tonight I'd have a bit of time just relaxing, catch up on washing (clothes washing not 'me' washing) and fill in this entry.
Right so let's start at day one. After arriving on time and somehow figuring the tube system to Asakusa, I was left with the simple job of finding the hostel. Because my flight had been brought forward a day, I'd be staying somewhere for one night and then another for the following 3. I followed this little map to the letter and yet 25 minutes in i hadn't found squat. I asked a few people and they tried to help as much as they could but kept implying that I was quite a way away. I was sure I was in the right area and they just weren't sure where I was asking. I carried on, and asked the next cute girl where I was. She didn't speak a word of English but sort of implied she knew where I meant and that she could help. She then walked for the next 20 minutes, past where i'd started (seems I'd taken the first corner wrong), until I was at the door to my hostel. She smiled, laughed, bowed then left. I wasn't sure whether I'd just asked the right person at the right time. But it's really not, everyone here is like than. Everyone.
I needed to sit by this point, I hadn't the energy to leave the place so i concentrated on the basics, shower, relax, update blog, food, beer... I thought if I got the blog up to date, then I was free to relax for the night. Finally since setting off, the book was at the same point as the blog and even better news is I'd met two Americans to share a beer with, the night was done and I was ready for a first proper day.
At 4 my alarm went (off subject, I love the iPod touch, but why the hell can't you use songs for the alarm tone rather than 'strum' or 'chime' or something else equally annoying?) I was getting up for a visit to the fish Market, that place is insanely busy, I'm surprised it's even allowed. It'd be like letting people freely walk around a working cotton mill and assuming no one would get injured. There's knives everywhere and trolleys and trucks flying around with complete disregard for anything in their path. I mean these people are grafting away to make a living and here I was taking photos thinking it's all great. They must think we're mental.
After the fish Market I darted off to the imperial palace and gardens which, although a little disappointing you can't get very close (the pictures I got really are as close as possible) it was a nice way of spending the afternoon. I got back to the hostel to find this guy giving a 10 minute shiatsu massage experience to anyone willing to give it a go. And although I wasn't envious of him having to touch my soaking wet back I wasn't one to miss out on something free. 
I hadn't plans for the night so when some girl came into the room wearing a kimono talking about a festival. I couldn't help but to investigate and wrangle an invite, she's the one in the pictures who looks like Mariah Carey did when she was nice, and less mental. She can also speak 3 languages and is in the process of becoming a doctor.
'Azabu-juban' festival I think it was called, Japanese have festivals seemingly daily. Have a look through the pictures, but it was nice to be around so may people all just enjoying themselves eating and drinking everywhere in sight.
Crap, I forgot to mention i visited the Asakusa temples, they were only 2 mins from our hostel and to say it didn't have too much page space in lonely planet they were stunning. I tied a prayer onto the temples ropes along with the thousands of others and strolled around for quite a while.
First off i think this could be a long one, so just be ready to skim read. I have 11 and a half hours before touching down in Beijing then another 3 hrs 30 till landing in Tokyo. So if i can`t sleep on the move, which i haven`t been able to since setting off for London then i`ll be writing in this.
Flight screen says 5272 miles till landing and although i`m sat on it we`re not taking off for another 25mins due to air traffic.
Ok where to start, i s`pose i better fill in the gap from Madrid to here.
My mood hadn`t got any better on arrival in Madrid and wasted the first hours strolling around the City. I decided i`d just call it a day and just go relax at the hostel and then start again with a better frame of mind the next day. The hostels kitchen was starting to get a bit busy so i thought i`d go get some food to cook then sit in and hope someone would say hello. The second i sat down with my pasta i got called over to join this table who i think had just started on their second bottle of wine which they poured me a glass as well. It`s funny how we didn`t do any group drinking when the three of us were together and yet when you`re on your own every solo traveller seems to find one another. Like a moth to light, we are to alcohol. Three bottles down and the kitchen had turned into something of a medieval grand hall, every table and chair had been pushed together, and everyone was passing food back and forth with people having conversations all over the show, the 4 had turned to 8 and then 8 into about 12 or so. It was a good cure to the days mood.
A few had decided they were going watching this flamenco dancing at a local bar and Tim, this Australian i`d befriended wouldn`t allow me to bail so in no time at all i was changed and ready to go out. The show was actually really cool, it wasn`t some horrible tourist trap that you get alot of, it was local people watching proper dancing in this tiny, sweaty, downstairs bar. I think with the exception of us i couldn`t point out another tourist which was nice.
One of the people in our group named lael (think it`s spelt like that) started chatting and we decided to go for a quieter drink as everyone else was going getting ruined. I had the flight and a lack of Euros, i wasn`t just going soft. She was from L.A and quickly dispelled all American stereotypes by being more interesting and intelligent than anything i could say. It was a nice way to end the night to a day that a few hours before i had completely written off. So after being chucked out of a few bars for closing time we called it a night and went back to the hostel.
Back to now, Planes about to set off, i`ve never been on a long haul flight so having my own little screen which is showing the take off is amusing me to bits, i`m like a big kid playing with everything that`s able to be messed with....this thing better hurry up though as my adjoining flight is only a hour and a half after this is meant to land and we`re currently running almost an hour late.
Oh and i know it`s off subject but all planes should have soundproofed cubicles that babies can be chucked in as soon as they start crying.
I woke in the morning and grabbed some sugar puffs from the kitchen, hadn`t had sugar puffs since i was a kid... there like the crack of the cereal world so after another 4 bowls i went to get my tube to the airport.... That`s it really, now i`m here. The moodiness from the other day has gone i think and as long as i get that connecting flight to Narita airport i`ll be in Tokyo, checking into my hostel, around 15 hours from now.
Shit, completely forgot, when i was on my travel to get food back in Madrid i walked passed a hairdresser that said "unisex haircut, 7 euros". I thought the day couldn`t get any worse at the time, plus i`d need it cutting in the next 4 weeks and japan would be expensive. So i went in and got seated straight away, no appointment, obviously this place was a quality establishment. I went on the explain as best as i could "this but shorter" she took that as her cue to get the clippers and buzzcut a strip on the side of my head and said "this short?" in a way to suggest i could say "no, could i have it a bit longer on the bit YOU JUST SHAVED OFF" she went around the rest of the sides then took a few chucks out the top with scissors. Then she took me to have it rinsed and while doing so showed me this bottle that i thought was shampoo so i just said yes and she carried on washing. Then after she blow dried it she took this bottle and started applying it into my hair. It was wet look gel, and she was trying to shape it by slicking it back. I came out looking like a Russian mafia mobster, i had to laugh, then obviously wash it out as soon as i possibly could.
Back to the flight, i`m 8 hours in now (no i haven`t been writing constantly) and officially the furthest away from home than i`d ever been, Air China have been amazing, i`ve had 4 beers, a small bottle of wine and 2 meals to no extra cost. I`m guessing that`s the norm for these types of flights but for the price i paid i was expecting to be flying with cattle. So far i`ve watched Bee movie, Meh! Lost in translation which i already loved, Charlie Wilson's war which i really enjoyed and am now watching catch me if u can. I know i`m rambling on but i`m bored out of my tree, someone needs to hurry up with that teleportation technology, wish i had a sleeping pill or even a bottle of vodka, both do the same thing for me
OK another quick update, i`ve really got nothing better to do, but i`m on the japan flight now, Beijings airport is amazing by the way. I hope when i inevitably get stuck at an airport overnight that it`s as clean and nice as there. 1708 miles to go, which sounds a tad far but whatever i`m gonna try and get some sleep as by the time i get to bed in japan it`ll effectively be 2 days since i will of last slept.
The departure from 3 to one has been harder than i thought. My heads a bit all over the show at the moment, i just left my rucksack on the train for a moment, not my day pack but my actual 12 kg big backpack. I bought a croissant and a bottle of water during the interchange at Valencia, headphones on, no speaking. It feels like the funs been sucked out of everything at the moment. Now i`ve got a 4 hour train journey feeling like crap.
Ok that`s the last of the moaning i had a really good 3 weeks, from the first drinks at the Colosseum to chilling on the rocks in Cinque terre and finally chilling at Merv`s. I`ve been planning this trip as a solo thing for over a year and been thinking about it for the last few. I`ve no reason to complain.
I`ve just got on the train still in a bit of a mood and while checking tickets walked directly into a signpost, it was like a Marx brothers clip, had to laugh though as i`d been doing it all week and Sam seems to find people walking and tripping over things funnier than anyone else i`ve ever known.
Skip back 5 days, after our park trip in Valencia, we were on our way to Merv`s place for a chill out and a chance to shower. The place was really nice, cold beers in the fridge and the prospect of drinking and eating cheaply for the next few days. I didn`t take many pictures as you can tell but i know my trigger fingers going to go into overdrive as soon as i hit Japan so i took things slowly. After anally unpacking everything, washing it all and charging all my battery's. Then meticulously repacking everything. It also gave me a chance to have my first clean shave, which i haven`t done since i was able to grow stubble properly. It felt nice, i had clean clothes, clean underwear and no face fuzz. I looked awful mind, hobo-chic is all i can really do and everything else looks like a disaster.
I sat and relaxed reading Ewan McGregor/Charley Boorman`s long way round book which i`d found on the bookshelf. Definitely going to be doing my beginners bike license when i get back, i`ve been saying it for a while but that`s just put an extra explanation mark on it as something to do. I can say that with no fear now seeing as i`m miles away, and out of firing range from my mum.
The days flew, it`s amazing how times manges to go so fast when you re doing nothing, before i knew it i was here on my way to Madrid still feeling slightly sick about the transition. bo-ho...
I'd spent the last 3 weeks in the pocket of them 2 and now as i pull away from Gandia Station it feels like i've left a massive part of my home life at that platform. Apart from a moment at work when i nearly went, this was the first time emotion kinda got the better of me. Obviously not to there faces, that would of resulted in years of ridicule but i just stared out the window speeding towards Valencia finding it hard to hold back the tears. At work i was in a rush, i still had things to do, your head doesn't have to deal with it, now i've got no option but to sit here and think of the things/people i´ll miss.
I wanted this to sound like a thank you post but i fear it'll end up sounding like a teenage love letter so i'll keep it short, Basically thanks to everyone reading this, thanks to Mervin for putting us up and a massive thanks to Sam and Lance for not only putting up with me but for being two of the best friends i could wish for.
Now it's just me, this book, this pen and single flight out of here!
We've made it denia now, the first leg of travelling is over... the next train we get is to Madrid and my first departure out of Europe in my life.
We arrived in Valencia early. Still hammered from the previous nights events. We got on the train just in time and as Sam slept lance and me watched hotel Chihuahua dubbed in Spanish. Funny experience, the film itself was less so.
Now none of us knew anything about Valencia, i thought and hoped it was the F1 race that weekend but its next week so no seeing Schumachers return...Booo.
So anyway we wandered, slowly, it was 370 with a hangover, my head had no idea what was going on, over to the nearest travel shop to pick up a map and a little guide. We had to be in Denia for half 5 so we had over 4 hours to have a good look round. The park which runs the length of the city center splitting it in two looked like a good idea, but then again so did hiring a 3 man bike thing. We must of looked so special riding around on this ridiculous contraption. It soon became a game of "how fast can we go on it" "how high can we take it" or i "wonder what it's like off road"
The place was deserted, so we had the town to ourselves, we saw only a few people all day, it was like 'i am legend'. Everyone must of been either at the beach or having one mighty siesta. We jumped into the one open bar we found for a shandy and some shade.
Maybe we gave it less time than it deserves, but we were all looking forward to our villa stay by this point with plenty of good meals and relaxed drinking sessions. So maybe i'll go back one day and spend a few days having a good look round. For now and the next 4 nights though i'm doing nothing but burning in the glorious sunshine. Temperature has just hit 40o on the thermometer outside and there's a mattressed up sun lounger waiting for me.
Gaudis cathedral and the Nou Camp, that was the hit list for Barcelona, even though we had 2 nights, day one was always going to be an effort after what had gone on the previous day. By the time we'd showered, changed and had a little sleep we were ready for a cold drink and some proper food, bar some pasta at Cinque terre and a pizza in rome we hadn't had since getting on the train to London so this was a treat to ourselves and good preparation for the for the following days site seeing marathon. After a good few litres of sangria and a belly fully of tapas dishes it was time to call it in for the night.
Alarm went early, everyone got up, quick espresso from the hostel kitchen and 2 mins later were on the metro to the cathedral. Extra kudos has to go to Barcelona's underground; never late, never longer than 3 mins and always super clean and cool. The cathedral was as mental as i'd hoped, we'd been through Italy where all the great buildings had these regimented, perfectly symmetrical Arch's and domes, even the most extravagant buildings like the trevi fountain and the Basilica all had a sense of logic in its design. The cathedral had none and i loved it for that.
As i said to Sam, while lance rushed off to get his phone which he'd left back at the hostel kitchen, i can't wait to go back in 50 years and see how much more has been done on it in the ever ongoing construction. We didn't have time to queue and go inside but would love to on return one day.
Off to the Old town for some food and a stroll, it's not that overly impressive as a spectacle i thought as i whole. Maybe it was architectural overload by this time, but it did have a atmosphere i felt quite at home in, and of all the places i/we've visited this ranks highest on a list of places to live. By 2/3 we were on our way to the nou camp, we'd just sorted the train to Valencia at this point.. i was excited about this one, i know it's only a football stadium and all and nothings quite like going to be Anfield but Barcelona are hard to dislike.
The tours pretty good, we got plenty of the cheesy touristy shots but it's impossible to avoid. Have a look at them on flickr anyway. From there we spent the evening in Gaudis park which again was awesomely strange then spent the night having drinks on the street near the la Ramles and then stumbled to the N6 night train at half 3 in the morning.
We arrived into Milan midday, followed our directions to the hotel and arrived shortly after. The hotel was nice enough, it was real cheap and not to far from the center. You learn quickly in Milan that it's real easy to jump on and off the tram system, after paying for our first journey and seeing no one bothering to check tickets and the way the locals don't bother to validate theirs. We thought we'd do as they do and jump on and off whenever needed.
I'd actually been to Milan before and unlike Rome had been fairly underwhelmed with the place. It seemed to lack a bit of personality and just came across a tiny bit hollow. But saying that i didn't venture out at night as i'd been tired from the days walking so was looking forward to taking a few pictures at the night time.
So with a bottle of wine in hand we headed off for the Duomo to enjoy the sunset and the chance to relax before having to deal with what to do next. It was actually scaffolding free which i was amazed at, the place always seems to be in a state of Restoration/repair. Even the golden statue of Madonnina which the last time i was here was completely boxed off and only imaged through reading about it was on show in all it's glory. It was really nice to see it again and definitely worth a visit at night as the white of the stone makes it all the more impressive when viewed against a pitch black night sky.
The morning came and the start of what turned out to be a horror 24hrs began....
I'd actually left writing all this until it was all in the past and in our memories developed from a horrible 'journey' to what most stories like this do and become a memorable 'experience'.
We'd woken early so to go online and work a route out in getting over to Barcelona, we were thinking Marseille for a night then train out to barca the next day, but that wasn't able to be booked in Italy and had to be done once in France. That was fine we thought, we also looked into maybe going to Bern, Switzerland for a day and night training it the following night. But we'd already had problems booking night trains so close to departure so thought it's probably better to get closer to our eventual destination and to follow the south coast of France.
Train one "Milan - Nice" It started well we'd stocked up on salty snacks and alcoholic beverages, we had a cubicle to ourselves again. For once we had reservations so no chance of getting thrown off. We talked, we laughed, we slept. After 3 hours an overly handsome, didgeridoo playing, English speaking Spanish guy called phillipo joined our cubicle. We spent the next hour talking to him about everything from language to Religion to anime. He'd just come back from a sailing holiday and was just one of those people you wanted to speak to as they were genuinely interesting. He helped pass the time until our destination in Nice.
Train2 "Nice - Marseille" Italy was officially done, we'd swapped train networks, we'd stopped using the 4 or 5 words of italian we knew and swapped them to the 4 or 5 French words we knew. It was a short train, it was something like 2 hours and completely uneventful, bar those two finding it amusing to do anything to stop me falling asleep.
We arrived after 10 at night, to late to be making hostel bookings so it was down to 'do we sleep on the beach, the train station or push on, leave France and get to Barcelona by morning. We worked out we could get a night train heading towards Portugal, get off at Toulouse and then local train it in the morning to Barcelona and have an extra night there. We got to the platform and asked this guy if we could get on this night train, he sort of walked on the train and off it, then back on and then off it. Then said "10 euro's each" and to get on. We sat down getting comfy ready for our 5 and half hours sleep. When some one came up and said they've reserved that seat and showed me the ticket. I obligingly moved and sat somewhere else, then the same thing happened again, then again, this time to sam and lance. It quickly dawned on us we weren't going to have a seat for this train. We ended up stood outside the toilet with some homeless looking dude in the corner. It's past midnight now and we were too warm and tired and the train still hadn't set off. By the way this wasn't like any of the other trains we'd been on up until now. This one was dingy and sweaty, there was crowds of people lying on the floor, there was animals in boxes, it was like a shanty town on tracks.
Lance was somehow in some incredibly good mood and made us laugh for the first hour or so, then tiredness kicks in and legs started to getting itchy. I had to sit down somewhere, i was stood between this toilet door and someones bike and was so restless at this point i had to move. I Decided i'd climb into the top luggage compartment rack, give that go. So i climbed up and tried to get comfy, it's really not designed for people, i can now say that as a fact, and quickly realized that it wasn't a great idea and i should probably get down.
We had to move, we had to sleep, anything to get us out of this position. We walked down the train, banging into sleeping people and stepping over carcases on the floor, and found a little space on the floor for maybe 1 and a half people in the doorway of two adjoining carriages. Lance and Sam kind of huddled together and molded themselves into the space on the floor while i tried to find something similar. The only place i could find was under this double seat. The two people had fallen asleep and leaned there chairs back almost horizontally so as to leave enough space to crawl under. Now i don't know how i'd react if on my way home from manchester some 24 year old, scruffy looking, possibly smelling by this point, person crawled under my seat to get 40 winks but i'd probably either feel sorry for the guy and give him money or ask him what the hell he thinks he's doing. But i was to tired to care and for the next 4 hours drifted in and out of sleep, head on my day bag and my feet dangling into the carriage walkway.
At one point, and this is the gods honest truth, the guys hand,who was sleeping on the chair above me, fell down the side of his chair stopping inches from my face. At the same time (i was listening to my ipod for most the journey) the song "hobo blues" by Seasick Steve came on. I sat up and looked at Lance who was awake and had one of those laughs that you can only do when everything gone completely to shit.
We got off in Toulouse after very little proper sleep laughing out heads off. It's what i imagine altitude sickness to be like. Our bodies felt like crap and yet everything was hilarious to us as we recapped over the journey we just had, yet the funniest thing was we'd only done 2/3rd's of the route.
It was half 6 and another 2 trains to go. The next one to Nabonne was Luxury we had seats and space and as we pulled into our destination the sun had begun to rise.
Train 5 "Nabonne - Barcelona" The last train. It would arrive in Barca at 12.05 almost 24hours to the minute from when we set off on the tram from our Milan hotel. It was spent in a state of sleep and reflection from the journey just done. Bear grylls may be able to survive in a desert with just a twig but there was no way he'd of got off them trains....especially with a smile on his face :D
Barcelona's been good and i think we're fully recouped, Valencia tomorrow morning. Hopefully get a chance to write it up on route.
The easy life became a tad harder in the past 12 hours, we'd decided from La Spezia we'd get a night train to Paris, have the full day and night there then jump on the following night train to Barcelona. Thing is the Trains fully booked and the night supplement is looking higher than we'd be led to believe when booking so close to departure. This has meant us leaving Paris out of the plan and jumping on the first train that's heading north. Just so happens to be Milan. So we're going to stop there for a night before deciding where's next. The initial plan is out of the window so from here on out it's winging it to barca.
There's something cool about not knowing , i should know i've done it for 24 years (thought i'd get it in first) we know we're hitting Barcelona some time around the 15th so it's just a few days where only god currently knows where we'll end up.
It's still 31 outside, we're in an air conditioned cubicle all to ourselves, these two are sprawled over 2 seats fast asleep and i'm listening to becks golden age album, so it's not all bad
Hope every one's good back home, it was the first time speaking to my brother since leaving so had a few extra thoughts of everyone back home and at work (ex-work). Hope all's well.
It's around half 8 on the 9th of August. I'm sat on some rocks out at sea looking back at riomaggiore in Cinque terre, it's honestly stunning. It's quiet and chilled out and about the best cure from busy Rome. We're all just sitting here watching the sunset, we haven't met our fellow hostel roomates but we've a kilo of pasta ready to cook so shouldn't be to hard.
To be honest this post was really just an excuse to put up a few pictures as there's no much to be said but plenty to be seen.
Writing this on the floor of a crappy old train, with no reservation and in all likelihood of getting thrown off. It was only a last minute spot but it seems all 'IC' trains now require you to have a seat reservation. Despite this massive variable we should be in Cinque terre in 3 hours.
Oww crap conductors coming!
Ok she just walked past, i guess that's not the end of that but it's less than 3 hours to sweat it out now.
Back to Rome, this was kind of Lances treat of the trip, it meant slightly more expensive flights and a longer distance to travel but he thought a travel through Europe without seeing Rome would be a wasted opportunity. First day we arrived from London we got checked in to our actually pretty nice B&B and headed off with a few beers to watch the sunset at the Colosseum, it's an awesome place and probably a little bigger &more grand than i'd remembered plus being able to drink in public with friends outside a modern wonder is something to remember. The next day was a return to the Colosseum and forum, man it was warm, i think the internet had said it was 32. Visited the Trevi fountain at the night time then finished a bottle of wine off at the Spanish steps. *Does feel like i'm just listing places we've drank so far. Oh actually while on that subject we found this bottle of 95% Lime tasting devil juice in our b&b which has magically found it's way into lances back pack. 
The last day was spent between the Vatican, Pantheon and piazza Navona and followed by an almighty walk back to bed. Check out the flickr link from the pictures tab at the top. I ought to go as the ticket nazi is on her way, i'll let you know how it goes.
UPDATE: A different guy, a nicer, friendly looking guy, came to get our tickets. We got a little telling off but all in all we saved a little money and will be in Cinque terre soon enough, the trains no less comfy, they've now got seats, i've upgraded to a bag!
First off just a quick note, because i'm doing this in a book and copying it over whenever i get to a Internet cafe the dates aren't exactly helpful. plus it's always going to be a couple of days behind so sorry*
Carrying on, we're (we being Lance, Sam and me) are currently flying to Rome, so thought i'd quickly run over the past 48 hours.
We got in late on the Tuesday night, sometime round 11 and met with Lances cousin Vicky. A quick trip to the off license, a catch up with Luke and Vicky and off to bed. It's an amazing apartment, i should of taken a picture in retrospect, but it's only a one bedroom apartment so Luke got the bed, Vicky had the couch, Lance and Sam on the blow up bed and i had the bean bag... it's like an 8 foot, ùber comfy bean bag, but still a bean bag. It's definitely a strange feeling when you wake up with your arse on the floor, your legs in the air and your head stuck somewhere in between.
Ok, anyway next morning, first stop on our little site seeing tour; "weatherspoons?" sounds good!.... 4 shandys to start the day, happy days! "17.45" "you what??" sad time :( lol, anyway we went off to Trafalgar square, walked over to the houses of Parliament and big ben, then spent a bit of time watching some the street shows under the London eye. One of which was a break dancing group with one member looking a spit of stringer bell from the wire, check the flickr for proof but for the entire show i couldn't get it out of my mind. So a fairly surreal moment having Stringer bell spinning on his head then asking people for money. I ran quickly to avoid being shot.
Back to the pub for a few more then a night stroll to Piccadilly circus, then headed home.
And that's where we're up to at the moment, cheers Vicky for putting up with us and for those that know us 3, we arrived on time with no hitches or mad rushing, which in whatever way you look at it is a small miracle. Plus we even stopped by Boots for a meal deal to save money, logical and on time. This surely can't keep up!!
It feels like i've just stepped onto a rollercoaster, it's that same feeling you get when you've been in the queue for hours and hours and felt like you've hardly moved, yet suddenly, you're there strapped in thinking 'What the crap am i doing' you've been looking forward to it for ages and you know you're gonna enjoy it. But your brain can't stop thinking how illogical it is to be doing what you're doing. And that you'd be far happier safe and sound watching from afar.
All the leaving parties are done, goodbyes said, for the first time it's all real. I've had the best few days saying bye's to people, yet it's all the more difficult when you love your job and have some really close friends, but at the same time nice to know/think you'll be missed. Cheers everyone for the pressies and the send off.
London in 1 hour!
