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Cycle Slam 2010 #travel #europe#london

Posted in Fun Stuff, Holidays, news from around the world, things to in London, Travel, tagged cycle across europe, cycling, cycling in europe, http://twitter.com/3days_in_london, raising fund for charity on June 1, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Hello. Thanks for dropping by :). I found a flyer the other day that piqued my interest; Cycle Slam 2010. Anything with the words cycle or with the hint of travel, always catches my eye.

On closer inspection I note that it is an advert for a Bike ride across Europe (London, UK to Timisoara, RO). Now that is exciting.

so here are the details:

What: Bike ride across Europe (as above)

When: From 1st to 20th August 2010

Where: Europe (United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania)

Why: To raise money to help Romania’s abandoned children

Who: A core team of 20 cyclists plus anyone who wants to join

The flyer appears to have been printed by a young man who goes by the name of Bogdan Christea. He and his fiancee are two young, ambitious and hardworking entrepreneurs who want to raise money to help disadvantaged children live better lives.

They are planning to leave in August this year, hopping on their bikes in London and won’t stop pedaling till they reach Timisoara in Romania. Their route will take them through 9 countries and along they way they will visit some of the most beautiful cities in Europe. They will be supported all the way by Amway and team NUTRILITE and hope to make this an experience of a lifetime; for themselves and of course for the children who will benefit from the funds they raise.

map of Romania

He has chosen his home country of Romania, where children are still suffering in a childcare system that was left deeply damaged by the Communist regime. Their dream is to help rebuild the system and thereby ensure that children there have a brighter future to look forward to.

Timisoara, Romania

If you would like to take part in this ride for one or more of the dates across Europe, raising your own sponsorship, then this may be for you.

For more information on this visit http://www.cycleslam.eu they are also in twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cycleslam

So if you are a keen cyclist, and fancy raising funds for a good cause then why not contact these folk and see what it’s all about. NB; do make sure that any event that involves raising funds are bona vide and have a registered charity number.

Thanks to http://www.wseas.us/conferences/2009/timisoara/sse/location.htm for the picture

Thanks to http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Timisoara_Romania_CIA2006.png for the picture

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a message from my Dad ….#travel

Posted in family and relationships, Holidays, Inspiration, news from around the world, Personal Development, Travel, tagged cycling in europe, cycling on the Danube, cycling on the Donauradweg, Donauradweg, fathers, Grien Austria, http://www.letstravelradio.com/thisweek/2008/12-25/, Inspiration, Linz Austria, travel in europe, travel to Griend Austria, travel to Linz Austria on May 28, 2010| 6 Comments »

This is a message I received from my Dad via email this morning.

I would love to share it with you, coz it is inspiring to read about how people can live their dreams, even at the tender age of 80!!! Yes, that’s right, my Dad turned 80 this last April. Now nothing remarkable in that considering that we as a race are starting to live longer and longer, but what is remarkable is that my Dad had a triple by-pass operation about 17 years ago and the prognosis at the time was not good. However, his Doctor told him to start running. The idea did not appeal so he decided to cycle instead.

A long story short, he survived…. and has gone on to become a cycling nut. He has cycled in many different in the world and has cycled the world famous Argus Cycle route about 13 times already. He has followed the Tour-de-France, and cheekily in 2005 nipped in at the front on the final day and caused an uproar as people thought he was one of the competitors (he got hustled off pretty damn quick by the Gendarmes once they realised he wasn’t) 🙂 (30.05.10 and….apparently I have to make a correction here…my brother gave me the correct version…my Dad rode in BEHIND the cyclists and the Gendarmes just waved) Ah well, I though my version was much more exciting!! 🙂 Shame about that, I have dined out on that story for ages, now it will have to go!

He has cycled the Camino del Santiago through France to Spain and is now back, cycling through Europe. Here is where he is today.

“Hi ! Just a brief note to keep in touch. All well.
Cycling up river along the Danube. This from a town Grien in Lower Austria.

Grien, Austria

So far mostly cloudy and rain. Not fun in a tent with a heavy downpour in the middle of the night ! Seems to be clearing today.

Spent a couple of days with K&T camping in a small town on the Danube.
They have had to head home for ‘work’, I’m cycling up-river to Linz (if you know where that is !! ) which will be a 58 km trip today. Stay over there one or two nights and then head back down river to Budapest.

Donauradweg (cycle route along the Danube)

Beautiful countryside. ‘Donauradweg’ i.e. Danube ride path is fab for cycling. Along the river and mostly away from road traffic. Just thru some small villages that the cycle path comes to an end.”

Linz, Austria on the Danube river

My Dad (p.s. that’s not his cycling helmet), I have no idea what he is wearing on his head and take no responsibility for that! 🙂

my Dad

thanks to http://www.letstravelradio.com/thisweek/2008/12-25/ for the photo of Linz 🙂

thanks to http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g190426-d1604170-Reviews-Schloegener_Schlinge-Upper_Austria.html for the photo of the Donauradweg 🙂

thanks to http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grein,_austria.jpg for the photo of Griend

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How to NOT go sledding :)

Posted in Fun Stuff, Holidays, idiot category, It's my life, Travel, tagged having fun in the snow, news of the snow in london, sledding in london, snow in the uk on April 27, 2010| 3 Comments »

Ok, so I know the snow was a pain for a lot of people….but boy oh boy did we (my daughter and I) have fun. Here is an example of how to NOT go sledding!!!

In case you are wondering….that is my ‘delightful’ daughter laughing in the background!!

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what to do with 6 hours in London

Posted in Historical, Holidays, things to do in London, Travel, tagged Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Green Park, Heathrow, Houses of Parliament, http://www.tfl.gov.uk, London Eye London Aquarium, Piccadilly line, St James's Park, Trafalgar Square on April 24, 2010| 6 Comments »

UPDATE: 17.10.2012 – the Olympics are over so now all areas are once again accessible :). Hope you enjoy the walk.

UPDATE: 18.04.2011 – this post was written for a friend last year. However, feel free to use the information herein. I have a blog on London where you can find out a lot more about fun and interesting things to do and places to go while you are here – go to http://3daysinlondon.info/ Wishing you a fab time in the city.

So assuming your free time is the whole 6 hours I would suggest that you go to Green Park and visit Buckingham Palace to see the fabulous flowers (seasonal) and then take a walk to Big Ben & Houses of Parliament; so here goes:

Buy a one-day travel card for zones 1-6 at Heathrow Underground Tube station, off-peak Zone 1-6 £8.50 this will allow you unlimited travel from Heathrow to and in and around Central London and back again. If you travel before 09:30 the cost will be substantially higher. For further fare info click here which will take you to TravelforLondon website showing fares/zones.

Hop on the Piccadilly Line which runs from all Heathrow terminals. Allow an hour for the journey and go to Green Park (it’s direct).

Get off at Green Park and take the exit straight into Green Park. Stroll through the park till you reach The Mall and on the right you will see Buckingham Palace = approx 10-15 minutes stroll allows you time to look around and enjoy the many features.

Buckingham Palace

At Buckingham Palace spend some time looking at the Victoria Memorial Gardens and the Queen Victoria Memorial fountains.

Victoria Memorial Gardens

then take a walk along The Mall towards Trafalgar Square. On your way take a stroll through the park = St James’s Park.

tulips at St Jamess park

It is beautiful this time of year (April) and the tulips are magnificent = 30-45minutes or so. If you walk through the park, head to the Blue Bridge and cross over towards Birdcage Walk and stroll along towards Big Ben and Parliament Square.

Then at Trafalgar Square, spend 15 minutes or so if you wish to look around

fountain at Trafalgar Square with National Gallery in the background

While at Trafalgar Square why not pop in to The National Gallery, it’s free (they do appreciate donations) and the entrance is beautiful. Although the Olympic Clock is now gone, I have left a photo in just because 🙂

london 2012 olympic games, olympic games london

The London 2012 Olympic Clock at Trafalgar Square

and then head along Whitehall (main road) towards Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament (Westminster Palace) = 15 minutes or so. A pointer for direction is that Lord Nelson on his perch (column) faces towards Big Ben and Houses of Parliament along Whitehall (name of the road),

you will also pass Horse-Guards Parade (4pm to see the 4 o’clock parade; much lower key than say changing the guard but impressive and free. If you get there at any other time then all it is is a big square. Having said that there is a memorial to those killed in the South African campaign over 100 years ago which is both impressive and moving – thanks to Paul for the inserted contribution) as well as No 10 Downing Street on the right hand side of the road and the Cenotaph; a memorial to those killed in the 1st & 2nd WW situated in the middle of Whitehall.

At Big Ben, be sure to cross over to Westminster Abbey (looking towards the right & closed at 3.30 most days), the whole area is looking gorgeous.

royal wedding, westminster abbey, things to do in london

Westminster Abbey the venue for the Royal Wedding on April 29th 2011

After that return to Big Ben

Big Ben

and walk up onto the right-hand side of the bridge (Westminster Bridge) where you can view the whole palace alongside the river.

Houses of Parliament aka Westminster Palace

At that point you would be able to see the London Eye and the Aquarium. Cross over to the opposite side for a better view.

the London Eye with the Aquarium in the background

be sure to stop and have a look at the statue of Boudicca on her chariot (Queen of the Iceni who ravaged the Romans). There is an ice-cream stand on the corner there where you can buy a double cone soft vanilla ice-cream with flake for £? the prices changes regularly but it’s in the region of £2.00-£2.50) 🙂 If you take a walk along the Victoria Embankment, be sure to have a look at the Battle of Britain memorial…it’s stunning.

If you want to and have the time, take a walk along the Victoria Embankment (with the river on your right hand side), towards the next bridge (Hungerford & Golden Jubilee Bridges), where you can see the RAF (Royal Air Force) monuments alongside the embankment as well as all our gorgeous trees that are just about in their full greenery (assuming you are here in spring/summer). = 45 minutes.

At Embankment Station there are a number of coffee shops where you could stop off and have a cuppa = 30minutes or so. If not and its a hot day, then have an ice-cream instead 🙂 If you have time climb the stairs onto the bridge, for a magnificent view upstream of the river towards the London Eye etc. From here you can take the District or Circle tube line to Earl’s Court and change for the Piccadilly line for Heathrow.

Heathrow to Green Park = 60-70 minutes give or take

Green Park station stroll to Buckingham Palace 15 minutes

Buckingham Palace through St James’s park to Trafalgar Square 60 minutes

Trafalgar Square 15 minutes

Walk to Big Ben and Houses of Parliament 15 minutes

Time at Big Ben and perhaps Westminster Abbey 60 minutes

walk along the Embankment (the London Eye will be on your right hand side) to Embankment station 15-20 minutes

stop for coffee (or not). There is a lovely park just behind the station; Victoria Embankment Park, a lovely environment to stop and rest for a while. You will find a memorial to the poet Robert Burns in the park as well as many other statues and and interesting memorials = 30 minutes

Back to Heathrow from Embankment approx 60-70 minutes.

These are all estimated times and depend on how long you stay at each place or how slow/quickly you walk. I have allowed extra time for each leg of the excursion, so you may find it takes a bit less for each. It’s up to you how long you want to take at each place. Good luck and have a fabulous time. Let me know if this works for you. 🙂

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reasons why people #travel

Posted in family and relationships, Holidays, Travel, tagged adventure, ancient civilizations, baby boomers, baby boomers travel, different cultures, exploration, finding your soul mate, http://www.cindyeve.worldventures.biz, http://www.notjustagranny.com/page2.htm, reasons why people travel, Travel, travelling on March 31, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Travel; what is it about that word that conjures up a whole vista of possibilities? Could you imagine what your life would be like without travel? Is it possible to not travel? Whatever you do and whatever your reason, travelling is a part of most people’s lives.

For centuries now people have been travelling, not just locally, but right around the world. The reasons over the centuries have been different and yet remain the same, just in a different context. Our forefathers travelled. Ancient civilizations travelled. New world’s were discovered, different civilizations and different cultures. Their reasons for travel were vastly different and yet remain the same; to explore and conquer. We all travel in one way or another.

There are different reasons why people travel:

1) Many people travel because they want to see their families and friends, whether they live near or far. Invitations from families and friends, for weddings, birthdays, or any other form of celebration are a good reason to pack your bags and travel.

2) Some people may travel seeking love, because they want to find their soul mates, believing that there is only one person for them and if they haven’t had much luck in their area, perhaps they will be luckier elsewhere. With millions of people around the world, there is a possibility they could find love in some other place.

3) People travel to seek employment, perhaps having been unlucky nearer to home, possibly because they want to have a different experience e.g. volunteering. Admittedly work may be hard to come by in your hometown or country and so some people decide to work abroad because they are looking for greener pastures. They could earn more money abroad or perhaps their expertise is not favourable where they currently reside.

4) People travel because they want to learn about other cultures, to experience the differences between their’s and other cultures. They travel and learn because for them learning while travelling is fun. One very popular reason for travelling to another country is to enjoy and learn about the food.

5) People travel because they enjoy writing. They want to share relevant information about the places they visit, write articles for their readers or find information for a novel perhaps. There is a whole industry based just on travel writing.

6) People travel because they want to explore the landscape of different countries, take photographs as souvenirs or for commercial purposes.

7) Many businessmen travel to promote or extend a current business, or start up a new business in other countries for expansion to increase their profit margins. Business is nothing without profit.

8) And today, more and more people are travelling for pleasure, on vacation to exotic places. Baby Boomers are currently the driving force behind the travel industry. Born between 1946 and 1964, many of these people are now retired or coming up to retirement. They’ve worked hard all their lives, invested sensibly and now they want to make the most of their later years, enjoy different experiences, see different countries and perhaps even relocate to warmer climes.

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London to Swanage

Posted in Fun Stuff, Historical, Holidays, Travel, tagged diesel locomotives, dorset, http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/, London, london to swanage, railway line, Swanage Railway Trust, Victoria Station, volunteers, wareham on February 1, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Volunteers have reopened a railway line reconnecting a seaside town to the national network, more than 37 years after it was cut off.
More than 4,000 people in Swanage, Dorset, have helped rebuild the seven-mile line from Wareham. They scavenged scraps to restore the track, rebuilt two dilapidated stations and constructed another three.
The chartered services leave from Victoria pulled by a diesel locomotive.
It is the first time since 1972 that trains have been able to run all the way from London to Swanage and the volunteers hope the line will be electrified and regular services will resume.
Mike Whitham, the chairman of the Swanage Railway Trust, said: “It is what we have been working 35 years for – the achievement of a long-held and treasured dream. The railway has been rebuilt from nothing, bit by bit, bolt by bolt.”

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Want to escape the January blues?

Posted in Holidays, Personal Development, Travel, tagged average rainfall, cyprus, dream trips, http://www.calane55.worldventures.biz, january blues, number of sunny hours, vacation, vacations on January 25, 2010| Leave a Comment »

So, you’ve been back to work for just on three weeks now, and already it seems like months. Do you have the January blues? If you do, then now is the time to book that DreamTrip. To help you decide which country suits you best, here is a guide to the number of sunny days, the average rainfall and approximately how long it will take to get there – (barring any delays)!!! Happy holidays

Average number of sunny hours in a January day:

Algarve: 6

Tunis: 5

Cyprus: 5

The Gambia: 9

Dubai: 8

Egypt: 8

Sharm El Sheik: 8

Cape Town: 11

Mombasa: 9

Maldives: 8

Mauritius: 8

Phuket: 9

Orlando: 7

Barbados: 9

St. Lucia: 9

Tenerife: 6

Fiji: 7

Inches of rainfall in January:

Algarve: 2.7

Tunis: 3.1

Cyprus: 3

The Gambia: 0.5

Dubai: 0

Egypt: 0

Sharm El Sheik: 0

Cape Town: 1

Mombasa: 1

Maldives: 3

Mauritius: 10

Phuket: 1

Orlando: 2

Barbados: 3

St. Lucia: 5

Tenerife: 2

Fiji: 12

Flight times, in hours:

Algarve: 2.5

Tunis: 2.5

Cyprus: 4

The Gambia: 6

Dubai: 7

Egypt: 6

Sharm El Sheik: 6

Cape Town: 11.30

Mombasa: 8.30

Maldives: 10.30

Mauritius: 12

Phuket: 14

Orlando: 9.30

Barbados: 6.30

St. Lucia: 8

Tenerife: 4

Fiji: 21

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photos from Hove 03.01.10

Posted in Holidays, It's my life, Travel, tagged Brighton pier, Cindy Eve, floral clock, floral clock in Hove, Hove, notjustagranny, Queen Victoria on January 3, 2010| 4 Comments »

I managed to get some photos in Hove this afternoon, here are a few of them.

Hove - St Johns Church (I think)

The Floral Clock in Hove

faded grandeur - Regency houses in Hove

a park near the beachfront

looking towards Brighton Pier

a Sunday afternoon stroll along the Promenade - Hove

Queen Victoria keeping a beady eye on passersby

pretty building, lacey balconys - a flavour of France?

sun starting to set over the sea - Hove

between sea and sky - Hove late afternoon 03.01.10

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01.01.10

Posted in Holidays, Inspiration, messages, tagged 01.01, 2010, Cindy Eve, happy new year, Inspiration, new year, quote, quotes, William Blake on January 1, 2010| Leave a Comment »

quote: “No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.” William Blake.

Happy New Year, I wish you an inspiring 2010

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What is Boxing Day?

Posted in Historical, Holidays, tagged alms boxes, Boxing Day, christmas box, St Stephens Day, what does Boxing Day mean, what is origin of Boxing Day on December 26, 2009| 2 Comments »

What is Boxing Day and why is it called that?

One of my most ‘fun things to do’ is researching different traditions and looking for interesting websites.
I was mulling over the words ‘Boxing Day’ and wondering where exactly it originated. This is what I found:

“Christmas boxes were originally literally earthenware boxes. In mediaeval England, these boxes were used by the poor (servants, apprentices etc.) to save money throughout the year. At Christmas, the boxes were broken open and the savings shared to fund Christmas festivities. This meaning of Christmas box dates back to at least the early 17th century. The boxes were known in France as tirelire and are referred to in Randle Cotgrave’s A Dictionarie of the French and English tongues, 1611: Tirelire, a Christmas box; a box having a cleft on the lid, or in the side, for money to enter it; used in France by begging Fryers, and here by Butlers, and Prentices, etc.

In a similar tradition, which is almost as old as the above and which is the one that has stayed with us until the present day, Christmas boxes were gifts, usually money, given to tradespeople or others who have rendered some service throughout the year but who aren’t normally paid directly by the donor – for example, office cleaners, milkmen etc, and since they did not work on Christmas Day would receive them on ‘Boxing Day’

Also, the feast of St Stephen (day after Christmas) aka Boxing Day was traditionally when the alms box at every English church was opened and the contents distributed to the poor.

And this also explains the tradition of calling a christmas present a ‘christmas box’ whether its in a box or not.”

So there you have it. I do wonder if the tradition of alms boxes still exists? I do like the idea of a festivities box though, where we could save all our pound coins perhaps and then at the end of the year; indulge in a treat, like a spa/massage or coach-tour somewhere special.

What do you think? Should we have our own special ‘Christmas Box’. or should it be reserved for the alms boxes and as a thank you to the service men & women in our lives?

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