DAYS 1-3 EUROPE TRIP

17-19 May 2009

DAYS 1-3 EUROPE TRIP
CANBERRA - SYDNEY – BANGKOK - LONDON (HEATHROW ) - ROME

We are all packed for our big trip to Europe. We are on our way to explore the ancient worlds of Rome, Athens, Istanbul and Ephesus and Naples. This is to be followed by time in Lithuania catching up with family and friends and attending the big song festival. On our final day there will be at the celebration of 1000 years since the first mention of the nation of Lithuania in chronicles of the time.

It was a beautiful, warm autumn day in Canberra. Lovely autumn colours greeted us we drove through Canberra on our way to Sydney. The time flew past quickly as we drove. Our thoughts were on what we may see and experience on our trip. Before we knew it we were at hubby’s sister’s place. She and her husband were coming on the trip with us. We compared the size of the luggage we were taking and after a lovely dinner of balandėliai (cabbage rolls) relaxed in anticipation of what was ahead in front of the TV to watch the finals of Eurovision.

Monday morning was D – Day. I just wanted the morning to pass quickly as our flight was not till 5.00pm. After lunch the taxi was called and we were on our way to the airport. It did not take long to check in. Finally we were on our way. Eleven hours and 15 minutes later we were in Bangkok. Some of us slept, others watched movies, read or had a short nap. Ninety minutes later we were on our way again for the long leg of the trip – 12 hours and 15 minutes to London. This was a tedious journey. By the time we arrived in London we were tired. We had to change terminals and then stood around waiting to find out which gate we were departing from. Finally it was time to depart for the last leg of our flight – two hours to Rome. By the time we arrived (32 hours since leaving for the airport) we were exhausted. Before we knew it we had gone through immigration and walked straight out of the terminal. There were no forms to fill out, no declarations to sign. We caught a cab to Via Dacia in Tuscolo - our apartment for the next week.

We had to wait a while before the owner of the apartment came to give us the keys and show us through the apartment. It is small but has a lot of character. His son lives in it but is away at the moment but all his possessions are here. The apartment was on the 9th floor. There are several apartment blocks in the complex surrounding by a lovely well kept courtyard.

Before long my brother, who lives in Rome, arrived to greet us. We haven’t seen each other for 10 years. How wonderful to see each other again. After some catching up we all went out to explore the neighbourhood and to get some supplies.

It was early night as we were all exhausted.

NEW YEAR and AMBERSAIL ODYSSEY

1 January 2009

NEW YEAR and AMBERSAIL ODYSSEY
Sydney then Canberra

What a wonderful start to 2009 – time spent with friends, then family and the weather was just beautiful.

We had a wonderful evening seeing the new year in with friends at the Lithuanian New Years Ball at Luna Lounge in Sydney. About 400 people danced the night away to the music of a Lithuanian folk group Sutaras and the DJ’s eclectic mix of music. It was a lovely culmination of a week of the Lithuanian Festival in Sydney. In the early hours of the morning our group made our way back to our friend’s place where everyone fully relaxed. Our hostess was the organiser of the ball so it was time to let our hair down. The men immediately shed their ‘formal wear’ for swimmers and cooled down in the pool whilst us females sipped champagne and enjoyed black bread with herring. Finally we retired for what remained of the night. In the morning we gradually joined the world of the living and enjoyed a leisurely late barbequed breakfast. Then it was time to say good by as we headed to hubby’s sisters place. We arrived just in time to head for the train into the city as we were heading for the Maritime Museum for the reception of a yacht from Lithuania.

The Ambersail is sailing to all continents on a millennium odyssey with a letter from the Lithuanian President calling on lithuanian communities scattered around the world to celebrate 1,000 years since the nation of Lithuania is first mentioned in historical chronicles
(http://www.1000odiseja.lt/index.php/pageid/632). Twelve crew man the yacht. Hard to imagine how they fit in the small confined space. It looked tiny moored in front of Circular Quay. It is hard to imagine sailing it around the world.

There was a wonderful celebration at the harbour – lots of live music provided by a great group “Sutaras”from Lithuania

singing and dancing by locals and a folk group from England.

As the day came to an end we drove back to Canberra with a beautiful sunset accompanying us part of the way.