Mick's World Tour

Great great great grandfather

OK - I'm in the land of my progenitors and I'm blown away. My family here have been spoiling me and I'm sure I've put on 5 kilos - but the food is beautiful so what can you do.

My trip so far has taken me to the sea side village of Palanga, where despite a home burglary, I enjoyed castles, clock museums, amber museums, beaches on the Baltic sea and rabbits on rooves. (?) Big thanks to Balanda, Alousuz and Berute for looking after me and being my guide.

Next was Siauliai where the highlight was watching the Lithuanians beat USA in the basketball. The town erupted like they had just landed on Mars and there was dancing and skulling of Vokda in the streets. Best part for me was watching with 3 deaf guys as language was not really a barrier. Charades and pen and paper where used. It really was amazing and will stay with me forever.

Then off to Kaunas by smoother bus to be picked up by some more great family. The next couple of days I toured around seeing an open air museum, monastries and an art museum where there is a painting of my grandmother as a young girl with her father. Pretty amazing. Then we visited the house where she grew up. Very cool. Big thanks to Regina, Jonas, Vide, Jyurga and Ludas for showing me the town and spoiling me once more.

I'm now in Vilnius which is spectacular and lively, certainly a must see for my London friends and all of my familiy who has not visited yet.

Off to see more of it........

Pictures to come.

P.S. Some basketball revenge for Australia with me beating one of my relatives friends 4-2 yesterday. Yeah!

From Riga with Love

OK, long time since a posting, and this one is going to be short, so a quick update. I should be able to put some stuff up in Lithuania, which is next.

Sweden --> Quiet, interesting, expensive, great bike ride, stayed on boat, opening ceremony in US Celtic sports bar that had a shrine to Larry Bird, meatballs, expensive.

Ferry to Estonia --> lots of fun, hilarious, small room, dancers, fun

Estonia - great town, great fun, home at 6am in the morning............

Latvia - Just got here, but it's awesome. I could stay here a month. Cool people and super models walking the streets. Much cheaper than Sweden which is great.

That is all for now.........

London Drinks

Great to catch up with everyone in London for some drinks at the Bunker near Covent Gardens. Special thanks to the 2-4-1 offer on Austrian beer.........

Click here to see the pictures

More pics of Europe

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Phoney Planet 3.4 - Dublin Over

So you've been travelling around a bit. Don't quite have 'The Look' yet, but you are buying lots of maps and getting used to jam on toast with instant coffee for breakfast. You're warming up. You find yourself in Dublin and you think 'Hey, what if I actually left the hostel and walked around? What then???' This should help;

1. Do your research. Know the basics. The head on a pint of Guinness should be at exactly 22mm. This is all you need to know.

2. Know the environment. It has been known to rain every once in a while in Ireland, so it is best to prepare by wearing warm socks. A raincoat is also an idea, although guys who go on surfing trips without a towel are not required to wear one. (See King)

3. Study the local food. Really look into it. Don't just drink it. Look at it. Really look at it. Then drink it.

4. Then just relax and soak it up. Lounge about in the comfort that is Dublin. Lots of space, quiet and comfy chairs. (Reference to Coopers for making barrels).

5.But don't sit still. You will be run over by a dangerous double decker bus. This town has 56,000 busses, 1,432 pubs, 38 cemeteries and only 1 hospital/Guinness Brewery (it's good for you).

6.Whilst you're moving, see some old buildings. This place has castles imported all the way from Knockinderry and Cogh (pronounced Cough). But don't forget your mates. You can see him not there in the pic below, not in the middle. (Insert emotion for Fabo Fabo).

7. Now take some time to look at the locals. Find someone authentically Irish and just give em a good ol stare. You will notice that they say 'Grand', 'Tirty', and 'Bee you tea full' alot. Whilst it is not quite proper, I do encourage you to take one home if they are willing.

8. If you have time, walk around Temple Bar. This is an ancient ground where church and drinking was combined, hence Temple Bar or Mighty Temple of the Bars. Beware that many of these places of worship require a hefty sacrifice of gold or limbs for drinks. Highlights are The Porterhouse for the Poorly Aligned Semi Circular Canals and O'Sullivans Monastary of Music.

9. Before you know it, you will be a local. Fiery red eyes to match your hair and your temper, a beard like the mist over Conner Pass and a hat that your ma twud be proud of.

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Did you find this article;
a) Useful
b) Useless
c) Ulyssys written by James Joyce of Ireland

Authors Note: I appreciate if you are reading my blog and given that I'm on the other side of the world to many of you would love to get your comments and encouragement. Tank yu.

Some pics

Finally some pictures.

Here you go.........

click here

enjoy

Phoney Planet: Dingleberry Juice

OK, if you feel like your bum is a bit soft, you might want to rent a bike and head out to Sleh Head. The ride is also fun, with nice views of cliffs, beehives, sheep with spray paint, kids dressed in County colours singing "Go KERRY" and lots of stone walls.

The bike costs 8 Euros per day and if it isn't enough to hurt it for one day, hire it over night and punish your bum in the morning when it is extra tender.

How to Relax In Dingle?

After a day surfing and riding, the best option is to head to the Grapevine Hostel and play scrabble in the lounge room, it is relaxing and you will only get the occasional yelling and screaming from the street.

Food?

Try the local food of a bread roll with sausages and potatoe on it. Very nice and peferct as a hangover cure.

Discotown?

Of course! Dingle has the latest in high tech, discos, which includes two dance floors which play the same music but in a different order. The local game is "Can I get beer spilt on every item of clothing?" Last night I was a clear winner.

Fungi the Dolphin

A dolphin in Dingle? yes, of course, but he is only fun when he wants to. Entice him with Killkenny in the morning and Guiness in the afternoon.

Surfing.

Yes, Dingle and Ireland has a vibrant surfing community of blue surfers. They are also quite green and will be astounded by modern technology such as using a plastic bag to get a wet suit on. Don't worry, they have been taught about the circle signal which means "LAST WAVE".

On to Cork.........

Phoney Planet 1: Milan to Limerick

Very popular this summer is going from Italy to Ireland. Of course you could take your time and do it right, but that is no fun at all. Here is the best way to really make the most of your time.

1. Book a really early cheap flight from Milan. 6.55am if possible.
2. Don't worry about finding out how far the airport is from Milan until the day before.
3. Day before, check into Milan hostel and tell them you need to be at the airport by 5.30. They say that you would have to catch a 100 euro taxi at about 4am and tell you to go to Bergamo to a hostel.
4. Trek back to Milan station via the Duomo (pronounced Dwo-mo) and get a train to Bergamo.
5. For fun, walk 2 kms in the wrong direction for the wrong bus.
6. Walk back to town for bus 14 to Monterosso. An old lady will meet you at the bus stop and offer directions.
7. Sleep well despite a crazy Italian guy sending/receiving texts all night.......
8. Wake at about 4am, 30 minutes early because you are paranoid.
9. Pack your bags in the dark because you forgot to properly pack the night before, including a smelly wet towel.
10. Taxi to airport, if you get other passengers you can rip them off and save an extra 2 euros.
11. Try and line up nice and early to get a spot on the plane to get off quickly - succeed.
12. Sit next to a crazy Norwegian girl who is a hard core white water rafter....
13. Get to London and run off the plane. Try to topple old women over if possible.
14. Negotiate with Japanese lady and entire queue at passport control to go first - succeed.
15. Wait for bag as everyone you just pushed past joins you.
16. Get bag and run to the queue for your Shannon flight which leaves in 45 minutes.
17. "Sir, I'm going to Shannon." "No you're not, it just closed, sorry." FAIL.
18. Don't panic, Ryanair will change your flight for only 40 pounds - bargain. But it is to Dublin as the next flight to Limerick is the following night.
19. Wait to check in.
20. Get in wrong queue.
21. Check in.
22. Buy very expensive sandwich and juice just to feel super ripped off.
23. Sit on plane next to two Polish people immigrating. Be nice and they will say "Much thank you"
24. Get off plane and run to see if there is a flight to Shannon.
25. Old lady says, there are tickets, but we don't sell them here, just go over there.
26. Old man is helpful, but not fast enough - second flight to Shannon missed in one day.
27. Bus to Heuston station for train to Limerick.
28. Train to Limerick - very nice countryside.
29. Give up your seat to an old lady.
30. Get to Limerick after discussion with Irish guy working in Rio wanting to get into kite surfing.
31. Walk 5 kms.
32. Get taxi to take you for short tour back to where you were to your hostel.
33. Walk into hostel, which is quite nice, and have a hot, hot, hot shower.

And there you have it. 33 easy steps and only $600. Summer rocks!!!

:)

But, it could be worse. I could have a job.

Ireland is lovely. More to come....