Audrey's European Tour

Well it's goodbye from me ... and goodbye from her!

2005-10-10T18:06:00.000+02:00

This is wierd. We are now saying goodbye to all you keen bloggers out there because we may not get the chance to log on before reaching blighty (although we're keeping you guessing our date of actual return!). However, soon we will be saying hello to many of you in real time.

We're in tuscany at the moment browsing the outlet stores. Heading for Germany and then Holland next.

Rain rain go away come back another day!

2005-10-06T16:50:00.000+02:00

It's raining its pouring Don Corleone is snoring.... no we're not in Wales yet, we're in Napoli South Italy. It's truely turned autumnal now - freezing cold and terrential rain for the past week... great! Erica has had a wonderful time but at least good food and good vino!

Alas no more pictures the camara is knackered. Back soon ... we feel as though we are heading home now. Wales will be our home for the interim until we sort ourselves out and come through campervan cold turkey.

Lots of love
B&Gx

Stunning Santorini

2005-09-28T19:38:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Headline: American tourists almost squashed to death by 'Tonto' and his donkey

2005-09-28T19:36:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Us and Santorini's caldera

2005-09-28T19:33:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Carol and Sion bronzed after 3 days

2005-09-28T19:13:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Ohh my gorgeous little sister Carol and me

2005-09-28T19:11:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Dreamy...

2005-09-28T19:09:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

4th century BC stones - please do not remove!

2005-09-28T19:04:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Audrey's been traded for a baby scooter!

2005-09-28T19:00:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Super special Santorini

2005-09-25T13:55:00.000+02:00

On Santorini island just now - very beautiful but very commercial with lots of tourists. The views of the Caldera are stunning so lots of sunset viewings over the next 2 days. We've left Audrey on Amorgos island - its wierd being back in a 'proper bed' and having space without knocking heads....!

Italy next week then back in Blighty end next month.

More photos to follow.

Greek goodies

2005-09-20T18:36:00.000+02:00

Hello,

Some more photo's from Greece to keep you posted of our tour below. We're now island hoping amongst the Cyclades. Met up with Bethan's sister Carol and husband Sion yesterday - which is fantastic.... the first people we know to have met in 5 months! Bethan hasn't stopped talking! At Amorgos now, Santorini next then off to Italy to meet up with Erica, Anyone else fancy a long weekend act now because we'll be back next month!

Monastries in Meteora ... we read a plac saying "Lord in your Mersey forgive us sinners" Graham says he always knew God was a scouser!

lots of love Bethan & Graham

Meteora Monastries

2005-09-20T18:34:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Wind swept at Meteora monastries (where's heathcliffe?)

2005-09-20T18:33:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

same pose, different ancient stones!

2005-09-20T18:32:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Graham tries to get a job on the Olympics at ancient Olympia

2005-09-20T18:31:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Graham expresses his artistic talent on Bethan's back

2005-09-20T18:30:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

By day a back seat, by night our boudoir

2005-09-20T18:29:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

The sun came out ...

2005-09-13T10:40:00.000+02:00

We're still in Greece where the weather is sunny and about 32 degrees. Just spent a week on the beach topping up our tans and spending most of the day either sleeping or reading. In fact our bodies are so unused to being vertical that we feel faint just getting a cup of water. It's a hard life! We had our first encounter with 'Brits Abroad'... a small fishing village was taken over by +50 year olds from Gatwick or Manchester.... lots of lobsters basking in the sun during the day and eating roast lamb with two veg at the local taverna watching the cricket and drinking pints at night. Quote of the 6 months was overheard by Bethan (she calls it taking an interest in people I call it curtain twitching) ... "bought a lovely cotton shirt for 17 Euros that's errr (getting the calculator out) about 25 quid wot a rip off!"

Back to touring more sites with old stones today (as Gray calls them).

We should be back end Octoberish - any house/flat sitters required... we're your people!

B&Gx

a turkish kebab shop

2005-09-02T14:49:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

this statue looks so lifelike!

2005-09-02T14:48:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

and she won't let me forget it!

2005-09-02T14:47:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Rob trevelling around Europe in a '92 Metro!

2005-09-02T14:45:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Same pose different town (Istanbul this time)

2005-09-02T14:44:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

The feet of a Greek God the body of a Celtic Idiot

2005-09-02T14:43:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

My big fat Greek Campervan

2005-08-29T13:35:00.000+02:00

We're in Greece now. At Mount Olympus in search of Zeus and his cronies. No luck so far, but we're trekking up the mountain tomorrow so plenty of Greek Yoghurt tonight! More pictures soon. Sorry about the map that never materialised. Powerpoint, macs and internet (a lethal cocktail!). Good luck Mike and Carey on the iminent arrival. Short and Sweet this time.

Turkısh Delıght

2005-08-23T11:53:00.000+02:00

We managed to sneak ınto Turkey vıa Greece. Gettıng used to the call to prayer played over the loudspeakers 4 tımes a day (altho Graham lıkens ıt to Bıngo callıng down the Arndale club). Turkey ıs beautıful and ıt ıs ınterestıng beıng ın a muslım country. People are frıendly (even when they rıp you off or steal your money they do ıt wıth a smıle!). Got robbed ın Instanbul. Graham was stupıd and careless, lettıng hıs guard slıp, and a smılıng Turk managed to get away wıth 100 YTL (about 40 quıd) after much banter and slıght of hand. Anyway no vıolence (lucky for hım that Bethan dıdn,t manage to catch hım!).

We've hooked up wıth Northampton's versıon of Spıke Mıllıgan, who has drıven from the UK to Fınland and down to Turkey ın a 1992 Mını Metro. He ıs keepıng us much amused wıth hıs unıque lıfestyle and tales of gırlfrıends past and present all over the world. He ıs also keepıng the locals entertaıned, even after he crashed ın Instanbul (ıronıcally wıth some Turkısh journalısts who drıve around the Instanbul versıon of the M25 reportıng on car accıdents - of whıch there are many ın Instanbul). Anyway even the stern polıceman managed to crack a smıle. It's a bıt strange drıvıng around Turkey wıth a red Mını Metro followıng you.

We are now travellıng around the Sea of Marmara and headıng back to Greece. Istanbul was our turnıng poınt and we are no longer travellıng east but are now drıvıng westward (and homeward) bound. lots of love Graham & Bethan (ps - Thanks Mıke for card games and comments - pps Bethan was naked how could you tell?)

Istanbul Sultans Palace

2005-08-20T15:43:00.001+02:00

Istanbul Sultans Palace
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Bran Castle Romanıa (Dıdnt see Dracula)

2005-08-20T15:43:00.000+02:00

Bran Castle Romanıa (Dıdnt see Dracula)
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Free campıng ozzıe style washıng

2005-08-20T15:42:00.002+02:00

Free campıng ozzıe style washıng
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Free campıng Bulgarıa

2005-08-20T15:42:00.001+02:00

Free campıng Bulgarıa
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Oh what a sweet thıng ın the mıddle of the russıan doll!

2005-08-20T15:42:00.000+02:00

Oh what a sweet thıng ın the mıddle of the russıan doll!
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Snorkellıng Hvar Island

2005-08-20T15:17:00.001+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Hvar Island

2005-08-20T15:17:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Mostar Brıdge Bosnıa

2005-08-20T15:16:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Hvar Island

2005-08-20T15:15:00.001+02:00

Hvar Island
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Tıme travellıng photo wıth long haır - Hvar ısland

2005-08-20T15:15:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Dubrovnık

2005-08-20T15:13:00.000+02:00

Dubrovnık
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Lend us 20 Quid and I'll buy you a kebab!

2005-08-14T17:48:00.000+02:00

Sorry for the lack of blogs as promised. The sun came out and we free camped on a beach for 5 days...

We've had the most bizarre day today - here's a blow by blow account:

Sunday 14th August

07:30 Woke up. Excited about going to Turkey and anticipating a lovely campsite on the outskirts of Istanbul tonight.
08:00 Eat breakfast.
08:30 Pack Van
09:00 Leave for Istanbul. Still have some leva so we must fill up with petrol before the border. It should only take us 1 hr.
11:00 Sods law no petrol stations and we arrive at the border. Oh well we must be able to change the money.
11:10 Get through Bulgarian side of customs. no problems. Vignette and paperwork all in order. The guard even manages to smile as we pass through.
11:12 Approach Turkish control.
11:14 Through the first check and car registered in the country. We can almost imagine the sun setting over Istanbul with a crimson sunset lighting up the mosques.
11:20 Pull up outside passport control. Bethan goes to exchange the bulgar money for turkish stuff.
11:22 Through control and motioned to visa section.
11:23 Charge of 20 pounds for a visa. No money. Lots of being passed back and forth.
12:23 Told we hads to go back to Bulgaria to get money and come back.
12:30 Turkish car registration office wouldn't let us through with the car. Instructed to walk 10km to the nearest Bulgarian town.
12:40 Finally let us leave Turkey.
12:42 Bulgarian control wouldn't allow us back in without paying for disinfection - 2 euros - we had no money - only Turkish - not acceptable!
12:50 Allowed to get money at Bulgarian border bank with Visa card. Visa didn't work. Told to drive 85km to nearest bankomat in Burgas, couldn't drive Audrey hadn't been dissinfected.
13:00 Graham discovered 1 euro and 2 leva to pay for dissinfection. Got back into Bulgaria.
13:10 Got to Bulgarian customs - they thought we were dodgy and gave us a thorough going over for drugs - hashish, coccaine.... A camper van which had only left the country 2 hours previously only to be back in must have been highly suspicious. Only allowed out without further interogation on the promise we wouldn't go back to Turkey via Bulgaria.
18:35 In Burgas (been here 3 times now). No campsites so bribed 4 star hotel Mirage to allow us to park in their car park for 10 leva in return for using tehir loos.

In short, it's taken us all day to do a round trip, with a short stop at Turkish customs, and only really gone 65km!

Next blog from Greece... where we may try out luck with Turkey again....

Zdrasti

2005-08-08T10:20:00.000+02:00

We're now in Bulgaria - Veliko Turnovo - ther former capital, which is lovely. The medieval town rises from a gorge, surrounded by an old fortress. We left terrential rain storms in Bucharest - got caught out whilst surfing the net in the luxury of the Inter Continetal foyer... Audrey went almost unscathed apart from another rip in her canvas... any more rain and we'll have our own 'natural' air con (i.e. no roof). The rain unfortunately followed us to Bulgaria and after lots of unexpected Romanian border taxes to pay to get out of the country - which took an age - tired and a bit damp, we decided to spend our 100th night in a hotel - a bed and ensuit was a bit of luxury. We're glad to say the rains have stopped and we're back in Audrey heading for the black sea later today... Graham needs to top up that all over tan!

Expect a lot more internet postings from us because its only 20p an hour...

Thanks for the card game Mike... keep em coming.
Cheapest 1/2 litre of beer to date (Carey) has been about 0.50 euro... Graham is loving it!

Bucharest

2005-08-05T14:33:00.000+02:00

We're now in Bucharest, using Inter Continental's wireless connection for free... plus aircon, which is grogeous. We figured from next month our regular blogger Mike is going to be otherwise engaged in becoming a daddy (no time for blogging!). Therefore we wish to initiate a BEST BLOGGER competition. Mike is obviously light years ahead just now but there is a chance of catching up from September... so please join in all you readers but unconverted bloggers (we know you are out there...).

In the running to date: Mike, Ian, Carey, Duncan, James, J & N...please join them...! Winner gets a special present from our trip. Enough of the hard sell.

We've been messing around with powerpoint and created this map (see attached). It shows where we've been and where we're going (except we may be doing a detour to Instabul). Anyone wanting a mini break pick a place and let us know.

ps - where are all those challenges and card games (sorry ian but your suggestion is good but the change of direction thing doesn't really work with just two players - think about it!)

Graham's hat with some locals outside a Romanian Eastern Orthodox Church

2005-08-02T15:20:00.001+02:00

Graham's hat with some locals outside a Romanian Eastern Orthodox Church
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Romanian nuns on the run ...

2005-08-02T15:20:00.000+02:00

Romanian nuns on the run ...
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Graham testing out his newly acquired haircut and bike

2005-08-02T15:19:00.001+02:00

Graham testing out his newly acquired haircut and bike
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Graham scared stiff

2005-08-02T15:19:00.000+02:00

Graham scared stiff
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Bethan on the old vino in a local hungarian wine cellar

2005-08-02T15:18:00.001+02:00

Bethan on the old vino in a local hungarian wine cellar
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Bethan Budapest

2005-08-02T15:18:00.000+02:00

Bethan Budapest
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Bethan does the peasant look with new local Romanian friend

2005-08-02T15:07:00.000+02:00

Bethan does the peasant look with new local Romanian friend
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Vladamirs (campsite owner in Romania) VW - nice!!!

2005-08-02T15:06:00.002+02:00

Vladamirs (campsite owner in Romania) VW - nice!!!
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

After - bald - haircut in Hungary

2005-08-02T15:06:00.001+02:00

After - bald - haircut in Hungary
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Before (with the bald patch that Gray insists he has but doesn't exist)

2005-08-02T15:06:00.000+02:00

Before (with the bald patch that Gray insists he has but doesn't exist)
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

A FRench looka likely Audrey in Budapest

2005-08-02T15:05:00.001+02:00

A FRench looka likely Audrey in Budapest
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Graham riding 5 galloping stallions standing on the plains of Hungary

2005-08-02T15:05:00.000+02:00

Graham riding 5 galloping stallions standing on the plains of Hungary
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Buna (somehow expected a more sinister word for hello from the land of Dracula)

2005-08-02T14:29:00.000+02:00

It's been a while we know... but internet acces has been scarse. Since our last chat we've toured Hungary - Budapest was gorgeous, then it was plains, plains plains, flat, flat flat.... we got to see the Burgac cowboys doing their stuff (see pics). Went to fab natural spa in Budapest for major chilling - the only snag was all those steam rooms and cold plunge pools took our top layer of tan away... Gray gave in to th heat and went for a skinhead look - see the before and after look attached... Now Romania, which is very beautiful. Once you are used to the gippo hustlers in the cities, the north is very rustic and as yet totally untouched by the tourist commercial dollar. The roads are single track (literally track) with horses, carts, pedestrians, tractors, Renault Dacia cars and audrey all vying for roadspace.

In search of the Count (Dracula that is and not the Sesame Street Count (one ha ha ha ha two ha ha ha ha) for all those muppet fans).

Audrey is getting a bit ill. We can't turn left or right and can't drive at night (dodgy indicators and headlights... any mechancis out there to give us some tips would be gratefully received - although Grham tinkers around every morning and either the headlights work or the indicators or none at all - all very random, here's hoping we get back alright!). This is proving to be a challenge but we're managing.

Fact: we are exactly 1872km from London as we write. Maybe not very interesting to most of you but hey!

WE have pictures of Hungary and Romania to share with you but those saucy ones in Croatia... well you'll just have to wait a bit longer (sorry Ian!)... we're building up to a crescendo. Graham says this joke about his nudity is getting very tiresome and he may sabotage some technology soon! Love to you all from your favourite gippos in the land of gippos.

A happy walker in the Slovenian mountains (waterfall behind)

2005-07-20T13:44:00.000+02:00

A happy walker in the Slovenian mountains (waterfall behind)
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Yep, that's Bethan leading Storm, the horse!

2005-07-20T13:43:00.000+02:00

Yep, that's Bethan leading Storm, the horse!
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

A Slovenian sunset

2005-07-20T13:42:00.001+02:00

A Slovenian sunset
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

The Slovenian mountains (we climbed)

2005-07-20T13:42:00.000+02:00

The Slovenian mountains (we climbed)
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Calvin Klein body branding (plus the obvious tan line that is no more after buff bathing in Croatia)

2005-07-20T13:41:00.000+02:00

Calvin Klein body branding (plus the obvious tan line that is no more after buff bathing in Croatia)
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Anybody there??

2005-07-20T13:39:00.000+02:00

Anybody there??
Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Hungary? Don't worry we're near some Turkey!

2005-07-20T10:20:00.000+02:00

Now you can appreciate what Bethan has to put up with. I have almost managed to send her insane with my puns (Dobber Dan is Topup Tan, etc).

We're in Hungary at the moment. Arrived at the only campsite in Pecs at about 8pm to find it shut with tumbleweed blowing through the derelict buildings. Another night sleeping with one eye open for either cops or robbers.

Before Pecs we spent some time in Mostar, Bosnia. Walked the most famous bridge in europe and wondered around the turkish quater. We were mainly struck by the war ravaged buildings but the coffee was great. Bethan bought a russian doll and i bought another pipe. Not very Bosnian.

Started setting each other weekly challenges of which mine was to remember the campsites and bethan had to buy something tacky for 1 euro (believe it or not the have "euroland" and "everthing for a euro" shops throughout europe). Anyway we want to broaden this out so if anyone feels sadistic enough to set us a challenge please feel free. Another plea ... we bought a pack of cards with us but can only remember poker or snap. Can someone please help us out and let us know some other card games. The last game of poker (after a bottle of wine and having used up all the matches) led me to gamble everthing i own on one hand (which i've always wanted to do). I lost. But nevermind it was only to Bethan.

We're off to a Hungarian thermal spring.

Is it Gray Mears or Gray Hasselhoff? (read on...)

2005-07-11T21:06:00.000+02:00

Gray is a man of many talents. He has perfected the art of predicting the weather... we are the most sorted on the campsites when a 'storms a coming'; Graham is there before the downpour even starts - one look at the sky and it's done. This has come in handy on more than one occasion. The latest was this week on Hvar island, true to form his powers were revealed and in the process became the saviour of the campsite. Gray saved a Danish tent from being storm blasted to the amazement of the onlooking Germans, who, the next day donned him as the 'hero'. So David Hasslehoff now has some competition.

Another talent Graham has found is the art of pipe playing. He has mastered three tunes 1. The Welsh National Anthem 2. Danny Boy and 3. Cockeye's theme (from Once Upon a Time in America). A random but pleasant mix.

And lastly...Gray is starting to show signs of his Nordic ancestory. He has admitted to wanting to buy a pair of Speedos and is well into buff bathing (yes that's nudist to you and me)...

more german exploits soon and maybe a chance for Graham to finally get on the computer to get his own back and tell a few tales of Bethan's exploits. It seems that our relationship has come to this ... threatening each other with putting stuff on the blog. Oh the computer age!

By the way Hvar is utopia and having an amazing time...B&Gx (but more of B than G!)

Fashionista Cannes style - both are at least 80 years old...

2005-07-01T18:00:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

camouflaged audrey illegally camping

2005-07-01T17:57:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

you'd never guess we free camped the night before.. scrubbed up OK

2005-07-01T17:56:00.001+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

one for mum

2005-07-01T17:56:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

bethan go to jail, don't pass go don't collect 100 euros

2005-07-01T17:55:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Gorges du Verdon - France

2005-07-01T17:54:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Bog!

2005-07-01T17:47:00.000+02:00

(hi in Croat!). Yes, we've zipped over the border into Croatia, where I promise we are now going to slow down... we've done a country a week for the past 3, but we're going to chill out on the Dalmatia coast.

Pictures are not exactly themed as promised, more pretty random but a pleasant retrospective from Spain and France.

We spent our entire weekly budget on a blow out meal in Venice - went back to ca pisani , a hotel/restuarant we went to about 3 years ago - but it was worth every penny (thanks to visa).

audrey ripped her skirt in a freak thunder storm and had her first leak. Bethan's sewing skills were put to the test, we stitched her up best we could.. but she now has lots of 'natural' air vents.

Forgot to tell you, Gray had his 1st road rage in Monte Carlo... almost got into a fight with a French lorry driver but I managed to pacify him.

We're both still in one piece although Gray has bought himself a hat to hide his bald patch... ( long hair and balding, not a great look!!). All pictures will no doubt feature his hat from here on in.

art attack (more gaudi!)

2005-07-01T17:41:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

gaudi couple

2005-07-01T17:40:00.001+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

gaudi graham (common theme of the hat!)

2005-07-01T17:40:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

urban chaos in barca

2005-07-01T17:39:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

dali's turds

2005-07-01T17:38:00.001+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

mint tea in marsailles

2005-07-01T17:38:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Dober Dan

2005-06-27T15:57:00.000+02:00

We're in Slovenia, touring the Julian Alps, which are just breathtaking. Doing lots of exercise - mountain climbing, swimming, kyaking and horse riding (Bethan is a new woman!!). We fast tracked through S. France and Italy, via Lac St Croix (north of Provence), which was just stunning, some say an uncommercialised Grand Canyon (cheers David for the tip off again) - others say an exhausting pedalo experience! Next up was Lago del Garda - not so stunning but still gorgeous, now lake Bohinj before we head to the Croatian Dalmations for some sun.

One phrase to watch out for when driving a camper ..."there's bound to be a garage/petrol station/campsite/supermarket on this road."

Bethan has rediscovered her singing voice.

Bethan has also admitted that the thing she looks forwrd to most is visiting the supermarket. Looks like we'll be house hunting around Sainsbury locations when we get back! (you can take the gal out of the shopping but never the shopping out of the gal!)

Next post will hopefully show some more photos by theme. We can see you're all riveted by the response rate (apart from Mike who is keeping us cheery!) The answer to the caption competition Bethan set on the photo was ... "i'm sure i put the handbrake on! oh well Graham'll never notice!". Maybe there will even be a photo of Audrey, although you wouldn't recognise her under the canoes, skimboard, mountain bikes, climbing equipment, flag of st george ...

Bonjour!

2005-06-13T12:21:00.000+02:00

We've arrived in bourgeois S. France and conducting a whirlwind tour from Montpellier to Monaco via the beautiful Provence. We managed to post some pictures from Portugal and Spain, only 3 weeks old but we're catching up! Weather has cooled off after Spain, just a mere 25 degrees here in France... Went to the birthplace of surrealism, Figueria ala Dali town, where we camped between a prostitute and some French gippo's (living surrealism!). Spain and Portugal were fantastic but we discovered the most important things to both countries are:

Farmacia's... forget signposts for really important things - you can always count of seeing at least one per village.

Carrefours that advertise but you cannot find

Big plackards of bulls...

We actually frequented a bullfight in Granada - lots of machoism and waving of neckachiefs but can't see the attraction of watching a bull being out numbered by men in tights(there's gotta be better ways to prove your machismo than dancing with a half dead bull, maybe they should try dancing with the women in the photo's). More updates soon....

What am I thinking????

2005-06-13T12:18:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Graham striking a pose....

2005-06-13T12:16:00.001+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Audery's smacker...!

2005-06-13T12:16:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

sardines...authentic styley!

2005-06-13T12:11:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

our friends in the south, miguel and manuel

2005-06-13T12:09:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

"gippo ... where's your caravan"

2005-06-13T12:08:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Dancing ? You asking ? (where's the blokes?)

2005-06-13T11:54:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Graham & Bethan in the Alhambra

2005-06-13T11:53:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Sand, sea and sunburn

2005-06-03T18:13:00.000+02:00

We´ve managed to cane it around almost the whole of Iberia (without a breakdown). Heading for Barcelona, our last stop before moving onto France but stopped on the way at Denia (north of Benidorm, where Graham insisted on having a kebab on the sea front to fulfill a life´s ambition) for a bit of relaxation after the plentiful city breaks. Sevilla - hot, pretty but spent most of our time looking for a mac mending shop. (Ironically the mac has broken down before the van..) Cordoba - hot, pretty and very Moorish. Granada - hot, pretty and more Moorish. Trekking in the Sierra Nevada almost killed Bethan, but we made it 14km and 700m climb later - hot and exremely pretty but no Moors. Then to the desert and Mini Hollywood (where the spaghetti westerns were shot, making them more paella westerns than spaghetti westerns!) - it rained. Free camped on the beach east of Almeria and spent all night worrying about cops, smugglers and flies! We were bitten badly but not arrested by morning. We´ve stopped comparing number of bites but now compare types of bites, so far mossie, miggie, ant and fleas but not yet snakes, scorpians or dragons.

Pictures will be posted when we get our act together, probably in Barcelona.

relaxed? i can barely get out of bed!

2005-05-22T19:49:00.000+02:00

ok so we´ve been out of internet range for a while. Bethan still head banging, although she´s moved onto "nutting" the other side of the van and laughs instead of cries. For someone so small she keeps banging heads! Just spent a week in a national park in portugal. We met Miguel, who has single-handedly made us eat our words on the previous blog notice proving that the portuguese are truly very generous and friendly. Bom Dia Miguel, tudo bem? Anyway Audrey had her first kiss in Sao Tontonio. A little bit of audrey´s green paint will remain on a wall there and a little bit of that wall will come with us for the rest of the trip (yep Graham managed to scrape the van!) Anyway more photos to follow of a 6ft5 20 stone naked german from hamburg who has been travelling around europe for 10 yrs, lots of beutiful beaches, Miguel and Manual (our favourite portuguese), graham "the expert fire maker"´s barbeques, grilled sardines and boats smuggling "pop" from morocco at 5am. For the geographically minded ... we left Lisboa, headed for Zambuguera, then down the coast to Ingrina on the south west tip of continental europe for a week, then Mertola (where we free camped under the old moorish city walls listening to islamic wailing and thumping islamic techno till dawn. We´re now back in spain and have just arrived in Sevilla. Hot, hot, hot.

Camping de Chav, Madrid

2005-05-11T18:58:00.001+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Views to die for

2005-05-11T18:58:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Lisboa Banksy

2005-05-11T18:57:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Old School OT2

2005-05-11T18:56:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Old School OT 1

2005-05-11T18:55:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Sent to the workhouse (look carefully)

2005-05-11T18:53:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Bom Dia

2005-05-10T15:32:00.000+02:00

We've crossed our first border! Disappointingly there were no tanks and soldiers and guns and stuff (well it was only from spain to portugal!). Bethan is still banging her head (in audrey although she now has a tendancy to nod to euro-rock). So far we've met a know it all welshman from fishguard who left wales 40 yrs ago to duck and dive around the world (including strip clubs) and has spent the last 10 yrs coining it in portugal as a builder ripping off all the ex-pats. Then we met Frank and Know it all talkalot wife from England. Graham lasted about 5 mins of conversation then had to go and look at the derelict run down swimming pool! Latest Know it all is dutch Wim who led us to believe that buses and trains into Lisboa are cheap and fast. Our daily allowance later and it took us a good two hrs from campsite. Campsite beautiful and on the coast. Brilliant waves for surfing. Portuguese aren't as friendly as everyone makes out. I think they get frustrated stuck behind audrey on the country roads. So long for now. ps - portugal is more expensive than spain. pointless fact but interesting.

Day 9 in the little Audrey van....

2005-05-04T22:07:00.000+02:00

Just arrived in Salamanca after a surreal stay at "Plaza de Chav" in Madrid. Our name for the pikey full trailer trash campsite we stayed at... another world but extremely funny. We shared a beer with them whilst watching Liverpool beat Chelsea in "Bar Chav" last night. Although a lovely city, it was nice to get back into the open countryside and leave the city behind. Heading for Portugal to stay put for a couple of weeks and bask in the sun and sand. Audrey has done us proud since leaving London - clocking up c600km so far... long may it last. We figure she´s anti-social (doesn´t like other motors) and definately does not like hills..

Small world - saw Tim Longman in San Sebastian - see picture for proof. See you in Versaille Tim.

So who´s going to be our first guests... don´t all jump at once. If you fancy a few days in Portugal over the next couple of weeks let us know.

Martin where's your girlfirend

2005-05-04T21:54:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Old Friends modelling small, medium and large

2005-05-04T21:53:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Bethan learns the basics

2005-05-04T21:52:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Our New Friends

2005-05-04T21:51:00.000+02:00

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Originally uploaded by audreyontour.

Flickr

2005-05-04T21:38:00.000+02:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.