BACK TO KAISERSLAUTERN

HEIDELBERG - 24/6

On the way down to Kaiserslautern we stopped in for one night in Heidelburg. Walked around the beautiful old town with the amazing castle overlooking the city. A really nice place to relax before the big game!

KAISERSLAUTERN - 25/6 - 26/6 - Back to the best place in the world!!!!!

We were meant to stay in an apartment for 40 euro each per night, but Grechy and Pez snuck into the local pub for a cheeky beer. While there they ended up becoming best mates with the owner who took all 5 of us in for 5 euro a night...... plus free shots, cheap as beers and a Phil Narkle (pork knuckle) to stem the appetitie. They took us in like their own and made us an obscenely huge breaky each morning and entertained us with German drinking games. His wife was Polish and couldn´t speak a word of English. The look on her face when I started singing Polish Christmas carols was priceless and was followed by about 10 free vodka shots - just what I needed! Needless to say we were all hammered and thought our new found friends were the best thing since a Timmy Cahil goal! What a night - what a few days - it restores your faith in mankind when you meet people who can be sooooooo nice and expect nothing in return. Karl, The Chief and the rest of the crew - big hats off to you!!

OK now to the game..................

It was a massive build up.... everyone was nervous and excited walking to the ground. We started with the traditional beers and sausgaes in the main squre while singing all the great Aussie hits... TNT, Land Downunder and even good old Jonny´s Your the Voice!! We were pumped with nothing to lose against the more fancied Italians. You all saw the game and know the result which was shattering - but to watch Australia absolutely dominate the game against a world class opposition only gives us belief for the future - our time will come!
Anyway - after the game we hit the square for some celebrations as it was the last World Cup game for Kaiser and the locals wanted to party! So party we did!!


Skippy was soooo popular, we could have made a mint. Everyone stopped and wanted photos. Seriously we had hundreds of photos taken with fans from all countries who wanted to get a pic with Auzzie Skip! After the game we thought we would see what we could get for them. Well....before long, without even asking, a German police office asked whether TC would swap her Skip for his Police hat...well as you can see she thought that was a pretty good deal. We left another with Karl who deserved a gold one for his hospitality and the third made the trip back to London, ready to consolidate for 2010! As for Kaiserslautern, thanks heaps for having us and we will miss you greatly!!

TOOL OF THE WEEK -

This week its a tie again - an ol regular and a new addition

1.) Dazza for his poor behaviour after a number of vodka shots mixed with pints of beer.

2.) Troy for his fantastic hammering skills!!!

Well done boys!

BERLIN 27/6 - 28/6

With the disappointment of the World Cup still around we headed with Pez and Grechy up to berlin for a few days to get a feel of the vibe in Germany´s capital. The city is super modern and very easy on the eye. We took a free walking tour of the city including viewing the Berlin Wall, Hitler´s Bunker, the Brandenburg Gate as well as drinking plenty of beer and eating more snitzel! Luv the snitzel! It was a good way to unwind from the hectic days we had previously and see one of the big cities in Europe. Mission accomplished. Next stop..... Denmark!

Salzburg 19\6 - 20\6 & Stuttgart 21\6 -23\6

Salzburg 19\6 - 20\6

We hired a car and Troy, Trace and myself trekked down to Salzburg for a look at another great little town in Austria. We watched the football on the big screens, drank a few beers and ate the biggest snitzel I have ever seen! A tour of an ice cave was a must and we were blown away by how alien like it seemed. Going from 30 degree heat outside to 0 degrees inside and then back out was bizarre on the body and could have triggered my oncoming sickness........ or maybe too many steins - who knows. The hostel we stayed at was great and did the trick. As for the football........ well the biggest success for Australian sport ever as far as we are concerned. It has put us on the map and hopefully another good result next week will see us as a force to be reckoned with!


MOMENTS –
Salzburg

• Having a beer at the Stieglkeller beer garden overlooking the town
• Watching Spain play at the local fan fest just before a massive storm. We ran home through the torrential rain and a few water fountains along the way!! Lucky for our free ponchos.
• Seeing the amazing Ice caves in our thongs. It was 30 degrees outside and 0 degree. Our poor little tootsies took a pounding!
• Having a massive traditional Austrian snitchzel
• Visting Neuschuanstein Castel - the castle that inspired Disney

Stuttgart

As I was sick and unable to get out of bed, we left the boys to party pre game whilst i slept, slept and got some more sleep ready for the 9pm kick-off. Trace and I got on a train that was chocker block full of mad croatian supporters. Being the only Auzzies on there was a bit disconcerting, but after they smashed up the train i was absolutely sh*tting myself - not to mention the attempts of about 15 guys to pick up TC wasn´t helping the cause. But in the end it only strengthened the resolution to beat these guys and send them home! After the first 2 minutes which was shattering, we clawed a goal back and the crowd were going nuts! At half time we were positive as we had dominated the game so far.

Another early goal to the Croats and we were shocked. Could we go out like this? A stupid error by the goalie? No way - that wouldn´t be fair! OK step up one Harry Kewell - our role model, our hero, an absolute legend who puts one past the goalie and puts Australia into the second round of the Cup!!!!! Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The final whistle sounds but I dont hear it and am nervous for about 10 minutes till finally the referee has left the building! Wild scenes follow and the crowd are going full on berserko!!!!

WE HAVE MADE IT - WE ARE IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE WORLD CUP!!!!!!!!!

15 minutes after the game the players come out and danced in front of us to `The Land Downunder and `TNT`. Timmy Cahill deserves a mention for grabbing the corner flag and using it as a microphone. The crowd are insane at this point and tears are spilled fairly easily by some.

AHHHHHHH to be here is Friggin unreal!! Bring on the Italians!!!

MOMENT OF THE WEEK – What can we say?? Words can not describe it.....moment of the week or moment of our life? The Socceroos marking history by drawing against Croatia 2-2 and making the next round!
Italy here we come!! We love you Hazza!

TOOL OF THE WEEK -

Dazza for getting sick just before the biggest game in Australian Football history. I wonder whether it is due to the fact that he hasn´t had a day off the booze in over 12 weeks. C´MON DAZZA LIFT YOUR GAME!

Munich - 13\6 - 18\6

Munich - 13\6 - 18\6

We headed to Munich for game 2 of the Cup and had a few days up our sleeve to explore the beer halls, gardens and generally just kick back a bit after a hectic and emotional few days in Kaiser.
Dazza, Pez, Grechy and I had 3 days in a hostel and were then met up by Troy, Jean and Tim to form our 6 bed dorm crew. The days were spent sunning ourselves in the park with a stop for lunch in a beer garden and dinner in a beer hall. The Germans were very polite and looked after us well. I have a new affection for German sausages and their beer is the first beer not to bloat dazza. Needless to say he is drinking like a tiger! (he made me put that in!). Munich is a great town that has lots of beer, good food, friendly people and public nudity........... could this be the Garden of Eden????

MOMENT OF THE WEEK –
Watching the Soccoroos put up one mighty good fight against the world champions Brazil. We had fantastic seats, only 16 rows back from the goals. Well done boys - you deserved better!

MOMENTS –

• Pre-game steins at the world famous Hofbrahaus Beer Hall
• Dazza having a competition against a Brazilan´s pissy whistle against our massive orange honker..... needless to say he killed him!
• Pez´s tour which included an accidental stroll through the nudist meadow(guys only section). The highlight would have to be `Long Dong Silver´- a very large guy with piercings!!
• Trace´s Tits & Tranquility tour through the `good´section of the park! Take note Pez!
• Phil Knarkle, Goulash, Apple Struddle and beers
• Having a picnic with local food from the market in the Englischer Garten
• Watching guys surf the crazy Munich River Wave - unbelievable
• Catching up the crazy cunch and his mates!
• Meeting Will - our cute little pommy mate

TOOL OF THE WEEK -

A tie this week between 2 of our fellow travellers.

1) Grechy for taking us to a string of gay bars in a row without realising what the colourful flag in the corner meant!

2) Country (the cunch) for telling his mates they had accomodation in Munich and for them for believing him and flying over from London! A night in the luggage room can be quite comfortable says Cunch!

KAISERSLAUTERN - 11/6 - 12/6

KAISERSLAUTERN -

Where´s Kaiserslautern? is the first question people ask. As for the answer...........
The greatest place on Earth! Well for Monday the 12th of June 2006, this is spot on. Typing this one is hard, as trying to put all the excitement and emotions into words just doesn´t do it any justice. It´s one of those you had to be there moments but something you want to tell the whole world about. So here goes.....

Words can´t describe the atmosphere that engulfed the little town of Kaiserslautern..The smallest of the host cities, K-town was absolutely drenched in the green and gold of Oz, where some 15000 aussies spent the night before the game in the town square, belting out `We come from a Land Downunder´, Waltzing Matilda and all the game day chants over and over again... The locals instantly fell in love with the touring aussie circus and this wasn´t even game day!!

We woke up to a perfect sunny day of around 28 degrees and headed back into town around 11 where there was even more aussies lining the streets and singing in unison... The adrenaline was running through the veins and the stock standard sausage and pint for brekky went down a treat. There was huge expectation from everyone that the aussies were a massive chance to knock off the Nippon and the half hour walk up to the stadium did nothing to quell those thoughts.

Troy, Grechy, Trace and I were nervous before the game. Sticks was sitting 4 rows in front of us and Pez was sitting with the Jordan government thanks to a scalper!!! It had been a long wait since 1993 where Troy and I had watched Aus v N.Z at Bob Jane Stadium with about 25 people in attendance. We exchanges nervous looks and tried to reassure ourselves that we had a good chance. We sat at the end where none of the goals were kicked...... but had the biggest Australian contingent - everyone had donned some sort of green and gold clothing, including the Hulk who only had a pair of speedos on with his passport in them and green skin...... classic!


Almost game time when they finally enter the arena and allow us to let out some emotion with some frenzied chanting. The voice is almost hoarse before kick-off! The 15,000 Auzzies in the stadium are going crazy........ then the national anthem kicks in and I feel damm proud to be an Auzzie and to be at a game with my mates! In unison the crowd belts out the anthem and goosebumps cover the body. Getting some texts - thanks all - and giving a few out but the body is just pumping for the start of this game!

The first half we dominated and were unlucky not to be 1-0 up but instead had to head into halftime down, after a pathetic ref´s decision allowed the Nippon there goal. Troy is going berserk at the ref, the crowd is quiet, things aren´t going to plan. I remember sitting in the seat absolutely gutted and looking at the time, 70 mins gone, thinking we´d be doing great to get an equaliser...BANG, Super Timmy Cahill scores his first and the stadium just erupts, tears are shed, glasses are lost as the whole Auzzie crowd try to group hug each other. The boys had done it, surely we can hang on for the draw now, a point would give us a massive shot of making it through to the second round...BANG, Super Timmy launches a huge shot from outside the box, 2-1, the crowd is in a frenzy...I´ve all of a sudden got 15,000 new best friends, high fives, hugs, kisses...hang on boys, theres only a couple of minutes to go...BANG, ALOISSSSSEEEEEE makes the defender look like Micky Gayfer and slots the third, the stands shake, the whistle gets blown and there is pandemonium in K-town!!!! 3-1, what a cracking game, we´re a massive shot of getting through to the second round now...!!! That night was one of the best I´ve had...Waltzing Matilda was on high rotation and it felt pretty bloody good to be an aussie but there are bigger fish to fry now...What better test than the best in the world...Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Carlos and we´re going to be there, 16th row, Munich stadium watching as the Aussies take a 3-0 lead and take us through to the world cup final.......

Well we are living the dream.......
Thanks to Sticks who helped me out a bit with the email and to Grechy who provided IT support!

ZURICH - 3/6 - 10/6

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  ZURICH 3/6 – 10/6
  
  Zurich……the place of cowbells, Toblerone and bankers…… ahhh sort of …..but a better description would be trendy bars, cool clothes and the hottest chicks seen so far in Europe. I can’t believe you wrote that Trace……. Ha Ha.
  
  We stayed at Maurizio’s apartment in Winterthur and kicked him out to his parent’s apartment downstairs….. well not quite, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Well MC, Mozza, Moorey or whatever else you call him, was an awesome host who looked after us like kings.
  
  He took us out to Trinity Restaurant where we had our first Swiss style meal. My mouth is watering – Leroy you would have gone crazy! This was followed up with our first lunch - a traditional home cooked Italian feast that his mum cooked for us, followed by an even more Southern Italian tradition of finishing the meal with a home made alcoholic beverage (or 2) brewed by hand with a potent kick to help digestion. MC’s parents can brew a good drink – take note DF!
  
  The next few days were taken up cruising through the sophisticated streets of Zurich, lounging around the beautiful lake accompanied by exceptional weather and window shopping for the world’s most famous watches, exclusive fashion and jewellery on the Bahnhefstrasse. Thrown in, of course, with some bar hopping through some trendy bars for a Margharita, Campari, various types of beers or a corretto grappa!!!! It all adds up to good times!
  
  MC introduced us to some of his mates Sammy, Michael, Fabio and Jesus…… and of course girlfriend Anina- WooooooHoooooo! They were all super-friendly to us and made sure our drinks were topped up! We had some great nights in Paddy’s Bar, Cotton Corner, Rimini Bar, Gotthard, Kafisatz and the ol Coyote Ugly!
  
  But we also took in some of the scenery that Switzerland is famous for. The 4 of us went down to Interlaken for a leisurely day of strolling around the crystal clear lake, watching the paragliders come down and taking photos of the humungous mountains that surrounded us – still with snow on them in summer! That still blows my mind!
  
  MOMENT OF THE WEEK –
  This award is actually a draw this week.
  1.) Hanging out with MC whilst sitting in bean bags around the pool bar for after work drinks…. (even though we’re not working!)
  2.) Watching the kick off of the first game of the 2006 world Cup in a beer hall in Zurich with a 1,000 fans. Added to this was the free..... yes FREE Carlsberg pints that they were handing out. Needless to say, watching a World Cup game in Europe with free beers and a massive screaming crowd - had a moment!
  
  
  
  MOMENTS –
  Our first look at the Swiss Alps in the train……breathtaking
  Eating a traditional home cooked meal that was magnificent
  Sampling the various alcohols that Switzerland/Italy have to offer
  MC taking us out to a classy Swiss restaurant where we ate some of the finest food Switzerland has to offer
  Looking in awe at the luxurious cars driving around everywhere. From Ferrari, BMW, Audi, Alfa……. Trace’s Daewoo just wouldn’t cut it
  Bar hopping
  Having a double bed, stereo, kitchen………. MC has spoilt us
  
  TOOL OF THE WEEK -
  The winners of this prestigious award this week are not in Europe but in down town Melbourne. Most people associate Grange as THE top wine Australia produces, so drinking a 1986 Penfolds would be a big thing........ but to spend it in your trackies watching the footy!!?? Only we would understand T and Nik.......... but we have to award you joint winners of tool of the Week!! ;) Well done on your hard work!
  

VENICE 30/5 – 1/6 & VINCENZA 2/6

VENICE 30/5 – 1/6 & VINCENZA 2/6

After 7 days of bliss we headed to Venice to catch up with my parents, who are travelling Europe on a Trafalgar tour. They arranged for us to have dinner with them at their hotel………the first 3 course meal we have had for a few weeks so Dazza and I were loving it. Thanks Mum & Dad!

We booked a cabin in a caravan park which seemed a little dodgy to start with but ended up really cool as all the Contiki tours also stayed there ………..which meant heaps of young folk drinking, dancing and carrying on…… ohhh to be young again!

Venice was absolutely fantastic…heaps better then we expected. We caught the water bus down the Grand Canal and walked through San Marco’s Piazza with the other 1,000’s of tourists. We managed to get off the main drag and found some bargains….0.80 euro espresso, 1 euro sprizzes (however not so cheap if you have 8 each!).

I got my first overseas haircut in a little Venetian salon. Dazza interpreted as best as he could but we weren’t sure if the message got through. I was both relieved and excited to see the result …… could even be one of my best haircut ever. Feeling brave we did Dazzas hair the next day…….. DF is happy to say…… he now likes orange hair!!!! 1 out of 2 aint bad! Oooppss!!!

After our 3 nights in Vencice we trained it up to Vincenza to a little place called Dueville.

VINCENZA

We had one night up our sleeve before we had to meet our mate Maurizio in Zurich so we stayed at a guys house we met in Riomaggiore, who also happened to be a couch surfer. Another Auzzie we met there also travelled up with us – Sandi –from Perth. When we arrived we were informed that there were 4 other Americans couch surfing at this guys 1 bedroom apartment………not so squeezy - so between 7 of us we again ate, drank and watched Jamie Kennedy DVD’s till about 4:30am before the Auzzies claimed the blow up mattress!!
Auzzies -1 Yanks – 0. Next stop …… Zurich!


MOMENT OF THE WEEK -
Downing 8 of the famous Venetian Sprizzers during their happy hour in a happening little bar called ‘The Iguana!’ Everyone should put a little Sprizz into their life!




MOMENTS –
Eating a gourmet meal with Ron & Sue at he Hotel Antony
Lonely Planets best recommendation so far of cheap coffee, sprizzes and water buses in Venice
Dancing on the tables in the caravan park’s main bar with 150 Contiki travellers listening to a DJ play with a Latino drummer
The caravan park giving out free beers and Breezers to encourage dancing. Did it work? See below!
Walking through San Marco’s piazza with about a million pigeons

TOOL OF THE WEEK -
More of a comment than a tool……an Aussie said to a group of Americans “I had a massive thong blow out last night”…..you all know what they call thongs, when it was just an innocent comment describing how she fell on the rocks and broke her thong!

CINQUE TERRE – RIOMAGGIORE 23/5 – 29/5

CINQUE TERRE – RIOMAGGIORE 23/5 – 29/5

From the tranquil delights of Tuscany we headed to the Cinque Terre and based ourselves for 7 nights in Riomaggiore – a truly stunning town perched right on the edge of the Mediterranean. Riomaggoire sits on the edge of a massively steep hill. It almost killed us to walk from one end of the town to the other…. especially chasing the green bus that gave us nothing but grief. The start of the week didn’t start too well as we were in a little place about 4km out of town that could only be reached by 1 bus a day that left the town at 6:20pm….. doesn’t sound too bad? But it was just me and trace with nothing else around, so after travelling together for 2 months straight – we became bored pretty quickly. We decided that after 3 nights of the absolutely stunning view it gave us (the one plus of the place), it was time to move into town! Then the drinking and nightlife began and we were back into the swing of drinking, socialising and eating out for tea….. what else is there?? After a few hours looking for a room we eventually found this great little apartment overlooking the town with the hostess with the mostess, Anna – an old Italian lady with her own house who took us in and looked after us like she would her own kids.

If you ever get to Italy, make sure you visit these towns as they all have their own unique identities but make a fantastic little cluster of special views, great walks, good beaches and awesome people. The recipe for good times!

MOMENT OF THE WEEK – Hanging out with the gang from Bar Centrale. Ivo the fiery but super friendly Italian owner and guitar guru, Jeff (aka Jeffro) who is the king of this joint and makes everyone feel welcome, Pat the US military guy, Stevo the smily Auzzie, James the Canadian Craig Cann, Miriam and Karen the Dutchies, John Lucca the little Italian stud and a host of others who made every night a fun time and ended up down the beach listening to Ivo play his tunes til 5am……….ahhhhh good times.


MOMENTS –
Drinking a bottle of red at Il Borgo di Campi with a simply stunning sunset as a backdrop and a sequence of funny photos to remember it by
Foccacia and beers at a Monterosso café served by an Italian wearing Rip Curl
Sunbaking, snorkelling and just lazing around on the black stoned beach of Riomaggiore
Eating a pizza with a bottle of red on the rocks of Manarola watching another perfect sunset
Celebrating Dazza’s birthday in traditional European style….A day at the nudey beach! .… when in Rome...! Have to say best birthday ever!!!
Listening to Ivo play guitar and sing songs on the beach surrounded by fireflys, good people and a few beers till sunrise
Hiking along a very narrow track a few hundred metres above a rocky beach with awesome views …. it definitely got the heart rate going
Coffee and gelato

TOOL OF THE WEEK –
We had a Bad Auzzie tourist incident in Riomaggiore where we met a 24 year old Mentone Grammar student who was travelling with his parents and was a complete w*nker. He insulted the locals, competed for stories, had a Gillsy like tight gentlemans perm and butted in everywhere he wasn’t wanted. It all ended after a Dazza spray which had the poor little Aussie crying like a baby and sobbing ‘I just wanna go home and go to Twister with my mates…..’ Twister?? You are on the Cinque Terre ……you are a massive tool!!!!!!!