mazolaman Posted October 14, 2012 Author Posted October 14, 2012 Well, about the Palinka (peach), you'll find it again - or have already - disguised as Slivowitz (plum) in the FROY, anywhere in the Balkans, really. Grows hairs on your chest ... and cleans your nose and sinuses. Good stuff if it's decently made or home distilled. Can't say about Prague or Riga, never been there really outside the runway - but have read about the parties by the tourists on low cost carriers ... guess people that wouldn't have taken a subway 20 yrs back fly nowadays, that's progress I guess Should we meet round here I'll introduce you to one of my buddies from Eastern Germany who left right after the wall crumbled ( and introduced us to Hungary and the Balaton ), nice guy who can also tell you a few things about the situation then in the GDR over a good cigar here in the village. As for cigar bars/shops in BUD - haven't been there for many years, but if you need to know, I'll find some for you from my BUD friends, let me know. Safe travels ! Nino Aha, We tried a few Palinka, as you say, some were quite rough, but more were very smooth and easy to drink...getr you drunk without you realising. The only plum version I have tried was in Romania, which is their own localy made hooch, which was fantastic. They have probably made it the same way for thousands of years.... I hope to catch you when we're in Germany, and look forward to it. Cheers, Kevin.
mazolaman Posted October 23, 2012 Author Posted October 23, 2012 Croatia, and Bosnia Herzrgovina....and the lovely Adriatic coast...http://holidayjollity.wordpress.com/
mazolaman Posted October 29, 2012 Author Posted October 29, 2012 A revelation...stop what you are doing, and take a holiday to Montenegro (http://holidayjollity.wordpress.com/), it's absoloutely beautiful.
mazolaman Posted November 5, 2012 Author Posted November 5, 2012 SOuthern Italy, or some of it at least..http://holidayjollity.wordpress.com/
mazolaman Posted November 12, 2012 Author Posted November 12, 2012 The beauty that is Etruria....and the wine....http://holidayjollity.wordpress.com/
mazolaman Posted November 23, 2012 Author Posted November 23, 2012 The strange principalities of Monaco and Andorra....http://holidayjollity.wordpress.com/
mazolaman Posted November 30, 2012 Author Posted November 30, 2012 The Lovely East of Spain, and the odd Gibraltar..http://holidayjollity.wordpress.com/
mazolaman Posted December 10, 2012 Author Posted December 10, 2012 Southern Spain, Southern Portugal.http://holidayjollity.wordpress.com/
Nino Posted December 10, 2012 Posted December 10, 2012 Great reading - just spent an hour reading your trip from Andorra ( "you lucky buggers :-) ) to southern Portugal. Impressed by your details plus the information on the social and economic problems, really insightful and a reality many ignore. Hope to maybe catch up with you in Germany on the up-trip. Safe travels !
mazolaman Posted December 10, 2012 Author Posted December 10, 2012 Great reading - just spent an hour reading your trip from Andorra ( "you lucky buggers :-) ) to southern Portugal. Impressed by your details plus the information on the social and economic problems, really insightful and a reality many ignore. Hope to maybe catch up with you in Germany on the up-trip. Safe travels ! Cheers Nino, you're very kind, and yes, we are lucky buggers! As I read of -3 temps at home, I sit outside a bar in Lisboa..enjoying a Boli Bonitas. This life of not working is pretty good, isn't it? One motivation for doing this trip, for me, was to see how similar/different we Europeans are, particularly in these times of stress for the EU, purely from the perspective of this average bloke. One wonderful thing has been how welcoming people (like yourself) have been towards us, all the way round, even people we have just happened across welcome us into their homes. It's nice to dispel myths and stereotypes about other nations too. Kevin.
Nino Posted December 10, 2012 Posted December 10, 2012 Hello Kevin, well - stay there !! Can't get better on your way up, so extend until spring .... :-)) Enjoy your bica, your caneca, your bacalhau, man, I envy you ! Yes : A life of not working surely beats a working life - no need for a calculator here. Honestly envy you for Portugal - wish my wife would agree to "over-winter" there, like end November to late March ... I guess we Europeans are very much alike - we are, mostly, helpful and enjoy having nice people over and showing them our little " kingdoms". Again - safe travels and if you are in the neighbourhoud, drop in ! Nino
winelover Posted December 10, 2012 Posted December 10, 2012 Hi Kevin I've just been reading about your adventures in Spain/Gibraltar/Portugal for half an hour, although my hands were going numb as it is freezinf here and i was out with the four legged friend. You know you have a gift for story telling it is fascinating. Sounds like the trip of a lifetime. I may ask for your travel advice in future. You will no doubt want to revisit some of the places you've been to in future. Anyone who hasn't clicked on your links should give it a go. Happy travels Graham
mazolaman Posted December 11, 2012 Author Posted December 11, 2012 Hello Kevin, well - stay there !! Can't get better on your way up, so extend until spring .... :-)) Enjoy your bica, your caneca, your bacalhau, man, I envy you ! Yes : A life of not working surely beats a working life - no need for a calculator here. Honestly envy you for Portugal - wish my wife would agree to "over-winter" there, like end November to late March ... I guess we Europeans are very much alike - we are, mostly, helpful and enjoy having nice people over and showing them our little " kingdoms". Again - safe travels and if you are in the neighbourhoud, drop in ! Nino Crrently enjoying said beer and salt cod, by a lovely beach, as the Atlantic crashes in...c'est la belle vie. One thing I have learned from this trip is that each country is different in some ways from their neighbour. Finns are different from Swedes, Bosnians from Croatians etc etc...each country has it's own ways and feel. The countries we were a little nervous about going to ( through our own ignorance) ie Bosnia, the Baltics, Romania proved to be some of the friendliest..pretty much everywhere, we have met great people from all over the world. Hi Kevin I've just been reading about your adventures in Spain/Gibraltar/Portugal for half an hour, although my hands were going numb as it is freezinf here and i was out with the four legged friend. You know you have a gift for story telling it is fascinating. Sounds like the trip of a lifetime. I may ask for your travel advice in future. You will no doubt want to revisit some of the places you've been to in future. Anyone who hasn't clicked on your links should give it a go. Happy travels Graham Thank you very much Graham, I appreciate it. I've always had a gift fro bullshitting.... This has been a great adventure for us so far, if I can help you in any way regarding the places we have been, please let me know. There are lots of places we will no doubt re visit, maybe without the van, so we can spend a bit more time there. Now contemplating touring Australia, during an Ashes tour....better start earning again.... Kevin
Nino Posted December 11, 2012 Posted December 11, 2012 Crrently enjoying said beer and salt cod, by a lovely beach, as the Atlantic crashes in...c'est la belle vie. One thing I have learned from this trip is that each country is different in some ways from their neighbour. Finns are different from Swedes, Bosnians from Croatians etc etc...each country has it's own ways and feel. Now contemplating touring Australia, during an Ashes tour....better start earning again.... Kevin Again - I truly envy you for Portugal and a cold caneca, bacalhau and a bica with a brandy or aguardente for the cigar - vraiment la belle vie.. That is what I meant with our "little kingdoms" - all different but mostly friendly countries & people. Now, Australia .... good luck !!
mazolaman Posted December 22, 2012 Author Posted December 22, 2012 The intriguingly beautiful Portugal.http://holidayjollity.wordpress.com/
mazolaman Posted January 1, 2013 Author Posted January 1, 2013 A kind of paradise...http://holidayjollity.wordpress.com/ Northern Spain.
mazolaman Posted January 9, 2013 Author Posted January 9, 2013 The French Riviera and Further South, and Andorra again..http://holidayjollity.wordpress.com/
mazolaman Posted January 20, 2013 Author Posted January 20, 2013 Eastern France and Geneva....http://holidayjollity.wordpress.com/
mazolaman Posted January 30, 2013 Author Posted January 30, 2013 Switzerland, Strasbourg, Luxembourg...http://holidayjollity.wordpress.com/
mazolaman Posted February 13, 2013 Author Posted February 13, 2013 Ahhh, a note of gloom descends (for us at least), the final Post! http://holidayjollity.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/belgium-and-home/ Thanks to anyone who has read my "ramdom thoughts of a fool", and to those who have contacted me to say so. We are very sad to not have travelled through Germany, at the heart of modern Europe, but we would have had to ditch 4 Michelins and buy winter tyres to comply with their laws. Plus, the temp of minus 14 in Luxembourg was a bit much for Claire to take...But, be assured, we will travel through Germany, and the Netherlands and Ireland, but in the summer! I'll be going through some of our 3000 photos, and maybe post up a selection, and I'd like to write a more serious piece regarding the current life of the places we've been.... Thanks, Kevin.
kjellfrick Posted February 13, 2013 Posted February 13, 2013 Thanks for the very enjoyable read, Kevin. I love driving around in Europe, so it's been great to read your blog.
khomeinist Posted February 13, 2013 Posted February 13, 2013 Cheers Kevin. Thanks for sharing your envious travels.
Onsto Posted February 13, 2013 Posted February 13, 2013 Thanks for letting us follow your adventures Kevin. Now to savour one of the great joys of going away - coming home!
Strada Posted February 13, 2013 Posted February 13, 2013 Thanks brother, I reaaaaaly enjoyed reading your reports of the trip.
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