Luxembourg

 

Ah, Luxembourg.  The average Brit probably knows more about the tiniest villages in deepest Congo than about this fine central European country.  But I've always wanted to come here for no logical reason except for the fact that I am of THAT generation that used to listen to the latest pop tunes on Radio Luxembourg as a kid in the 70's (late at night, under the sheets with a little transistor radio obviously).  That's all I knew about this country.

We find a bar called Urban Bar that serves Guinness so Paul is a very happy man.  They're playing some choice tunes and we meet a fellow Brit called Patrick who's been working in Europe for some years.  We're very glad we did, as the conversation flowed nicely and we stay here for the rest of our evening. 

Big thanks to Neal, Thea and the rest of the crew at www.urban.lu for running a great pub. We leave feeling rather squify.

Cheers!
 

 

 

Lucerne, Switzerland

So, basically, if you're in the enviable position of having simply so many Euros you don't know what to do with them (we are not) why don't you try having a meal in Lucerne?

They'll quite happily relieve you of your hard-earned cash in exchange for relatively normal food.  Don't get me wrong, lovely place and people but "working-class" probably isn't a term that's terribly familiar to them.  Bless.

Villa de Balbianello

If you can find a better view from another public convenience anywhere else in the world then you must be in a very beautiful place indeed. No wonder James Bond convalesced here at the end of Casino Royale. The Daniel Craig one, not the dodgy psychedelic 60's one that is.

Lake Como, Italy

I thought this place might be a bit special and I was right. Gloriously beautiful. No wonder George Clooney lives here. Seeing as he's just got married we thought we'd pop round to his later with a card. He'll be made up.

Hopefully catch a boat trip later down to Villa del Balbianello which is where Darth Vader got married.  Shame that didn't work out.

Post-Oktoberfest drive through Switzerland

I have decided that drinking Oktoberfest beer is a bit like being wrapped up in a lovely duvet. Then being hit over the head with a cricket bat.

I'm not going to do that again for a while. Beautiful Switzerland is taking my mind off it though.

We're here!

It took a while but we're here at Oktoberfest.  Unfeasibly large beers.  That's my weight training taking care of. 

En route to Munich

Driving down to Oktoberfestland on the Autobahn.  It's all Bavarian forests and BMWs.  Overtaking is interesting when the cars in the fast lane are doing 120 mph especially as everyone insists on driving on the wrong side of the road over here.

Apparently they sell beer at Oktoberfest so I might have to purchase one later to steady my nerves.