Postojnska Jama

I missed out on visiting here last time due to time, so looking forward to seeing the caves of Postojna. In Ljubljana it's still raining constantly, take a bus to Postojna and it's just as bad there, feet are already wet and it's 3 degrees Celsius according to the signs and I only have a t-shirt and jacket, maybe I should have brought a warm top with me !

Caves tour is heaving with tourists and school trips. They offer coats there beacuse it can get cold underground apparently and drops to 7 or 8 degrees.. It's nice and warm compared to outside and drier, so I skip the offer of coat !

You head into the caves on a little train that speed through narrow passages and tunnels with intersting limestone formations all around. Off the train and it's then a 2 or 3 km walk around various caves and chambers decorated with stalactites, stalagmites, pillars (where the 2 meet) and 'curtain' formations that form on sloping roofs. Formations are also found in different colours which is related to the type of soil through which the water has flowed before reaching the cave and then dripping to create some bizarre formations. White formations are ones that are still actively growing. Many have been given names due to their resemblence to something or someone recognisable of which some are remarkebly reasonable, such as 'the diamond' and 'popeye' formations ! The caves form a network of around 20km in total.



At the end you see a few samples of the 'Proteus Anguinus' or 'human fish' found only in caves of this region and nowhere else in the world.



Was not allowed to take photos there so I borrowed these from www.showcaves.com

Slovenia

Stayed an extra night in Graz lat night, as I didn't feel like travelling far and it's a last chance for another night out with Phil, Stu, Ade and Rich for quite some time, so we make it a quiet one. Phil and I got in around 7am.

Ljubljana, I loved this city last time I was here and am looking forward to a day or two here again. It's absolutely chucking it down with rain, can't find my hostel for a while, get very wet, great start to my trip ;)

Trinidad &Tobago 1 - 2 Wales

Day starts with Phil and Stu coming into the room from a late night bar and heading off to play football in the now traditional supporters games. This morning it is against the hosts Austria rather than tonight's opposition, Trinidad & Tobago.

Austrians have 7 ex- European Cup (pre-Champions League) players apparently, so could be quite good and even the legendary Hans Krankl who I had joked about yesterday as maybe playing is on the pitch ! Wales get stuffed, but it's only for fun, the real match comes later.

Meet and go to match with Leigh 'world in motion' James who is a changed man these days he tells me, he says he apparently used to be quite wild ;-) I can't possible imagine.

Wales win 2-1 after going a goal behind and highlight of the day is that when anyone scores the sound system played '7 nation army' by White Stripes. Awesome ! Phil & I can't resist a bit of dancing around to that. That's 2 away wins in a week or 3 in 3 weeks if we count Tallinn, bit mindblowing really for anyone who's followed Wales for a while.

Graz

Graz was my first ever destination abroad when I went there with the scouts many years ago. Arriving in Graz this time and wandering around, it seemed a completely different world, I don't remember or recognise a single thing about it. I have memories of my previous visit but nothing matches. Pleasant town though. Meet up with loads of other Welsh fans here for the game on Saturday and do the usual, chatting, drinking eating etc.. Bump into Rich and Emma from Brussels who I haven't seen for a few months and it turns into a bit of a cocktail night somehow.



Above: Adrian overlooking Graz from a hill

Petrol Pump Attendants ?

Wow, they still have petrol attendants in Andorra !! I jumped out of the car and started filling up when this lady next to the petrol pump said something to me in Catalan, not sure what she had said so i just started filling up, then when she had finished the other car she came round, took the pump out of my hands, smiled and said she would finish for me. That's when I realised I was just trying to steal someones job. Sorry ;)

It's snowing in Andorra

23 May: First time in Andorra ! The climb up the pyranees from France passes through lovely countryside and many picturesque villages, we go up and up and up and
eventually reach the Andorran border control.. Weather has changed a bit,
it was around 17 degrees in bordeaux, the signs show 1 degree as we reach Andorra and it's snowing ! Locals are wrapped up in parkas and gloves, crumbs didn't expect this, I only have t-shirts & shirts with me. Continue to climb into thick, thick cloud in which you can see only a couple of metres ahead, not so great when you are on winding mountain roads, with hairpin bends and massive drops just a footstep away. Eventually reach the top and there are breaks in the cloud on the other side of the peak and the descent is a breeze.
Andorra la Vella is a bit disappointing, clearly there as nothing much more than a tax free shopping haven for those looking for bargain perfumes, electronics, jewellery, cigarettes and alcohol, hardly a bar in site !

24 May: After a little brainstorming we decide on a plan to head back up to the mountains and take a healthy fresh air hike some place. Destination: Estanys (Lakes) de Tristaina. The drive up is winding and stunning views surround us, snow capped mountain peaks all around and clear blue sky without a cloud in site. Reach the start point of the walk and wander off towards the three lakes. The first views are great and it just gets better and better, slowly walking across layers of snow of unknown depth, clambering over rocks, jumping rivers and enjoying panoramic views of the glacial landscape. It's really stunning scenery all around.

Left: Phil and Stu
Right : Another great view

Wedding Present in Bordeaux

Had to be done really, Phil is a huge fan, I have enjoyed them immensely each time I have seen them live and Bordeaux is supposed to be quite nice anyway. Bit of a drive from Bilbao and get there early evening, Wander around Bordeaux looking for the venue and somewhere to stay. Find a hotel where we ask prices and directions and apparently the band are staying there !

Another great WP gig at the Sonart club in Bordeaux and as usual Mr Gedge hangs around talking to fans and selling t-shirts after. I have a few words with him and he seems pretty grateful for us making the effort to get there, but I don't mention anything about drunk Scottish girls talking to him in Amsterdam ;-) (you had to be there to understand!)



Left: Weddinpg Present on stage in Sonart Arts Club, Bordeaux
Right: Mr Gedge during one of his guitar bits

Have a drink after in the Dastardly & Mutley bar. Really. Look !

Euskadi 0 - 1 Cymru

Wales win 1-0 ;-) Basques are a great bunch of fans, some even have Wales flags in the crowd ! Lots of shirt swapping, handshakes, hugs, photos and chatting amongst the fans. Best sociable atmosphere at an away match ever probably.



Left: Proud Basque fans wave their flag.
Right: Welsh flags and flares up above

Basque Country

19 May: Arrive in the Basque country for 3 days in Bilbao. Was originally going to be just 2 days but teh Spanis FA messed about with their final league games and Wales match against Basque XI (Euskadi) is put back a day to Sunday. Meet all the usual crowd around Bilbao and find a great indie music club, playing all sorts including Motorhead !! Also remember So Lonely by the Police being played, I'd forgotten what a great track that is. Meet Ian later and he finds us an early morning bar which seems to have just opened around 4am. Stay there for a few hours in a gezellig atmosphere.

Here's a photo from Ian's photo site http://www.flickr.com/photos/ianjamesjohnson/154411831/

Front from left to right, Phil, Ian, me and Stu at the back.

Back to Amsterdam again

13 May: Pop back to Amsterdam for a day or two (I can't stay away) to see Mudhoney at the Melkweg on way back to the UK. Catch up again after a whole week away with Rebecca, Peter, James and later Nadja which is rather strange after I did all the goodbye stuff last week. But nice to see each other again.

Week 1: Estonia

09 May: Overnight bus to Tallinn and get there nice and early to stroll around the beautiful old streets of Tallinn. It is as charming and appealing as ever. Meet up with Phil and Stu who arrive a little later by plane and we head to the main square where we find a few of the other Welsh lads over here for the Estonia v Wales U21 match and the legendary John Toshack having a drink in the sunshine. John is happy to discuss everything about the setup and goings on in Welsh football with us and it's quite an enlightening afternoon. I remember something about Phil and some Australian girl, but the details slip my mind ;-) I also end up locked out of the appartment most of the night, but we had a good time it seems.

10 May: Enjoy some Estonian delights in a medieval restaurant, which has the spookiest darkest candlelight toilet I have ever been to. Even finding the doorway and the urinals was a challenge, that I'm sure many have failed.

Wales U21 win the match 2-0 in front of their 20 faithful travelling fans and an Estonian lady that John invited along. Lots of 'Waltzing Matilda' was sung (ref: 09 May) and we head back into town where we end up at a Karaoke bar. After a few drinks the temptation to get up and celebrate with our rendition of 'Delilah' was too much. As there was little interest from the rest of the listening public, we ended up there a number of times and Men At Work - Down Under (for Phil that one) and Hey Jude (or Hey Wales as it has now become) were both among the set performed by the Welsh Spice Boys ;-)

You can see karaoke photos at John Perrett's photo site: Spice Boys on Tour 2006



Left: John P, Gareth and shy Perry enjoy a beer in Tallin
Right: Me, Phil, Stu and half a Neil.

Week 1: Lithuania

07 May: After the party in the park I spent all night finishing off things in my flat and finally dropped a couple of bags off at Rebecca's early morning. Say goodbye to Guus and Akiko (goldfish), collect my backpack, wave goodbye to my lovely flat and off to Schiphol. Arrive in Vilnius after a night of packing and panicking, but all is done and at last I am on my way (for a few days at least).

Vilnius is pleasent as ever and celebrating their anniversary of joining the EU, so stalls a plenty run up the street from the main square with traditional bits and pieces from a number of other EU countries. The UK stall has fish & chips, Italy lasagne & other pastas, Turkey (more stalls than anyone else) doner kebabs, Netherlands a cow !

Right: Vilnius Cathedral

08 May: Day trip to the beatiful former capital of Lithuania, Trakai. I have been here before but do not regret returning, this charming little town is surrounded by lakes and has a lovely castle on its own tiny island, connected by a bridge. What better way to start my travels than with a relaxing day by the water, soaking up the sunshine, some fine local cuisine and a couple of glasses of the fine local beer, Kalnapils.

Left: Lakeside boats in Trakai village. Right: Fishermen relax before lunch

Returning to the hostel I do my best to avoid the conspiracy theorist American seeking asylum in Lithuania, as I just don't want to spoil such a lovely day by being force fed his non-stop rhetoric. The poor Mexican guy there though doesn't escape and is still trapped in the corner when I return a couple of hours later!

Castle at Trakai.

My Last Days in Amsterdam

05 May: Supposed to be my last day in Amsterdam. Get persuaded by friends to stay an extra night and we have a fantastic meal at a local Turkish cafe, near to my flat.. A great evening. Now flying to Vilnius on Sunday.



Left: Rebecca & Nadja at Turkish cafe
Right: Pamela and me

06 May: This means I can also enjoy the first party in the Vondel Park for the year on Saturday. Lovely sunny day, picnic, beer, spirits, volleyball, the best friends around, makes a special last day.



Thanks to Maria who organised the Vondel Park party, a beautiful last day