European Tour

We got up this morning earlyish so that we could check out of the hotel, get our bags into storage (for £0.50 per bag for the whole day) and then go for breakfast at Pavilion again. We finished breakfast at 08:00 and left for Madame Tussauds which opens at 09:00. We took the underground from Russell Square to Green Park, changed to the Jubilee Line and got off at Baker.

Madame Tussauds really is like 1 minute away from Baker Station. I kind of think that Madame Tussauds wasn’t up to scratch and felt let down by the whole experience. I believe it is very overrated, the entrance fee is too high for the few wax figures that can be seen. The wax figures there are mostly good, not great, but it really does have a few that were done brilliantly!! For that, I am grateful.

Once we were done with Madame Tussauds, London Eye here we come. It was an hour earlier than we expected. So we took the underground to the nearest station and sort of battled to find the big round wheel. It was behind huge buildings, but we got there. We had fast track tickets so that meant no long queues to get the tickets. So then just after we got the tickets, there was a 2 minute silence at 11:00 as today was Remembrance Day. Then at 11:05 we had the 4D Preview of London Eye. That was BRILLIANTLY done. Then we went directly to The Eye and were in a queue there for a little while. At 135 meters in the air, you really do get a good sight over London. Unfortunately after yesterday’s day out, I forgot to charge my camera, so once I got to the top my battery went to the bottom.

When we got off The London Eye, we had “Lunch on the go” and we were off to London Dungeon. At this stage we were still 1 hour ahead of schedule. So we are thinking of doing some shopping once we are finished. But little did we know what the Dungeon really is. It’s like a ride at the fun park. It is about various tortures from the Medieval Age. It recreates various gory and macabre historical events in a grim comedic, 'gallows humour' style, which attempts to make them appealing to the younger generation. It uses a mixture of live actors, special effects and rides. This theme is featured throughout the dungeons experience. Before the first official attraction, there are various bloody models of torture. About half way through the dungeons experience there is a comic-type show in which a person is called up and different types of torture equipment are demonstrated on them. Visitors are then taken to a courtroom in which three of them are called up for committing weird crimes such as "unnatural crimes with animals". The judge sentences all to death by hanging. I thought it was just going to be some building with scary stuff in it. It was a good experience though. This I would recommend to people, but not for children. According to me, you shouldn’t even think of taking a child with. There was this one guy that took his daughter with and she was crying through most of it. I would estimate her to be about 6 years old. This “ride” took about an hour longer than expected. So the hour we gained earlier, was utilised now. So we were now “back on track”, although we didn’t want to be back on track because we wanted to do some shopping.

We collected our luggage from the hotel at about 15:00 and went down to the Contiki Basement to weigh our bags (that we sorted out last night). My big bag now weighed 30kg’s. But that’s because everything is in there and I have to move some stuff to my back pack. We moved items from the one bag to the other and weighed it, again and again and again. After I moved stuff around, my big bag was 23.3kg’s and my back pack was at 8.5kg’s. Des’ big bag was at 22.7kg’s so I thought if British airways had issues, then I will just move 300grams into Des’s bag. We got going at 16:00 and we were off to Heathrow. I cannot believe the end of our holiday has come, the holiday we have spent months planning.

We got to Heathrow at about 17:20. There we checked in and had no issues because we were the last 2 people the guy was helping and he didn’t want to complicate matters. Then we went into the Duty Free section. There we bought dinner at Starbucks. And I went to look for wine for my dad. I got him some red wine that he will hopefully enjoy. I also got a soft toy for Liam. Then we had to take the train to where the terminal that we were going to use to get on to the plane was situated. We got on the plane at about 19:30. And that’s when we saw what shit seats we really had. Oh well, only an 11 hour flight… Now, Next stop, South Africa. Home sweet home.

So this morning waking up wasn’t bad. 06:00 is okay… we got ready for breakfast with Kim and Luke for the last time. We went to Pavilion for breakfast because if you are with Contiki, breakfast is cheaper there and breakfast is good there as well. Priscilla decided not to join us as she needed some rest for her 24 hour flight tonight. So after breakfast, the 4 of us went up to her room to say goodbye and wish her a good flight.

Then we went to our room and luckily that’s just across from Luke and Kim’s room, so we said goodbye there as well. After the goodbye, we had to go down to the London Coffee Shop to get picked up by Evan Evan Tours. As we got down there at 07:45, the pick up bus got there, so a good thing we got there a bit earlier. The pickup bus got us to Victoria Station, and who was there, Ross. We attended lectures with Ross during the year. So it was a surprise to meet up with a college buddy here in London.

So after 09:00 we were on our way to Windsor where we visited Windsor Castle (unfortunately we are not allowed to take photo’s in the castle). We walked through the castle and we could see why Windsor Castle was the Queen's favourite. According to the Queen, Windsor is her home and Buckingham Palace is her office. She has her own little town in Windsor, haha. The castle is huge. The rooms in that place are something else. Something that I would have liked to take photos of, but like I said, we were not allowed to take photos in the Castle. Somewhere inside the castle is Queen Mary’s Doll House. It was built in the early 1920s, completed in 1924, for Queen Mary, the wife of King George V. It was made to a scale of 1:12 (one inch to the foot), is over three feet tall, and contains models of products of well known companies of the time. It is remarkable for its detail and the detail of the objects within it, many of which are 1/12th replicas of items in Windsor Castle. These were either made by the companies themselves, or by specialist model makers, such as Twining Models of Northampton, England. The carpets, curtains and furnishings are all copies of the real thing, and even the light fittings are working. The bathrooms are fully plumbed; that includes a flushable toilet and miniature lavatory paper. In addition, well known writers wrote special books which were written and bound in scale size. Painters also provided miniature pictures. Even the bottles in the wine cellar were filled with the appropriate wines and spirits, and the wheels of motor vehicles are properly spoken.

We left Windsor Castle at around 11:40 and arrived at Stonehenge at 13:15. Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about 3.2 kilometers west of Amesbury and 13 kilometers north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones. Nothing can take away from the grandeur of this ancient ring of stones still guarding its ancient secrets. Despite being a major tourist attraction and the fact that you can no longer walk amongst the stones you can still be awestruck by their immensity and mystic quality.

At 14:00 we left Stonehenge and were on our way to the Roman Baths. The Roman Baths themselves are below the modern street level. There are four main features: the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House and the Museum holding finds from Roman Bath. The buildings above street level date from the 19th century. Des and I had lunch in Bath. I also had to withdraw some money, but the machine didn’t give me the money.

We left bath at 16:50 and it was a really long drive back to London. On the way back, everyone was asked where to be dropped off. We only got back to London at 19:30 and were dropped off at Hyde Park Corner Underground Station at about 19:45 and took the underground to Russell Sq. When we got off the underground, we headed to an internet cafe to check in our flight for tomorrow and choose our seats. BUT, we were a bit late. Our flight is tomorrow at 20:05 and we only got to the internet café at 20:10 and then all the good seats were taken. We only had shit seats left, so we chose that then. We got back to hotel, and still had to get some dinner and decided to get pizzas and ordered room service. Then while we were having dinner we had to repack our bags, small and big. So that’s what we did, I packed my backpack so heavy with most of the small and heavy stuff so that I could somehow get my big bag as light as possible. Then I still had some plastic bags, and put the items that’s supposed to be in my back pack in the plastic bags and then in the big bag so that it’s easier to get it again just before we leave.

Finally at 00:20 we were ready to go to bed.

It feels like I'm saying this every day now, but it was another early morning and it was difficult to wake up. Today we’re heading back to London. Still can’t believe it’s over. The tour is over. We had breakfast and quickly went down to get our bags, checked out and waited at the entrance of the hotel. Earlier in the tour we decided that its our turn (the people who sat at the back the whole tour) to sit in the front of the bus. And that’s what we were going to do. We hurried to the bus. Des took my small bag and I took her big bag and my big bag to load it on the bus while the girls got our seats in front.

When everyone had their seats, JB came on the bus and looked shocked when he saw us in the front and asked “am I on the right side of the bus”. I was lucky enough to have 2 seats to myself. And I loved every moment of it!!! There were about 7 people who stayed behind in Amsterdam to fly home from there. So there were going to be 7 people who would be able to have 2 seats to themselves. The comfort of 2 seats is great.

From Amsterdam, we drove through Berlin, into France and back to London. At border control in France to get on the ferry to London, Des and I went to this woman who was very friendly. She was saying that she was planning to go to South Africa in 2010 or 2011 and she was looking forward to it, but also that she has been there before. So we had no problems at the border. When we went through and got on the bus, and we were making jokes about the fact that they actually let us South Africans through, and if they do that, they can let anyone through.

We got on the ferry and we had lunch. After lunch I went to the shop on the ferry to buy some headache pills because all my pills were in my big case and had been having some kind of headache all day so far. I met up with the rest of our group in the Lounge on the ferry. The lounge was the perfect way of just relaxing. Just sit and enjoy each other’s company. We were a group of 11 sitting there on the red chairs around some tables. We just sat there, had some chats and some final laughs. To me, this felt like a very good way of almost saying goodbye.

We got off the ferry, and on the bus I broke my sunglasses and I wasn’t impressed with that! On the bus everyone was trying hard to get their photo holders signed by, well, everyone. Luckily Des and I started that last night at dinner, so we already had most people on ours. We just sent ours around the bus for the final group to sign, including JB. Once we got to the Royal National Hotel, JB explained that our rooms have already been arranged and we got the room papers and numbers we need to get the room cards. Some people never booked an extra night at the hotel because they thought that there would be room for them when they got there. Surprise, not 1 single room was left.

Once Des and I had our room cards, we went down to Contiki Basement to weigh our luggage, that resulted in a BIG Shocker!! My big case was at 28.5kg’s and my backpack was at 4kg’s. But, now at least I know that I should try and sort something out. We then went into the hotel and battled to find our hotel room, and eventually we found it (Room 2217) and we realised that Luke and Kim’s room was just opposite our room (Room 2214) – so nice. We drank some champagne with Luke and Kim which they got from JB at the start of tour since they met on a previous Contiki tour and this Contiki tour was their Honeymoon.

We decided earlier on the bus that we would meet up with the other people at the hotel bar and hang out for the last few hours, but before that we went to a Chinese restaurant to have some dinner. We finished dinner there and went to the bar. Met up with quite a few people and had a last chat. We decided later that we wanted to go back up to the room to not have a too late night (once again) so that we could get up the next day for another Bus tour. We were going on a day tour of Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath.

Quotes from the tour:

"how many have you had?" Kim
"ONE I have been using the same glass the entire time." Luke

"i wasn't fuckin' impressed with that bathroom" Priscilla
"Ya it smells" Luke
"No!! You actually had to push buttons!" Priscilla

"My breast is moist!" Priscilla

"Where the hell is JB ?" Kim
"Maybe he went to put his penis in a pocket" Priscilla
"I was just thought I saw an Asian girl"
"I was gonna say"
"Oh look ther’es the pocket!" Des

" FUCK YOU!" Atilla

penis plane plan in action and taking flight

"Where are you going?" Luke
"To get pounded....wanna come?" Priscilla

house boat sex discussion...
"Not there that's too close to home"

"See my kittens?" Luke

We only got up this morning at 06:40 and I was feeling fine. I thought there would be some kind of side effect, but I was feeling good. We went up to breakfast (feels strange saying “up to breakfast” when throughout the tour its been down – the restaurant was at the top of the hotel). Alison and Brian weren’t at breakfast. So after we ate we went to their room to see if they were awake yet. While on the way to their room we bumped into Brian and told him that the bus was leaving in 5 minutes. They made it on the bus.

Today was a free day meaning we can do what we like and see what we wanted to see. So we went to Anne Frank’s house. But we realised that we should rather go to the post office first so that Priscilla can mail some stuff back to Australia. She posted approx. 6kg’s of stuff so that her bag would be lighter when she flies back home. Anne Frank’s house was something else.

Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who was born in the city of Frankfurt am Main in Weimar Germany, and who lived most of her life in or near Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. By nationality, she was officially considered a German until 1941, when she lost her nationality owing to the anti-Semitic policies of Nazi Germany. She gained international fame posthumously following the publication of her diary which documents her experiences hiding during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. As persecutions of the Jewish population increased in July 1942, the family went into hiding in the hidden rooms of her father Otto Frank's office building. After two years, the group was betrayed and transported to concentration camps. Seven months after her arrest, Anne Frank died of typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, within days of the death of her sister, Margot Frank. Her father Otto, the only survivor of the family, returned to Amsterdam after the war to find that her diary had been saved, and his efforts led to its publication in 1947. It was translated from its original Dutch and first published in English in 1952 as The Diary of a Young Girl.

After Anne Frank’s house, Alison, Brian, Priscilla, Des and I went to The Pancake Corner. The Pancake Corner is a cosy place with a good choice of different pancakes, sweet and savoury, some tables outside and very friendly staff. Luke and Kim decided earlier that they were going somewhere else by train – Kim’s Family – So they were out the whole day until about 15:00. Anyway, the pancakes were great!

After the pancakes we split up. Alison and Brian went to the Heineken Factory (I would also have liked to go there) and the rest of us went shopping as I still had to buy some stuff. So Des and I found the Apple shop in Amsterdam and decided that we would each buy a 32GB iPod Touch. Costing us about €270, which was a lot cheaper than back in SA? We also walked down the shopping street because I had to find something for my brother from Amsterdam. While doing shopping, Roxane joined us. A few days ago she hurt her foot, so she lost her group as they went on without her and she couldn’t follow at that speed.

This afternoon before we got picked up, there were a few people that actually ate space cakes. We got picked up at the station at 15:00. We were then taken to the hotel to get ready for our last night with the entire group. We had dinner with Beck, Emilie, Roxy, Laura, Leanne, Luke, Kim, Des and I at a table. At dinner, Des and I started sending around our group photo’s folder so that everyone could write in it, and it made its way around so most people actually wrote in it. Some of the people who ate the space cakes actually got sick and paranoid (apparently because they had some alcohol before the time).

After dinner, we had the optional Canal Cruise. Everyone did this optional because the drinks were free. It was really a great way to end the tour as a group!! Everyone mixed and had a chat. Photos were taken with others. It was kind of sad to think this tour was over; this group of people won’t likely ever be together again. When the cruise was done, some people wanted to stay in Lisa’s plein to go to certain Coffeeshops. Most people however went back to the hotel. Those who went back to the hotel, decided to hang out in the bar in the hotel.

Bed was calling and at 00:00 almost on my way to dream world.

This was another early morning, but not too bad, last night wasn’t too late. The morning started at 06:00. Bags to coach at 07:45 and I am still tired. We left the hotel 5 minutes earlier than expected at 07:55. On the way to Amsterdam we stopped at a Clog and Cheese making shop for some more demonstrations.

As we walked in the cheese shop, you knew “This is a cheese shop”. You knew that just by the smell of the place… Then after the Cheese shop, we went into the Clog shop. There was a guy making the clogs by hand. Shame the poor guy. He even said, after his grandfather taught him for 10 years how to make the clogs by hand, he was told by his grandfather that there are actually machines that can do it for you. Anyway, he was quite funny, he even “Played model” by posing with his clogs. After he made the clog that he used in the demonstration, he asked who wasn’t from New Zealand, Australia, USA or Canada. So Des and I put up our hands, and he said well, you can take this clog and so we did. It was really heavy actually. The clog was still wet. Apparently you have to declare the untreated wood in those countries as well as the finished clogs if you want to take them in. And apparently SA doesn’t really care. So we took it.

We arrived at the hotel (Hotel Ibis Schiphol – Room 1501) quite early at around 15:30 or so. The reason we got there so early was because we had to get everything from the coach as some people were flying home from Amsterdam. So emptying the bus might take a while. Although, I don’t know how long it took, because I didn’t have any additional items on the bus. Des had to collect some alcohol that she had bought. This hotel was nice as well. What a good hotel we had for our last few evenings. It was nice and big. We were happy when we heard that the other group would be staying in another wing of the hotel, so if they break something, we won’t be blamed for that.

Dinner was at 18:30 and once again, we went earlier because we still had to pay for the “cultural event”. The cultural event is just a clean word for a sex show. We finished dinner and left the hotel at 19:45. At the “event” we were given drinks ( I had coke and Des had some wine). Then the show started. It was kind of awkward sitting there watching what the people did. I actually felt sorry for them because they do that for a living. It all felt as if there is no emotion at all. Like it was really just a job and they wanted to get it over and done with. The interesting fact is that apparently, all the couples are really couples. The 1 thing that I found funny was the Male stripper; he had a good sense of humour. JB told us earlier that the girls in Amsterdam need 1 thing and that is rhythm and decent dance moves – and that was the truth!!

After the show everyone (who went to show) went to The Grasshopper. The Grasshopper is a coffeeshop. Coffeeshops are establishments in the Netherlands where the sale of cannabis for personal consumption by the public is tolerated by the local authorities. In the Netherlands, the selling of cannabis is "illegal, but not punishable", so the law is not enforced in establishments following these nationwide rules:
• no advertising
• no hard drug sales on the premises
• no sales to children (under Dutch law that is people under the age of 18)
• no sales transactions exceeding a quantity threshold (5 grams)
• no public disturbances
For some offences, a business may be forced to close for three months, for others, completely; all this is detailed in official policies. Coffeeshops are no longer allowed to sell alcohol. Most coffee shops advertise, and the constraint is more moderating than outright prohibitive. In a gesture of discretion still technically required, many coffee shops keep the cannabis menu below the counter, even when the cannabis itself is in more-or-less plain view. Dutch coffee shops often fly red-yellow-green Ethiopian flags, other symbols of the Rastafari movement, or depiction of palm leaves to indicate that they sell cannabis, as a consequence of the official ban on direct advertising. This aesthetic attracted many public artists who get commissions to create murals in the coffee shops and use the Rastafari and reggae related imagery. Any shops selling soft drugs to minors, hard drugs or coffee shops selling alcohol without a license are immediately closed. These shops provide non-contaminated cannabis products (and hence are as safe as store-bought tobacco, as far as unexpected chemicals are concerned). Cannabis and any food products containing cannabis are generally clearly identified to prevent accidental consumption.
As of 2009 the sale of THC cookies and brownies known as space cakes in coffee shops is prohibited, although it is not difficult to find shops that sell them. It’s not difficult at all.

At the Grasshopper I ordered a Space Cake, Alison and Brian bought 3 joints. Priscilla didn’t want to do it, and Des had alcohol and alcohol can make the high you get, bad! You are more likely to get sick and paranoid when you’ve had alcohol. Earlier in the day, JB explained that when you eat a space cake, it takes around 45 minutes before it starts “kicking in”, and that’s normally when people make the mistake of getting another one because “the other one didn’t work”. And then when both have kicked in, it’s just taken to a whole other level. So after I ate my space cake, and by the way the space cake was delicious, I waited 45 minutes, and nothing happened. So I didn’t go to buy another one, because I didn’t want to take the high to a different level. We waited for about another 20 minutes, nothing. So we decided that we will be going back to the hotel.

But first, Alison wanted to eat something (munchies I guess, haha) so there was a take away shop next to The Grasshopper and everyone got something to eat. Now it was time to find a cab for 6 people. We finally found one and got in. By this time still nothing had happened. In the cab we all were chatting away and suddenly I was looking out the window and something was happening. I guess looking at the trees passing us, triggered the effects because my legs started feeling funny and my cheeks; oh my cheeks were just smiling. Such a good feeling!! The cab ride turned out to be €60 but luckily between the 6 of us it was €10 per person

We got back to the hotel at around 00:00 and I was as happy as can be. I finally went to bed at 01:00 in the morning.