Holiday part 2

I was leaving Croatia. And while I arrived courtesy of BA, I was leaving with Whizz Air (budget budget budget!). They were actually really good and quick and efficient, and being a shorty, the lack of legroom went unnoticed.

So I made it back to London, and had a whistlestop tour of my house, Croydon (to see the Boyfriend) and then on Friday morning I was back up at Euston. To get the train to Wigan.

There was a serious lack of seats on the train and so I ended up next to a Cockney Hen Party on their way to Essex of the North, Blackpool.

After two hours of being serinaded with obscene songs, dirty jokes and a plastic penis straw landing on my foot I had arrived in The North.

Janine picked me up and then we were off on step 2 of the Holiday. A three hour drive to North Wales.

Yes, Holiday part 2 was a camping holiday in Wales. Oh, and the best part

Me: It's so hot in London, whats the weather been like in Abersoch?
Janine: Raining. Constantly. For the last week.

Hurrah! I don't even own a waterproof, let alone wellies...

I also don't own a sleeping bag, camping chair (that everyone else seems to have - I think that is weird) a wetsuit (ha!) sleeping mat (I do have a yoga mat) or a tent.

I did, however bring 4 pairs of shoes (sadly none were waterproof) and 2 bikinis. And some dry shampoo.

When we arrived (I slept the entire way) I realised another problem. We were the first ones. Normally we are the last to get there, and hence all the tents, gazebos, BBQs, etc are set up and ready to go. All I need to do for myself is make a large gin and tonic.

Oh no. Not this time. No no, we were putting up the tents.

There were 5 of us. Four girls and BGI (Big Gay Ian). We were hardly Bear Grylls.

We went for the gazebo first. Eventually it was standing, albeit at a rather alarming angle. It did fall down 24 hours later, but ho hum.

Next came the big tent. Now, one of the issues with being small is that I seemed to be called on often to climb/crawl into the unerected tent to insert poles, hold poles, adjust poles, etc. In the end I lost interest, and decided to appoint myself Barmaid.

By the time we got to tent 3 we had all lost interest. We left it after half an hour. It was still pretty flat, and we seemed to have more poles than tent. But by the time the inhabitants of said tent had arrived, I was well and truly G&T'd up and didn't really care.

It was a bit of a change from Croatia, in that it was cold and rained and really wasn't as cheap. Although we were still by the sea (indeed we even went into the sea! Although left rather quickly when my fingernails turns blue, and I lost the feeling in both feet).

But despite the lesser location and lesser weather, it was by no means the lesser holiday. There was singing and drinking and BBQing and 20 questions (and 54 questions, and even question 33a and b). There were drunken speeches and beach rounders. There were Percy Pigs and Dairy Milk and shopping and surf boards. There was chippy tea (for some there was even chippy tea between bread - chippy sandwich) and morning fry-ups.

At least there was enough sun for beach time on the last day.

Holiday part 1

Holiday part 1. Off on a plane at the sophisticated hour of 9pm from Gatwick. It was a BA flight. So mid-flight meal. And leg room. And allocated seats and so no mad scramble to get aisles next to each other.

And then we got off the other end in beautiful Croatia.

For those that have never been, you must. It is my favourite holiday destination. Miles and miles of beautiful coast, great climate (sunny, but not muggy, hot, but with a breeze off the sea) cheapy cheap cheap and yummy food.

We had a little villa about 12km outside of Dubrovnik. Perfect in everyway it was halfway up a mega hill (as is everything on the coast) with a pool, lots of sunloungers and just enough space for 6.

Directly below was the sea and a lovely little restaurant/bar called the Hawaii (dinner and drinks for 6 came to just under £35. No I kid you not).

It was the perfect chilled out break. In the mornings we would travel to an island, or Dubrovnik or a little beach. When we were tired we'd drive back and eat lunch (followed by Milka - the novelty of being abroad). And then the rest of the day would be spent tanning and swimming and reading (read 3 books - Winter in Madrid - amazing, Fahrenhiet 451 - hmmmmm, and The Help - totally wonderful).

We then showered and went for more dinner.

One day we hired kayaks (being in the Adriatic made this an infinitely more enjoyable experience than being in the freezing depths of the Lake District). I was paired with my father (who, despite whinging about being put with me, was actually the greater hindrance). We paddled out to a cove, got out, ate sandwiches and went snorkling. Then back in the boats and round one of the little islands just off the coast.

I left on the Thursday. They all stayed until the Saturday. But I was brown and rested and ready to go on to holiday part 2.

Prague!

The boyfriend and I, every year, in the run up to Christmas, go away for a city break. Last year it was Budapest. This year it was Prague.

Now, I seem to be one of a tiny minority who, until a few weeks ago, had never been to Prague. Because it seems that EVERYONE has been there. Every time I mentioned that I was off there, at least 6 people would bombard me with things and places to do/see/visit.

By the time I arrived I felt that I had already seen bits of the city, and had heard so many tales of debauchery and drunkenness that I was starting to feel a little unsure. But an hour off the plane and I can securely say that I LOVE PRAGUE.

It is just the most wonderful place. Berlin was lovely, but big, and it took a while to find our feet, Budapest is grand but full of old ladies in their furs drinking coffee and eating cake. But Prague...

It's full of bars and beer and students and life. And has a smattering of culture, so you don't feel too guilty about all the beer drinking.

The first thing to mention was Christmas. It was everywhere - markets, trees, nativity, mulled wine - you name it, they had it. At least twice. The Boyfriend made it his mission to take as many pictures of Christmas trees as possible.

I thought we probably needed only one photo to demonstrate....

And one of the many nativity scenes!

We walked up one of the towers at one end of the Charles Fourth bridge (def worth doing - look at the view!)

and the other side....

We also went to the castle (quite good. Though nothing to get overexcited about - except for the grand bridge and marching soldiers).

And obviously I wanted to stand near one, and try to make him laugh, and pretend to be one, etc.

We also went inside the Cathedral (totally worth doing - really impressive and just inside the castle).

And inside, the boyfriend (in a way scarily reminiscent of my father) got a little carried away with the camera.

Another activity that I would really recommend is getting a boat along the river. Now, Prgaue is no Venice, or even a Berlin - the river is not big, and because of the weirs, the boat can't really go very far, but it is a lovely thing to do (just ask one of the guys on the bridge dressed as a sailor and voila - one boat trip with a private guide, mulled wine and gingerbread).

Another fun trip is to get the little funicular railway up the hill to the mini-Eiffel tower (it is a copy but on a much smaller scale). Again, there are lovely views.




Other fun things we did - went on a giant swing

The boyfriend tried to convince me to go to caberet (acutally, it's a strip club)

And, due to extreme climes (-4 in daytime, -9 at night - freezing) we drank lots of beer

and more beer











until it was time to go home. Go to Prague. It's great.