As we write this we are sat in the glorious sunshine in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It has been a whirlwind week as we head through Europe at quite a pace so that we can spend our time in the countries that everyone has really come along to experience – those east of Turkey. This is a great time for everyone to get used to setting and taking down camp, and life on the road.
Our first night is spent in a lovely campsite in Tournai, Belgium. And it was here that we were very happy to be able to unveil our new tents! They are easy to put up and take down, and spacious inside – plenty of room for two people and their bags. And best of all, no tent pegs unless it is really blowing a gale!
As everyone set about mastering the tent poles (there is a knack) the crew prepared the now legendary first night meal of soup, spaghetti bolognese, and as it was Margaret’s birthday, a celebratory chocolate cake. After dinner most of the group headed into town to sample one or two of the local brews for which Belgium is famous.
It was a very relaxed start the next day as we waited at camp for two more of our group to arrive (and marvelled at Darrell’s bedding). Kylie and Neill had been travelling in South America before the expedition and got stuck in Madrid when the European airports closed due to the Icelandic volcanic ash. Fortunately they were able to make their way to the front of a very long queue to board a 20 hour bus from Madrid to Brussels, and from there a train to Tournai to catch up with us. We were now only missing Dennis who was stuck in Abu Dhabi on his way to London to start the expedition (happily he has now caught up with us in Prague!).
Happy roof crew, Taylor & Neill
From Tournai we head for Cologne. Famous for its magnificent gothic cathedral and perhaps less so for its chocolate museum, it is a very chilled city to have a wander around. On the second night we all met up for a meal at a local beer hall where you can order sausage by the metre, accompanied by sauerkraut and fried potatoes, and of course the produce of their brewery.
Bamberg, a picturesque town in Bavaria which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a highlight every year. Off the main tourist trail, the town straddles the Regnitz River with infinitely photographable buildings and bridges, cobbled streets, a Romanesque and Gothic cathedral, and its famous smoky beer. Opinion is firmly divided as to whether beer that tastes a bit like bacon is a good thing or not, but it had to be tried, as did the apple strudel. Bamberg is a very friendly town, with the local bus driver going out of his way to make sure some of the group got home from a night out, and Darrell managing to get a lift from the mayor!
