Dubai

Dubai is sooooo much nicer this time around with temps around 22-25C.  Revisited a few things for Aunty Jan's benefit and discovered some new things.

A quick trip to the Dubai mall (largest in the world by area) with its giant aquarium (world's largest acrylic panel) was a good start

 but there were other things to do (and besides there was no room in the bags for any shopping!!). One being the Miracle Gardens.  We missed this last time because it had just opened and then someone sent me photos after we got back (thanks Ken!!) so we had to check it out this time.  Fantastic place right in the middle of the desert and so much creativity.

 Amazing place. 

Back to the hotel which has a magnificent view of the fountains and the burj at a very reasonable rate.

 Sunday morning dawned fine and scary...for Nanna at least but she overcame her fears and got to the observation deck of the Burj

 A view of the lake and our hotel (second building from the right on the lakefront...set back a little from the first and third buildings)

 A celebratory morning tea after our ascent also brought some humour...toasted bums?

 The girls found a new friend.  Would have got one of those stylish paintings of the ruling Emirati but as mentioned there was no room in the bags.

 The conquerors

 Resting after the experience

 I am surprised they sell this stuff here but they do.  Salt and pepper shakers and a bobble head in a burqa (technically I think it is a niqab but what do I know?)

 Deira creek water front and the water taxis.  They all look really dodgy but seem popular.

 The spice souk and all the amazing products.  No idea what most of it is but it is apparently the preferred shopping area for the locals as well as a tourist destination.  I have no idea why a tourist would come here and buy spices but who knows.  I did find a large bag full of a resin substance which turned out to be frankincense (as in "gold, frankincense and myrrh").  You learn something every day.

 Some spice shoppers

 But the lure of spice is only exceeded by the lure of gold so just around the corner to the Gold souk

 for some subtle gold trinkets.  Turns out we couldn't afford them without selling the house.

 One last burj pic at night from our room.  Beautiful building!

 Just before departing for the airport we discovered we had been upgraded to Business class.  Nice!  Easy trip home and now recovering from jet lag.  Our dog hasn't left our sides since we got home as he is scared we are going to leave again.

Finally one thing from England, discovered in a craft shop.  Whoever makes this product needs a new translator.

Alaska and Hawaii next.

England

Yes folks, we are still alive!!  Made it Frankfurt airport in time (luckily early cause they shifted our flight time) and then a quick flight to Heathrow.  (Just) managed to fit all our luggage in the hire car and then on to Wilby.

Have been visiting various relatives and doing some sightseeing along the way so the following photos are a mix of both.

Something we don't see in Oz....and by the 10kg bag too

 Xmas cards for the royal inclined

 Went to Winchester on the way to Plymouth for their xmas markets.  Not a patch on the German ones but they do have barbers you would probably steer clear of...

 Plymouth have some interesting food choices

 The view from the Plymouth Hoe to the harbour.  First fine day we were there and you can already see the clouds closing in for what was another few days of rain and high winds.  Luckily we were leaving!!

 Stopped in at Marsten Meysey's Old Spotted Cow pub where our nephew works as the chef and had some lunch.

Went to London to see the xmas lights and soak up some atmosphere.  The girls got sidetracked by the Liberty store.  Lovely old building but nothing took their fancy inside.

 The lifts have wood panelling! (and don't go to floor 3 for some reason)

 Aunty Jan wanted to go to the the London Chockywokkydoodah (?) store so checked that out.

 and had some ridiculously chocolately cake and drinks in the ridiculously undersized cafe.  Had to take some of the cake home in a doggy bag as it was too rich.

 Went to Selfridges store for their window displays which were very disappointing (we were spoilt by those in Munich perhaps) and then caught a bus to Trafalgar Square.  Xmas lights on the tree, choir singing I almost got into a xmas mood.....almost.

 Carnaby St itself was lit up with giant robins...very pretty

 and Oxford and Regent St were lit up with reindeer antlers and globes.  A little disappointing as none were animated and they were all white lights but still nice.

 Back to the hotel for some undersized cod and chips....should have asked for the large size.

Off to Liverpool to visit some rellies and take in some local light displays

 Went to watch Nanna's cousin perform at a club in Wales which was great then Sunday went to a local beach to see an "installation" by some artist.  About 200 650kg cast iron statues of himself nude scattered down about 3 km of beach.  Some are further into the water than others and if you go at low tide you can check them out.  Interesting but strange.

They also had some great kites flying

 and lots of the locals, sensing some sun, drive down to the beach to soak it up.  Only problem is it is about 3C and blowing a gale so they stay in their cars and read newspapers or books!!

Ahhhh   England in winter.  Still that is what we signed up for.

So we had a great xmas with the obligatory trip to the local pub for xmas eve and then 2 hours on xmas day before heading back home for a late lunch with all the traditional xmas food.  New Years eve at the same club then a day of recovery and the girls trying to fit all their stuff in the available bags and we are heading home stopping only for a couple of days in Dubai.

Picture perfect

Arrived at Rothenburg and the satnav directed us under the gateway arch and onto narrow cobblestone streets of the walled old town.  Navigating past hordes of keen christmas shoppers we arrived at our hotel which dates back to around 1400.  Nanna's room is the one at the top and Aunty Jan's just below it to the left.

 Our room (or penthouse as Aunty Jan calls it).  Takes the "exposed beams" concept to a whole new level!!

The Christmas markets are in the town square which is about 100m from our hotel....very convenient after a hard day on the gluhwein.

I took a walk outside the town wall while the snow was still on the ground.  The ladies were in one of the Kathe Wohlfahrt stores (for those unfamiliar, these are the pre-eminent christmas shops in Germany...if not anywhere...and people come for miles around - even Australia - to check them out).  She has 5 stores, each slightly different, in Rothenburg where the whole phenomenon started back in 1964.

 On the way to dinner by way of, you guessed it, some christmas shopping.

Inside one of the Kathe Wohlfarht stores.  

People are queuing up to 20 deep outside waiting for the chance to be channeled through the many store levels and perhaps buy some of the items.  One shop assistants said they get at least 1000 people through per day.  Here are two of them....

Nanna found a new friend outside Kathe's store.

and so did Aunty Jan

Credit card exhausted, it was back to the regular xmas market where you can still use whatever cash you have left....

 Meanwhile I took another walk and found you could get up onto the town walls which are really thick, have the usual slots for weapons and a roof for further protection.  They extend the full length of the perimeter of the old town, interspersed by towers or gateways and are in extraordinary condition.

 So many new friends to meet in Rothenburg.

Kathe has here own truck parked outside her shop.  Probably used to transport the daily profits to the bank.

Bit worried about the menu entry on one of the local restaurants which offers "roasted fillet of rockhound".  Still not sure what that is about.

the view from the rear balcony of our room.  Absolutely stunning scenery.

So Rothenburg met or exceeded Nanna's expectations and we all found it a fascinating and dare I say a magical place.  The hotel was awesome and the entire downtown was kept in the style of a 1400's village.  The town walls and towers were in excellent condition and quite amazing.  Nanna says she will be back but with more suitcase room next time.

Frankfurt next and then off to UK. At least we can then relax a bit and not be constantly moving on.  Nanna has managed to get all her newly acquired trinkets into the suitcases we came with which is a remarkable effort.

I should just finish with my observations of the autobahn.  Yes you can do stupid speeds on it but a lot is speed restricted and heavy fines apply. On the no limit bits we were restricted by some poor weather and in many cases some heavy traffic.  We did manage a stretch at 150 kph but the old hyundai loaded down with xmas trinkets didn't feel too stable so I backed off to 135.  We could learn a lot in Australia from these roads as the focus required to manage your vehicle in an environment where some vehicles were doing 80 and others 180+ was significant..... however it forced you to focus.  By comparison you travel on similar quality roads in Australia where the speed limit is 110kph people don't focus but just cruise along.  Unlike Australia most of the drivers here seem very aware of what is going on, not just in front of their noses, but in front and behind for some distance.  They will speed up or slow down or change lanes to facilitate a passing manouevre by another vehicle and execute lane changes and merge precisely and competently.  Those that don't are probably tourists.    I don't see much of that in Australia where people just look at what is immediately infront of their vehicles.  It is probably the environment in which you are trained to drive that makes the difference.

That the autobahn system is one of the safest road systems in the world says something.

I think a rental Lambo is the first order of business next time I come back!!!