Andy's World Tour of Europe 2000 Diary
Tuesday June 6, 2000
Went to a local Museum to see a photographic exhibition. We then visited St Michaelis, an old church, then the Erotic Art Museum. That night we watch a film, “Gladiator” in an English language theatre.
Wednesday June 7, 2000
Wondered about Hamburg in the morning, getting some video of the canals and dykes. Tony was interviewed by a TV crew! In the afternoon we rejoined Busabout to Amsterdam with Susan as our guide. Amsterdam is lovely. More canals, etc... Wish we had more time there. Sampled some of the local food Susan had told us about. Different but nice.
Thursday June 8, 2000
Changed our Busabout route to go via Brugges to Paris instead of Luxembourg. On the bus I met two guys from Prospect (my hometown suburb - a small world!!) Brugges was our lunch stop. It’s a small town with a few old wooden windmills but full of history, like many of the places in this region. Late afternoon we arrive in Paris. The hostel is on ‘the strip’. Yep, five or six blocks of sex joints - very tempting, but no thanks.
Friday June 9, 2000
Paris to London with Busabout ... Ferry from Calais to Dover then back on the bus into London. Arrived in London early afternoon. Although it’s raining, it’s good to be back in London again. Underground and DLR out to St Christopher's Inn (a backpackers hostel) in Greenwich. The sun came out so we walked down to the Cutty Sark, then under the Thames River thru the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. Watched the sunset. Had a Chinese meal at Noodletime. Lots of noisy Spanish kids staying at the hostel which kept us awake most of the night.
Saturday June 10, 2000
Got some video of the Cutty Sark then walked to the Greenwich Observatory. Went through the museum there. Walked back through the park to the Gloucester pub to meet my BT friends from the net. Finally met for the first time my email friend Kent and loads of other Beautiful Thing fans from the mailing list. Caught the 180 bus to Thamesmead. Kent did the tour guide thing around this housing estate where Beautiful Thing was filmed. Later went to G-A-Y nightclub in the city and danced all night. Five performed live on stage. Collapsed in my hostel bunk around 4.15am!
Sunday June 11, 2000
Late up. Had our first traditional English breakfast at a cafe down the street. Took the DLR into the city. Spent a few hours in the Natural History Museum. Saw the film ‘Trick’ at a small theatre in Piccadilly and did some internet.
Monday June 12, 2000
Caught the tube to where we had to collect the car hire. Tony was very brave and drove out of London, first west towards the M25 orbital motorway, and then south towards Brighton. We strolled around the town and checked out the famous Brighton Pier and the Royal Pavilion. The weather has turned cloudy and windy. Nice spot all the same. Stayed at Strawberry Fields Hotel built in 1799. We had a lovely attic room (the first of many).