alisonr's VirtualTourist Home Page

Hello and welcome to my pages. I have been a member of Vt for quite a few years now, and have really enjoyed the chance to share my tips and photos with you all. Please email me if you have any questions about anything on my pages, and I will be happy to help! Also if you are coming down my way and need some more specific help, let me know!

My home town is a little place called Mt Gambier in regional South Australia. Please enjoy my huge page on this, I am very proud of my town!

After years of saving and planning we are finally made it to Europe in September 2005! Spent some time in London, then travelled through France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and The Netherlands. So far it was my trip of a lifetime, but I hope I will return there one day soon!

Musings about European travels (read - what's strange about other places!)

After coming home and putting my pages on line, i keep thinking back to the funny or different little things that I encountered through Europe. Here are a few of my musings, which I plan to add to when I recall them!

Buttons to flush the toilet! Strange I know, but as a woman its pretty vital to know what knob to push! You finish and you are standing there going - where is it and what does it look like this time!! It seemed like each country had a different style or variation of button - from the lever in London, to automatic ones in Italy which seemed to go off at any given moment!

Autogrills - The most insane place has to be Italy for these things. I have never seen such clutter, pushiness and haste from people. But the absolute maddest thing is how you go about getting your food! First, go to the deli area and look for what you want, memorise it (Its in Italian remember!) then go line up at the cassa. The line will be long and people will be trying to push in in front of you. Stand your ground, and don't forget what you want!! Tell the guy what you want and pay for it, he will give you a ticket. Then go BACK to where you saw the food, give the lady the ticket, she will rip it, give it back to you and then you will get your food. THEN make sure you keep your ticket for 50 paces from the autogrill so you can prove you paid for it! I think the relief on your face when you get your food will proove you paid for it!!!

Its much easier just to get a Spizzico pizza where you order, pay and get your meal from one place!!!

Lunch tips - You can eat really well, ie three course meals, but where will you fit tea? Also you will be so busy trying to see everything that you may just want to do what we did, and get a roll or sandwhich to take away.
I ate my way around Europe, and lunch was a lesson in how many different ways you can get a sandwich. Panini, rolls, grilled panini, crossant, bread, it goes on and on. France has the most mayo on their rolls, incidentally I found the bread is the best in France. Italy go mad on the tomatos and cheese (naturally) and the Swisse and Germans don't belive in a light lunch so be prepared for sausages!

Breakfast - This was an adventure in its self! Some funny points - Don't be surprised to see a beer and smoke on the menu in Switzerland and Germany! They have funny little sweet cakes in Italy. Cheese and meats are the norm in France. You will get sick of crossants in France too.They put icing sugar on them in some places. Its breakfast! Not desert!!
No where seems to know what toast is! If you are a breakfast junky, just get to Germany, it is like being at home - eggs, bacon, toast!!

Other funny food points - Italians wont give you butter or milk after 12pm.
Ask for an American coffee if you want a flat white or cappucino. Or else you get double espresso and no milk.

Hotel rooms - Just be prepared - if you are coming from Oz, the star rating system we use - throw it out the window. What London call a 4 star is our 2 star. It varies so much, and that is why it can be so hard to know what you are paying is reasonable or not. If you are like me you will always feel like you are getting ripped off!

Pulet si vouz play- you get to learn pretty quick how to say your fave meal choice in various countries - poulet in France, Italy was pollo etc. Its a good thing to have sussed out. And as long as you saw things with the right accent you will usually get what you want. Except in Loir Valley where I was trying to get a glass of white wine and I could not remember how to say it - I got a glass and everything and pretended to pour the bottle - no good - i swear the bloke just enjoyed me looking like a mime! For the record its vin blanc!!

My best tip is to try to speak the language. You will be surprised how quickly you pick up the little words you need to get by. You may even get mistaken for a local and like me find yourself un wittingly in a conversation with a French person who doesn't realise you are not French!!

Sometimes it can be more of a hindrance, coz when you ask something in Spanish, they will answer you in Spanish, and then you are stuffed! My husband went up to a shop assistant, shrugged his shoulders and said "deportez?' (sports department) He got a very long winded explaination in Spanish which was no use what so ever! Learn how to say 'I speak english' in every country you go to!!

I love this part of the world, partly becuase it is so cheap and also means I don't have to fly half way round the world to get there!

Trips over the past 6 years include Malaysia - Penang and KL and Thailand twice, Bangkok, Ko Samui and Phuket. I loved all three trips and are still updating pages when ever I think of a new thing.

Thailand the first time was the most fantastic trip, loved it! Elephants are now my favourite animal!

I am going back to Thailand on my way home from Europe, going to Ko Samui and Bangkok. Cannot wait to go back!!!

My other big page is on Melbourne. A great city, most of my family are from over there, so I go quite a bit.

A very small page is on Geelong, Victoria, just down the road from Melbourne.

I also have pages on Adelaide, and some of the surrounding areas of Adelaide.

Also some pages on places I went to with my family up to 7 years ago - I have some good shots and a few tips for family travellers which you might find useful. These are my Sydney and Whitsunday Islands.

I helped my mum make a page about Broome WA Australia, she was there about 7 years back and took some great pictures.

Thank you for visiting my pages, I hope you get a lot out of them. If you have any questions, please ask!

ENJOY!!

I am nealy 28, married for almost 3 years and with my husband for 10 years. I work in my family busines of two retail nurseries and a hydroponic herb farm.

I love going to the gym, my pets, catching up with friends, going out, eating and cooking, wine, music, singing and sport - mainly cricket and Aussie Rules football. Lately I have been getting into soccer too!

I have one sister, 4 cats, 1 horse, 2 dogs, canaries, budgies, a cockatoo and 2 ducks. I also have 2 cats that come around to my house and get milk occasionally.

The music I love is so varied and from many different eras - Abba, Weezer, Metalica, The Doors, The Beatles, Bony M.

Fave Movies - Star Wars (all except episode 2 which is weak), The Princess Bride, The Goonies, I also love musicals like Chicago, The Phantom and Cats.

Fave Tv Shows - The Nanny, The Bold and The Beautiful (yes I have a shallow side!) Bewitched, Sex and The City, Jeopardy, All Saints.
I also love Trivial Persuit - anything with questions!!!

So that's me! Cheers!