Italy done and dusted .. so where to next huh ??? well secretly (at no discredit of my previous travels) but the best is yet to come!!!

Leaving Italy... after experiencing the beautiful coastline villages of the Chinqua Terra .. literally meaning 5 villages.. need i explain more??? Baked in sun and well rested particuarly thanks to convincing one my fellow backpackers who just happened to be a head chef for a top celeb LA resturant that it would be JUST great if he tested out his culinary skills on us.. of which he was more than delighted to do.. a win win situation for all involved.. well if you are asking me anyway!! Wined and Dined... it was time to move onto France...

YES YES and YES... the french are really french... they dont like tourists and they will not speak english!!!! Or was that just my experience of Nice ..?? (feedback would be great.. truly!!) Nice was a cute coastal town.. not to make it sounds at all vintage though .. but pretty enough to kinda be called cute.. and it had a hell of a nightlife.. Pop'd over the border (if you can call it that) to Monaco.. Monte Carlo.. the place so rich they charged Madonna 1mill to apply for residency and then denied her!! Fantastic .. the place is dripping in richness.. from Marine side resturants, Lamborghinis to the imfamous Casino.. no matter what time of day ball gowns and tux's are .. allll theee rage daarlingg! HELP!! lets face it .. i am just not THAT comfortable with class... Hop skip and a jump over to Spain eh??

Barcelona up first .. where i met up with some of my traveling buddies.. beks, Nat and By... The places itself is a tourist haven.. very much to the advantage of the locals who tend to make the most of it through muggins and thieft.. lucky us!! Both of which i managed to avoid but know others that did not.. highlight (among Gaudi's familiar .. that actually left me speechless for once in my life.. i know!) getting a little lost in the untouristy side of Las Rambles st, entering a bar full of locals.. not a word of english to be heard and trying to order a vodka/ orange.. oh how has charades come inhandy.. may also been useful to realise that spanish pouring consists of pouring the alcohol until the buyer stays stop.. or didnt say stop.. in my case.. may know the true meaning of being a cheap drunk that night !!
Valencia and a music festival, Bennicassim, filled with well known english artist.. a few famous ones too.. and then Madrid.. literally the town that never sleeps and certainly does not wake up or gettin going before 1am.. A 15hr train ride .. and i arrive in...

Portugal !!!... the place that i have been most excited about visiting ... and it was no disappointment .. infact would go as far as saying it had been nothing short of amazing... there was a high chance that i would never leave and when i did it was me.. carried out kicking and screaming... Started in Lisbon.. a beautiful city located on a hill and next to the sea... for a capital it has all the requirements of big city with all the characteristics of a small town feel... The portugese are so friendly and actually love to speak english .. which is such a bonus as my portuguese language knoweldge consists of pleasantries like hallo and thank you.. of which may make my mom proud for being polite.. not always the handiest!!
Headed up north to Porto... home of Port wine.. and even more friendly Portugese people not that i thought it was possible... sitting down at the Port (harbour) drinking Port (wine) chatting to a Portian (Portugese person) definetly rates up there as one of my travel highlights !!

Lagos (Southern Portugal).. the aim of the game...lie on the beach in the day and party hard at night...I could just not face another cathedral.. (and neither i am sure could you guys.. photos that is) Lagos provided the best night life i have seen so far in europe ... although it was so over crowded with auzzie that i was tempted to get myself a t-shirt that said .. No, I AM NOT A F*** AUZZIE... just to distinguish myself !!! The beaches were nothing short of paradise (photos to follow). Yep, it was a hard week folks ...

Siwtzerland yodaling follow via a lil side trip through Lisbon, Leon (france) and back to nice! oh and not to forget visiting leitchenstien .. with the worlds saddest looking castle.. poor king!
Switzerland for me was all about the nature .. fresh air .. adenaline and recovering after the latin influence!! I climbed an Alp, went canyoning in the ice cold mountain water and wondered the picturesque streets of Lucerne! Soaking up the sunshine!! A good thing too.. cause last up was heading back up to homely Scandinavia for a bit of familiar faces, good food and a home away from home!! Visited Ulrika and her family in sweden.. visited the south and middle.. stockholm included, and then Denmark to Copenhagen and back to Silkeborg... Wanted (and got) nothing more than to spend some precious time with loved ones, who although ( and i do realise i have just finished a trip of a life time ) are what i miss most!!.. on that soppy note.. hope you all enjoyed .. i certainly did !
Time to sign off.. Lyndall xxx