We are in Ireland

Hi all we are in Ireland- yah we both went to bed at 3pm yesterday and got up at 9am today. This was due to no sleep the night before. Photos of our night out will be updated soon. We are both well and feeling much better after much sleep and 2 long hot showers.
Miss you from Here
Karen & Alison

Thursday Sight seeing in Heidelberg by the Chicklets

Heidelberger Schloss castle we finally made it

Proof we made it- photo of Alison and I at the castle- see it in the background

The bridge we were on when we took the night time shots of Heidelberg- view from Heidelberger Schloss castle

The view with an improvement- Alison and I

Alison is taking photos too- me taking a photo of her taking a photo

The bridge and the view again - just cause it is pretty

Church of the Holy Spirit. History has it when the protesants got to town this church was split right down the middle by them and they used half and the catholics used the other.

MMMM a wine vat - just my size - inside Heidelberger Schloss castle

Changed my mind I want this one.

This is the spot where there was a synagogue - which was burnt down by the Nazis. They didn't rebuild but have kept the spot as a permanent reminder.

Our shopping street on the left hand side

Our shopping street on the right hand side in Heidelberg

Brother Sean's work- our working part of the tour

Me with brother Sean at his job EMBL - we are at the top of their newest centre which they hold meetings and conferences and offices for staff.

Alison and me - we are cold cause we were told that we didn't need to take our jackets NOT TRUE

Even more cold cause we had to pose a 2nd time.

This is the inside of the building looking down. And for you non science people the round walk ways are DNA struture- so the two sides never meet of come out on the same floor and to get from one side to the other is the walk ways between the floors. It is visually stunning and a science lesson all at the same time.

Castle, Heidelberg at Nite

Hi all we went to one of the bridges in Heidelberg to get a view of the Heidelberger Schloss castle before we went to dinner for Alison's birthday. Great views - but they were kind of surpassed by the dinner. Anyway here are the photos we got.

This is the other side of the river view at nite. Steffie Graff lives in one of these houses

Yes I know it looks blurred but we were sobber- it is the effects of the lights on the Heidelberger Schloss castle it looks like it is on fire but it is not

Photos' for Trine and Cousin Adam and Sister Kate

Trine and Cousin Adam we found coffee cups in your orange at the Tea room in Heidelberg

Sister Kate- a photo of a shop display in Heidelberg for Halloween- we are sure yours is better

Alison's Birthday in Germany

Juan-Carlos (from Spain) ,Brother Seán (from OZ) , Alison (b'day Girl) &Theo (from Greece). Who are the really smart people?  That would be those of us who don't have to go to work the next day (Alison and me).

Well as some of you know-  it was Alison's Birthday on the 20th October. It has been mentioned that she may have been a bit greedy and tried to milk it for 24 hours in the Australian time zone and then the 24 hours in this time zone. In case you are late in to this blog, we had arrived in Germany on the 19th - and Brother Sean took us out with his work friends Carlos and Theo . We all had a few wines, dinner and a few more wines before we got to the pub. When it got to midnight- Alison reminded us of the time and more drinks were needed. We wished her Happy B'day.

The only kind of birthday cake I could find for Alison- a huge profiterole 

Our shopping adventure on Alison's Birthday

OMG we are going to Ireland

Hi all.
Well it is currently 4.03 am, We got home about 2.30am and Alison is now snoozing in  the lounge. I have all our photos loaded from the last few days but I have yet to label and story them for you. Will do when I get to Ireland and have the time, think there is an extra 5-6 post with photos.

Tonite  we went to dinner with Brother Sean, Nigel an d Juan Carlos (renamed for the evening as Wayne Carl- shortened to Wazza temparary OZZIE). So long nite - dinner at a brewery bar with followed by 2 classic bars of the region. Don't worry there is photos that I wiil paste on blog update. We look pretty inn all photos. Miss you from here
Karen and Alison

Airport us in Denmark

Leaving Denmark on our way to Germany- us at the airport.

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe at Trine's and Cousin Adam's

Trine entering the Wardrobe

Now I know that you can not see in this cupboard- but it is the most amazing cupboard EVER!

It has several doors and holds lots of great things that you might need for yourself and house guests- mattresses, doonas etc.

I found it fasinating, Trine said it was the wardrobe from Nania - and that is exactly what it was. Who knew that all this time Trine and Cousin Adam had this magical wardrobe.

Trine exiting the wardrobe 5 years later.

Given this we need to do a photo shot of its magic. Those of you who don't understand this- read the book or at the very least you can see the movie.
She definately looks great in your coat Kate.

Last lot of photos from Denmark-Traditional Danish Lunch, and windmills

Trine and Alison at the Restaurant

Hi all on our last day in Denmark Trine took Alison and I out for a traditional Danish lunch. So you have a small amount of bread with different toppings, and generally you order two plates.

Trine convinced us to try her Herring with curried egg and I think pickles, and we were pleasantly surprised at how well this combination worked- Thanks Trine. Trine then had a raw meat delicacy (we were not so game to try this one).

Alison had another kind of fish and then she had meatballs.   I had well -at first I thought the word said vegetarian- close but no, it turned out to be corn beef. I then had mild cheese. All washed down with a traditional snapps, and glass of red.

Trine then took us to the library bar- she had not been there either. Needless to say we were a little late home to dinner and had to call Adam and tell him he needed to do the shopping for dinner.

Library Bar Kopenhagen 

This is the exact seat we were sitting in drinking red wine, irish coffees and cocktails 

And what is a trip to Denmark with out the photo of windmills. This was taken at the 'Beach'- yes that is right they now have their own beach. We walked there with Trine - it is about 15- 20 minutes from their place. It is man made beach front with lots of lovely sand.

Windmills off the Kopenhagen beach

Nails sparkle like Diamonds for you Anjelah Johnson - Comedy Time

This funny clip is thanks to Trine and Cousin Adam - classic lines also being used in various moments of our tour when language is a barrier.

2nd classic clip-Joey Doesn't Share Food

This line can be used for many things- yesterday Alison and I used re clothes whilst out shopping

Classic clips that are funny

The first one is compliments of Miss Morgan Bolack Lees - who showed it to me before I left OZ. And if you like it - there is a whole series of what Fred does including shopping and getting his haircut. Forgot to show you this Trine and Cousin Adam cause I couldn't remember his name. Hope you love it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPVNvJoljD0  

Alisons B'day- the I am not 30 Party

Hi all I know that you are waiting for the latest installment of our adventures today.  Okay so what do girls love to do - yes shop and that is what we have done ALL DAY. There are new coats, shoes tops, jumpers and handbags.

And on the list of still need to get is a hat for Alison and 2 more tops for Karen then I think that is it.

So for dinner tonight we went to one of the best Restaurants in town the Weinner Block:

The Weisser Bock


So the chef sent out a free entree as it was Alison's b'day. followed by our own entrees (lucky we chose to share). Then we all had our own mains (all ~Germany food portions). We all tried our hardest to finish the mains, but alas were unable to do so. We waddled out of the Restaurant for one final celebration drink at the POP bar ( POP now known as Private O'Neill Party) of champagne- I mean sparkling wine. After that we have come home.


Alison has asked me all to let you know she is first in bed at 1am, so is too tired to blog on her b'day. So good night from her and good night form me.
Miss you all from here
Karen and Alison

We are in Heidelberg

Hi all ,
we arrived in Germany last night at 7pm from Denmark. My brother came and meet us at the airport. Our first experience was very un Germany like- it took for ever for our bags to turn up. We handled the issue and the fact we have missed a train by going to the bar and drinking red wine till the next train. You think this is good, we then catch the fast train- 300km per hour - takes 40mins to Heidelberg. And we do this sitting in the cafe section drinking more red wine.

We drop everything at Sean's round 10.30pm and then walk to the resturant for dinner at the Snitzelber. Two of Sean's work friends (both on loan from Spain) come to dinner with us. The meals are big and fabulous - with more red wine. We are the last to leave the resturant and head to the irish bar (but it is closed) so we go to another pub. Only 5 girls in the bar- the rest were men and most of them were taller than Alison and I.
Midnight hits and it is Alison's b'day so we clink glasses and give wishes. Finally the pub shuts and we head home where in honor of Alison's b'day we have a glass of Frangelico before bed at 2.30am. At least we didn't have to go to work like Sean.
Have a picture will up load later.
Miss you from here
Karen & Alison

Mary's ground and blog obsession

Hi all here are some photos taken by Trine when we were at Mary's Castle in the grounds- as you know cause we could not get any closer- the bitterness will eventually fade- but it seems unaustralian.

Alison/ Karen/ Cousin Adams best sides

Look we do have faces

Alison has agreed to write on one blog post per week - she is just not that into you excuse. Apparently I am blog obsessed and here is the photo to prove it.

Alison and Cousin Adam in the kitchen cooking for our dinner on our last nite in Denmark. We miss Trine and Cousin Adam already.

Christianhavn resturant

We forgot to tell you about the resturant that we went to the other night in Christianhavn
History: Christianhavn is an island in the middle that began as a social experiment - a group of peace love and mungbean hippies decided to populate and not pay taxes and everyone was welcome. I t has been a contentious problem for the Danish Government. Recently it flared up again cause of the  availability to buy drugs- lots and all kinds. The police have recently done a major operation and cleaned it out. But the social experiment goes on.

This is the outside of the Resturant(day shot as we forgot to take a photo)

This is a shot inside- obviously we are not there - also forgot to take photo at the time.

David in Denmark                                                                      David in Italy


Yes this is the difference in the David statues between the two countries. Denmark like their men big.

Mary's Castle By Alison

Mary's Castle:

Well I don't think I can avoid creating a post any longer....Even mum and Rebecca have questioned why I have not written any entries yet. So here goes....

Adam and Trine have been the best tour guides a traveller could ask for we've seen many of he Tourist attractions the city has to display, on Sunday we travelled a little way out of the city to see some sites, all of these adventures have been lots of fun, with plenty of information that only the locals could share with you.

Before the castle we decided that a lunch break was in order, we headed into a coffee shop for a few quick handburgers and a beverage.. the heating was not great so we all ate quickly and then continued on our journey to Mary's castle. As long as you keep moving the cold air is not uncomfortable.



Mary's Castle



Mary's castle has had some new gates installed and we could no longer get as close as was previously possible Trine and Adam thought there migt be away so we head of on foot to see if we could get closer around the back.

As we travelled down towards the boat house we all manged to forget that we would have to head back up the hill to return to the car at some stage. On the walk down we got to take in some great Autum colous and once at the bottom the crystal blue of the sea.

After contemplating for a few moments we walked along the waters edge for quiet a while before using a different path to head back up the hill.

We all jumped back into the car and headed for home....A cup of tea and plenty of chat.... and then in true O'Neill fashion some more tea and more chatting.

Too be or not to be- Hamlets Castle By Karen

Alison's doing the update on Marys castle- in just a few minutes.
Okay on Sunday Cousin Adam and Trine took us out of the city for the day - to visit the castle writen about by Shakespeare's in Hamlet (which he ripped off apparently from an old old story). So with no further babbling here is the first castle shots


Trine and Alison in the courtyard of Kronborg castle



They haven't moved, just voomed out so you can see some of Kronberg castle as well as Trinae and Alison

I liked the green roof- but this means it needs to be cleaned according to the locals. 



We are in the chapel at Kronborg castle. This was not burnt down in  the fire, so is the original art work. It maybe small in size but it definately designed for royality. 



Trine in the beautiful chapel



Now we are  n the case mates (where the soilders lived) it is dark, under ground and very cold.



Alison in the casemates. The part we were in held 500 men - all  got to sleep on hammocks hung from the celing. I swear it was the size of Alisons 2 bedroom apartment in Parramatta. Thats is why Alison is happy to have hers all to herself.

The famous Dane (Holger the Dane) the real Dane (Trine) and the pretend Dane  (Cousin Adam). Legend has it Holger is protected by faries and is just asleep and will awake when Denmark needs defending. Currenly they have a great graphic light show on the statue. It shows the faries protecting and caring for him, Holger slaying an enemy and it makes it look like Holger the Dane is actually breathing- Loved this the best.

Portrait of Shakespeare- also tells how he took the story and used into his play Hamlet. Thus making Kronborg Castle famous in his play.

I know too far away to really see- but the land on the other side of the water is Sweden.