JakeB

I really enjoyed spending time in Luxembourg. It’s pure Miyazaki-esque Europe without the tourists (in April – at least). My favourite area was the Grund (a small settlement below the city walls) which has some great little cafes.

Buxton is a great town. It’s hidden in a natural bowl set into moorland and is fed by an ancient spring which always runs at 28 degrees. The architecture is particularly grand. The town boasts a fantastic Opera House and Pavillion which are surrounded by landscaped gardens. There is also a Crescent in the style of Bath, which is currently being renovated.

We just received an invitation to our friend’s wedding in Luxembourg. It will be a great opportunity to catch up with mates and see the city.

Berlin is a great city – it feels as if it’s evolving all the time. I only spent two days there – enough to do a few key sites such as the Reichstag and the Pergamon museum, but no way enough to get a proper sense of the place. We stayed just off Ku’Damm in a nice ‘corporate-style’ hotel to offset the sleeper train bunk experience. Next time, I would probably go for somewhere with a little more character.

I keep hearing about how good Berlin is and I fancy trying out the sleeper train from London. Could be a bit of an adventure.

The country feels really spacious and clean. The scenery is stupendous and every day was a photo opportunity from heaven.

Lots of people say it’s like the UK back in the 1960s (someone even likened it to Britain in the 1940s without the rationing!). I think that this is an exaggeration. NZ is incredibly modern in parts – plenty of new architecture and art. However, it also has lots of natural beauty, genuine people and a sense of community. I would go back if I had the opportunity, but this time would try to get there without flying.

SF just really did it for me. I loved it on so many levels. We only spent 2 nights there, but really packed it in:

SFMOMA (superb Alexander Girard exhibition), Telegraph Hill, North Beach (inc City Lights), Chinatown, Union Square and a stunning bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge.

There is so much more to discover, but that’s fine by me – I really want to draw out the exploration of this city for as long as possible.

We spent 3 nights in Tokyo and had a great time there, but I felt that I didn’t completely ‘get’ it. Many aspects of the city were familiar – yet it was so different at the same time. A weird sensation.

The best aspect of the stay was definitely the people – so friendly and helpful. The other amazing part (for us) was the visit to the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka – set up to showcase Studio Ghibli & Hayao Miyazaki’s filmwork. Bit of a pilgrimage really.

maybe…

We’ve bought our RTW tickets! Stopping in Tokyo, Auckland & San Francisco. Boss has agreed time off over Xmas so I’m already planning a rough itinerary & getting hostels booked up in advance.

I feel a little guilty about all those airmiles, but figure that it’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip – not the start of a long and expensive habit.

We may do one more long-haul and then back to trains and cars.