The Baltics

We had always wanted to go back east since our big trip last year so we decided now was the time. We went to Riga – Latvia, Tallinn – Estonia and then caught a ferry to Helsinki – Finland and then back to Tallinn. We spent basically all our time in the old towns, seeing the sights, the markets and just hanging out. Riga seemed to still be a little behind the times. Tallinn was quite interesting, such a mix between the west, east, Russia and Scandinavia. And Helsinki was very Scandinavian, expensive and beautiful, the buildings were Victorian, its right on the water and for some reason there was the most amounts of punks I have ever seen in my life!
It was quite cool to see the sun setting very late again, in Finland I think the sun didn’t even go down; it hovered for a few hours at about 2am and then came back up again.

The main square in Riga, lots of cafes and bars

The old Swedish gate in the wall of the old town. Latvia was ruled by Sweden back in the dayA beautiful sunset in Riga at about 11.30pmA birds eye view of the town from one of the Church spiresMe being sillyL & S, it was quite cold for our whole trip. Not like last year at exactly the same time when it was over 30 degThe Grand main square in Tallinn, that is the city hall. The were lots of tourists in Tallinn over the weekendNotice the 4 spires marking the city wall on the leftUp near the castle looking back down to the old townSal trying to decide where we should go for dinner. We went to this yummy medieval restaurant and ate Boar, elk and a few other yummy animals! Oh and drank very strong beer that was made with spices!A cute poseLooking at Tallinn old town coming back on the ferry from FinlandOn a small ferry to see the island of Suomenlinna, 15 mins from Helsinki. The whole area is dotted with islandsA grand old church that looks over the whole of HelsinkiSal taking it all inA little bit Swedish, a little bit Russian - totally FinnishHelsinki from the sea

Mud Fest @ Glasto

We went to Glastonbury with high hopes but knowing previous Glastonbury Festivals had been mud fests we didn't expect this year to be the muddiest of all the years! It was more of an endurance test than a festival. We made it out the other side and enjoyed our selves. Bjork and Damian/Steve Marley were stand outs.

The only time we saw the sun all weekend. When we first arrived!

Sal loaded up ready for our two hour trek from the car to the camp site. Pure Hell.
Ummm.. Which one was ours?!, can you notice the tents in the far distance, luckily we were on high ground

One of the shallow areas of mud around

An absolute gem of a picLooking good, ready to brave the masses

Paradise!

We have to say, Ibiza is awesome, And to have Ryan meet us there was even better. Amazing beaches, stunning coast and rural rugged inland, one of the best old towns we have ever been to, still cheap, shopping unbelievable and all the partying you could do in your lifetime you can do in a week! Saying that, we only went to two clubs Pacha and Space, as the cover prices and beer is astronomical, 50 Euro to get in, 10 for a beer. We did see our favourite band/DJ Groove Armada play live which made up for the prices, this limited us to two nights out at clubs, and that gave us 5 more nights to hit the old town!!! The clubbing is only a small part of Ibiza, the northern part is very remote and amazingly beautiful.
The old town is awesome. A lot of it is out side the walls and that’s where we spent most of the time. Eating the best food and tapas, drinking great beer and wine and kicking back in our ol’ favourite Rasta Reggie bar. This was our routine; Get up around 12pm, breakfast, then the hippy markets and/or the beach, arvo comes and grab beers at the beach bar. Head back to our guesthouse, shots of Absinthe, then head for dinner around 10.30 -11pm, then off to the bars till about 3 -4am x 7 days. I really got into eating late and staying out late Spanish style. Everything was buzzing and so alive. We absolutely loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were so sad to leave; we are already planning to go back!

Hanging out with the hippys at the markets

The view from our place over the old town, the wall is massive and still intact all around!
At night looking up towards the main gate into the old town, you walk across a drawbridge to enterWeebs hanging with Dr Dread at the Rasta barBenirras Beach, Ibiza. The best beach on the islandclouds over the old townL & S a little tannedSunset at Benirras Beach playing boulesBoats that you could only dream of docked at Ibiza PortThe biggest most amazing sailing boat i have ever, ever...EVER! seen in my life, called Independence. We stood gob smacked for over 30mins looking at this. The good side of 200ft and the masts were over 30 stories high. Almost all the boats were from Georgetown, Cayman Islands Weebs and us sitting on the wall at the very top of the old town, the weather was perfect and hot all weekThe view from the wall at the very top of the old townAmazing sunset as we were heading to Cafe Del MarIn the Rasta bar with Thai

Summer fun

This is what we have coming up over the summer months

Spain (Ibiza) 15-22 June
Glastonbury festival 22nd-24th June
Latvia (Riga) 25th -28th June
Estonia (Tallinn) 28th June-1st July
Finland (Helsinki) 29th-30th June
Spain (Pamplona-Running of the bulls) 6th-8th July
Lovebox festival London 22nd July
Morocco (Marrakesh, Fez, Atlas Mountains) 2nd-9th August
Denmark (Copenhagen) 17th-19th August
Germany (Lampertheim) 25th-27th August
Belgium (Brussels Festival of Beer) 31st August - 3rd September (Lac only)
Secret Location for our 5 year Anniversary 14th September - 16th September
Spain (Ibiza) 21st-27th September - Never believe it! again...
Germany (Munich Oktoberfest) 5th October - 7th October
Australia (Sydney - Lachie going home!) 8th November - 21st November

The best weekend ever!

A lot happens in a week, and this past week has been no exception. Mum went back to Sydney, we had Ebony's birthday party, Jenny come to stay from Germany for 5 days, Alio's parents have been staying at our house for the past week and we have booked more holidays!
Last weekend was one of the best weekends we have had so far in London town. It really felt like summer had arrived. Friday night at the pub was truly the most funniest experience in laughing at 2 drunk young English trying to play darts, slapping each others bums and then them finally getting kicked out only after we and the owner couldn't laugh at them anymore. On Saturday Sal, Jen and I spent the day at Thorpe park - think crazy roller coasters -fun!, hot sun-fun! huge lines -not fun and not to be rude, but the fattest, ugliest, feralist English people all in one place - fun to look at! It was fun. We then come back home where Alio had organised a BBQ with friends of hers from the Egypt tour and a few friends of ours. The little lake area behind our flat is so beautiful at the moment.
On Sunday I decided that we head down to the river at Richmond with Sal, Jenny, Dan and Marlane and hire a row boat and splash around for a few hours. It was so much fun!

Getting the BBQ ready in our oasis

Dan and Jenny getting cosy on the grass

Cider, summer sun and on the water. Perfect!

Dan and Jenny taking the stroke with Marlane watching on

Chief steer'ers enjoying the ride

On the love boat. We found all these nice flowers floating down the river.

Showing how its REALLY done

Happy faces all round, Richmond Hill in the background

Mum and I just before she left for Sydney

After a fun night out at Gaucho's Richmond last Wednesday

Jenny and Sal at Richmond park

Nick and Ebony at Ebony's Birthday Dinner at Crazy Bear Restaurant

The whole London Gang at Ebony's Birthday Dinner