I have tried to be good and I did promise not to eat too much and try and return home looking similar to when I left, but being in America, 'the land of the free', it was hard not to try so many new things and of course at Christmas time there can be an exception, can't there? 
Having booked my flight to escape a cold winter Christmas and New Year, I was eager to get away and enjoy some sunshine and relax for 3 weeks. Little did I realise the journey ahead was not so relaxing and I'm not just referring to the plane!
As my sister has now relocated to Tampa, Florida seemed a great destination to see yet another part of the world and the US I have not yet visited. Although I've been to Miami, Tampa is completely different, or should I say Miami is completely different to the rest of Florida. The City of Tampa is the largest city in Hillsborough County, is the county seat and is the third most populous city in Florida. It is located on the west coast of Florida, approximately 200 miles northwest of Miami (so a good 3 hour car journey away), 180 southwest of Jacksonville, and 20 miles northeast of St. Petersburg (which I will talk about later).
Although it is winter in Florida the weather is still nice and warm, but can fluctuate from nice to bad weather in a matter of days. When I arrived the weather was pretty cold, around 15' but this was due to a cold spell passing through and rightly said within a couple of days the weather was nice and warm with temperatures up to 28-30' so not so bad and a lot better than Switzerland which was around -4' on the day I left.
Florida is a strange state, different rules and laws apply here so crazy things are allowed, for example; you can buy a gun (if you have no previous convictions), ride a motorbike with no helmet (as long as you wear eye protection, sunglasses or goggles) and you can freely drive whilst drinking coffee, smoking and making a cellular call. Well the last 3 are not really permitted but everyone does this and this definitely contributes to the vast amount of road traffic accidents.
Anyway 'enough already' of this and let me focus on my holiday with family, oh yeah I forgot to mention that part, most of my family joined me for the Christmas and New Year break. So you can imagine a house full of people, kids, neighbours and alike. At least I had the first 2 days of peace as I arrived first!
Here are some of the many activities I did over the 3 weeks which include; Clearwater - a beautiful seaside city with amazing white sandy beaches, Busch Gardens - great adventure park for kids and adults, with death defying rides, a safari and many other attractions, just be prepared for long queues, a Shooting Range - even for people like me that had never held a gun before I was permitted to take my pick of weapon (any bloody weapon, which was the scary thing) and go and blast a target, Lazar Quest - great for all the family and much more fun than the real thing, International Plaza shopping Mall - great for shopping but a little more expensive that other Malls, but still half the price of anything you can buy in 'rip-off' Europe!
Spinning around inside my head. I can’t make head nor tails what is said. Bringing virtual reality to my bed. I must be dreaming or is it something I have read?
I could not sleep last night after a weeks’ worth of traveling for business and pleasure as I’m too tired to know what is real and what is not. Having slept in a variety of different beds this week I have come to realise that I need my own bed and an undisturbed sleeping pattern. The constant change of environment, the late nights and many things on my mind, I entered my dream world full of useless information that was mixed up and construed into a fantasy world of make believe. Have I gone crazy or is this normal and everyone is experiencing this once asleep, or do I need the men in the white coats to lock me away in a room with padded walls and no windows? Entering a magical world of adventure is also a great and thrilling time, as the impossible becomes possible and reality clashes with virtualness. All barriers are accessible and dimensions of inner unconsciousness mixes with the once normal thought patterns of consciousness now blur my every movement. Well no real physical movement, although the relentless virtual activities which bring me out in a cold sweat and gasping for breath when I suddenly jolt up in bed wondering where the hell I am. I think I will try to unwind and go to bed early, less tired and less stressed, in my own bed and see if this makes a difference, and of course keeping off the cheese before bed time as this also contributes to a restless night. Good night and happy dreams……….
So if you like market stalls, street music, carnivals and traditional costume, local beer, great food, superb hospitality and beautiful looking girls, then this is the place. I also noticed a lot of casinos all over the city, so is this a gambling nation? With the mix of old and new, modern and classic architecture, Vilnius is truly a beautiful city.
Vilnius airport has also changed since my last trip and has a brand new extension and is looking pretty modern and relatively easy to navigate around as it’s still small.
Check out the links you may learn something new..
This is the new 'Naked' street bike from Triumph, the Street Triple. Launched in Italy in August the bike has been a huge success, so damn successful I'm still waiting for mine from my local bike dealer. The standard 3 week wait has turned into 6 weeks and I'm still waiting. It will be snowing by the time it arrives and I will have to put it away for the winter season :-(
The good thing is I have the demo bike on free loan, so I have been blasting around the Swiss countryside, getting lost and discovering new places. Switzerland is a bikers paradise as there are so many different roads, mountain passes, lakes and great places to explore. This weekend was fantastic, the weather was great and nice and sunny, quite warm around 19' so was perfect for a day's biking.
Anyway where was I, oh yeah, on the train bound for Luzern. So what were we doing up so early? Well getting an early start so we could cram in a busy day. Once in Luzern, sun shining we walked along the promenade toward the "Verkehrshaus museum" which is the transport museum, full of all shape and sizes of different transport contraptions, cars, planes, boats, bikes, trains, etc. so well worth a visit if you like that sort of thing. Arriving just before 10:00 we had a few minutes to wait before the doors opened and we were allowed in. 
.......TBC
Yes what a day! Well it all started off pretty good, the weather forecast was sun, sun and more sun with a few clouds and would be 27'. Well that is what I thought, actually in Bern it was like this all day and you could do a spot of sunbathing, but for me out on a bike up in the mountains it was not quite how I imagined and was little prepared for what was to come. So getting up relatively early for a Sunday at around 07:00, too early for me, but I was very eager to get out on the bike and test the little Monster. Maybe not so little as it is a 1000cc with a wonderful roar and an engine that give you a thrill puring away between your legs. Now, now, keep it clean!
So off I set for the 3 passes, not sure if I would do all 3 but for sure I was going to get to the Grimselpass come what may. Actually I nearly had to eat my words as I very nearly turned around and gave up, but hang on I will get to that in a minute. My route took me from Bern on the smaller, more scenic roads and off the main highway, so a far better way to see the countryside and try out the nice windy roads. I followed the route to Thun, Spiez, then on to Interlaken, up to Brienz, alone the lake and heading towards Meiringen. Once there I filled up with fuel as I did not want to run out of fuel half way up or down a mountain. Only 13 Francs and the tank was full and enough petrol to get me there and maybe even back to Bern, so not so bad. Stopping to fill up I also spoke to a fellow biker Thomas on his way up to the 3 passes, a common thing on a weekend. Thomas was over for Stuttgart (Germany) for a weeks holiday and watching his brother compete in one of these crazy triathlons, swimming 3km across Thunersee, cycling 120km and then a run up to the top of the Schilthorn (2970m high). Mad, mad people!
Anyway back to my trip, so as this guy had done the trip before he said I could follow him to the Grimselpass and depending on the ride I could carry on to the other passes or return. Up until now the weather was perfect, warm and sunny, but as we set off, I said to Thomas if I hold you up I will see you at the top. For the first 30 minutes it was fine, I was close behind him, although he did have a sports bike and head down overtaken everything in his path. I thought this was not my idea of riding so I took my time, enjoying the scenery and wanted to get there in one piece, especially as it was a hired bike, my first time up a Swiss mountain and the longest time I had been on the Ducati.
So with this in mind I plodded along up the very step and windy mountain roads. Then as I was about half way up my assent, the weather changed, the clouds came over and the skies closed in around me and it literally 'pissed down with rain', so much so I was soaked, it went right through everything, so I was like a drown rat on a bike. Then to add more discomfort then came the mist, so much that you could not see a hand in front of you and with the tight windy road it was pretty dangerous. But I felt that only 13km to the summit I was going to carry on as I was already wet through and there was no shelter until I could get to the restaurant at the top. Riding with a lot of care and attention I was slowly getting closer and closer, when the thunder and lightening came, followed by large hailstones, which bloody hurt pelting off your body. 
Eventually I made it, got to the top, parked up and walked through into the warmth of the restaurant to join the other sodden bikers. My German buddy Thomas said he missed all the bad weather and arrived just as it started. Lucky bastard I thought, but then he had 2 other passes to get to before he would return, so I was sure it would catch him at some point. Once in the restaurant I had a hearty meal and some warm drinks, thawed out and managed to dry my clothes. After an hour the weather turned and the sun came out, so we decided to go our own way and part company, I was returning back down the mountain the way I had came and looked forward to get back to Interlaken, this being my focus at that point. Well halfway back down the mountain and after a few stops for pictures the rain came again and it was a mad dash to stay ahead of it, but not my luck as it followed me all the way to Interlaken before it subsided. From Interlaken to Thun it was not so bad, although raining it was not bad and yes I was soaked again. To save time at this point I thought F**k it and I'll take the fast way home from Interlaken to Bern on the highway, which saved a lot of time and I could see the sun was in the distance. 
Arriving back in Bern it was a beautiful sunny day with a few clouds. I was blown dry on the bike and was damp by the time I got home, cold and was in desperate need of a hot bath to warm up. I was a little annoyed seeing people out without shirts on (the men not women) and shorts, meanwhile I was wet and cold. So I parked up the bike at home, got inside and ran a warm bath to thaw out and warm up..
All in all I have had the most intensive and invigorating bike tour ever and although at times I was cold and miserable it was the most exhilarating and breathtaking experience I have had in a long time and I look forward to the next. Oh.. and by the way the bike was fantastic, so it passed the test for me!
Schilthorn - Piz Gloria
It’s worth the journey for the views. From Mürren, the valley floor is 800m straight down, and the panorama of snowy peaks filling the sky is dazzling: you gaze across at the blank wall of the Schwarzmönch, with the great Trümmelbach gorge slicing a wedge of light into the dark rock, while the awesome trio of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau are ranged above and behind in picture-perfect formation. From Mürren, the cable-car continues its breathtaking ride up to Birg and on to the Schilthorn summit (2970m), where you can enjoy exceptional panoramic views and sip cocktails in the revolving Piz Gloria summit restaurant, featured in the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The trip’s less expensive than that to the Jungfraujoch (which is very expensive unless you are Japanese), and also less of a tourist merry-go-round, but just as memorable. The exposed terrace on the top is, if anything, even more dramatic than the Jungfraujoch, with a wraparound vista of icy peaks all around, from the Eiger to the Matterhorn to Mont Blanc, also offering a clear sight down to Thun and Bern, if you get a clear day of course, not like us as it was very patchy and we grabbed a quick glimpse through the mist. Fares on the Schilthornbahn are steep, but not outrageous. From Stechelberg to the top is currently Fr.85 round trip, from Mürren Fr.57. Eurailers pay 75 percent and Swiss Pass holders travel free to Mürren and pay 75 percent from there upwards. Luckily for my parents they purchased a Swiss rail card so they were ok and I did have my 1/2 tax rail pass so not so bad.
Arriving at Mürren which itself was “discovered” by the British in the 1840s is beautiful and has a long tradition both of winter sports and of hospitable gentility – some of the first competition skiing in Switzerland was done on the slopes around Mürren. An Englishman, Arnold Lunn, claims to have invented the slalom here in 1922, while the famous “Inferno” amateur downhill race from the Schilthorn peak to Mürren (a descent of 2170m) was held for the first time in 1928, and is still an annual fixture in February.
The Schilthorn cable-car station is at the southern end of the village; at the opposite, northern, end is Mürrenbahn train station, starting point for the cliff-edge train to Grütschalp. Once at the top, a little more chilly as the temperature can drop 10' but you can warm up and eat a delicious meal at the world's first revolving restaurant, with prices that are comparable with any restaurant so not going to blow your budget. You can even eat a James Bond spaghetti, whilst watching the 360' view. Then get yourself out on the the big terrace and enjoy the spectacular mountain ranges! A great day out so worth doing....
What do you do on a lazy Saturday morning, mm, go shopping in the city with thousands of other people, stay in bed and be really lazy, or enjoy the beautiful sunny weather and sit in the park? Well I opted for the not so lazy and took a walk up to the Rose Garden and sat on the grass relaxing in the sun. Well to be honest I used one of the many free chairs that are scattered around the park, together with a small table and set myself up for a little snooze, and catch some shut eye, or maybe only 40 winks. So in my shorts, top off (oh err) and leaning back on my chair, feet up on the table, balancing (good pilates training), I was all set to fall asleep and catch some sun. After about 30 minutes, whilst getting slightly golden (English red) I was still the only one in this section of the park that was enjoying the sun. Ok, maybe I'm too British sitting out there and yes Mum its not good to sit out in the midday sun, but it was nice. Anyway, the only people in the Rose Garden were tourists, many Japanese taking hundreds of photos, so maybe I'm in a few dozen pictures and a couple getting married using the roses as a beautiful background. Well as I was in a state of not just falling asleep but nearly falling of my chair a young woman (around 20-25 years old) came right over to within 10 feet of me (around 3ish meters if you are metric) and started to undress. Wow, I thought to myself trying even harder not to fall of my chair, putting my toungue back inside my mouth and looking around for her boyfriend to catch her up. Which to my surprise did not happen, so I carried on watching without looking too much like a pervert, but finding it very difficult not to as she was so close you would have thought we were a couple. Anyway to keep you interested she bent over removing her shoes, then unbuckled her belt and removed her jeans, all whilst standing up with her back to me, bending over as if she was a girl in a lap dance bar (you get the picture, well only if you have been in the pussy cat club or some other establishment like that) and slowly removed her jeans, then off with her top she was left standing there just in her underwear. At that point I was nervously looking around for the hidden camera as I've seen these 'Got You!' programs on TV. But no nothing and nobody else in the park sun bathing, so what’s up with this girl doing a private show for me? She then lay down facing away from me; face down, but in a perfect position so I could observe her curves. 'I did try to look away' (I would say to the police), but she was right in front of me, not to the side, but smack in the middle of where I was positioned, so it was only rude of me to ignore her. After a while she got restless and turned over, again smiling at me as she did this. So I can now examine her from the front, again very nice. Well just as I thought this can't possibly get any better she sat up, legs apart, starting checking out those tiny little hairs on the inside of her upper legs. ‘Why do this in front of me?’ I thought to myself, was I dreaming, or am I just a naive foreigner and this is perfectly normal in Switzerland? This continued for 5 minutes or so, and I was tempted to ask her if I could assist her finding the little hairs that would be easier for me to spot from a different angle, but then I thought better of that and kept those dirty thoughts to myself. As we well know all good things come to an end and sure enough she decided to put her clothes back on and go. Not before some young pervert decided to also muscle in on the act and he positioned himself on the other side of her, again so dam close it seemed as if this section of the park area had to be filled up first. I observed him watching her, watching me, watching her, which was all so funny. After she dressed she walked past me and nearly knocked me off my chair and said something like; 'did you enjoy that?' well that's what my German translation book said and then walked away. I then looked over at the guy on the grass and although he was not looking my way I made the sign 1-0 to me! So is this normal? Are all Swiss girls like this or was she just flirting or crazy? But I can't wait until next Saturday!!!! Roses are red, violets are blue, come to the park next week and show me the view.
