Tip for travellers: Don’t have an 8 digit PIN. Most ATM’s that we’ve encountered in Europe only accept entry of a maximum of 6 digits. This has caused us a bit of a cash squeeze in Siena as we could not find one ATM that would accept 8 digit input.

Anyways, in Denmark I learnt not to ask for a ‘Danish’. I was expecting a pastry, instead they offered a girl from Denmark (I guess that’s the same as asking for the ‘cheque’ in the Czech republic).

We left Denmark (without a prince) and headed for Amsterdam. Strangely, in Amsterdam we stayed for twice as long as planned (4 days) and did half as much as what we did in other locations. I learned that in the Netherlands, whilst finishing a meal in a restaurant with newly found Netherland friends, don’t suggest to go ‘dutch’, they’ll take you to a brothel. I guess that these jokes are now wearing thin, but that is not going to stop me…

After Amsterdam we made it to Belgium [yawn] and then on to Luxembourg [yawn yawn]. We then hit Basel in Switzerland and rented a car and tore up Hansel and Gretel territory in the Black Forest in the south of Germany. What a fantastic place!!!

Then back down into Switzerland, did a bit of a scenic rail tour from Bern to the Italian border, then headed for Bologna in Italy where Zooms insisted on spaghetti bolognese. We did Parma and Zooms insisted on eating parma ham, parmesan cheese and embarked on the Nakata (FC Parma) soccer pilgramage.

We hit Florence, then Pisa and Lucca. Right now we are in Siena and did a tour of the Chianti wine region. I bought a bottle from a vineyard and polished it off whilst watching England’s demise in the Euro 2004.

I just wanted to start this by saying that the Euro sucks! Since the introduction of the Euro, countries that were traditionally cheaper for travellers have had extravagent price hikes. It has been reported that places have had as much as a 50% increase in inflation since the Euro came into effect. The only good thing about the Euro is that you don’t have to change money all the time, however, the cost of goods is expensive, the exchange rate is crap and the service is generally below standard.

Now that I have that off of my chest… right now we are in Copenhagen. I heard it was easy for an Aussie to find a prince here so I am wearing my best crutchless leopard skin’s whilst out and about.

After Venice we made it to Munich (via Innsbruck). Munich meant drinking steins of Lowenbrau in Lowenbrau biergartens whilst eating kransky´s and sauerkrat. What more in life is there? I was happy to say that this was the first place in Europe that Foster’s advertising did not dominate around bar and club areas.

From Munich we ventured down into Slovenia. What a great place! Aside from the fact that they love Foster’s beer – the Slovenian’s are a great bunch of people. Izumi and I left Slovenia with so much undiscovered and a feeling that this is a place worth returning to.

From Slovenia we went to Vienna – where incidentally I am devastated that I did not manage to have a Vienna Schnitzel (in Vienna I guess they are just called ‘Schnitzel’) – and then across to Budapest (I had Hungarian Goulash… but it didn’t make up for the missing schnitzel) for the start of our “Eastern Bloc” tour.

The “Eastern Bloc” tour is the best we can do ’cause we are not brave enough to do the “Axis of Evil” tour (maybe next time) or even the “Prisoner Abuse” tour of Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo. [My apologies for anyone offended by any political incorrectness]

Anyways, from Budapest we went to Bratislava in Slovakia and then onto Prague in the Czech Republic. Special Note: After eating in a restaurant in the Czech Republic don’t ask for the ‘cheque’. They usually bring out some under-aged Czech girl

From Prague we went to Berlin and stood at the place where JFK did his famous (or infamous) “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech to a crowd of thousands of West Berliners – which incidentally translates as “I am a Jelly Donut”.

From Berlin we did any overnighter in Hamburg before arriving in Copenhagen yesterday.