Florence!

A previous series of photos for your entertainment... (post car ride in morning in hungary)

 awkward camera angle.....

"thats where you find the totti boys"

We have arrived in Florence, delayed by a ten minute discussion with the over friendly bloke on the last motorway toll (an irate queue gathering behind the princess' bottom) and a rather tedious journey over from Slovenia.

Our stop for the night (taken this morning) where we arrived circa 1am.


We stopped at Venice to sleep in the car but were soon dripping in sweat - we chose to drive on towards Florence. Parking in a petrol station overnight we had a good nights sleep and started the drive here this morning. We managed to drive right past the various turnings for "Firenze" without a thought deciding at one point that Pisa would be better than Florence because it was signposted. Several discussions along the lines of "Where the fuck is Florence?" and "Is it a region rather than a city?" were embarked upon silenced only further down the road......

At a petrol station half an hour into our Pisa trip we discovered that "Firenze" is "Florence". Why had no one told us?!

We are heading out to explore the city now First impressoins? BEAUTIFUL.

J,T

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Sunday

Today we caught a lift in Brundle's car, again, Jono squished in the boot while trying to overhear a conversation which encompassed "ferocious wanking", "that c**t in the vauxhall corsa" and  Bernie the "arrogant bastard" with his police escort. Made even more uncomfortable with a 'moose test' on the motorway to get into the right lane......

We arrived, sneaked into the paddock area, and met the drivers as they arrived. (seeing some pretty good totti at the same time) pictures enclosed..

And before we were asked politely to leave where we werent allowed to be....

We proceeded to where we would watch a dramatic race, umbrellas in hand. In fact the rain which made for a rather disappointing start to the day created a spectacular and exciting race. A photo to enjoy....the winner! (Button)

And a video...

Tops an amazing weekend off nicely. We will get the overnight train back to Zagreb tomorrow afore going and picking up the car on Tues/Weds (not sure which) from Slovenia where we start the trek to Italy.

J,T

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McGregor

Qualifying was awesome.... just returned from the track in the boot of Martin Brundles car....talk was dominated between the three commentators (Eddie Jordan was there) of the BSkyB deal recently transacted. An enthusiastic discussion to say the least.

Some pictures from today that might interest you. We were especially relieved upon arrival this morning to learn that the tickets were only 50 euros for the whole weekend!

We are looking forward to the race tomorrow.

Heading to the bar now for a drink and then supper. Perhaps an early bed?! early morning starts are tiresome.

T, J

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GP!

Very excited for the racing tomorrow... heading in with several members of the BBC crew which should be fun (police escort perhaps?!) siiick

Had a brief look around the city tonight, it being no less beautiful than when Jono was last here.

The hotel seems to have a permanent throng of people around it, all waiting for autographs... we feel like Kings! Many of the teams seem to be staying here.....including Button and daddy, Anthony Hamilton, Davidson, Coulthard, Brundle, Williams team, McGregor, Jake Humprey. Fun fun.

Update to follow tomorrow.

COME ON ALONSO!

J, T,

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For anyone who might be excited

Hungary here we come!

In Split airport making use of the free internet reflecting on what was an...interesting...if uneventful last night out in  Trogir. Heading out with two new Dutch ladies abreast we trucked to the old square in the centre of the town where we wejjed two free beers. Yum. Perhaps realising that this would not be reciprocated they made their excuses and left (not to be missed). One of them happened to be a security guard...I think they were made uncomfortable upon Jono's question "so do you wear your uniform in bed?"

We headed to PadreXXX for the night. This is what we found.

EMPTY - with Adele Someone Like You playing!!

So we hung around until around 1.30. Everyone went to bed. We returned and finished 2012. Shit film.

The town was about as energetic as these guys.

Expect a crazy blog tonight. Budapest here we come! (three hours til flight!)

J,T

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Last day in Trogir

Jono is no longer obliged to get a vajazzle.

On a more positive note...... we have spent our last day in this mundane town, leaving for Budapest tomorrow. We are staying in the same hotel as Coulthard so we should be in for a good weekend.

We rode a boat taxi to get to our trusty, German inhabited, beach each day.

This sums up our experience of the city..... its one nightclub PadreXXX will be open until 1 am or something shocking for the local population (average age: 65, average girth 65 ft, average boat size 150ft) and we will party until then.

Off tomorrow in the morning! Very much looking forward to the GP despite the poor weather forecast!

T, J

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Trogir

Today has been another relaxing day at the beach. Tom has not been dissuaded  from wearing his rather lurid new swimming trunks (pictures to follow upon our next blog).

We have been recollecting our thoughts post festival in this UNESCO heritage site. The city is rather beautiful tainted only by the vulgar gin palaces which haunt the quay.

We are looking forward to Budapest...this city is rather quaint for our taste. Bring on the GP!

T,J

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Festival etc.

Soundwave Festival in Petrcane was reached by a short and easy bus trip from Split.

 Having now finished the festival we have returned to a small place called Trogir very near to Split Airport from which we leave to go to the Budapest GP on Friday. Until then we will be chilling out around here and gathering our wits about us - another much needed break from travelling around!

We managed to fit nine people on a four man pedalo on the second day with rather dramatic consequences... Something quite clearly changed the colour of Ashleys boxers.

Our last night was dominated by Alex Worths need to pull a girl every minute. Feigning being twins we embarked on this mission, Jono a steady wingman Tom asteadier cameraman. Some turbulence was encountered but to further the metaphor Alex flew through the storm. Some photo evidence must be provided.....

 Darling, we are making a blog please kiss me?

 2 minutes later....

 2 minutes after that...

 4.5 minutes after that one....

 30 seconds after the last one with the previous ladys friend....

The highlight of his evening..

All with the line "its for the blog". Thats how you do it.....

A group photo... We tried to direct them towards the beached annabel to no avail. They were pretend.


One for Benji Horan. A photo which perhaps sums up every feeling you have for Jamie Harrower?!

A memory of the festival with which to leave you with:

A couple were walking through the festival site heard to say: "dear this festival is rather full of young drunk people isnt it? i think we should go home now" (!) true dat

J, T

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Last Night In Split

We leave the hotel at midday today to get a budget bus to Zadar and then on to Petrcane for the festival!
Just about to go for our last swim before packing.

Had an amazing couple of days break here courtesy of Robert Breare - thank you very much!

J,T

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Split

Sweet night out...supper was extremely cheap although Tom drank his way through half of our bill (beer is the same price as a seafood tagliatelle)

The photo which explains the night......

Jono found some Belgium ladies on the next door table....

Philpot wouldnt shut up.....

A lovely group photo:

Sunbathing and relaxing is turning out to be today's activities.

Tom and Jono remain at the hotel for one more night while the others head off to Petrcane a night before Soundwave kicks off.....

J,T

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Speedos

Today has been dominated by sunbathing....and the gym, and minigolf.

Tonight we are going out to Split for supper. And teaching Tom how to iron a shirt. (Annabel can do that for us)

J & T

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Bye Bye Jamie!

We bid our farewells to Jamie by granting him a final trip to the hotel casino after a delicious supper in the marina before a midnight swim in the sea.

His company, although rather somnolent (for want of a better word), will be missed.

He returns to the Douru valley to put his especially sensitive snouter to better use than for simply sniffing out the next McDos on our route.....

Next to join Jono and Tom is Charlie Hobhouse after the Soundwave festival.

T,J,J

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Split. Finally

We endured a mammoth 36 hour journey..........

Events are as follows:

leave Prague with a healthy car and spirits high.
Get stopped by undercover police car 3 hours into our journey for a random check.
Told to buy a sticker for 8 euros.
We dont.

Continue until another fuel stop is required at which point the princess is making a funny grating sound.....
The Edward is rung to break the news to us that actually the clutch is broken.
He advises we stop at the next Citroen dealer.
Upon asking we find one 2 km away from the fuel station.
We carry on past it........TO CROATIA!! hindsight is a wonderful thing.

We reach the Croatian border. The car is searched for 30 minutes and our passports checked.
Then the officer asks for a registration document for the car.
We look for an hour.
It isnt there.
"No Entry without original document"
Jono's dad is rung yet again... he sends it via email.

At this point we decide to print off a colour copy of the registration. We drive for two hours to find a hotel open with a colour printer. We find one. Happy days!

We print it off. On our way to a different border (2 and a half hours!)
Get there.....it all looks good until they look at the computer - our car is banned from entering Croatia through all borders!
We return to Rog Slatina in Slovenia. Jono sleeps in a hotel room (2 in morning and fed up). Jamie and Tom brave it in the carpark.

This morning we drove the squealing Princess to a Citroen dealer. 460 euros later..... hmmm.

We get a taxi accross the border, feeling like illegal immigrants.
Then we eventually found a car hire company in Zagreb.
Jamie drove us like a bat out of hell to the hotel.

Finally we have reached paradise. If you want to feel jealous..... http://s3.labs360.com/lemeridien/lav/threesixty/lemeridienlav360.html


Although our journey, quite obviously, was shit.

Jamie is in the Turkish baths while the others (Annabel, Rob, Philly) are all in the infinity pool. Tom is sorting minor hotel niggles out in the room. Beaut.

An afternoon nap is required by us three..before we go out.

some minis we encountered.....

laters,

J, T, J

Zagreb

About to leave once we rise Gray from the depths of his slumber. Six hour journey ahead of us..... We went to a dubious end of town after having seen the necessary sights. We are staying one night in the Croatian capital before heading off to Split

Our original itinerary took us to Budapest but we are missing it out in favour of Zagreb - it is more on the way to Split than Budapest.

Yesturday, we decided to take a look around the city of Prague after seeing the new Harry Potter in order to hide for the blistering heat during the day. We went up to the castle shown in the picture above then made our way down past the Charles Bridge and over into the old part of the city and the old square.

This is one of the guards at the castle....lets say he wasnt up to Buckingham palace standards

J,T,J

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