Baron Jonno McKarl

Does anyone read comments on other blogs? I tend to read a few if I am going to leave a comment just to make sure what I am going to say hasn't been said a dozen times already.
I really loved the comments on this last post. Thank you all for your reassuring words and lovely thoughtful wishes.
All this talk of grandchildren and then my daughter - 'Just to clarify however, grandchildren? not yet.' this made me smile!
I have all the grandparent fix I need from Hester (6 months), Nancy (one), Cala (three), Thea (four) - all girls and all delightful! No pressure from the 18, 20 and 22 year olds!
But if anyone is in the habit of reading my comments they can't have failed to notice a very bizarre person leaving weird messages from time to time. This could be 'Peter T Wintergreen', or 'Corlucka the strongest man in Belarus', sometimes 'Olga the Russian fool' and 'Captain William W. Avaril of the West Virginian Hussars' . He has been Mr. Watergate and Bosshog, Big Paul Smith, Ranald Sigmundson, Colonel Muscardo and the Wolf of the Sea. I know him best as John (or sometimes - Baron Jonno McKarl)

seen here sitting in my shed (with his mad 18th birthday mat to the right of his head)
John has been making names up for us, himself and his friends for as long as I can remember. He was 'Twigget of the Green (hardly ever seen)' when he was little. Owen has been 'Chad' for as long as I can remember, Martha - what was/is yours? (Mink?) Geoff is Fader Coram, from the Pullman books (just Fader most of the time) and I have been Miln for many years.
His comments never relate to the post. I think he regards this blog as my Facebook and has never understood blogs and comments.
Well, he and I are about to have an adventure... though as you may have guessed, just having John in the family is an adventure.
This time next week Geoff and I will be on our way to Spain where John has been living for the last few months. We will have a week of lovely rest and recuperation until Geoff comes home on his own and John and I embark on our own return journey. We have Inter-rail tickets and 22 days to explore Europe. (Is Europe ready I wonder?)
We are setting off from Granada and will be going to Verona and then to Slovenia. I don't know why, but we decided we would head east rather than come up through France. We are ending up in Amsterdam.
So - here is the request please. Has anyone got any thoughts about the places we might visit - towns with a bit of a textiles history, wonderful cafes in strange locations,  fantastic places that we might miss without a personal recommendation. We can go ANYWHERE on a train. Our deal is - 10 trips in 22 days - and we would like to find some interest off the tourist route. Any tips? What to take? Survival tips for long train journeys? Thoughts please!
Oh - and we are going to do this the cheapest way possible because neither of us has any money! Hence the YHA Guide. (Youth? 52!)

getting excited!
Peter T Wintergreen's Mum

Comments

[Lucy Locket-Pocket]

What a fabulous thing to do Katie - I hope you and Peter T Wintergreen have an absolute blast! Lucy x

[Zoe]

Hi Katie - great stuff ahead then, wow how wonderful.If you can you must go via France because of Paris and all it's obvious tourist spots and charms. Try climbing to the top of La Tour Eiffel and must must go to Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur, Monmartre and the Flea Market and get some Anny Blatt angora whilst you're over there. Amsterdam - just get off the train and go to the Tourist Information offices (it used to be right near by) ask for the cheapest rooms and cycle or walk everywhere. Go to the flower market and cafes etc. Get apple pie and cream. Have fun and keep your money and passport close to you at all times. Can't wait to hear what you get up to!!!!!!

[mortlake, the inventer of KODAK ULTRA]

stop, look, listern.
my hair is now shorter.
i am in a nasty tourist resort and will be getting the first bus out of here tommora.
old stones and moorish influence is what i need.
granada i think.

[Impressionknits]

Sounds absolutely lovely. And staying in youth hostels is such a great way to meet people... I'm afraid I have no suggestions for places to visit but I just wanted to leave a comment! x

[Dad.]

Take the pathway on the right side of Notre Dame. Walk to the far end, about 100 yards where you will see the impressive holocaust memorial.

[Maddy]

My husband and I did 21 days around Europe and my best tip is: - after your shower use a flannel to dry yourself off, wring it out then dry again. Then with your bigger towel buff yourself. This way you can put the little flannel in a plastic bag for next time and your bigger towel isn't soppy wet to pack away in your bag.

Oh oh I just remembered another tip that worked a treat. If you have washed a T-shirt, bra or undies and you want to dry them very quickly just grab your big towel and put the item in the middle then get your son on the other end of the towel. Start twisting until you cannot twist that towel any more, it will look like a scane of wool at this point. Then shake out the towel and the item in the middle will be almost dry.

I’m feeling very jealous at this point and wish I could join you. Have a wonderful time and take lots and lots of photos for us to see.

[Maddy]

Ha ha ha ha I just noticed "mortlake, the inventer of KODAK ULTRA" has posted ha ha ha!!

[Sue]

Guessed it must be one of them. Just wasn't sure which one (quite)! Have a fabulous trip - sorry can't come up with any suggestions as to where to head for, but I'm sure wherever you end up that part of the world will never be the same again!!

Shall relish your return with 'tales of the unexpected'!!

Sue

[melissa]

what a great thing to be doing with mortlake. with someone as imaginative as he, you will have a lot of fun!
wish i had some tips/recommendations- but i'm fairly new to this part of the world myself. let me know if you make it norway...

[ra]

Synchronicity! Try contacting Purlpower, she's just done Newcastle to Spain via Amsterdam and may have some good suggestions for you. She has a blog and is on Ravelry too.

Have a great journey!

[Lindsay]

You make me green with jealousy, but you give me much hope for a trip to plan for me and the Sweet Pea. Take lots of pictures!