In this installment we cover some random categories that don't fit under any umbrella term. They're the rebellious categories that don't like to be placed into a box by society. We're covering music, accomodation, food and sport.
Honorificabilitudinitatibus Award for Hardest to Pronounce Location
Bronze Medal: Zaanse Schans, The Netherlands
A pretty little village recreated in the style of Holland's Golden Age. We rode our bicylces there and luckily didn't get too lost, cause asking for directions would have been a challenge. When the Dutch pronounce it, it simply sounds like they are coughing up an entire kitten.
A pretty little village recreated in the style of Holland's Golden Age. We rode our bicylces there and luckily didn't get too lost, cause asking for directions would have been a challenge. When the Dutch pronounce it, it simply sounds like they are coughing up an entire kitten.
Silver Medal: Chișinău, Moldova
Since we're still arguing about how to say the name of Moldova's capital, it has to make it into the list. While not many look back on the days under Soviet Russia with nostalgia, the Russian name Kishinev was certainly easier to pronounce.
Since we're still arguing about how to say the name of Moldova's capital, it has to make it into the list. While not many look back on the days under Soviet Russia with nostalgia, the Russian name Kishinev was certainly easier to pronounce.
Gold Medal: Wrocław, Poland
In a category of hard to pronounce place names, the top spot must go to Poland. There are places like Rzeszów (pronounced Zheshuff), Wałbrzych (Vaubzhech) and Świeradów-Zdrój (Shferaduf - Zdrui) but since we didn't visit them, the winner is Wrocław (Vrotswhaf).
In a category of hard to pronounce place names, the top spot must go to Poland. There are places like Rzeszów (pronounced Zheshuff), Wałbrzych (Vaubzhech) and Świeradów-Zdrój (Shferaduf - Zdrui) but since we didn't visit them, the winner is Wrocław (Vrotswhaf).
Sleeping With the Light On Award for Weirdest Accommodation
Bronze Medal: Lorenc Guesthouse, Berat, Albania
It's hard to decide what was stranger, the fact that the owner wouldn't let us use the heater or that his octogenarian mother would burst into our room at random intervals with a conciliatory hot water bottle. Not only that, but she would insist on placing it under out feet for us, while chatting away in Albanian.
It's hard to decide what was stranger, the fact that the owner wouldn't let us use the heater or that his octogenarian mother would burst into our room at random intervals with a conciliatory hot water bottle. Not only that, but she would insist on placing it under out feet for us, while chatting away in Albanian.
Silver Medal: Visby Prison Hostel, Visby, Sweden
Cell 13 in a 17th Century prison on an island. What more is there to say?
Cell 13 in a 17th Century prison on an island. What more is there to say?
Gold Medal: Institut for Kunstterapi, Gadbjerg, Denmark
No receptionist, no other guests, no idea where in the world we where. We found a place online called "Institut for Kunstterapi" which, with our poor Danish, we could only guess was some kind of therapy institute. Later we found out that it was for art therapy, which doesn't sound that scary, but you'd think differently if you had to spend a night with some of the creepiest paintings outside of a Goya exhibition.
No receptionist, no other guests, no idea where in the world we where. We found a place online called "Institut for Kunstterapi" which, with our poor Danish, we could only guess was some kind of therapy institute. Later we found out that it was for art therapy, which doesn't sound that scary, but you'd think differently if you had to spend a night with some of the creepiest paintings outside of a Goya exhibition.
Yummy Yummy Yummy I've Got Love in My Tummy Award for Best Snack
Bronze Medal: Stroopwafels, The Netherlands
Delicious, affordable and bad for every part of your body. This Dutch snack was almost the first thing we bought every time we went to the Netherlands.
(Note: We did not take this photo. In fact we have no photos of stroopwafels because it's hard to take a photo when your fingers are sticky with caramel syrup and you're stuffing your face with stroopwafles)
Delicious, affordable and bad for every part of your body. This Dutch snack was almost the first thing we bought every time we went to the Netherlands.
(Note: We did not take this photo. In fact we have no photos of stroopwafels because it's hard to take a photo when your fingers are sticky with caramel syrup and you're stuffing your face with stroopwafles)
Silver Medal: Pastel de Nata, Portugal
All over Portugal are delicious pastries made with copious amounts of butter. But the best of them all is the Pastel de Nata, an egg tart pastry invented by monks. And the best place to try them was at Antiga Confeitaria Patisserie in the suburb of Belém.
All over Portugal are delicious pastries made with copious amounts of butter. But the best of them all is the Pastel de Nata, an egg tart pastry invented by monks. And the best place to try them was at Antiga Confeitaria Patisserie in the suburb of Belém.
Gold Medal: Pintxos, San Sebastian, Spain
Whoever said "Snacks can't be savoury" was a character invented for the purpose of this very sentence. That particular character was wrong! Bar hopping around San Sebastian's old town and feasting on tasty Basque tapas known as pintxos was a great culinary experience.
Whoever said "Snacks can't be savoury" was a character invented for the purpose of this very sentence. That particular character was wrong! Bar hopping around San Sebastian's old town and feasting on tasty Basque tapas known as pintxos was a great culinary experience.
No Award for Biggest Disappointment
Participation Ribbon: New Year's Eve, Paris, France
New Year's Eve always seems to be either incredible or an incredible failure, and for NYE 2012 we had the latter. The European financial crisis on the whole was great for us, because it kept our Australian dollar high and hotel prices low. But the austere celebrations put on by Nicholas Sarkozy were lame, and being left to make our own fun led to a majorly disappointing evening.
New Year's Eve always seems to be either incredible or an incredible failure, and for NYE 2012 we had the latter. The European financial crisis on the whole was great for us, because it kept our Australian dollar high and hotel prices low. But the austere celebrations put on by Nicholas Sarkozy were lame, and being left to make our own fun led to a majorly disappointing evening.
Wooden Spoon: Skagen, Denmark
The Lonely Planet told us to "Watch angry seas collide above luminous Skagen". As you can see from the photo, the two hour drive to the tip of Denmark's mainland was not exactly worth it.
The Lonely Planet told us to "Watch angry seas collide above luminous Skagen". As you can see from the photo, the two hour drive to the tip of Denmark's mainland was not exactly worth it.
Laterne Rouge: Floriade, Venlo, The Netherlands
In Australia, Floriade is an annual flower show held in Canberra which, being a lover of flowers, Yaz has often enjoyed. Hearing that the Dutch version, which is held only once a decade, was on in 2012, she obviously got very excited. However, it turned out to be an overpriced gardening exhibition that made no sense and had no relevance to us as we had no space for a garden in our Fiat Panda. The ride on the cable car (view pictured) was sadly the highlight.
In Australia, Floriade is an annual flower show held in Canberra which, being a lover of flowers, Yaz has often enjoyed. Hearing that the Dutch version, which is held only once a decade, was on in 2012, she obviously got very excited. However, it turned out to be an overpriced gardening exhibition that made no sense and had no relevance to us as we had no space for a garden in our Fiat Panda. The ride on the cable car (view pictured) was sadly the highlight.
Good Times Award for Best Event, Festival or Holiday
Bronze Medal: Barcelona vs Sporting de Gijón, Barcelona, Spain
Sharing an arena with almost 100,000 fans of the same team is an awesome experience. And when it's a team with as much passion and history as Barcelona it's double awesome.
Sharing an arena with almost 100,000 fans of the same team is an awesome experience. And when it's a team with as much passion and history as Barcelona it's double awesome.
Silver Medal: Hultsfred Festival, Sweden
The Cure, The Stone Roses, The Gaslight Anthem, Slash, Gorillaz, Justice, Kasabian, Noel Gallagher, Garbage and loads of local acts. The festival atmosphere was really cool even if most Scandinavians prefer to enjoy live music standing perfectly still and having no facial expressions.
The Cure, The Stone Roses, The Gaslight Anthem, Slash, Gorillaz, Justice, Kasabian, Noel Gallagher, Garbage and loads of local acts. The festival atmosphere was really cool even if most Scandinavians prefer to enjoy live music standing perfectly still and having no facial expressions.
Gold Medal: Queen's day, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
If you love the colour orange then you'll love Queen's Day in the Netherlands. You never really know how much people love their Queen until you see them riding bicycles, holding a bottle of Heineken in one hand, a mysterious bag of plant clippings in the other, wearing a giant foam hat and yelling at people who are dancing throughout the city in overcrowded canal boats. We give it three stars.
If you love the colour orange then you'll love Queen's Day in the Netherlands. You never really know how much people love their Queen until you see them riding bicycles, holding a bottle of Heineken in one hand, a mysterious bag of plant clippings in the other, wearing a giant foam hat and yelling at people who are dancing throughout the city in overcrowded canal boats. We give it three stars.
Grammy Award for Best Group Performance
Bronze Medal: Flamenco show at Casa de la Memoria de Al-Andalus, Seville, Spain
We love singing, dancing, guitar playing and rhythmic hand clapping. So of course, when we discovered flamenco we were pleased indeed. We caught a couple of shows while in Seville, but the most pleasing and authentic was this one.
We love singing, dancing, guitar playing and rhythmic hand clapping. So of course, when we discovered flamenco we were pleased indeed. We caught a couple of shows while in Seville, but the most pleasing and authentic was this one.
Silver Medal: The Cure, Hulstfred, Sweden
We aren't the biggest Cure fans, probably not even in the top 25. But seeing them close the second day of Hultsfred Festival at 3:15am as the sun came up just seemed like one of those great music experiences that you tell your grandchildren about as they say "Who?".
We aren't the biggest Cure fans, probably not even in the top 25. But seeing them close the second day of Hultsfred Festival at 3:15am as the sun came up just seemed like one of those great music experiences that you tell your grandchildren about as they say "Who?".
Gold Medal: Le Lapin Agile, Paris, France
It's hard to find a genuinely traditional performance in a place like Paris which has more tourists than rats. But at the Lapin Agile, where typical Frenchies sing typical French songs with a typical French disregard for their audience, you can get exactly that.
It's hard to find a genuinely traditional performance in a place like Paris which has more tourists than rats. But at the Lapin Agile, where typical Frenchies sing typical French songs with a typical French disregard for their audience, you can get exactly that.
My Ears are Burning Award for Song We Heard Way Too Many Times
Bronze Record: Euphoria, by Sweden
Those of you not from Europe probably wouldn't know this song, but it won Eurovision the night before we entered Sweden, and we never heard the end of it. On the plus side though, singing the line "We’re going up-up-up-up-up-u-up" is a lot of fun while trying to drive up a steep mountain.
Those of you not from Europe probably wouldn't know this song, but it won Eurovision the night before we entered Sweden, and we never heard the end of it. On the plus side though, singing the line "We’re going up-up-up-up-up-u-up" is a lot of fun while trying to drive up a steep mountain.
Silver Record: Somebody That I Used to Know, by Gotye feat, Kimbra
It began as a song we actually liked when we left Australia. Then in Belgium we thought they were just playing it cause Gotye is half Belgian. But in France it got much worse. One morning we saw it on TV, heard it on radio and then in the supermarket all before 10am. And one day it will just be a song that we used to know.
P.S. For those of you unfamiliar with Gotye's earlier work check out Learnalilgivinanlovin from 2006.
It began as a song we actually liked when we left Australia. Then in Belgium we thought they were just playing it cause Gotye is half Belgian. But in France it got much worse. One morning we saw it on TV, heard it on radio and then in the supermarket all before 10am. And one day it will just be a song that we used to know.
P.S. For those of you unfamiliar with Gotye's earlier work check out Learnalilgivinanlovin from 2006.
Gold Record: Someone Like You, by Adele
This is another song that's actually quite good and of course we can't say a bad word about Adele. But European radio stations have a special ability to suck the magic from any song, obliterate any artist's integrity and fill the listener with hate and despair. They played this so much that when if we tuned into the end of it, we'd stick to that channel, knowing that we wouldn't hear it again for the next 20 minutes.
This is another song that's actually quite good and of course we can't say a bad word about Adele. But European radio stations have a special ability to suck the magic from any song, obliterate any artist's integrity and fill the listener with hate and despair. They played this so much that when if we tuned into the end of it, we'd stick to that channel, knowing that we wouldn't hear it again for the next 20 minutes.
Life is But a Dream Award for Best Boat Trip
Bronze Medal: Thames River Cruise, London, United Kingdom
We went to England three times during the odyssey but didn't do much sightseeing. One sunny afternoon spent on the Thames was a nice way to get acquainted with our future home.
We went to England three times during the odyssey but didn't do much sightseeing. One sunny afternoon spent on the Thames was a nice way to get acquainted with our future home.
Silver Medal: Sea Kayaking along the Nærøyfjord, Norway
In the Nærøyfjord, named for its narrowness and its fjordliness, we spent the afternoon kayaking past sleepy villages and gushing waterfalls. We've probably said enough about fjords in The Best of Natural Europe, so read that for further details.
In the Nærøyfjord, named for its narrowness and its fjordliness, we spent the afternoon kayaking past sleepy villages and gushing waterfalls. We've probably said enough about fjords in The Best of Natural Europe, so read that for further details.
Gold Medal: Navagio Beach and Blue Caves, Zakynthos, Greece
We'll probably remember the trip to the shipwreck beach as fondly as we will our actual wedding day. The water is actually as blue as in the photos, and having the beach to ourselves and sixty of our favourite people was truly extraordinary.
We'll probably remember the trip to the shipwreck beach as fondly as we will our actual wedding day. The water is actually as blue as in the photos, and having the beach to ourselves and sixty of our favourite people was truly extraordinary.
Award for Best Non-Motorised, Non-Pedal, Non-Floating Journey
Bronze Medal: Horse Riding through Transylvania, Romania
Because it's way more comfortable than a camel and faster than a donkey, we have to give horse riding the Bronze Award in this nonsensical category. The ride through the tranquil Carpathian forest was perfect when mixed with the amusing swearing of our local guide.
Because it's way more comfortable than a camel and faster than a donkey, we have to give horse riding the Bronze Award in this nonsensical category. The ride through the tranquil Carpathian forest was perfect when mixed with the amusing swearing of our local guide.
Silver Medal: Cycling Around the Netherlands
Just as the continent was beginning to heat up, we spent three days in May cycling across the Netherlands. It really is the perfect country to enjoy a relaxing ride past canals, fields of tulips, windmills and forests.
Just as the continent was beginning to heat up, we spent three days in May cycling across the Netherlands. It really is the perfect country to enjoy a relaxing ride past canals, fields of tulips, windmills and forests.
Gold Medal: Ballooning over Cappadocia, Turkey
It's one of those things that you just have to do once, and if you get the chance to do it over Cappadocia, then why not? The views over this crazy landscape in the middle of winter were gorgeous.
It's one of those things that you just have to do once, and if you get the chance to do it over Cappadocia, then why not? The views over this crazy landscape in the middle of winter were gorgeous.
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