Sunday, May 18, 2014
No Balkan on this one.
Well Mr Bond, it has been a while. I took a sojourn to Norfolk Island and then to Robe, even to New Zealand last week and Indonesia a while back too. But now it is time to get back to business with an exploration of the Balkans almost upon us. Starting in Honkers, I know you love Honkers, then to Amsterdam taking care with the dykes, before it's time to dust off the old Tuxedo in Vienna where the journey really begins. Ahh Vienna, I'm sure it won't fade to grey, and then across Slovenia to Kumrovec, Zagreb, Plitvice and Split in Croatia; staying with President there. Then Mostar and Sarajevo - I'm sure you know that well. No archdukes around these days but maybe you were there in the 90's was it? Then Dubrovnik, a bit of Adriatic cruise before traveling on to Kotor in Montenegro and finally Tirana. A short stop in Ohrid, Macedonia, Skopje and then Sofia. Didn't you know a girl Sofia? Probably many knowing you. And finally Istanbul. Well then a short stop in Dubai and another in Tokyo on the way home. Not long now Bond. I'll be sure and keep the briefings up on this trip, even if I do run into Sofia :-)
Ahh and the new wheels are proving quite good, shame I can't take it on the trip with me.
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Well after missing the Hong Kong flight, a bit of help was received and I took a Dubai connection instead. Enjoyed the first class up the top of the A380 but then the Austrian's made business class look like economy from 30 years ago. Glad I wasn't in economy, pity I was in business! But hey, a bit of drama at Schipol with some fool taking a USB stick in the shape of a pistol through customs. He won't be doing that again I suspect after the attention he got. So in Vienna now and will check out the gardens. Have to take care with the injured back, it still doesn't feel the best and reminds me occasionally if I move wrong.
ReplyDeleteInteresting ... I've often taken a pistol the shape of a USB drive through customs. Hadn't occurred to me to do it the other way around.
ReplyDeleteVienna is such a beautiful city. Years ago I spent some time there with Kara Milovy. If you ever get the chance to hear her play don't miss it. Better still, ride the Prata ferris wheel with her.
Good to hear from you Sir Roger. I don't recall Kara, I'll have to find out about her. On the bus now to Zagreb, wifi on the bus, amazing what Q can do, and yes might have to get him to investigate the USB idea. Had a juice dinner last night, we arrive to fanfare, the red carpet was literally rolled out and the flags waved for us, such theatrics, I loved it. I found Vienna very pretty, shame I couldn't get some city photos but at a stop at a monastery, the systergeon
ReplyDeletemonks, and I got some photos. Very impressive monastery. Almost at the border with Slovenia now, I have convinced the guide to do a quick stop so I can get the feet on the ground and snap a shot.
DeleteGeneral Georgi Koskov's girlfriend and then your love interest! How could I forget Kara!
ReplyDeleteNever had much to do with Systergeon monks. Spent some time with some Greek Orthodox monks once, but there was some bloke fiddling on the roof and I got very distracted. Though, admittedly, not as distracted as I was by the lovely Melina Havelock.
ReplyDeleteSurprised they're letting you take photos of the border crossing. I find that sort of thing is best left to the professionals. Unless, of course, you enjoy spending months at a time in a dank cellar while big men with bigger moustaches live out their fantasies with even bigger sticks. And electrodes.
Yes there are definitely men here with big moustaches! But this injury has the agents of SMERSH fooled so I can get the odd photo here and there. Checked out the war area around Plitvice this afternoon, houses with bullet holes, bomb craters. Did some recon with the wife of an oil and gas expert. Asthma she said she had and so had to stay on the bus with me while the rest if the group toured the waterfalls. We've changed drivers, this one looks a bit suspect, Dravo - May need a check done. We lost one last night too, poor old dear had to go to hospital maybe she'll be back in Dubrovnik. But I am collecting lots of Intel on the Balkans including the General of Zadar, where I am now.
ReplyDeleteYou might want to be careful getting involved with anyone from the 'oil and gas' industry. Some time ago I was mixed up with such a girl, electric she was. Perhaps she would have done better in a different line of work. Of course, it all ended badly, as these things so often do. Still, if you want to blow up Istanbul there's bound to be someone who doesn't want you to blow up Istanbul. Yin and Yang and all that.
ReplyDeleteHmmm ... I wonder what Christmas Jones is up to these days.
You do have a history with Istanbul. The cisterns or medusa heads was it in From Russia with Love? I had to skip a few things but did cruise the Bosphorus and quite an enjoyable time that was although I paid for it after but then contented myself with an evening watching four belly dancers. Ahh I do like a good belly dancer. Salima, Turkey's best belly dancer, built like Christmas Jones. Then the next day as the tour group left I watched a bit of the football, quite a good game of Brazil versus Chile, and listened to the negotiations between the Indians and the Turk for trucking from Istanbul to Delhi via Iraq. Apparently the Indians had a ship seized by the Somalis who had the crew hostage and wanted $10 million but they weren't going to pay as the ship is only worth $1 million - no thought to the hostages. Anyway, after a high speed transit through the streets if Istanbul, 140kph in a 90 zone, the taxi got up to, I made it to Istanbul airport. Then flew to Dubai surrounded by a number of Arab women and their maids. The airline kindly got me to my hotel. Now to Tokyo and back or direct I have to decide. Bit of a complex transfer in Tokyo and one never knows where Odd Job is,
ReplyDeleteAh, but Kissy Suzuki might be there to meet you.
ReplyDeleteKissy Suzuki! I thought you meant the Adelaide Roller Derby skater! But now I recall, the woman you had a child too although they cut that bit out of the movie and yoyu were suffering amnesia after the encounter with Blofield. She was the Pearl Diver who looked pretty good in a swimsuit, a true "007's Oriental Eyeful". She even died of old age, which is very unusual for your girls. But, have decided to cut the journey short and hop it direct back to Adelaide. Might have to pop in for a new suit before I go though: http://www.uaeresults.com/1094803/Tailors_-_Mens/Dubai/James_Bond_Tailoring/
ReplyDelete