Travel Books - Volume 4
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October 1999
Orlando, Florida, USA (continued)
26/Oct/99 - Disney's Animal Kingdom. Went on a safari ride and saw elephants, hippos and giraffes, but no bears! Saw the 3D Bugs Life film then saw the Lion King show. In the evening, saw the fireworks show at EPCOT which was really spectacular, with a giant globe on the lake

27/Oct/99 - quiet day walking along International Drive in the sunshine going round the shops
28/Oct/99 - Last day! Packed my travelling bag and took the bus to the airport. Had to sit in a crowded departure lounge, then ate lots of ice creams on the plane home
29/Oct/99 - landed at Gatwick at 07h00 and got home at 09h30

November 1999
Vienna - flew from Heathrow, but nearly missed flight as it wasn't called in the BA lounge, and so I was the last bear on the plane. Stayed in the Hotel Mercure overnight, had a meeting the following day and then flew home in the evening

London - went along to help out on an Action Learning course, at the Orion Hotel in High Holborn on Friday, stayed overnight, did more on the course on Saturday then went home

Jan 2000
Reading - went to Kings Cross, then Paddington, then on the train to Reading station, then a taxi to the Holiday Inn for another session on the Action Learning course. Had to change to a non-smoking room as the one they put me in to start with was really smelly! Went home on the Saturday

Vienna - back to Vienna for a progress meeting. Stayed in the Mercure again, and had a meal in the Pink Elephant, then flew home after the meeting next day

Vienna - flew out on a Sunday for a change, as I was accompanying someone to site to introduce them round the office. Had a few drinks and biscuits in the BA lounge at Heathrow. Went to Connect offices on the Monday and flew home in the evening

February 2000
London - Went to another Action Learning session at the Orion Hotel in London

March 2000
Yet another Action learning session, this time it was back to the Holiday Inn at Reading

April 2000
Took the Austrian Airlines flight from Heathrow to Vienna. Stayed at the Opernring Hotel opposite the state Opera House. Went for a walk but nothing was open. Had a meeting the following day, then flew home via Heathrow, again with Austrian Airlines

London - Went on the Nanny Run. Drove down to Edmonton to see one of my Aunts, then into London to visit Nan Baddeley, then onto collect Nan Horrocks and  brought her back to Royston for the Easter weekend

June 2000
Buckingham - got the early train into Kings Cross, then walked to Euston and caught the train to Milton Keynes, then taxi to Buckingham for an Action Learning session. Stayed in the Villiers Hotel overnight and then back to Kings Cross the following day. Went in the Old Midland Hotel (St. Pancras Station) before getting on the train home

July 2000
Vienna - went into work at Sema (Triton Square) then caught the Stansted
Express train from Liverpool Street station to Stansted Airport. Then took a Buzz flight to Vienna. It was fairly cheap but pretty squashed! Stayed at the Hotel Rathaus (which it was) overnight. After the meeting at Connect, I went in the business lounge before catching the flight home. Got met by a taxi at Stansted and driven home

London - Caught the train into London, then the tube to Waterloo and had a big cup of coffee at the London Eye. Then I went on the London Eye and got a great view of London. called in to see Nan Horrocks, then went onto Leicester Square and Covent Garden. Went to TGI Fridays, but not really hungry so left without ordering anything and went home

August 2000
Hampton Court Palace - drove down to Hampton Court Palace and had a picnic in the car because it was raining really hard. Went into the palace and saw the Kings Rooms, the Queens Rooms, the Vinery with a 200 year old vine. I went round the maze, had afternoon tea on the terrace (very posh) and then went home

Salou, Spain - Went to Salou in North East Spain for a weeks holiday. I stayed in the hotel room for most of the holiday and worked on my tan. One day though, I went to a naff market, and another day I went to Barcelona and went round the football stadium and museum and also went round the zoo

Me, with one of my friends, a brown bear in the background

My friend Leigh mixed up the films in the cameras and spoiled my photos, so no pictures of the footy stadium. Also while I was there, I got myself a new hat. I got one of those red straw ones with tassels hanging from it, and now me and the other bears take it in turns to wear the hat and be "El Bandito"

On the sun lounger, by the pool, as "El Bandito"

November 2000
Vienna - usual route to Heathrow and got on the plane. I asked the pilot if
I could go up into the cockpit for take-off, so I got to sit in the middle
seat between the pilot and co-pilot for take-off from Heathrow and landing at Vienna. Dead cool! I got the autographs of the pilot and co-pilot, but haven't reproduced them to protect the innocent - but thanks a lot chaps! Flight back was okay but a bit dull in comparison....

January 2001
Went on my first skiing holiday to Andorra, and found that it was pretty easy to do. When I stay in someone's pocket, I can ski all the way down. Great stuff! Now I'm looking forward to next year when I hope to be going again

April 2001
Had a day trip to Stockholm, Sweden. Got up at 04h30 and got picked up by a taxi which took me down to Heathrow. I couldn't go to Heathrow by train, because it was too early and they weren't running. My flight was at 07h40 but got there in plenty of time. Took a taxi from Arlanda airport to the Memory Hotel in Kista for a short meeting. Then walked to the offices of Tele2. After a meeting where I managed to eat a chocolate muffin, I got a taxi back to the airport and went on standby for an early flight - success! Train home, then went out to meet a new puppy friend too!

August 2001
Paris - Got up early on Sunday (26th) and drove to Dover, then got on the ferry to Calais. Drove down the A1 to Paris and our hotel, the Formule1 at Porte de St. Ouen. Monday - everyone went to Disneyland Paris, but I had been before and felt a bit off colour, so I didn't bother going. Tuesday - went on the Metro into Paris and went to the Chartier restaurant, Rue de Fauborg, an old Edwardian place. Then went to the Hard Rock Cafe to get Leigh a new T-shirt. Got the Metro from Grand Boulevards to Bir-el-Hakim to go up the Eifel Tower, and had my picture taken at the top and on the way down. Then went on a boat trip down the Seine. After all that, we had a beer in a café then got on the Metro back to our hotel. Wednesday - went to Parc Asterix and went on the Grande Splatch, the village boat trip, saw the dolphin show, went on the Icarus rollercoaster and then the rubber ring boat ride. Thursday (30th) - packed up and drove home. Had takeaway curry for tea.

Email: brown_bear@ntlworld.com