Travel Books - Volume 5
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September 2001
19th - Drove down to Portsmouth but could not find a hotel - everything was fully booked. Finally got into the Woodville Hotel in Florence Road - hoorah!
20th - Next day we drove to Southampton and went for a quick walk round the town. Then got on the Red Funnel ferry and sailed across to the Isle of Wight. Arrived at East Cowes and drove to Yarmouth. Had lunch in The Bugle, then drove on to the Needles. Got a cable car down to the beach and back. Then onto our hotel - The Hermitage Country House.
21st - went to Osborne House where Queen Victoria used to live. Very nice. Went on a pony and trap ride, saw the Swiss Cottage (and had a lovely lunch there), and did the trip round the house.
22nd - left the hotel and went to Niton, but didn't go on the walk, as I was a bit tired. Then onto Godshill for lunch at the Royal Essex Cottage. Walked round the town and went in the Lace Shop, the Old Smithy, the Cider Barn, but best of all, the Teddy Shop. Stopped off at a garden centre on way home, then caught the ferry and drove back home.

Stockholm (25th Sept) - another early start - 05h00!! Taxi ride through the fog but got to Heathrow with no problems. Had a quick lunch at the Memory Hotel in Kista, then sat in the bag during the meeting. Got an early flight home and arrived at Heathrow at about 17h30, and got home at about 20h00.

October 2001
Sweden - (15th) early start again at 04h30 to get to Heathrow and catch the 07h10 to Stockholm. Changed planes at Stockholm and then flew to Ronneby airport in the south of Sweden, then took a taxi to Karlskrona. Staying at the First Statt hotel in the centre of Karlskrona.
(16th) - was woken up at 06h30 by a fire alarm in the hotel so had to go and stand outside. We had 2 fire engines and 2 ladders attend. Since I was awake, I went for a jog around Karlskrona, mainly along the seafront.
(17th) - overslept a bit so had to pack quickly and go to the airport. Got to Ronneby (the nearest airport to Karlskrona) and then flew back to Stockholm. Had to wait a while then changed planes and flew to Riga in Latvia. Went to a meeting with Tele2 Latvia but didn't say much. After the meeting, I went to the hotel for some sleep.
(18th) - got up and went to the airport to catch a flight back to Stockholm. Had a meeting in the afternoon with Tele2 Sweden, then went round their offices.
(19th) - had a meeting in the Sema offices in Stockholm, then rushed to the airport but missed my flight, so took a later one, going through Amsterdam, then changing for a flight back to Stansted. Got collected by a taxi and taken home.

October 2002
Florida - Long time since I've been travelling, but finally flew to Florida for my holidays. Tues--went to Typhoon Lagoon but didn't dare swim with the sharks! Weds--went round the Beltz shopping centre, which was better than I remember it from before. Thurs--went to Seaworld to see my old friend Shamu. Fri--was for Disney MGM Studios and went on the Rock'n'Roll Rollercoaster twice. Sat--went back to Seaworld again for a relaxing day at the beer school. Sun--went to Disney Animal Kingdom and went on the safari. Wasn't sure if they would let me out so I had to hide in a pocket. Had dinner in the Rainforest café. Mon--went to Kennedy Space Centre and went round a space shuttle and walked (well, carried really) round the Saturn V rocket. Also met a real spacemen. Tues--dropped in to Seaworld again for some scrummy cake. Weds--Disney Epcot all day and went on the rides and saw the firework show again. Had a few free days then went to Discovery Cove to swim with dolphins. I thought they might eat me so I hid--I'm only small!!

January 2003
Andorra - Went skiing to Andorra again--third year in a row! Skiied from top to bottom again and went over to Pal, skiing cross country there. Here's a nice picture of me on my mono-ski and also one of me outside the café

..and here's a picture of my Auntie Pat going through my travel diaries..

Email: brown_bear@ntlworld.com