Debrief

Well now been home nearly 48 hours and guess what? Still not sleeping that well. Could it be jet lag?
Must admit though the breakfast here is better, coffee not too bad either and as for the sex!!
Reflections on an overseas trip.
Solo Travel
Travelling solo I found quite difficult, especially in countries where English is not the first language.
Have an extra pair of eyes and ears makes finding your way, understanding signage and interpreting what you are being told much easier.
Also I found it quite lonely, especially in Saxony, where I think I went four days without talking to anyone, more than a few stumbling sentences.
Of course being solo means paying more for accommodation (single supplement) or having to share accommodation (dorms in YHA's)
I admire solo travelers who don't have a second language up their sleeve.
Group Travel
The group travel part worked, particularly as we had a small group with similar interests.
We saw lots of larger groups, bus loads of 35-40 who seemed to do a lot of milling around and waiting.
Our group of ten , with a small bus managed to get in and out of places with remarkable speed.
Our guide, Stephen, also got to know us, and we him, rather than just being another face in the crowd.
Some things didn't work that well however.
We had too many sit down lunches that consumed too much of the day. The consensus of the group was smaller snack lunches, finish earlier, allowing exploration of the town we were staying in, then a bigger meal at night.
Trains
The trains in Europe are very efficient. The long distance trains run to time, are fast and a quite economical way of getting around. You also get to see quite a lot of the countryside.
Europe is remarkable flat (well the bit I travelled over).
The Eurail Pass works well, though you need to pick you countries well. I included Austria in my pack, expecting to go there, and didn't.
Dresden
Half a day was just not enough to see an old city that's been rebuilt.
Munich
Great city, with English spoken most places.
Would recommend the English speaking walking tours, booked from the Tourist Info centre at the Central Station.
Especially good "The Nazi Party Origins plus Extension" walk
Brussels
Grey old city, but with a lot to offer. Do the Hop-on, Hop-off Bus thing to get an idea of what to see. Also good walking tours that start right in the centre at Grand Market. Saw some people doing a Segway tour, looked great fun and also bicycle tours. OR you can just walk.
Breugel YHA good value (terrible breakfast and sl noisy) and is quite central.
Paris
This city is a walkers dream. If you are staying  reasonably centrally you can walk anywhere (except perhaps Versailles unless you're keen).
I have been told, the way to see the gardens is get a golf buggy thing!
The metro works well and can get you where you don't want to walk.
Musts are Eiffel Tower, but go early, very early and climb to the second level, then use the lifts. Pick a clear day and the views are expansive.
There are museums all over the place, however all will cost you about $15 pp entry, unless you are there on the first Sunday of the month, then they're free. BUT then they're VERY crowed, go early.
My picks D'Orsay and Louvre.
I found the Pompidou Centre a bit boring.
Versailles was just too crowded and I think I lost the plot there. It was a Saturday too which may not have helped. Need a day there I suspect.
Get the audioguide at each place. Many don't have signage in English. Sit and listen, they are usually very good.
The Paris Tourist Information Centre is near L'Opera, not that easy to find. Go there and get them to book your tickets, as that puts you through the Entry with Tickets queue.
The other thing I would highly recommend are the Paris Walks. If I had found them earlier, I would have done two a day. Well presented, in English of course, some great guides and a way of whetting the appetite for more exploring.
http://www.paris-walks.com/
Another place to go is Montmartre where the views across the city are great.
The number of beggars, beggars belief! They are forever pushing something in you face to sign, shaking paper cups at you or trying the gold ring scam. Outside every museum, at every crossing of the Seine, at the railway stations, you just can't escape them.I found it easier just to wave them away with a terse "Non", but it optional. Some are fronts for the pick-pocket process, I was told.
The French haven't heard about the hazards of smoking and the streets are an ashtray. If you're asthmatic, take your puffers.
In fact, it seems much of Europe haven't got the smoking message.
In spite of their reputation, the Parisians mostly speak English. The more you try to speak French the more they will reply in English.
On our tour we had the Cultural Ambassador, whose approach was, if they didn't understand the first time, shout louder. Believe me, it doesn't work

D-day 36 Repatriation

I don’t know what it is about hotels, why are they so hot, or is it just in Europe. Too hot again and the doona arrangement does not allow for regulating by layering.  All in all another poor night’s sleep.
Nevertheless, surprisingly I survive in time to get breakfast and the shuttle to the airport.
The former was easy, the latter not without its excitement.
The shuttle was a large tourist bus with baggage stored underneath. As we were negotiating a roundabout exit there was the noise of baggage moving about, then someone noticed that the luggage door had strung open and the bus was spewing bags all over the grass verge. Luckily, for me at least, it was the bay with all the aircrew’s baggage. Surprisingly, once the baggage was retrieved, they thought it a great joke with giggles all round.
Even though I was characteristically, hours early, they were accepting check-ins, and after some hesitation about my carry-on (too heavy) I was given my pass, my passport examined, re-examined and finally stamped I passed border control.
I think you get tunnel vision when you travel, as I found myself with a cup of coffee with the Starbucks logo on it, without realising that’s where I had ended up. I had eschewed another vendor, saw a cinnamon spiral, thought that’s for me, and there I was with a Starbucks coffee and a cinnamon  spiral. The latter OK, the former up to the usual Starbucks standard (hot).
The flight seems to board early, though we wait in the plane some time. It fills slowly and turns out is only about half full. I am by myself and I can see at least 4 rows of 4 seats empty, and that’s just my section.
Room to stretch, pity I don’t want to sleep yet.
We land at Abu Dhabi, most modern airport, yet have to catch the bus to the terminal there is no sky bridge. It is suddenly VERY hot, 35C.
The airport is like any other, lots of people, lots of Duty Free, lots of announcements, lots of people running late for flights, and lots of Final calls.
Our flight is never called, or if it is I don’t hear it, and suddenly there is a rush to the gate.
Luckily, I have been invited up the front again, so I have a little private realm, well sort of, to my own.
“Champagne sir, or another sort of drink. Here’s the menu sir. All very nice.”
I break my rule of no alcohol on flights and have a good Australian Shiraz, bliss!
What I hope to be nice, is the flat bed for sleeping over much of the 14 hour flight.
I am sorely down, I really can’t sleep. Once again it’s either too hot or too cold, or my ankle aches, or something digs in, and so it goes on. Then the lady over my shoulder starts to snore.
In reality, I think I did sleep, though not as well as I had hoped.
I have breakfast, as we fly over the outback somewhere at about 2.30PM Sydney time and we land in time for tea tonight.
All very odd really, but that’s time zones for you
Finally, we head into Sydney, start the landing procedure, then at the last minute power on and around we go for another try. The Captain comes on and says something about weather conditions, though a passenger I spoke to later said we were too close to the water.
Either way we finally landed, bit the usual checks and here I am waiting for my plane to Adelaide.
Almost home