Contiki 21 day Europe camping Day 1= London to Paris= With the coach packed we left London, after short bus ride and a long chat from our tour manger, we hit the white cliffs of Dover and jumped on a ferry to cross the English Channel. After passing the battle fields of World War 1, we all jumped on the bus mike to get to know each other a little better {lots of embarrassing stories, none about me of course}, with 45 of us plus our three Contiki reps the stories brought us to Paris. After being given our individual jobs {go cookies and dishies!}, we set about setting up our first camp site, with that completed we heading into Paris itself to do an evening tour of 'the city of lights'. Highlights of the night included Notre Dame, a stroll past the Eiffel tower with all its lights, joining the crazy traffic around Arc de Triomphe, going 'mission impossible' style with the bus through the tiny corridors of the louvre, musse d'orsay, musse de l'Armee and the many spectacular bridges. Day 2=Paris sightseeing= With an early breakfast we headed back into Paris to explore on our own. First up was a climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower {spectacular views}, then surviving the Paris metro to explore Notre Dame Cathedral {beautiful} and finished off by a stroll down the banks of the Seine taking all the grand buildings along the way. In the evening we all headed up to an area near the Sacre Coeur {church of the sacred heart, and red light district} for a fun filled Parisian meal {the entertainment was hilarious to say the least!} afterwards we toped the evening off by going to a cabaret {not the Moulin rouge, but we pasted that on the way}, and ending up the evening with most of us dancing up a storm to the juke box back at our camp site bar. Day 3= Paris to Lyon= With another early breakfast, a hangover and the camp site packed up, we jumped on the bus for a quick snooze as we made our way to Lyon. In the soft undulating hills of the Beaujolais region {famous for its red wine} we set up camp and headed to Contiki's own Château de Cruix for some wine tasting {just a quiet night, apart from the infamous snake wine!! Argh!} Day 4= Lyon to French Riviera= Another early start and a long drive, ever changing country side and perfume factory visit along the way and we reach the French Riviera. After setting up camp its time for another quiet night {not!} with cheap drinks and boat races there are no quiet nights for this tour. After more group bonding, the drinks just keep flowing, which of course leads to many hilarious antics including policeman and gauntlets {I wont say any more!!}. Day 5= French Riviera at leisure= After a nice lie in, in groups we all go off to discover different parts of the Riviera. My group heads for Cannes {famous for its film festival} to mix it with the rich and famous on the beach. After a leisurely day soaking up some rays and people watching its back to the camp site for the group, where we get all glamed up to go to Monaco {spectacular drive}. After having wind blown Champaign at the Royal palace, we head for the high rollers at the casino {so much money in this place!!}. Without too much loss we retire to our camp site only to be greeted by a few more beverages! {'To the pub'}. Day 6= French Riviera to Florence {Italy}= After a quick drive through Nice {the capital of the French Riviera} it's on to Pisa the home of the leaning tower. After the great photo op at Pisa it's on to Florence {Renaissance capital}. After setting up camp and dinner its time to hit the town! At Florence's largest night spot 'the space electronic disco' we hit the dance floor and being that we all know each other so well now its time for some karaoke {yes I got up too, and yes I did sing Spice Girls 'Stop right now'}. Day 7= Florence sightseeing= Today started with a demonstration into the making of leather goods, and then on to a quick hangover cure {maccas} and a shop around the markets. After lunch it was time for a guide tour, we got to see the piazza Della Signoria, the Duomo {4th largest cathedral in the world}, Giotto's tower, Ponte Veccio and Santa Croce. After some more market shopping and a quick snooze on the stone steps of the church, it was time to get ready for our group shot. Then on to a Tuscan dinner and back out on the town! Day 8=Florence to Rome= Nursing yet another hangover, it's off to Rome! After another long day in the coach {yep most of it spent asleep! But there was one time when we were awake, that was to taste the worlds most famous gelato!} we finally make it to this historic city. With camp set up it's off to stroll through the ancient ruins, starting with the colosseum {Russell Crowe eat your heart out!}, then Capitoline Hill, Trevi Fountain, pantheon and finally piazza Navona for dinner and a characterature {Go manual labor!}. After dinner it's back to camp for some much needed sleep and maybe a couple of drinks! {'I'm up, you're up!'} Day 9=Rome sightseeing= With another early start it's off to join the queue to get into the Vatican City {Smallest country in the world}. Hours later we emerge dumb struck and in awe of all the art we've just seen including the amazing Sistine Chapel {which even has sshhh men!}, then it's on to Saint Peter's Basilica {where we started with this cool guided tour but had to give it up due to time constraints}. With a very quick walk we're back at the colosseum for our imperial guided tour {with a local guide}, and what a history lesson that was, it also included heaps about the Roman Forum! After a quick shop and a visit to the Spanish steps, we take the Italian metro back to camp were its time for a p party {I was very inventive and went as a plastic bag!}, quiet a funny night! Day 10=Rome to Venice=okay by now I'm starting to get use to waking up with a hangover and sleeping it off on the bus, but today we had a surprise stop at Verona {the home of Romeo and Juliet}, we even got to see the balcony that Juliet shouts her love from! With camp set up its time for a recharge of batteries {of course this involves a group of us sitting outside the toilets for hours! Oh the joys of camping!}, what else to keep us amused then a few card games and a couple of drinks! Day 11= Venice sightseeing {half way mark}= of course Venice is on the water, so the only way to get to the city itself is via boat, arriving at Saint mark's basilica, we are all swamped by the plague proportions of pigeons {so much so that they lace the pigeon food is laced with contraceptives!}. After a demonstration into glass and lace making it's off to get lost in one of the most romantic cities of the world! And lost is just what we got! Ending up following graffiti arrows we finally find our way to the Rialto Bridge and its markets, after purchasing some of the famous carnivale masks, its back to Saint Mark's square just in time to see the whole thing flood! {If you didn't know Venice is sinking!} After watching the waters recede its time for a gondola ride around the spectacular canals, how romantic! Back at camp, its time to party as its one of the boy's birthday {new drink to try called attitude adjuster!! Trust me it did just that!!}, plus it's time to receive our designed Contiki shirts {I must admit they did turn out good, if I do say so myself!}. Day 13= Venice to Vienna {Austria} = This was one of our most picturesque drives so far, past through the place where 'the sound of music' was filmed {and of course a little rendition! Go the moves to Do, Ra, me!} And on to Vienna, where it was time for a bit of culture, as we attended a Mozart and Strauss concert {there was also fantastic singers and dancers}. Day 14= Vienna sightseeing= With our tour manager in charge, we discovered the palace of the Hapsburgs, the State opera house and the memorial to those affected by the concentration camps of WW11. Then it was time to shop {my favorite hobby!}, okay with few hours wasted it was time for the old Vienna Schnapps museum! After listening to how schnapps is made it was time for taste testing, and which one was first on my list Absthines of course! After a few too many shots, we were off to a fun park {biggest one I've very seen!}; leaving my inhibitions at home I took on all the scariest rides, and man there were a few!!