Dinner Time

There's lots of good places to eat and drink in Bruges. This a nice comfy bar with table service and lots of nice drink to choose from. So I can sit in a big comfy chair, look through the menu and wine list and rest my wings. I would put my feet up but my legs are too short for this chair. After this refreshment break I'll continue my tour.

Swan Ride in Bruges

Wandering around Bruges I found this swan ride. The swan is a symbol of Bruges and its a nice touch to have one for a dragon only ride. You get a running commentary from the Swan as you fly over the sights. I don't know what the letters and numbers above are, maybe it was the old Belgian Franc price.

Bruges

Here I am in Bruges. The train from Brussels was nice, a double decker and I sat upstairs to get a nice view. It rained very heavily when I got here, the road behind me is flooded! or it may be a canal, it was difficult to tell at times. What I've seen so far is very pretty. Lots of horses, chocolate and water. The buildings are nice as well, different to the UK. I'm here for quite a while so should be able to see lots of it.

Caernarfon Castle

Here I am at Caernarfon Castle. Lots of seagulls here so have decided to swoop down on a couple of unsuspecting ones. Caernarfon is in Gwynedd in north Wales. It's a large impressive castle. King Edward I started building the castle in 1283, I'm sure he had help otherwise he would still be building it. It is one of several castles he built (yes definitely he got some builders in) to establish English control over Wales (boo!!!). It was sacked in 1294 by Madog ap Llywelyn (hooray!! I could have helped with the fire). The English retook the town the following year (boo!) and started rebuilding.

Kastrup Airport

On the way back home now. Sitting in the lounge at Kastrup Airport. I've got a nice coffee here. No sign of champagne, but after a search I did find the wine, looks like they were hiding it . Expect the nice people on the plane will rustle up a drop or two though. It's been a nice few days in Copenhagen, fun to meet up with lots of dragons.

Dragon Ride in Copenhagen

Another 'dragons only ride'. This time a ride on a large dragon for dragons. Here we are getting ready for lift off. Hope the crowds get out of the way for take-off.

Boat Ride in Copenhagen

I decided a good way to see Copenhagen was by boat. This trip goes round the canals and a short way into the open waters. It's quite a long boat (am I allowed to say that about a boat here??). It's also open so hope it doesn't rain. It isn't a dragons only ride so quite a few people on here as well.

Richard I Outside Parliament

This is Richard I, or The Lion Heart, outside Parliament. He's been there for 150 years. His arm must hurt by now. I couldn't go and chat as there is a fence in the way. The police don't like people, or dragons, climbing over.

back on the Airbus

Flying again. On the flight from Sydney, a big Airbus again. Had the getting on the plane champagne. Was a small plane from Christchurch. Sydney lounge was very busy, found some food and drink though.

Get very dry on these flights. A nice drink of water helps. A very handy cubbyhole for the bottle of water in the seat.

Larnach Castle

The weather is bad and I'm on the Otago Peninsula. This is Larnach Castle, in the rain. It is New Zealands only castle.

The entrance to Larnach Castle has a familiar looking character guarding it!

Queenstown IV

Helicopter ride! Take off from the airport and land on the Remarkables, the mountain range opposite. I got out and had a walk around. Spectacular views. This photo is me back in the helicopter before taking off for the rest of the flight, you can see Lake Wakatipu behind me. Round in a big circle over mountains and rivers before landing.

More excitement. This time a sheep ride. No comfortable seat this time though.

Queenstown II

Long trip back from Millford Sound. Nipped out for something to eat. Ribs, this takes me back to when we could terrorise small villages!

I'm posing in front of Lake Wakatipu. It really is beautiful here. My hotel is a short walk (or fly) along the lake from the town centre, very pleasant.

Lake Pukaki

Driving from Kaikoura to Mount Cook takes you past lake Pukaki. Its an unusual colour. With the Southern Alps behind its wonderful sight.

To get to Mount Cook you have to drive along the length of the lake. The road goes over a couple of single lane bridges. Its all quite spectacular.

Kaikoura Whale Watch II

Saw two whales. Now there are lots of dolphins. They are Dusky Dolphins. They jump out of the water an awful lot. Its very difficult to catch them on camera.

They aren't that easy to picture swimming in the water either. They move very fast.

Kaikoura

Having dinner in Kaikoura. The napkins are green, the colour I stand on in the Welsh flag. I look like an athlete when they drape the flag round their shoulders now!

Having eaten I thought I'd fly over some of the mountains. Quite a bit of snow up here. This is looking north from the hotel I'm staying in.

On The Ferry

Thankfully the storm has cleared this morning. I'm on the ferry. Its a bit choppy but not too bad.

Calmed down a bit now we are in open water. Calm enough for me to have one drink of sparkling stuff. Its a few hours over to the South Island so plenty of time for cups of tea and a few nibbles. I'll go out on deck later, it's quite pretty when we get to the South Island.

Wellington III

I'm wandering around central Wellington looking for bees. I'm told there is a bee hive in the centre. I can't see it.

The predicted big storm is here. All ferries cancelled. This brave container has decided to go for a swim. I'm not standing in front of the camera for this one!

Lake Taupo II

Another one of me at Lake Taupo. I look even lovelier in this one. Er, it looks even lovelier in this one!!

There's some birds on the shore so I've got my big lens out. Hope to get a good photo.

Napier

Driven up to Napier. Lots of winding roads on the mountains, very exciting. Lots of road works as well, not so exciting. Napier has lots of Art Deco buildings as it was destroyed by an earthquake in the 1930's and rebuilt. I like this building.

I found a lovely dog ride tour of Napier. It was going really well until the dog walker decided to hail a cab!

Sydney IV

Having climbed the Opera House I have decided its best viewed by flying over it. Not so many tourists up here.

Here I am posing with Sydney Harbour Bridge behind me. I flew over it first and saw lots of people climbing it. It looked thirsty work.