20th August 2001

Hello everybody, 

Yet another exciting installment (I hope) of my traveling adventures which is my pleasure to share with you!!! 

Since I last wrote from Switzerland after singing the hills are alive in the Alps, I went to Paris for the night and of course I sat under the Eiffel Tower drinking red wine and eating a baguette with cheese, cliché I know!! Not a bad way to relax!! 

Then I was off to San Sebastian in Spain. 3 countries in 3 days and every time I was in a shop I had to pause for a moment to work out which language to use!! 

Anyway, San Sab was amazing. Cool lifestyle-everything shuts down during the arvo so you can have a siesta or go to the beach and then they reopen at night. Dinner is around 10pm and the night life starts cranking after 11pm. One day as we wandered up to the main street after being on the beach (can't believe I was in the snow a week earlier!!) we noticed people and TV cameras. Before we knew it we were at the finish line for the world cycling champs and we saw them cross the line!! Gee the Spanish sure know how to party, after that celebration, the next day they began a new festival (who knows what it was in aid of, I think they just have constant festivals for the sake of partying!!) We watched a 25 mins fireworks display, bands were marching through the streets, babies to 100yr olds (I'm not exaggerating) were dancing in the streets. Amazing family atmosphere, so good that everyone partying together at 1am!! Next morning at 730am when we left to catch the bus, there were still people in the streets drinking beer!! They are hard core!! 

Then it was off to Barcelona. Great place but I did feel pretty unsafe, pick pocketing is everywhere. Anyway, so much to see here, did a hop on hop off tour. Saw the 1992 Olympics area and saw a new cathedral in the process of being built, started 100 yrs ago and won't be finished for another 100. Maybe my grandchildren will see it complete!! It was still amazing to see. Yet the highlight was the nightclubs here. One night in the middle of the club, a crazy Spanish guy conducted Spanish lessons for everyone, it was so much fun!!! The nightclub complex is on a massive wharf and only starts cranking at 12. 
Best of all is that these clubs have awesome podiums to dance on!!! 

Then we went to Nice. Pebbles instead of sand did not bother me too much at all, it's nice not to get sand in your ears for a change!! Went roller blading along the esplanade which reminded me of St. Kilda, but of course because I'm accident prone, soon as I left the shop with the skates, I fell over, some poor French guy tried to pull me up but I fell on him too, and of course I fell on my left knee hard FOR THE THIRD TIME!!! It was pretty funny!! Then after I finally got it together, an old French man yelled out to me as I went by, 'hello beautiful girl' and I nearly smacked into a bin!!! It didn't get any easier after a few beers either!!! (thought it might rid me of my fear!!) 

One night also in Nice, at about 11pm there was a huge open air market, a busker was on a piano and was playing fame, so of course I had a sing, it was so much fun and I even got a round of applause!! Then we sat on steps and found a Slovakian dude with guitar and had another sing along, great until a scary homeless French man tried to give me his teddy in exchange for my beer!! 

Also did a day in Monaco, Monte Carlo, and these people are rich! To even apply for residency here, the administration fee is 1 million. You should have seen the boats and cars!! Went to the casino also to try and find a rich husband because I think there lifestyle would be kind of nice!!! 

Now I'm in Venice and off to Florence tomorrow then Rome. Greek islands and Turkey is also on the cards but not confirmed and after that is hopefully the sound of music tour in Salzburg (I have to do it) and then finishing in Amsterdam to see Anne Frank's house. The more I see the more I want to see!! 

Anyway have to go. 

THANKYOU ALL FOR YOUR EMAILS!! (I just wanted to stress that!!) 
Please keep them coming in, but unfortunately I can't reply very much because I really am passing through these places so quickly it's hard to find time. 

Hope everyone is well and happy, please keep me updated with what is going on!! 

Love you all 

Katie Potatie