Saturday 21 May 2011

Sat 14th May - Marlin Apartments London Bridge - Empire Square


4 Star serviced apartments 

34 EMPIRE SQUARE WEST EMPIRE SQUARE, LONDON, SE1 4NH

Situated at London Bridge, just minutes from London’s financial heart, this landmark development provides unrivalled access to London’s city centre and it’s most inspiring attractions. These cutting edge apartments fuse London’s cosmopolitan culture with award winning contemporary design, encompassing a vast internal courtyard and private landscaped gardens. Modern furnishings complement the large living space in each apartment, with many offering striking views across London. The emphasis is on light and space, with most apartments boasting large scenic windows and floor-to-ceiling glazing. A 24-hour concierge operates on site and many extra services are available, such as next day dry cleaning, car parking and an additional maid service. 




London Saturday 24th May

The O2 - is a large entertainment district on the Greenwich peninsula, including an indoor area, a music club, a cinema, an exhibition space, piazzas, bars and restaurants. It was built largely within the former Millennium Dome, a large dome-shaped building built to house an exhibition celebrating the turn of the third millennium; as such, The Dome remains a name in common usage for the venue.

Exterior of the Dome -



Entrance hall


Restaurant precinct


Armadillo lunch stop – American food served at its best, milkshakes in milk bottles and stacked burgers on offer


Titanic Exhibition - On April 15, 1912, Titanic, the world’s largest ship sank after colliding with an iceberg, claiming more than 1,500 lives and shaking the world’s confidence in the infallibility of modern technology. This exhibition demonstrates the compelling stories, historically accurate room recreations, and more than 300 authentic artefacts recovered on our seven research expeditions since the Ship’s discovery in 1985.




HMS Belfast – is a museum ship museum, originally a Royal Navy light cruiser, permanently moored in London on the River Thames and operated by the Imperial War Museum.


Construction of Belfast, named after the capital city of Northern Ireland and one of ten Town class cruisers, began in December 1936. Commissioned in early August 1939 shortly before the outbreak of the WWII, Belfast was initially part of the British naval blockade against Germany.



In November 1939 Belfast struck a German mine and spent more than two years undergoing extensive repairs. Returning to action in November 1942 with improved firepower, radar equipment and armour, Belfast was the largest and arguably most powerful cruiser in the Royal Navy at the time.




Belfast saw action escorting Arctic convoys to the Soviet Union during 1943 and in December 1943 played an important role in the Battle of the North Cape, assisting in the destruction of the German warship Scharnhorst.




Belfast saw further combat action in 1950-52 during the Korean War and underwent an extensive modernisation between 1956 and 1959. A number of further overseas commissions followed before Belfast entered reserve in 1963.



Expected to be disposed of as scrap, in 1967 efforts were initiated to preserve Belfast as a museum ship. In 1971 the government decided against preservation, prompting the formation of the private HMS Belfast Trust to campaign for her preservation. The Trust was successful in its efforts, and the government transferred the ship to the Trust in July 1971. Opened to the public in October 1971 Belfast became a branch of the Imperial War Museum in 1978.



Krakow April 2011


Eating Out (9/10) – very cheap for food in restaurants, you can eat in the top quality places for the fraction of the price you would pay in similar place in other European countries. Beers was also the best drink option as wine was very expensive.

Nightlife (7/10) – lots of bars around the square open until the last man standing, a few clubs on the outskirts of town for a dance but these open only Fri/Sat

Outdoors (6/10) – a compact city it’s easy to see all the main sites walking around when the weather is good, there is lots to see but most of which are church related, but there is also the castle.

Romance (6/10) – with nice strolls around the square or walking around the city park there certainly some romance in the air

Shopping (7/10) – a brand new modern shopping complex is located above the main rail station, with three floors this mall certainly accommodates for most shopping needs

Sight- seeing (7/10) – most of the sites within the city are based around churches, however the old Ghetto with the synagogues gives an indication of the horrors of the war time. Moreover Schindler’s factory was really worth a visit.  Lots of tours to places on the outskirts of the city are worth considering, in particular the one to Auschwitz.

Hotel (6/10) – was basic in its set up, but one of the biggest spaced rooms we have been in while travelling in Europe, you get what you pay for as while basic it was just a few minutes from the main square.

Communication/attitude (8/10) – very nice people with very nice attitude, and all could speak English so communication was never a struggle. The only time you could get in trouble is if you insult their religion.  

Transport (6/10) – transport to the city from the airport was basic set up but easy (no train station just a platform at the airport). No transport was needed within the city as it’s so compact but trams easy to use if required.

Value for money (10/10) – excellent, the amount of money needed for a week here would last you only 2 days in Paris or London

Overall 72/100 =72 %


Friday 20 May 2011

Krakow day 5 – 30th April 2011


Church of St. Stanislaw (Church on the Rock) is a Paulite church and monastery on the banks of the Vistula River. It is dedicated to St. Stanislaw, the bishop of Krakow who was murdered on this site on orders of the king in 1079. The cause of the conflict between bishop and king is complex and not entirely known, but it reached a boiling point when Stanislaw excommunicated the king. The king then accused the bishop of treason and had him brutally killed in this church. Stanisław was canonized by Pope Innocent IV in 1253. He was the first native Polish saint and is still patron saint of Poland, Krakow, and some Polish dioceses.




Statues of the Popes from Poland decadent throughout time including Pope Jon Paul II


Statue of the modern miracles –


St Stanislaw pool – ledged has it the bishops finger was thrown into this pool and since that time the water within have had healing properties, which Dan decided to have a drink of and found to have a not so nice sulphur/Ammonia after taste



Wawel Dragon – also known as the Dragon of Wawel Hill, is a famous dragon in Polish folklore. Legend has it he laired in a cave at the foot of Wawel Hill on the bank of the Vistula River. Wawel Hill is in Krakow, which was then the capital of Poland. In some stories the dragon lived before the founding of the city, when the area was inhabited by farmers.


A spot of lunch on the square – on our final day as we had our lunch the weather finally turned from the sunshine we had for 4 days in to a heavy thunder storm but for us it was time to leave and head home. While everyone else got brollies out, Dan decided it was time for one last ice cream J