What's in store in YUROP!!!

Yes, I know that's not how you spell it. But this is my blog and I'll spell it anyway I want! I'm just going jot down what my plans and activities are on my FIRST TRIP OVERSEAS!! There are so much room for activities! I'm going on my own but I will have some company in different parts of Europe. I will spend some time with my good friends Stefan, Alena and Elisa. Stefan is helping me by making a list of cool-things-that-most-tourists-don't-get-a-chance-to-see-and-the-touristy-stuff-as-well. I have had the pleasure of meeting these guys completely by chance. My father passed on my phone number to Elisa (without my knowledge) while she was backpacking her way through Australia. I'm glad he did, I was able to show her around some cool places, take her into work to meet some of our animals. Then when some of her family came over I was fortunate enough to show them a tiny bit and have some lovely dinners with them. Even managed to get them on the last train to Brisbane. Unfortunately our time was brief but they are really nice people, and Stefan has the same sense of humour as I do. I'm looking forward to spending some time with them. I've made some really good friends and I look forward to seeing them now I FINALLY get a chance to visit them. Another friend I will get to see is Gina, one of my favourite people to see, you can't be around her and not smile, she's infectious (in a good way, not an itchy burning kinda way)! I haven't seen her in a very long time, and so much has changed. I can't wait to see her in December. And just before I leave I get to do a short road trip with the new steggles, fresh from her South American foray. 8 Weeks off work, 13 countries, maybe 14. Countries are..... Malaysia (yeah I'm staying one night so I'm counting it) England, Norway, Germany, Czech Rep, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Wales and maybe Scotland.
Activities:

Manchester United v Tottenham @ Old Trafford
Manchester United v Valencia (Champions League) @ Old Trafford
NFL Denver Broncos v San Francisco 49ers (my fav team) @ Wembley 

Killer Whale watching & snorkeling Norway. I'm still waiting for a response from them, and it's getting a little bit frustrating since it is a major part of my trip. Since the location is inside the Arctic Circle it is the perfect time to see Aurora Borealus (The northern lights). It's quite expensive and it's going to be cold. I'm looking forward to this part of the trip, it'll be the first country I've been in that doesn't speak english and it's a country that I've always wanted to see.
http://www.tysfjord-turistsenter.no/safari/english/

Bobsled run at the Olympic bobsled track in Lillehammer!!! Doing over 130Kph and pulling 5Gs! I've always loved the sport of bobsled. All I need is a Jamaican t-shirt to take when I'm on it!
http://www.olympiaparken.no/english/index.asp?menuItem=19

Tour of concentration camp in Berlin. I'm very interested to see and hear a side of war that I really know nothing of. My knowledge of the WW2 isn't that great, I know the general comings and goings and the atrocities that happened, but it was long before my time and in a country on the other side of the world. I know we were involved and our country was under attack. I'm intrigued to hear the stories, the history and to see where it all happened, I know it will emotional. I hope to take some photographs that will be able to show the feeling and emotion of such a place. 
http://www.insidertour.com/tours.php/cat/27/id/43/title/Tourdetails

Take in the view from Innsbruck's ski jump. For some people this isn't much and I'm not planning to spend too much time in Innsbruck. But the view from the ski jump, and it's restaurant looks pretty spectacular. I want to see how far these human rockets jump and the steepness of the jump itself. Winter sports are a long way away from anything I know on the Gold Coast. Speaking about winter sports, I have managed to find find a Super G and Downhill event in Austria (Reiteralm) right when I'm going through the region!!

http://www.bergisel.info/en/index.php

 
Scenic helicopter flight in the Swiss Alps
http://www.air-zermatt.ch/air_zermatt_2007_en/content/index3_EN.php?content=EN012

Drive the Nurburgring/Nordschleife. The home of Mark Webber's first F1 victory. I will drive it in a VW GTI Golf in late Novemeber. Not only is it a current F1 track but it also attaches itself to the old F1 track where Sir Jack Brabham, Fangio, Moss all raced in their prime!
http://www.rent-racecar.de/english/vehicles-prices/index.htm

Christmas markets in Cologne and Brussels. Apparently the must see for me. I'm looking forward to getting into the Christmas spirit the European way, with snow!
http://www.christmasmarkets.com/

Parts I'll be visiting: London, Manchester, Oslo, Tysfjord, Lillehammer, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Innsbruck, Luzern, Zermatt (The Matterhorn), Lake Garda, Venice, Florence, Rome, Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Isle of Capri, Pompeii, Pisa (for a photo), La Spezia (Cinque Terra), Monaco, Nice, Cologne, Amsterdam, Brussels, Tornai, Paris, Bath, Cardif. Those are the highlights, there will be many more little places I'll experience.

So there it is in a nutshell, well a large nutshell, maybe a man made nut genetically engineered to fit all of this in. I can't wait!