Barcelona, a stroll in the Old City, a Tapas Bar, staying safe & shopping in Spain

We rewind the clock to three days ago to our second day in Barcelona. One of the advantages in staying longer in one place, is that you don't have to rush around trying to fit in all the attractions of a new city. You have the chance to stroll around, savouring all the sights, sounds, and tastes of a place. Which brings us to a Tapas bar near our apartment. Quimet & Quimet located on the Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes  is critically acclaimed as one of the best Tapas bars in Barcelona. Lined floor to ceiling with wines and spirits from around the world, we were lucky to obtain a table before the place filled up. Tapas bars have become popular in the Western World, however this is the authentic cuisine. I think it really is just a chance to have some snacks and a drink or 'to get your swerve on' before having a big lunch at 2pm, and then a sleep in the afternoon. You can't say the Spanish don't know how to live.

Suitably refreshed we stroll down to the Old City, which is clustered around the Port of Barcelona. My initial impressions, and from looking out my window is that Barcelona consists of six story apartment buildings with narrow streets. So, nearly everyone, except the very rich, live in apartments, and walk or catch public transport or zip around on those little European scooters. As a result people live on the streets, with an abundance of cafes, and small restaurants. This 'European lifestyle' is catching on in Australia, and is certainly an attractive alternative, and probably more sustainable way of living than the car dependent urban sprawl of most of our cities.

The La Rambla is the broad main street that runs from the harbour, and is busy with slow walking tourists. Therefore it is here that you probably have to be the most careful of 'pickpockets'. You may of heard of someone who has had something stolen in Spain, but there's a few things that you can do to keep your belongings safe. I recommend that you keep your wallet in a front pocket, when it gets crowded, it's easy just to put a hand in your pocket covering it. In the other pocket you keep the small amount of cash to pay for things you will buy that day, without having to take out your wallet. Leave half your cards, your passport, plus half your cash in the hotel safe or in your room. The expensive SLR camera should be your backpack or better yet a satchel type bag, until you are ready to take the shot. Don't walk around with a map in your hand looking lost. Walk with a purpose, memorise the route that you want to take, and if you need to check the map get off the street to do it in a cafe or something. Try not to look like a complete tourist or a 'target' in other words, by trying to dress more like a local. Nobody wears bright colours, or I love Barcelona (insert city here) T shirts. Vans shoes or better yet Allstars boots and European style sneakers are worn by young people as skateboarding is popular in Barcelona, but not what we call Joggers or Sneakers. Having said all that, I don't feel unsafe at all, and at the end of the day I have Travel Insurance, so I can replace my stuff. Remember that's all it is, just stuff.

The Boqueria Market off La Rambla is a good place for shopping, and a place to eat. Of course, on the La Rambla you will also find fast food restaurants like McDonalds, Burger King, and KFC. Even in a tourist area you have to remember that there are still good, cheap places to eat, because the workers have to eat too. Tucked away at the back of the market is a good cafe where you can have an Expresso (coffee) for 1 1/2 Euro or $2, which got me thinking why we often pay $4 in Sydney.

I like grocery shopping in the different supermarkets around the world, noting the different products, the products that are universal, and because it is cheaper to buy your own food. Generally, I make my own breakfast, bring Muesli bars or health bars, and a bottle of water in my daypack. Buying your own food, means that you are not forced to buy the over priced tourist food on the road. The groceries are relatively cheap in Spain, and good quality cheese, salami, olives, tinned fish, and other products are available that are very expensive in shops in Sydney. However, I would recommend buying fresh food and vegetables from the markets, which I think is what most people do.

With our cheap dinner bought at the supermarket, we head off to our roof top patio to eat. This is the type of food I'm talking about; salami, cheese on little crispbreads, and olives.

Further information:

Tapas -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapas

The Boqueria Market - http://www.boqueria.info/index.php?lang=en

Stay safe - keep wallet in front pocket, camera in bag until ready to take photograph, leave 1/2 cards, cash and passport back where you are staying.

Back up photographs onto a USB if you can or other storage device. That way if you lose the camera, you won't lose all those photos you took.

Buy Travel Insurance

Barcelona

I'm just getting over a little cold, so I'm behind in my blog entries. Apart from that we are having a great time.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon at the amazing Museum of Contemporary Art, and today I walked around to Port Vella, and to the beaches.

There is still so much more to see, so we are hoping to extend a few more nights in Barcelona. We have booked accomodation in Amsterdam later next month, and are probably going to stay in Ghent, Belgium. That means you can look forward to Bruges, Antwerp, Brussels, and maybe a day trip to Luxemburg.

London to Gatwick airport, with Ezyjet to Barcelona, Spain

Time to 'sling your hook' as the Cockneys (further information click here), the traditional inhabitants of the East End, would say. It just means get out of here. The Cockney's have a distinctive accent, dialect, and use alot of rhyming slang. However, over the years there have been a great Cockney diaspora in a number of waves. Particularly, after the end of World War 2, because a large part of the East End was in ruins from the bombing. London has become more multicultural, and East London is changing with the times. In truth my family are part of that Cockney Diaspora, as my grandfather was a true cockney, born within sound of the 'Bow bells", and immigrated to Australia. Though, it's good to go back to see where you came from, even if where you came from, no longer really exists.

Good article about the Cockney Diaspora called 'Death of the Cockney' - http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/death-of-the-cockney-1

It was time to get my pregnant turtle on, and sling my backpack on, with the daypack on the front, and waddle to the Underground. We just had enough on our Oyster Card (the Underground travel card) to get to Kings Cross Station. International trains, like the Eurostar, the high speed rail to Paris, go from Kings Cross St Pancras, and the train to Gatwick airport. We are flying with Ezyjet, a low cost airline, to Barcelona. The trips costs 10 Pounds, and seemed to take about half an hour.

Ezyjet have flights to Barcelona for around $180-$250, though you may be able to get a cheaper fare during a special. It's about a two hour flight, but it's a long train trip. Normally, I prefer catching the train for short trips. I've caught the Eurostar to Paris before, and it's so much easier than flying I can tell you. It's only four hours to Frankfurt, so I would definitely catch the train if I was going there. Those who followed my USA trip will remember I caught the train from New York to Washington. I highly recommend it.

Gatwick airport is London's second busiest airport. Ezyjet seem to use it, along with the other low cost carriers. I would recommend probably either eating before or bringing your own snacks, as there was nothing very inspiring about the food choices at the airport. I've got nothing bad to see about Ezyjet. I would fly with them again.

Arrived in Barcelona to brilliant sunshine, and that bright light, that is distinctive as you approach the Meditteranean. You'll know what I'm talking about if you have been to Provence in Southern France, that light immediately seems to elevate the spirits as you leave the often grey skies of Northern Europe. I caught sight of some good beaches on the approach, and the city sprawled out from the port towards the green hills beyond. It looks very inviting.

There is no paperwork to do at Customs. We just show them the passport, and pick up your bag and we're through and into a taxi. It takes about five to ten minutes, and costs 20-30 Euros.

Our two bedroom apartment is in the El Poble Sec area of Barcelona. It's a climb up to the six floor (no lifts), but the view is fantastic (see picture above). This is our private rooftop patio that faces towards the North, and the famous Sagrada Famila.

This lounge looks like a great spot for a siesta, which is between 2pm and 5pm in Spain, when shops close, and many people, probably me included, have a snooze. Our amazing host provided Champagne and strawberries (for the record I had water) for our arrival. We used airbnb again.

We went shopping, and bought some cheese and salami. Although it's warm, nobody wears thongs, and not many men wear shorts. It's okay to wear canvas shoes like Vans, or those European style sneakers.

Groceries are very reasonable by Australian prices. A coffee or expresso as it is called here is only 1 and 1/2 Euros.

We will be here a week, and I already know we are going to have a good time.

Travel information & tips:

Barcelona info - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/barcelona

Leave enough time to travel to Gatwick airport.

Just be aware that European airlines are stricter on the size of carry on luggage than other parts of the world. There is a metal container, where you drop your bag into to see if it can fit, if it doesn't then it has to be booked in. My daypack easily fits in, if that is any guide.

If your trip is shorter than about four hours just spare yourself the hassle of flying, and catch the train.

East End to Camden Market, a canal boat ride to Little Venice, and dining at Hix in the City.

In brilliant sunshine we wandered across to the Columbia Road Flower Market, where every Sunday Columbia Road is transformed into a garden oasis of flower, and plant stalls. Art and craft stores line the street, amidst the hawk and cry of the merchants peddling their wares. As I thank you to our host we bought three red Geraniums for five pounds, which was to have unintended consequences, proving once and for all that, 'no good deed goes unpunished.'

Making our purchase we escaped the bustle, by catching the train to Camden Town, the home of the mother of all markets, Camden Market (pictured below).

As you can see it is clearly London's most popular market, except they don't close the street. Needless, to say we didn't linger long and made our way up the hill to Camden Lock (pictured below). For information on Camden Markets click on their website at the Further Information part of the blog. I can say that there are a wide variety of shops, well frequented by customers.

Seeing those canal boats yesterday sparked my interest. I imagined myself meandering along, exploring these quiet canals. Perhaps I could rent one. I found the next best thing. The London Waterbus Company - http://www.londonwaterbus.com/.

"Cruises along the historic Regents Canal as it slips quietly along the green and leafy fringes of Regents Park.


Trips from Brownings Pool at Little Venice, where the island is surrounded by the elegant graciousness of

regency architecture, through the damp dark mysteriousness of the Maida Hill tunnel, to the lively bustle of

Camden Lock , the famous market for everything from craftshops and

clothing to the interesting and unusual."

The blurb above from their website had me hooked. Hooked.

Their canal boats run from Camden Lock on the Regents Canal (pictured below) to Little Venice, stopping at the London Zoo along the way. This would be a great trip to incorporate with a day out in London to the zoo.

The canal boat ride to Little Venice costs 8 Pounds per adult, well worth it in my opinion, for it gives a different perspective on London.

Elegant mansions line Regents Canal many with their private moorings. Slipping along the water I had to agree with the Water Rat from Wind in the Willows who said, Tthere is NOTHING - absolute nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."

The trip terminates at Little Venice a small broadwater near Warwick Avenue Station, where we catch 'the tube' to Farringdon Station.

British cuisine has been coming to attention of late. Then there are the British celebrity chef's like Jamie Oliver and Gordon 'f.....' Ramsay. The restaurant, Hix, opened about five years back to critical acclaim, and we went there for lunch. The Sunday market menu was great, combining traditional English fare like Yorkshire pudding with more modern influences.

In the next blog, we are jetting off to the warm Mediterranean climate of Barcelona, Spain. I hope you enjoyed an alternate look at London in three days. I recommend if you have been to London a few times then do something different, take a chance, and visit another area of the great city of London.

Further Information:

Columbia Road Flower Market - http://www.columbiaroad.info/

Camden Market - the mother of all markets - http://www.camdenlock.net/

Canal boat trips - London Waterbus Company

Regents Canal -   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regent's_Canal

London Zoo   -   http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/

Little Venice -     http://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/place/401228-little-venice

Hix restaurant -   http://www.hixsoho.co.uk/

Broadway Market to Chelsea to Old Spitalfields Market

We awoke refreshed to a surprise - blue sky. It looked like it was going to turn out to be fine day. These Terrace houses have been converted to apartments, which is where we are staying. Shoreditch is currently undergoing gentrification, however there are plenty of Council Housing Estates, but they seem to be relatively low rise and spread out, not like those huge concrete Housing Estates you see on the TV series The Bill.

Setting off we headed North, amazed how quiet it was here on a Saturday morning. The occasional, what are called 'Hipsters' rode past on a retro bikes. Riding a bike, prefereably a retro old bike with the right trouser leg rolled up appears to be cool. Although a real 'Hipster' wouldn't use that word. The whole point is not to appear to be trying to be cool. Shoreditch is 'Hipster' Heaven.

If you are not familiar with the subculture click here - Hipsters

Soon we reached Regent's Canal (see below), and followed the "Tow Path' - the wide path used historically to pull the barges and canal boats along the canals, which before railways was the cheapest way to move goods.

The Canal Boats are motorized now and are tied up along the canal, and some people actually live aboard. The units above have been recently renovated. Now, as we head east, we are passed frequently by joggers and more people on bicycles.

About twenty minutes later we reach the Broadway Market where the stall holders are setting up shop for the day. At the end of the street is the large park called London Fields.

We took a seat in the sun in front of  the French Cafe called, "La Bouche", and watched the Market spring to life, whilst enjoying the best coffee we've had in London, and people watching. Listening to "Alright mate" and "Hi ya", as people walked their dogs and stopped and chatted. I felt like an extra on East Enders. I was in heaven.

England loves Markets; closing off the streets, to set up stalls selling a wide variety of goods. Napoleon famousnly dismissed England as a 'nation of shop keepers'. Mostly opening on a Saturday, but there are also permanent markets, like the famous, Old Spitalfields Markets, which we will come to later. Some areas specialise in certain goods. Now, the East End have lots of markets, which may because in the old days the docks lined the Thames in the East End of London. Bare in mind that ships were loaded and unloaded by hand, and sometimes, if goods just happened to go 'missing', and end up being sold in the markets in East London, well who would be any the wiser. The introduction of shipping containers dramatically reduced the level of 'missing' cargo.

We strolled north to Hackney Road, and went to a traditional English style cafe, where we had scrambled eggs on toast with 'brown sauce'. An English cafe is like Ian Beale's cafe on East Enders if you are familiar with the TV series, The East Enders. It's  cheap at 2 pounds or $3 AUD  for scrambled eggs on toast. The cafe along with the local Pub are often the centres of the social life for the neighbourhood.

From the East End of London we caught a train to the West End to Sloane Square and the upper middle class suburb of Chelsea. Also home to the subculture 'Sloane Rangers' . Not to be confused with Hipsters, because they are very different people with very different ideas. For some reason you don't tend to find Council Housing Estates, and there are private enclosed parks for the residents like you may have seen in the movie, Notting Hill.

The Chelsea Flower Show was on, but sold out (damn!), but we, meaning me, went to the National Army Museum next door to Royal Chelsea Hospital. Anyone with kids or more specifically boys or big kids like myself will love this museum. It tells the history of the British Army and is similiar to the Australian War Museum in many respects. Best of all it's fee, so it's a cheap way to keep the family enterained for half a day in London.

This is a rifleman from one of England's elite regiments, The Rifle Brigade. Formed during the Napoleonic War he is armed with a rifle rather than the inaccurate smooth bore musket, wears a green uniform instead of the famous red coat, and fights in a skirmish line rather than in close ranks. Incidently, my grandfather fought in this regiment, and his battalion was almost wiped out, which is when he met Australian soldiers who so impressed him that he immigrated to Australia after the war.

Afterwards we caught the train back to the East End, and went in search of the house where my grandfather grew up. It is in the area known as Cheapside. I couldn't help but notice the irony that the terraces have long since been knocked down to make way for the City of London's growing Financial Sector. Grandad's home is now a bank! .

Moving on we went to the Old Spitalfields Market near Liverpool Station. (pictured below)

We strolled up the famous Brick Lane, and pretty tired after all that walking, had a caffeine hit at another hipster cafe in Shoreditch. Exhausted we went to bed without dinner. Don't feel bad. I gorged myself all day, including a particularly tasty chocolate croissant.

In the next blog we are going to take a leisurely canal boat ride, and go to yet another famous market, the Camden Market in North London.

Travel Tips: 

Go to a traditonal English Cafe 

If you have been to London a few times, check out some of the other areas of London, away from the known Tourist hot spots.  

Note, if you didn't bring your Retro bike with you, then you can hire bikes by the hour at the many rental bike stations.

Try to be more like a Hipster, but without appearing to try;  http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Hipster

Heathrow to East London, & Tate Modern

"No more dreary spectacle can be found on this earth than the whole of the awful East…the colour of life is grey and drab. Everything is helpless, hopeless, unrelieved and dirty…and the rain, when it falls, is more like grease than water from heaven. The very cobblestones are scummed with grease.”

Jack London.

We had a dream run through Customs at Heathrow, and my bag had prioity at baggage, so we were down the ramp towards the London Underground. Just keep following the signs to the Piccadilly Line, the blue line, and at the machines on the left you can buy an Oyster Card using a credit card. We loaded 25 pounds on the card, which is a 'Touch and Go" type Travel Card used on the public transport system in London. It is the easiest way to get around in London and the cheapest. The trip from the airport to East London cost 5 Pounds. Changing at Kings Cross Station it was two stops to Old Street Station and Shoreditch.

Shoreditch “ the leading criminal quarter of London, and indeed of all England” said Charles Booth – the home of the pickpocket, or ‘dip’, and gangs of shoplifters or ‘hoisters’. It is now one of London’s coolest neighbourhoods, and a centre for creative industries and nightlife. Reminds me a little of the suburb of Newtown in Sydney.

A short walk later we were at our accomodation a two bedroom apartment that we had booked through Airbnb, which is a way of obtaining rental accomodation online. Basically, people rent out their properties, and even spare rooms for short term stays. You can read visitors reviews, and select the accomodation that works best for you. It's usually half the price of staying at a hotel or motel. Our landlady had coffee and treats waiting for us on arrival. The best thing about Airbnb is the local knowledge you obtain from the owners of the best restaurants and places to go in the area. I think you get a better sense of how the locals live.

Airbnb link - Airbnb UK

Ironically, many of the good cafes are run by Australians in Shoreditch, like the Shoreditch Grind near Old Street Station. London's Universitys are close, so there is a young vibe. We had lunch at The Grocery Kitchen, an organic food store and restaurant as recommended. There's a wide variety of restaurants from Vietnamese to Indian, and uber cool clubs and pubs.

The Tate Modern is one of the top ten attractions in London. It's across The Thames, on the Southern side of the city, and the best station to get off at is London Bridge. Other attractions nearby are Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the London Dungeon, Francis Drake's ship - The Golden Hind, and further down river is the London Eye. The Tate Modern is easy to find; just follow the river towards that building that looks like an old power generation plant, because that's what it was, but don't let appearances fool you, for inside is some of the World's best artist's work.

There's Pablo Picasso (above). There are many interesting pieces, like Dan Flavin's (see below).

Entry is free, but you are encouraged to make a small donation, a small price to pay to see Picasso, Monet, Richter, Dan Flavin, and other great artists. I recommend the cafe on Level 6 for a fine view (when it's not raining) across the Thames to the city.

I guess I have to talk about London's weather, which is patchy at best. I guess this holds for most of Northern Europe as well. Basically, you have to be prepared for anything when you step outside. So, you'll need to carry an umbrella, rain coat, warm coat, maybe even a wool hat, scarf, and gloves depending on the time of year. The rain stops and starts, so you have to be quick with the umbrella. Now, I made the rookie mistake of wearing my old Van's canvass shoes, and I ended up with cold wet feet all day, which kind of sucked. Yes, get yourself some good leather shoes or boots, or anything that keeps the water out. Think layers of clothing. I carried a Down jacket that can roll up quite small, a light weight rainjacket, mini umbrella, gloves, and had a wool cap and Thermal T shirt in my daypack as a last ditch reserve.

Late afternoon, and we are battling the effects of Jet Lag, but we keep moving. It's fatal to stop on the first day, or you'll fall asleep. We went shopping at Tesco's, that must be the biggest chain of supermarkets in the UK.. A little stroll around Shoreditch, and then we finally collapse around 9pm and sleep like the dead.

Our first day after a long haul flight from Australia and we survived, barely.

Sydney Airport, via the Qantas First Class Lounge, to Heathrow, UK

I'm on the way to Sydney Airport, by train. I find it easier just to get the train, that way I don't have to put in anyone out to drive me to the airport, or pay for a taxi. It's usually cheaper to catch the train to and from airports, although sometimes the pricing varies considerably. For some reason it costs me $17.30.

Although, I now consider myself a backpacker, I have not completely abandoned my hedonistic lifestyle, and am writing this entry from the Qantas First Class Lounge, which I can confirm is everything you have heard about, and more. I've just enjoyed prosciutto wrapped chicken on polenta with fresh greens. I topped that off with some exquisite Pistachio and white chocolate gelato, whilst enjoying the ambience of classical music. It is all very civilised, and a taste of how 'the other half live'.

Unfortunately, we have not managed an upgrade to a First Class seat, but the Economy seat on a A380 is better than on the smaller jets in my opinion; the seats are padded with neck rests, and just slightly bigger that seems to make all the difference. I was lucky enough to receive some Bose earphones that cancel a substantial amount of  the cabin noise, and improves the audio quality out of sight for the movies. They are definitely worth the investment.

Qantas have partnered with Emirates, so we stop in Dubai now, which opens many more connections into Europe. It was around 13 hour flight there, but with the next leg substantially shorter at around six to seven hours to London. Many passengers did a Stop Over in Dubai, which is a good way to break up the long fight, and a chance to see a country that may be unfamiliar to many Australians.

Most passengers, including myself, went to sleep just after Take Off from Dubai, and woke up for breakfast over Europe, and then it was about time for descent into the United Kingdom. What you are trying to do of course is to try and adjust the body to the new time zone, by sleeping when you would be sleeping in the new time zone. You are trying to fight the Jet Lag, and it does seem to work, because you are not a total wreck for that first day.

We arrived in London right on time at 6.40am London time to a warm English welcome of grey skies and drizzling cold rain.

Packing for Europe

Tomorrow I'm off to Europe with Qantas on the new A380 jet, so today was packing. I hate packing, because I always forget something, so this time I have already prepared a list as an Excel document, which I check off as I go. Even so, I nearly forgot the power point adaptors.

Because, I carry so many electronic items, I need two power adaptors for the UK and another two for Europe. This time I'm bringing a digital HD video camera, so I'm going to try and post some videos to the blog. Then there is the digital SLR camera, the Netbook, the IPOD, the Kindle, and the mobile phone, which all need charging at various times. These I normally pack in the day pack to carry onto the plane. However, this time instead of my main luggage being wheeled it's the Golite Jam 70 Litre backpack, so I'm going to have to carry two packs, probably backpacker style, like a pregnant turtle, with the day pack to the front, atleast to my accomodation.

Speaking of accomodation the itinery so far is three nights in London and seven nights in Barcelona. I'm not so sure what happens after that, but it would probably be Madrid, Brussels, then Amsterdam. I'm pretty flexible now after my lifestyle change, and what I've learnt so  far is that you have to adapt to any situation.

Well, tomorrow we go, so sleep tight, and enjoy the ride.

Travelex Multi-Currency Cash Passport

I'm bringing something new on this trip; a Travelex Multi-Currency Cash Passport, which is a Prepaid Currency Card.

"The Travelex Multi-currency Cash PassportTM Card gives you access to your money at millions of ATMs and retail stores worldwide where MasterCard® is accepted. You can load up to 9 currencies on the card.The Travelex Multi-currency Cash Passport card is available for purchase and reload online and at your local Travelex store."

I ordered this card online at the Travelex website and loaded it up with Euros and UK Pounds for the trip to Europe. There is no charge for buying the card. I picked it up at my local Travelex card where I received a PIN and a secondary, back up card with a different PIN but linked to same account. They are both CHIP protected to stop Card Skimming. Added advantages of using a Prepaid Travel Card are that you can use it as a credit card or to withdraw money from an ATM. So, you don't have to carry all that Foreign Currency on you all the time, and you can lock in the rate if you think your own currency might drop before you take your next overseas trip. It seems fairly easy to reload online, and you can withdraw the money from a local ATM if you have unspent funds when you return home.

Of course there are a number of Financial Institutions that offer Prepaid Currency Cards now, and I didn't do alot of research to see which offers the best deal. However, these cards are just another tool you can use when you are on the road. I like the idea of having a back up card perhaps back in the hotel safe in case you lose your wallet for some reason.

Further information: Travelex Multi-Currency Cash Passport

London's top ten attractions

In a couple of weeks I will be visiting London. Below are the top ten tourist attractions in London:

1. British Museum

2. National Gallery

3. Tate Modern

4. Natural History Museum

5. London Eye

6. Science Museum

7. Tower of London

8. Victoria and Albert Museum

9. Madame Tussaud's

10. Royal Museums Greenwich

I'll definitely be going to the Royal Museums at Greenwich, but for anyone visiting London then you have to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace (see my last trip. Travel Tip - arrive early to get the best vantage point). The Tower of London is also a must see attraction.

Click here for more information on Top Ten attractions in London. A useful website for planning any trip to London with a map of where to find the attractions and ticket prices and purchasing information.  

Ultralight Backpacking - The Shelter System

A couple of blog posts ago I talked about Ultralight backpacking and the equipment I will be taking to Europe. (see Ultralight_backpacking). Ultralight backpacking is simply taking the lightest gear necessary to do the trip.

Above is a picture of what is called the Shelter System. From the left the long green item is actually a bivy sack, which covers the sleeping bag on the right to prevent rain and dew from getting the bag wet. Unlike a bivy such as a swag made out of canvas, this bivy is made by Backpacking Light and weighs 159 grams.If it's not raining, most hikers will just sleep in the bivy and not bother pitching a tent or a tarp.

Moving onto the grey item that is rolled up on the left. This is just a foam pad that lies under the torso area. Not as comfortable as an inflatable mattress, but adequate on soft ground, and weighs only 50 grams. You might like to invest in something more comfortable, and accept the added weight for a good night's sleep.

The long green  item on the right of the picture is a sleeping bag, or more correctly a sleeping bag quilt made again by Backpacking Light. It weighs only 678 grams and rolls up quite small. A good sleeping bag is probably going to be the most expensive item of your kit, and cost anywhere between $200 - $300.

The blue item on top is a silk liner from Khatmandu. I know it's a little luxurious, but there are practical reasons for choosing silk. Most people use a sleeping bag liner made out of sheet type material, and again that is a matter of personal choice.

The little item in the top right of the picture is a rolled up Poncho/Tarp that weighs 210 grams. Now the tarp is simply just like the fly part of a tent without the walls, and care needs to be taken on where to pitch it. Of course it's not as strong as a tent, so if I was going somewhere more extreme, or in winter, I would consider a lightweight tent.

Putting the whole Shelter System together with the backpack then we can see the advantages of going Ultralight:

Ultralight Golite Backpack (see below) -  880 grams
Sleeping bag -                                         640 grams
foam sleeping bag                                    50 grams
Bivy                                                        159 grams
Liner                                                       50 grams

Total:                                                      1.77 kg.

So, today we can bring our whole weight down for our main items to an incredible 1.77 kg, which was unheard of in the past. It's possible to go even lighter, but I hope this explains the system in action.

On the Camino, and in Europe most people sleep in Hostels or Hiking Huts, but if you take your hking gear you always have the option of camping, if for example the accomodation is not available, or simply to save money. It's good idea in life to always have the most options available, and carrying your hiking gear, particularly when it doesn't weigh all that much, gives you more options.

I'll talk about the other equipment at a later date, and have more information on my Europe trip.

Updated Itinery: 3 nights in London, then Barcelona and onto Madrid

Later in the month I will be heading to Europe for three nights in London and then onto Barcelona, Spain.

Having done most of the big tourist attractions in London I'm planning on visiting some of the lesser known sites. For my last trip to London you might like to check out my eventful UK trip in July/August, 2010 featuring the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, the Horse Guards, Trafalgar Square, Thames ferry trip, and much more.

On this trip to London I'm planning on venturing up north to Hampstead Heath and Primrose Hill. As a military history buff I'll be visiting the National Army Museum, Firepower Museum, Woolwich, and the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich. We will be staying in the East End of London, rather than the West End of London.