Motorcycle Adventure Tour

We bid Sweden farväl as we hit the Øresund Bridge, a 16-kilometre bridge and tunnel that connects Sweden and Denmark. We didn't have an exact destination in mind so just hit the road and enjoyed the unique riding experience. Soon we got to the Storebælt Bridge, an 18-kilometre-long bridge which includes the world's second-longest suspension bridge, which lead us to Denmark's middle island. During a petrol stop we consulted our map to find a random place to go. We both immaturely giggled as we spotted 'Middelfart' on the map and decided we would set up camp here.

The road to Middelfart took over another two impressive bridges. We were pleased to find a lovely camp-site right next to a deer reserve where we spotted spans of beautiful Bambi's grazing around.

Greg was keen for a dip but all along the harbour were no swimming signs. We soon discovered why...

Hey, what's that in the water?

Jellyfish!

They're terrorizing these waters...

Come poes!

We feasted on a braai of random meats from the local butcher and enjoyed some of Denmark's notoriously expensive booze.

We had a relaxing stay in Middelfart and were planning to stay longer to see the local mental hospital museum and some classic motorbikes. However, these places were only open on Saturday's.

2.5 hour ride to Rostock in Germany then got the ferry for 6 hours to Trelleborg in Sweden.

Strapped the bike down good then hit the duty free shop for a good bottle of 12 year old single malt...mmm. We slept for 2 hours then the boredom and seasickness kicked in, well for me anyway! Arrived at 9pm in Sweden just as the storm was hitting the coast. Nice, bring it on. Stopped at the first campsite and setup in the dark and wet. I love it when that happens as it gives you a chance to not only test yourself but your equipment as well. Everything again had remained dry on the bike. The tent however quickly filled with water, it is now starting to perish. So bailed it all out in the morning. the weather had cleared a bit and we decided to explore.

took the coastal road up to Kristainstad about 130km away, had some lunch there and then took the freeway back to our campsite.

We then spent the afternoon and evening on the beach checking out the concrete bunkers and enjoying our duty free treasures!

We sat on the pier and watched the sunset then hit the beach to try make a fire with some flint I had bought, took about an hour before it broke and we resorted to my lighter.

On the way to Denmark the next day we found some stones circles...

So an enjoyable 2 days despite the weather and sprained ankle I woke up with the next day. Lucky it is was the right foot...only need that for the back brake so could still ride to Denmark, no worries.

Stayed in Tent Station in central Berlin, it is an old swimming pool complex and everyone camps around the empty pool. Laid back, international vibe. We seemed to be the only bikers there, the rest of the people seemed to be backpackers. We quickly found a spot and setup tent. The place was super packed almost like a festival atmosphere!

We then headed out to the Reichstag and Brandenburg gate.

Next we saw some bits of the Berlin wall,

and randomly found this memorial to the murdered jews, we didnt know what is was but it encourages you to explore it for yourself and try figure it out. All very interactive, I believe it also goes underground but we didnt venture further than the top area.
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Next morning we headed to the station which has this big TV tower by it.

We hooked up on a free tour of Berlin, but as we had seen most of the usual buildings in Berlin we wanted to see something else. Our guide did not disappoint and we saw the alternative side to Berlin. Very cool! Most of it covered in graffiti

Next we headed into some squats but were advised not to take photos as the squatters might get upset. We then also checked out some squats that were illegally occupied by artists selling their goods. all very underground and interesting.

We walked around for a few hours with our guide pointing out all the interesting facts about Berlin and the wall that divided it. We then saw some clubs down by the river that were still going from the night before and had a drink at a Jamaican beach bar before heading to the east side gallery. The clubs are all in old industrial buildings like this one across the river.

More of the infamous wall, which has now been painted by artists and is a gallery


So to sum up another cool city, although it didnt have an 'old' town if you can get a guide to show you the cool spots there is something for everyone here, especially if you like to party. From techno to thrash metal and goth clubs, they seem to have it all. We needed more time to fully explore but had booked the ferry from Rostock to Trelleborg in Sweden for the next day so coudnt get too lambasted.

Another awesome city with impressive old buildings, honestly I almost got bored there were so many jaw dropping, beautiful buildings all intricately detailed with gargoyles and spires in typical baroque styling. Most are really large and my camera skills couldnt capture them in all their splendor. The river Danube cuts through the city as it has on many of the previous cities we have encountered on are recent travels through Eastern Europe by motorbike. This place has everything, the architecture, the parks, the old town squares, the citadels and castles, the pubs, clubs and strip joints, great restaurants and nightlife...I could go on, but you get the idea.
We got the water taxi from our campsite which is on an island 10 minutes from the centre of town and under the shadow of a cathedral, old citadel on a hill and castle gate that guards the entrance to a tunnel to the city. wow. We got in pretty early, around 10am, I was slighlty disappointed that even the usual beggars and chancers were not awake yet, so we spent the small change on coffees and started to explore.
Honestly it was all very impressive and the city has a cool vibe/beat to it...this might have something to do with the giant metronome on top of the hill that the place pulsates to!

There were scores of shoes that had been thrown over the cables that powers it, so naturally after climbing all the steps up to this monster I took my shoes off, ties the laces together, took aim and threw them towards the cable. It was not too be, they came apart and almost decapitated some tourists. Those who know me will understand my legendary throwing skills! Anyways I put them back on and we headed off to the park above the city and the royal gardens and summer palace. The view was spectacular, so many spires and bridges criss crossing the river.

Next we headed back down to the old town and checked out all the buildings and churches and crystal shops, there is so much to browse. We had some tasty lunch, got some super cool souvenirs and headed back to camp for some more evening drinks
I highly recommend Prague to anyone wanting a great weekend away. I am cutting the blog short as the wireless is pretty slow here but will upload some photos for your viewing pleasure while we finish our beers...Got an early start for Berlin tomorrow ;-)

Some Czech fried chicken?

• thats it, uploading is way too slow

Made it to the infamous Auschwitz Death Camp. This was much bigger than the concentration camp in Serbia. Much, much bigger. What can I say we all know the score. We got a personal English speaking guide to take us around and explain it all. It seems like all the German people were in on the deal and believed the Nazi propaganda...or turned a blind eye to what was really going on. They had the perfect business plan...an endless supply of free labour and the captains of industry all signed in on the contracts for this labour. Slavery is nothing new and neither is murder, its been happening since the dawn of time...but not on a scale like this!
We saw rooms full of just human hair or toothbrushes etc. People were stripped of everything and it all was all used for the 3rd Reich. Just the scale of it all was very impressive. Anyways, long story short, we stood in the 'gas' chambers were Zyklon B pellets were dropped into the room and reacted to kill you in about 20 minutes, next into the incinerating room where the corpses would be burned, after any gold teeth had been extracted. German efficiency indeed. I was all quite chiling. We also saw the 'barracks' were the victims lived and all the photos of when the arrived, with a full head of hair to when they had the head shaved and the life removed from their eyes. They were all methodically dated, some only lasted a few days, other weeks or months. Saw too much to go into morbid detail, but it makes you think when you are having a bad day...is it really that bad?
Even once they were liberated by the Red Army, many died due to malnutrition or simply their spirit had been broken. Even decades later the survivors have severe mental problems, I dont think they will ever be fully human again after being abused like that. We also saw original footage from a Russian cameraman who is still alive to this day. We were also told about the experiments and torture that was dished out. Shame on you Nazi's!
Seriously though it was a pretty harrowing experience, but well worth it, Lest we forget...

The infamous sign into Auschwitz, translated 'Work will set you free'. This apparently gave false hope to those unlucky enough to pass through the gates...but we all know work is for suckers and only sheeple work hard!

You wouldnt want to disembark at this station.

Barbed wire, electric fence that some would throw themselves on to die. Each chimney stack in the background had a wooden building around it that housed 1000 people and there are hundreds of them...

These are the sanitary houses that you could use only twice a day for around 40 seconds...better than some of the countries I have recently travelled through!

all of these sights brings to remembrance my favourite Slayer song:
"Propaganda death ensemble
Burial to be
Corpses rotting through the night
In blood laced misery
Scorched earth the policy
The reason for the singe
The pendulum it shaves the blade
The strafing air blood raid

infiltration push reserves
Encircle the front llines
Supreme art of strategy
Playing on the minds
Bombard till submission
Take all to their graves
Indication of triumph
The number that are dead

Sport the war, war support
The sport is war, total war
When victory's a massacre
The final swing is not a drill
It's how many people I can kill

Be dead friend from abve
When darkness falls
Descend into my sights
Your fallen walls
Spearhead break through the lines
Flanked all around
Soldiers of attrition
Forward their ground
GRegime prophetic age
Old in its time
Flowing veins run on through
Deep in the Rhine
Center of the web
All battles scored
What is our war crimes
(Era forever more...war)

Propaganda war ensemble
Burial to be
Bones shining in the night
In blood laced misery
Campaign of elimination
Twisted psychology
When victory is to survive
And death is defeat

Sport the war, war support
The sport is total war
When victory's a massacre
When victory is survival
When this end is a slaughter
The final swing is not a drill
It's how many people I can kill"