As the Lonely Planet puts it “Danish Vikings once took to the seas and ravaged half of Europe, but these days they’ve filed down their horns and forged a society that sees itself as a benchmark of civilisation, with progressive policies, a commitment to free speech and a liberal social-welfare system.”

Half of Europe? bah – lame Vikings.

Strike action allowing Denmark will be ravaged tomorrow by two free speaking, progressive, liberal, pointy-horned Bearders.

Having missed Moomin World in Finland, I’m trying to decide if we should go to Legoland? Hmmmm…

I’ll save you the full detail this time. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HH23Ak03.html

Try to count the number of times the word ‘Jewish’ appears in the following article http://www.irc-online.org/content/3388. Is it so hard to understand that diplomacy and religion (fundamentalism) don’t go together too well?

Anyway, rant over. I broke our bath on Saturday and spent all day Sunday replacing taps. I fear I may be becoming middle aged. Doh!

After a cancelled flight and a night on the airport floor, it all started in a sleepy town somewhere in the South of France

24 hours, 2 packed trains and no sleep later I was back on track in Barceloonoooa

Monday morning and the bus left for Andorra

2 more buses and morning in the mountains the train left from Toulouse

The Sun shone in Monaco

You’re noy allowed to do anything in Ventimiglia

I had an unexpected morning in Venice

Climbed to the top of San Marino (come on, keep up)

Danced in Rimini

and one week, one taxi, 10 trains and 6 buses later I conquered Rom Rome Roma

…and Finally, as planned I arrived in country No.7 the stunningly over-priced and full of Americans – Vatican city

I managed to take this photo, write a postcard and spend 4 Euro 50 on a coke before I had to go back to the hostel to sleep. My return flight was delayed and the bus home broke down in Hemel Hepstead.