After George and I left Billy who was heading into Israel we spent three days negotiating with the driver of a bus heading for Iraq. We got a good fare and settled for the long hot drive across the desert to Baghdad. After many hours we arrived hot and sweating at the Jordanian Iraq border. There would be a long delay as the custom officers searched the mountain of bags on the roof of the bus.
The custom officers asked everyone except for George and I to get off the bus. The officers preceded to dismantle the rear seat, and found 100 bottles of Johny Walker Scottish whiskey. The officer with all the gold bread on his hat asked to see our passports and started laughing "Scottish men" he said "this is your whiskey?" Then he said I may have to impound this bus "We have paid our ticket to Baghdad" we said.
As we waited I switched on my radio to listen to the BBC. pass the time when the program was interrupted "Egypt, Jordan and Israel have started a war all British, American persons make your way to British or American embassy where you can make arrangements to be sent home." Haven got tis far we did not want to go home, We switched off the radio. Just then the bus was released we cleared emigration and were on the road to Baghdad in Iraq.
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Jordan
We arrived in Jordan. The Jordanian emigration queried our visa we told them "we are on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. "We were put into a empty room." after a very long five hours we were released with no explanation as to why we were detained.
It was with great relief we found our self, back out in the sun we soon forgot the room. We headed for YHA in Jerusalem. The next day we spent doing the tourist bit, went to the holy places. The back wall of the YHA was next to the border with Israel the warden was always joking some day the Israelis will come over the wall maybe he was not joking, as you will read later.
After two days we went to Petra the rose red city. This is well worth a visit, the walk in indescribable, perhaps claustrophobic, high walls several hundred feet high, with just a strip of blue sky can be seen. This wadi twists and turns so you can not see far a head, looks like a dead end round every corner. THEN SUDDENLY as you turn the last corner The Treasury appears it is carved out of a rock face.
We found a cave to stay so we could take our time and explore the fantastic building carved in to the sandstone cliff faces. A Arab came to our cave led us to believe snakes lived in this cave. He took us to a larger cave were he had set-up a coke a kola stall. He wanted us to look after his stall as he had to go somewhere, he trusted us.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra
All to soon we returned to Jerusalem. To Georges and my amazement Billy said he wanted to go to Israel. That meant he could no-longer travel through Arab country's his trip would be finished. George and I walked with him as far as we could to the one border that he could cross into Israel shook hands the next time we would see Billy would be in Glasgow.
It was with great relief we found our self, back out in the sun we soon forgot the room. We headed for YHA in Jerusalem. The next day we spent doing the tourist bit, went to the holy places. The back wall of the YHA was next to the border with Israel the warden was always joking some day the Israelis will come over the wall maybe he was not joking, as you will read later.
After two days we went to Petra the rose red city. This is well worth a visit, the walk in indescribable, perhaps claustrophobic, high walls several hundred feet high, with just a strip of blue sky can be seen. This wadi twists and turns so you can not see far a head, looks like a dead end round every corner. THEN SUDDENLY as you turn the last corner The Treasury appears it is carved out of a rock face.
We found a cave to stay so we could take our time and explore the fantastic building carved in to the sandstone cliff faces. A Arab came to our cave led us to believe snakes lived in this cave. He took us to a larger cave were he had set-up a coke a kola stall. He wanted us to look after his stall as he had to go somewhere, he trusted us.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra
All to soon we returned to Jerusalem. To Georges and my amazement Billy said he wanted to go to Israel. That meant he could no-longer travel through Arab country's his trip would be finished. George and I walked with him as far as we could to the one border that he could cross into Israel shook hands the next time we would see Billy would be in Glasgow.
Saturday, 21 November 2009
Egypt
George and I had an unexciting journey to the Egyptian border continued or odyssey to Alexandria YHA where we meet up with Billy. The hostel was interesting it was full of communist students. Some of the students were quite hostile to us thee. "Why are you English murdering our brothers in Aden. We pointed out we were not English. We are Scottish. We became there brothers. (The British troops were Scottish troops)
The next morning we quickly moved out of the hostel and headed for the The Valley Of The Kings this is well worth a visit.
[http://www.touregypt.net/kingtomb.htm]
Our plan was to return to Alexandria and get a visa to the Lebanon, and travel by sea to Beirut, then head to Jordan. However, we were refused a visa by the Lebanese embassy because we had beards. We were devastated, as we could not go through Israel as with an Israeli visa in our passport we would be banned from entering Arab country's and we had many Arab country's to pass through.
In Alexandria we found a Thomas Cook travel agent went in and explained our predicament. We can not get a visa for Lebanon, could not go through Israel, we need to get into Jordan.
We were told "A pilgrim flight is going to Jordan you could take this flight if you can prove you are Christian." "How can we prove we are Christian?" We were told there was a catholic cathedral here you should ask there. We found the cathedral and explained our problem to a priest. To our surprise he asked "what team do you support?" (in Glasgow if you support Rangers you are protestant if you support Celtic you are catholic) George said I support Rangers, Billy and I said Celtic. The priest laughing George I can not give you Christian certification. We three took our certificates back to Thomas Cook and we got our flight tickets to Jordan.
In January 1967, there were mass riots between the NLF and their rival FLOSY supporters in the old Arab quarter of Aden town. This conflict continued until mid February, despite the intervention of British troops. During the period there were as many attacks on the British troops by both sides as against each other culminating in the destruction of an Aden Airlines DC3 plane in the air with no survivors.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aden#British_rule]
The next morning we quickly moved out of the hostel and headed for the The Valley Of The Kings this is well worth a visit.
[http://www.touregypt.net/kingtomb.htm]
Our plan was to return to Alexandria and get a visa to the Lebanon, and travel by sea to Beirut, then head to Jordan. However, we were refused a visa by the Lebanese embassy because we had beards. We were devastated, as we could not go through Israel as with an Israeli visa in our passport we would be banned from entering Arab country's and we had many Arab country's to pass through.
In Alexandria we found a Thomas Cook travel agent went in and explained our predicament. We can not get a visa for Lebanon, could not go through Israel, we need to get into Jordan.
We were told "A pilgrim flight is going to Jordan you could take this flight if you can prove you are Christian." "How can we prove we are Christian?" We were told there was a catholic cathedral here you should ask there. We found the cathedral and explained our problem to a priest. To our surprise he asked "what team do you support?" (in Glasgow if you support Rangers you are protestant if you support Celtic you are catholic) George said I support Rangers, Billy and I said Celtic. The priest laughing George I can not give you Christian certification. We three took our certificates back to Thomas Cook and we got our flight tickets to Jordan.
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Libya
While we were travailing east we would meet travellers, travailing west this is a great resource for exchanging information where to stay, eat and see. Many travellers told of the wonderful reception and showers received in the British army barracks in Tripoli. We were eager to get to Tripoli for the luxury of a shower and friendly British faces. When we reached the barracks we approached the sentry at the gate and said we would like a shower. The sentry made a phone call and in a short time two soldiers appeared and marched us to the shower block, we showered and were marched back to the gate.
Up to now we three George, Billy and I so far had travelled together, but in Libya there was very little traffic so we decided George and Billy would travel together and I would travel solo. I got a lift to an Italian road construction site in the middle of the dessert. I got invited into the camp for a meal pasta pizza and wine I had a great time and as I was leaving I got plied bread, cheese and wine.
It was getting late so I decided to pitch my tent. I was in the dessert, the ground was flat for miles. I lit my small paraffin primus stove and made tea for my self. I looked up and was startled to see a Arab sitting cross legged watching me. I offered him tea and he drank it but it was the stove he was interested in, he lifted it up and walked of with it and disappeared into the now dark dessert. I thought I had lost my wee primus however, he returned with my primus still lit. He showed me his enormous primus. Then he spied my down sleeping bag, off he went with it, returning it shortly. At last I got some sleep.
The next morning there was very little traffic I decided to walk a few kilometres. I came upon a police station a policeman beckoned me to come in to the station, he seemed friendly so I went in he pointed out a window, when I looked the horizon appeared red in a few minutes the wind was roaring and carrying sand, the sand was even coming into the station through small gaps in the window. This was why I was beckoned into the station. The policeman cleaned out one of the cell and made a great show of not locking the cell door. One-again I was being offered small glass's strong mint tea and I offering tea bag tea.
The next day I meet up with George and Billy I regaled with my encounters of the Italian road workers and spending the night in jail.
Poor George and Billy had spent the night in a tent and had only eaten tinned fish. It was now my turn to travel with George.
Up to now we three George, Billy and I so far had travelled together, but in Libya there was very little traffic so we decided George and Billy would travel together and I would travel solo. I got a lift to an Italian road construction site in the middle of the dessert. I got invited into the camp for a meal pasta pizza and wine I had a great time and as I was leaving I got plied bread, cheese and wine.
It was getting late so I decided to pitch my tent. I was in the dessert, the ground was flat for miles. I lit my small paraffin primus stove and made tea for my self. I looked up and was startled to see a Arab sitting cross legged watching me. I offered him tea and he drank it but it was the stove he was interested in, he lifted it up and walked of with it and disappeared into the now dark dessert. I thought I had lost my wee primus however, he returned with my primus still lit. He showed me his enormous primus. Then he spied my down sleeping bag, off he went with it, returning it shortly. At last I got some sleep.
The next morning there was very little traffic I decided to walk a few kilometres. I came upon a police station a policeman beckoned me to come in to the station, he seemed friendly so I went in he pointed out a window, when I looked the horizon appeared red in a few minutes the wind was roaring and carrying sand, the sand was even coming into the station through small gaps in the window. This was why I was beckoned into the station. The policeman cleaned out one of the cell and made a great show of not locking the cell door. One-again I was being offered small glass's strong mint tea and I offering tea bag tea.
The next day I meet up with George and Billy I regaled with my encounters of the Italian road workers and spending the night in jail.
Poor George and Billy had spent the night in a tent and had only eaten tinned fish. It was now my turn to travel with George.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Tunisia
No problems entering Tunisia. Where we got a lift with a New Zealand chap driving a small van. When we got into Tunis he pointed up a road he wanted to go to a policeman who was directing the traffic, who nodded his head. So he turned in to the road to find to his horror. We were going the wrong way up a one-way road with six lanes of traffic heading towards us. He eventually turned round and back to the policeman who was laughing his head off. Travelled through Tunisia with no more excitement. To the Libyan border,
Saturday, 14 November 2009
Algeria
For some unremembered reason we did not take the coast road but went inland over some mountains. There was very little traffic on this road our progress was slow but not with out some excitement. The three of us got a lift with a truck, Billy in the cab with two Arabs, George and I on the back, when we came upon an accident. The truck had to stop. Bill jumped out the cab and shouted to us to throw down our bags and get off. I transpired the two Arabs were demanding money with menaces from Bill. He took the opportunity when the truck had to stop to jump out from the cab, and give warning to us on the back.
Eventually we arrived at the Algerian - Libya border where we got stuck for three days waiting for a lift. The Algerian border guards were very friendlily they gave us strong, sweet black tea from a small teapot that has been stewed for hours but we had to drink this concoction so as no to offend. However, we got our own back, we made tea on our small primus stove using teabags. We could see they did not enjoy our tea and did not want to offend us.
Eventually we arrived at the Algerian - Libya border where we got stuck for three days waiting for a lift. The Algerian border guards were very friendlily they gave us strong, sweet black tea from a small teapot that has been stewed for hours but we had to drink this concoction so as no to offend. However, we got our own back, we made tea on our small primus stove using teabags. We could see they did not enjoy our tea and did not want to offend us.
Ceuta
We got the next ferry and crossed over to Ceuta Morocco leaving behind spiteful Spanish custom officials we travelled to Tangier. One day as George and I were walking through the Tangier Kasbah when George saw his neighbour with his wife, now I should tell you George had very poor eye sight. The neighbour was looking decidedly uncomfortable the lady was not his wife.
We did not stay in Morocco long as there was a outbreak meningitis. So we got a train to the border with Algeria.
We did not stay in Morocco long as there was a outbreak meningitis. So we got a train to the border with Algeria.
Friday, 13 November 2009
Gibraltar
When we reached Gibraltar We found Spain was protesting about the sovereignty of Gibraltar this has been a major point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations.
The Spanish had closed the border to vehicular traffic so we had to walk across the border. When you cross over the Spanish border. It gives you a strange feeling as you walk a cross no man land and runway for the airport. When you cross the British border you know you are in Britten. The British sentry immaculate dressed in red tunic, atop the bearskin standing as a statue. In sharp contrast to the slovenly dressed, fag dangling from lips, sprawled across a wooden chair Spanish sentry.
George was in heaven for as though we are travelling in in foreign lands George does not like foreign food. In Gibraltar fish and chips, sausage, egg, bacon and chips can be had.
We climbed to the top of the rock to see the apes. Their notices everywhere warning you to watch out for the thieving apes. I was photographing one ape as I lifted my camera to my eye the thieving ape leaped forward and grabbed a small parcel my mum had posted to me. Jumped over a wall (with a drop of several hundred feet)and grabbed a tree ripping off the wrapper and examined the thick woollen socks she had posted to me.
After a few days we left for Algeciras in Spain for the crossing of the sea to Morocco we had to walk back into Spain. In Algeciras we got to the Spanish customs, when they seen our British passports we were made to empty our rucksacks mean while other nationals when through unhindered. When the ferry left for Ceuta in Morocco the customs officers just walked away and we had to wait for the next sailing.
As Gibraltar was ceded by Spain to the Crown of Great Britain in perpetuity, under the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, though Spain asserts a claim to the territory and seeks its return. The overwhelming majority of Gibraltarians strongly oppose this, along with any proposal of shared sovereignty. The British government has stated that it is committed to respecting the Gibraltarians' wishes.
The Spanish had closed the border to vehicular traffic so we had to walk across the border. When you cross over the Spanish border. It gives you a strange feeling as you walk a cross no man land and runway for the airport. When you cross the British border you know you are in Britten. The British sentry immaculate dressed in red tunic, atop the bearskin standing as a statue. In sharp contrast to the slovenly dressed, fag dangling from lips, sprawled across a wooden chair Spanish sentry.
George was in heaven for as though we are travelling in in foreign lands George does not like foreign food. In Gibraltar fish and chips, sausage, egg, bacon and chips can be had.
We climbed to the top of the rock to see the apes. Their notices everywhere warning you to watch out for the thieving apes. I was photographing one ape as I lifted my camera to my eye the thieving ape leaped forward and grabbed a small parcel my mum had posted to me. Jumped over a wall (with a drop of several hundred feet)and grabbed a tree ripping off the wrapper and examined the thick woollen socks she had posted to me.
After a few days we left for Algeciras in Spain for the crossing of the sea to Morocco we had to walk back into Spain. In Algeciras we got to the Spanish customs, when they seen our British passports we were made to empty our rucksacks mean while other nationals when through unhindered. When the ferry left for Ceuta in Morocco the customs officers just walked away and we had to wait for the next sailing.
Monday, 9 November 2009
Granada
As we headed south we Stopped at Grenada the road from the coast up to Grenada is spectacular.
The city of Granada is placed at the foot, of the Sierra Nevada mountains We visited
We all went to see the Alhambra it is fantastic well worth a visit. I found an orange tree with little oranges, no one was looking I serendipitously plucked a small orange but it was not a good plan as it was very bitter, The next day we headed for Gibraltar.
The city of Granada is placed at the foot, of the Sierra Nevada mountains We visited
The Alhambra, a Moorish citadel and palace, in Granada. It is one of the most famous items of the Islamic historical legacy that makes Granada a hot spot among cultural and tourist cities in Spain. The Almohad urbanism with some fine examples of Moorish and Morisco constructions is preserved at the part of the city called the Albaicín.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granada,_Spain#Overview
We all went to see the Alhambra it is fantastic well worth a visit. I found an orange tree with little oranges, no one was looking I serendipitously plucked a small orange but it was not a good plan as it was very bitter, The next day we headed for Gibraltar.
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Spain
From Andorra we travelled to Barcelona found the YHA. Where we made friends with Tom Jenkins from New Zealand. [more of him later] Later that night in town we found Tom who was very drunk singing very loudly, and the police wanting to jail him. George. Bill and I convinced the police not to jail him. We got safely into the YHA and into the dormitory. Now we had a problem, Tom had a top bunk and he insisted he wanted into his bunk. We had to help him to get him climb up and into his bunk. As soon as we got him into the bunk, he jumped off the bunk caught the light crashed onto the floor, Bringing down the light with him, with a blue flash plunging the hostel into instant darkness. The next morning Tom paid for the damage over a cup of coffee we informed Tom of the chaos. He was very ashamed of the trouble he caused, we invited us to his house when we get to New Zealand. We three continued south to Gibraltar.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Andorra
After a few kilometres we crossed the border and into Andorra. We found a hotel only to be told it was closed however, if we did not mind eating with the family in the kitchen we could stay. That was no problem for us. After a very fine lunch the family settled down to watch the TV After a short time Granny jumped to her feet shouting and pointing to the TV all the family came running and looked at the TV and started dancing, singing. Seems they had a good win on the Lottery so it was party time. The next morning as we were leaving we were given bread, wine, brandy, cheese everyone was shaking our hands, slapping our backs. We left burdened with our gifts. And headed for the Spanish border.
When we arrived at the crossing we realised our passports were not stamped. We went into the passport office only to find the emigration officer a sleep with his feet on the desk. We woke him up he was angry "PASS, PASS" he said, we insisted he stamp our pass ports, At last he did and we crossed into Spain.
When we arrived at the crossing we realised our passports were not stamped. We went into the passport office only to find the emigration officer a sleep with his feet on the desk. We woke him up he was angry "PASS, PASS" he said, we insisted he stamp our pass ports, At last he did and we crossed into Spain.
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Australia Here We Come
George, Bill, And I headed for Mount Vernon Where the road at that time was the start to London. We agreed thee was not a good number for hitching, so we tossed a coin to see how would hitch by them self agreeing to meet up in London. Soon Bill got a lift, not long after George and I got a lift as far as M6 where we got stuck for many hours we decided to go back up north and tried once more to head south to London eventually George and I got to London [my first foreign country] headed for YHA where we met up with Bill.
The next day we three took the train to Dover. Crossed the channel to France heading south for Spain. It was my turn to travel alone. I was apprehensive as I do not speak French. Anyway I carried on and got to some nameless town late at night and it was raining I had a small tent but could not find a place to pitch it, I found a bus shelter it was dry so I got out my sleeping bag and was soon sleeping. The next morning I woke up it was still raining and a my embarrassment people waiting for the bus were standing out in the rail. I packed away my sleeping bag and soon got a lift to the next town where I had arranged to meet George and Bill.
Next is was Bill's turn to travel solo. George and I travelled to the next town that we had agreed to meet bill. We could not get to this town as it was getting late and is was still raining, we found a building site where we could shelter for the night. The next morning we found out this site was being protected by guard dogs, now how do we get out? George said we got in with no problem, we will just walk out with no problem and we did. Soon we met up with Bill and continued our odyssey to Andorra high in the in the eastern Pyrenees mountains on the road to Spain.
The three of us were fortunate in getting a lift from France in a small Citron car that was heading to Andorra, little did we know what we were letting our selves into. The road was covered in snow the driver gave us a lift as he wanted the extra weight to get up the steep gradients, but even with our weight the wheels were spinning on the steep slops soon the engine was over heating. The driver got out and started throwing snow on to the engine, some of the snow landed on a glass bottel which duly shattered. So he shook hands with us. We had to continue on foot.
The next day we three took the train to Dover. Crossed the channel to France heading south for Spain. It was my turn to travel alone. I was apprehensive as I do not speak French. Anyway I carried on and got to some nameless town late at night and it was raining I had a small tent but could not find a place to pitch it, I found a bus shelter it was dry so I got out my sleeping bag and was soon sleeping. The next morning I woke up it was still raining and a my embarrassment people waiting for the bus were standing out in the rail. I packed away my sleeping bag and soon got a lift to the next town where I had arranged to meet George and Bill.
Next is was Bill's turn to travel solo. George and I travelled to the next town that we had agreed to meet bill. We could not get to this town as it was getting late and is was still raining, we found a building site where we could shelter for the night. The next morning we found out this site was being protected by guard dogs, now how do we get out? George said we got in with no problem, we will just walk out with no problem and we did. Soon we met up with Bill and continued our odyssey to Andorra high in the in the eastern Pyrenees mountains on the road to Spain.
The three of us were fortunate in getting a lift from France in a small Citron car that was heading to Andorra, little did we know what we were letting our selves into. The road was covered in snow the driver gave us a lift as he wanted the extra weight to get up the steep gradients, but even with our weight the wheels were spinning on the steep slops soon the engine was over heating. The driver got out and started throwing snow on to the engine, some of the snow landed on a glass bottel which duly shattered. So he shook hands with us. We had to continue on foot.
Sunday, 1 November 2009
leaving School
I left school age 15 to work for Wm. Teachers Scotch whisky distillers and bottlers, at there bottling hall in King street Glasgow. This was located under the Saint Enoch railway station now long gone. After some time the bottling plant moved to Flemingon street in Springburn. (now a furniture shop) In total I worked for Wm. Teacher's for 7 years. Till I won £500 from Ernie (Premium Bonds).
My friend George Lawrence had a ambition to travel to Australia by hitch-hiking this sounded good to me I said I would join with him my good friend Bill Boyd said he would come too so we 3 headed for Mount Vernon and started our odyssey
[more later]
My friend George Lawrence had a ambition to travel to Australia by hitch-hiking this sounded good to me I said I would join with him my good friend Bill Boyd said he would come too so we 3 headed for Mount Vernon and started our odyssey
[more later]
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