Nearly a thousand people waiting for a packed auditorium, a betrayal unprecedented for the Sydney Morning Herald Dymocks literary lunch. The mostly gray-haired, bespectacled public Sat trance, their steaks a simple dish for the main course, English adventurer and writer, Michael Palin.With New Europe, Michael claims to fill what has been a void in his own experience and of many of his generation. In all the visits from 20 countries, starting in the Julian Alps on the border between Slovenia and Italy, where the Iron Curtain once ran, he traveled through the Balkans and Black Sea countries before turning north through the heart of the old eastern Europe, the Baltic States, almost as far north as San Petersburg.I sit diligently listening and taking notes, preparing just fifteen minutes I'll have to ask my own questions, when answering a spontaneously from the day s of podium.It '86, Estonia, and Michael has an appointment with a hirudotherapist. "After a little striptease, she Agajeva, a woman in her fifties, plump a kind generous and maternal step is the application of leeches to my torso Why Because the cameraman Roger thought it would be painful and unpleasant -.?. And therefore seem mandatory application of leeches is an ancient and proven treatment of impotence, high blood pressure and a myriad of other complaints. "After fifteen minutes the little buggers are swollen and satisfied and have eased the discomfort enough to delight Roger. Lyudmilla, we are able to name for now, my wounds dressed with a thick plaster, sticking industrial warning me that more blood loss is likely to be absorbed by the anticoagulant. Back in Tallinn I feel like a celebration is in order and finished with more than one glass of wine or two at the excellent restaurant in the hotel Petersburg, Tallinn, St.. "The next morning I wake up with a repeat of The Godfather, the bed and my T-shirts are soaked in blood and I look around the horse's head which fortunately is not there. I cheat Lyudmilla military grade bands of a deafening noise and the promised 300 ml of blood sprays around the bathroom. Now it's like a scene from M * A * S * H. I put in order, check and on my way to Latvia before someone discovers the terrifying scene that I left behind. It was a charming hotel however. "The food is still in the midst of intermittent waves of laughter and applause, and yes, someone urges Michael to sing the lumberjack song, kindly do so, only in German, an enthusiastic ovation.After tail of 200 meters scattered book signing, I prepare for my introduction. "Hi Michael, I'm Roderick" that looks at me with the suggestion of trouble in store for a weak attempt at humor. "No, really," I say, handing him my card. He then looks at me with a revised, apologetic look, "Oh, poor man." My copy of New Europe is duly signed with an official apology from Pontius Pilate. But I'm forgiving, after all I have to thank for my freedom. (If you have not seen Life of Brian, then the joke is lost and you're probably not reading this anyway). My turn. Michael, your experience at the Hotel St. Petersburg had us in stitches, was his worst hotel experience? "Well, to be fair, it was me who damaged the hotel was excellent. However, several places in China were very strange and arrives to mind: the Rongbuk Guest House was a highlight "That's how Michael describes it .. Day 60, the Himalayas. "From the dirty, full of patio concrete rooms with no soul, with broken windows and lack toilets without doors, Rongbuk Guest House is more of a hell hole." Michael adds a little spice to it missing from the book. "It's run by a group of monks whose minds are clearly elsewhere. The bathroom was a runner and just freeze the slit in the soil. So many people had used it over the years I had an icicle of frozen excrement protruding from it. A shame, a spectacular location next to Mount Everest "Your favorite hotel?" Our lodge in Torres del Paine National Park with views of the glaciers was the most magnificent "Day 161 of Full Circle". . Few souls have ventured far into the park at this time of year and the lodge have almost to ourselves. Sit next to the stove, playing dominoes and drinking whiskey seven years old, with seven of the glacier a thousand years old. Sometimes the work is. almost bearable "On a more serious note, I ask Michael - with all his experience in city hotels brand - what is the one thing that a hotel has to get it right" Well, I think, like in good restaurants, manager or person in authority should be around at all times. When a manager says: "Call me anytime if you need something" that must mean, not just between 10 and 12 or after 9. Is the service after all. "" Hilton event. are particularly good for the way the name means something and have a level of service you can count on Day 80 of Polo Polo. Addis Ababa. "The cultural shock as we arrived at the Hilton Addis in a world of white face, blond hair, thick legs, stomachs full. Curfew 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., but the telephone and minibar. Gorgeous, stunning and wonderful shower. The dust escapes into the channels of mud. My eyes are red and sore, and I have gathered a group of flea bites on somewhere, but I guess it's a small price to pay for what just happened. "At 65, Michael Palin looks so bright and lively as a man half his age or slightly older. For a guy who is returning to Earth in both the horizontal and vertical perimeter, climbed mountains, crossed deserts and stood in front of a camera (two shots) at least 50 degrees at the South Pole, which is in nick fair enough. I do not need to ask the question because it is written all over him. The trip is obviously a great tonic. Drink your fill! TriviaPalin Palin became Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to television in 2000.Along with each member of Monty Python, Palin has an asteroid named after him. Its recognition is the asteroid 9621 Michaelpalin.In of his many trips by train, Palin has two British train named after him. In 2002, the new Virgin of 5 million pounds of high-speed Super Voyager train number 221 130 was named "Michael Palin." Michael Palin is the president of the Campaign for Better Transport, whose motto is "transportation that improves our quality of life and reduce environmental impact." In 1993, after his winning performance in A Fish Called Wanda, Michael agreed (well, had to) the name of Michael Palin Centre for stuttering children.