Getting home started two days ago, and dragged on with long flights and interminable waits in airport terminals. Needless to say we are both weary. You know what comes next: getting ready to do the right thing and return to work...
Looking back, this trip was an eye-opener. We had never experienced Greece before and, along with revisiting Paris, is something we've enjoyed immensely. At the risk of being repetitious, the people we met were invariably friendly and helpful and we managed to navigate our way around fairly easily.
I have to make a point about traffic, though. Whether French, Italian or Greek, the traffic is entertaining to watch. It is like a strange, impromptu ballet. Like most Australians we tend to think we are pretty good behind the wheel. We are not. They are.
Well, this is the end of this chapter. Not entirely sure what or when the next chapter will be: there is too much too see, too little time and not enough coin.
Friday 27 June 2014
Wednesday 25 June 2014
Around Paris…
Today was a day to catch up on the things we had missed last time. As an aside, this is the downside of guided tours – you do not always get to look around on your own volition. This time we made our own way...
As you can see above, the big highlights were seeing the sides of Notre Dame that are not normally seen in photos, and the geometry of the city from the Arc de Triomphe (the number of steps inside is tiring). Like many others, we left a padlock on a river bridge; the keys are somewhere on the bottom of the Seine.
So now we are getting ready for bed. After a short dash to the Latin Quarter (near the Sorbonne), we will be heading to the airport for the long journey home.
Paris, this second time around, was even better than the first time...
As you can see above, the big highlights were seeing the sides of Notre Dame that are not normally seen in photos, and the geometry of the city from the Arc de Triomphe (the number of steps inside is tiring). Like many others, we left a padlock on a river bridge; the keys are somewhere on the bottom of the Seine.
So now we are getting ready for bed. After a short dash to the Latin Quarter (near the Sorbonne), we will be heading to the airport for the long journey home.
Paris, this second time around, was even better than the first time...
A Parisian Interlude…
So now we come to the second part of our journey.
For some time we've been discussing a trip to Paris to look more closely at things we briefly saw last time. Also – and more importantly – we came to celebrate Deb’s birthday…for the second time around.
We arrived in Paris about 10am on the 23rd, after a long and tiring railway journey. We were quickly directed to a taxi and on our way to our hotel. Thankfully there was no need to wait for check-in.
Our first order of business was to catch a nap (and let our inner ears settle a bit) before the main event: a dinner cruise on the Seine. Suffice to say, the weather was wonderful, the food delicious, and the views stupendous. Here are some photos:
It was almost midnight when we were dropped back to the hotel by our guide. The end of a long day with another couple to come…
For some time we've been discussing a trip to Paris to look more closely at things we briefly saw last time. Also – and more importantly – we came to celebrate Deb’s birthday…for the second time around.
We arrived in Paris about 10am on the 23rd, after a long and tiring railway journey. We were quickly directed to a taxi and on our way to our hotel. Thankfully there was no need to wait for check-in.
Our first order of business was to catch a nap (and let our inner ears settle a bit) before the main event: a dinner cruise on the Seine. Suffice to say, the weather was wonderful, the food delicious, and the views stupendous. Here are some photos:
It was almost midnight when we were dropped back to the hotel by our guide. The end of a long day with another couple to come…
Off the boat and on to Paris
This blog is running seriously behind: we've on the run or off the air since disembarkation on the 22nd of June.
Getting of the boat was surprisingly easy. The rest – leading up to arrival in Paris was something of a drag. The fun began in Venice, with a 7-hour wait for the train. Did you know that Venice railway station is remarkably boring? Having seen Venice twice now, we decided against exploration (and getting lost) to camp in the foyer of the railway station, with each of us doing alternate loo and food runs so we would not lose our valuable metal seats - seriously, these seats are like the high ground to armies of antiquity.
Finally the time came and the PA called boarding for our train.
Now, some people believe that getting an overnight sleeper ride is a very romantic way to travel and see the countryside. We wish to meet these people and ask upon which planet they live.
Firstly, the trains were a bit shabby. Not shabby chic, but plain worn out. Second, they were cramped. By cramped we mean “unable to swing a kitten” cramped (a side note here: only travel in a sleeper cabin with someone you like; we shudder to think of the consequences otherwise). We will not bore you with the noise of metal-on-metal for 15 hours or our messed up middle ears which left us feeling as though we'd been on a deep sea trawler for a month. One should also note the shared loos emptying out onto the tracks, and the lack of shower facilities.
Finally the food. At some stage it must have been rejected by an airline and auctioned to the lowest bidder. However, it was food, and the coffee was surprisingly good. (The Top Gear enthusiasts may recall where May and Hammond created a train towed by a car. Our train had the same decor, but did not catch fire.)
As you may guess, it was not an experience we’ll cherish. On the other hand, we have tried it (and some of the landscape in north Italy and south of Paris was delightful). But do take our advice: catch a plane, bus or boat. If cannot get any of these, then stay in a hotel until one becomes available.
Here is Deb graciously modelling the cabin:
Note sure when the next posts will be done, suffice to say we've just had a couple of awesome days in the City of Lights.
Getting of the boat was surprisingly easy. The rest – leading up to arrival in Paris was something of a drag. The fun began in Venice, with a 7-hour wait for the train. Did you know that Venice railway station is remarkably boring? Having seen Venice twice now, we decided against exploration (and getting lost) to camp in the foyer of the railway station, with each of us doing alternate loo and food runs so we would not lose our valuable metal seats - seriously, these seats are like the high ground to armies of antiquity.
Finally the time came and the PA called boarding for our train.
Now, some people believe that getting an overnight sleeper ride is a very romantic way to travel and see the countryside. We wish to meet these people and ask upon which planet they live.
Firstly, the trains were a bit shabby. Not shabby chic, but plain worn out. Second, they were cramped. By cramped we mean “unable to swing a kitten” cramped (a side note here: only travel in a sleeper cabin with someone you like; we shudder to think of the consequences otherwise). We will not bore you with the noise of metal-on-metal for 15 hours or our messed up middle ears which left us feeling as though we'd been on a deep sea trawler for a month. One should also note the shared loos emptying out onto the tracks, and the lack of shower facilities.
Finally the food. At some stage it must have been rejected by an airline and auctioned to the lowest bidder. However, it was food, and the coffee was surprisingly good. (The Top Gear enthusiasts may recall where May and Hammond created a train towed by a car. Our train had the same decor, but did not catch fire.)
As you may guess, it was not an experience we’ll cherish. On the other hand, we have tried it (and some of the landscape in north Italy and south of Paris was delightful). But do take our advice: catch a plane, bus or boat. If cannot get any of these, then stay in a hotel until one becomes available.
Here is Deb graciously modelling the cabin:
Note sure when the next posts will be done, suffice to say we've just had a couple of awesome days in the City of Lights.
Saturday 21 June 2014
Corfu and Dubrovnik: Revelations
Beautiful.
There. This is the best description of Corfu and Dubrovnik. We thought we’d seen paradise with Santorin, but when you pick up a dictionary to look up the word, you find these other two places as well.
Santorini is indeed a beautiful place, but it is limited. Corfu and Dubrovnik are full of different things to see and experience, leaving Deb and I to wonder what else is worthy of attention.
So anyway, some photos:
About Dubrovnik – forget Venice completely. Dubrovnik, especially the old town, is amazing: it is clean, tidy and in good repair and just as many amazing things to see:
Sadly the day ended in a bit of a farce: with four cruise ships in town, the old city was packed,, getting out was utterly crowded. No fun at all if you value your personal space.
Anyway, we are no heading to Venice for the end of the tour. From Venice we catch a train to Paris, to arrive on the 23rd. While we will not see the Alps in the dark, we did see them from the air last week:
Not sure when the next update will happen…
There. This is the best description of Corfu and Dubrovnik. We thought we’d seen paradise with Santorin, but when you pick up a dictionary to look up the word, you find these other two places as well.
Santorini is indeed a beautiful place, but it is limited. Corfu and Dubrovnik are full of different things to see and experience, leaving Deb and I to wonder what else is worthy of attention.
So anyway, some photos:
About Dubrovnik – forget Venice completely. Dubrovnik, especially the old town, is amazing: it is clean, tidy and in good repair and just as many amazing things to see:
Sadly the day ended in a bit of a farce: with four cruise ships in town, the old city was packed,, getting out was utterly crowded. No fun at all if you value your personal space.
Anyway, we are no heading to Venice for the end of the tour. From Venice we catch a train to Paris, to arrive on the 23rd. While we will not see the Alps in the dark, we did see them from the air last week:
Not sure when the next update will happen…
Thursday 19 June 2014
Athens
The fourth stop has brought us to Athens, the Greek capital. Strictly speaking we are alongside at Piraeus, a port city bordering Athens – about a half-hour drive from the centre of one to the other.
The weather is hot (about 30 degrees) and fine. There is a bit of smog, however.
We've just returned from an excursion to the Acropolis, the Acropolis museum and some shopping in the old town. Like yesterday, the pictures tell the story:
Athens is a likeable place. We stopped for lunch at an outdoor restaurant for a salad and souvlaki – it was good just to be able to stop for a moment and take in the activity around us.
There is no doubt it is a huge city, but the streets are lined with trees that give it a relaxed feel. Traffic is lively, but not as crazy as Italy. The locals we've encountered are friendly and helpful. That said, the impact of the GFC can be seen – but the dilapidation is not as extreme not as what we've witnessed in Katakolon or Santorini.
We are now taking the afternoon off. May as well as have a siesta like our Greek and Italian counterparts. Tomorrow takes us north to the island of Corfu.
To both our Mums a belated happy birthday.
The weather is hot (about 30 degrees) and fine. There is a bit of smog, however.
We've just returned from an excursion to the Acropolis, the Acropolis museum and some shopping in the old town. Like yesterday, the pictures tell the story:
Athens is a likeable place. We stopped for lunch at an outdoor restaurant for a salad and souvlaki – it was good just to be able to stop for a moment and take in the activity around us.
There is no doubt it is a huge city, but the streets are lined with trees that give it a relaxed feel. Traffic is lively, but not as crazy as Italy. The locals we've encountered are friendly and helpful. That said, the impact of the GFC can be seen – but the dilapidation is not as extreme not as what we've witnessed in Katakolon or Santorini.
We are now taking the afternoon off. May as well as have a siesta like our Greek and Italian counterparts. Tomorrow takes us north to the island of Corfu.
To both our Mums a belated happy birthday.
Santorini–a gem
The title says it all. But first…
Today was a big one – all day wandering around Santorini, part of the Greek Isles (south of the mainland, north of Crete). As a result we were up early – thankfully not feeling too worse for wear after last night – to see this as we came into the caldera:
Pretty soon our day was underway, with visits to the main towns, the Acrotiri archaeological site (check out the Minoans on Wikipedia) before stopping for a Greek afternoon tea (tomato, cheese, olives and wine). It is probably better to let the pictures do the talking:
If you've read this far, then you probably understand that Deb and I have been blown away by this place.
Yes, it is hot and a bit dusty, but the views are sensational, the people friendly and the food is marvelous. If you event give a thought to visiting the eastern Mediterranean, then this place is a must.
This is as far south as we go this time around. We now turn round and head north to Athens.
Today was a big one – all day wandering around Santorini, part of the Greek Isles (south of the mainland, north of Crete). As a result we were up early – thankfully not feeling too worse for wear after last night – to see this as we came into the caldera:
Pretty soon our day was underway, with visits to the main towns, the Acrotiri archaeological site (check out the Minoans on Wikipedia) before stopping for a Greek afternoon tea (tomato, cheese, olives and wine). It is probably better to let the pictures do the talking:
If you've read this far, then you probably understand that Deb and I have been blown away by this place.
Yes, it is hot and a bit dusty, but the views are sensational, the people friendly and the food is marvelous. If you event give a thought to visiting the eastern Mediterranean, then this place is a must.
This is as far south as we go this time around. We now turn round and head north to Athens.
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