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Our big 2025 adventure
  • Gerard Hansen

Our big 2025 adventure

Our long overdue trip to Europe and the cruise around the Mediterranean including a 60th birthday in Paris. Read more
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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Messina - Sicily

    August 26 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Docked beside the city of Messina this morning which was virtually entirely rebuilt after their 1908 earthquake. It's still a beautiful city with interesting history.
    Excursion started with a bus trip exploring the city surrounds before a brief city walking tour ending in the famous clock tower of the church of Messina. Then our own time browsing happily before heading back to the ship. A spa and sauna to close the afternoon before dinner and a show this evening.
    Very lovely place and visit.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Naples - Napoli

    August 27 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Again woke up docked on old terminal in Naples. Predicted temperature today of 30 degrees and it was all that and more.
    Walking tour of the city which was great - one busy, noisy crazy city. Traffic lights are treated like Christmas decorations. Pedestrian crossings are just target practice. I did not see a car without a scratch.
    Beautiful buildings of course, great coffee and pastries. Finally made it back to the ship completely shattered - or words to that affect.
    Manfridies for dinner and then a movie poolside tonight. Rome tomorrow. Missing work and the temperatures - not.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Rome - Roma

    August 28 in Italy ⋅ 🌬 27 °C

    Awoke in Civitavecchia, which is 90 minutes from the centre of Rome. After breakfast 600 odd passengers disembarked for the last time, including friends we had made. We boarded our bus headed to Rome for free time.
    Thoughts on Rome - big, busy, people everywhere, beautiful, churches, statues, fantastic buildings, and even more people. Lots of families with young children in prams, which both surprised and annoyed me.
    In what time we had managed to see the Colosium, Pathanon, Trivi fountain, Spanish steps, and St Peters Square (from a far). Had a pizza and bought more memorabilia.
    Did I say there were lots of people?
    8 hours later, back at the ship exhausted but satisfied. Cold beer and dinner awaits.
    Fantastico!    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler
    11

    Livorno - Pisa

    August 29 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Livorno is about 45 minutes from Pisa by bus. We headed off after breakfast and joined the ever present crowd at the famous leaning tower.
    Beautiful location and great history of the 3 buildings. Didn't climb the tower as my hip said don't bother. Just fantastic to stand and admire the location and beauty. Lovely buildings surround the tower too, which are delightful in their own right.
    All too soon we are back on the bus and back to the ship. We both needed a people free afternoon, so rested in our room.
    Opera tonight after dinner, which I suspect my attendance will be required at. Never heard live opera, so might well be enlightening. Just hope I don't start my own opera if I drop off to sleep.
    Florence tomorrow for the entire day. Ship staying in port overnight, which is nice for a change. A week to go on our cruise.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Florence - Firenze

    August 30 in Italy ⋅ 🌩️ 21 °C

    Left the ship early for the bus ride to Florence. After the bus ride and walk into the town square, the arrival was worth all the effort. What a gob smacking beautiful place! Despite a couple of short thunderstorms and brief downpours, the place just won our hearts. Art , culture, architecture, and glamour. Our time was all too short. Visited the famous Uffizi galleries, which was a sensory overload. If we ever manage another trip this place would be a must return.
    Dinner soon, quiz night and a show tonight and then Monaco tomorrow. Can't wait.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler
    1

    Monaco Monte Carlo

    August 31 in Monaco ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    OMG! Awoke to the most stunning vista I have ever seen. What a place.
    Started with a walking tour of the old town including yes another Chapel and the Princes Palace. Lovely alleys and gardens.
    Had an hour after lunch, where I watched big flash expensive yachts go in and out of the harbour from my balcony.
    In the afternoon headed either side Monte Carlo including Menton on the French Riviera. Very popular with beaches and shops - stoney beach though which didn't look too comfortable.
    Then, I managed to stand on the famous F1 track at La Rascasse corner. Stood and just socked it all in. I almost had to be dragged away.
    Deserve a beer with dinner and reflect on the day. Don't want to leave.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Marseille

    September 1 in France ⋅ 🌧 22 °C

    Wet - the word of the day. Fortunately our excursion was mostly conducted in a bus so we were not too troubled.
    Our French guide spoke at a million miles an hour which meant I missed alot of what was said so I zoned out to be honest.
    City had plenty of beautiful buildings and a lovely harbour but it was mostly closed up waiting for the weather to clear. Still managed to have a wander plus Deb spent an hour or 2 at the Chapel that was dockside.
    Can't really comment too much on Marseillle but probably due to the weather it didn't match yesterday in Monaco but it was a hard act to follow.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Sete and Montpellier

    September 2 in France ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Changed our excursion for today and it was worth it. Bused to Montpellier and had a guided wander. Beautiful city and buildings, but we were obviously too early for the locals as they were only just opening up . They seemed in no rush and all very chilled.
    Then, we bused to a local Cheatau for a wonderful tour through their castle, which they referred to as a Foley. There is so much history with 11 generations of family having lived there with 3 still living there.
    Then to the cheatau's own winery for some tasting.
    After lunch on the ship, we walked into Sete for a wander. Nice little town with river as the focal point and many squares for gatherings.
    Final farewell tonight and show. All coming to an end in 2 sleeps. Barcelona tomorrow.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Barcelona

    September 3 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Left the ship early for a bus tour and then walking tour of Barcelona. Big busy city but beautiful. Highlight has to be the Sagrada Familia. What a spectacle! Outside was amazing which convinced us we had to do the inside. Booked tickets online for later in the afternoon and finished the rest of the tour first. After some Tapas for lunch we headed back to see inside the Familia.
    Words and photos do not do it justice. Simply stunning. Gobsmacked!
    Taxi back to the ship exhausted and started to think about packing as this is our last night on board. The crew had a birthday cake in the cabin for Deb which was lovely.
    Another night in Barcelona tomorrow then train to Paris on Friday.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Barcelona day 2

    September 4 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    With a heavy heart we disembarked from the Viking Sea for the last time this morning. Many farewells from the crew which made it even harder.
    Checked into our lovely hotel for the night. Situated in a renovated Spanish building in the middle of town.
    Headed out to Park Guell. Very hot and crowded but fascinating structures. Was on Deb's must-see list.
    Exhausted we headed back to the hotel to rest and refresh before another wander around our hotel. Still hot and crowded. I was well over people so headed to the room. Deb said she would just do the shop across the way - that was over an hour ago.
    Catching the bullet train to Paris in the morning.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler
    1

    Paris.

    September 5 in France ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Sitting in our hotel room in Paris eating a chocolate croissant after a walk beside the Seine River - how French can I be?
    Most of the day travelling on the bullet train from Barcelona to Paris. Amazing to read we reached 291 kms and it was so smooth.
    Get into tourist mode tomorrow and of course the 60th birthday to celebrate.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Paris

    September 6 in France ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We both awoke quite late for us as it has caught up with us after so many early mornings either catching trains or excursions.
    Breakfast at the hotel and headed on a hop on hop off tour of Paris taking in all the obvious sites. Such a beautiful city - everywhere you look!
    Got off to visit Musee d'Orsay. Famous art and more famous art - overload. Deb in heaven!
    Back to hotel soon to prepare for birthday dinner.
    Off to Versaillies tomorrow.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Versaillies

    September 7 in France ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Headed back to Eiffil Tower first thing for a wander as didn't stop yesterday. Walked underneath but decided against going up. It looked packed and quite frankly we were not fussed. Lovely grounds and space underneath which was surprising.
    Headed to the local street for brunch and then another wander the local shops.
    Then caught our bus to Versaillies. Not overly well organised to be honest but we got there and got in.
    Some pad these King's had. The height of luxury and ridiculous amount of space. Deb in heaven again with art and sculptures for Africa. Far too many people again and it was hot. Headed to the grounds for a quick wander with thunder cracking overhead.
    Well worth the visit and an amazing place.
    Late back to the hotel for a quick shower and a much needed beer and dinner.
    I plan to have a museum free day tomorrow - not sure I can take many more paintings and sculptures lol.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Paris

    September 8 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Quiet day for me as couldn't face yet another museum and people. Headed to a local laundrette instead to catch up on the washing. The hotel laundry service was ab horrendous charge so dud it ourselves.
    Then back to the hotel to pay the bills by doing about 3 hours of work. Then off for some lunch before catching up with Deb after she visited a museum of design and more sculptures.
    After a cuppa headed out for a stroll to the Louvre Square to take in the boulevard and surroundings. Didn't go but enjoyed the surroundings.
    Prepared for our train trip to Lille tomorrow to meet our Back Roads tour group. Off to dinner shortly.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Lille

    September 9 in France ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Not much to report today. Travelled to Lille on bullet train. Train not too packed which was good as well over pushy people. Train guard also helped with Deb's by now very heavy suitcase, which was a bonus.
    Checked into hotel for 2 nights. It is a converted convent and done very nicely.
    Cols beer and tapas and then head back to the hotel. Day to ourselves tomorrow before meeting up with the Back Road group tomorrow night in the bar.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Lille

    September 10 in France ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Another quiet day as I worked for most of the day catching up. Feel better being on the front foot.
    Deb went for a walk before lunch and we both walked to the old city mid afternoon. Lovely town.
    Met the tour group over dinner and got a briefing on the week. All seem like lovely people.
    Tour starts tomorrow.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Day 1 Battlefield Tour - Lille to Amien

    September 11 in France ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    A day full of visiting various sites related to ANZAC and the Battle of the Somme July and August 1916.
    Too many sites to mention and cemeteries with staggering numbers of names of ANZAC soldiers known and unknown.
    It felt great stand at places I had read about and seen only in black and white photos.
    One memorial listed the names of over 72000 British and Commonwealth soldiers with no known grave - Thiepval Memorial.
    Went to the memorial of the New Zealand Division and the site where they took the unknown soldier from his grave back to Wellington.
    Long and once checked into hotel it was a late dinner and beer before hitting the sack.
    Nice people on the tour - only 14 of us made up of 4 Kiwis and the rest Australian. Also nice not to have big crowds and more relaxed.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Naours

    September 12 in France ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Started after breakfast with a visit to the underground city of Naours. Built long ago their war history is as a tourist attraction for ANZAC soldiers on R & R. Names inscribed on the walls and then what happened to them when they returned to the front lines - mostly tragic of course. Also used by the German's in WWII.
    Then bought lunch and went to Commonwealth war cemetery at Heilly Station - a location of a medical treatment station. The soldiers were buried here who didn't make it past the station. Both Aussie and Kiwi.
    Back to the hotel; cold beer and dinner.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Ypres

    September 13 in Belgium ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    Travelling to Ypres today with stops on the way. Adelaide cemetery, Australian Memorial, the Sir John Monash Centre and then the Menin Gate.
    More lessons and information about the great war.
    Real honour to lay a wreath at Menin Gate with Bill from Tokoroa RSA - our fellow Kiwi.
    Now a cold beer and some ribs with some of the group. Ypres is a very pretty village. Great day.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Ypres

    September 14 in Belgium ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Big day visiting lots of sites. First stop Essex farm where John McCrae wrote In Flanders Field. Then a brief stop at a German cemetery with over 44,000 buried soldiers. Stark and cold compared to Commonwealth ones and I didn't stay long.
    On to Hooge Crater Museum which included lunch and a visit to the secret garden with their recreated trenches in the exact spot they were in 2016.
    Off to Polygon Wood and ANZAC corner and the story of the Hunter Brothers - https://www.brothersinarmsmemorial.info/ Well worth the read.
    Lastly, off to Tyne Cot Cemetery, which is the largest Commonwealth Cemetery in the world. Over 12,000 buried and 70% of them unknown.
    All very sobering but many tales of ANZAC bravery.
    Back to the hotel and a group dinner together for our last night. Back to Lille tomorrow late afternoon. Then off to Paris on Tuesday. Countdown on to travel home.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Lille

    September 15 in Belgium ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    Wet and wild day weather wise. Some got off to view Hill 60 and the craters. I stayed on the bus as it was an Australian battle.
    Then we stopped in Messines briefly, where I bumped into a young guy from Southland who was biking around the battlefields. It's really good to see.
    Next to Messines Ridge and the NZ Division Memorial.
    Various other stops after lunch including a memorial for Freckleton VC winner.
    Visited Pheasant Wood Museum which has a memorial to all commonwealth international rugby players lost in the war. Also a great story about recovering Australian soldiers thought lost with no grave. Worth a read.
    Back to the hotel in Lille and preparing to head back to Paris via train tomorrow. Checked in for flight to Singapore Wednesday.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Paris

    September 16 in France ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Quiet day as I was under the weather with a bit of a head cold plus it was simply travel day from Lille to Paris for our flight to Singapore in the morning.
    Checked into our second to last hotel - a trendy hip hotel for us old tired farts lol.
    Check in tomorrow at 0800. Body clock about to be put through the wringer.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Singapore

    September 18 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Kind of lost a day travelling to Singapore. Left Paris around 1100 on Wednesday arrived in Singapore around 0600 on Thursday after 12 hour flight. France turned nasty just after we left with riots so timing was good.
    Kicked around waiting for hotel room which they gave us early.
    The top priority was washing. Desperately needed clean clothes. Wandered some shops on Orchard Road between cycles.
    Our bodies don't know what time it is and we are desperately tired. After a little dinner, I went for a soak in the hotels 19th floor infinity pool to wash the last 48 hours away and we are in bed shattered.
    Whole day tomorrow to be tourists...or just chill around the pool.
    Leave for home Saturday.    Read more

  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureTraveler

    Singapore - last night

    September 19 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    After a late breakfast we headed to both Chinatown and Little India. OMG it was hot! We both ended up balls of sweat.
    Fascinating places full of colour and smells. Took me back to my earlier years living here.
    Exhausted we headed back to the hotel and a very brief swim before the shut the rooftop pool due to the threat of lightning. We don't know if lightning ever happened as we both crashed - still catching up.
    I headed back to the pool for a swim and some satay and a tiger beer. Yummy.
    Looking forward to getting home on Sunday. Trip of a lifetime!    Read more

    Trip end
    September 21, 2025
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