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Our big 2025 adventure
  • Gerard Hansen
  • Gerard Hansen

Our big 2025 adventure

Our long overdue trip to Europe and the cruise around the Mediterranean including a 60th birthday in Paris. En savoir plus
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  • Début du voyage
    7 août 2025
  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur
    1

    Big day as tourists

    9 août 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Huge day starting at a local French cafe for breakfast of all things. Then off to Churchills War Rooms which was brilliant. Found a unit board showing NZ division listed. Then open top bus around the city. So many tourists and other buses ! Got off by Buck Palace then black cabbie back to hotel with phones and camera needed charging - and us too. Had to buy some socks as it appears mine are still in my dresser dah. Off for a beer and dinner. What a joy seeing the famous sites.En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur
    Had my own image in the museum lolFamous shop in the movie.

    Death by market and museums.

    10 août 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Walked to Notting Hill Market on Portobello Road. Huge market that takes over numerous streets in the beautiful village. Deb bought some photos and a bag and I bought nothing.

    Then off to Victoria and Albert museum. Just stunning exhibitions of art and culture in a stunning building. More Deb than me but still amazing. Black cab to Imperial War Museum. Again an amazing museum that featured kiwis in some scripts.

    Just back at hotel to refresh before a cold beer and dinner. Certainly got the steps in today. Booked Westminster Abbey tomorrow morning.    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur
    1

    Last day in London

    11 août 2025, Angleterre ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Quiet walk around big Ben and other areas waiting for our allocated time to enter Westminster Abbey. What a building! Gobsmacked at the history and architecture. There is so much to take in!

    Then a walk to portrait museum with a stop at the household cavalry museum.

    Deb went to portrait museum while I gave in to temptation and headed for a cold beer 🍺.

    Back to the hotel where I to do some work and then out to find Paddington Bear statue.

    Italian for dinner and then back to pack for our flight to Athens in the morning.

    Thanks London - you were everything we expected and then some.    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur

    Athens

    12 août 2025, Grèce ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Quite a day. Terminal 2 at Heathrow was crazy. Groups and kids and every ethnic group imaginable. Automated systems and little or no service. People everywhere and no recognisable queues. Got here and the bags turned up and checked into hotel. Phew.

    At local restaurant with grumpy old Greek man slamming everything down on the table with a grunt - fantastic. Beer tastes good so I'm OK. Being serenaded by crickets. Will let you know what we ordered when we find out when it comes lol.

    31 degrees at 8 at night. Day in Athens tomorrow. Will book Acropolis and visit the old town. Then get ready to board on Thursday.

    Fantastic time to date. Miss everyone. G and D.    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur

    Athens in a (hot) day.

    13 août 2025, Grèce ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    31 degrees sitting outside a traverna at 1845. Time a cold one and some dinner.

    Late start for us this morning as we must have needed a short lie in.

    Off to the Acropolis before the crowds - all relative of course. Windy at the top so not too hot. Marvellous piece of history of course and good to see they are preserving it well. Fantastic views. I was here with the NZAB well over 30 years ago as a guess. It hadn't moved which was good to see. Pumped into a couple who are on our ship which we board tomorrow. They raved about it which filled us with joy.

    Once down off to the Acropolis museum. Lots of armless statues and more history. Lunch overlooking the Acropolis then back to the hotel to refresh after viewing the dig under the museum.

    Then wandered off to the streets of Plaka and the wonderful shops and colours. It just went forever and we are still here writing this. Bought a few treasures for ourselves and Gelato.

    Packing again in the morning for our pickup to the ship. 22 days await us and many fantastic places.

    Love to all.    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur

    On board

    14 août 2025, Grèce ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Well after many years waiting we are finally on board and awaiting departure. Done a tour to try and figure out where everything is and unpacked for the 3 weeks. Beautiful ship and staff just lovely.
    Evacuation and emergency thing shortly then dinner as we leave Athens for Katakolan (Olympia) - our day excursion.    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur
    1

    Olympia - relics and old fossil

    15 août 2025, Grèce ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Awoke after a great sleep to still be at sea heading to Katakolon. Docked at midday and headed to Olympia, the birthplace of the modern Olympics.
    Set in very sheltered location my watch had us at 42 degrees at one point. Some people actually ran the track in the original stadium - nutters.
    Wandered the quant village and spent some money before heading back to the ship.
    Shower and then dinner and a movie around the pool. Meeting lovely people and loving it so far.
    Corfu in the morning.    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur

    Corfu

    16 août 2025, Grèce ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    We docked as we woke up in this beautiful island city. After breakfast onto buses for a quick tour and then a walking tour of the old town before having our own time to wander.
    Stunning architecture everywhere and many sounds and colours.
    Hot again in the low 30s and all of a sudden the place got very busy and when got back to the ship we discovered why - behind our 800 person ship was one that has 4000 people including kids. We timed it well.
    Refresh and lunch, then relax until departure at 1700. Drinking a coffee in our room chilling over looking the city.    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur

    Kotor

    17 août 2025, Monténégro ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Spent the early morning watching the ship slowly work its way into the dock. Beautiful countryside with waterside villages .
    Deb found a fellow painter from the USA as we watched the docking and they promised to try and catch up.
    After breakfast we had a short stroll in the old city before it got too busy and before our excursion at 1100. Beautiful old walled city and very unique. So much history .
    After the excursion I left Deb to get lost browsing the shops and I found a nice cold beer - mid 30 again today.
    Back to the ship shortly to either chill or maybe venture back for another visit. Late departure tonight.    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur

    It just gets better - Dubrovnik

    18 août 2025, Croatie ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Awoke as we were docking in Dubrovnik in Croatia. Not much to see from our balcony but the beauty came when we entered the old walled city. Just phenomenal old architecture and cobbled paths. Words and photos do not do it justice.
    We did a guided tour then wandered the many alleys and bought more treasures to bring home.
    After a cold beer and feeling the heat we headed back to the ship.
    We have met many lovely people, including a fellow Kiwi couple and two American couples who held strong polar opposite opinions on Donald J Trump. Thankfully, we met them separately, although it might have been interesting, I guess.
    About to head to The Restaurant for dinner and maybe the quiz night.    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur

    Split - Croatia

    19 août 2025, Croatie ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Woke up alongside Split. Another city with extensive history and culture. We did a guided tour in the morning of The Palace which is another walled city. Lots of alleyways and churches. Not as impressive as previous visits but still spectacular.
    Most impressive a quartet singing inside a building with impressive acoustics.
    Then wandered ourselves for a while but both feeling the effects of days of walking and heat so retreated back to the ship. Washing, another spa and sauna for me and port talk as tomorrow we arrive at Venice and stay for 2 nights.
    Cruise just delightful, food fantastic, gelato even better, staff lovely and Yoga our 'cabin boy' just outstanding. Eating and drinking too much but certainly getting our steps in.    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur

    Chioggia - Little Venice

    20 août 2025, Italie ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Quiet morning today as we didn't dock until midday. A late night (at least by our standards) as we went to the show last night. Very good it was too - very polished.
    We had no bookings today so walked into Chiogga which is called Little Venice. Very few tourists to start with which was nice for a change. Lovely couple of hours and made it back to the ship just as a tropical thunderstorm hit.
    Now having a cuppa in the Atrium doing this entry and then will try and finish my book and then dinner and even more gelato.
    Two nights here before departure with some passengers departing in the morning. We are heading to Venice for the day.    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur

    Venice

    21 août 2025, Italie ⋅ 🌧 21 °C

    Well, we almost didn't get to Venice as the heavens opened up with biblical rain and thunderstorms just as we boarded our ferry to Venice. A few passengers decided not to venture any further but nothing was going to stop us this close.
    Headed out and the trip was very smooth and by the time we got to St Mark's Square the sun was shining.
    What a magical place!
    Wandered aimlessly just gobsmacked everywhere you turned. Managed to see most of the major must sees, bought some memorabilia, had some Italian pizza and took the obligatory photos before we had to say arrivederci and head back to the ship.
    Crowds weren't as bad as we expected. Got hot and muggy towards the end. Big bucket list item ticked off!
    Morano and Burano tomorrow before leaving.    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur

    Murano and Burano

    22 août 2025, Italie ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Early start as we boarded our bus to head to Venice and then onto a ferry for a trip to outlying islands of Murano and Burano.
    Murano famous for glass blowing and creation and Burano famous for lace work. Not a blokes tour of note but still very lovely scenery plus a local lunch in Burano.
    Burano particular lovely and more time there would have been appreciated.
    Another show tonight and departure for Sibenik in Croatia.    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur

    Sibenik - Croatia

    23 août 2025, Croatie ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Fantastic entry through the St Anthony Canal into beautiful Sibenik. Berthed dockside for our morning guided tour through the old town. Just as beautiful as all the others but less crowded with good variation to the shops and not so hot - only high 20's today.
    Lovely 2 hours being informed and then a lovely wander on our own. Mandatory gelato and cap plus Deb identified her birthday gift she was instructed to find somewhere on the trip.
    This place really left an impression on us - simply stunning.
    Back to the ship where I caught up on some work, a quick spa , cuppa in the atrium before the next port talk and then we dine tonight at the Chef's Table!    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur

    Bari - Italy

    24 août 2025, Italie ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Quiet morning on the ship as our excursion wasn't until after lunch.
    Bari, while lovely, is shadowed by the cities in Croatia. Tour was slow and long and left little of our own time before we had to be on the bus.
    Italian immigration at the ports is interesting, to say the least. They do things their way and in their own time. With 3 ships in port and then some sort of gas leak, it took forever to get through them and then to get to the ship.
    Maybe the crew were aware of the mood as they had an honour guard lining the path dancing to welcoming music. Lifted the mood a little, as did the shower and cold beer before dinner.
    We had dinner last night at The Chef's Table, which was interesting. Our companions were 2 widowed Texas ladies and their southern drawl. They had no idea where NZ is anything about us. Proudly Trump supporters, which was no real surprise from those in Texas I guess.
    Love the fact that the local constabulary drive Alfa Romeo cars.    En savoir plus

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  • Gerard HansenOur big 2025 adventureVoyageur

    Crotone - Italy

    25 août 2025, Italie ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Woke up dockside but only a view of ocean. Breakfast revealed Crotone close by with fortress buttresses and towers.
    Bussed to the old city centre for an unguided tour which was fantastic. Far better than yesterday even though it was just as hot.
    Old churches and buildings and a fort with stops for local drinks and delicious food plus a museum. Again, we met some lovely people from the ship so all in all a very lovely morning.
    Back for a late lunch and then lounged around the pool and we might have fallen asleep.
    Preparing for dinner and whatever develops. Sicily tomorrow.    En savoir plus

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