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Paris Olympics + more Europe
  • Kadi Kaljuste
  • Brad Ciccarelli
Jul – Aug 2024

Paris Olympics + more Europe

Paris, Vienna, Budapest, Slovenia and an organized tour of the Balkans Read more
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  • Trip start
    July 24, 2024
    Paris Olympics + more Europe

    Paris Olympics, here we come!

    July 24, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    At Pearson waiting to board our flight to Paris. We’ll land around 10:30 am tomorrow Paris time. So excited!

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    Welcome!
    2Fontaine St. MichelPolice presence and fencing3View of the Seine and Notre DameThe Great Canadian Pub2Cafe dinnerThe squareThe Pantheon

    Paris!

    July 25, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    After a fabulous Air Transat flight with no delays and no hiccups, we landed in Paris this morning around 10:30 a.m. Immigration was a breeze, and we were in a taxi in no time and checked into our hotel in the Latin Quarter. Good fortune continued to follow us and our room was ready even though check-in wasn’t until 3 p.m.. Bonus! We had time to get settled in and then headed out exploring despite our jet lag.

    We’ve been to Paris many times before so there aren’t really any sites that we feel compelled to visit. We enjoy roaming the streets, admiring the architecture and people watching. We meandered up to the Seine. You couldn’t miss the fencing and police presence in the area in anticipation of tomorrow evening’s opening ceremonies.

    We’d read about a place called The Great Canadian Pub which is a sports bar and a place to watch Canadian athletes compete and decided to head there for a snack. While we did meet people from Montreal, as well as from Toronto (they were from Riverdale and had lived on the same street as us!). It seemed to be run by South Americans with a very international clientele. We’ll probably head back there over the next couple of days and see if it becomes more Canadian as the games officially start.

    One of the strategies we have for dealing with jet lag on day one is to have a short nap before dinner. So, in keeping with that strategy, we went back to the hotel and had a nap before heading out for something to eat and exploring the Pantheon area. We settled into a quintessential Parisian café and ate croque monsieur while we watched the pedestrian parade in the square. A perfect end to our first day.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    Automne for lunch
    Happy to eat my veggiesDuck, bien sûrThe T-shirts were a hit1In our seatsNote the torch bearer on the right2That's not dirt on my lens, it's a tightrope walker in the skyAnd snipers on the roofs

    Lavish lunch and Opening Ceremonies

    July 26, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    There are many road closures in Paris right now as you can imagine. And many of the bridges across the Seine were closed in anticipation of the opening ceremonies this evening. We had made a reservation months ago at a Michelin star restaurant, Automne, for lunch. We had planned to walk. The Olympic transportation app estimated our walk there to be about one hour, but we were wise and allowed an hour and a half. Thank goodness we did! It took us 85 minutes. There were so many detours that we got our steps in before we had our lavish lunch. Délicieux!

    We decided we would definitely take the Metro back to our hotel given all the bridges were closed as of 1 p.m. so the only way back to the left bank and our hotel would be going under the Seine. Easy peasy. We got changed into our Canada T-shirts and packed umbrellas and waterproof jackets because the forecast was to have some rain.

    We arrived at our gate and realized that our tickets were on the Pont de Change! Epic. We were there a couple of hours early, as recommended, and hung out in the open area of the bridge behind the stands of seats. Our Canada T-shirts were media magnets. We wound up being interviewed by a Middle Eastern sports channel, TIME Magazine, and a Polish sports channel. 🤣

    It was around 6:30 when it started to sprinkle; by the time the ceremonies started it was raining steadily. I don’t know how we would’ve managed without jackets and umbrellas because it really did come down for almost the whole ceremony. But worth every raindrop.

    Our seats were exceptional. There were large screens everywhere for us to watch the other activities that were going on at other areas of the Seine as well as at the Eiffel Tower. We thought it was an ambitious, exceptionally well thought out and exciting opening ceremony. We were in awe.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    Yes. It rained again today. That's me under my umbrella ella ella
    The team uniforms from LululemonSnack company Mondalez was there along with Air Canada, Canadian Tire and BellSkateboarder Cordano Russelltrampoline competitor Sophiane MéthotShe signed the mural of herselfBruni SurinA great atmosphere at Canada House

    Canada House

    July 27, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We had no event tickets for today so we had bought tickets to Canada House, a pavilion type space that is put on by the Canadian Olympic Committee, particularly for athletes and families of athletes. It’s also open to Canadians attending the Olympics…for a fee.

    It’s a space where sponsors host spaces, CBC does some broadcasting, and you can watch events in which Canadians compete on large screens and cheer them on with other Canadians.

    We were fortunate that while we were there today, we met two Canadian athletes, skateboarder Cordano Russell and trampoline competitor Sophiane Méthot. We also met Bruni Surin, the Canadian Olympic team’s Chef de Mission.

    And this evening, we joined other Canadians at Canada House to watch Summer MacIntosh win a silver medal in the 400 metre freestyle, Canada’s first medal. 🏅    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    The volleyball facility
    Court sideItaly wonA sea of people heading to the Stade de France for rugby 7s1Outside the stadiumIrish team supportersFancy Canadian team supporters1The stadium is jaw-dropping1We had terrific midfield seats

    Women’s Volleyball and Rugby 7s

    July 28, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Our plan to go to these Olympics was dependent on sheer luck. I had entered a lottery to hopefully be selected for a ticket purchase window, and I was - back in May of 2023. We bought based on what was available at that particular time. Not all tickets were available for each purchase window. We were most interested in the opening ceremonies. Once we secured those tickets, we chose other events that fit the first days of the Olympics, archery being the most important given Brad practises archery at home.

    The further challenge when you’re buying tickets a year out is you have absolutely no idea which countries’ teams you’re going to be seeing. But that wasn’t really important to us because we wanted the Olympic experience and had our fingers crossed that we would see at least one event with Canadians competing.

    Our first event was volleyball this morning and the game was Italy versus the Dominican Republic. The facility was like a giant airplane hanger where a volleyball court and stands had been constructed. It was quite mind blowing. It was a close, exciting game. Italy won.

    We had a bit of time before our next event – women’s rugby 7s. We were delighted to learn that we were going to see two Canadian matches, the first with them playing against Fiji and then later New Zealand. (If you’re unfamiliar with rugby 7s, it’s an exciting action-packed game that only lasts 14 minutes. Google it.🤣)

    We were excited that we were going to Stade de France, the national stadium which has a capacity of 80,000 people. We’ve never been in such a facility and we were quite looking forward to the experience. We were amazed! It was a sea of people but so festive. Our seats were mid field and we had a guy sitting behind us who’d played rugby 7s in university so he was able to answer whatever questions came up over the course of the games. The keyword being games. This “session” started at 3 p.m. and ended at 10 and included 12 matches. And there was going to be no leaving early for us because Canada was playing in the 12th game of the session.

    We absolutely loved it. Even though Canada only won one of its games, it was an entertaining and exciting experience. It was especially heartwarming to watch the two French matches and witness the crowd’s support for their team. Their cheers were so loud it was deafening. And France won both its matches.❤️    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    Lucked out with the shady side
    Brad in his elementIncredible field built in the middle of the cityBig screens show the standingsEnthusiasm and flag wavingFrench team shootingNew targets for each setKorea and France vied for goldMedal ceremony

    Archery and bistro

    July 29, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    As many of my family and friends know, my husband Brad took up archery as a hobby when he retired. Hence, going to an archery event here at the Paris Olympics was top of the list. Today, we went to the men’s team quarter finals, semi finals and medals competitions.

    The event took place at Les Invalides, which was built in the 17th century for invalid soldiers, as its name implies, and served as a military hospital and retirement home for war veterans. It’s a sprawling property and its lawns were transformed into an archery field with stands for spectators.

    It was a hot day and the spectator stands were uncovered with the sun beating down on us. As luck would have it, it started to get shady from our seats down and there was a pleasant breeze so we were fine. The spectators on the other side of the field didn’t fare so well. They wound up in full sun throughout the competition.

    It was an exciting event because France was contending as was the top-seeded Korean team. When there’s a French team in contention, there’s an excitement that’s electric. Today was no different.

    The Korean team ended up with gold, France with silver and Turkey with bronze. It was a thrill to be there for an actual medal ceremony and witness firsthand what we’ve seen hundreds of times on television.

    Earlier in the day, we’d asked a local couple walking near our hotel to recommend a non touristy restaurant at which we could have some French classics for dinner. We’d made a reservation and headed there for dinner to enjoy escargots and steak frites (and perhaps a glass of wine or two 😉). Perfect way to end another memorable day    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    City hall fan zone
    Leisurely lunchDominican Republic versus UzbekistanBeach volleyball133Au revoir, Paris!

    Football and beach volleyball

    July 30, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    It was our final day in Paris today and we had two events scheduled – football and beach volleyball. Football was out at a stadium with a capacity of about 48,000 people. It didn’t start until 3 PM so we had time to go for a meandering walk, exploring the City Hall area and its fan zone as well as having a relaxed café lunch.

    As the day progressed, the temperature rose, reaching 35° by the time we were at the football match. Fortunately, our seats at the match were under an awning so we didn’t have the sun beating down on us. Nonetheless, we were definitely sweating and drinking as many fluids as we possibly could. It was a match between the Dominican Republic and Uzbekistan and ended up in a tie. We then headed over to the Eiffel Tower which is where the beach volleyball matches are being held. What an incredible venue! We had intentionally booked these tickets given it was our final night and we’d be at the Eiffel Tower once the lights would be turned on.

    We watched three matches. The first was men, US versus Netherlands; the second was women, Brazil versus Spain; and the last was another women’s match with Netherlands versus Japan. Beach volleyball is an incredibly fun event to attend because of the energetic behaviour of the fans. Never a dull moment.

    We were particularly thrilled to watch the Brazilian women who are seeded number one in the world and we could well see why. Fortunately, the temperature started to drop and by the time the matches were done it had dropped to a cool 28°. 😭

    We then took one final walk around the Eiffel Tower.

    Merci, Paris. ❤️    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    2Our hotel room
    1Patio drinks before dinnerThomas at the square named after his fatherSt. Stephen's CathedralThe oldest restaurant in Vienna

    Hello, Vienna and Geraldine + Thomas

    July 31, 2024 in Austria ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    We left Paris early this morning and took a flight to Vienna. We’ve been to Vienna before, but this visit has a very specific objective: a reunion with our dear friends, Geraldine and Thomas. Thomas is Viennese and Geraldine is South African so they spend northern hemisphere summers in Vienna.

    We met them in 2020 on a 54-day cruise around South America which ended up diverted due to Covid. As a result, we spent an additional eight days on board and became close friends.

    We maintained our friendship through FaceTime sessions. Then, last year, we spent 180 days with them on an around the world cruise. This was our first time seeing them since last year.

    We’re staying at a quirky boutique hotel in the centre of Vienna which has been a family-run business since 1908. We were upgraded to a suite which was sweet.

    Thomas and Geraldine came to our hotel to meet us early evening and Geraldine and I couldn’t help getting a bit teary-eyed seeing each other again.🥰 We went for drinks on the patio of a cafe where the cool kids go and then Thomas showed us around, including taking us to the square named after his father who was Vienna’s mayor for ten years. We ended the evening with dinner at Vienna’s oldest restaurant.

    🎼 Reunited and it feels so good…🎶    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    The palace
    Carriage museumSisi was obsessed with corsettingPalace grounds1On the Riesenrad Ferris wheelThe viewThe beer gardenThis woman and her brother own the beer garden. Thomas played with her as a child.The pork here is a signature dish

    A palace, the Prater and pork

    August 1, 2024 in Austria ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Brad and I had a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and met Geraldine and Thomas mid morning. The plan was to walk over to the subway and head to Schönbrunn Palace, the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We would have lunch there and then take public transit to the Prater, a large public park and amusement area which was the site of the 1873 Vienna World's Fair.

    Schönbrunn Palace is a huge property complete with gardens, reminiscent of Versailles. We chose to visit The Imperial Carriage Museum and learned all about a fascinating woman, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, better known as Sisi. Learn more about her here:
    https://www.austria.info/en/culture/sisi-empres…
    The parallels of Sisi’s life with that of Princess Diana struck us as rather eerie.

    It got hotter as the day progressed and by the time we finished touring the carriage museum it was around 30 degrees. Thankfully, Thomas had made reservations at a garden restaurant on the palace grounds which was shady and cool.

    From there, we grabbed a bus and a subway to the Prater. We decided to ride the iconic Riesenrad, a 64.75-metre tall Ferris wheel, to enjoy views of Vienna. Classic.

    We strolled through the grounds, making our way to a legendary beer garden on the site, Schweizerhaus. It’s been owned and run by the same family for more than 100 years. When our friend Thomas was a boy, he would play with one of the current-day owners and run around the Prater going on the various rides. We were fortunate that she was there this evening and came to say hello to us. The specialties here are beer, of course, as well as roast pork with crackling. 😋

    We were happy to have a walk back to the subway in order to work off our dinner.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    The Library
    2The library ceilingThe crypt of the Habsburg emperorsOrnateScull decorationsEmpress Sisi's tomb1HundertwasserhausThomas's father's photo is on the wall of fame at the Sacher Hotel1Dining at the Sacher

    A library, a crypt, and wiener schnitzel

    August 2, 2024 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    We met Geraldine and Thomas mid morning and visited the state hall of the Austrian national library, one of the most beautiful historic libraries in the world. It was built in the early 1700s in the Baroque style. We’ve never seen anything quite like it before. Breathtaking.

    Thomas stopped us in front of a building and explained that it was Vienna‘s most famous dance school. He was to have had lessons there as a boy, but refused. As a result, he never learned to do a Viennese waltz. We chuckled and I commiserated with Geraldine because Brad is not a dancer either. So Geraldine and I decided to waltz in front of the school right then and there. Brad videoed our performance 🤣 (A tourist family from Peru witnessed our dance and said it made their day.)

    From there, we went on to visit the Kapuzinergruft, the crypt of the Habsburg emperors. Established in 1618, there are now 150 people in the crypt. The early coffins are particularly ornate and macabre. If you’re ever in Vienna, don’t miss it.

    We then hopped on the subway and headed to The Hundertwasserhaus, a residential building designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Read more about it here: https://www.visitingvienna.com/sights/hundertwa…

    We had a casual patio luncheon in the same neighbourhood and then hopped back on the subway to return to the hotel to have a rest and get gussied up for dinner at the famed Sacher Hotel.

    The Sacher Hotel is across from the opera house and is a favourite for after opera dining. For our friend Thomas, it’s a place he went to often with his father when he was a child. Its restaurant is famous for wiener schnitzel and Sacher torte. The dining room oozes old world luxury. A fitting end to our time here.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    Budapest train station
    Gerlóczy HotelThe spiral staircaseView from our roomSundowners on the hotel terraceDinner timeSuch funDinner music

    Budapest!

    August 3, 2024 in Hungary ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We had a lazy morning before heading to the Vienna train station for a train to Budapest. While Thomas has been to Budapest a few times, but not recently, Geraldine, Brad and I have never been so we were quite excited to embark on this little getaway. We met Thomas and Geraldine at the station and boarded the train which turned out to be a gong show.

    Thank goodness Thomas had reserved seats for us because there had been a train car removed from the route and the passengers’ tickets from that car had not been canceled! It was insane. It’s about a three hour train ride from Vienna to Budapest and some people stood in the aisles with their luggage for the entire journey.

    We arrived in the city late afternoon and checked into our hotel, which is in the centre of things and an old grand hotel with soaring ceilings and a magnificent spiral staircase leading to each floor. (Yes, there’s an elevator as well.) We settled in and met for sundowners on the hotel terrace to figure out where we’d go for dinner. Brad had read about a traditional Hungarian restaurant with musicians playing “gypsy music” which sounded like fun. Thomas called and got us a reservation and off we went. It was perfect.

    Tomorrow, we’ll explore the city.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    Walking tour
    Many buildings have been restoredView across the Danube from Pest to the Buda sideThe Chain Bridge across the DanubeSt Stephen'sShoes on the Danube memorialEntrance to the Chain BridgeUp on the Fisherman's BastionRuin barPictures can't capture what a bizarre space this is

    Walking tour, sightseeing and ruin bar

    August 4, 2024 in Hungary ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Geraldine and Thomas and Brad and I did our own thing for breakfast this morning and met up around 9:30 a.m. In order to orient ourselves to Budapest, we had booked a walking tour at 10 a.m., the meeting point of which was quite near our hotel. It was a Guru Walk and our guide, Gabor, had been hosting walks for 10 years. He was extremely knowledgable as well as enthusiastic with a great sense of humor. It made for a wonderful morning.

    We had a light lunch at a cafe and then went to see the “Shoes on the Danube by sculptor Gyula Pauer and film director Can Togay, it’s a simple but poignant display of 60 pairs of old-style boots and shoes in cast iron, tossed higgledy-piggledy on the bank of the river.”

    https://www.lonelyplanet.com/hungary/budapest/p…

    From there, we crossed the Chain Bridge over the Danube from Pest to Buda to climb up to the Fisherman’s Bastion, a lookout over the city. The views were spectacular. We wandered back to our hotel from there to freshen up before dinner.

    We went to a restaurant called Blue Tomato that had been recommended by our waiter at lunch. It’s frequented by locals and serves
    traditional Hungarian food. We loved it.

    Finally, we took an Uber to a ruin bar, Szimpla. You can read more about ruin bars here:
    https://budapestflow.com/history-ruin-bars-buda… it was certainly unlike any bar we’ve been to before. And we were the oldest people there by decades. 😂    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    2"Bad Brad," the birthday boy
    The marketAt the market2Paprika, anyone?Atlas Brad🤣Brad and Thomas were disappointed by the lack of stockCoffee break at the Párisi Passage2The New York Cafe1The New York Cafe1At the New York Cafe1Brad's birthday dinner at Cafe Gundel

    A market, cafes and Brad’s birthday

    August 5, 2024 in Hungary ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    It was Brad’s birthday today! We had breakfast yet again on our hotel terrace and Brad was surprised with lovely gifts from Thomas and Geraldine (see picture). We went walking to the central market, a typical urban market with produce and meats and all kinds of souvenirs. From there, we walked to a beautiful café - the Párisi Passage Restaurant - for a coffee. We then sought out the Harley Davidson store for Thomas and Brad but it didn’t have much in stock that was Budapest branded so no luck there.

    For lunch, we went to the New York Café, which claims to be the most beautiful café in the world. It opened in 1894 and was built in the Italian Renaissance style. We’d been warned that there could be a long wait to get in but we were fortunate and got a table within 10 minutes. It is truly beautiful and a fave for posing for Instagram photos.

    We took a leisurely walk back to the hotel to get ready for a dinner out to celebrate Brad‘s birthday as well as celebrate our final night in Budapest as we go our separate ways tomorrow.

    Our dinner was at a legendary Budapest restaurant called Café Gundel which opened in 1866. The dining room was grand and the food and service were excellent. We were once again entertained by musicians which seems to be pretty standard most anywhere you go in Budapest. Couldn’t have asked for a more lovely way to celebrate Brad’s birthday.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    Not good bye but see you soon
    Our vehicle for the next week1Road trip!

    Bye, Budapest. Bye, Geraldine + Thomas😢

    August 6, 2024 in Hungary ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    After a fabulous time in Vienna and Budapest with Thomas and Geraldine, it was time for us to part this morning as we head to pick up a car to drive to Slovenia and they return home to Vienna by train.

    We feel incredibly fortunate to have made such wonderful friends late in life. It’s truly an exceptional gift. When we parted, we did not say goodbye, we said, “See you soon.” We will certainly be planning another adventure together in the future.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    Ljubljana
    Ljubljana castle sits above the city1

    Road trip to Ljubljana, Slovenia

    August 6, 2024 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    After checking out of our Budapest hotel this morning, we headed to the airport to pick up our rental car. The drive from Budapest to Ljubljana is about five hours and the highways are in great condition and the traffic wasn’t too bad at all. We arrived at our hotel in central Ljubljana and Brad took a short rest after driving all that time.

    While we went out to explore a bit we were most interested in finding some dinner. There are no shortage of options here along the river. We’ll learn a lot more about the city tomorrow morning when we have a walking tour. We’re having an early night after a travel day so we’ll be fresh to meet our guide tomorrow at 9 a.m.

    Our first impressions of Slovenia and Ljubljana are extremely positive.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    The main square
    Our guide EnaThe cathedral is being restoredView of ZagrebA cannon is fired from the tower each day at noon. I jumped 🤣CityscapeA chapel in the stone wallThe Museum of Broken RelationshipsAn example of an exhibit1The story that accompanies the item

    Day trip to Zagreb, Croatia

    August 8, 2024 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    In coming to Slovenia by car, our intention was always to do a couple of day trips. Today, we had an early start and Brad drove us to Zagreb, Croatia, about a two-hour drive from Ljubljana. We had scheduled a walking tour for 11 AM. Our guide Ena was knowledgable and enthusiastic. We learned a great deal about Zagreb and Croatian history.

    Zagreb was hit by an earthquake back in 2020 and many of the buildings were damaged. As a result, scaffolding is a common site and many landmarks are not open to the public because they’re being restored. That was a disappointment.

    Following the walking tour, we stopped at a café for lunch and met three students from Budapest who were studying abroad. One was from Venezuela, one from Egypt and one from Mongolia. We had a lovely chat with them.

    Next on the agenda was to go to a laundromat. We had brought along our laundry to do during the hottest time of the day. The temperature had climbed to 29 so we went and got it done so that we wouldn’t be walking during the hottest time of the day. Travelling for a number of weeks means laundry’s an inevitability. While there we met a wonderful South Korean woman and her daughter who was eight or nine years old. We used Google translate to communicate. They were tourists like us and were travelling on to Amsterdam and Paris.

    With laundry done, we went back to the car to put it away and then walked to the Museum of Broken Relationships. What a fascinating place! Here’s a link so you can read about it:
    https://brokenships.com/visit
    By the time we finished touring it, it was time to drive back to Ljubljana.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    1Pictures can't capture the beauty
    1Pinch meBled CastleLucky Brad. There was a master bow maker exhibit on at the castle.Bled castle. Lots of stairs to climbView from one of the many lookoutsView of Bled Castle from the shore of Lake BledThe church on the island in the middle of Lake Bled1The wishing bell

    Bled Castle and Lake Bled

    August 9, 2024 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We put the rental car to use again today and took the 45 minute drive to Lake Bled. You may have seen photos of this phenomenal lake with a castle upon a cliff and a church on a tiny island in the lake.

    We went first to the castle, and as we climbed up and reached the top and turned with the lake in front of us, I gasped. It is truly one of the most spectacular sights I’ve ever seen. The photographs simply do not capture its beauty. It’s surreal. The castle itself is as you would expect, lots of climbing in towers to get to lookouts. Every view is breathtaking.

    Once we’d experienced Lake Bled from the castle, we decided to drive down and experience it from the shore. Equally beautiful. One of the important things to do when you visit Lake Blad is to take a boat to the tiny island on which there’s a church. The lake does not have motorized vehicles so we took a 20 passenger rowboat over which took about 25 minutes each way. The church is known to have a “wishing bell” and ringing the church’s bell allows you to make a wish. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

    We had a quick lunch, enjoying the view, and drove back to Ljubljana via a scenic route. We were home by late afternoon in order to freshen up for our dinner this evening.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    Ljubljana Castle
    Ljubljana CastleI got my dragon wingsOne of the castle lookoutsThe castle chapelMy Robin Hood had an archery themed dayThe entrance to Strelec with a dragon above the door2The menu2Table with a viewThe sunset ❤️

    Ljubljana Castle and dinner at Strelec

    August 9, 2024 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    You could say today was our castle and archery day. We were at Bled Castle in the morning and went to Ljubljana Castle in the evening. Months ago, I made reservations at a Michelin star restaurant called Strelec within Ljubljana Castle. Strelec means archer in Slovenian.

    While our reservation was for 7 p.m., we went to the castle for 6 p.m. in order to have time to walk around and explore. It was incredibly hot, 29°C, so we did not hike up to reach the castle but took the funicular. The Castle has a long history and has been beautifully restored.

    Dinner was on one of the Castle lookouts next to the Archers Tower with a panoramic view of Ljubljana lying below us. We enjoyed a tasting menu that was not only delicious but exceptionally beautifully presented. A night to remember.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    1The caves were huge
    4Olm are also called baby dragonsAt the Adriatic SeaRocky beach1Holy Trinity ChurchThe altar1Dance of deathThe walled villageA castle within the wallsThe Ferrari garden

    Day trip to the Adriatic coast

    August 10, 2024 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    It’s our last day in Slovenia and we made the most of it. We left in the morning for a road trip to the Adriatic Coast, but stopped at famous Postojna Caves on our way. The most fascinating part of the visit was seeing olm, also called baby dragon. About 25 to 30 centimetres, the olm is the largest among cave-dwelling animals and the only vertebrate in Europe strictly bound to cave habitats. It’s completely adapted to life in the dark. It has a lifespan of up to a hundred years and can go without food for as long as 10 years. 😯

    From there, we travelled to a town called Piran which is a quaint seaside destination for tourists and locals alike. It had gotten really hot, 32°C, so we didn’t stay as long on the coast as we’d intended. We hopped back in the air conditioned car and visited two sites on the way back to Ljubljana.

    The first stop was in Hrastovlje to visit a church famous for its frescoes, Holy Trinity Church. We were fortunate to actually see the church because it was closed when we got there but another couple arrived as we were about to leave and phoned a number on the church door to ask for a visit. A man answered and agreed to come show us the church. Sure enough in five minutes he pulled up and in we went. The church frescoes were painted with by Johannes de Castua, who finished them in 1490. We were so pleased to have seen them.

    From there, we drove on to a village called Štanjel famous for the stone walls that surround it that were built in the 1500s. One of the most famous sites within the town is the Ferrari family garden. This corner of Slovenia was once part of Italy so it’s not surprising that the Ferraris had an estate there.    Read more

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    Ljubljana to Budapest to Bucharest

    August 11, 2024 in Hungary ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Today was a travel day. We drove from Ljubljana to Budapest, which took about five hours. We returned the rental car at the airport and headed to the terminal to await our flight from Budapest to Bucharest. We’ll be landing there around 9 p.m.Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    Palace of Parliament
    The legislatureOne of the hallwaysThe "pink salon"Bran Castle2Vlad the Impaler1

    Bucharest to Bran Castle 🧛‍♂️

    August 13, 2024 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Our tour started in earnest this morning with some sightseeing around Bucharest culminating with a visit and tour of the Palace of Parliament, the world's second-largest administrative building (after the Pentagon) and former communist dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu's vanity project. It was appalling to see the resources he poured into the building. It’s estimated that it cost $4 billion. Ironically, he was executed before it was completed.

    We then drove about 3 1/2 hours into the Carpathian mountains into Transylvania where we had dinner followed by a private visit to the iconic Bran Castle which was one of Vlad the Impaler’s hideouts. Vlad and this castle are said to be the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. We also learned about Queen Maria of Romania, the last inhabitant of the castle.

    The castle was built in 1388 and Vlad ruled from 1431 to 1476. You can read more about him here:

    https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/hist…

    It was eerie to walk the halls that he had walked.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    The town square
    The Black ChurchThe town walls on the rightPeles Castle beneath the scaffolding2One of 160 rooms1Ornate carvingWeapons and armourMurano glass chandeliers1Dining roomCastle grounds

    Brasov and Peleș Castle

    August 14, 2024 in Romania ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Our hotel is in Brașov, in the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania. Brașov is a beautiful medieval city founded in 1211 by the Teutonic Knights. We started the day with a walking tour around its Town Hall Square, the Black Church, and the city walls. Wonderful!

    We then travelled along the Prahova Valley to the Sinaia mountain resort area to visit Peleș Castle. It was built for King Carol I of Romania between 1873 and 1914 and is both Neo-Renaissance and Gothic Revival. It was the first European castle to be powered by electricity and has more than 160 rooms. The lavish rooms are filled with art, armor and tapestries. Sensory overload!

    We returned to our hotel in the early evening and went out for dinner at a traditional Romanian restaurant.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    Travelling from Brasov, Romania to Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
    Crossing the Danube into Bulgaria1View from our hotel room

    Hello, Bulgaria!

    August 15, 2024 in Bulgaria ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    Today was a travel day, crossing the Danube into Bulgaria. It should have taken a few hours but it took much, much longer. The process of getting over the border from Romania to Bulgaria alone took roughly three hours due to volume and construction! (Flashbacks to the Gardiner these days😉)

    We drove on to Veliko Tarnovo, the City of the Tsars, where houses cling to the cliffs of the River Yantra, making it one of the country’s most beautiful towns. It’s also the former capital of Bulgaria. Looking forward to exploring it tomorrow.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    A walk in Veliko Tarnovo
    Some buildings need restoration1Tsarevets Fortress gatesThe fortressThe fortress churchView from the fortress2Church of the Holy Nativity17th century merchant's houseParliament building used to be communist headquarters2St. Sofia Church

    Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanas and Sofia

    August 16, 2024 in Bulgaria ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    This morning, we had a short walk around Veliko Tarnovo where houses cling to the cliffs of the River Yantra, making it one of the country's most beautiful cities. Next we climbed up to the Tsarevets Fortress ruins with stunning views. It was a bit of a climb so we were grateful that it was still morning and overcast.

    From there, we visited Arbanasi, one of Bulgaria’s most beautiful villages and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We toured a traditional 17th-century merchant's house and the Church of the Holy Nativity.

    After lunch, it was about a three hour drive across the Balkan Mountains to Bulgaria's capital, Sofia. It was a relief to be on the coach since the temperature had climbed to 35 degrees Celsius.

    We didn’t waste any time once we got to Sofia and took a walking tour and explored the key sites and the St. Sofia Church.    Read more

  • Paris Olympics + more Europe
    The pedestrian promenade
    Built in the fourth century, Saint George's was originally a bath houseWedding photosAnother brideMoma restaurantFilo pastry appetizer2Pedestrian promenade at night1Heading to the hotel rooftop bar

    Exploring Sofia

    August 17, 2024 in Bulgaria ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    We had the option today of taking an excursion about two hours outside the city to a monastery. We opted to stay in Sophia and explore it further on our own. We were able to have a leisurely morning and joined a walking tour at 11 a.m. that took us around the old town, some of which we saw yesterday afternoon.

    Once again, it was steaming hot reaching 34 degrees Celsius but we had dressed appropriately and certainly drank plenty of water. Following the tour, we ventured to the promenade and had lunch at a cafe and did some window shopping. By late afternoon, we returned to the hotel for a bit of a rest before our dinner at 7 p.m with our friend Stephen at a restaurant called Moma which serves traditional Bulgarian food. We then decided to walk home along the promenade and go to our hotel’s rooftop for a drink.

    We say goodbye to Bulgaria tomorrow morning. We have found Bulgaria noticeably different from Romania. There is far more of a Mediterranean vibe here as opposed to Slavic. This is most evident in the food. We’re seeing lots of salads on menus as well as dishes made with filo pastry and feta-type cheeses. Baklava as a dessert is now standard on menus.    Read more

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