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Europe 2019-2020
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Europe 2019-2020

Planes, trains and automobiles around Europe, Winter 2019-2020 Read more
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  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler

    Great Malvern and Bath

    January 15, 2020 in England ⋅ ☀️ 45 °F

    Took a train adventure in a loop. Woking to Oxford to Great Malvern to Bath to Woking. I think it took 10 trains and 48 hours. Used the BritRail pass so I’m not even sure what it cost. Today was the Bath to Woking section. Bath has a natural hot spring. The Romans already knew how to build baths so they were a step ahead. After the Romans the English took over and expanded the area into a high-end resort. There is a unified architectural style which gives the town a beautiful look.Read more

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler

    Vacation from Vacation

    January 16, 2020 in England ⋅ 🌬 50 °F

    Every road weary traveler needs a day off. So, I spent the day in and around Woking. Interesting 3-story enclosed shopping area. I went so far as to talk to a travel agent to see if they could help with a quick trip to Paris on the Eurostar. Agent Gemma Slade at Tui Travel was generous with her time and said that I’d be better served to “sort it” myself. Grateful for the honesty.Read more

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler
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    Brighton

    January 17, 2020 in England ⋅ 🌬 46 °F

    What a town! Next to Blackpool it is the epitome of the seaside resort. The pleasure pier was complete with 2p coin slide machines, candy floss and fish and chips. It was very windy and a little rainy which added to the typically English experience.Read more

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler

    Weald & Downland Living Museum

    January 18, 2020 in England ⋅ ☀️ 43 °F

    A stop at a living museum near Chichester. Mostly Tudor Period buildings that have moved to this location, from others areas. Cottage, farmhouses, kitchens and horse stables are all placed to make a little village. Today there is a special wassailing event with apple spice cakes and costumed, in character story tellers. Very cold outside with frost on the ground, but the locals say “it’s a marvelous January day”.Read more

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler

    Guildford- Shopping

    January 19, 2020 in England ⋅ 🌙 37 °F

    My last day in the UK. Took a drive to nearby Guildford to get a few “gifts”. I’ve been avoiding buying much as I didn’t want to carry along more than I needed. But Marc is heading home today so he will carry the purchases back.

    We also stopped in to “one of the best pubs in Surrey.” Another one of those stops in what appears to be the middle of a farm area in the middle of nowhere. Yet, walk in and the place is packed. Like a Tardis, it’s bigger on the inside than outside. A good Sunday roast and apparently they brew and sell their own beer.    Read more

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler

    France Country 8

    January 20, 2020 in France ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F

    Popped out of the Chunnel and like that I am in country 8. Looks like GB except the cars are left hand drive. Coming out of the Chunnel into France, proud of myself for getting to 8 countries, and I'm thinking, "wow the people here don't sound any different than the people in England", pause, pause, no kidding I think... I'm still on the same train.Read more

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler

    Paris - Evening Walk

    January 20, 2020 in France ⋅ 🌙 37 °F

    I walked around from my hotel to find dinner. The city is in constant motion. There are people walking home, to dinner, and to shop throughout the night. It’s crispy cold out but I couldn’t stop myself from venturing to the area near the Eiffel Tower to see the hourly lights.Read more

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler
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    Musee D’Orsay

    January 21, 2020 in France ⋅ ☀️ 32 °F

    Although I enjoyed the art in this museum, especially the impressionists, I liked watching the people who were enjoying the art.

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler
    1Arc de Triump 284 stairs up

    Paris Round and About

    January 21, 2020 in France ⋅ ☀️ 34 °F

    Tried to see a little of everything today. Museums and monuments and finishing with an evening cruise on the Seine. The spiral stairs inside the Arc de Triomphe were fun to walk up... all 284 steps worth. Now, I need a wine. Good thing I'm in France so I have plenty of good options..Read more

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler

    Palace de Versailes

    January 22, 2020 in France ⋅ ☀️ 32 °F

    Tick this off my must visit list. It was very chilly today (33F) so I didn’t spend much time out side in the gardens. I took a quick walk to the edge and looked out over the grounds. The gardens are so vast, that I couldn't see the far edge. As a cheat I downloaded the Versailles Garden Tour ap, So I'll read about what I missed somewhere warm later on.

    The interior of the palace was beautiful. The Hall of Mirrors, where the Treaty of Versailles was signed ending World War I, was so bright and sparkly.    Read more

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler

    Bridge of Locks

    January 22, 2020 in France ⋅ ☀️ 37 °F

    I have heard about the bridges where lovers place a lock and write their names on it.As long as the lock is attached to the bridge, their love remains. I stumbled upon this bridge during my walk between museums. I understand that there are several of these Bridges of Love in Paris. All of the locks on at least one of them were removed as the combined weight of the locks threatened the stability of the bridge.Read more

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler
    Two elliptical rooms are filled with the paintings, so you feel like your inside the lilly pad
    A random guy who I thought captures the "typical" French look.Just a part of Monet's Water LilliesPeople everywhereSmaller version of the famous image.

    Musee de l’Orangerie

    January 22, 2020 in France ⋅ ☀️ 39 °F

    Musee D’oraage is the home to Monet’s Water Lillies. The presentation of the very large panoramic pieces is in two rooms specifically design by Monet to showcase this specific art.

    The museum is also noted for its Impressionist ad post- impressionist collections. I’m a big fan of Saurat and was happy to find several of his pieces on display.

    For a small gallery the art was well presented. But if Monet or Impressionism are not your things then skip it.    Read more

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler
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    Louvre

    January 22, 2020 in France ⋅ ☀️ 37 °F

    The museum is full of treasures. Chock-a-block full of art, decorative furniture, sculpture and ancient items from pyramids. I paid the extra 5 euros for an interactive gps type device to help me find my way around. Turns out he little device only directs to the "best of" pieces. I found that all of those artifacts were way to over exposed and crammed with people.
    Sadly, there were so many other beautiful pieces in the museum that I walked right past.
    In any other museum those breezed by pieces would have taken top billing, in the Louvre, they were just objects in a case.

    Ultimately, using the gps device, I made my way around to the Louvre's greatest pieces of art: Monda Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, Death of the Virgin. I saw them all and took a few photos but the majority of my 4 hour visit was spent:
    1. Getting lost
    2. Back tracking after getting lost
    3. Trying to see pieces unobstructed by people
    4. Finding that the fire doors to the wing housing the Vermeer was locked. About 2 hours in to my visit, some guy was vaping in the bathroom and triggered the smoke alarm. The doors are shut as the alarm went off. The solution was to "air out" an entire wing, thus keeping me away from the Vermeer.
    5. Because I was so often lost, turns out that the wing with the Vermeer, was one I had passed through 2 or 3 times earlier in my wanderings, without knowing it, so I missed it seeing it at all.    Read more

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler

    Calais to Dover - Ferry Fail

    January 23, 2020 in France ⋅ ⛅ 41 °F

    At the start of the Paris leg, I knew I wanted to see the White Cliffs of Dover from the sea. Getting Paris via then back to England on the ferry accomplished that. The transportation strike had me worried but that got cleared up 2 days ago. Now all i needed was fair winds and calm seas.
    So far it’s not gone well. I booked my ticket with DFDS Ferry, as I didn’t have a car I booked a ticket with a bike. There was no pedestrian only option. Now, I admit that when I booked, I thought it was odd that there was no pedestrian only option, but as DFDS offered an upgraded ferry seating area, complete with champagne, I thought I was good to go. l show up to the terminal in plenty of time only to learn that I really do need a bike to get on the ferry. There is no way for me to "walk" on. What kind of ferry will only let you take a bike and you can’t walk on? You can fit 4 people in a car for 1 price and here I am wanting to pay for a ticket without a vehicle. After a few minutes in discussion with DFDS, I left their ticket agent, went next door to the ticket agent at P&O and purchased a pedestrian ticket for 39 euro's. I will try to get my money back from DFDS, but who knows.

    Now, I'm sitting all alone in the ferry terminal, waiting for my boat. Slightly anti-climatic.    Read more

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler

    White Cliffs and Dover

    January 23, 2020, English Channel ⋅ ⛅ 43 °F

    It all worked out. The cliffs didn’t disappoint. I can see why it was such a visual beacon for planes and boats. I met a nice family who gave me a lift to the station and have only a 10 minute wait for the express to London.Read more

  • 1 Planet 1 BagEurope 2019-2020Traveler

    Heathrow

    January 24, 2020 in England ⋅ ☁️ 41 °F

    That’s the end of the travels. Sitting in the Plaza Premium lounge at Heathrow. Plane leaves in 2 hours and 12 or so hours later I will be back home.

    I want to say something profound about traveling, but nothing enlightened comes to mind. However, I have many hours ahead of me to think of something.

    Until next time. Goodbye to England, Scotland, France, Denmark, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Germany.    Read more

    Trip end
    January 27, 2020
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