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Exploring Europe 2023
  • Debi Shaw
  • Debi Shaw

Exploring Europe 2023

Our hearts belong to Italy, but with so many other amazing countries to explore, it is time to spread our wings and fly outside our comfort zone. Europe - here we come. Okumaya devam et
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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Day with Family in Paris

    5 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Thinking we weren’t going to catch up with Daniel and Alicia until dinner tonight, it was such a lovely surprise getting a message inviting us to join them for breakfast. Of course we didn’t say no! I don’t think I have ever gotten ready so quickly as I was that excited to see them.

    Bad weather had been predicted which was disappointing so we were trying to determine what our plans would be for the day. Thankfully the weather gurus had it wrong and while we enjoyed a very delicious French breakfast catching up with two of our favourite people the skies started to clear. It was such a fabulous feeling seeing them. We have been away from home for such a long time and seeing family from home was very special.

    Even more special was they were quite happy to spend the day with us so we headed off to Paris’s main site, the Eiffel Tower. Even though we have seen her before she is still quite spectacular, especially against the brilliant blue sky. While the weather was good we grabbed a baguette, a bottle of wine and some beers and some lush strawberries for an impromptu picnic in front of the tower. We did forget to get glasses so I’m sure Alicia and I looked so classy drinking wine from the bottle. Alicia got her photo op and we had a lot of fun. There were heaps of people walking around selling wine and beer from their buckets which was such a great idea. We did make a couple of purchases and then our seller asked if he could leave his bucket with us while he had a break. We ended up minding his bucket of alcohol three times which we found quite hilarious. We must have looked trustworthy.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Family Dinner in Paris

    5 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Picnic drinks finished and alcohol bucket returned to the dude, we made our way towards the Arc d’Triomphe with a brief stop for some drinks and some delicious antipasto. It is nice not having a plan and just enjoying all Paris has to offer.

    We made our way to the Arc d’Triomphe, admired the structure and then managed to master the metro back to our apartments to get ready for dinner. The day has gone past way too fast.

    We meet again for our authentic French dinner at Les Bougresses, a restaurant recommended by our hotel. And it was perfect, from the ambiance to the fabulous waitstaff, to the extremely delicious French meal and wines, to the great prices too. It was such a wonderful experience sharing this moment with Daniel and Alicia.

    We ended the night with a stroll down to the river (we didn’t let Brad navigate this time), had one more drink at one of the many riverside bars, a stroll along the river bank before sadly farewelling the kids. This day has been the highlight of our trip.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin
    Our apartment

    Avignon, France

    6 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    We left Paris this morning and travelled 580km by train, arriving in Avignon just under three hours later. The trains here are very fast, once they leave that is. They are always delayed and it seems they never leave on time (not like in Germany). But we aren’t complaining. Considering the ongoing strikes and anti-government protests, we have been very lucky so far.

    Avignon is a medieval town in southeast of France, and located on the banks of the Rhone River. It is a walled city, surrounded by almost 4500 metres of thick stone walls and towers and is one of the few French towns to have kept their fortified walls.

    Avignon was founded by the Greeks in 539BC, later becoming part of the Roman Empire. From about 1309, seven successive Popes resided in Avignon rather than Rome. It wasn’t until the French Revolution in 1791 that Avignon become part of France.

    We checked into our apartment for the next few nights and while the exterior was a bit shady looking, it is a lovely authentic French town apartment. We then set out to explore this beautiful town. Every town we have visited so far has had its own unique feel and charm, and Avignon does too. We stopped for lunch with a view of one of the churches (shock, surprise, we may have looked in one too), and unfortunately we were a bit disappointed with our meals. Not the best we have had and I think we fell for the location over substance on our choice of cafe. Oh well, plenty more chances to try for something better.

    We wandered up through Place du Palais, the plaza in front of the Palace of the Popes, which we plan to visit later. We walked through the gardens and admired the views, taking in all Avignon has to offer.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Pont St-Bénézet, Avignon

    6 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    One thing we do like about arriving in our new locations early is that we actually get to do some of the “tourist” things on our travel day, meaning we have more time on the rest of our days to relax a bit as well as explore.

    So this afternoon we managed to check out the Pont Saint-Bénézet, also known as Pont d’Avignon, which is a Medieval bridge originally built in 1177. The original bridge was a wooden bridge spanning the Rhône river and was built between 1177 and 1185. This early bridge was destroyed forty years later in 1226 during the Albigensian Crusade. Beginning in 1234 the bridge was rebuilt with 22 stone arches. The stone bridge was about 900 metres in length and only 4.9 metres wide, including the parapets at the sides. The bridge was abandoned in the mid-17th century as the arches tended to collapse each time the Rhône flooded making it very expensive to maintain. Four arches and the gatehouse at the Avignon end of the bridge have survived. The Chapel of Saint Nicholas which sits on the second pier of the bridge, was constructed in the second half of 12th century.

    The bridge was the inspiration for the song Sur le pont d'Avignon and is considered a landmark of the city. It was lovely to be out on the sunshine admiring the views of the town and the river, standing on a structure that is so old. Yet again we are amazed.

    After some more walking and picking up some groceries we decided to call it a day. The early morning to catch the 5.45am train has made for a very long day and we are looking forward to a good sleep.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Markets at L’Isle Sur La Sorgue, France

    7 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    We’ve had a massive day today touring the Provence region of France. We took a tour with a local guide and six other people for a little over ten hours, seeing some pretty spectacular sights. We had beautiful sunshine and blue skies right through to hail, and then back to blue skies to end our day.

    We started off with a stop at the markets at L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, home to the largest outdoor market in the Liberian area within the Provence region. The large Sunday market at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a food market, flea market, and antique market rolled into one so you can buy everything from olives to fine art here. Our first purchase was some luscious looking strawberries that tasted just as amazing as they looked. We were off to a good start. Of course Brad managed sample lots of treats, pastries, local meats and cheeses before buying some bakery items - his favourite treat.

    We even had time to wander into the laneways and admire the pastel coloured buildings before heading back to the bus for our next stop. This is such a pretty town, even filled with the bustling markets, and I’m so glad our guide, Thierry, added this experience to our tour.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, France

    7 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Our second stop was Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, a small commune of approximately 600 residents. Its name comes from the spring of the same name, with Vaucluse meaning closed valley. The fountain, or spring, is situated at the foot of a steep 230 metre high, limestone cliff, and is the largest spring in France. It so also the fifth largest in the world.

    Several trails in the area indicate human occupation since the Neolithic area. With the ruins of a castle and caves dotted along the cliff side Vaucluse has been populated on and off since then.

    It is a very beautiful and small town and we chose to walk along the water’s edge to get a view of the town and the spring. The water is so clear and the trees so green. This is a popular town for hikers but we only had time for a quick look around. It would be a lovely place to sit along the waters edge enjoying a picnic or a refreshing drink on a warm afternoon after having a dip in the spring. Maybe another time we will get to really experience this town. For now we have more to see.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Gordes, France

    7 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We then drove onto Gordes, a hilltop town settled by the Romans, to have a walk through the cobbled streets. Gordes is perched on a rock at 340 metres high on the south side of the Vaucluse plateau. Our wonderful guide stopped to give us a moment to view the town from a distance so we could take in how it cascades around the mountain top, and to take a photo or two.

    We then had time to wander the streets and explore the town. With its history dating back to the Roman empire, there was plenty to admire. We even managed to get kicked out of a pub because we only wanted a drink, not food. Go figure!

    After the Second World War artists Marc Chagall, Jean Deyrolle and Andre Lhote set up an artist colony and many prestigious artists have spent time here. From 1970 to 1996 the Chateau de Gordes showcased the work of Victor Vasarely, a Hungarian-French artist who is considers the “grandfather” and leader of the zoo art movement. His work titled Zebra, created in 1937, is considered by some to be one of the earlier stages examples of Optional Illusion Art, Op Art. This image and others created by Victor adorn many of the building in town, and are quite striking against the old stone buildings. Gordes is still a haven for artists and there are a lot of galleries displaying many different types of art. I could easily spend more time here.

    The other thing I have loved is seeing the wild poppies growing everywhere and anywhere. One of my favourite flowers.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Roussillon, France

    7 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    From Gordes we travelled to Roussilion, an area that had formed part of the Roman Empire in 121 BC. This has to be one of the most beautiful villages we have ever seen. The early inhabitants used to quarry ochre from the mountains, and the orange and red colours of the town contrasting with the stunning blue sky was amazing.

    The large quarries of Roussillon were mined from the end of the 18th century until 1930. It was during the 18th century that increasing demand for pigments in the textile industry that led to the increase of mining in the region. Nowadays mining ochre is prohibited in order to protect the sites from degradation or even complete destruction. It is stunning to see the ochre cliffs against the green of the foliage around it. So eye-catching and breath-taking.

    We found a great little restaurant in which to enjoy a lunch of buckwheat crepes, a specialty of the region and our first French crepes. They were delicious.

    This is one town I would love to spend more time in, just to be able to photograph the stunning landscape and buildings at different times of the day to see the contrasts with the light. A photographers dream.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France

    7 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Our next stop was Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, the main town of the northern part of the Alpilles. The town has been inhabited since prehistory and was named after Saint Remigius, the Bishop of Reims in the late 400s.

    From May 1889 to May 1890, Vincent van Gogh was a patient at the Saint Paul Asylum and painted some of his most memorable works during that time, including The Starry Night, which features the town.

    The town is a lot larger than the ones we have already visited and was lacking the small town vibe we love so much. It has a very different look and feel. We had just enough time for a quick walk around before cooling off with a gelato, which was much needed. Then back to the bus for our next stop.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Les Baux-de-Provence, France

    7 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    From there we went on to another hilltop town, Les Baux-de-Provence. Located in the Alpilles mountains, atop a rocky outcrop that is crowned with a ruined castle. From the village name the word bauxite was coined for aluminium ore when first discovered there in 1821.

    Considered one of the most beautiful villages in France it has only twenty-two residents in the upper commune and 436 in the whole commune. It has over 1.5 million visitors a year though.

    We were able to photograph the town from afar, getting a good view of how well placed it was as the medieval stronghold for the region. With origins traced back to 6000 BC, this is a town seeped in history. We had time to walk the cobbled streets, admiring the narrow lanes of the fortified buildings. We came across an art display by Vincent Givogre, a visual artist whose work features monumental wood sculptures. The three pieces on display are truely amazing with how the shapes have been formed using the wood grain to emphasise the muscular structure of the body and with spaces left empty. Of course there is some deep meaning for these pieces which I am not deep enough to decipher. They are engaging and eye catching and a complete surprise for the location.

    As we wandered the laneways we noticed the black clouds rolling in so made our way back to our meeting point in hopes of avoiding the rain. Sadly that was not to be as while it was storming up the top where we were, it wasn’t even rainy down where Thierry waited with the van. He had no idea we were all getting soaked and was quite surprised at the state of us when he arrived at the scheduled time. Although the storm was brief it was strong with hail also falling. What was surprising was how quickly it passed and we even managed to get blue skies again as we headed towards our last stop for the day.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Pont-du-Gard, France

    7 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Our last stop was Brad’s absolute highlight of day, Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge. It was built in the first century AD to carry water to a Roman colony 50km away. It is the tallest of all Roman aqueduct bridges, standing almost 50m high and is one of Frances most popular tourist destinations. The bridge has three tiers of arches made from Shelly limestone and was built between 40 - 60 AD. It was used as late as the 6th century with some parts being used significantly longer.

    We had just enough time to walk across the bridge to the other side to photograph it with the sun behind us, casting a lovely light across the arches. It is mind-blowing that it is still standing. Simply spectacular!

    It was the perfect end to our long tour and with Thierry adding on a few extra stops, we learnt so much about the Provence region and got to see so many different towns. It has been such an amazing day and one of the best tours we have ever done.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Palais des Papes, Avignon

    8 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ 🌬 20 °C

    Today was our last day in Avignon and we did a tour of the Palais des Papes, Palace of the Popes. This is one of the largest and most important medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. Once a fortress and palace, construction begin in 1252 AD. During the 14th century the palace was the home of seven consecutive popes.

    Today it is a historical and architectural landmark and tourist site, and with around 650 000 visitors per year, regularly putting in the top ten most visited attractions in France. While there wasn’t much in the way of art or furnishings due to an earlier fire, they have a very innovative way of using iPads to show what the rooms would have looked like when the palace was in use. It made the tour very interesting.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Victory Day, Avignon

    8 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ 🌬 24 °C

    Brunch/lunch was next on our plan when we came across a military event in the piazza. As a result we ended up attending a ceremony for Victory in Europe Day, V-E Day. On the 8th of May, 1945 Nazi Germany unconditionally surrendered to the Allied Forces of the Second World War, a day that marked the end to most of the fighting in Europe, where tens of millions of service members and civilians were killed since the start of hostilities. It is so hard to imagine living through something like that and it makes us appreciate how lucky we are today.

    After watching the ceremony we did not understand we shared a very delicious savoury crepe for brunch while sat in the beautiful sunny piazza. We are loving the better weather after so many wet days. We can’t get enough of it.

    We had a last look around town before an early dinner. Brad had been eye-balling the paella, to which I kept reminding him that we would be in Spain soon, but he did not listen. We sat in one of the “tourist” restaurants and Brad ordered his paella. Needless to say it was pretty ordinary and he was very disappointed. Thankfully my watermelon and ham salad was the winner.

    Overall our stay in Avignon has been brilliant, with the highlight being yesterdays tour of Provence. Tomorrow we head to Narbonne in southern France.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin
    Our apartment

    Next Stop - Narbonne, France

    9 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    We sadly left Avignon and made our way to our last French town before our holiday continues into Spain. Originally we had planned to go to Nice but had heard it wasn’t that pleasant so changed our destination to Narbonne. Narbonne was the site of Narbo Martius, the first colony founded by the Romans in 118BC, from which the town derived its name. It came up in my research as one of the pretty towns in France to visit and we are hoping that is true.

    The dark clouds have followed us and once again we have arrived to a new town and grey clouds. We did our usual luggage drop and headed out to get our bearings and see what Narbonne is all about. It actually isn’t that busy and it appears a lot of places close for an afternoon siesta, something we really hadn’t seen much of until now.

    We stopped for lunch where Brad had a pot of mussels and I opted for a hamburger (yes again as there wasn’t a lot on the menu that I felt like). It was a very nice lunch and the drinks were cheap. It is nice having cheaper food prices here as it has been a lot more expensive than we have experienced on our previous trips.

    We wandered up a few street after lunch, just trying to get a feel for the place. It has a very different feel to our previous stops and while it is a nice town it hasn’t won me over yet, and I’m not sure why. It is clean, it has some beautiful buildings, lovely laneways, everything I love but I’m not sure what is missing. Tomorrow will be our day to experience more and see what Narbonne really has to offer.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Narbonne Cathedral

    10 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    After spending the evening researching we discovered there isn’t a lot to see in Narbonne with a few of the suggested sites closed. Considering the busy days ahead it will be good to use this time to relax and recharge, getting ready for Spain. We still managed to see a few things today with the Narbonne Cathedral being our first stop, surprisingly enough - not.

    Narbonne’s Cathedral is visible from every part of the old town area as it soars above the buildings. It is the highest Gothic choir in France, reaching over forty metres high. Cathedrale Saint Just et Saint Pasteur de Narbonne (it’s full title) has a long history with the current building being built on the same site as the Constantinian Basilica was built in 313. It has been a religious site since then. The building of the current structure commenced in 1272, however the building was never finished due to many factors, including the sudden changed in the economic status of Narbonne, its unusual size and location (to complete it would mean demolishing the city wall) and the financial constraints. Even with the “extension” not completed it is still a huge church.

    The cathedral contains multiple medieval tombs with several archbishops entombed close to the altar and the tombs are spectacular in their details. The attention to the tiniest of details, the representation of death, the amazing craftsmanship, all make these tombs very interesting.

    While the cathedral is impressive with its soaring height, it was sad to see the damage done to many of the stonework pieces, with so many statues and sculptures either broken and missing pieces or missing altogether. It is obvious this is not a rich church as it needs a lot of attention. However, the stunning stained glass windows, beautiful tapestries,

    The exterior is an impressive structure too, with its many arches and angles. I do love the gargoyles but do question how old the dog one is. It is such an odd animal to be used compared to the others and in such good shape. I suspect it is a more recent addition. Even though the cathedral is unfinished what remains shows how truely magnificent this building would have been if it was completed.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Horreum Romain, Narbonne

    10 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    This morning we did a tour of the Horreum which consists of underground galleries built during the first century BC. How wild is that!! Located just under five metres beneath modern day street level, these underground galleries are thought to be the foundations for a market, (Horreum means warehouse in Latin). With the absence of above ground remains the full structure cannot be certain and in the past some of the galleries have been modified or renovated, or used as private cellars by the homeowners above.

    Currently only the north and west galleries have been excavated, with the north gallery measuring almost 38 metres long and the west gallery measuring 50 metres long. Each gallery is 7.25 metres wide and the vaults have a height of 2.30 metre.

    Officially listed in 1838, the underground structures were classified as a Historical Monument in 1961 and were opened to the public in 1976. While the majority of artefacts located are now on display in an off-site museum, it was still amazing to walk the tunnels that people walked centuries ago. A very unique experience.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Exploring Narbonne

    10 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ 🌬 20 °C

    After we ticked off the sites we wanted to visit in Narbonne we spent the afternoon walking through town, admiring the buildings and the canal. We had a walk through Les Halles, the fresh food markets and made some purchases to cook dinner in our apartment. Our lovely apartment has a sunny terrace where we relaxed in the sunshine and enjoyed some down time.Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Lazy Day in Narbonne

    11 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    After discovering yesterday that there really isn’t a lot to see or do in Narbonne, we are treating today as a rest day before hitting Spain tomorrow. So after a lazy lie in we wandered out to walk some of the streets we didn’t explore yesterday before heading to Les Halles, the food market for lunch.

    Narbonne is an interesting town - it has all the “right” elements we so love in a smaller town but for some reason it is just missing “the vibe”. I’m not even sure how to put it into words. There is no graffiti, no rubbish on the streets, there are some pretty colourful buildings, a canal and some interesting Roman history but it is missing the buzz and we are really not sure what it is.

    We did however enjoy our lunch in the food market today. It is sometimes a bit confronting trying to work out where to eat when a place is jammed packed with locals and we don’t speak the language. Thankfully Brad did some research last night so we were a bit better prepared and ready to give it a go. We chose to eat at Chez Fourmi. With their butcher counter just across the aisle from their “restaurant”, we knew the food would be fresh. Brad decided to be brave and had a horse meat steak for lunch while I had a grilled chicken breast. Served with their home made mushroom sauce, salad and fries it was a very delicious lunch. Even better was the €2 glasses of white wine and they weren’t stingy with the pour. It was our cheapest “restaurant” meal so far and the food and the vibe was fantastic.

    This sort of place would never be allowed in Australia with all our food safety and hygiene laws. The food hall had stalls selling seafood, meats, fruit and veg, mixed in with stalls selling pre-made foods, bakeries and restaurants. Watching the cook at the restaurant next to us shouting his order with a megaphone to the butcher across from him, to the butcher cutting and wrapping the meat to then throw it across the crowd to the cook was very amusing. It was a fun and interesting place to have our last lunch in Narbonne.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    The Long Road to Valencia

    12 Mayıs 2023, Fransa ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    Well what a stressful day today has been. We farewelled our lovely apartment in Narbonne with our last French breakfast of crepes and coffee before starting what would turn out to be a long slow delayed trip to Valencia. Today had all the markings that things were going to go our way when our lovely hostess offered us a ride to the train station.

    Alas that was where our good fortune ended. Our train to Barcelona arrived on time but failed to depart as expected. Quite a delay later and the frantic cancelling and rebooking of our connection began. And then we just had to cross our fingers we would make the last connection to Valencia. Thoughts of sleeping in the train station filled my mind so it wasn’t a relaxing ride.

    I did admire the different scenery though as we moved towards the coastal region. There are some very pretty places that would be worth a visit one day.

    Thankfully we made our connection and finally arrived in Valencia (pronounced Valethia) at 11.30pm and after another panic at the thought of a 20 minute walk with our suitcases we finally managed to get a taxi, find our accommodation and collapse with relief that we made it. Hopefully the town is worth the stressful day.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Silk Museum Valencia

    13 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    After lots of confusion and lots of walking in circles we ended up at the Silk Museum, thinking we were visiting the Silk Exchange. As it was included with our tickets to the Sant Nicolau de Bari we decided to check it out anyway.

    While it wasn’t where we thought we were going, it was still interesting. The València Silk Museum is housed in the former headquarters of the Colegio del Arte Mayor de la Seda (Silkmakers Guild), which dates back to the 15th century. The building has a mixture of Gothic and Baroque architectural styles with the main attractions being the ceiling fresco by José Vergara and the 18th century Valencian ceramic floor. The chapel has a green and white tiled floor that creates a spectacular optical illusion.

    Along with the beautiful architectural features, the museum contains the historical archive which consists of countless documents that bear witness to the history of the silk trade. Examples of the gorgeous fabrics and stunning traditional dresses are on display allowing us to marvel at what can be created from a silk worm’s cocoon. It was an interesting visit.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Street Art, Valencia

    13 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    One of the things I did love about Valencia is their street art. There are so many talented people with nowhere to display their artistry and Valencia has provided spaces for them to express themselves creatively. It is so much nicer than seeing buildings covered in graffiti but does look at odds with the historic buildings. I loved it!!Okumaya devam et

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    Firework Fun, Valencia

    14 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Valencia is a city of festivals and we arrived in the midst of one. We have arrived for the festival of Desamparados, in English is Our Lady of the Forsaken. And it actually falls on our Mother’s Day which is a bit ironic if you ask me. On the 2nd Sunday of May the commemoration of Valencia's second patron saint, the Virgen de los Desamparados, begins the evening before with a concert in the Plaza de la Virgen featuring the Valencia Municipal Band, traditional folk music and dance, and - in true Valencia fashion - a fireworks display.

    The actual day of the festival opens at 5:00am with an open-air mass called La Misa Descuberta. At 10:30am, the sculpted image of the saint is carried from her church by her followers across the Plaza de la Virgen and into the Cathedral in a tradition known as "El Traslado" (the Transfer). Later on, after a "Mascletà" (a round of firecrackers that lasts for over five minutes), a full-out procession passes through the city in which the virgin is brought out into the old town and greeted by hoards of faithful followers and showers of flower petals.

    While we missed the festivities from the night before (we did hear the firecrackers), we happened to be at the plaza when the firecrackers started. With prime location we were ready - or so we thought. Nothing could have prepared us for the actual fireworks. It sounded like we were under attack from heavy gun fire.

    The fireworks here aren’t for the pretty sparkles but for the noise and they certainly created an interesting mix of sounds. There were a few flashes of colour before the smoke just covered everything. Add the falling debris from the fireworks hitting the ground in front of us and covering us it was quite the experience, a very unique experience for sure.    Okumaya devam et

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    First Glimpse at Madrid

    15 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Afternoon a very comfortable and relaxing train ride, so different to our last experience, we arrived in Madrid, ready to explore the Capital of Spain. After falling in love with Valencia we are not sure if it will be able to compete.

    After a fun conversation where none of understood each other, we did manage to drop our bags off before check-in so we could explore the streets without the extra baggage. We were starving so lunch was first on our agenda.

    Our initial thoughts are that the area we are staying in isn’t the prettiest and there seem to be quite a few homeless who have made their homes in the piazza in front of our apartment. We really weren’t sure what to expect and weren’t sure if we felt that safe. It will be interesting to see if our opinion changes.

    Lunch was in a cafe not far from where we are staying. By this stage we just wanted something to eat. Brad opted for a salmon steak which he really enjoyed and I chose a chicken skewer. I had no idea it would come out hanging on a stand. It was one of my nicest meals to far with the chicken being so tender and succulent and delicious. Very very tasty.

    Lunch done we wandered further and of course ducked into a church for a quick look. We are starting to wonder if we have overdose on church viewings as we were in and out of this one pretty quickly. We were more interested in seeing more of Madrid.

    Once again we have arrived in the middle of a festival, although this one is a music festival and not a religious one. As a result the streets and squares were packed with people dancing and singing and having a great time. It was overwhelming trying to navigate our way through but so exhilarating to be a part of and what the talented dancers.

    After another early start and a lot of walking we decided to call it a day and finally check into our apartment. Bright, bold and colourful is the only way to describe it. It has certainly been one of our more unique places to stay. The highlight of which was the views from our windows. The church dome in the distance was impressive in daylight and even more spectacular as the sun set and the night sky appeared. Loved the view.

    While we were hoping for an early night, that was not to be. With the church bells ringing for what felt like forever (and being rung by a person actually in the bell tower), the main musical event started at about 10pm and was still going at 1am. They definitely know how to party here. We have since found out that nights out in Madrid, and many Spanish towns don’t actually start until after midnight and end when the sun is coming up. We are really feeling our age.

    Our opinions on Madrid are still not set but thankfully they are not as bad as our initial thoughts, although the number of locks on our fifth floor apartment door does raise some questions. Tomorrow we will hopefully have less crowds and be able to explore more.    Okumaya devam et

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  • Debi ShawExploring Europe 2023Gezgin

    Restaurant La Barraca, Madrid

    17 Mayıs 2023, Ispanya ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    We were determined while we were in Madrid to try their traditional paella and after a bit of Google searching to find a highly recommended restaurant in which to partake, we settled on La Barraca. It opened in 1935 when the Solis family decided to bring a prominent piece of their beloved Valencia region to Madrid, their paella. Paella is a part of their culture, tradition and history and is a ritual that is passed down through the generations. And we were not disappointed.

    After Brad had had a “bad” paella in Avignon, (who orders a paella in a tourist section in a French town), he was a bit hesitant to try again but thankfully he did. We chose the mixed paella so there was seafood for Brad and meat for me and it was delicious and very generous. We even got to bring home a doggy bag so we could enjoy the left overs for dinner.

    With full bellies and a few drinks we decided to return to our “groovie ” apartment for a siesta and to start packing for our early morning start tomorrow.

    Madrid has been a pleasant surprise and we have enjoyed our time here exploring the many sites and different areas. I will miss the lovely view from our bedroom window.    Okumaya devam et

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