To Europe and back 2019

A 59-day adventure by Meg & Declan Read more

Follow Insights Calendar Share

Footprints
Photos

Trip start
May 28, 2019
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 1
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
🌬 19 °C
Altitude: 22 m
New Zealand Auckland International Airport -37.00167, 174.78537°0’6” S 174°47’6” E
Auckland and we're off!
May 28, 2019 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 19 °C
We are excited! Leaving behind Queenstown and imminent wintery weather and snow storms. Now we have a day in Auckland and it's dim sum, exploring the viaduct and checking out Kiriana's yacht, before our nighttime flight to Hong Kong.Read more
0 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 2
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
🌧 23 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Hong Kong Queens Pier (historical)22.28333, 114.1622°16’60” N 114°9’36” E
Hong Kong with the Wongs
May 29, 2019 in Hong Kong ⋅ 🌧 23 °C
Pretty jaded and we can't check into our room til later, so we change clothes, leave our bags at the hotel and hit the town. Pretty soon we catch up with Michael - he and Declan haven't seen eachother for eleven years!
Good catch ups on Michael's crazy and very different life, lunch with the Wong family - dim sum of deliciousness. A few hours to get some rest caught up on before we head out to the Four Seasons to meet Michael and his friends, and onto a restaurant.Read more
0 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 3
Thursday, May 30, 2019
🌧 21 °C
Altitude: 64 m
Hong Kong Hong Kong Island 22.2694, 114.1857322°16’10” N 114°11’9” E
Hong Kong day 2
May 30, 2019 in Hong Kong ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
A day to continue exploring and family hanging - visit to The Peak, the boys enjoying cigars, insanely good sushi, riding trams, and finally back to the airport for another night plane.
0 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 5
Saturday, June 1, 2019
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok Airport 22.315, 113.9316722°18’54” N 113°55’54” E
Biarritz
June 1, 2019 in Hong Kong ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
The longest day in the world - after our overnighter to Hong Kong, plus 2 action-packed days running around HK with Michael and his cronies, and little sleep in between, we're back on a night plane. The worse night's sleep for both of us, followed by 5 1/2 hours in Zurich airport then 2 hours flight to Madrid, then 4 1/2 hours in Madrid airport then another hour flight to San Sebastian. So happy to arrive, and meet the gang!! Day 1 in Biarritz with beautiful weather, sea swims and general excitement!Read more
0 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Sunday, June 2, 2019 at 11:41 AM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 47 m
France Côte des Basques 43.47333, -1.5666743°28’24” N 1°34’0” W
Sunny Sunday in sud de france
June 2, 2019 in France ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Liz, Finn and I hire very basic bikes from a local shop and bike south towards Jean de Luz. Stunning sea views, beaches and coastal tracks. Cute villages to ride through and lunch with wine somewhere small.Read more
0 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 7
Monday, June 3, 2019
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 35 m
France Grande Plage 43.48524, -1.5561843°29’7” N 1°33’22” W
A family visit
June 3, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Very excited to meet Mum, Kirsty and Sarah at the airport, for 2 days together in Biarritz.
0 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 8
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 9:02 AM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: Sea level
France Rocher de la Vierge 43.48333, -1.5743°28’60” N 1°34’12” W
St Jean de Luz
June 4, 2019 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Exploring the virgin of Biarritz and Jean de Luz with the family.
0 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 8
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 24 m
France Plage du Miramar 43.48833, -1.55543°29’18” N 1°33’18” W
More family exploring
June 4, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
1 like
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 10
Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 11:47 AM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 43 m
France Pointe Saint-Martin 43.49167, -1.5516743°29’30” N 1°33’6” W
2
Sunny days again...
June 6, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
The rain has stopped and Liz, Finn and I took an e-mountain bike explore with guide Alex - up into mountains overlooking Biarritz and Hendaye. We biked in and out of Spain as the mountain ridges made the France-Spain border. Amazing afternoon - great bikes and fun trails.Read more
Traveler Lovely day! Wish we were still with you. It was such a good visit
6/6/19Reply
Traveler It was a good visit! So great to see you xx
6/6/19Reply
0 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 11
Friday, June 7, 2019 at 2:34 PM
🌬 18 °C
Altitude: 27 m
France Bayonne 43.49167, -1.47543°29’30” N 1°28’30” W
Bayonne
June 7, 2019 in France ⋅ 🌬 18 °C
Dec and I jump on a local bus to Bayonne, about 20 minutes away and on the River Adour.
Reminds me of Bath - lots of winding, pedestrian-only alleys with a cathedral overlooking the whole old town. Caught up with Liz and Finn and continue exploring and eating....Read more
0 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 12
Saturday, June 8, 2019
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 772 m
France Bois d’Orisson 43.10833, -1.2383343°6’30” N 1°14’18” W
Camino de Santiago
June 8, 2019 in France ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
First day on the Camino - Saint Jean Pied a Port to Rocesvalles.
To be continued next month by bike.
So we had Declan drive us the first 8km up the hill to Orisson and headed from there into the hills, along with numerous other eager and new-to-the-trail pilgrims, on foot and bike.
A beautiful day in the Pyranees and pretty easy walking.Read more
0 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 13
Sunday, June 9, 2019 at 2:17 PM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Spain Arrokaundieta 43.32667, -1.9243°19’36” N 1°55’12” W
1
A coastal walk in Espanol
June 9, 2019 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
A walk from Pasaia to San Sebastian takes us along a section of the Northern Camino.
We start with a ferry shuttle to a cute area of Pasaia and a lunch of gigantic sardines.
Less than 3 hours round the coast we pop out onto the main beach front of San Sebastian city. Big, old city with impressive colonial buildings, pedestrian alleyways and numerouse tapas and pinxos bars.Read more
Traveler Someone has eaten one of my sardine’s head
6/11/19Reply
0 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 14
Monday, June 10, 2019 at 3:04 PM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 11 m
France Lac du Boucau 43.52667, -1.5183343°31’36” N 1°31’6” W
More electric bikes
June 10, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Declan and I hire some city style electric bikes and cruise along the seafront, north to Bayonne. Speedy and fun they are! We check out the Bayonne lighthouse and then check out town, with a cheeky vino by the river....Read more
0 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 15
Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 12:29 PM
🌧 14 °C
Altitude: 50 m
France Le Baccara 43.48167, -1.5616743°28’54” N 1°33’42” W
Just another rainy day in Biarritz
June 11, 2019 in France ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
Another stormy day - only our second - so we take a wet walk into Biarritz centre and the daily markets. They are immaculate and enticing, not quite your asian-style food market though. More Biarritz views in between rain storms.Read more
0 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 16
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at 8:06 PM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 35 m
France Grande Plage 43.4854, -1.55643°29’7” N 1°33’22” W
1
Wanderings in Ciboure and Jean de Luz
June 12, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Traveler Nice filming Amiga.
7/3/19Reply
2 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 17
Thursday, June 13, 2019
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 19 m
France UFR Civilisations et Humanités 43.675, 4.624343°40’30” N 4°37’27” E
Heading to Sud de France
June 13, 2019 in France ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
A long drive made longer in Nimes due to an hour standstill on the motorway due to a multi- lorry crash. Looked very bad.
Then to Arles - Van Gogh's hang out and where he painted around 300 works. A beautiful old town on the Rhone. Lovely to wander the streets. Also home of the ancient Roman Amphitheatre and bull fighting - they still do this.Read more
1 like
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 18
Friday, June 14, 2019 at 9:43 AM
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 26 m
France UFR Civilisations et Humanités 43.67833, 4.6266743°40’42” N 4°37’36” E
Arles and beaches
June 14, 2019 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
A lovely morning in Arles, then to the beaches and a first swim in the Mediterranean.
Tried to visit St Tropez but crazy traffic so now in Saint Maxime, known ad little sister to St Tropez - but enough for us!Read more
2 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 19
Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 9:33 AM
☁️ 22 °C
Altitude: 4 m
France Préconil 43.30833, 6.6366743°18’30” N 6°38’12” E
Travels into Monte Carlo and Italy
June 15, 2019 in France ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
2 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 20
Sunday, June 16, 2019 at 7:58 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 460 m
France Loisin 46.2923, 6.310146°17’32” N 6°18’36” E
Italy to Chamonix
June 16, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Left Sassello this morning - an enticing, gorgeous mountain town that we found by chance. Drove through random, old Italian town called Vercelli, home of a street of umbrellas and amazing seafood linguini. Arrive in Chamonix and meet up with the gang again. 10 of us for now in a beautiful chalet by the river on the edge of Chamonix, with views of Mont Blanc!Read more
1 like
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 21
Monday, June 17, 2019 at 11:15 AM
☀️ 8 °C
Altitude: 3,691 m
France Aigu du Midi Building 45.879102, 6.88728745°52’45” N 6°53’14” E
Mont Blanc
June 17, 2019 in France ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Two cable cars bring you close to the summit of Mont Blanc. Absolutely incredible up there and bluebird day!
We were higher than Mt Cook (Mont Blanc is 4800m and we were at 3842). Only 60% of the oxygen in the air that is at sea level (Everest is only 30%).Read more
2 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 21
Monday, June 17, 2019 at 3:46 PM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 1,769 m
France Le Montenvers 45.929651, 6.92306445°55’47” N 6°55’23” E
Exploring inside a glacier
June 17, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
1 like
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 22
Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at 11:49 AM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 768 m
France Chedde 45.935, 6.7233345°56’6” N 6°43’24” E
Road biking Chamonix
June 18, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
2 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 23
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 1,033 m
France Chamonix 45.92333, 6.8745°55’24” N 6°52’12” E
Round and about Chamonix
June 19, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
2 likes
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 25
Friday, June 21, 2019 at 6:00 PM
🌧 20 °C
Altitude: 1,033 m
France Chamonix 45.92333, 6.8745°55’24” N 6°52’12” E
Chamonix by night
June 21, 2019 in France ⋅ 🌧 20 °C
1 like
To Europe and back 2019
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 25
Friday, June 21, 2019
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 1,261 m
France Vallorcine Railway Station 46.03167, 6.9346°1’54” N 6°55’48” E
Exploring by train
June 21, 2019 in France ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
0 likes