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Simon and Sam Europe AdventureSimon and Sam Europe Adventure
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Simon and Sam fly to France, Spain and Italy in July 2018 to soak up the northern summer. Read more
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  • Simon and Sam Europe Adventure
    Day 1

    The Adventure Begins

    June 28, 2018 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Sam and I were driven to the Morisset Train Station by Abi and Zoe. They waved us goodbye as we boarded the train in the rain to head off to Sydney International Airport. We bought Sam a one-way Opal Card and then set off. The drizzly rain, cold weather and foggy train windows make it hard to imagine that we will be landing in Paris tomorrow into a hot European summer.Read more

  • Simon and Sam Europe Adventure
    Day 2

    Abu Dhabi

    June 29, 2018 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    We landed in Abu Dhabi at 5.30am local time, which is 11.30am Sydney time. It was a 14 hour flight from Sydney but the A380 was very comfortable and we managed to get some interrupted sleep. We transited in the airport and grabbed some breakfast at Burger King. The currency in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, is the Dirham. The temperature was 32 Celsius which was a bit of a shock after leaving Sydney on a cold rainy evening.
    We loaded into a bus and were transported out to the smaller A320 plane on the tarmac. We took off at 9.00am leaving Abu Dhabi behind us shimmering in the desert.    Read more

  • Simon and Sam Europe Adventure
    Day 2

    Muscat

    June 29, 2018 in Oman ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Our next stop as we travel towards Paris is Muscat, the capital of Oman. It was only a 45 minute flight from Abu Dhabi to Muscat. The dry air is registering 35 Celsius. The average high temperature here in June is 40.4 degrees. The annual rainfall in 10mm (yes, ten). It's another city in the desert, but this civilisation is thousands of years old. In fact, Pliny the elder and Ptolemy both wrote about the port here in the 1st century BC. This is the region often considered to be part of the region of Dedan in Ezek 38. It is also the general region of the territory of the Queen of Sheba. We have a 5 hour layover here but we are not brave enough to venture out into the heat to explore the city - we may not make it back in time. So we relax in the magnificent airport. They are clearly a wealthy country. The airport is very large and comfortable. There are relatively few people here for such a large and luxurious airport. We fly out of Muscat at 2:45 pm local time and are scheduled to land in Paris at 7:45 pm tonight. Paris is 8 hours behind, so it will be 3:45 am in Sydney. A long haul and a sense of hours and days gone missing somewhere.Read more

  • Simon and Sam Europe Adventure
    Day 3

    Charles de Gaulle

    June 30, 2018 in France ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    We landed in Paris at Charles de Gaulle airport at 8.30pm after 32 hours of travelling. We traveled by train into Paris to find our Airbnb which is well located on a busy corner of a nice part of Paris only ten minutes walk from the Louvre. It is a typical Paris apartment on the fourth floor and no lift. Only a tiny wooden staircase. We are both tired but we went out for a walk to get something some food. Then fell into bed.Read more

  • Simon and Sam Europe Adventure
    Day 3

    A day in Paris

    June 30, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    We spent the day walking around Paris today. After a reasonable night’s sleep we ventured out for breakfast. Coffee, baguettes and pastries. Sam was surprised at the unusual style of breakfast. He had a chocolate pastry which is common. We sat outside and enjoyed the ambience of a French square right opposite a five hundred year-old church. After we had devoured the food went for a walk through the church marvelling at the age and grandeur of the building and the three pipe organs on three of the four sides.
    We then caught a train to the Isle of France which is an island in the Seine and the oldest part of the city. Notre Dame is located on the island and we walked around the outside. The cathedral was restricted access due to a large ceremony which was being televised to thousands of people seated in the square in front of the Cathedral. Apparently it was an inauguration of priests taking place.
    We then ventured over the Seine to the Shakespeare and Company English bookshop which is famous for being a regular haunt of Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein and others between the wars. The shop was opened in 1919 so it has a long tradition for which it is famous.
    We then had some lunch near St Michel. More baguettes.
    Then we walked through the Louvre Palace, the Tuileries Gardens, place de la Concord and along the Champs d’Elysees all the way to the Arch de Triumph.
    We then caught the train back to our Airbnb and bought some more pastries and baguettes for dinner. A French carbohydrate feast.
    We watched the World Cup game between France and Argentina. The whole street erupted every time France scored. They won 4-3 and the celebrations continued for hours in the streets afterwards.
    It has been a big first day. Tomorrow we rise at 4.30 am to catch an Uber to Orly Airport. Our plane to Barcelona takes off at 7.00am. Another big day planned tomorrow. So, an early night tonight I hope. Depends a bit on how long the French continue to sing their National Anthem into the night.    Read more

  • Simon and Sam Europe Adventure
    Day 4

    Off to Barcelona

    July 1, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We rose at 4.30 am to shower, dress and pack. At least I showered. We were out of the unit at 5.00 am. The Uber I had booked messaged me to let me know that because of high demand the price had risen from 30 euro to 120 euro for the trip to Orly Airport. I let him know what I thought of the offer and cancelled the trip. A quickly revised plan B was a walk to the metro, a train and then a bus. We arrived a Orly airport at 6.00 am and then joined the long queue. I hate queuing. We made the flight without too many incidents.

    We flew over southern France and then snow-capped mountain range that separates Spain from France.
    We landed in Barcelona at 8.45am. I can’t help thinking of Manuel from Faulty Tower. Que? Ci Que What?

    When we landed we walked straight out of the airport without any customs check or having to show our passport. I imagine this is due to Spain being part of the European Union.

    We caught the Aerobus to the centre of the city. From the we walked down La Ramblas, the famous mall, and then found our way through the incredible Gothic quarter to our Airbnb. We are located in the Gothic quarter and very closer the beach.

    The first stop was Barcelona McDonald’s Sam could compare the Spanish product with our own. It was no better and perhaps even less edible as far as I could tell. Even Sam was not too enthusiastic about it. He gave it a 6 put of 10. I was not aware of a method of ranking McDonald’s food but apparently Sam can assess it against a scale of some kid.

    We settled in and then I left Sam to catch his breath while I went walking and exploring.    Read more

  • Simon and Sam Europe Adventure
    Day 4

    Walking Around Barcelona

    July 1, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    We spent much of the day exploring Barcelona on foot. We walked first to the harbour and the beach. There were thousands of sun-seekers enjoying the extensive beaches of Barcelona. Not many swimming though. Not sure why. They were mostly sun baking.

    Then we walked around the parks and streets of the old town.

    We went into a Tapas restaurant at 4.00 pm. Spain was playing Russia in the World Cup. The Spanish were confident of winning and should have won, but they lost in a penalty shootout. The Spanish were not happy in the streets of Barcelona.    Read more

  • Simon and Sam Europe Adventure
    Day 4

    Walk of discovery

    July 1, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    The afternoon and evening walk led to some interesting discoveries. The first was Europe’s oldest synagogue. The Jews were expelled from Spain by Queen Isabella in 1492. It is known as the decree of Al Alhambra because it was in that famous landmark building in Granada that the decree was made. The decree was issued on 1st August that year. Colombus was going to leave for his voyage of discovery from the port of Cadiz on 2nd of August but there were so many Jews in the port rushing to escape Spain that he had to delay leaving till 3rd August. He mentions this in the first page of his record of the voyage.

    The synagogue’s location was lost and only discovered again in 1997 after a study of the records of Jewish tax collectors from the 14th century. The synagogue had been converted to various other uses and its location lost. But the building dates back the 13th century and the foundations back to Roman times.

    The street and building kinks so that the two exterior windows face Jerusalem.    Read more

  • Simon and Sam Europe Adventure
    Day 4

    Exploring Barcelona

    July 1, 2018 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 23 °C

    The exploration of the the amazing city of Barcelona continues. I came across some amazing gardens adjacent to the Barcelona Zoo. There was Spanish Dancing taking place in the pavillion just for fun. The Spanish have their own genre of music and dance, based on very percussive rapid music, often played on guitar, and flamenco dancing. There is also a strong African element represented in the dancing in the park, which certainly brought the crowds.

    There were some amazing structures in the park which were like mini medieval castles in themselves.

    I found the gothic cathedral in the gothic quarter where we are staying. It is a medieval church with amazing ornate carvings reminiscent of Notre Dame in Paris. There was a busker playing some beautiful baroque violin music and another around the corner singing tenor solos from famous operas. Very high quality busking!

    The old city of Barcelona dates back to Roman times. There are still portions of the Roman wall visible in areas bounding the gothic quarter. The gothic quarter is the old section of the city with narrow streets and high buildings with shops and restaurants at ground level which come alive from lunchtime into the night. The food culture is amazing. One could spend a year here and not exhaust the food options. Delicious food everywhere and people dining on tables set up in the streets and collonades of the old city squares.    Read more

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