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Europe 2024
  • Karen Cotton
  • Karen Cotton

Europe 2024

Et 43-dagers eventyr av Karen Les mer
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  • Reisens start
    18. mai 2024
    Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Bonjour from Paris

    18. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    After the longest 21 hours of my life we have arrived in beautiful Paris. They are gearing up for the Olympics and are very proud to show off their city. We are staying in Montmartre. A little out of the city centre but so charming and full of character. Thanks to google translate we managed to eat last night. We are just around the corner from Moulin Rouge and Sacre Coeur so walked our dinner off by climbing 1000 (felt like it) stairs to Sacre Coeur. You can see all of Paris from up there and we felt like we were there with half the population. Very busy. The smart people caught the train or venicular up the hill (of course we climbed the 1,000 stairs). Didn't go inside the church as the line was of Disneyland proportion. Check out the photo of the double story carousel. Was going to kidnap a child so I could have a go but Graham said no.Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Walking Tour of Paris

    19. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    What to do the day after a long haul flight when you are exhausted and fighting jet-lag? Book yourself into a 5 hour walking tour! There's a fantastic bakery near our hotel so we pointed to what we thought were breakfast looking and ended up with apple pie for breakfast. The tour was fantastic. Always my favourite thing to do on holiday as you learn so many interesting things you wouldn't on your own.
    Ticked off all the Paris postcard items. Most interesting fact from today is the word merde means shit in French. There is a whole shop dedicated to it. Closed today, so we will be there tomorrow. Bonus points for anyone spotting our merde items when we get home. Second fact of the day - there is a street artist who makes mosaic tile space invader icons which are found all around the city. Unlike Banksy he has been unmasked.
    People actually live in that super skinny building. They must never eat the beautiful croissants here or they wouldn't be able to stand sideways in their living room.
    Finished the night with wine and cheese and fresh baguette.    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton
    1

    Stairs again

    21. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We wanted to get into the Sacre Coeur without queuing, so while everyone was still sleeping we once again climbed the 222 steps to the top. Works out we weren't the only ones awake. There were people running up and down the stairs (and they are steep!) multiple times. I was lucky just to make it to the top. Ticked off church one of what will no doubt be many more on this trip.
    Had croissant and crepe for breakfast. Bucket list ticked.
    We've become quite the professional metro riders (very easy to get around Paris) so from there we went to the Museum of Illusion. The highlight was an area where they merge bits of both of you to create a new person. Graham + Karen = Jack Black. The whole museum would have heard us when we saw the photo!    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Paris Flea Market

    21. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Next stop, Paris Flea Market. Why oh why did I mention this to Graham. It covers seven hectares and is the largest antique market in the world. We did a few hours here yesterday and back today to cover the remaining six hectares. Oh joy.
    It is a sight to see (as long as you don't have to see ALL of it). Found a store with vintage Barbies, one of which was $6,000 as well as a shop with vintage designer dresses by all the big name designers. Oh la la!
    Finished the night with a lovely Italian dinner and getting saturated in a thunderstorm.    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    How did I forget the noughat?

    21. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Was wandering around Paris and came across a little artisan market. One store was selling noughat from great big blocks. Tried it and liked it so bought a slither from the block. $100 of noughat. So we now judge the price of everything against the noughat. "Dinner tonight was lovely. A bit cheaper than noughat."
    Always ask the price first people!!    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Last day in Paris

    21. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Last day in Paris so we made it a big one. I think we managed to travel every train line today. Got our nerd on with an escape room. It was set on an actual metro train carriage and the effects were awesome. Sadly we were not, but it was great fun.
    From there we went to an archaeological site and then, like every good holiday, we visited the sewer museum.
    Finished the day at the Pere Lachaise Cemetary. So interesting and beautiful. Next to Jim Morrison's grave is a tree covered in people's chewies. People are weird.
    Graham is enjoying the cheap supermarket beer and wine. A little too much.
    Off to southern France tomorrow for the start of the Tour de France - geriatric division.    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton
    1

    Travel to Les Eyzies

    22. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Travel day is always fun. Annoyed a few a locals with our luggage on the train but we just smiled and ignored them. Eventually arrived in Les Eyzies, which from the shop fronts appears to be the foie gras capital of the world. A very quaint sleepy little town.
    We saw a group of older cyclists go by, but unlike us they appeared fit. Wish us luck. We're going to need it.
    There is a vast shortage of public toilets in France (good luck with the Olympics!) So Graham is on the lookout for a shewee for me for the ride.
    If I don't post tomorrow I'm in hospital.    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Stage 1 Tour de France - Geriatric Div

    23. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Today had everything you come to expect from the Tour de France (apart from the people running beside you waving signs) - quiet country roads, busier towns, fabulous scenery, lots of history, a spill and of course a f***ing mountain.
    We woke up to heavy rain, which was not good. Aquitaine Bikes dropped our near new bikes off - still raining. Ran through the maps and info - still raining. The rain stopped for a minute so we were off. Two minutes in - started raining.
    The ride to start with was lovely, riding past beautiful old houses and abandoned farm buildings. We rode through many beautiful little towns and stopped for lunch and an explore in Limeuil. I will do a separate post for this.
    After lunch we heading off again to find the start of the mountain. There was a lot more pushing of the bike than riding, that's for sure. Were very relieved to come over the top, only to find another huge hill waiting. It was about then that I lost my sense of humour.
    We were not quite sure what direction we were meant to be heading (pretty much every corner) so stopped suddenly. I stood up and went to unclip, and couldn't unclip due to some tweaking of my pedals and fell. Thought we may have an early withdrawal from the tour, but Graham has patched me up and we're all good to continue on tomorrow. There might be a bit of complaining.
    Finally arrived at our BnB in Cadouin. It's a beautiful old three story building with stone walls and wooden beams. The owner is a chef and so we are eating here tonight. We are starving after today's ride.
    Apparently tomorrow has an even bigger mountain than today. Give me strength.    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Stage 2 Tour de France - Geriatric Div

    24. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    We woke in Cadouin to a beautiful sunny day. Unfortunately I woke up full of a cold and cough, but we weren't going to let that stop us so off we went.
    Another day of huge hills, another day of my bike getting pushed up said huge hills. Graham has done so well, he drops to a low gear and puts his head down and crawls up the hills. We stopped in some lovely towns but Monpazier was our favourite. Most of our photos are from there.
    Yesterday as we were riding we kept bumping into a young couple on e-bikes (they are smart). Stopped at lunch yesterday, and there they were. Stopped for lunch today .... and there they were.
    Back to our BnB and struggled to climb the stairs to our room. At least we don't have to go far as the owner is a chef and they run a restaurant from here. The food is superb.
    Another big day planned tomorrow. Oh dear.    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Stage 3 Tour de France - Geriatric Div

    25. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Fortunately I woke this morning with a rotten cough so my bike and I got chauffeured to our next destination at La Roque-Gageac. Graham headed off for the 5 hour ride on his own. He had one word to describe today's ride - brutal. I have never been so happy to be sick! He came in, had a shower and slept for over and hour.
    On the upside he said the scenery was fabulous and well worth the sore legs and backside. Luckily tomorrow is a rest day.    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Manoir de la Malartrie

    25. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We are staying in this amazing manor for the next two nights, which is on the Dordogne River and overlooks Castle de la Malartrie. The gardens are spectacular and very vast. The owners are so lovely and invited us to their bar in the garden to drink some of the local wine (made by their nephew) and walnut wine (yes, it's a thing).
    In the words of the great Corona man, "this is living".    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    La Roque-Gageac

    25. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    We are staying in La Rogue-Gageac, which contains the remains of a troglodyte fort and castle built into the cliff in the 9th or 10th century to protect the town. The homes here are all terraced up against the cliff face. Definitely a highlight of the trip so far, closely followed by this morning's breakfast feast in the banquet room.
    It's too hard to pick only 10 photos to post. Incoming photo spam.    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Castelnaud

    26. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Today we climbed another big hill to visit Castelnaud, which also houses a medieval war museum. Castelnaud was built around the 12th century and was won and lost many times during the 100 year war. The castle was abandoned in the 1800s and fell into disrepair, but was purchased by a French family in 1965 who completed an extensive restoration. Good job people.Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Marqueyssac Gardens

    26. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    I'd have enough hill climbing for one day so headed back to the manor while Graham headed up to the Marqueyssac Gardens. In one of the photos you can see me in a blue jumper down in the valley at the manor.
    Three hours after returning home Graham is still laughing. He hopped in the shower and I said I was coming in to sit on the toilet once he got the shower running. I wanted to unblock my nose with the steam. Graham thought I wanted to share having a poo with him. As if!    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton
    1

    Manoir de la Malatrie breakfast feast

    27. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Today we are sadly leaving to complete the loop back to Les Eyzies. Graham headed off earlier but I am still not well so will be hitching a ride. I am sitting in the parlour reading my book overlooking the river. It's not the way I expected the holiday to go but it is still wonderful.
    Speaking of wonderful, I have added photos of our breakfast spread so we can remember later how amazing it was. And this is all for four guests. Wafa is an amazing chef and Graham was in raptures with everything he tasted.    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton
    1

    Tour de France Stage 4

    27. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    So here we are back in Les Eyzes for the penultimate day of the cycling tour. Robert from Aquitaine Bikes was fabulous - couldn't recommend him highly enough.
    We are now staying in La Ferme de Tayak; a 900 year old farmhouse in a former monastery. As you can see from the photos Graham has made a friend. She follows him everywhere.
    Bits of Graham that hurt - butt, thighs, calves ankles and feet. We are in a bar (luckily could find one open) having a wine and I think I will be piggy backing him home.
    One thing we have learnt in these small villages - don't expect to eat or drink between the hours 2pm - 7pm. And then the 7pm window is only 2 hours. No wonder they are all so skinny. Never fear; although we have missed the window of opportunity for lunch we have managed a packet of chips and chocolate eclair for late arvo snack. It's a tough life.    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton
    2

    Final Stage -Tour de France

    28. mai 2024, Frankrike ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Today was the end of our Tour de France. Graham was very happy to farewell his bike and thinks his backside will never feel the same again.
    Our final ride was an easy 28km ride to Rouffignac Caves, that is apart from the 2km hill climb. Graham pushed through and made it to the top. It nearly killed him. Apart from that today's ride was lovely, and we really enjoyed that you can share the road with cars, trucks and farmers on their tractors with no drama. Even on the main roads there is no road rage. Maybe it's because so many cycle here.
    Rouffignac Cave was awesome. Before prehistoric man bears would hibernate there in winter and you could see the pods they dug to sleep in. A little train took us about a km into the cave to see carvings and drawings made between 17,000 - 13,000 BC.
    There are 260 animals in the cave gallery. What was interesting is that there were mammoths and deer but also horse paintings that look like modern horses. Unfortunately they ate the horses, didn't ride them.
    My one question is why not do your drawings down in the valley where you live? Why climb a mountain to practise your art? Some poor sod is going to have to cycle that mountain in the future.    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Day 1 in Rome - nearly a divorce

    30. mai 2024, Italia ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    We are all together in our apartment in the Campo di Fiori area of Rome, which is great as it is not tourist central but still close to everything. We have two toilets so while I was in one this morning Graham decided it would be fun to push open the mirror above me from the other toilet to say hello. He quickly got told where to go and if he does this again we will be coming home on different planes. He has stayed close to Brett and out of my way since.
    We got up early and headed to the Pantheon, which is an engineering feat, followed by Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps.
    No trip to Rome is complete without a stop at the Cat Sanctuary. It might also be one of the most important archaeological sites of the city, with the remains of four temples from the Republican age ranging from the 4th century to the 2nd century BC and the place where Julius Caesar was assassinated,......but there are cats!
    Ticked off a lot of the big name items before the hordes arrived. Followed this up by a trip to the Capuchin Crypts and then started the difficult journey home through the many, many tours. But help was at hand. There is a little window you can buy a cocktail from, and that made the trip home bearable.
    Just regrouping before I visit every leather bag shop in the area. Has to be done.    Les mer

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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Another busy day in Rome

    31. mai 2024, Italia ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

    We are getting our steps up while we are in Rome. The task of the day is to get a photo of the little bird that keeps flying in our apartment. He is very elusive.
    Headed out to look at the underground stadium that was discovered under Piazza Navona. The two things I took from this is that all sports were competed naked (strange) and that lots of the them were savage.
    From there we did a Colosseum and Palantine Hill tour, which was incredibly interesting but also brutal for the million plus lives (mainly animal) that were lost there. We were lucky enough to be the only people on our tour and our guide was a PHD History major who, when not taking tours, is working on archaeological digs around the world. What a boring life she must lead.
    We are very much enjoying the food and wandering the streets at night. Graham is enjoying the wine.    Les mer

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