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Europe 2024
  • Karen Cotton
  • Karen Cotton

Europe 2024

A 43-day adventure by Karen Read more
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  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Nice is Nice

    June 21, 2024 in France ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    See what I did there? When we arrived in Nice yesterday we were in two minds about how this would go, but that is probably due to the rude French people we have encountered. Most are lovely, but unfortunately you do meet the odd incredibly rude one.
    Anyway now that's out the way we had a fabulous day today. Started the day at the bakery over the road (as every good day should start). We then walked to the street markets which were really lovely. Spent an hour or so there then headed to Capital Hill. As the name suggests, it is a large hill. Bonnie and I caught the lift up and Bree, Brett and Graham took the stairs. It was a really hot and humid day today, so I think Graham regretted his decision. From the hill you can see all of Nice. There is also a lovely waterfall. At midday each day they set off a firework to simulate cannon fire. We knew it was coming but still didn't expect it to be so loud. And straight after all the church bells start to chime. Really lovely.
    From there we wandered to the port and headed home via Old Town. It's full of small alleyways with interesting stores. Really enjoyed it.
    We were hot by now so headed to the beach for a swim. The beach is big pebbles and getting to the water is an incredibly unenjoyable and painful experience. Then you have to try to climb back up. Graham voted this the worse beach experience of his life.
    The boys headed to Old Town to look at knives, Bonnie continued her tour of every Zara store in Europe so Bree and I headed to a cocktail bar to watch the world go by. As you do. There was a great busker out the front.
    Regrouped and headed to the best Mexican restaurant ever (as voted by 4 out of 5). We don't know what was happening but the army, fully armed with machine guns, were patrolling up and down the street where we were eating. I don't know if we were meant to feel safer or more afraid.
    Walked down to the promenade after dinner. Saw some fabulous street performers. Lots of people, lots happening. It certainly is a party town. Full day and we are now ready for bed, and have decided we really like Nice. Let's hope the party at the bar over the road ends soon.    Read more

  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    French Riviera

    June 22, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Yesterday we went on an epic and exhausting 10 hour tour of the French Riviera. Luckily there was only eight of us so managed to pack in a lot. Wealth like you can't imagine.
    First stop Antibes. I'd never really heard of this town, but the mega rich have. The Sheik of Qatar has his $500m superyacht parked there for his annual visit. There is a helicopter parked on the top (you never know when you will run out of milk) and 75 staff look after 25 guests. It looked like a small cruise ship. There were some lovely markets in town, and considering the number of superyachts parked around the town was quite normal.
    Next stop, Cannes. This town was not normal. Designer shops and beautiful people as far as the eye can see. We didn't really enjoy our stop here as the whole front promenade was full of construction trucks and workers packing down an event which had finished yesterday. We could catch a peek of the film festival red carpet which was covered in tarps. The highlight of this stop - the toilets in the Carlton Hotel were lovely.
    Had a lunch break in the beautiful hilltop town of Saint-Paul de Vence. Picaso stayed and worked here in his early days. He couldn't afford to pay for his food and board so the owner of Dove Hostel said he could pay by giving a painting. We saw that painting. It is worth $80m. There were lots of shops and art exhibits plus a really pretty town.    Read more

  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Monaco

    June 22, 2024 in Monaco ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Now for the mind blowing part of the tour. Next stop Monaco. The history of the town is fascinating. It would be a lovely place to live as the residents don't pay tax, which is why so many rich and famous people live here. There is one police officer for every 68 citizens, the highest per capita in the world. The very small jail is on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the ocean. There is a photo of some barred windows - that is the jail.
    We walked to the palace just in time for the changing of the guards, and saw Prince Albert and his entourage leave. Later we saw his security and car parked outside a restaurant. Apparently he is very friendly and if you can get near him you can have a chat.
    We stopped at the cathedral to see Princess Grace's last resting place. Our guide was saying how unusual it was that she and her daughter were alone in a car the night of the accident as they are always driven everywhere. Lots of rumours of this strange event.
    I wish we had time to visit the Oceanarium there. It is an impressive building and Jacques Cousteau was director for 31 years. The yellow submarine out the front was Jacques, was built in 1966 and could hold two people. There is not enough money in the world that could get me in that thing.
    I nearly forgot the best thing - we drove the whole circuit from the Monaco GP! It was so much fun and you don't realise how many twists and turns there are. Our driver got us to the start line (in our minivan) and took off just as an old man started to cross the road, but you'll be pleased to know he's still alive. How they get those cars around the hairpin turn at speed I'll never know. All the superyachts are lining the side of the road for the event. The penthouse of the hotel overlooking the circuit costs $1m for four days. Insane.    Read more

  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    French Riviera - Monte Carlo Casino

    June 22, 2024 in Monaco ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Next stop was Monte Carlo Casino. The wealth on display was mind blowing. Apparently a lot of the vehicles are from Qatar and Kuwait. The most expensive car was a gold plated McLaren (it was incredibly ugly). There were so many Bentley, Rolls Royce, Bugati, Ferrari, Aston Martin and Ferrari cars. My favourite was the smart car parked in between them all.
    There was a Mercedes Special Edition G wagon 4WD. There were only twenty made and it is worth $2m. The photo of the very boring looking 4wd convertible is it. The Bugati Veyron we saw is worth over $1.5m.
    Graham was taking photos with his camera and some people thought he was paparazzi!
    Lifestyles of the rich and the famous.    Read more

  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    French Riviera - the end of a big day

    June 22, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Getting to the end of our epic tour. We headed to Provence region. Another lovely hilltop town of Eze. Visited a perfume factory. Bought perfume from perfume factory.
    Drove back alone the coastline looking at more lovely villas.
    We have seen so many superyachts, villas the size of a small castle and expensive vehicles. The whole coast there were so many docks with boats moored.
    Last stop - Barcelona here we come.    Read more

  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton
    2

    Nice to Barcelona

    June 23, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Had a late afternoon flight to Barcelona so spent a few hours on the Promenade in Nice, looking at the ocean and watching the world go by. Was lovely and relaxing.
    Our apartment in Barcelona is strategically located right on La Rambla and directly over a cannabis shop. We also have to climb five flights of stairs, but it's a great apartment. We heard a lot of loud bangs when we arrived, which we thought was construction work. Turns out we have arrived on the day of Festival of Sant Joan, To celebrate everyone heads to the beach for 10pm fireworks, but the earlier bangs were people getting warmed up.
    As we headed to the beach there were people letting off crackers and fireworks the whole way - including small children! The beach was crazy. We assumed the 10pm fireworks was an official event. Nope. Anyone and everyone has got their hands on fireworks of all shapes and sizes and were letting them off. We had a huge one go off right above us and cover us in ash. There was an area on the sand that was clear for people to set off their fireworks, and a number of people that wandering through the middle of it, carrying small children.
    Some of the fireworks were just really really loud bangs. We all came home a little deaf. Bree was very happy she had gone to the toilet earlier, Brett and Graham were giggling like schoolboys and I was very glad to find takeaway cocktails.
    We headed back to our apartment just after 11pm and there were still people heading down to the beaches with their kids. As far as the eye could see there were fireworks going off, and we could still hear them all through the night. Such a fun night.    Read more

  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Barcelona (as sung by Bree)

    June 24, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Spent the morning wandering around the Gothic Quarter and La Ramblas. - found some great shops. Found a store that sells caganers, which is basically a gnome type figurine bent over with its pants down doing a poo. Apparently they are a symbol of good luck, good joy and good fortune in a home. My house should have an abundance of luck, joy and fortune.
    In the afternoon we had a 3 hour segway tour booked. Bonnie had never been on a segway before and her two minute lesson was was pretty much lean forward to go, lean back to stop, and now we are heading out onto the streets with all the traffic. Luckily she was a quick learner.
    I couldn't understand why I kept dropping off the back of the pack. After an hour or so I mentioned it to the tour guide, who realised my segway was delimited to 15kpm. Thanks mate. Saw a lot of Barcelona then headed up to Montjuic hill. There is a cable car that goes up there so some of it was quite steep.
    The boys were all up front with the tour guide and it was every man for himself. A bit of fun for us girls up the back. Bree had a dog run out at her. Bonnie hadn't been shown how to get up a steep hill and her segway started going backwards, which is not good. I jumped off my segway after I nearly lost it on a steep hairpin downhill and it took off with me hanging on behind it. Luckily Brett was there to save me. And Brett's segway threw him off the back and he landed in the dirt. It was quite and adventure, but we all survived.
    Had the best meal of the holiday last night, so a great way to end a huge day. Yesterday we did 13,000 steps but in the heat it felt like 33,000.    Read more

  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Barcelona (Bree still singing)

    June 25, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Had a tour of La Sagrada Familia. WOW! Was Gaudi a genius or a lunatic? Graham thinks he was on LSD. The church has been under construction since 1882 and the finish post keeps moving. Our youngish tour guide hopes it will be finished before he retires. Very impressive and photos don't do it justice.
    Walked back to visit Casa Battlo, another Gaudi creation. Bonnie continued her Zara European tour.
    Managed to sneak in an escape room between our shopping and cocktails. We are on the countdown now so trying to squeeze a lot in!    Read more

  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    The day after the night before

    June 26, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    There is not a lot of movement today. Last night was a big night. Some of us were slightly smarter and came home slightly earlier than those that rocked up at 2.15am. Bon had a fall and hurt her foot so she's not going far.
    Went to the food market near us for lunch. It was very busy but cheap food. Graham found an archaeological site nearby, so he's dragged Brett off for a look.
    Our apartment has the world's smallest and scariest lift. I have taken it a couple of times when I couldn't be bothered climbing five flights of stairs but I fear for my life every time.    Read more

  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton

    Last day in Barcelona

    June 27, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We all woke up much healthier today thanks to no booze Wednesday. Except for Graham who didn't join in on no booze Wednesday, but he doesn't count. Also except for Bonnie who has done some decent damage to her foot thanks to lots of booze Tuesday.
    Today we headed for a tour of Park Guell. I've decided - Gaudi was a genius. His creations there were beautiful. Such an interesting and fun tour thanks to our tour guide. From the top of the park you can see how La Sagrada Familia is such an imposing presence.
    Got lost in the little alleys in Gothic Quarter and had a fabulous lunch before heading to the aquarium.
    Went to a flamenco show tonight. It was amazing!!! We were in the second row so we are all deaf. They are seriously talented performers and a great way to end the holiday.
    Barcelona is such a pretty city if you can ignore all the tourist shops and look up at all the fabulous architecture.    Read more

  • Karen CottonEurope 2024Karen Cotton
    1

    Adeu Barcelona

    June 28, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Had a few hours to kill this morning before heading to the airport at noon, so we packed early and headed to the wax museum. This was so much fun and a great way to end our holiday with a laugh. It was by far the best wax museum we have been to, not because the figures were better but due to the scenery and interactions. Also we had the place to ourselves. Winning!
    Before heading to the airport we pooled our cash for one last gelato, but much to Brett's dismay we only had enough for one scoop each. He took it like a man.
    So thanks Barcelona for another great stop on our trip. And now for the least fun part, the long flight home.
    Hang in their Ruby. Mum and Dad will be home soon.    Read more

    Trip end
    June 29, 2024
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