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Europe and UK.
  • Jacqui Zuidema
  • Jamie Zuidema
  • Jacqui Zuidema
  • Jamie Zuidema

Europe and UK.

With Henny Zuidema to see the Netherlands. Liv and Eloise are also joining us for some of the journey Read more
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  • Trip start
    April 4, 2025
    Europe and UK.

    Melbourne amd Sydney

    April 4 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Step 1. Melb-Sydney then Sydney International airport. We are tired before the long flight even begins. I hope this is a good thing.

  • Europe and UK.

    Flight from Sydney to Milan.

    April 4 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Finally arrived. A long flight with varying amounts of sleep amongst us. Henny and I were very jealous of the sleep that Liv and Jamie were able to get. After a long wait for our luggage we quickly and easily exited the airport. We managed to get a ride to Como that night in a large van. It was very spacious and comfortable after the flight.Read more

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    Lake Como

    Apr 5–7 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    What a beautiful place Lake Como is! We have enjoyed a boat tour and a walk around the old town of Como. What we haven't enjoyed is the number of people here. A lovely lunch in a small cafe in a narrow street with an aperol spritz was fun and we thought it was just the thing to do on your first day in Italy. The apartment is about a 20 min walk from the old town and is perfect for us. Day 2 sees us tackling our first train journey. All went without a hitch. From Como to Monterosso, Lake to sea.Read more

  • Europe and UK.
    Monterosso
    ConiglioConiglio1

    Cinque Terre

    Apr 6–9 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Wow. Getting off the train and discovering the interesting layout and stunning coast line was amazing. We caught glimpses of the coast from the train but next moment we were going through a tunnel. Villages are all steep, some very very steep. The townsfolk must be so very fit! Photos don't do the region justice. We took the train to explore some of the small villages, but again there were so many people. After exploring the climbs and streets of Monterosso, Jamie and I took the ferry to view the coastline and then walked over the cliffs from Vernazza to Monterosso. It was very steep but the beauty of the region made it worthwhile. We almost found ourselves in the movie called Sisters in Italy to be released on Amazon Prime. As we ate dinner they filmed a walk by with the main characters.Read more

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    Nice

    Apr 9–12 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We enjoyed our time in Nice, exploring the old city and surrounds. Great views and walks.

  • Europe and UK.

    Eze, Monaco, Montecarlo

    April 10 in France ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    We arrived last night after a 5 hour train trip where we changed trains 3 times. Trying to get off the train at Nice was a mission/ comedy act combined, as there were so many people in the aisles and us with all our luggage.
    Today we had a tour of Eze and Monaco. Everything about today was spectacular. We felt very under dressed in Monte Carlo. Old Eze was stunning on the cliff with its old stone buildings and narrow streets. We saw the changing of guards at the Monaco Palace. The Monaco Grand Prix set up was well underway and we drove along much of the circuit.    Read more

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    French Riviera Antibes - Cannes

    Apr 12–14 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Unfortunately a change of weather has brought cool wind and rain. We still managed some exploring around the region. The official tourist season here starts next week, which made some of the attractions more difficult to get to. There is also major shore works going on along the coast in Juan Les Pins, where we stayed. This took away many nice waterfront aspects. However it was still a great stay with the old town areas fun to explore. I loved the street art in Cannes and even found some in Juan Les Pins.Read more

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    Paris

    Apr 14–17 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    So much to see and love in Paris and not enough time to do it all, especially when waiting in queues. It was great to see Eloise again, surprisingly at the station near the air bnb. The first day we wandered around near Notre Dame Cathedral and Le Louvre. Live, Eloise and Jamie rode a bike along the Seine, whilst Henny and I walked to Luxembourg gardens and palace. We finished with a late French lunch. The following day saw Eloise and I climb the Eiffel tower and The others wandered around the base. Jamie Liv and Henny went to Versailles and Eloise and I joined them later. We all walked a long way!.Read more

  • Europe and UK.

    Volendam, Marken and Zaanse Schanse.

    April 18 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Our first full day in the Netherlands! Today Liv, Jamie, Henny and I did a tour. A Clog factory, Cheese maker and tasting and a windmill visit along with a canal crossing, (all of the Dutch essentials) whilst Eloise hired a bike and explored Amsterdam. The tour was very informative and interesting but also very touristy. We will explore Amsterdam another day.Read more

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    A trip to Nigtevecht.

    April 19 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Today was the day to explore Henny's hometown until we found her childhood home. We think we found it! We rode on the smallest public bus ever, with a very friendly and helpful driver. The day was sunny and the scenery beautiful and we all had so much fun walking along Vreelandseweg. After deciding on a house we took many photos, hoping that it was the right place. Henny is pretty confident that we found her dutch home.
    After that was when the song and dance began. We spotted a Restaurant across the Vecht with a sign pointing to a row boat. We rang the number and the man told us we could just row across. What could go wrong? Eventually we made it thanks to Eloise's newly learned rowing skills! Thankfully she had some lessons in Argentina. We managed to laugh our way across in 2 trips, and had a lovely Italian lunch then had to row back again in front of a bigger audience.
    We arrived back at Harderwijk to find a local celebration in progress. Today they were celebrating 80 years since the region was liberated by the Canadians. Stunt planes and army tanks on show. Beautiful sunset over the lake.    Read more

  • Europe and UK.

    Harderwijk

    April 20 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Today we took a rest day and mostly stayed in our lovely Dutch home away from home in Harderwijk. This was needed by most of us after constant travel and walking. Eloise, Jamie and I ventured into the town center and took ourselves on a self guided tour. Eloise ran a very educational tour using online information and delivered the information in a number of languages to Jamie and I. 🙂Read more

  • Europe and UK.

    Amsterdam

    April 21 in the Netherlands ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    In Amsterdam we took a boat trip along canals, learnt about how the unstable ground leads to houses developing a lean. We also took a very interesting walking tour around the Jewish quarter. Lots of monuments and plaques to remember the people lost during the war.Read more

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    Munich

    April 23 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    A day trip from Neuremberg to Munich was well worth the time. Munich was fascinating in that all the buildings looked old but many were relatively new having been rebuilt after WWII. We had some typical German food and beer for lunch in a beer garden in the Vitlialienmarkt. We started the day with a walking tour of the old town, which again proved to be very informative.Read more

  • Europe and UK.

    Rothenburg ob der Tauber

    April 24 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Today we visited Red Castle on the river Tauber, the translation of the village name. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a medieval town in Bavaria. It has been restored and maintained beautifully and is a town of about 12,000 people who live both inside and outside the old wall. Like most places in Germany it was partly destroyed in WWII, about 40% was destroyed and then restored. We walked the 2 miles around the old wall sometimes on it and other times beside it. The town was beautiful. We had a delicious, very German lunch and brought some Schneeballen Which were balls of cookie dough with toppings. They were nice but dryer than we expected.Read more

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    Neuremberg

    April 25 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    We woke up to a rainy day so our exploration of the old town was wet. We spent most of the morning at the Imperial castle. As the rain got heavier we walked less and took a little train tour around the old city area.Read more

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    Salzburg

    Apr 26–29 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Exploring Salzburg was a real treat. It was so beautiful and a lovely mix of historic buildings with the amazing alps as a constant backdrop. We bought a Salzburg explorer card which then gave us admission to attractions and free travel on the cable buses. We went to Nonnberg Abbey, a Sound of Music sight we didn't explore on the tour. We then walked up a steep hill to the Hohensalzburg Fortress, where we climbed more stairs, had an amazing view of the city, learnt what it was like to live in the fortress over the centuries and played virtual dress ups. We visited the catacombs at St Peters Church, rode a cable car to the summit of the Untersberg, took a boat trip, visited Mozart's house and finally rode the Monchsberg lift for another city view.Read more

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    Sound of Music Tour

    April 27 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    It just had to be done! Movie talk, singing, reenactments, the Austrian countryside, and visits to many places that featured in the movie. It was a fun and entertaining way to spend a morning.

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    Prague old and new town

    April 30 in Czech Republic ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Today we took a walking tour of the old and new town, the new town being, I think, after the 1300's. It was informative and fun. The buildings were stunning. Along the tour we also saw the astronomical clock, the Jewish quarter and the John Lennon wall. We then had a Czech lunch and pastry and a visit to the book stack and rotating head.Read more

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    Prague Castle

    May 1 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Last night we went for a walk into the gardens beside our accommodation. It was really pretty and included the Petron tower. This morning we took another walk through amazing buildings to Prague castle. Luckily for us we found a chocolate shop with free samples that gave us a little more energy. After lunch back at the apartment we walked to see the dancing house, one of Prague's only modern buildings in the old/new town area. Tonight is our last night with Eloise. Tomorrow she is off to explore more of eastern Europe and we are flying to the UK. A Czech meal and bear to celebrate. ❤️Read more

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    Cornwall

    May 5–7 in England ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    It was lovely to be by the sea again. Cornwall has been lovely and so great to see Rob and Sharon again and to meet one of their daughters Sophie. We stayed in a little village called Cubert very near St Agnus where Rob and Sharon live. We spent two evenings catching up. The first night we ate at a restaurant with a beautiful sunset view - that's why we look orange in the photo🤣. On the way here we stopped at Stonehenge . We also explored a local beach called Polly Joke, visited St Ives and went to St Agnus head, which was a stunning view.Read more

  • Europe and UK.

    More of the Cornish coast.

    May 7 in England ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    An interesting, scenic and at times somewhat narrow drive from Cubert to Bath. Stops included Padstow and Port Issac- the town used to film outdoor shots from Doc Martin. Padstow was another lovely walled fishing village.Read more

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    Bath

    May 8 in England ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    A day exploring Bath on foot for Jamie and I and a rest day for Henny. We managed another day of over 20,000 steps, including a steep climb to the top of Alexandra gardens. We undertook a Lord Mayors tour and learnt about the town's long and interesting history, from the Roamans to the Georgian era. The Alexandra gardens provided a fantastic view of Bath.Read more

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    The Cotswalds

    May 9–11 in England ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    On the way to our accommodation at Hook Norton we stopped off at Castle Combe, Bibury and Stow-on-the-wold. We drove through Boughton-on-the-water but it was so busy we kept going. However it was a beautiful little village.
    We arrived in Hook Norton and found our accommodation, April Cottage. It was a very quaint cottage filled to the brim.
    The next day we walked around the village and tried to find a walk to a neighbouring village, but the instructions were too challenging, fortunately we found another public path and a local to describe it to us. It was a pretty walk taking in the local fields and wild flowers and some very old pillars that were from an old railway.
    We then drove and discovered the kings men rocks which was a large rock circle and some old burial sights. Dinner at the pub and some local Hook Norton beer from the brewery (the tall odd shapes building in the photos). Al in all a restful weekend in a beautiful location.    Read more

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    The Lake District

    May 11–14 in England ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We are staying in a small Holiday cottage in Bowness on Lake Windermere. It is a pretty old village with a stunning lake. We. Celebrated Austin mother's day here with dinner at a pub with a view. Jamie and Henny had the biggest serve of roast I have ever seen. We took a ferry ride to Lakeside with a walk to lunch at the Swan pub just outside of Lakeside.

    Today we drove around the area exploring different, terrains, lakes and waterfalls. In places it was very imposing with high, dry and rocky hills at the top down to green fields and lakes at the bases.    Read more

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