Pre trip planning
23 de maio de 2025, Canadá ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Over the past year, Doug had been planning a bucket list trip to Africa starting June 21 2025. With the trip with Jan to Disney behind her, a pause in family activities, and a bit of trip envy, NancyLeia mais
Bonvoyage: The Big Day Arrives!
24 de maio de 2025, Canadá ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Departure day and a beautiful 19 degrees C in Kelowna. Picked up Beth and headed to YLW.
Arrival Day Paris
25 de maio de 2025, Canadá ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
We had a smooth flight to Paris and a small meal was provided was split given we ate "twin" dinners at our connection in Calgary. Drizzly weather so our first 'tour' was of CDG airport. Doug had givenLeia mais
Guided Tour of the Latin Quarter
26 de maio de 2025, França ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
We kicked our trip off with a Tour of the Latin quarter through Get Your Guide. Johann confirmed the tour the night prior and there were about 10-12 people, mostly Americans. He was an Australian ofLeia mais
Latin Quarter Tour continued
26 de maio de 2025, França ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Notre-Dame Cathedral
26 de maio de 2025, França ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
At the close of our tour we walked down the small streets in our neighborhood where the guide pointed out medieval streets: a gutter runs down the center of the road, the lower floors jetty such thatLeia mais
Sainte-Chapelle
26 de maio de 2025, França ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
The end of a busy day: a quick pizza dinner and tickets to a (not rock) concert in the beautiful Sainte-Chapelle as the sun was setting. Beth, suffering from jet lag, found it difficult to stay awakeLeia mais
Musee d'Orsay and Eiffel Tower
27 de maio de 2025, França ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
We walked about 20 minutes from the hotel to the world’s premier museum of Impressionist painting. The impressionists (approximately 1840 to WW1 which is known as the “Belle Époque”) was theLeia mais
Around the Eiffel Tower
27 de maio de 2025, França ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
After our views from the top of the tower, we walked over to the Trocadéro, took in a long range view and then, feeling some of the tourist end of day “feet are sore and out of steam,” we tookLeia mais
The Louvre
28 de maio de 2025, França ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
After our nice French breakfast at the hotel we were ready for a big morning at the world's most famous art gallery.
We had 0930h admission tickets to the Louvre and as expected we were notLeia mais
The Louvre Part 2
28 de maio de 2025, França ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
We both agreed that we enjoyed the museum using the audio guide but were ready for lunch and a change of pace. So we headed to catch the bus for Montmartre. Finding bus stops at times proves elusiveLeia mais
Montmartre
28 de maio de 2025, França ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
We got off M12 at Pigalle Square and across the street was our lunch destination at Bouillon Pigalle. Opened in 2017, this brasserie recreates the atmosphere of the Parisian restaurants in the 19thLeia mais
Gare Montparnasse / arrival Biarritz
29 de maio de 2025, França ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
We left Hotel Eugenie at 0930 hrs via Bus 74 to Gare Montparnasse which is large with 28 tracks. Found our way to the proper level for our train starting here and terminating in Hendaye, and we areLeia mais
Biarritz
30 de maio de 2025, França ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Checked out at 11 am. and back at 2 pm. after a 5 km walk along the sea promenade, taking in the views. In 1660 King XIV, the Sun King, married a Spanish princess Maria Therese (who at age 21 wasLeia mais
Arrival Bayonne
30 de maio de 2025, França ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
The 1.4 Euro bus ride took 50 minutes to Bayonne and we found Hotel des Basses Pyrenees built into the ramparts of the old wall a 10 minute walk away from our stop at Saint Leon. As we walked intoLeia mais
A morning tour of Bayonne
31 de maio de 2025, França ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Our group was given a tour of Bayonne by a local named Claire. She explained that under Franco the Basque language and customs were forbidden. The boomer generation was not allowed to learn Basque butLeia mais
Bayonne afternoon
31 de maio de 2025, França ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
We went to A La Bolee creperie recommended by Helen thinking we d split a crepe but it was a one seat one plate policy so we ended up with more food than we wanted. We joined Susan and Allan from theLeia mais
St Jean Pierre de Port
1 de junho de 2025, França ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Our bus arrived at 9 am and it took about an hour to get to St. Jean Pierre de Porte which marks the start of the 748 km Camino Frances. Lovely views and town. Popped into the church. Walked to theLeia mais
Over the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles
1 de junho de 2025, Espanha ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Our bus travelled through the Roncevaux Pass from Saint Pierre-du-Port to Roncesvalles. Helen told us about Operation Comet and how the Basques assisted the British airman escape Nazi occupied FranceLeia mais
Arrival Pamplona
1–3 de jun. 2025, Espanha ⋅ 🌧 18 °C
We descended through mountains of mixed forest and fir trees and gradually came into what appears to be a flatter dryer area and into Pamplona. Our guide told us this is a prosperous and modern cityLeia mais
The Santa Maria de Real Cathedral
2 de junho de 2025, Espanha ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
The next day, we met our local tour guide Francisco who was was both interesting and entertaining. The cathedral is quite unique. There is a small fee to enter and the Bishop here has attached anLeia mais
Bullfighting and a Special Lunch
2 de junho de 2025, Espanha ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Our guide Francisco used to give a talk on the street about bullfighting; until the wife of a bullfighting enthusiast allowed him to bring the Rick Steves tour group in. He collected bullfightingLeia mais
On the Camino
3 de junho de 2025, Espanha ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
We left Pamplona to do a whole day on the Camino. First stop: El Alto del Perdon or Point of Forgiveness. This is a well photographed pilgrim viewpoint and the site of a Memorial to 92 Franco opposersLeia mais
Arrival San Sebastian/Donastia
3 de junho de 2025, Espanha ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Helen explained we are going through the Sierra Alto mountains where we saw again more Etxcha, the traditional Basque home design. In families, the 4th Basque son would be sent to America, often toLeia mais
Day in San Sebastian
4–6 de jun. 2025, Espanha ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Modeled after Biarritz during the Belle Epoch era, the lamp posts are 1920s Art Deco. Queen Maria Christina took waters here for her skin and then helped develop it into a tourist, trade, andLeia mais

















































































































































































































































































































































Viajante
Silicone Pines hahahah she’s definitely cute!
Doug sent me the penguins link so caught up on the last couple days of your trip. Sounds like you had a nice stay in Paris. What do they say - Paris is always a good idea" and I think that's true. Will follow you along. [Jan]