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Our European Adventure 2018
  • DeanandLindasTravels
  • DeanandLindasTravels

Our European Adventure 2018

A 6 month trip on a shoestring Read more
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  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    The Stumpery

    Ickworth's Gardens

    September 7, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    The gardens are beautiful. Parts are designed to look Italian. Then there are views of the grounds beyond the house, and a wooded area with a stumpery (old stumps upended and allowed to become covered with vines and ferns). A huge walled garden used to be a vineyard, but now it has wildflowers, fruit trees, and a dahlia border.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    The bay at St. Margaret's-at-Cliffe, 20 miles from France1

    White Cliffs of Dover

    September 11, 2018 in England ⋅ 🌬 66 °F

    We are leaving the United Kingdom after almost 3 months. It was a great experience seeing all the history and the country houses, and visiting Jacob between house-sits. Today we are in Dover on a sunny day, so we had a chance to picnic on the White Cliffs overlooking the busy ferry port. The nearby town of St. Margaret's-at-Cliffe also had some pretty views. This is closest part of England to France, only 20 miles.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    Remants of the piers still stand on the beach, mostly covered by sand now.
    A pedestrian bridge at the beach-a memorial to the Allies

    Dunkerque: A Sobering Scene

    September 12, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    This morning we ferried across the English Channel from Dover to Dunkirk. There is a bunker near the beach which has been turned into a museum, 1940 Operation Dynamo, in which over 300,000 Allied troops were evacuated in 8 days, with the aid of a flotilla of "Little Ships". We saw the movie Dunkerque earlier this summer, and seeing where it happened brings it to life. Of course, many died too, and civilians were displaced or killed as well.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    A whale made of plasticsChurch of Notre Damme

    If it's Thursday, this Must be Belgium!

    September 13, 2018 in Belgium ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    We are in Belgium for just two nights, so we explored Bruges today. It is a very picturesque city with canals, medieval buildings, and churches with tall spires. Much of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    We took a 30 minute canal trip for a different perspective of the city. One can see how goods were moved about by boats, as the winding, narrow streets would have made it difficult. In fact, people are encouraged to park outside the city ring and take the bus. Even walking has its dangers as bicycles have right of way and they really pedal fast on those cobbled streets!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler

    Beautiful Bruges: Markt and Belfry

    September 13, 2018 in Belgium ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    The Markt -- the Market Square -- has been used as such since the mid-900s. In the center of the Markt is a statue of two Flemish heroes who resisted French oppression in the 1300s, backed by all the lovely buildings around the square.

    The 'Crown" is the 12th century Belfry of Bruges, which rises 272 ft over the Flemish cloth market hall underneath. It has a 47-bell carillon that plays music every hour. It leans to one side (about 3 feet at the top). We could see it from all over the old town, so it was a good landmark when we made a wrong turn or two!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler

    What Dean Learned About Beer

    September 13, 2018 in Belgium ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    Dean went to the Beer Museum and learned a lot. In Medieval times, everyone drank beer, because there was no safe water and well technology hadn't developed. Back in the 1200s, local monks perfected the beer-making process to help improve public health. The same mash was made into beer three times, with the first run being 3-8% alcohol, the second, 2%, and the third, 1/2 % (used for children). Beer was so important that the town officials imposed a tax on it; the brewers dumped all their beer in the streets to protest. The population threatened to hang the officials, so they rescinded the tax.

    While Dean was busy with the history and tasting of beer, I walked around the city and saw a lady making lace. Belgian lace is famous!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    Town Hall
    Former Court HouseBasilica of the Holy Blood

    Bruges Architecture

    September 13, 2018 in Belgium ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    This is Burg Square, which has a varied mix of buildings. The Gothic town hall was built in the 1300s. The building to the left of it is the former court house, and to the right of the town hall is the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

    All over town are beautiful buildings--shown are some of the best we saw, and the McDonald's!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler

    Church of Our Lady

    September 13, 2018 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    This tower is even taller than the Belfry in the Markt.

    We saw a flyer about a free "Harps of the World" concert that was supposed to be in the church, but we found it in a nearby museum. We were amazed with the different harps this man owns and plays, and their different sounds. He built the two that are pictured here.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    The ChapelChapel ceilingVisitor CenterReception Room in Visitor Center

    "In Flanders Field the Poppies Blow"

    September 14, 2018 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    This cemetery commemorates the 411 American servicemen who died in Belgium during WWI. The US did not enter the war until 1917, one year before the Armistice. We watched a movie explaining how the Belgian people are still very grateful, explaining the grave adoption program. They learn about "their" serviceman, bring flowers, and send messages to family if any are still alive. Every year on our Memorial Day, the children sing our National Anthem. It is very moving to hear about it. The poem, In Flanders Fields, was written by Canadian Lt Col John McCrae, army physician.

    We were happy to see a tour bus visiting the cemetery while we were there.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler

    Epinal American Cemetery

    September 15, 2018 in France ⋅ 🌫 50 °F

    This WWII cemetery is in the foothills of the Vosges Mountains in Eastern France. Although 61 percent were sent back to the US, there are over 5,250 graves in this cemetery. Also commemorated are 424 missing, of which 13 have since been found, identified, and given a proper burial.

    The chapel and mosaic memorial of operations are beautiful! While there, we heard recorded hymns played on bells for 20 minutes. In the guest book, a lady from Paris wrote how grateful she was to the Americans who sacrificed their lives for France's liberation. Very moving!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    Our building is on the left
    Champoussin, our resortThe better roadThe road to the right was not the best choice!

    Champoussin, Switzerland

    September 16, 2018 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    We are staying in at a ski resort in the Swiss Alps for a week. It is absolutely gorgeous! The first two pictures are views of our resort area.

    The drive from the valley town of Monthey up to where we are staying is about 30-40 minutes uphill. Our GPS directed us the back way so it was even narrower and we white-knuckled it up here. Then when we checked in we found out there is a better way.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    Town Hall with Astronomical Clock

    Sun-Kissed Sion

    September 17, 2018 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    Sion is in a valley of vineyards and fruit orchards. It is recognizable from a distance by the two castles on hills overlooking the old town.

    The old town is fun to walk around. The 17th Century town hall has an astronomical clock in the tower. Beyond the city streets you can see the vineyards that surround the city.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    The tram up the mountainWhat a beautiful spot for a house!The train from the lower town up to the mountain towns

    Champery, Switzerland

    September 18, 2018 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Champery, along with our little village, Champoussin, are two of the 13 resorts in the international ski area, Ports du Soleil. The area straddles the French-Swiss border, and is the second largest ski area in the world. We visited the town because we needed to go to the post office for a Motorway Tax sticker for our windshield, and we were glad we went. It is a beautiful area with a steep-sided canyon wall next to a river.Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    The Italian side starts where the buildings are
    St. Bernard's hospice, at the top of the pass, on the Swiss sideSt BernardThe descent into Italy begins here!

    Great St Bernard Pass

    September 19, 2018 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 46 °F

    Dean drove us to the top of the Great St Bernard Pass, which is 8100 ft elevation. It was originally used as a Roman trade route between Italy and Gaul (France and much of mid-Europe). It was crossed by Napoleon and his troops in 1800 as it was the easiest way across the Alps. The pass is also famous for the hospice (refuge) at the top, built by St Bernard in 1049, to provide hospitality to travelers on the very difficult route. The statue of St Bernard shows him slaying the devil (representing the hazards of the trip).

    St. Bernard dogs were bred by the monks in the 1800s to help them find lost travelers. There are some St Bernards at the top of the mountain but of course, they are not used for rescue anymore. They are for photo ops.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    Yes, those are bicylists!
    2Cute town about 12 km from the top

    Driving the Great St Bernard Pass

    September 19, 2018 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    We were glad to get back down in one piece!

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    The steamer going by
    Montreaux, the Swiss Riviera

    Lake Geneva Views at Montreaux

    September 21, 2018 in Switzerland ⋅ 🌬 79 °F

    Lake Geneva, (Lac Leman to the French), is the largest lake in either Switzerland or France. This side of the lake has miles of vineyards along the hillsides leading down to the lake. There are ferries as well as pleasure cruises on a steamer.

    Along the shore is 400 year old Chillon Castle on a small island next to the shore.    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    This farm is on a ski areaPortable milking machineOur wonderful cheese fondue, and some Swiss cheese and chocolateToasting our followers with Swiss wine. Cheers!

    Swiss Cheese: Farm to Table

    September 21, 2018 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    In Switzerland, farms and cows are everywhere, on hills, in valleys, on steep mountainsides, even on ski slopes. If you look closely, most pictures in Switzerland have cows in them, although sometimes from a distance they are hard to see. You can see the little farm roads that criss-cross the mountains, and where there is a farm, there are cows. When cows are free-ranging, they wear bells to scare off predators. You can hear cowbells anytime you are outside. Some of those bells are huge! We saw one priced at 1000 Francs (almost the same in Dollars).

    We were wondering how the cows are milked when they are far from the barns, and we finally saw a milking set-up for field use. In the summer, most of the milk is made into cheese. We are really enjoying the different kinds of cheese, and brought home some pre-made fondue to enjoy in our studio. Mmm!    Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    View from the picnic ground
    Viewpoint down into the gorge

    Ponts de la Caille

    September 22, 2018 in France ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    Today we left Switzerland, driving around the north side of Lake Geneva into France, enjoying views of the lake and its vineyard-covered slopes. South of Geneva, we stopped for a picnic at an old bridge over a deep gorge. It was built in 1839 to shorten the 40-mile journey from Geneva to Annecy from 7 hours to 5. It is still Europe's highest suspension bridge. It is not in use any longer; a new (1928) bridge was built, and has since been rebuilt. When the new one was originally built it was the world's highest and longest concrete arch. Both are beautiful, as are the views of the gorge and the surrounding mountains. It is always nice to make an unexpected discovery!Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler

    The Medieval City of Annecy

    September 23, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    The old city (often called Venice of the Alps) has a river and three canals, making quaint and beautiful sights. The most picturesque view is of the medieval castle and prison, set on an island in the River Thiou. It was fun to wander around the old town, crossing and re-crossing the waterways, and seeing everyone having a wonderful Sunday. A street market was going on too. What great smells!Read more

  • DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    Notre Dame de Liesse church
    A baptism and a gorgeous altarSt Maurice, the oldest church in townBeautifully carved pulpit, held up by a manOld fresco

    Old Town Annecy Churches

    September 23, 2018 in France ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    The small, walkable old town has lots of Catholic churches, all beautiful. During the Protestant Reformation, Catholic priests from Geneva Switzerland took refuge in Annecy.

    A baptism was in process in the beautiful Notre Dame church.

    St Maurice church was a former Dominican convent chapel, built in the 15th century. The inside is a mixture of the old and new. The pews have been replaced by chairs and the altar is spartan, but the old organ, pulpit and side altars are restored. It is obviously a loved church.    Read more

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