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- Dag 1
- torsdag den 5. september 2024 kl. 10.55
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Højde: 59 ft
EnglandPoulton-le-Fylde Railway Station53°50’54” N 2°59’24” W
PLF to London

Somehow I seem to have 2 Footprints here instead of 1… 🤷🏻♀️🤣😂
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- Dag 1
- torsdag den 5. september 2024 kl. 18.52
- ☁️ 21 °C
- Højde: 108 ft
EnglandFenchurch Street51°30’41” N 0°4’60” W
PLF to London

What a tortuous journey! Delays into London, short stop at the Ambassador Hotel to leave our bags then straight off to the Sky Garden. Good job we left the hotel at 4pm but didn’t get to the Sky Garden until 5.15 pm due to delays on the Circle Line. However, Ted and I powered through and it was worth it in the end. Sights from all sides despite the weather outside looking like November. Meal booked at the Darwin Brasserie (mega rip-off) but hey ho! Back to the hotel via the Northern Line from Monument (can’t trust that flakey Circle Line again) and a short night’s sleep. Alarm set for 5 am.Læs mere
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- Dag 2
- fredag den 6. september 2024 kl. 14.12
- ☁️ 22 °C
- Højde: 404 ft
FrankrigPamfou48°27’42” N 2°53’8” E
On the rails to Nice!

So, after hardly any sleep (unfamiliar bed, very hot, very noisy) we trotted along Euston Road to St Pancras (lovely station) at 5.30 am. Met Claire (Tour Manager) and other sundry tour members. Set off bang on time at 7.01 and following a light complementary breakfast arrived Gard du Nord at 10.24 (+ one hour). Ted and I laid low on the Eurostar whilst others went through their professions/children/grandchildren/former holidays in the first hour….. 🙄
Then , with the promise of a 3 hour wait at Gare de (or is it “du”) Lyon, we boarded the coach across Paris from Gare du Nord. As it turned out the traffic was sooooo bad (shades of when we were there 4 weeks earlier for said Olympics) we arrived with only an hour and a half to spare. Quick bite to eat, search for 1€ coins as “spending a penny” has gone up with inflation, and we soon set off on the Marathon walk up the platform to board our RER to Nice (first class too!) Ted and I were most fortunate to have forward-facing seats on both trains. Can’t say I was impressed by Gare de Lyon-nothing to recommend it apart from its lovely clock tower.
So…. A timely departure to Nice but that was the highlight….. delays then set in and instead of arriving at 8pm it was nearer 10pm 😫 I was starving! Unfortunately it turned out that someone had jumped in front of the train in front of us so that was very sad and everyone felt guilty for moaning. We had a 3 course meal when we eventually reached the Novotel and then straight to bed with alarms set for 5 again. The countryside through France down to the south was lovely and rural with many farmhouses and vineyards and a glimpse of the sea just before we alighted though all hopes of seeing the Nice promenade faded as it was so dark when we arrived. A loooooong day! 😬Læs mere
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- Dag 3
- lørdag den 7. september 2024 kl. 07.36
- 🌬 25 °C
- Højde: Havoverfladen
Western Mediterranean43°36’56” N 7°22’2” E
Setting Sail to Corsica

That was the shortest time we’ve ever stayed in a hotel-8 hours in total and 5 of those I was (thankfully) asleep! We arrived to Nice in the dark and left in the dark. The huge car ferry set off bang on time at 7.10 and we were allocated Pullman seats for the duration which was a good thing as people (and dogs!) were everywhere! One couple had a blow-up mattress which they put in a corner and settled down to sleep. People sat on stairs, every step, any available surface where they could perch, the sides of the empty swimming pool and very tired-looking people curled up on any available bit of floor space and snoozed. The French like their dogs, either big ones on leads or little ones in tote/shopping bags and then there was the “Pets’ Toilet somewhere on the top deck. Five hours passed surprisingly quickly despite long queues at food and drink outlets (or maybe because of them) but if you did purchase anything you couldn’t sit anywhere to consume it as all seats were taken! There were notices issuing dire warnings about would happen if you brought drugs into Corsica and we saw a young couple (last seen sitting on the stairs with their dog) being thoroughly searched: luggage out of the car and everything being scrutinised. Ted said he saw little packets with white powder in….. 😳
Onto the bus and then to the most delightful Hotel L’Abbaye, Calvi, a stylishly converted 16th Century monastery. Little bit nervous should the luggage not be there but it was! 👏👏👏
A brief walk out for exploration purpose and a coffee overlooking the beautiful bay then back to the pool (hurray) to cool off…. only Ted has forgotten his swimming gear 😳🤔Læs mere
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- Dag 4
- søndag den 8. september 2024 kl. 12.59
- ☁️ 26 °C
- Højde: 59 ft
FrankrigCalvi Ferry Port42°33’50” N 8°45’15” E
Walking tour around Calvi

Very warm and very humid today! Local guide Helene walked us through the Main Street then up to the older Citadel part of Calvi imparting many historical facts on the way. The Genoese claimed Calvi as part of their empire, using its ability to produce olive oil and other foodstuffs to feed its people. Christopher Columbus was thought to have been born here, Napoleon visited his godfather as a young man here and Nelson actually lost his eye here during a skirmish with the French. The British ruled here for a couple of years under George III then gave it back and during the WWII it was occupied by Mussolini’s forces then the Germans. The Tower of Calvi was part of the coastal defences built by the Genoese to repel Barbary Pirates. We toiled up the cobbled streets and steps then, dismissed by Helene, Ted and I scooted off to a tiny cafe for refreshment.
So… in the afternoon it rained! We borrowed an umbrella from the hotel and walked to the local beach next to the Marina. It was mainly deserted with no water sports going on and closed Beach Clubs but we went for our first dip in the Mediterranean, rain or no rain. No pics as didn’t take my phone e down to beach but wonderful view of the ramparts and citadel from the sea on that side.
This evening, again armed with raincoats and umbrellas, everyone walked to a local restaurant and had the meal we had chosen on Friday morning in St Pancras-couldn’t quite remember whether it was the Corsican or the Italian menu but hey ho. Rain stopped for the walk home.Læs mere
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- Dag 5
- mandag den 9. september 2024 kl. 17.18
- 🌬 24 °C
- Højde: 59 ft
FrankrigCalvi Ferry Port42°33’50” N 8°45’15” E
Further afield than Calvi

Well as I now have a very “drippy” cold, today was quite hard work! With both eyes and nostrils streaming we walked down to the station with the group and boarded the local rickety train back to the Port at L’Île-Rousse. Thankfully Ted and I both got a seat but as the train trundled along in the next hour, at every station there were people wanting to get on. I have to say I don’t know how they managed it! Talk about forcing sardines into a tin! Somehow people crammed up and crammed up and at the earlier stations they all managed to get on but later on they were left. Amazing! Anyway, L’Ile-Rousse was where we landed from Nice but we were able today to have a good look round this pleasant market town which had the most beautiful white sandy beaches and turquoise waters, lovely churches, narrow interesting streets, a full scale market in action and a “Petit Train” to do a 40 min tour around everything. 2 hours later the coach picked us up and we spent the afternoon going up into the mountains to visit some most delightful villages such as Saint ‘Antonino and Monticello. Helene the guide was with us again imparting her knowledge. The weather was at least sunshine and no rain today but windy.Læs mere
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- Dag 6
- tirsdag den 10. september 2024 kl. 18.49
- ☀️ 23 °C
- Højde: 121 ft
FrankrigPlage de Baraci41°40’45” N 8°55’3” E
Calvi-Ponte Leccia-Propriano

So here we now are at the Bartuccia Hotel, Propriano. A full day of travelling, first by coach to Ponte Leccia then most of us by train to the capital and the coach again to Propriano, arriving at 6pm. I say “most of us” as (due to the sardine experience on the short train ride of the previous day plus a dire report of an unusable toilet on said train due to its occupation by a drunk, from the previous tour last week) we were given the choice of staying on the coach for the whole way. As this is a “great train journey”Ted and I elected for the train option and with elbows at the ready managed to secure seats in the very front row, slightly claustrophobic as we were staring at the back of the driver’s cab but the view from the window was ok.
We were treated to a two and a half hour trip through the lush and verdant scenery of Corsica’s mountainous interior and passed over Gustave Eiffel’s 1890 viaduct over the Vecchio Canyon. Our destination, Ajaccio, is the capital of Corsica, a smart port city, home to about one-fifth of the population and the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte whose statue we visited after being reunited with the coach and other half of our group.
Onward then for another two hours to our final destination at Propriano through further mountainous terrain and following many hairpin bends!
Set meal tonight for the whole group which was most enjoyable and marred only by a young waiter (whose first day it was!) accidentally dropping Ted’s bottle of beer down the Tour Manager’s back….. 😬Læs mere

Hazel and Ted's JourneysIt was-surprised it was so green so they must get plenty of rain here.
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- Dag 7
- onsdag den 11. september 2024 kl. 16.22
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Højde: 115 ft
FrankrigPlage de Baraci41°40’45” N 8°55’2” E
Emergency on the Beach!

The first thing to negotiate this morning was the shuttle bus to town which only ran for an hour, every 15 mins but only took 6 people. We booked for 10am, waited in the wrong place (as no clear instruction on the hotel map) and were duly dropped off…. in the Marina car park, along with another couple who are in their 80s. They wanted to go to the market which seemed to be another street level above us and we asked where the beach was. Hotel lady driving the bus seemed to have no idea but gestured vaguely towards the far end of the Marina. Having walked for a good 5 mins we decided to turn round and fortunately came to a splendid, tranquil beach, complete with small restaurant-see video! Scoped out the seating area, hired a couple of sun beds and had a coffee au lait from the restaurant. Unfortunately the sea bathing looked a little treacherous with big bouncing waves coming in although we did have a little foray into the water we were both knocked off our feet fairly quickly so decided to amuse ourselves watching others. Several older men ventured forth and once over the initial strong breakers appeared to enjoy the swimming although we thought some struggled to get back. After lunch at the small restaurant Ted and I settled down to do a crossword when we became aware of shouts of “Au secours!” from 2 men in the sea. A general feeling of panic spread over the observers, ourselves included, as people began to stand up in response to the arm waving from the water. A woman dashed into the restaurant and someone seemed to be phoning the emergency services. Next a couple of young men emerged from the restaurant carrying an inflatable boat which one launched and paddled with his arms towards one of the men whilst the other stayed on the beach madly gesticulating to the other man in trouble to head towards the rocky area to get out-here he did so then collapsed onto the sand, recovering after a few minutes. Meanwhile, inflatable boat boy had towed the other man to safety and took his boat back to the restaurant accompanied by a faint ripple of desultory applause from we observers. At this point, although I desperately wanted to video the whole thing I thought perhaps I shouldn’t. Everyone settled down, boat-rescued man re-joined his wife quite near us and the other man went into the apartments behind us……then we heard the sirens. Well! Like a scene out of Baywatch, several members of Les Saveteurs en Mer ((Rescuers at Sea) spilled onto the beach, all clad in orange, pulling wet suits on as they ran and even had the Baywatch flotation devices with them. Such equipment…. Walkie-talkies, life preservation vests, several interesting looking medical devices. The man who had rejoined his wife under the umbrella was seized upon and hooked up to a monitor, BP checked and the man who had returned to the apartment was hoicked out again and brought back out onto the beach. More sirens and this time the Ambulance personnel arrived. At this point I didn’t feel it would be unreasonable to do a little covert filming (only in the interests of the Blog of course) and so here is the photographic evidence plus a short video!
However, a restful day at the beach although we did have to walk back 15 mins to the hotel as we had deliberately missed the shuttle bus at 12.45 but it was worth it as we wouldn’t have seen the daring rescue. Just goes to show how treacherous the sea can be! Onward to Sardinia in the morning.Læs mere

Hazel and Ted's JourneysWe couldn’t. I already thought I’d dislocated my new hip when I was knocked over by the waves so didn’t attempt to go in.
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- Dag 8
- torsdag den 12. september 2024 kl. 13.46
- 🌧 20 °C
- Højde: 30 ft
FrankrigBonifacio Ferry Port41°23’21” N 9°9’54” E
Disappointing News….

So…. yesterday evening Great Rail emailed everyone to say, due to expected inclement weather, that our ferry to Sardinia will not be running today and we therefore won’t be going over there until Saturday. This meant that 12 people would be staying put (Ted and I are 2 of those) and the other 16 plus Claire have to move to another hotel for the next 2 nights. We will therefore only have 2 nights in Sardinia instead of 4. Great disappointment all round! We did, however, have to carry out today’s itinerary which was a trip down to Bonifacio (the ferry port) but then we had to come all the way back again to Propriano. An added insult for the 16 is that after they arrive at their new hotel they then have to return to where we are remaining for their dinner tonight in their hotel’s mini buses -a trip of 15 mins each way so we are quite lucky really to be staying, although this is not my favourite hotel so far and on a hillside away from everything. The coach driver, Dan, is departing after today and apparently Great Rail is currently looking for a new coach for us.
Anyway, we had a guided tour around Bonifacio with Pierre the local guide who was very Corsican-looking and who gave us lots more history about the town, Corsica, Napoléon and the fact that Corsica should be Genoese and not French. The town looks like Calvi with its Citadel and ramparts with a beautiful inlet Port, much like a Fjord. Sardinia can be clearly seen from there. We were taken up to the citadel by another Petit Train and had a two-hour tour followed by 2 hours for us to find some lunch and look around but the weather steadily deteriorated and the raincoats and umbrellas came out. Scrambling back onto the Petit Train was a bit of a free-for-all plus a few wet bottoms as the sides of the train were open!
It was pretty miserable back at the hotel temperature wise but we managed to sustain ourselves until time to go to the bar for the pre-dinner pina colada (for me anyway). The “16” arrived in batches from the other hotel, not best pleased with the standard of the substitute hotel and there were a few grumbles. A new coach has been found however and a trip to somewhere nearby has been arranged for tomorrow so onward and upward!Læs mere

Hazel and Ted's JourneysWell I couldn’t possibly say Mr Geography-I can only say the word “fjord” was used by the delectable Pierre!

Hazel and Ted's JourneysI have put an extra photo on just for you-looking down the ria!
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- Dag 9
- fredag den 13. september 2024 kl. 16.45
- ☀️ 20 °C
- Højde: 115 ft
FrankrigPlage de Baraci41°40’45” N 8°55’2” E
Today in Sartene

So last night the stalwart 16 were mini-bussed in, in 3 batches to partake of dinner here at the Bartaccia Hotel, bussed back again afterwards and then arrived on a bigger bus at 11 am today (we 12 at the Bartaccia really have the better end of the deal!). We set off to Sartene, a pretty Corsican small town about 20 minutes away. This went ok, until on approach to the town, the coach, driven by Vero (short for Veronica) and later known as “Vero the Hero”, attempted to enter the town on the road where the oncoming traffic had priority, there were parked cars on both sides of the road and the oncoming traffic didn’t see why they shouldn’t continue to keep coming! A stalemate ensued. The French don’t do compromise and Vero made it clear she wasn’t backing up. Eventually a police car arrived but they just wanted to get past us, which they did, and then abandoned the situation! By this time there were at least 15 cars facing the bus in a line but Vero was not giving up. She yanked on the handbrake, jumped down into the road and ran to the back of the line facing, stopping at each car and telling them to back up. There was much gesticulation from nearby drivers and quite an audience gathered to watch how events would unfold. A couple of policewomen then arrived, it started to rain but eventually everyone managed to back up or divert down a side street whilst Vero (the Hero by this time) animatedly shouting in French, got us through! This earned her a rousing chorus of “Simply the Best” from the bus and we all got off.
Claire gave us 4 hours then to explore the town which I have to say was at least 2 hours too long. Typically Corsican with narrow streets, lots of steep steps, a few churches and lots of restaurants but most people struggled to fill their time on this improvised trip, especially as we all know we should have been in Neptune’s Cave over in Sardinia at this point. The weather was most peculiar, a cold wind, cloud then sun and quite hot if you managed to find a sheltered spot. Ted and I partook of a refreshment at a delightful patisserie and explored as much as we could before getting a few provisions from the local supermarket for the onward journey tomorrow. Everyone was ready to return to the meeting point at 4pm and the bus (with a new driver) had approached from the correct direction. Then, hilariously, with much pipping as we were all getting on, Vero, driving the School Bus this time, overtook our bus madly waving-you couldn’t write it…..!
PS I took a video but it exceeded 2 mins so blog wouldn’t accept it.Læs mere
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- Dag 10
- lørdag den 14. september 2024 kl. 14.21
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Højde: 59 ft
ItalienColle del Balaguer40°32’59” N 8°19’19” E
To Sardinia … at last!

Alarm set for 5.30 am, the 16 stuck at the other hotel were late as no one knew the code for the coach to get into their grounds but they arrived at last and we set off around 6.30 from the Bartaccia and not sorry to wave goodbye!
A tortuous roller coaster ride to get all the way back to Bonifacio as we were a bit late but, after a long wait in the boarding queue, we all got on board the rickety old ferry to Santa Theresa port, Sardinia. We were late setting off but it only took about an hour and a bit choppy in the middle. Then onto the next bus by 11.45 and it took another 2 hours to get to Alghero. The terrain is less mountainous from what we’ve seen so far, still green but not as lush as Corsica. Sardinia seems more developed, lots of large camping holiday complexes en route and even the Golden Arches of McDonalds were spotted, not a sign of them in Corsica and… a huge Lidl. On arrival at the delightful Carlos V hotel (feeling majorly cheated that we have missed half of the stay here, Ted and wimped out of the 3-hour walking tour, due to begin at 3pm and went down to the pool. Just couldn’t face it I’m afraid and with a whole days sight-seeing tomorrow on the agenda this is the last (and actually only my 2nd time near a pool!) opportunity before home.Læs mere
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- Dag 11
- søndag den 15. september 2024 kl. 16.36
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Højde: 59 ft
ItalienColle del Balaguer40°32’59” N 8°19’19” E
Castelsardo

After the best breakfast in the best hotel so far, we set off in the coach for Castelsardo. Castello dei Doria is the stunning early 12th century hilltop fortress rising above the town with the old town and its winding steep streets behind it. We were taken up to the fortress by shuttle bus and had a great Italian guide, Andrea, to show us around. Had a leisurely snack in a hilltop cafe then all the group returned for the one and a half hour trip back to the hotel. This evening at 7pm is our group dinner at a family owned agriturismo meal out in the country for a farm-to-table experience.
This turned out to be quite splendid with cheeses of different sorts, vegetables, salads, suckling pig…. Culminating in grape or limoncello! Alarm set for 4.45…..Læs mere

South America on SpeedLove that blue blue sky. It continues to rain here but better days are coming

Hazel and Ted's JourneysWell yes, the weather has improved just as we are going home….
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- Dag 12
- mandag den 16. september 2024 kl. 06.15
- 🌙 17 °C
- Højde: 26 ft
ItalienImbarco traghetto Porto Torres40°50’26” N 8°24’8” E
Slow boat to Toulon

Collecting our, by now familiar, “breakfast bags”, and leaving our main bags behind for the courier service to collect later today, we boarded the coach for Porto Torres and left the hotel at 5.30 am. Good job they make you arrive early as the Italian bureaucracy is exercised to the full. All in line for passports where the official laboriously writes down your name on a list and your hand luggage goes through the security scanner… except some people had left their hand luggage on the bus so it was never scanned and no one checked! 😂🤣
Set sail at 7.30 and I saw the first dog as soon as I got on board, along with the little bags of dog food (see photo 😂). This ferry is MUCH less busy than the one to Corsica last week where people were lying about in every conceivable nook and cranny and we all had a cabin-again see photo. The original itinerary was an overnight crossing back to Toulon and I think that would have been better as we would have had today in Sardinia and no early start.
Anyway, we all had a cabin for the 10 hour crossing which was very good and en suite so we were able to catch up on a bit of sleep and the time went quite quickly really. Arrived 5.15 pm on time and we were in the L’eautel Hotel-an obvious play on words here with a nautical theme everywhere-by 5.45. At the back of the hotel was a lovely square with many bars and restaurants and it’s a shame we can’t stay longer and the weather is good too!Læs mere
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- Dag 13
- tirsdag den 17. september 2024 kl. 09.57
- ☀️ 20 °C
- Højde: 69 ft
FrankrigSaint-Cyr-sur-Mer43°11’9” N 5°41’54” E
Homeward Bound!

Complementary meal from GRJ due to all the disruptions in the very quirky L’eautel Hotel but steak was so tough it was inedible! However, the breakfast was great and Toulon looks lovely, although we saw little of it. As one group member said “edgy”… 🤷🏻♀️
Anyway, getting onto the TGV was a work of art with a group of 29 and lots of luggage but we managed it eventually although the station master bloke was getting hot under the collar and had his whistle in his mouth agitatedly for a while, desperate for us all to finally get on. Ted’s and my seats were one behind the other but a single group member swapped so that was ok and we were going backwards this time but after Marseille we changed direction so we’re going forward. Four hours and twenty minutes later we arrived at Gare de Lyon, an interminable transfer to Gard du Nord in the coach then hit the ground running to book in on time around 15.10 for the 16.12 to London. There’s only 1 trains delayed and….. that’s ours-of course it is! 🙄😂🤔 only 25 mins late in the end. A most delightful light meal on Eurostar with wine and then, after saying our goodbyes to everyone, we got off smartly and literally dashed off to get the Avanti West Coast line…. As usual, after a sweaty run up Euston Road, the train was “preparing”! We managed to get a seat in carriage U. All in all, it took 12 hours from getting on the train in Toulon to getting off the bus at the Highcross near our house.
So…. that’s that! Another GRJ under our belt, and a bit disappointing the way it turned out, but I suppose these things happen. The weather wasn’t as good as anticipated, went in 1 pool, 1 swim in the Med and 2 beaches only, 6 days travelling out of 12 and only 2 nights in the last lovely hotel in Sardinia. But… c’est la vie. Lucky to cross two more places off our list, met some lovely people and saw some beautiful scenery so let’s get this latest book printed and onto the coffee table in case anyone wants to follow two old codgers’ travels! 🤔😂Læs mere

South America on SpeedSafe journey. Is it all the way to Poulton now ( with a few changes)?
Rejsende
Nice pic!