Lille
April 9, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
First overnight stop of the Grand Tour, in Lille, just over the border in Northern France. My first visit to the city. The hotel faces the beautiful Lilles Flandres train station & the view is lovely.
Lille a Paris
April 10, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Taking the slow commuter train on Easter Monday. A double decker train and I have the top deck to myself 😂
Paris
April 10, 2023 in Belgium ⋅ 🌬 16 °C
A brief stop in my favourite city on my way to le côté ouest de France.
Lunch in a local brasserie near my least favourite train station in Paris - Montparnasse, just opposite the famous toweringRead more
Nantes
April 11, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
First impressions are revolting!
Les machines de l'ile, Nantes
April 11, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌬 14 °C
Best re-use of an old shipyard I've ever seen. Wonderful creative feats of imagination and engineering.
Nantes to Bordeaux
April 12, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌬 10 °C
InterCity train trip passing through Luçon, LaRochelle and Saintes before arriving over 5 hours later in Bordeaux. If the weather was warmer/dryer I would stop and take a look at LaRochelle, withRead more
Bordeaux
April 13, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌧 7 °C
Staying in a lovely pre-gentrified neighbourhood of terraced houses of golden stone, crumbling abandoned workshops and peeling wooden shutters.
Bordeaux - last day
April 14, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌬 13 °C
Torrential showers = indoor entertainment and a visit to La Cité du Vin for the story of wine and viticulture. Admission price included one glass of wine in the 8th floor Belvédère bar which has aRead more
Crossing the border to Spain
April 15, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Or passing from le Pays Basque to El Pais Vasco
Biarritz
April 15, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Biarritz - final day
April 17, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Typical local architecture, a visit to les Halles market for picnic supplies, à glompse of surfers at the famous Côte des Basques, picnic spot, sunset dinner on the rooftop of Les BaigneusesRead more
San Sebastian
April 18, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Here for La Concha beach, the pintxos and the "Accidentally Wes Anderson" Funicular
San Sebastian 2
April 18, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
TravelerConstitution Square. Originally used as the bullring, the numbered balconies were owned by the Council and rented out for la corrida. Like every other historical monument here, it was rebuilt after being destroyed and burnt yo the ground by the Anglo-Portugese troops in August 1813. The building with the clock was also used as the City Council office.
Traveler
St Vincent's- the oldest building in San Sebastian. Originally built in the 12th century, much of the current Gothic building was built in the 15th century with later modifications in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It may be the only building not razed to the ground in August 1813 when the Anglo-Portugese troops attached the city. Instead it served as a hospital for the many wounded and dying.
San Sebastian to Bilbao
April 20, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Taking the (very) slow local Euskotren along the Basque coast and through the mountains to Bilbao. The scenic route. It's the journey not the destination.
Bilbao
April 21, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
A walk along the river to the Guggenheim Museum
Bilbao to Santander by FEVE train
April 22, 2023 in Spain
Travelling across North West Spain the slow way. The FEVE narrow gauge railway meanders along the coast then wanders through the Cantabrian mountains, stopping at dozens of tiny villages. There areRead more
Santander
April 22, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Not only a ferry port... there are some beautiful buildings here...
Asturias - Oviedo
April 23, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
Slowly making my way along the beautiful NW coast of Spain. Fabulous scenery despite the rain which unfortunately was hard to capture inside a speeding bus in a downpour. Oviedo, also in a downpour,Read more
Leon
April 27, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
In the ancient seat of Castilian Kings and the earlier capital of Spain, Leon has over a thousand years of history... And it is my first visit since I lived here for a year as a naive teenager 45Read more
Sant Salvador, Catalonia
May 1, 2023 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 18 °C
El Vendrell
May 5, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Birthplace of Pau Casals. Market Town surrounded by vineyards between the coast and the Penedes mountains.
Museu Pau Casals, Sant Salvador
May 10, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Nimes, France
May 13, 2023 in France ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
The most Roman city outside of Italy
Breda to Hannover, Germany
May 20, 2023 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
TravelerView from the hotel in Lille! First night.
TravelerNice 👍