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Three months in Europe
  • Christine Stephenson
  • Paul Stephenson
  • Christine Stephenson
  • Paul Stephenson

Three months in Europe

We are finally doing the trip we have planned three years ago. I can’t wait for the adventures. En savoir plus
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  • Three months in Europe

    A day by the sea

    24 juin 2025, France ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    At 9am it was still quite hot to walk. But we did. All the way and down the rock cliffs to get to the village of Collioure.

    Thank goodness it was such a pretty sea side village and well worth the trek.

    Kate and I had some retail therapy and also managed to buy Paul two pairs of shorts.

    Thank goodness for Uber, we had an easy trip back to the campground. Did a whole pile of Laundry (4 machines worth) and went for a swim while we waited for the cycle to finish.

    An early dinner of more Vietnamese rice paper rolls so we could enjoy our massages. Not the Cerise kind for sure…how we all miss her.

    Early to bed tonight. No booking or destination picked for the night.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe

    Aigues-Mortes

    25 juin 2025, France ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    What a find!! Driving through Provence, mostly highway, and we find a quaint fig tree farm to park for the night. Amazing Nonna is cooking dinner for us tonight.

    We had a siesta and have driven to Aigues -Mortes to discover an amazing Fortified city. Surrounded by walls, the little city is very quaint.

    Lovely way to spend the Twilight before dinner. Dinner cooked by Nonna who has been a chef for over 40 years!!! OMG that Beouf!!!!    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    Vincent Van Gogh's fountain inspiration
    Inside the cryptThe amphitheater

    Arles

    26 juin 2025, France ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    An old Roman city. Full of Roman ruins, some of which are still being used today.

    Vincent Van Gogh painted quite a few pieces here.

    We loved walking through the crypts which used to be above ground and the city developed over them.

    The amphitheater was very similar in purpose but much more enjoyable because of the lack of crowds.

    We have throughly enjoyed Arles.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    On our way to pick Kate up.
    The water looks amazing.Spent the day in an Indie camp.Coal fired power station to be converted to wood fired.

    Rousset

    27 juin 2025, France ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Don’t know what’s here yet. Just found a place to spend in air conditioning for the night as it’s been a rough day.

    Got to the Indie camper depot and had the loveliest young man look after us to fix the van.

    Unfortunately this meant that we missed going on the cave tour in Marseilles and had to put Kate in an Uber so she could catch the train to Paris.

    We are so grateful for the Indie guy and his mechanic who finally fixed the van by doing an oil change. That’s all it needed! After much troubleshooting with their computer they decided to just do what the sensor told them to do. Life is NOT so complicated!!

    We’ve decided to treat ourselves to sleeping in a real bed with aircon so we can catch up on sleep before the next four weeks of more heat!!!

    So, sorry, not many pictures today.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe

    Mougins

    29 juin 2025, France ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Catching up with old friends. We have had the loveliest day with Mike and Mandy Markham at their house in France.

    A beautiful lunch followed by just relaxing by the pool. Couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend our time this side of the world.En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    Mike and Paul's bromance.Granny Helen. Very stylish grandma.Mandy and me!Guess who?Greg and Ella. The newlyweds.Grandad Allan. Love him to bits.AI PaulMandy's super special gift to me.

    A glorious day in Mougins

    30 juin 2025, France ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Had so much fun today. Shopping for dinner, walk through a lovely village, relaxing nap around the pool after a delicious lunch and then the highlight, cooking dinner for the Markham’s.

    I am so glad I could cook dinner because I have come back with a beautiful painting done for me by Mandy while I was cooking. Photo to follow when I am sure the painting will is dry. ❤️ Thanks to my gorgeous Sous Chefs Ella and Paul. But I am so stuffed with food right now.

    Sad to say goodbye and hope I get to see the Markhams again sooner rather than later.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    Trying to take a photo of the castle
    Trying to take a photo of the lavender fields.That's how many fans we have to cool us down.Cold drinks in the paddockSunrise in Lyon.

    Just driving

    1 juillet 2025, France ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    Got out of Provence and heading north to find my rellies. A lot of driving. No sightseeing.

    We stopped at a farm with an amazing grocery store. €5 for a pitch and €1.50 each to use the showers. Not bad. €28 later after buying some ham and cheese for dinner.

    Early to bed. We were on the road at 3:30am! Paul wanted to avoid the traffic. It is quite heavy with lots of trucks on then road. It makes it very difficult because of the wind draft as you pass the trucks.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    Heading in to the Village
    Council chamber in VoillecomteIn the Voillcomte cemeteryCan't read thisIllegibleThe woodwork is incredibleLove the coloursThe Village centre.WassyInside the Wassy churchWassyWassy. The art work is amazingInside the Voillcomte churchGates of WassyWassy cemeteryInside the Voillcomte churchNote the algae on the floor. Rising damp is every where. VoillcomteInside the Voillcomte church

    In Champagne

    3 juillet 2025, France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    As I traced my French family, it brought us to Voillecomte in the Champagne district. Great to know where my drinking problem comes from. 😂

    Anyhow…we spent a lovely day today heading out first to Voillecomte where we stopped in at the local council office. Sadly their cemetery records only go back to the 19th century.

    I walked through the cemetery. There are many abandoned graves with notices on them that the council will be reclaiming them if no one comes forward. I could read some of the headstones so it was impossible to determine where our rellies were buried, if they were there.

    I must say that it was so nice to be in the village. It’s little. Like Belli Park, nothing in town. Not even a dinner. Just the town hall.

    We then drove on to Wassy. Another village where one rellie was buried. We went into the church there and it was stunning! Found the cemetery, a short drive away. Sadly again we couldn’t locate any graves from the period we were looking for. A kind man told us that this would have been the only cemetery during this period.

    Off we went back to Voillecomte as the Mayor was going to open the church for us to look inside. I absorbed myself in the moment, imaging my rellies being there for baptisms, weddings, funerals, mass on Sundays…. I felt at home.

    We then drove to another village, Brinne-le-Chateau. Another rellie, was born and lived there. We learnt that Napoleon had trained there and came back to visit. Did my rellies know him?

    Wassy and Brinne-le-Chateau were slightly bigger villages than Voillecomte. The latter is where I felt most at home.

    Whilst I sit in our camp grounds, I feel so much peace. The land of one side of my family and I feel at home. I’ve been driven here and feel enveloped in my history. For those who know of my mixed heritage, you may appreciate knowing who you are and where you come from is so important to your being. I am being right now. That Paul loves this area means alot to me too!!

    Not such exciting pictures today, but images to share with you where I come from. Just one of the many places.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe

    Brienne-Le-Chateau

    3 juillet 2025, France ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    There is a massive chateau here. Apparently visitors are only allowed four times a year. Not our lucky day.

    The village is famous because Napoleon went to military school here. And visited again because he had such a good time.

    It’s a simple village. Quite bigger that Voillcomte and few more modern buildings. Has a super market. Cous cous and roast chicken for dinner! With a bottle of champagne of course. A lovely church that is abandoned. Open, but no services!

    The Durup side of the family is from here with with the Du Dombal side of the family from Voillcomte.

    The family were squires to the King! So assume they were pretty prominent in society. None of the locals recognise the name or, sadly, know much of their history. Will have to do more research.

    Have loved being here.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    Hélène and me. I think my nose is FrenchHélène loved dancing with her husbandAncient timber beams.Inside the back building used to be a garageA very old buildingWe stopped at a WW1 French cemeteryWalking around a lake..one tree hillThe lakeThe other side of the lakeOur van park for the night. Only us.

    Lachaussee

    4 juillet 2025, France ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    After spending the morning in Wassy, we find ourselves close to the German, Belgian and Dutch borders.

    Now Wassy was a treat. We were told by our camping host that there was a Menissier living in the village and owned a variety shop. So after breakfast we drove over to find this rellie.

    Well we met a 90 year old lady who had married a Menissier. Her blind husband had passed two years ago. It was a big challenge having a conversation with Google translate helping big time!

    I think she was in love with Paul. She was not quite accepting that we were married. 😂. And that I was the relative!!!

    Anyhow, the lovely ducky, Hélène, took us on a tour of her house and buildings that would have existed during my ancestors times. The timber in the building is amazing.

    My ancestor was a Hélène too as was my great grandmother.

    I bought a French hen from her shop to remember her by and she also gave me a porcelain hen as a gift. I will never forget her. ❤️. I have her email and she has already started corresponding - in French! Thank goodness for Google.

    After kebabs for lunch and a very sore stomach…we have stopped at the most beautiful location for the night. Payment by donation. Thank goodness for the kindness of people.

    We went for a walk to the nearby lake and are now relaxing before we head of to our next destination. Haven’t figured that out yet.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    1A building being consumed by the creeper
    Paul likes me to take photos of the sceneryView from campNote the conjoined trees!!!

    Crossed the border into Germany

    5 juillet 2025, France ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    A lovely drive down country roads to eventually cross the border into Germany.

    If you weren’t watching Google maps you wouldn’t have realised you had actually driven across the border.

    Once we got on the highway we noticed two things, no tolls on the roads like France (cost us an arm and a leg) and signs for the town of Ausfart!!

    Man there were a lot of towns called Ausfart and all on the right hand side of the road. None on the overhead signs. Thought…cheez, that must be a really big city. Paul thought the same too!!

    Thanks to Translate we finally figured out that it meant exit. Of course we were thinking that this was a cool name for us Aussies. Where Aussies go to Fart!! Dub!!

    Anyhow, we pulled in to a campground run by an elderly man. Lots of Germans escaping the heat for the weekend as it’s supposed to be 4 degrees cooler here. Definitely nippy this morning!

    We are in the middle of paddocks again and there are RVs all around us. No toilet or shower facilities so only self contained vehicles. Which is good is some ways as there are no children and the campground is Very quiet. Lots of well behaved dogs though.

    Wind has been crazy. We had to put the awning away.

    Rest day here and we move on further into Germany. We are thinking of driving through Bonn, Cologne, Düsseldorf and then heading up to the Netherlands to see Bard and Hariet.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    Church built into a cave
    New part of the castle to allow for cars.Watching the long cruise boats on the riverMore long boatsA castle we happened uponA very deep wellVillage squareA castle in the middle of the riverAn interesting doorVillage on the other side of the riverOn the cross river ferryDriving alongStop for the night

    Along the Rhine

    6 juillet 2025, Allemagne ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Paul picked a lovely route today to drive mostly down the Rhine. It wasn’t a very long drive, but we enjoyed every minute.

    Paul also threw in a cross-river ferry crossing and has told me that this was my Rhine cruise experience. No need to pay $20k for another one. This one cost €12.40.

    Had a light lunch along the river across from a UNESCO village called St Goar. So much history where we were.

    Quite a few castles right up on the hills overlooking the river. Paul loves them and pictures the battles that would have been fought to protect the towns.

    We have stopped for the night on a lovely farm. We are the only ones here. Just like home, no facilities…just a bit of grass, in paradise. We will take it thank you and a half dozen eggs.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe

    Bad Ems

    8 juillet 2025, Allemagne ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Yesterday was laundry day and a relaxing afternoon at a thermal spa.

    Unfortunately not many photos as you aren’t allowed phones in the pool area.

    Paul and I had a lovely time hopping between all the pools, ranging from 38 deg to 18 degs. When you’ve been in a 38 deg pool and jump into an 18 deg pool, you may as well be doing the polar plunger in Antarctica! Heavens above…I couldn’t get above my belly button wet!!!

    They also had a lovely steam room. Like a Hammam. I did enjoy that very much.

    The most fun pool was this whirlpool doors that had water jets in it that pushed you around in a circle. You had to time your exit else you hit the wall very inelegantly.

    It’s been raining and quite cold as a result. Slower morning and the heater is on in the van.

    Paul’s made me breakfast in bed. Ham on toast!!!

    Time to get out of bed and hit the road. Don’t know where are next stop is…    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    I love the German villages
    The wheat fields are so beautiful.Our view for the night.

    Bellersen

    8 juillet 2025, Allemagne ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Another lovely drive mostly through countryside and along a lovely river. Just a few photos again

    We stopped at another lovely farm which is in the ‘wilderness’. Two horses and lots of wheat! Village is right behind us.

    Made a chicken curry and Dahl for dinner coupled with a few Caiparhinas. My new favourite drink.

    Paul needed some downtime from the driving so we didn’t venture anywhere.

    I’ve been mulling over whether I would have preferred a Kontiki type tour on a bus visiting all the big tourist attractions and Skite about all the amazing cities I’ve been in. I thinking it’s FOMO!

    On reflection, I know that most people have not and will never visit the places Paul and I have been at and will never recognise these names. But we have had the most amazing time doing it this way! We have most enjoyed the spaces we have pulled up at and the lovely people we have met. I don’t think I have missed out!

    We are more than half way through the camper trip and are now looking at what we do with 7 days in Cairo. So hit us up with ideas. It’s 43 degs!!    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe

    Marklendorf

    9 juillet 2025, Allemagne ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Yet another farm pull up at a ‘meadow’ this time. You have to giggle but it is a lovely spot.

    Stopped to give ourselves a treat today. Had morning tea when we didn’t really need it. Yummy coffee! And yummier strawberry confection.

    Pulled in early into our ‘meadow’, had a nap and then went for a walk to the river. A really beautiful spot. As you will see from the videos, Paul and I were behaving like children. ❤️    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    1

    Munster and nearly to Hamburg

    10 juillet 2025, Allemagne ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Leisurely wake up to drive to Bergen to visit the place that Anne Frank and her mother were buried. An infinitely sad place. I visit to pray for the 1000s of souls buried there. It is NOT a tourist attraction. It is a place of tremendous sadness.

    I prayed for everyone who has ever been in a war and is affected by war. War is so unnecessary and such a tragedy.

    Paul walked around to see the concentration camp. I can’t do that. It overwhelms me and I feel the suffering and pain.

    Our next stop was Munster where Paul went in to see the collection of tanks made by the Germans. He has fond memories of a tank in Brisbane that he played on a child.

    We then drove on to Snowtown! Dubai has come to Germany!! An indoor ski field where I finally had an authentic German meal. Don’t laugh…Crispy pork belly with red cabbage..the authentic part was the potato dumplings. Paul had salmon.

    Tummies are full and we are pulled up at another farm stay. Turns out that it’s also a horse camp for kids. Quite a few very happy children running around, doing pony rides. Very cute!    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    3 day calf

    Videbaek, Denmark

    11 juillet 2025, Danemark ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Super early wake up! Drove far too long to get to Denmark. Super happy we are where we are. At a Bison farm!!!

    €25 for the night with water, shower and toilet. Bison are right outside our van.

    The farm here sells bison meats. Various cuts as well as offall. I bought a pack of 4 sausages, two minute steaks and a 600ml bottle of beer and it racked up pretty quick!! $80!!! Could have eaten out!

    Our Queen Mary lives in a very expensive country!!!

    Bison are cute though.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    Pre cooked and just warmed up
    Throwing in a super cute picture of Kate and Alex I found yesterday. Alex 4, Kate 18Super helpful DaneOut in the truckCrush is a little bigger than oursCalves are much lighter than adults

    Still at the Bison farm

    12 juillet 2025, Danemark ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Now that we’ve worked out I don’t have to be in Abu Dhabi till the 10th of August, we decided to stay another night and join the Bison farm tour at lunch time.

    Ate more bison sausages and got chatting to a lovely Danish couple who made us so proud to be Australian. They said they did a trip to Oz and were so happy to have bumped into very helpful Australians every where they went. Apparently every time they looked lost, someone would ask them if they needed help! Now wasn’t that nice.

    When we spoke to them about Mary, the reaction was surprising. They didn’t think of her as Australian as much as being their beautiful Queen. It was cute to see their reaction..that’s right she’s Australian! Very much in love with her.

    Back to the tour. We hopped on the back of an open ended truck (never will be done in Oz) and got pulled by a tractor over to see the Bison.

    The farmer was very kind and gave us our own English version of the tour. Alpha male is nearly a tonne! The other males are slaughtered when they are about 3yrs old so not many fights. The alpha loses weight during mating season if there are too many males challenging him.

    A fun relaxing day.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    Walk along the river
    There was shop selling bird feeeders with upcycled tea pots. Market ideaDanish NavyNo fish, but beautiful clean waterCobblestones throughout the VillageThe riverPaul is picking up flint for AlexPaul found another farty sign.What's on top of the bunker

    By the beach

    14 juillet 2025, Danemark ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    We have stayed two nights in a car park by the beach. Rules are simple, park during the day, it’s free. Park at night, pay $30! Many campers have been parked up. And plenty of really nice walks.

    We had booked to have a sea food lunch buffet yesterday. On the at there we walked through a beautiful old village. Very quaint and colourful. Some residents have tables out the front with their handicraft and home made jams and just second hand stuff for sale. All on an honesty system.

    We stopped in a cafe and had the most delicious tarts. Paul had apple and I had hazelnut. Back off for a walk along the river and admired how perfect everyone’s lawns looked. They all seem to have the robot lawn mowers. (You need one Shay).

    Headed off for lunch only to discover that whilst you can make a booking online, it doesn’t mean that the restaurant is actually open!! Incoming bad review!!!

    Finished our day with another walk along the bay and discovered these cute little huts that people own. Much like our Brighton ones. These have electricity and tiny kitchens and lounges. You can’t sleep there. No toilets or showers.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    3 D art
    This one was my favourite.Stone tools at the Silkeborg museumGrinding tool. Could have been in India.Bog manBog man's head is the only real partVery cute man.Our park for the nightRose hip!Out for a walkView from the batteryVery old cannon.See the resemblance?

    Fredrikshavn

    14 juillet 2025, Danemark ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Started off our journey to a village called Brande. We were told about the floor art and boy were we blown away with the talent. Seeing how I’m not very artistic, this was mind blowing.

    We then went to see the bog man in Silkeborg. A very cute little museum trading the history of the area. Got some photos of Bog man and Paul. Could have been brothers.

    Found a park by the water. Council lets you park for the night upon paying. 120 Krone, which is about $30.

    Very quiet with a few other campers. A magical spot. Went for a walk and made some discoveries. Paul’s favourite was the two cannons in an old battery.

    Had bison steaks for dinner with Butrrata Mac and cheese. Yum.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    Lunch
    The buried churchA swallow's nestMy artistic eyeTop of the domeSteep spiralPaul rock hunting for AlexWalking to the tip of DenmarkSwallow feeding its chicksIn the water at the tip

    The very tip of the Danish Pennisula

    15 juillet 2025, Danemark ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Did some office work this morning and then went to a lovely place for a seafood lunch. It’s called Mystic Mimi’s. The food was really good. 4/5. They ran out of lobster and mussels so missed out on two of my favourites. Close to 5 different types of fish, prawns, little crab claws, calamari and salads. I can see Shay rolling her eyes from here.

    Filled to the brim, we then headed off to see the ‘Buried Church’. Apparently sand dunes were taking over the church so it was shut down. Very cute and some nice photographs.

    Next stop was the very tip of the Danish peninsula where the ocean and the sea meets. Apparently strong currents, but I couldn’t see what the fuss was about. No different to Jumping Pin on Straddie. Very clear and beautiful water. Was a long walk to get there and well worth it. Paul says he’s stuffed tonight.

    On the way back to the camper we walked past a few old bunkers. There are quite a few on the beach. Must have been a very scary place to be during the world wars. Paul said the quality of the concrete is amazing as there is very little corrosion.

    Found a nice place to pull up at tonight. Free!! Close to the highway. Great white noise!! I should sleep well after last night blood curdling screams from one of the parked vans. I couldn’t figure out if it was an orgasm or John died! Paul slept through all of it, blissfully unaware thanks to his apnoea machine.    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    Sculptures in Lonstroup.
    View from where we are parked tonightCan you believe it?There is a road in front of us

    Limfjord

    16 juillet 2025, Danemark

    Drove to Lonstrup which was a pretty little village by the sea. While Paul checked the town out I caught up on some work. Had the yummiest hot dogs for lunch.

    Have moved on to Limfjord. So wish I could share where we are with you. We am parked right in front of the owners garden as they are away. Their view of the Fjord is simply stunning and quiet. Except for the noisy German family parked beside us.En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    11

    The naval museum

    17 juillet 2025, Danemark ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Paul visited the naval Museum while I caught up on work. I’m not the biggest fan of war sites so not something I was keen on seeing.

    The WW1 Battle of Jutland was just off the coast from here. It was the last naval battle in history where the entire fleets came face to face (like a cavalry charge). What’s remarkable about this site is the story of how many ships and over 6000 lives were lost during a very quick battle. Both sides claimed victory, the English lost a lot more men and ships. However the Germans lost nerve, and their fleet never left port after the battle, and they swapped tactics to submarines.

    It’s amazing that the Danes have kept the memories alive of all these people through the museum.

    Lest we forget    En savoir plus

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  • Three months in Europe
    Viking boat parked in a canal
    Inside the blacksmith's hutFireplace for cooking and keeping the inside warm.Sleeping quartersGrinding toolsStory about the monsterA monster1What a Viking hut looks like on the outside

    A viking village

    18 juillet 2025, Danemark ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Woke up early to do laundry and go for a walk on the beach. Very tall sand dunes and miles and miles of beach. A brave couple swimming in the North Sea! What I loved was this thin mist that came in from the sea and enveloped us like a gentle kiss. 💋

    Driving down south towards the Netherlands now. We stopped at a Viking village. Very nice stop and cute set up. So many things for children to do and so nice to see the locals make such a big effort to pass on history to them. We both really enjoyed the stop.

    We have crossed the border into Germany again. 5 hrs approximately from where my friend Bard lives. Will be at his house on Sunday afternoon. Looking forward to seeing him and Paulina after a couple of years when they stayed with us at the farm.    En savoir plus

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