Current

Test Journal

An open-ended adventure by Garry Read more

Follow Insights Calendar Photos Share

Last seen 💤
Today
Test Journal Traveler
Travel day - Winnipeg to Beijing
March 23, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C
Leaving Wpg at 6:50 am for Vanc where we will transfer to China Air for our flight to Beijing.
TravelerHave a great trip youall. Larry and Ruth
3/25/18Reply
TravelerHave fun. Henry and Margaret.
3/25/18Reply
TravelerHope your fights all go well. Looking forward to some pics and info. Love you!
3/27/18Reply
0 likes
Test Journal Traveler
Paris - Day 3
September 30, 2017 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
A more relaxed srart to the day today. Got to the train by 9:30 to get a train to Versailles. Arrived and bought our tickets at the train station. The crowds at the palace were frustrating. Could not move or see more than what was above people's shoulders. Got through the palace and headed for the gardens. Much better there. Gardens are phenomenal. Ideally would need a whole day with half the volume of viewers to enjoy this attraction. Relaxed at the hotel for a while before going out to find a place for dinner. Found a place and had a very good dinner. Stolled for a while in Latin district and then headed back to pack for home. According to my onboard health monitoring system, I have logged more than 350000 steps in September. Don't know how I am going to keep up that pace. See you soon.Read more
TravelerIt has been wonderful to follow your trip, see the sights and re-live some of those same locations. Walking the golf course should be a breeze!
10/1/17Reply
2 likes
Test Journal Traveler
Paris - Day 2
September 29, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Started our day by checking out the train system and purchasing our tickets to the airport. Then walked to the Louvre where the office of our evening tour is located to orient ourselves. Then jumped on the hopon hopoff to see more of Paris. Saw the Opera house, Moulin Rouge, Basillique du Sacre Coeur and the Hard Rock cafe. Then found Angelina's and had quiche Lorraine and the most delicious hot chocolate. The quiche was excelent also. Walked back to the Pyramides and had wine and watched the people. Then we started our City Lights tour. They bused us to the river boat for a ride on the Seine. Very nice. Back on the bus for another tour of the highlights under the lights. It started to rain during this ride and it was pouring by this time we got to the Eiffel Tower. Went up the tower in the rain. Went right to the top and had the most expensive champagne ever. Thirty four Euros for 2 plastic glasses to toast our 45th anniversary. Next time will bring our own. Got back to the hotel at midnight.Read more
2 likes
Test Journal Traveler
Paris - Day 1
September 28, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Started the day with breakfast in our room. Shopped last night and bought croissants yogurt and coffee. Six Euros as opposed to 16 each. No brainer. Rode the hopon hopoff. Saw the Arch de Triumph and the Eiffel tower. Walked Champs- Elysees and had lunch there. Got caught in a traffic jam around the Concorde tower. Motorcycle, taxi and big truck. Took about 20 minutes to move 100 feet. More of the same tomorrow.Read more
TravelerI thought you had dropped off car.
9/28/17Reply
TravelerHenry, they were on a hop-on hop-off bus in the traffic😉
9/28/17Reply
2 likes
Test Journal Traveler
Travel Day to Paris
September 27, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Had breakfast at the hotel loaded up and started our scenic drive to Paris in the fog. Fog was not bad enough to affect the driving but took away a lot of the scenery. Stopped at McDonald's for a pee break and then on to Paris. What a traffic nightmare. Dropped the car off and walked to hotel. Very nice day by now at 20C and mostly clear. Found a sports bar that had good pizza for dinner. Strolled for a while and now winding down and planning our day tomorrow.Read more
2 likes
Test Journal Traveler
1
Tours - Chateaus and Wine
September 26, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Got up and out to have breakfast at a local bar/ restaurant. Not great. Got our first two wineries done by 11. Interesting watching them take delivery of the grapes and put them into the press. Very informative about their original process. Drove to the Chateau Vilandry. BEAUTIFUL gardens. The only existing gardens left that were built in this manner. Took in 3 more wineries in the Chinon area. Mostly Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc grapes. Not my favorites. They use old quarry caves to store their oak barrels for aging. The temp and humidity are near perfect for this. Stopped at grocery store and got a baget, cheese, ham, and wine. Took it all back to our hotel and ate on the deck. Back to Paris tomorrow.Read more
Traveler Ahh, this is the life!
9/26/17Reply
TravelerAhhh! I would love to visit that place!
9/26/17Reply
2 likes
Test Journal Traveler
1
Tours - Chateau Chambord and wine
September 25, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
We went to see the castle that Louis XIV liked. Got there at noon just as the rain stopped. Four floors made of marble plus the towers and gardens. Spent 3 hours and I think we only saw a third of the place. Did some wine tasting at 3 locations. One was the Cave de Vouvray. They age and store their wines in ancient caves. Very interesting. Had dinner in Vouvray in a very nice restaurant.Read more
Traveler So glad for you. Wish we were there
9/25/17Reply
3 likes
Test Journal Traveler
1
Travel Day - Florence to Tours France
September 24, 2017 in France ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Took a taxi from hotel to airport. Driver was a typical Italian cab driver. Hang on baby!! Got there safely. Flight was on time. Picking up the car was an exercise in patience. One hour plus to get service. Car had damage so more time needed as they said it was damage free. Navigator got us to our hotel just fine. Drove into Tours for dinner which was good. Got lost going back to the hotel at night but got there eventually. A big castle and vineyards are on the agenda tomorrow.Read more
Traveler This is corn on the cob.
9/27/17Reply
3 likes
Test Journal Traveler
1
Walking Florence
September 23, 2017 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Today was a more casual day. Found the market and bought stuff. Walked across the covered bridge and up to the Piassa Michelangelo. Fantastic view from up there. Had brechetta and wine for lunch. Walked back along the river and found an ad for a concert by a local Florentine orchestra. Decided that this would be a good way to end the day. Had pizza in the square where we had been with Vic and Betty. Disappointed with this place. Went to the concert which was very good. Off to Paris tomorrow morning.Read more
TravelerSad that you were disappointed. Were you at the same restaurant? Maybe it has new owners now 😢
9/23/17Reply
TravelerNoticed only after we ate that the great restaurant we were at last year was across the plaza with a merrygoround in front.
9/24/17Reply
Traveler Great photo of a wonderful couple!
9/24/17Reply
2 likes
Test Journal Traveler
1
Touring Tuscany
September 22, 2017 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Up early to be ready for pickup at 8 for our tour. Bus ride to San Giovanni, a fortress called ???, a Chianti Wine tasting with a fabulous lunch and Siena. Beautiful country with villages and vineyards and gelatias and old walls. A long day as we had a 20 minute walk back to our hotel at 9pm. But it was a good day.Read more
Traveler Was it?
9/23/17Reply
5 likes
Test Journal Traveler
Cinque Terre to Florence
September 21, 2017 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
Hit the road today to Florence. Gassed up and my navigator got us to Pisa. Walked around the sanctuary and the tower for about 1 hour then back on the road to Florence. Dropped the car at the airport and got a cab to our B&B. Checked in and then went for a stroll. Dinner was at Gigi's. Very good food but the owner could not speak English so he sang Italian opera badly. Fun place.Read more
2 likes
Test Journal Traveler
1
Cinque Terre 2
September 20, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Jumped on to the train and went back to Corniglia. Walked up the 365 steps to the centro street. Walked around and enjoyed the environment. Back to Vernazza and did the same. Weather was gorgeous today. More of the same at Monterosso. This is a wonderful place to visit. Back to Levanto for dinner and get ready for our road trip tomorrow.Read more
Traveler Great shot!
9/21/17Reply
5 likes
Test Journal Traveler
1
Cinque Terre 1
September 19, 2017 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
Awoke at 7 and got ready for our day. Bought the boat ride to Riomaggiore. Beautiful scenery. Storm abated over night. Toured the village then tried to start our walk on the scenic trail. Closed due to last night's storm. Found out that virtually the whole trail was closed. Bought two day unlimited train pass and moved to Maranola. Walked around and had lunch. Had a nice chat with a couple from LA. Hiked to the next village via the panoramic trail. Very nice walking through vineyards but had to climb the mountain first. Four hours later arrived in Corniglia in pouring rain. Took the train back to Levanto. Will do the rest tomorrow.Read more
Traveler Beautiful! Missing you and wishing we were there. Expecting a storm here tonight.
9/19/17Reply
TravelerBeautiful scenery.
9/19/17Reply
5 likes
Test Journal Traveler
1
Bologna to Cinque Terre Travel Day
September 18, 2017 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
Set up our Google map offline and my navigator got us to our destination with minor glitches. Some amazing scenes. The road was a sports car driver's dream. Being passed at 130 km and then gearing down to 1st gear for some hairpin turns. 5 hours to go 200 km. So we walked the beach tonight. Big breakers with over 2 dozen surfers out there. Stormy weather responsible for this and now raining pretty hard. Expecting good weather for the next 2 days.
Chow!!Read more
Traveler Love watching the beakers
9/18/17Reply
5 likes
Test Journal Traveler
1
Venizia to Bologna
September 17, 2017 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Picked up our car at the airport this morning and headed for Bologna. Wanted to take a route along the coast but got lost pretty quick. Got back on to the autostrade and got here OK. Checked in to hotel and then walked into the old town. Totally different architecture here. Moorish I think. Found it quite interesting. Had dinner at a restaurant recommended by the concierge. Enjoyed it. Off to Cinque Terre tomorrow.Read more
TravelerHope you get to hike between a few villages at Cinque Terre!
9/17/17Reply
Traveler What's on the plate? Interesting.
9/17/17Reply
1 like
Test Journal Traveler
1
Venecia on our own
September 16, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Took our time this morning. Slept till 7.30 this morning. Had breakfast and went to find the local Hertz. They moved yesterday so it took a while. Got our stuff and headed to the islands again. Wanted to do a gondola ride but missed the last shared ride. Walked +20000 steps today. Getting a car tomorrow and heading for Bologna. Dinner at the soul kitchen was great. Thanks for the referral Henry and Margaret. Venecia was awesome!!!Read more
Traveler Looks all too familiar.
9/17/17Reply
2 likes
Test Journal Traveler
Venice Tours
September 16, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Up at 6am to get to our Venice walking tour for 8.45. Lots of historical information again. Overload!!!! Shared a salad for lunch then headed to the meeting place for the Murano/Burano tour boat. Watched glass blowing and lace making. Had dinner at 8 at a great restaurant. Then took the Vapareto back to the train station and hotel. Long day but worth it.Read more
TravelerHope you like the hotel we recommended.
9/16/17Reply
2 likes
Test Journal Traveler
Budapest to Venice
September 14, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Had time to check out the market before catching our flight to Venice. Great place. Arrived in Venice 2.30. Checked in to hotel and hopped on to train to the islands. Italian pizza for dinner.
2 likes
Test Journal Traveler
1
Budapest Hungary
September 13, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
What a great day. Beautiful weather and saw a lot of the city. Breakfast at the hotel then got onto the HopOn HopOff bus and did the complete loop. Saw Hero's Square and the Citadella and lots of the city's historical sights. Walked up to Fisherman Basilica. Took the river cruise around Margaret Island and had dinner at Casablanca. Then took the night cruise at 8.45 and saw everything under lights.Read more
Traveler Beautiful!
9/13/17Reply
3 likes
Test Journal Traveler
1
Travel Day to Budapest
September 12, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
Got up early to get to bus depot. Found out we had missed the recommended bus. Good start. Got on to another bus and caught the connection to Linz with 8 minutes to spare. Got to Linz and connected with direct train to Budapest arriving at 4.30. Got screwed by the taxi driver. Se la vie. Checked in to hotel. Took a walk to find the 100 Year Old Restaurant. Found it and had a very good meal. We were serenaded at our table by musicians in this little restaurant. Rocky start but great finish to the day.Read more
Traveler Gorgeous!
9/12/17Reply
1 like
Test Journal Traveler
1
Cesky Krumlov
September 11, 2017 in Hungary ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Spent the day wandering and taking pictures. Checked out churches and the castle. Took a 3 hour walking tour guided by a native Krumlovian. Could not tour the castle because it was Monday and closed. Did enjoy the gardens however. Lots of history. Beautiful place. Got see Maria Teresa. See last picture. Had dinner at the Jacob restaurant. Pricey but very good.Read more
Traveler So cool!
9/12/17Reply
TravelerI am so glad you enjoyed visiting Cesky. I knew you would not be disappointed.
9/12/17Reply
2 likes
Test Journal Traveler
Sep 10 - Prague to Kumlov
September 10, 2017 in Czech Republic ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Travel day today. Breakfast at hotel. Took bus to Prague depot. Caught bus to Kumlov. Three hour ride. Half hour walk with luggage to our hotel. It was rough over the cobblestone road. Beautiful room and surrounding area. Took a 1 hour walk in the rain then had dinner across the street.Read more
2 likes
Test Journal Traveler
Day 11 - Sep 09 Prague
September 9, 2017, Veleslavín ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Had a wonderful breakfast at the hotel. Then took a taxi to old town. Driver tried to screw us for additional 6 Euros. Told him I knew what the fare should be. He apologized and dropped the price. No tip for him. Had a bit of fun finding our tour guide but got it done. Great tour. Mark from New Orleans was an amazing guide. He knew so much history about Prague and the Czech people. Very long, fun tour including boat tour and amazing lunch. Over 15000 steps. That took care of lunch. Off to Cesky Kumlov tomorrow.Read more
1 like
Test Journal Traveler
1
Day 10 - Sep 08 Basel to Prague
September 8, 2017 in Czech Republic ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Did not get up early. Yeah!!! Had breakfast at the hotel and then walked the streets of Basel until 3. Picked up our luggage from the hotel and took the bus to the airport. Flew to Prague on schedule. Took the tram to the Hotel Adalbert but got off about 3 stops early and .... Where the heck are we? Finally understood what we needed to do. Got back on the tram. Switched to another tram for 2 stops. Got off and...... Where the heck are we? Looked around and saw what we thought might be a monastery. Walked through the dark and found a little sign saying Hotel Adalbert. Yeah!!!! Beautiful.Read more
Traveler Yaaay another scarf!
9/9/17Reply
1 like
Test Journal Traveler
1 1
Sep 07 Bazel Switzerland
September 7, 2017 in Switzerland ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Got up early to get suitcases out by 8am. Had breakfast with Kevin and LeAnna. Went for a walk for about 90 minutes. Came back for lunch then a walking tour of the old town for 2 hours. Checked in to hotel at 4.30. Walked a nit to check restaurants. Decided the grocery store was better than $100+ at a Swiss restaurant. BTW lily pads are about 30 inches wide in the university botanical garden.Read more
Traveler Oh my! You could put a whole room in one of those!
9/7/17Reply
Traveler Not your usual European hotel room. Very spacious.
9/7/17Reply
TravelerWe are enjoying following your vacation with the pictures you send. Thanks.
9/7/17Reply
1 like