• Day 28

    Heathrow and home.

    May 15 in England ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Had breakfast with Rachele and Tracie.Booth are really lovely ladies. We got to Heathrow to drop off our bags and head to Windsor, but it was a pain to get too and I was completely exhausted. Sio, we hung out at a cafe, and now we will be boarding in an hour.
    Got here on the Elizabeth line what an improvement over the rest of the undergriund rattke trains. Everything in the underground is looking old and crappy.
    Have arrived in Singapore 29 deg and raining. It was a great flight. Best so far . All the way to London was 100% full. we had 3 seats, so we were able to spread out and sleep. Had a look at the butterfly room, but it was getting dark, and they were tucked away for the night. for sleep.
    It is a beautiful garden, but it is open to the elements, so Marina and I got pretty wet, .and I don't do 29 with 100% humidity 😜See you all at home.
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  • Day 27

    The trip is slowly winding down.

    May 14 in England ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We were up at 4.45 this AM to catch the Eurostar to London. We have a night there and will be flying home tomorrow Wednesday to arrive in Auckland middayish Friday.
    We arrived in London and went to our abode right beside Wesrminster Bridge. Each room is alloted ear plugs as it has an overhead train line right above us. Man, it is noisy. Also right beside a hospital, so plenty of ambos going weeu
    We got talking to a couple of 40-something Australian women who were interesting, and Tracy was a real character. Thei other woman Rachel was her bestie and they are traveling in Europe for 5 weeks.
    Tracy and Rachel go figure what are the chances?
    We got pizza, a really cool little italian place in our street it was perfect and then got together as a team for a pub quiz here at the Walrus. Came 2nd of eight, not bad. Great fun was had.
    Traveling is often about the people you met, and these 2 were great. We will catch up for breakfast tomorrow.
    We are staying on this cute little street with lots of restaurants and cafes photo attached. Will catch up for our last day n London tomorrow folks.
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  • Day 26

    Amsterdams great public transport.

    May 13 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    What an easy place to get around. We were on the 21 bus route and 7 tram. the longest we had to wait would have been under 10 minutes. There are cars on the road but not many. The only traffic snarl up we saw was because dumb drivers did not give a bus enough room to move. A member of the public got out there and got everyone to reverse . Problem solved.
    So they have a ring road for the cars and I dont think cars are allowed in the city unless they are commercial or taxis.
    See the pictures of the bikes they are so numerous it is amazing.
    The roads have 2 full lane s for bus and tram to share in the middle of the road, one full lane fot cars, and the wide footpaths that are divided in 1/2 for pedestrians and bikes.
    It is pretty unnerving the speed the cyclists at but pedestrians get the footpath and the bikes there own lane wide enough for 2 wide . it just all works.
    The buses and trams are all electric so there isn't pollution. Except for some of the smelly old canal boats.
    There are no turnstiles or tickets as you hop on or off the bus. tram or train. You swipe a debit card. or contactless means, and these are on all doors. People are on and off instantly.
    I so admire a ciry that has got off its arse and made things work.
    It is way trickier getting people onto bikes in Auckland, but there are some great ideas here that make this city so appealing.
    All the photos attached on on a Monday morning, not a weekend. See how the roads have so few cars .

    We also did astint at the laundromat this AM. Oh, the fun. 😁
    Then, we did a lovely 2 hour cruise through the camals. Amsterdam is called the Venice of the North and has as many canals as Venice, just fewer bridges. Only 250. huh.
    Back to London tomorrow on Eurostar.
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  • Day 25

    Canal cruise and Keukenhof gardens

    May 12 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Was up half the night hoping to see Aurora, but no dice. Weare at 52 degrees north, so I thought we would have a shot. Centaine, who lives in Hamburg at the same latitude, sent some amazing photos.
    We got up earlish and took the tour to the canals.
    Wow, just Wow. It is an amazing lot of diverse windmills 250 years old and lots of nan made islands isolated from the mainland by canals.
    One of them had 60 km odf dykes hand dug in the 19 century. 400 residents and a ferry to bring them to the mainland.
    Due to the heat, the Tuoips were past best, but the gardens were beautiful .
    It is 2.30. we are heading back to Amsterdam now.Back at the hotel now for 4 30.
    We both enjoyed our day out
    We will have a quiet night in. Maybe get burger and chips later.
    Hop on hop off trip tomorrow and another 🚢 🚣‍♀️ canal trip. This one in Amsterdam Centraal.
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  • Day 24

    A hot sunny day in Amsterdam

    May 11 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Was not expecting 22 degrees here, but I will take it. We went out, and Marina and I bought a few bits and pieces locally. Then sat in a cafe outside and people watched.
    Also laughed at the 2 stroke cars that get parked as if they are bikes. they sound terrible 500cc of misery.
    The guy at our reception recommended we visit a market a few stops from us. We got down there and discovered this huge area with hot food and beer stalls.
    We headed into the central city to figure out our route for the Keukehof gardens for tomorrow and stopped on the way back for dinner. Man, it was so busy I took a photo of the bikes parked outside but could not take any photos inside as it was too crowded.
    There was an outstanding live band playing called Le Josha. I caught a bit on video..
    Marina and I had teriyaki chicken for dinner cooked in huge paella pans. see photo.
    Have arrived back at the hotel stinking of smoky food with a full belly 😋
    Will look out for Aurora Borealis tonjght. Scott and Centaine, thanks for the photos . So cool, one from the Northern the other from the Southern hemisphere.
    The world gets smaller.
    BTW, really like Amsterdam 👍
    Off to see the Tulips tomorrow. 🌷
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  • Day 23

    Paris to Amsterdam on EuroStar

    May 10 in Belgium ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    What a great way to travel on a fast train. 506km in 3 hours. We are sitting at Brussels right now, waiting to continue.
    Northern France from Paris is very green and very flat with a huge number of power generation windmills.
    I'm rather glad to be out of Paris. The architecture is so beautiful but 11.5 million people in such a small area? Nah.
    Arrived in Amsterdam, got to the hotel, and our room was up 4 flights of the scariest stairs I've ever seen. You need bloody crampons to get up them. Went and had dinner and saw the whole girls in the windows flaunting their wares a bit unsettling. I guess as long as they are happy, that's all that matters. . The district is a serious party area and crowded and incredibly noisy. We got a credit and rebooked out of town a little.
    Lots of English yob having hen and stag nights. once again, Nah
    Tomorrow, we have a chill day. We will go into Amsterdam on the tram and have a look around. It looks pretty cool.
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  • Day 22

    Montmatre c'est Bon

    May 9 in France ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Got off to a slow start this AM. We were up to 11.30 PM last night chatting with Centaine and Alecks. I decided to go to the Supy across the road about 9 AM, but no lifts working.
    Fortunately, the building manager popped his head out, and he phoned the repair people.
    Over 500 residents in ths complex.
    We got going at midday and gad aproblem free metro ride to Montmatre.
    We could not get into Sacre Couer today. The queues were insane It is a holiday here celebrating Christ's ascension, so we could not have chosen a worse day.
    However we went next door to the beautiful Eglise Saint Pierre and it was lovely. We lit a candle for Wiggy, too.
    We wandeed around and got a bad portrait done and bought some more tourist tat Lunch was at an creperie. Sorry, Scott.The crepes were delicious even if the french pronounce them as craps.
    I came home as my knee had had enough, and the others have gone in for a boat trip on the Seine.
    Last day in Paris off to Amsterdam tomorrow morning.
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  • Day 21

    Quiet day in Paris

    May 8 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Change of plan today. Got quite sunburnt yesterday! Looked out the windo, and it was misty and cool. Marina Centaine and and Aleks went off to Versailles and are going to the Eiffel Tower tonight.It will be nice for heer to have a day with the girls.
    I have had a really quiet day doing the laundry and relaxing at the apartment.
    Not exciting, but I am very happy for a quiet day.
    We are having dinner at a small Italian restaurant. Thank goodness Alecks is here to intepret, which is wonderful .
    see you tomorrow. 😘
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  • Day 20

    A lday in Paris City centre.

    May 7 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    We hopped on the metro this morning, and we must have bought an AT jinx with us as we had to change trains 3 times. The driver just switched out the lights out on the train and waited for us to get off at a platform and then took off. Getting on the next train can only be described as a scrum. Anyway, we got into the 9th and discovered the lovely L"Opera building covered in huge great Chanel ads. Not very attractive. Went on to Galleries Lafayette, and they have turned the roof into a huge viewing platform. It was just beautiful up there today.
    We went on to a 2 .5 hour 1hop on hop off bus tour, which we will do again tomorrow
    We got back to the 9th at about 3.30 PM. and had a very late lunch.
    Got back to the apartment about 5.30 and everyone is really tired.
    Tomorrow, Marina Centaine and Alecks are heading to Versailles. I will be back in Paris for the hop on hop off tour again.
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  • Day 19

    Paris Arrivee

    May 6 in France ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We have just got into our aParis partment in the. Marina gas gone to the supy and we are awaiting the arrival of Centaine.
    Bit stressful on arrival we could not find the contact but we got hold of him thank goodness.
    We got public transport from Orly so quite lleased there were no problems there.
    More will be posted tomorrow
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