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Oliver Tours 2024
  • Pauline Oliver
  • Pauline Oliver

Oliver Tours 2024

A 93-day adventure by Pauline Read more
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  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    Warming Up
    Gerald trying to reach Vicki's homeThe school where Vicki worksOld Friends1

    A day in Xativa with Vicki

    May 25, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    South of Valencia we caught up with Christchurch friend Vicki Johnson
    Checked out the local Castle, dates back several hundred years BC
    Interesting to learn that Valencian’s speak a unique dialect of Spanish -Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    1Relaxing on the front terrace
    Swiming pool around the backUphill back from the beach!1Walkway to the beachBegur lunch with the locals

    Begur, Spain

    May 26, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Home Exchange Apartment with Pool (Communal for 11 homes)
    A Day exploring the beaches of the Costa Brava
    Scary seeing where some the houses are being built on the edge of cliffs
    Hanging out with Emma & Sue .Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    1112Michael & Judit DOSKIWIS BREWING

    Girona Day Trip

    May 29, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Day Trip to Girona -
    Oliver Tours found narrow streets in the old town (trying to find a park)

    Doskiwis Brewing - Produce a wonderful array of beers - Hops from New Zealand
    Started by two kiwis -
    Sunny Nelson, The Red Dot, Comfort.

    That evening we celebrated with Sue - It was her last evening of her holiday
    We all Emma Mark, Sue Gerald & Pauline went to Moonas - a cider farm/restaurant.    Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    Offroading in Spain!
    Follow that van1Rosé anyone?3Choices !!!Mistral was blowingCool weather great wind for local kiteboarders

    Marignane, near Marseille

    May 30, 2024 in France ⋅ 🌬 25 °C

    Leaving Begur was eventful. A major crash on the motorway had everyone diverted to nowhere - anywhere . Nobody indicating where to go and the GPS was useless - there are unsealed farm roads - no signposting and we ended up after some frustration and wrong turns following a food van - looked like he knew something.
    Needless to say the car was filthy by the time we reached Marignane.    Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    Aix en Provence
    Hotel in the Old CityFountain of the 4 dolphinsViews from the train

    Aix en Provence

    May 31, 2024 in France ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    Busy tourist wise.
    Lovely buildings - very clean city and well thought out
    We chose to go on a city tour with an electric train much easier than driving ourselves.

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    1Still looking for Geralds boat:)Marseille Cathedral - huge and stunning ceilings

    Marseille

    June 1, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Impressive Cathedrals -
    With the hundreds of Tourists it reminded us of Le Mont -St Michel on a previous holiday.
    9 Million inhabitants and loads of cars and trucks on the motorways surrounding it
    The first cathedral up the hill is Notre-Dame de la Garde and the photo shown is the main Marseille Cathedral, so huge . Amazing ceilings.    Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    Another Viaduct Impressive engineeringView from our BalconyNot an ENJO clean but a good job was done

    La Spezia, Italy

    June 2, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    After 6 years we returned to a wonderful BnB in La Spezia .
    Piero - the landlord had even bought us bus tickets to go to Portovenere - down the road from where we were staying .It is not accessible/recommended to go by car. It is down the coast from the Cinque Terre.
    Gerald was keen to recreate food memories of 2018 where he had raved about the seafood (salad) Unfortunately the said restaurant was closed due to renovations as were many others throughout the little village. Pauline managed to find a brilliant restaurant who as we were being seated gave us a free glass of their own delicious white wine. She had a daughter who was a coeliac so was understanding with allergies.    Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    Gerald & Puccini - Outside his house
    1

    Lucca, Italy

    June 5, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    On the wish list to visit - so as we were heading to Tuscany stopped off to have a walk around and of course some lunch.
    Could have spent a lot more time there - Gerald was pleased to see Puccini at home.

    Heard some pianist playing away in a church (reminded us of Max Toth) he was practising for an upcoming concert.    Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    1

    Hu Camping Village in Tuscany, Italy

    June 5, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Norcenni Girasole Village - in the Tuscan countryside -
    2006, with Mel, 2018 and again 2024 - Wonderful place for a break - Pools, restaurants,
    There were numerous groups like a few hundred ebikers, and also another hundred of Harley riders. Such a variety of accommodation for all needs .
    We were in an apartment in an old stone villa. Overall it was not crowded - very peaceful because the holiday season had not quite begun.    Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    Our GPS
    Looking for a garage - Closed on SundaysFigline Valdarno

    On The Road To Rome, Italy

    June 9, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Tuscany to Rome -

    Our Peugeot decided to play up and on the navigation panel it suggested we get to a service garage asap - Unfortunately it was Sunday morning and it is Italy - nothing open. Fortunately the car electronics seemed to right itself and we continued driving.
    Skirting Sienna, and Arezzo we were amazed at the motorways being constructed .

    We headed south west for Orbetello in the Province of Grosseto . This town is situated on a lagoon which is an important nature reserve linked to an island 1 0ft above sea level - This is obviously a popular holiday destination with campsites lining the coastal beaches.
    Didn’t get many photos of Orbitello.    Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    Camping village largely empty, and quiet, as school holidays are only just beginning.
    Centre of the old town by the camping vilage.Heaven1Gluten Free Heaven - Shop for Coeliacs1Holidays - relaxationFitness Training - Gerald forgot to go

    Hu Camping Pini - Fiano Romano,

    June 9, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Fiano Romano north of Rome
    The Hu Camping Village was very empty and quiet the rush comes in July

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    St Peter's Basilica - from the bus
    2nd window from the right at the top The Pope lives hereLooking towards St Peters SquareTiber RiverRomas structure propping up a newer building‎⁨Santa Maria in Cosmedin Church⁩, ⁨Rome⁩, ⁨Lazio⁩, ⁨Italy⁩Colosseum in Passing‎⁨Piazza della Repubblica⁩, ⁨Rome⁩, ⁨Lazio⁩, ⁨Italy⁩1Spanish stepsHoards of Tourists Tuesday night (:1Trevi Fountain Rome‎⁨Piazza della Rotonda⁩, ⁨Rome⁩, ⁨Lazio⁩, ⁨Italy⁩

    Roma at Night

    June 14, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Decided to go on a Rome by Night Tour -
    A great guide very knowledgeable - Having seen these sights previously it was interesting to see them in a different light - So many people.

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler

    Bastia, Umbria Between Puglia & Assisi

    June 14, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Getting out of Fiano Romano wasn’t simple the GPS had us heading back into Rome to get on the Ring road to head north.
    Slight detour to check out Orvieto - Another lovely Tuscan hillside village
    Had lunch in a Restaurant where the owner was a Jazz enthusiast - Saxaphone player
    Jazz music playing and the owner got quite excited that Gerald was a musician. He organises the Umbria Jazz Winter festival in Orvieto. Gave him our business card as he wants to come to NZ.
    Finally arrived at Bastia - quite a new town compared to Perugia and Assisi where it sits between. Michele & Rosetta were great hosts .The family lived downstairs and we had a large apartment on 1st floor.
    On our final evening they included us with a pizza party watching Italy and Albania football match - Italy 2 Albania 1    Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    Sunflowers - Stunning
    Olive trees out the bedroom windowVines out the other side of house

    San Clemente

    June 16, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    One of our favourite spots in Italy. We stayed with Ana again - 6 years on and we just picked up like old friends.
    Out one side of the house is fields of olive trees and vineyards on the other.
    Highlight of the stay was going to Mancini Vineyard (1861 started) with Ana
    Situated above the cliffs of Focara on the Adriatic Coast.
    The vineyard entertains visitors in the evening to watch the sunset and enjoy a glass of Pinot Noir and nibbles.
    Following morning a trip to the farmers market to get fresh produce.    Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    Paulines fetish for bridges
    Fire in the hills from airport - v closeLaid back on holidayH & C after lovely dinnerView from top of hill to old townView from our ApartmentView from apartmentFireworks during the gameFootball Italia/Croatis 1 all

    Dubrovnik

    June 23, 2024 ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Dubrovnik - Spectacular trip into Dubrovnik - Loved all the various architecture of the engineering of the bridges
    Picked up Helene & Cameron from Airport and started our gastronomic 4 days together checking out the old town and also the area of Lapad Bay where we had an apartment.
    Caught up with John Bagnall for Dinner before he headed to the islands.    Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    View from Zadar apartment
    Like the way they disguise their heat pumpsZadarTribunj MarinaTribunj Marina

    Zadar, Croatia

    June 27, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌩️ 30 °C

    Zadar - We used these few days to prepare ourselves for the sailing - Finding Home Exchange was difficult in Croatia so we chose Booking.com and were delighted with the apartment -
    #Funkytours was a company I stumbled across when planning our adventure . sometime the unknown is a little scary but we were really impressed with their communication and the whole organisation of their company.
    We arrived early at Tribunj Marina - they suggested we check out the cute village and meet Skender at the Marina early afternoon.
    The other crew were a family of of 2 teenage girls and parents from Ireland. and the other couple were from Mexico (she was a lawyer) and India (he was a Doctor) and they lived n the United States.
    The Owner of the Company was Skender and he was master of everything. Tony was the skipper.    Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler

    Trieste, Pula & Rovinj

    Jul 3–5, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Leaving the sailing and Croatia behind we drove north west to Trietse.
    My Dad Bob had been there at the end of the war - wish I had remembered more info from him.
    We spent a day checking out the sights of Trieste - The Pope was due the following day and there was much preparation for that, police etc. a huge cruise ship was in port.
    So the following day went for a drive to Pula - having been there 40 years ago interesting to see what could be remembered . The Roman ampitheatre still stood and they were preparing for a concert in it.
    On the way back we stopped at Rovinj - Oil growing area and very much like Burano off the coast of Venice. without too many tourists.
    When returning across the border from Croatia into Slovenia and then into Italy we were stopped by the border police - as we had French Number Plates on the car they wanted to see our passports - We had left those behind in Italy and when we said we were from New Zealand they through their hands in the air and waved us on!!    Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    Lake Bled Slovenia
    112211

    Slovenia

    Jul 5–7, 2024 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Heading to Slovenia on a beautiful July morning. By the time we reached Lake Bled -the town was heaving with tourists and vehicles - no where to park so we took the obligatory photo of Lake Bled and continued driving through the mountains to a tiny town called Kanal ob Soči - another random stop. Wonderful BnB recently opened and helpful owners - offering a drink of “rotten wine” on arrival - It was a fortified sweet wine - her description was totally lost in translation..Read more

  • Pauline OliverOliver Tours 2024Traveler
    Roc
    Castelnovo né Monti - no we didn't climb itchecking out local riverGerald & Friendly Coffee Perc Saleswoman1Tiramisu GF found in local supermarket1

    Back into Italy with Home exchange

    July 7, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    As most of our trip was planned months ago it was some last minute organising of somewhere not too far to drive and a place we could experience living like the locals.
    On the way to Castelnova ne’ Monti-Casale we happened across an outlet mall - huge - beside the motorway - so like everyone else we joined the lines OMG Gerald took a photo of where we parked so we could find the car later. The area was so big it appeared quite uncrowded. Gerald found a great saleswoman in a specialty coffee shop - who rushed to make him a coffee and of course made a sale - cups etc.
    The owners of the house where we stayed gave us lots of local information we visited the Castel Roc - we chose not to climb    Read more

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