Reset search
Europe 2026
  • Joann Pyne
  • Joann Pyne

Europe 2026

We are off to Europe for nine weeks. London, Dublin, Portugal, France and the Balkans. Sadly we are not flying on Emirates first class using points. We are on Singapore Airlines instead. Not as luxurious, but avoiding any unscheduled stops in UAE. Read more
+4
FollowInsightsInsightsCalendarCalendarPhotosPhotosShareShareBucket list
InsightsCalendarPhotos
  • Trip start
    April 5, 2026
  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler
    1111

    Zürich

    April 6 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Had a night in Zurich to get over the nightmare flight from Australia. Singapore airlines was fine but on the first leg we were trapped in a row with two aged Singaporeans on either end. I am sure they didn’t enjoy me climbing over them to get to the loo every couple of hours either!!! Anyway, Zürich was a lovely stop to recharge. The weather was spectacular and we made the most of it. The Zurich museum was incredible and immense. We also enjoyed a lovely cruise on the lake. Other than that it was wandering the streets and enjoying the sun.Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler
    31

    IRELAND

    April 7 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    It’s always exciting meeting up with people when you are travelling. As it was with Simon and Kieron. We visited the smallest, highest and oldest pubs in Dublin. The Dawson, Johnnie Fox’s Pub, and the Brazen Head. We hired a car on Thursday and visited Kilkenny and Wicklow. As always Ireland was a delight.Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler
    1

    Shepperton

    April 11 in England ⋅ 🌬 11 °C

    Len insisting this is a suitable t-shirt for street wear. We have stayed with Simon’s sister Annie and BIL Adrian. They have a lovely house on the Thames. They have absolutely spoiled us rotten. We finished with a lovely lunch at their local. The Swan.Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler

    The Arch - Clapham

    April 11 in England ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Well that was a fantastic way to celebrate a birthday! Simon’s 60th was a blast. It was very special for him as he had guests from across the decades turn up. The club was great and the drag queen excellent. Very friendly and happy vibe.Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler

    Skuna Boat BBQ

    April 14 in England ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We decided to celebrate Simon’s birthday again! It was so much fun. Len was a superb captain and Simon a brilliant chef. We couldn't go far, but we did do some great circuits. Mike was such good company, and we kicked off at a German pub afterwards. It was a dream night for Len, getting to be skipper and drink DunkelRead more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler
    1

    London wrap-up

    Apr 15–19 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Well, today we leave London for the Cotswolds. We have had a week of celebrating Simon’s birthday with his family and three friends from the US who made their way over for the party. We have enjoyed lots of sights, lunches, dinners, and drinks. Such great company to share the visit. Some of the highlights were the Party, of course, staying with Annie and Adrian, the Skuna Boats on the Thames, the ABBA voyage, dinner with the yanks at their place, and the visit to the Liberty Store.Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler

    The Cotswolds

    April 17 in England ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    Annie and Adrian found us the most beautiful cottage in the Cotswolds. Len and I were out back in our own space, with a lethal spiral staircase. LOL. We spend the days visiting charming local villages - for example, "The Slaughters", eating at pubs, wandering through gardens and generally chilling out after London. It was such a great break with the best people.Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler

    Four days in Porto

    Apr 20–24 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We have had a fabulous four days in Porto, wandering the streets and admiring the amazing tilework on the buildings. Porto has a fantastic public transport system, it’s clean, cheap and plentiful. The city is also building two new underground lines, which will provide even more access. Porto is one of our favourite cities, and it was great to share it with our dynamic travelling crew. Little Ruben made sure Len didn't miss anything important, "Wen cone here", "Wen look at this".Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler

    Wine Tour Douro Valley

    April 21 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Had a fabulous day on a wine tour. We visited two wineries (Quintas) and had a great lunch at one of them. The food was very traditional and plentiful! The most interesting fact was the way the good wine is crushed. It is still done in stone troughs by feet. Each crush lasts four hours, and the workers listen to music and drink wine as part of the job. They say this is the gentlest way to crush the grapes and produces the best wine. Our fabulous guide accidentally dropped one of the wine bottles we had purchased, so he took us to a third winery run by a friend of his. This was one of the highlights of the day. We sat around a table overlooking the vines as the sun slid behind the mountain and tasted some truly excellent wine. The young wine maker was so enthusiastic and entertaining. A perfect end to the day.Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler

    Football in Porto

    April 22 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    We went to the semifinals of the Portuguese Championship. Porto V Lisbon Sporting. It was an important game for our newly adopted team (Porto). Unfortunately, we needed a win to reach the finals, but the game ended in a draw, ending our chances. The atmosphere was lively, and it was certainly worth the price to see that. The security measures in place to keep the supporters of the two teams apart were really interesting. The Lisbon fans were brought into the stadium in separate entrances and weren’t allowed to leave until we were all gone. The interactions between the fans were a lot of fun. Despite everyone being frisked on the way in, a number of people managed to smuggle fireworks in. The passion for a game where no one scored a try was extraordinary.Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler
    11

    Coimbra

    April 25 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We were in Coimbra 10 years ago, and it was lovely to come back. Last time we shared the experience with Richard and Bugsy; this time, with the Campbell/Capocchis. We accidentally stayed in the same hotel. The hotel Oslo! Last time we were here, we drove in, drank our own body weight in white port and left! Managed to see more of the town this time.

    It was the anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, when Portugal peacefully ousted the dictatorship, so the town was hopping.

    Coimbra is home to the University of Coimbra, founded in 1290, and one of Europe’s oldest universities. There are grand courtyards, sweeping views, and the faint sense that someone nearby might break into Latin at any moment. In 1759, the country expelled the Jesuits from the campus, overturned canon law, and introduced science and medicine.

    The Joanina Library was built in the 18th century, it’s all gilded wood, and painted ceilings, and shelves that look like they’ve been dusted by aristocrats rather than librarians. The books—some dating back centuries—are protected not just by careful climate control, but by a colony of bats. They quietly patrol at night, nibbling on insects that might otherwise snack on the collection.

    Then there’s the delightfully odd Cabinet of Curiosities, within the university’s science museum. Think of it as a Renaissance collector’s fever dream: part science lab, part treasure chest, part “what on earth is that?” It is all slightly unhinged.

    We had a wonderful meal in a quirky little restaurant down an alley called Cosy Corner after listening to a Fado concert in Cafe Santa Cruz, a cafe built in an old monastery.    Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler

    Tomar - the home of the Knights Templar

    April 27 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    We broke the journey from Coimbra to the Algarve with a stop at Tomar, Portugal. This historic city is intimately tied to the Knights Templar, serving as their 12th-century headquarters and, later, the home of the Order of Christ. When the Knights were being kicked out by the church the Portuguese gave them a new home under a new name the Order of Christ. I think the plan was to keep all that wealth in the country.

    Gualdim Pais, a Portuguese Grand Master, built the castle of Tomar as a key stronghold. This new order maintained its base in Tomar, using its wealth and power to support Portugal's maritime discoveries, with Prince Henry the Navigator acting as a significant leader. The castle is incredible. Tim and Len explored the site thoroughly while PJ and I enjoyed a coffee and Pastel De Nata. Because that's the way we roll!    Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler
    1

    Faro

    April 28 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    We have had four wonderful nights in Faro. It is one of the less developed towns on the Algarve, it has a lovely old town and we have a wander around here, Aveiro, Olhao and Albufeira. The Algarve is very popular with English tourists who come for hen parties, etc. Albufeira is a centre for this travel. Aveiro and Faro were our two favourites as they were less developed and more typically “Portuguese”. We stayed in a gorgeous house just outside of the old town, which made the four days very comfortable. Although Ruben was not a fan of the water temperature, LOL. He dived in and surfaced quickly saying, "that was not good, Dad"Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler

    The Algarve Coast.

    April 29 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    The rugged Algarve Coast is spectacular. The cliffs are riddled with fossils and remnants of the region's history, which spans over 3,000 years, with successive occupations by Phoenicians, Romans, and Moors. The beaches are truly spectacular. The towns and villages are pretty heavily populated by tourists, so not much accessible, empty beach space. I think we all found some of the towns a bit sad, which I realise is a bit ironic, as we are also tourists.Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler

    LIsbon

    May 1–5 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Well here we are back in Lisbon in 2026. Len was here in 1986, I was here in 1996, and Len and I visited in 2016. It is very obvious that the place is being loved to death! We cannot believe the crowds, and completely understand the locals concerns and difficulty in managing such numbers. The hills of the Alfarma are totally overrun, the city center is just packed and last night we came home via pink street and couldn’t count the number of hens and bucks parties. She is a down-at-heel, slightly naughty city. One of the travel writers PJ read said that he only comes to Lisbon to eat and party. I am not surprised. Yesterday, the queue for the Jerónimos Monastery must have contained hundreds of people. We managed to get to Belém for Pastéis de Belém before the crowds and to visit the Maritime Museum, which traces Portugal's history through its maritime past. The museum is amazing and very well laid out. We loved this city the last time we were here, but I don't think we will be back again. But never say never, lets have a think about it in 2036.Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler
    1

    Avignon

    May 5 in France ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Most people visit Avignon to see the Palace of the Popes. From 1273 onwards, the popes fled Rome because they could no longer be safe, free, and independent there, or so they could keep their positions and wealth in France - depending on who you read. In 1309, Clement V settled in Avignon, a papal land. This city then became independent from France.

    Clement V was the first pope to settle in this city, which is home to 5,000 souls, making it an important city in the Middle Ages. After the death of the pope, the bishop of the city was elected and took up the torch. John XXII decided to settle in the episcopal palace he had long occupied, located in a district of the city that was easy to defend. The place became the current site of the Palais des Papes.

    After the death of John XXII, Benedict XII was crowned Pope in 1335. He judged the Bishop’s Palace of his predecessor too small and decided to demolish it in order to build a new palace designed by the architect Pierre Obreri. The site is huge and has been amended may times over the years.

    We had dinner at an Irish pub on the first night - as you do, and on the second night we did a food tour in the old town.    Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler
    1

    Gordes & Avignon markets

    May 7 in France ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Today we did the perfect Luberon Villages Drive. We started with breakfast at a local market in Avignon. The food was spectacular. Huge fat white asparagus, heirloom tomatoes as big as dinner plates and endless varieties of cheese, bread and prepared food. The paella stall had a pan the size of a wagon wheel. We stopped to explore the chateau in Lourmarin → had a wander in Gordes → a wine in Fontaine De Vaucluse beside the turquoise waters and a couple of wines in the main square at L’isle Sur La Sorgue. The weather was warm and sunny, and the views were spectacular. This is the sort of day that makes the flights worthwhile.Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler

    Nimes

    May 8 in France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Nîmes is known as the "French Rome" for its well-preserved Roman monuments, rooted in a 6th-century BC Celtic settlement. The amazing Jardin de la Fontaine (18th-century gardens) is absolutely amazing. A series of canals run through the town from a fabulous m]natural spring in the gardens. Nines is also home to one of the best-preserved Roman temples in the world, and a massive nearby three-tier aqueduct. There is also a very well-preserved coliseum that is still used for concerts today.

    Nîmes became a thriving textile centre. It produced a sturdy fabric called serge de Nîmes, which Levi Strauss imported to America for workwear, giving rise to the word "denim".    Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler

    Pont du Gard

    May 8 in France ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    They estimate that the construction of the Pont du Gard required the work of a thousand men who, for nearly five years, dedicated themselves to the Roman Empire's dream of grandeur.

    It is the tallest bridge ever built in antiquity. To create the central arch spanning the Gardon River, they crafted one of the largest wooden centring structures in the world. It is the only example of a three-tiered aqueduct still standing.

    It is UNESCO World Heritage Listed - this is because it meets three criteria:

    1) A masterpiece of human creative genius.
    2) A unique and exceptional testimony to Roman civilisation.
    3) An outstanding example of a type of construction and architectural and technical ensemble, aqueducts, illustrating a significant period in human history: the Roman period.

    The site is amazing, with beautiful parks surrounding it, complete with picnic tables and lawns. Well worth a visit.    Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler
    1
    1

    Last Dinner in Avignon

    May 8 in France ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    We celebrated our last night in Avignon with dinner in the old town. The kids were promised a ride on the huge carousel in the town square. There were tears and angst when it was closed by the time we got there. The city is very beautiful, and Maryanne found us a fabulous apartment right in the old town.Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler

    Towns of the French Rivviera

    May 9–14 in France ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We are staying at Antibes for five nights and immersing ourselves in the joys of the French Riviera! The towns up and down the coast are spectacular, with pastel coloured buildings perched on the hills rolling down to the sea. The town of Antibes is beautiful with a cute old town and fabulous walkways along the sea. We have visited towns such as NIce, and Villefranch- sur-Mer. We visited one of the best flea markets in France (apparently) in Nice. It was pretty impressive. I managed to find some antique buttons for less than I would pay at spotlight. Or around the same price maybe? LOLRead more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler
    1

    Grasse

    May 10 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    On Sunday, we visited Grasse, a town on the French Riviera, in the hills north of Cannes. It's known for its long-established perfume industry. Large perfumeries such as Fragonard, Molinard and Galimard sell their perfume at factory prices. Of course, I had to get a bottle. The young woman in the store was very helpful, helped me narrow down a selection, and then sniffed what they smelled like on me and pointed out which aromas were more prominent. LOL. The day we arrived, we were also on the last day of the rose festival. The town was jam-packed full of roses of every description.Read more

  • Joann PyneEurope 2026Traveler
    Fabulous coastal drives
    Fabulous coastal drivesElle braving the arctic conditions to swimSteven preparing a fabulous BBQ under Tim's supervisionThe areana in Frejus - caught a bull fighter practising his moves.Famous 12th century arena used to a range of purposes over the centuries, but now home to concerts.The Red CarpetThe photographers nightmareThe F1 trackWhat cost of living crisisOur last night on the French Riviera

    Cannes and Monaco

    May 10 in France ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We found ourselves accidentally travelling through Cannes on the first day of the international film festival. We passed the red carpet and a sea of step ladders all laid out for the paparazzi - a workplace health and safety nightmare! The next day, we visited Monaco only to find we were two days ahead of the F1 Grand Prix. Talk about mixing with the rich and famous on the French Riviera! Only we didn’t really see anyone famous at all.

    The weather has been great, and the kids even swam in the ocean in front of the apartment. It truly is an amazing part of the world. We drove along the coast most days and enjoyed watching the turquoise ocean wash against the red cliffs.    Read more