May – Jun 2024

Our Europe Excursions!

Laurens gets to show Thomas around town Read more

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Trip start
May 27, 2024
Our Europe Excursions!
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- Day 1
- Monday, May 27, 2024 at 6:55 PM
- ☁️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 163 m
- Canada Toronto Pearson International Airport 43.676897, -79.61247243°40’37” N 79°36’45” W
Pre Flight-Drinks!
May 27, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
TravelerThought that might have been the breakfast of champions!
5/28/24Reply
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- Day 2
- Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 1:00 PM
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 53 m
- France Paris 06 Ancien - Quartier Lombards 48.861436, 2.35071848°51’41” N 2°21’3” E
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Arrived safe and sound at our first stay
May 28, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Traveler Cute!
5/28/24Reply
TravelerI missed seeing these!
5/30/24Reply
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- Day 2
- Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 9:06 PM
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 46 m
- France Orsay Museum 48.860019, 2.32666248°51’36” N 2°19’36” E
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Seine walk and Musée d’Orsay
May 28, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Jet lag is a mindset!!! (Kidding, we are very tired but powered through). Such an exciting day getting to share my favourite museum and restaurant in Paris with Thomas. ❤️ A highlight for us today was all the incredibly friendly and helpful locals that made our transition day go swimmingly.Read more
TravelerWhat fabulous pictures
5/28/24Reply
TravelerThanks for sharing
5/28/24Reply
TravelerWow. Great first day. Big Pizzas! We've often had leftovers when ordering a meal too. Enjoy Paris
5/28/24Reply
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- Day 3
- Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 11:30 AM
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 75 m
- France Paris 14 Observatoire 48.836258, 2.32792848°50’11” N 2°19’41” E
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Descending to the Land of the Dead
May 29, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
This morning we took the metro south and did a tour through the French ossuary AKA the Catacombs. Learned about the underground limestone quarries, and the history of the millions of dead that live under the streets of ParisRead more
Traveler Nice!
5/29/24Reply
Traveler Is it cold there?
5/29/24Reply
TravelerWhat did Thomas think? I’m still hoping to see it one day.
5/29/24Reply
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- Day 3
- Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 7:33 PM
- 🌧 16 °C
- Altitude: 75 m
- France Trocadéro 48.862259, 2.28830548°51’44” N 2°17’18” E
Eiffel Tower afternoon and French dinner
May 29, 2024 in France ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
After a needed nap and some errand running to fix our blunder of bringing the wrong adapter (oops!), we went to the Eiffel Tower in the authentic Parisian gloom and rain…
We ate a lovely French cuisine dinner of escargots, lamb and duck. Thomas asked me what French cuisine generally is. To which I replied, “things… in sauces.” I seem to have been justified.😆
We ended the night meeting a girl from Turkey haphazardly who asked us to take her photo. We then joined her to a famous jazz club!Read more
TravelerOh no! The wrong adapter in a home with all the adapters! Guess we should have checked!
5/30/24Reply
TravelerSo much fun. Pictures look like a million stories are coming home….
5/30/24Reply
TravelerThe way it should be, haha! We brought the adapter for the UK that we used last summer…
5/31/24Reply
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- Day 4
- Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 11:28 AM
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 107 m
- France Square Louise Michel 48.885637, 2.3430348°53’8” N 2°20’35” E
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Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur morning
May 30, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Got to share one of my favourite places in Paris with Thomas this morning! Stopped at a fromagerie and a few other stores for a yummy lunch at home.
TravelerYou guys are seeing tonnes in a short amount of time!
5/30/24Reply
TravelerCertainly getting our steps in! Thomas’s phone keeps telling him he’s surpassing his heart points for the day…😂
5/31/24Reply
Magnifique [Grandma]
5/30/24Reply
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- Day 4
- Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 4:41 PM
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 67 m
- France Centre Georges Pompidou 48.860353, 2.35218848°51’37” N 2°21’8” E
Centre national d'art et de culture Geor
May 30, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Modern art museum one minute from our Air BnB in the 4th arrondissement, near Les Halles. Neither Thomas nor I took a picture of the outside of the building, but it is worth looking up to see its “inside-out” and colour-coded design. An odd sight in the middle of Paris, but a building that enhances the intentions of the modernists portrayed inside.Read more
TravelerWas there a room with just bay leaves? Hay bales? Fish netting…..
5/31/24Reply
What a fabulous adventure you have created Lauren. Enjoy [Sharon A]
6/1/24Reply
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- Day 5
- Friday, May 31, 2024 at 10:51 AM
- ☁️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 38 m
- France Musée du Louvre 48.860758, 2.33684248°51’39” N 2°20’13” E
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Waltz outside the Louvre
May 31, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
On our way to Versailles this afternoon, but took a detour to walk through the Louvre Gardens on the way to our train station to see the "second most extravagant building in France". So many little details all over the building it's impossible to look away!Read more
Traveler That family could have posed…. Just saying….
5/31/24Reply
Traveler Is Thomas catching his toupee? 🤪🤪🤪
5/31/24Reply
Traveler That’s one long arm…..
5/31/24Reply
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- Day 5
- Friday, May 31, 2024 at 12:53 PM
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 136 m
- France Saint-Louis 48.804142, 2.12271448°48’15” N 2°7’22” E
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Tour - Private Apartments in Versailles
May 31, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Here we got to visit the private apartments of the King (Louis 14, 15, 16) before Louis Phillipe turned the Chateau of Versailles into a museum.
Traveler So majestic
6/5/24Reply
Traveler Where’s Lauren and Thomas !.?
6/5/24Reply
Traveler This was my favourite room. So pretty and peaceful
6/5/24Reply
TravelerApparently Louis the 16th was really into studying geography in that room, hence the atlases
6/6/24Reply
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- Day 5
- Friday, May 31, 2024 at 2:22 PM
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 137 m
- France Notre-Dame 48.814251, 2.12699548°48’51” N 2°7’37” E
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Walk through Chateau of Versailles
May 31, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
The rooms with marble covering the walls and painted ceilings were very typical of Louis the 14th before Louis the 15th changed to a more white wall aesthetic.
Traveler Ooooh la la
6/5/24Reply
Traveler This would be a cool Where’s Waldo!
6/5/24Reply
TravelerHahahaha
6/6/24Reply
Traveler Love
6/5/24Reply
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- Day 5
- Friday, May 31, 2024 at 3:51 PM
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 130 m
- France Jardins de Versailles 48.803008, 2.11947548°48’11” N 2°7’10” E
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Gardens in Versailles and Petit Trianon
May 31, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Some pictures I missed from Thomas’s phone of in the chateau as well. Swipe to the end to see a surprise guest appearance!
Keep them coming [Judy]
6/3/24Reply
TravelerWe will! Just arrived in Rome.
6/3/24Reply
Excellent photos. Brought back memories for me. You’ll love Rome. Hope it’s warmer than Paris. [Sharon a]
6/4/24Reply
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- Day 5
- Friday, May 31, 2024 at 10:21 PM
- ☁️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 47 m
- France Park La Villette 48.89045, 2.39081248°53’26” N 2°23’27” E
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Out with friends in Paris
May 31, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
TravelerWAIT IS THAT LOUIS
6/4/24Reply
TravelerYes it’s Loic!! Turns out he’s living in Paris now
6/5/24Reply
Traveler Hi Loic!
6/5/24Reply
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- Day 6
- Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 4:32 PM
- ⛅ 20 °C
- Altitude: 190 m
- France Lyon 05 45.7622, 4.82846245°45’44” N 4°49’42” E
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Lyon bike tour
June 1, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Thomas bought a new leather belt! Our lovely guide Bruno took us around all the must sees in Lyon and organized a little wine and cheese tasting. We saw the Basilica of Notre Dame of Fourvière and the amazing view from the top of the hill (thank you e-bikes). Our guide joked that they built a small Eiffel Tower here because they knew that the Eiffel Tower in Paris was attracting tourists and at that time they did not have Google to go check where the real Eiffel Tower was… he believes that it worked. We also saw an ancient Roman amphitheater where they still host massive concerts to this day.Read more
Traveler I think I need to go shopping! So colourful!
6/5/24Reply
Traveler Nice belt
6/5/24Reply
Traveler The hair nets are interesting! 🤨
6/5/24Reply
TravelerThe hair nets were a fashion statement to be sure, but we were wearing communal helmets, so a good precaution
6/5/24Reply
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- Day 7
- Sunday, June 2, 2024 at 5:38 PM
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 188 m
- France Meyzieu 45.765214, 4.98200845°45’55” N 4°58’55” E
Taylor Swift Eras Tour!!
June 2, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
What a PERFORMANCE
TravelerSo many Swifties!
6/8/24Reply
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- Day 7
- Sunday, June 2, 2024 at 8:01 PM
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 243 m
- France Place du Lieutenant Morel 45.772889, 4.83185645°46’22” N 4°49’55” E
Boys Night Out in Lyon!
June 2, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
While the ladies went off to see Taylor Swift, Dad and I went for a delicious dinner in the culinary capital of France. We started at a bar recommended by our Parisian friends with a great view of the city. I was even able to find Steven Faux's elusive cherry beer!

I tried Bone Marrow for the first time (7/10, probably wouldn't order again but still very tasty) and had an amazing duck leg confit (11/10 get in my belly). Great company and a great time.Read more
TravelerI’m with you on the Bone Marrow….meh…not a doer againer…
6/5/24Reply
TravelerSteven is jealous of the beer. Hi JP
6/5/24Reply
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- Day 8
- Monday, June 3, 2024 at 12:00 PM
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 190 m
- France Place des Terreaux 45.767625, 4.83357545°46’3” N 4°50’1” E
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Old village in Lyon
June 3, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
We got to see silk worms hard at work! You can see a medieval open sewer in one of the photos with a plaque. Found a new sign I need in my French classroom…
Traveler They look like they’ve eaten something sour!
6/8/24Reply
Traveler I suppose saying busy beavers would be wrong here….
6/8/24Reply
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- Day 8
- Monday, June 3, 2024 at 3:39 PM
- ☁️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 180 m
- France Grand Hôtel-Dieu 45.759392, 4.8359545°45’34” N 4°50’9” E
Bonus pictures from our Lyon walk
June 3, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
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- Day 8
- Monday, June 3, 2024 at 8:00 PM
- ☀️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 26 m
- Italy Meta sudans 41.890238, 12.49138841°53’25” N 12°29’29” E
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Arrival to Rome and Colosseum
June 3, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Bongiorno !
Wow… is the colosseum ever colossal… HUGE. Could apparently accommodate 50 000 to 80 000 people. I attached my notes from the tour at the end.
What a history lesson. Thanks [Judy]
6/4/24Reply
TravelerI forgot to mention in the notes that the ground that you see in the center is where they would keep the animals. Like a kennel (not much space at all). There was a floor over it that was the arena. You can see a small replica at the one side. It was covered in sand because a) it had more grip and b) it absorbed the blood well so was easy to clean. They would have slaves with bowls at the ready to collect parts of the animals that were severed and throw them out into the crowds. Imagine an elephant foot or a lion leg being thrown up towards you!!!
6/5/24Reply
TravelerGlad to see you found the 🌞. Interesting to see the inner workings of the Colosseum
6/5/24Reply
TravelerWe are VERY happy to be in the sun hahaha!
6/5/24Reply
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- Day 9
- Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 10:36 AM
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 38 m
- Italy Orti Farnesiani sul Palatino 41.889978, 12.48747241°53’24” N 12°29’15” E
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Roman Forum
June 4, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
After the Colosseum, our lovely tour guide brought us up Palatine Hill to see the remains of the Emperor’s mansion which, miraculously, had integrated plumbing!? We then walked down the hill and into the Roman Forum, the hub for Roman political and social life. We saw lots of beautiful temples and forum buildings, and even saw the place where Caesar was cremated! People still have a parade for him each year and leave flowers at the site.Read more
What a history lesson [Judy]
6/7/24Reply
Traveler …poovious???😝🤪😝🤪
6/8/24Reply
TravelerHahaha not yet! Tomorrow ;)
6/9/24Reply
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- Day 9
- Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 8:03 PM
- ☁️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 33 m
- Italy Prati 41.906045, 12.46911341°54’22” N 12°28’9” E
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Foodie afternoon!
June 4, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
After the colosseum we were talked into the most delicious meat and cheese board at the local butcher to help us decide what kind of groceries we wanted to buy, and after a quick nap we headed off to a cooking class! We made tiramisu for dessert, and fresh pasta for dinner! Can’t wait to try this again at home.Read more
Looks so yummy! [Dar]
6/8/24Reply
I’ll volunteer to test all of the above. Love the meat and cheese board for starters. I’ll bring the wine. Grandma [Sharon A]
6/8/24Reply
Traveler Wow that does look delicious
6/8/24Reply
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- Day 10
- Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 3:40 PM
- ☀️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 27 m
- Italy Piazza della Rotonda 41.899025, 12.47682241°53’56” N 12°28’37” E
Pantheon, Trevi Fountain & More!
June 5, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
A slow morning lead to a busy afternoon in the Rome city center! We started at the Pantheon, a Pagan temple turned cathedral with an impressive domed roof. We took a short walk to the Trevi fountain, and tossed in some coins to make sure we return to this beautiful city! We grabbed some incredible gelato and meandered back towards our apartment. A highlight was stumbling upon the ruins of Pompey’s Theatre, super close to where Julius Caesar was assassinated, and home to several wild cats!Read more
TravelerCool post….that arm reappeared! Love the history in this….
6/8/24Reply
Oh, the Pantheon. What a beautiful building. Re Gelato - you do know, I hope, that you are required to choose a different flavour each day? [Grandma]
6/9/24Reply
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- Day 12
- Friday, June 7, 2024 at 11:57 AM
- ☀️ 30 °C
- Altitude: 67 m
- Italy Muro Torto 41.911808, 12.48054541°54’43” N 12°28’50” E
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Picnic, parc and pretty clothes
June 7, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Not a ton of pictures today, but we met up with Meghan and Rebecca for a lunch picnic before their colosseum. Lauren and I left to go explore Villa Borghese. Lots of beautiful sights and surprises along the way. After some shopping, we met back up with the girls for an Italian pizza/pasta dinner!Read more
Traveler Nice sandals!
6/8/24Reply
TravelerThank you! I’m loving them
6/9/24Reply
Lovin’ all of these photos [Grandma]
6/9/24Reply
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- Day 12
- Friday, June 7, 2024 at 1:57 PM
- ☀️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 18 m
- Italy Monte S. Angelo 40.647646, 14.40794940°38’52” N 14°24’29” E
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Train Day to South Italy
June 7, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Travel day today! We took trains from Rome to Naples, and then from Naples to our new place in Meta (Near Sorento)
Traveler Sanford and Sons would love this lot!
6/12/24Reply
Traveler Oranges?
6/12/24Reply
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- Day 13
- Saturday, June 8, 2024 at 11:14 AM
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 619 m
- Italy Furore 40.625172, 14.53453340°37’31” N 14°32’4” E
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Path of the Gods
June 8, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Today we learned a valuable lesson about the consistency of Italian public transit (or lack thereof…) and eventually made our way to a gorgeous hike along the Amalfi coast. The bus showed up one hour and twenty minutes after it was scheduled!

The Path of the Gods starts in the mountains of Bomerano before you hike down to the coastal city of Positano. Some of the best views either of us have ever seen!

We met a group of Aussies on the bus ride up who cheered that they finally got on a bus, so Lauren turned around to cheer with them. We got chatting and did the hike with them. At the end, the very sweaty, sore, and awestruck end, we decided to hop on another bus with them to go to a beach on the other side of Positano. In Italian public transport fashion, that bus did not stop and instead went all the way to Sorrento… so we took the Aussies to the beach near our Air Bnb and finally had our refreshing swim!

Google says the end of the hike is about 1800 steps. Our quads for days after would agree.

Towards the end, there is a fresh lemon slushy stand. You bet we fell into that tourist trap!! So yummy. 🪤

Tammy, the arm is back!Read more
Traveler18000 steps?
6/12/24Reply
Traveler1800 stairs down to Positano
6/13/24Reply
Oh to be young [Judy]
6/12/24Reply
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- Day 14
- Sunday, June 9, 2024 at 11:40 AM
- ☁️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 157 m
- Italy Pontone 40.617733, 14.38578340°37’4” N 14°23’9” E
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Lemon Grove and Ruins Swimming
June 9, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Our day started just outside of Sorrento touring a lemon grove and trying their artisanal Limoncello, distilled lemon, and extra virgin olive oil. We learned that they graft the lemon branches to orange trees to get the strength and resilience of the orange trees while still flowering lemons. The company here used the leftover peels from the limoncello to make a distilled lemon liquor, which was absolutely to die for.

For lunch, we stopped in the local marina for some fresh seafood (amazing peppered muscles!) and then we wandered down to the ruins of an old Roman villa which doubles as a great spot to swim. A great way to cool down in the hot italian sun. Our quads were on fire on this hike down!!! Thanks Path of the Gods…Read more
Traveler Very pretty
6/18/24Reply
Traveler Great view for the tasting time
6/18/24Reply
Traveler Love it…like to look at it…
6/18/24Reply
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