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  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 9

    Bayeux

    Yesterday in France ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    After leaving Mount Saint Michael we needed to find somewhere to stay somewhere along the way and opted for Bayeux.

    What a lovely little town this is, it has the most amazing church with dozens of stained glass windows and it’s the home of the Bayeux Tapestry and also the Museum of the Battle of Normandy.

    We had a lovely wander around the old city looking at the different buildings, the church, the mill, canal and waterwheel.

    Off to see the Bayeux tapestry this morning. It really is amazing 70 meters long and depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England ending in the battle of Hastings. One of the best preserved medieval artefacts in the world. It is incredible it has survived intact for more than a thousand years.
    After the Tapestry we headed for another look at the church. The sun is out today and we wanted to see the stained glass windows in the sunshine.

    Then on to The Bayeux War Cemetery, it is the largest Second World War cemetery of Commonwealth soldiers in France. The cemetery contains 4,648 burials, mostly of the Invasion of Normandy. So moving to see all those white tombstone perfectly lined up and so we’ll maintained. Some of the tombstone have no names but still there are flowers around them.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 8

    Mont Saint Micheal

    April 28 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We’ve had a full but very enjoyable day today. We left our little cottage at Vimoutiers this morning and travelled overt to Mont St Michael. It was a 2 hour drive but we set the gps to back roads and it was a lovely scenic drive for most of the way.
    Seeing Mont Saint Michael for the first time is a bit like Uluru. Suddenly it is there on the horizon getting closer and closer and bigger and bigger.
    We haven’t done our usual early thing today because of the long drive so we have to contend with all the other tourist and there is plenty of them.
    It’s a 2 and a half kilometres walk from the car park or you can take a shuttle. We opted to walk and it lovely watching the Abbey getting closer and closer.
    It still seems amazing to think they built this Abbey out on a tidal rock more than a thousand years ago.

    The abbey was amazing to visit so extensive and elaborate for its time.
    They were actually having a service in the Abbey. The choir sounded amazing.

    10 Facts About Mont-Saint-Michel
    It was born from a dream. ...
    It once had a train station. ...
    The island has the highest tides in Europe. ...
    The bay has quicksand. ...
    Its structure is symbolic of France's ancient social hierarchy. ...
    It has a hidden chapel. ...
    The town was never conquered. ...
    The Abbey had a stint as a prison.
    It has a British twin.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 7

    Pretty towns, Cider & a fabulous dinner

    April 27 in France ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    After the dairy visit we went on a little road trip through Cambremer and Beuvron-en-auge. Both very pretty villages, cute streets and lovely churches. Cambremer had a cidery and what a coincident so did Beuvron-en-auge. Villages are all so close together here so it’s easy to visit a few in a morning.
    We had lunch at the creperie in Beuvron-en-auge Raclette crepes, yes more melted cheeses. Crepes were so thin, they were so quick making them.

    Home for a bit of a rest and then we decided to try and find somewhere for dinner. My first option wasn’t any good, they only do meals at lunch time but he sent us off to look at a few other options. We picked Carte Bancaire. Oh my goodness what a gem. Wish we had another night here so we could go again.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 6

    Dairy visit.

    April 26 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    After sampling all the cheeses yesterday we were keen to see where all the milk smokes from. It’s takes about 2 litres of milk to make one little Camembert. We found a farm nearby who were open to the public. They have about 60 cows to milk and all their milk goes to Graindorge Fromagerie where a lot of local cheeses are made.

    These cows are massive and produces 20 litres of milk per day. Even though they have an automatic milking machine, it still takes someone to herd the cows in, release them, clean up after them.
    Interesting to see though. Funny thing we went to the supermarket this afternoon and there is only one type of milk and only a couple of small bottles, no cream at all. Guess the cheese uses it all up.

    Some cute little calves there as well waiting for Mama to be finished milking. And a cage full of rabbits( pets or dinner) we weren’t sure.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 6

    Caen day trip

    April 26 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    We have to make an unexpected trip into Caen this morning. Our hire car is playing up and we need to get it sorted.
    It’s only an hour’s drive away, needed to get through a toll gate which was a bit challenging but we managed. Caen is quite a big city with a lovely 11th century castle in the centre. The castle was built by William the Conqueror and Caen is where he and his wife Matilde are buried.

    It’s a beautiful old city with so many churches and abbeys and of course the Castle which is one of the largest in Europe. We had a lovely walk around looking at the architecture of the older part of the city.

    Turns out they had to replace our car, shame cause the other one was very flash, this one not so much!

    With our new wheels we headed off to find a Cider and Calvados tasting. La Ferme De Billy. They have been making cider since 1651.
    The cider was lovely, the Calvados must be an acquired taste.

    Found a lovely restaurant for lunch near Pont-L’Eveque. Great food, cider and beer! We called into the farm where they buy their cheese and got some to take home. After that lunch all we’re going to need is some cheese.

    Made our way back to Camembert and visited their cheese museum and factory. Then a quick stop in Vimoutiers for some wine, beer and baguette to go with our cheese.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 5

    Into Normandy, cars, cider, amd cheese.

    April 25 in France ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Picked up our hire car this morning from Orly airport. Peak hour getting there so the train was absolutely packed. They had a strike at the airport so lots of people there trying to hire a car. Eek hope that doesn’t happen when we have to fly to Athens.

    Talk about being thrown into the deep end, driving on the wrong side of the road is bad enough without the stress of so much traffic. We finally got far enough away from Paris for the traffic to settle down a bit and to start looking for somewhere to eat. It was surprisingly hard to find somewhere. We ended up stopping at a road side cafeteria whose special of the day was Fillet Mignon. Ha ha only in France.

    We upgraded the car to a Mercedes Benz Compact, a snazzy little thing with lots of bells and whistles. Well after driving for a couple of hours it started doing a few odd things. Felt like the brakes were locking on for a few seconds. After that happened a few times we rang the service department and arranged to go into Caen and have it looked at.

    Our accomodation is a tiny cute little cottage about three kilometres from the village of Vimoutiers. Horses and cows in the paddock a few chooks and a pig who seems to think we should feed him. Gorgeous views across the valley to Camembert!

    We’re meeting some old friends for dinner. They just happen to be crossing France at the same time as us. It was so lovely to catch up with them.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 4

    Second day in Paris.

    April 24 in France ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    We are awake early this morning. Bloody jet lag makes it hard to sleep sometimes. We got a couple of bikes and rode along the river just as it was getting light. It so peaceful to be out and about before everybody is awake. The bridges, the gardens and the Louvre were virtually empty apart from a few groundsmen cleaning up. Gosh it is cold today though, the fickle sun has disappeared and the temperatures are dropping. We found a nice warm coffee shop to huddle in for a while with a cafe crème and a croissant.

    The mission this morning is to visit the Dorsay Museum. the Dorsay is renowned for its rich collection of Impressionism art as well as sculptures and the amazing architecture of the historic railway station it is housed in. The most famous being Monet and Van Gogh. So many people lined up to get in, luckily it’s a massive museum and they all disappeared very quickly once we got inside. We spent a lovely few hours in there looking at the different painting we’d only seen on tv.

    Just as we were about to leave we came across one of the restaurants, wow what a fabulous room, so of course we had to have lunch in there. Along with quite a few other fellow museum goers. It really was a lovely lunch though in a great atmosphere.

    On the bikes again this afternoon and up to visit Sacre Coeur. I’m glad we opted for the electric ones on this trip. It was all uphill and then really uphill at the end. Pretty sure we went through the ghetto of Paris to get there too. I wasn’t game to stop, despite the horrendous traffic and the evil kin-evil other bike riders.

    Holy it was packed up there, so many people about. Gorgeous view of the city from the steps of Sacre Coeur though and lots of fabulous artists in Montmartre painting portraits. Must be cool to be able to paint like that.

    Now the problem of course is the return trip down the hill and now it’s even busier with everyone on their way home. I think I deserved a medal for staying on two wheels, almost stacked it a few times when someone stepped out in front of me or took the red light going the other way. Finally we got back to civilisation and couldn’t find anywhere to leave the bikes. They have to go back in a rack and there needs to be a spare slot. I was ready to dump the bloody things but luckily we finally found an empty slot.

    We needed a drink after that nerve wracking experience and found the perfect bar for our last night.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 3

    Day one in Paris

    April 23 in France ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Heading out for a coffee this morning, it’s hard to describe what sort of coffee you want in France, so it’s a bit hit and miss what you get.

    This morning we were debating how to get around Paris. Decided to hire a couple of bikes. They have them all around town and you can pick one up at one spot and drop it at another. We over to Notre Dam to see how the renovation was going, then along the river where there are so many lovely old buildings, past the Dorsay Museum where we are hoping to visit, the queue to get in was miles long, so we keep going.

    All went well until I opted for an electric one and couldn’t stop in time for a motorbike. My poor bike came off second best and the motorbike took off. Luckily no damage to me, the bike was not so fortunate. Bent the front wheel and when Graham eventually came back to find out where I was, he jumped on it a few times to straighten it out, at least enough to ride it to the next bike rack and dump it.

    We went past the Grand Palais, it too is getting some restoration work done but the Petite Palais was open and free entry as well. Wow the building and gardens were beautiful, full of beautiful French artwork as well as antiques and sculptures. I can just imagine how ornate the grand Palais must be.

    It is a glorious day today so we rode on then to the Eiffel tower, so many tourists lining up to climb it, or take the lift. Luckily we have done that and were just happy to see it from the park and take a few photos.

    It’s freezing today even with the sun shining. We both have four layers on. It’s very easy to ride around Paris. Well it’s all flat and they have bikes lanes everywhere. So many bikes though and some of them zooming through the traffic everywhere. We got lost a bit after lunch and these two teenagers showed us the way back to the river. Just follow me this kid says. Holy hell, he was darting through the traffic everywhere. Was all we could do to keep up. Got us back on track though.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 1

    Setting off!

    April 21 in France ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Today we are setting off on an 8 week trip to France, The Greek Islands, Ireland and Scotland.
    A pretty relaxed start with a flight down to Brisbane in the morning. Marl, Millie and Dan picked us up and we had lunch with Joc and Lan before visiting Mum and chilling out at Marl’s for the afternoon.

    Our flight doesn’t leave until 9 tonight which doesn’t take long after you get through security and immigration and have a few drinks in the bar.
    14 hours to Dubai and then another 7 to Paris. Doesn’t sound too bad, but boy it’s a long time to fill in and without much sleep.

    We finally landed in France at about 2 in the afternoon and made our way into the city. We’re staying in a similar place to where we stayed last time, which was 12 years ago so we thought it would be easy to find. Amazing how much has changed since then, you can see they are doing a lot of work to tidy the place up for the olympics.

    We did eventually find our accomodation and manage to eventually get through the security of three locked doors and gates. It is only a little apartment but very cosy and has everything we need.

    After a shower and freshen up we headed out to find some dinner. Settled on L’ Escargot Montorgreil bit of a famous restaurant, been here since 1832, so they must be doing something right, and yes we did have the escargot and they were small but delicious.

    It is very cold, think we both have four layers on and I’m missing my beanie I forgot to pack. Lucky I have lots of hair.    Read more

  • TravelerAfrican Adventure
    Day 26

    Home

    June 29, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    After six flights, countless security checks, an overnight stay in Nairobi, delayed flights and a few rushed connections we made it back with almost all our baggage. Our paintings got left behind in Nairobi somehow.

    What a fantastic trip this has been, we’ve seen the Big Five, the Ugly Five and almost all of the Little five except for the Elephant Shrew. The tented safari camps were amazing. We all loved the game drives. It really has been the trip of a lifetime.    Read more

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