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  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 22

    Mykonos take 2

    May 12 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 20 °C

    After being back on the boat for a few hours we decided it was a shame not to see more of Mykonos since the boat wasn’t leaving until 11 pm so at about 5 we thought we’d just go over for a drink before dinner. Ran into Marl in the hallway and she said she’d come with us. Millie is still not feeling too good and was tucked up in bed.

    We’d seen a nice little bar not far from where the bus dropped you off and it seemed to be sheltered from the wind too. We expected it to be really cold but actually it was lovely and warm sitting in the afternoon sun. Oh course one drink turned into two and then we decided to stay for dinner.

    We had a seafood platter between the three of us and it was all delicious. The cocktails and the ozoo was pretty good too.

    Chris and Tanya walked past on their way home and they joined us for a nightcap. Watching the sun go down over the boats was so pretty. Definitely one of the special moments of this trip.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 22

    Mykonos.

    May 12 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    It’s Mother’s Day today and I got a lovely message from all the kids.
    We’ve just moored at Mykonos, Millie is felling the effects of a cold so she is staying on the boat and Marl is coming with us for a walk around town.

    Mykonos is full of little alley ways and pretty white houses. We spent a few hours wandering the little streets and trying to avoid the horrible wind. Bought a few little souvenirs while we were there. Had the most expensive coffee and ice cream both of which were really good at least.

    It’s lovely and sunny today but the wind cuts right through you. After a few hours the tourist where pouring in and we’d had enough so back to the boat for some hot soup and a nap.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 21

    Bodrum, Turkey

    May 11 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Today we are moored in Bodrom, never heard of it before we booked this cruise. No tender today we can just get off and walk into town. Nice walk along the water towards the Castle area. So many dogs and cats around here.

    We made it to the Castle area and the market, goodness so many shops. Think this is like the Shenzhen of Turkey. We bought a Turkish coffee, wow so strong, we got half way through the little cup before it turned to mud. They give you a little cup of water with it, you need it to clean the grit out of your mouth.

    It’s a pretty little town, but very commercial, shops selling everything from bag to shirts. We found a cute little bar right on the water and stayed there for a few drinks, watching the tide come in and the waitresses mix cocktails.

    Back on the ship for a couple of quite hours and then we were off for drinks at The Rocks and then dinner and a show.
    The show was called The Rose, I have no idea really what it was all about except there seemed to be one guy in love with both a girl and a boy, but eventually they decide the three of them could make it work. There was plenty of great singing and dancing and some amazing acrobats. In the end the evil queen didn’t like them be so happy, so they all drank a cup of poison and died. Very gracefully and acrobatically though. Fabulous show!    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 20

    Happy Birthday Graham

    May 10 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 20 °C

    It’s Grahams birthday today and we’re spending it in Santorini. It’s not the most spectacular day weather wise. Hopefully we don’t get any rain. We are on the early tender and headed straight up the cable car. There’s a track you can walk up or take a donkey ride but the cruise boat gives you complimentary tickets to the cable car so why not.

    Santorini is full of lovely white building, with a few blue domes scattered through them on top of the churches. Most of them are either restaurants or accomodation.

    We walked along between the tree villages so many photo opportunities along the way. Had a coffee somewhere with a fantastic view. We met a lady coming out of her gate and asked her if we could take some photos from her patio. “No she says you come upstairs it is much better view”. She was right it did have a great view. We got a tour through the accommodation as well.

    So many great ocean views from up there. After a few hours of wandering we headed back down to the boat and a rest before dinner.

    Dinner tonight is at the Test Kitchen. Oh My Goodness the food was amazing. Six courses and all delicious except the dessert which was so so sickly sweet. They made Graham an extra special dessert for his birthday.

    We stopped by On the Rocks and watched a band. We were only staying for two songs but they were so good. Chris and Tanya came and joined us for some dancing and two songs turned into two hours. Graham got a free birthday beer and a song.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 19

    Sail away party.

    May 9 in Greece ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Thank goodness the plane was on time and we had no trouble getting at taxi to the port. Hugely expensive but easy at least. We’re spending two nights in Athens after the cruise and I hope there are some hidden treasures because all we saw was traffic, squalor and graffiti in the hour drive from the airport.

    The check in process was easy and very streamlined getting on the ship. We found Marl, Millie, Joc and Lan. Had a quick catch up and then got ready for the sail away party.

    It was a lot of fun with free pink bubbles I may have had a bit too much of, a wade in the pool and then dinner with everyone at one of the restaurants.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 18

    On to Athens

    May 8 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    We are packed up and on our way back to Orly Airport early this morning. We need to return the rental car and we went to beat some of the traffic. Taking the freeway to make it as quick as possible.
    An hour and a half later and 12 euro for the toll and we turned off for the airport.
    Even Google was confused trying to find the rental car drop off, but eventually we got there.

    Graham had to get his grumpy pants on to make sure we got the money back for the tires. They weren’t too happy about it to start with but eventually someone higher up came out and got it sorted for us.
    So now we have the whole day to fill in at the airport hotel. Teeny tiny little room even by Europe standards
    .
    We walked over to the airport and figured out where we have to go tomorrow, got all our luggage repacked, had a nap, went for dinner and drinks at the hotel next door. It looks way more classy than ours well at least the foyer does.

    Now we’re finally on the flight to Athens. Goodness what a shamozzle getting on. It’s packed and everyone had two or three pieces of hand luggage. It was every man or woman for themselves trying to get it all stowed. I was glad ours was checked on.

    We just flew over the French Alps. They went on as far as you could see.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 17

    On our way back to Paris.

    May 7 in France ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    We are packed up and on our way back towards Paris today. We only plan to go about half way and find somewhere to stay. Travelling over to Montbard and then a little further on to visit Ancy Le Franc. Montbard is a little trip down memory lane from when we came to France last time. We started our canal boat tour from Montbard. Today we went past a few of the places we went through with the boat. Things look very different from a car, much more suburbia than I remember.
    Ancy Le Franc is a chateau built in the 1500’s It is being slowly restored to its former glory. The top floor looks amazing but the ground floor needs a bit of work yet. It holds t he biggest collection of Renaissance murals in France, they are in every room. The maintenance on these Chateaus must be incredible, and Chateaus are everywhere. It really must have been a have and have not society, no wonder there was a revolution.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 16

    Lazy Monday

    May 6 in France ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Woke up to drizzle this morning, thought it might be a good day to catch up on emails, do the washing, refuel the car, repack and in general relax for the day. We have been on the go pretty much every day since we left home.

    We got all our jobs done in the morning, bought a quiche and brownie for lunch, and opened our bottle of Champagne. All of them delicious and then of course we had to sleep the Champagne off for an hour or so.

    We had passed a Luthier shop a couple of days ago and we called in there to see if someone was in. Graham and Roberto had a lovely chat for half an hour or so and we came away with a souvenir of Dole in the shape of a soundboard. Roberto also recommend a restaurant for us as well but as they don’t open until 7 we had a few hours to kill

    The sun has come out this afternoon and we decided to finally take the bikes for a trip along the canal. It was a lovely ride, mostly flat with a good path and a canal. What more could you ask for.

    Home again to finish off our last glass of Champagne and then off to find our restaurant. It really didn’t look too inspiring from the outside but once we got inside it was lovely. Nobody spoke any English in there except the chef, who had to come out when we got there and say “ yes it is possible for you to have dinner” After that it was all sign language with the waitresses. Even Google translate struggled with the font on the menu, so somethings where a surprise when they came out. All good ones luckily.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 15

    Dole

    May 5 in France ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We were all set to go for a bike ride this morning but couldn’t find the keys to unlock the bikes. Rang the owners and they had to send someone out to find them, he couldn’t come until 5 o’clock. So annoying.

    So off we went to do the perched cat trail around town. About a four kilometres trail that winds around the old streets and points out different points of interest.

    We lost interest about half way through when we came to a restaurant we wanted to try. Sunday is a busy day for lunch. None of the restaurants open on Sunday night, only lunchtime. We lucked out and got a great table overlooking the canal.

    Had a look in the church after lunch and then bought some supplies for dinner since we have to fend for ourselves.

    Finished off the cat tour in the afternoon with a look at the art gallery and Hotel Dieu.

    Finally Matthieu turned up and found the key to the bikes, probably be raining tomorrow and we won’t be able to use them. We are having a quite evening at home with our picnic supplies.    Read more

  • TravelerEurope Trip 2024
    Day 14

    On the road again.

    May 4 in France ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Setting off from Epernay this morning we made a wrong turn and came upon a market. We decided to pull over and have a look. Oh my goodness if only we had markets like this at home. So much amazing food and such fabulous quality. We really have nowhere to store food but we bought chicken legs, sausages, champagne pate, a baguette and strawberries. We ate the chicken and sausages for breakfast on the road and the baguette and pate for lunch.

    An hours drive in we stopped at Troyes to see the half timbered houses. It’s Saturday morning so it is busy busy and finding somewhere to park was a bit of a challenge but we managed a park at Hotel De Ville. I think every town has a Hotel de Ville. Came up in the street right at the old timbered houses. Wow there were so many of them. It’s amazing these old building are all still standing, some a little crookedly, but still there and still in use.

    Another couple of hours drive got us to Dole, which we were expecting to be a small town and it is, but in the middle of a huge place. Google maps keep wanting us to go down a street with a bollard in it but we finally found our accomodation. It is lovely, and the old town is lovely too but I don’t know that it has enough to keep us entertained for two days. Might have to venture further afield.

    We went foraging for dinner and considering there doesn’t seem to be that many people about all the restaurants are booked out. We found a French frontage fondue place who said if we eat straight away and are done by eight we could come in.

    Nobody in there had much English and we had no idea what we had ordered but it was all delicious. I think we keep the owner amused, he keep coming out to talk French to us, none of which we understood but it seemed to entertain everyone, us included.    Read more

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