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Bilkey 6 in Europe

March - April 2023
A 32-day adventure by Rowan, Sarah, Tom and 3 others Read more
  • 34footprints
  • 6countries
  • 32days
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  • 14videos
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  • 17.9kkilometers
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  • Bilkey 6 in Europe
    Day 29

    Doha Heat

    April 27, 2023 in Qatar ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    With a hint of sadness, we packed our bags and shut the door one last time on our Athens apartment. We made our way down the tiny elevator and got yelled at one last time by the angry Greek resident for being too loud (we were nearly silent).

    On the walk home the previous evening we’d stopped for ice creams at a patisserie/cafe and the woman had advised us that they do wonderful breakfasts, so we made our way there before we headed for the train station. The boys loaded up on waffles and pancakes while the grown ups had eggs. The food throughout Europe has been outstanding, one of the real highlights, particularly for the gastro-focused Jack, so this was a fitting last meal.

    We made our way onto the train and through the outer suburbs of Athens to the airport. Our flight left at around 2pm, so we grabbed a bite before boarding. A relatively short flight, but a spectacular view throughout. We headed over the eastern Mediterranean Sea and crossed land over Egypt and the Sinai Peninsular. The landscape showed ancient river beds, dried inland seas and rolling sand dunes. We crossed Saudi Arabia before landing in Doha.

    Our driver from the airport was happy to tell us about the recent World Cup, pointing out a range of landmarks on route to our hotel. Doha was the only leg that we stayed in a hotel, and boy did we pick a good one. We stayed at the Al Najada, a 4-5 star establishment perfectly located across the road from the Souk Waqif, the main bustling market place.

    By the time we checked in and decided who was getting which gigantic bed, it was dinner time. We walked out into the evening heat and over to the market, which was full of energy. Fred found a giant golden thumb, and needed to compare his thumb size. We found a table up a laneway and sat down. Soon enough the boys were up again, joining in a game of soccer with some other young lads. Tick. With bellies full of lamb, hummus and pita, we headed home and crashed into bed.    Read more

  • Bilkey 6 in Europe
    Day 30

    Camels, sandboarding and the Inland Sea

    April 28, 2023 in Qatar ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    We had only one full day in Doha and we were keen to spend some time poolside. Before that though, the boys have come to love breakfast buffets. They didn’t miss out!

    We then made our way to the rooftop pool overlooking the city. It was nice to just sit and relax, read a few pages of a book and let the boys just muck around.

    We had booked a half day tour in the afternoon/evening which included some pretty exciting sounding activities. We were all keen to get going. At 2pm we were collected from the hotel and began heading south from the city. Sarah asked a million questions of the driver, who patiently and competently answered each and every one. After an hour or so, we reached a compound where we were confronted with a mass of camels. Here we go…

    One of the most bizarre experiences we’ve ever had was mounting and riding a camel. We were all shepherded to our beast and asked to hop on. After my camel stood up, I was a little concerned about how well Fred would hold on, but he managed it easily and we were soon on our way. We were led up a nearby sand dune where we had a great view out to the Persian Gulf. Campbell’s camel seemingly had the biggest hump to contend with and Cam needed to stretch himself out fully on his front to be able to hold the reigns.

    With lots of laughter and a few shrieks, we made our way back down the hill. The camels slowly sat down, first leaning all the way forward and kneeling, holding that position for a seeming eternity before finally dropping their hind legs and allowing us to alight. We all need a cup of tea after that.

    Back in the 4WD, we continued south and into the dunes. Our driver had let the air out of the tyres to allow for some serious dune bashing. Our first hair raiser was as we were heading along the spine of a dune with a severe drop to our left. Sure enough our driver suddenly pulled the steering wheel and we were almost vertical, with sand blasting all over the vehicle. Our stomachs were all still at the top of the dune, and visions of Fred’s vomit in Crete popped into our collective minds.

    We continued to expertly navigate the dunes, picking a path, tearing down the side and then blasting up the next one. It was pretty cool.

    After a time, we arrived at a dune that was ripe for sand boarding. A group was already there and we watched as they careened down the hill.

    Campbell was keen to go, and he sat down on the board. He made it 3/4 of the way down before crashing to one side, getting a mouthful and eyeful of sand. He also tangled himself up with the board and grazed the back of his leg.

    To his credit it wasn’t long before he had another go, this time with Tom, and again with Rowan. Fred and Tom paired up as well and Jack went again. Rowan needed to test himself standing up, calling on all his snowboarding experience of 25 years ago. It was a moderate success, however after the fifth time having to trudge back up the dune, his legs were absolutely spent. The boys had one more go each before we jumped back in the car.

    It was nearly sunset as we arrived at the inland sea. It’s an impressive body of water that marks the border between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and empties into the Persian Gulf. The foot of the dunes meet the water and we happily cooled off in the crystal clear water. Jack felt a nip at his toes and we quickly discovered a host of crabs walking around us!

    Sarah enjoyed the sunset over the dunes. It was our last evening overseas (apart from tomorrow evening when we depart for home) and we quietly reflected on our trip. Before the light completely disappeared, we hopped back into the car and made our way back through the desert towards the bright lights of Doha.

    After returning home we showered and made our way back to the Souk for dinner. We found a table at Damasca, a Syrian inspired restaurant and ordered just about everything on the menu. The TV on the wall was showing the local football final and we were engrossed as it went to 13-12 penalty shootout.

    We got a dinner and show as well, as the restaurant puts on a music and dance display. This progressed to two men having a sword fight right in front of us and one of the men making his way around the tables interacting with guests. The boys all had swords held to their throats… that’s one way to get them to eat their greens!

    After a huge day, we all hit the pillow for our final time.    Read more

  • Bilkey 6 in Europe
    Day 32

    Last hurrah

    April 30, 2023 in Qatar ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C

    Our final day abroad was bittersweet. Bitter because our journey was coming to an end, but sweet because we got to go nuts at the breakfast buffet one last time.

    Full of waffles, pancakes, omelettes and coco pops, we needed to check out one or two landmarks in Doha before leaving. We headed out into the mid-morning sun. By 10am it was 30 degrees, set to get close to 40 by the time we got back.

    We walked past the souk and down to the water’s edge. Near the old Harbour where traditional boats take tourists on trips around the bay, is a giant pearl in an oyster, a nod to the country’s pre-oil days when it was a small pearling and fishing outpost in the Persian Gulf. I don’t know if there’s a Big Pearl anywhere in Australia, but perhaps Broome can make an offer to the Qartaris.

    The temperature was rising, but there was one last thing we wanted to check out. A few hundred meters further along the Corniche (the kilometers long grass lawn along the waterfront of the Harbour), stands a flag monument, a piazza containing a flagpole for almost every flag in the world. The boys have taken a particular interest in countries and flags over the past few months. Jack in particular has a keen memory for such. In fact, one of the regular phrases we found ourselves calling out over the past month as we passed embassies, travel shops or restaurants, was “hey Jack, what flag is that?” Like we were asking Siri or Alexa.

    Jack and the boys enjoyed finding different countries and comparing the similarities and differences. Eventually though, the heat won out and we made our way back towards home, via a servo to top up on water and Powerade.

    Our last stop before we made it to the hotel was the Souk, for one last poke around. The boys must have scrounged a few final Qatar Riyals from their pockets and the three young ones managed to find a bargain on their favourite soccer kits - Campbell with a Barcelona kit, Jack with a Real Madrid and Fred with Paris st Germain. I think their birthday presents this year might be a little light on… I was also keen to see one more thing at the souk - the falcon hospital. We wound our way through the lanes and came across the Falcon Souk, where you can buy a falcon or accessories. We opened the door and saw half a dozen kites looking at us, tied to their perches. The gentleman acknowledged us and nodded his approval to enter and look further within the store. Around the corner we found 5 beautiful falcons, each sitting quietly on their perches, rope tied to their leg. They were amazing specimens, with razor sharp talons and beaks and eyes that really looked at you. They were pretty cool.

    Once home, Sarah snoozed while the boys took one last swim in the pool. It was good to again have not much to do for a few hours. We packed our bags and left them at reception while we ate lunch in the hotel restaurant. It was then time to update journals and reflect as we waited for our car to arrive.

    Our flight departed at 6pm. We had 13 hours ahead, and I think Fred had his head on my lap for 9 of those. Oh to be young, flexible and be able to sleep anywhere.

    We touched down at Sydney airport in good time, around 4:30pm on Sunday May 30. While we had planned to stay in Sydney that evening, thinking we were to land a few hours later, the lure of our own bed was too much and we decided to grab a quick bite and jump straight on the train.

    Outside, Sydney rushed by through the window of the train, and eventually the Central Coast. We neared Cardiff station after nightfall. Grandma Julie was there to greet us, a friendly face after a long trip.

    It wasn’t long after a cup of tea at the kitchen table before we were all pushing out zzzzz’s, not sure what timezone we were in, but sure that we had made it home after a mighty adventure.    Read more

  • Bilkey 6 in Europe
    Day 33

    Home and hosed

    May 1, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Back in Australia, and time to reflect, we’ve been thoroughly fortunate to have the trip that we did.

    To see the cities, sites, people and cultures that we did and experience a little slice of life in those places is an invaluable experience for the boys and hopefully sews a seed in them that grows into a blossom of curiosity.

    The confidence to join in a game of soccer with kids at the park that don’t speak English, or order your third Currywurst but try to do it in German, or figure out what changes we need to make on the tube in order to get from West Kensington to Euston Station are all skills the boys have unknowingly picked up along the way. They also now have an unrealistic expectation of hotel breakfast buffets!

    We caught up with Richard, Elise, Charlie, Sam and Teddy, Provan and Erin, Lucy, Dickie, Fabs and Trix, Zoe, Ant, Chris and his family, Glenn and Merro.

    We saw so much, but know it’s barely scratched the surface. There’s so much more to see. Until next time……    Read more

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