Europe 2017: London, in a day...
April 19, 2017 in England ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
It starts now: long service leave after 25 years of full time ministry for me [Gordon], and ten years of Helen teaching at Ruyton.
Part one of the holiday is seven weeks in Europe.
The adventuresRead more
Oh, there's snow down there
April 20, 2017 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ -8 °C
Turns out the snow is called Switzerland...
Pisa's colourful turny thing
April 20, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Much overlooked, this is the cultural highlight here. Oh, and some dodgy bell tower. Second highlight, a CRACKER of a baptistery!!! Did my Baptist heart much good. Wandered across the city from theRead more
Just Go... (just keep right.)
April 21, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
This van is awesome. 7.5m long and 3.2 wide, it goes fine and is massive armchair comfy. Also terrifying on ancient roads 3.3m wide ;) Note, only one of these vehicles is the van. But who is up forRead more
Volterra, Italy
April 21, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
For big impact, go small. Volterra is a 'small' hill town. BUT it also packs 2800 years of constant habitation history into its hilltop walls. The etruscan spirit is still kicking on, make noRead more
Siena. Been there. Old, and not.
April 22, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Do you remember the 13th to 15th century? The Sienese sure do. They rocked the world back then, with supersize cathedral attempts and supercivil government. Now it's dukeing it out 21c style withRead more
Assisi. All creation and eras praise.
April 24, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
I thought Assisi was Francis' surname. This is his home town, though is roman era old. It has both ornate and simple churches. It has outwardly religious people, bars, and bowmen. It seeks whatRead more
Florence. Think. Different.
April 25, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Florence stretches from renaissance living to real(ish) leather goods, and all points in between. It's been home to Michaelangelo, Leonardo da vinca, Dante, and us (well for coffee in the piazza andRead more
Reggio Emilia. Learn. Different.
April 27, 2017 in Italy ⋅ 🌬 13 °C
A delightful surprise and an inspirational time for Helen. This is where the Reggio movement began in early childhood ed. The International Centre is here and we both enjoyed exploring. The centre ofRead more
Levanto, Cinque Terra's front door
April 28, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Italians love their front doors. They are often a main feature, though we often overlook them on the way beyond. Levanto will not be overlooked. It is cosy and colourful, with an Apollo Bay holidayRead more
Cinque Terra (the five lands)
April 29, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Five small isolated villages have become a hub of Italian riviera indulgence. Postcard beautiful in sea, sky, and sites (when not utterly crushed by cruise lines tour crowds). Plan to come. But not onRead more
'Gourdon'. Must be an awesome place.
April 30, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Now venturing beyond the cosy confines of Italian order and serenity. First night was here. They almost spelt it correctly too, tho meaning is the same: fortress. Can see a bit from here: that'll beRead more
Avignon: centre of the western church
May 2, 2017 in France ⋅ 🌧 11 °C
Well it was the centre for a bit, like two hundred years or so. Life for the Pope was a bit (politically) hot in Rome in the 1300s. So what's a Pope to do? Build a new city for yourself and fewRead more
Arles. What did the Romans do for them..
May 3, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
A theatre for one, an amphitheatre right next door for two, and a marvellous crypt. Sort of MCG / tennis centre precinct a la first century. Van Gogh also made it his home for some years. His art isRead more
Pont du Gard. Built to last.
May 4, 2017 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Romans love a good bath. And a fountain or two. Oh and it helps if one keeps the slaving masses alive. All this needs water. As I'm sure you realise, this isn't even a pont; it's an aqueduct. Over 50Read more
Now THAT'S a pont.
May 5, 2017 in France ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
(a bridge for you non francophiles). This one is made without human hands: only nature's hand using stone, water, wind, and time. Pont-dArc is part of the Ardeche gorge: picture the Murray RiverRead more
Gday from Switzerland.
May 6, 2017 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Cloudy and cool here. We'll see what the next few days bring....
Interlaken. A destination, a beginning
May 7, 2017 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
Interlaken is a big country tourist town. There are plenty of shops restaurants and hotels to keep you fed and comfy. It was raining heaps so we rested up here. Interlaken is also the beginning forRead more
Lauterbrunnen. Sleep under 5 waterfalls
May 8, 2017 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Yep, there are five waterfalls in view as we tuck in for the night. This is because this glacial valley has vertical walls over 200 meters high. It's a long way for water and base jumpers to fall.Read more
Schilthorn. WOW !!!!!!!!
May 9, 2017 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C
Wow is international language for 'I do not believe what I am looking at, and clearly no one else in this cable car does either'. It's spoken in unison by all the very moment we break through theRead more
Autostrade/route/bahns. A user guide.
May 10, 2017 in France ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Here's a quick user guide to motorways, as we've done eight hours on the road today from Switzerland most of the way to Paris.
French autoroute. Respectable paved roads with utterly random tollRead more
Paris. It's over here.
May 11, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Buildings. River up the middle. Heaps of old stuff. Yep we are in a city again. Left bank espresso was loved; constant police sirens not so much. I think it'll better on the inside. Well see over nextRead more
Versailles. Birthplace of democracy?
May 12, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
"Versailles represents the highest and lowest points in European royalty" Discuss.
When you are the King, and the Louvre is too dinky and squat, and you don't like the neighbours, you builtRead more
Paris part two: the art binge session.
May 13, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
We don't aim low: two vast internationally famous museums, one day to do them. An early start leads to a full and brilliant day. Musee d'Orsay in the morning for 19th and 20th century art. They alsoRead more
Paris part three. Let's walk up there...
May 13, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Louvre. Done. Museum d'orsay. Done by 4pm. Now, let's do the Champs-Elysées, Paris' mashup of top end Collins Street shops with Royal Parade width and trees. We walk from the Louvre up to the Arch deRead more
















































































































































































































Kathryn BertramYou look surprisingly fresh and awake.
Joy Marshallthe front of the top deck is awesome