Europe 2017: London, in a day...
19 апреля 2017 г., Англия ⋅ ☀️ 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 adventuresЧитать далее
Oh, there's snow down there
20 апреля 2017 г., Швейцария ⋅ ☀️ -8 °C
Turns out the snow is called Switzerland...
Pisa's colourful turny thing
20 апреля 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ☀️ 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 theЧитать далее
Just Go... (just keep right.)
21 апреля 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ☀️ 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 forЧитать далее
Volterra, Italy
21 апреля 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ☀️ 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 noЧитать далее
Siena. Been there. Old, and not.
22 апреля 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ☀️ 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 withЧитать далее
Путешественник
Yes, exquisite it is. There's a whole other kind of beautiful over here.
Assisi. All creation and eras praise.
24 апреля 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ☀️ 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 whatЧитать далее
Florence. Think. Different.
25 апреля 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ⛅ 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 andЧитать далее
Dirk Quartel...Luca?? If you go there, don't hire the 4 person bikes. For 2 reasons. 1, you don't need one because you're kids are back in Aust. 2, they look like they are much more fun than they actually are. It's a great town to explore though.
ПутешественникTa 4 this Dirk, and your the encouragement that's helped us do this. Lucca would be Brill but we turned right from Florence, and now in Reggio Emilia. Self-guided PD session for Helen and I. :)
Reggio Emilia. Learn. Different.
27 апреля 2017 г., Италия ⋅ 🌬 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 ofЧитать далее
Jodie MitchellLooks incredible Helen, love the photo with the lion in the town square!
Levanto, Cinque Terra's front door
28 апреля 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ⛅ 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 holidayЧитать далее
Cinque Terra (the five lands)
29 апреля 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ☀️ 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 onЧитать далее
Kathryn Bertram
That's the town I stayed in! Such a relaxed vibe, hope you got to chill here a bit.
'Gourdon'. Must be an awesome place.
30 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 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 beЧитать далее
Путешественник
Thanks Joy for this and other kind comments. We've had plenty of good weather for outdoor meandering. Walking over 14ks per day...
Avignon: centre of the western church
2 мая 2017 г., Франция ⋅ 🌧 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 fewЧитать далее
Путешественник
Yep, blue is wonderful. Bonus snow on the peaks in the horizon. Not going there though, too cold...
Arles. What did the Romans do for them..
3 мая 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 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 isЧитать далее
Dirk Quartel
I'd be passing on the fish and looking for the big tray of fresh croissants and French cheeses. This is not the time nor place to be eating healthy!
ПутешественникAbsolutely Dirk , we are one in heart and cheese here. We bought cheese, dip and bread and lunched later in the park by the roman theatre. They also sell nougat in blocks - like four litre ice cream size blocks...
Pont du Gard. Built to last.
4 мая 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 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 50Читать далее
Now THAT'S a pont.
5 мая 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 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 RiverЧитать далее
Gday from Switzerland.
6 мая 2017 г., Швейцария ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Cloudy and cool here. We'll see what the next few days bring....
Helen ChessellBeautiful! You certainly moving around. Glad to see you are having a great time!
Interlaken. A destination, a beginning
7 мая 2017 г., Швейцария ⋅ ⛅ 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 forЧитать далее
Lauterbrunnen. Sleep under 5 waterfalls
8 мая 2017 г., Швейцария ⋅ ⛅ 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.Читать далее
Schilthorn. WOW !!!!!!!!
9 мая 2017 г., Швейцария ⋅ ⛅ 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 theЧитать далее
Autostrade/route/bahns. A user guide.
10 мая 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 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 tollЧитать далее
Paris. It's over here.
11 мая 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 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 nextЧитать далее
Kathryn Bertram
I love the riot of colour in the windows and the intricate details in the wood carvings.
Versailles. Birthplace of democracy?
12 мая 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 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 builtЧитать далее
Paris part two: the art binge session.
13 мая 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 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 alsoЧитать далее
Joy Marshall
nearly at the front. i got to the space where the tall guy is... awesome
Paulie ProctorDon't you reckon the Mona Lisa seems so much smaller than you expect?
Paris part three. Let's walk up there...
13 мая 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 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 deЧитать далее
Dirk Quartel
Best round-a-bout in the world. I dare you to hire a push bike and ride around it!
Kathryn BertramYou look surprisingly fresh and awake.
Joy Marshallthe front of the top deck is awesome