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Paris to Prague

May - June 2017
A 28-day adventure by Janette and John Read more
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  • Janette and JohnParis to Prague
    Day 1

    Flying tomorrow

    May 20, 2017 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    We are at the Parkroyal at Tullamarine Airport. We fly out tomorrow morning for Singapore. Staying here tonight means we can just walk across to the airport in the morning and check in. It's nearly 8pm so we'll go down to the restaurant for a snack. J&JRead more

  • Janette and JohnParis to Prague
    Day 2

    Breakfast Melbourne, dinner Singapore

    May 21, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Today was really just about flying from Melbourne to Singapore. The flight was really good - 10.30 to 6.30 (4.30 Singapore time). There was monsoonal rain when we arrived - hopefully the picture shows the volume of water coming off the roof as we waited for our hotel transfer. Fortunately, the rain eased after we checked in. Our hotel is very close to Orchard Road so we walked there about 8 pm and went into a food hall to eat. We didn't need much as we seemed to have eaten a lot on the plane. With two full days now in Singapore, we're trying to work out where to go.....Read more

  • Janette and JohnParis to Prague
    Day 3

    A day in Singapore with Murphy

    May 22, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    You will all be pleased to know that Murphy has come on holiday with us. Not being too hungry this morning after eating a lot yesterday, we walked to Orchard Rd, had a coffee and muffin and checked out our tourist brochures. With our package with Singapore Airlines we got some freebies - a pass for the hop on / hop off buses and free entry into many attractions. Janette read about a book on Singlish - a dialect which is a cross between Singaporean and English. We caught a bus to a spot closest to the shop selling this book and then walked for what seemed like miles in what seemed like 100%+ humidity. Anyway, we found the shop only to see a sign on the door "closed for stocktaking". We walked further to visit the Malay Heritage Centre. Guess what? - closed on Mondays. Caught a bus back to the Suntec City. This massive complex has a food hall the size of Benalla. We had a lovely seafood lunch each.
    One of our freebies was a river cruise, so again a bus to a point near Clarke Quay and took the cruise. Very interesting to see Singapore from that vantage point. One crew member took great delight in posing passengers for photos so that it looked like they are holding buildings in their hands.
    Again the bus- this time to Raffles Hotel and a traditional gin sling in the 'long bar'. As it was 6.30ish we ate the as well and then took a leisurely stroll back to our hotel with a stop for a coffee on the way (everywhere is open till 10pm).
    J&J    Read more

  • Janette and JohnParis to Prague
    Day 4

    Murphyless Tuesday

    May 23, 2017 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Started the day at local stall where we bought a flash new iPad case which we were after and a very expensive pair of binnoculars which we were not. They will be well used when checking cattle eartags! Our amazing salesman, Geoffrey, has a daughter studying design at RMIT.
    Then we rode on the Singapore Flyer (like the Melbourne Star). Half an hour of truly magnificent views. Then it was off to the Botanic Gardens - we loved the orchid and ginger gardens (in fact we had a sensational lunch with ginger flavours at the restaurant in the ginger garden). The main gardens were amazing but you would really need to spend a day there. How lucky were we to see a " Singaporean goanna" - it even has the same gait as our Molyullah Goanna!
    After packing our bags and a casual meal it is off to the airport ... next notes from Paris!!    Read more

  • Janette and JohnParis to Prague
    1
    Day 5

    1st day in Paris

    May 24, 2017 in France ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Flew 14 hours overnight to land in Paris Wed morning about 7.30. Got to the hotel, L'Hotel du Collectionneur, by about 10.30. The lady who picked us up for our hotel transfer told us about a gallery near the hotel, the Musee Jacquemart-Andre. Seems that about 1913, a bloke with lots of money decided to buy major artworks and build a house to hold them. The works include some from Gris, Gaugauin, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Picasso and others. The whole place is amazing. We walked there and also had a scrumptious lunch in its little cafe.
    Having a little time left before our 6.00 pm meet and greet drinks, we walked to the Arch de Triomphe. After the drinks we asked the concierge to recommend and book us a restaurant. It was about a 20 minute walk with a beautiful meal of Rockling.
    Tomorrow morning it's the Eiffel Tower and at night it's the Moulin Rouge.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnParis to Prague
    Day 6

    Up the tower and the Moulin Rouge!

    May 25, 2017 in France ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    After breakfast, onto a coach for a tour of Paris. Turned out that today is a public holiday so very little traffic. A lot of people take the Friday off too and make it a long weekend - how very Aussie. The French call such a day, a bridge day. Shops may not be open on a public holiday here. If a shop is to open the staff must volunteer to work and will be paid double time. If there aren't enough staff, they don't open.
    The tour was excellent with the most interesting commentary from our guide. We had tickets to the Eiffel Tower for 11.30, and being a tour group, we got fast tracked past the queues. Hard to describe what it's like to be somewhere like that.
    The coach was to take us back to the hotel and then have free time. We elected to stay as there is a museum near the Tower - Musee du Quai Branly - which hosts a very large Australian section. The museum had a lovely cafe so we decided to have lunch before viewing the exhibition. One photo of the tower is taken from the cafe. We had to queue to get in - short staffed - in hot sun. This week has seen Summer arrive.
    We said we were happy to share a table, so we lunched with two delightful Parisienne ladies, one of whom spoke fluent English. Whoever you speak with here, one thing comes across very strongly - they are passionate about Paris, France, their history, everything.
    After lunch we did a quick look at the Aussie section then down to the River Seine for a one hour boat cruise. Paris and the Seine are famous for its bridges and the cruise went under 22. It's a great way to see a different angle on the many landmarks around Paris.
    Because it's a public holiday, the banks of the river were crowded with people enjoying the lovely weather. One photo shows couples ballroom dancing by the river.
    Evening saw us have dinner and show at the Moulin Rouge - spectacular!    Read more

  • Janette and JohnParis to Prague
    Day 7

    Weary but worth it

    May 26, 2017 in France ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    We're absolutely buggered - I don't think we've wasted a minute. The morning today was taken up with a tour to Montmartre, the area where many of the famous artists - eg Toulouse la Trec, Renoir - lived in the late 1800s. It is the highest point in Paris with the basilica, Sacre Cour, on the peak. Montmartre village is centred with a village square with shops and cafes all around. The centre is filled with cafes surrounded by artist stalls leaving a walkway between them and the shops - photo might show this. We wandered around and found a cafe with some room. We had coffee and a crepe - more food. We were taken up to the peak in a little tourist train. While waiting for the return trip down the hill, we watched the most amazing West Indian guys busking. They had the crowd singing and dancing with them - very entertaining.
    We didn't take the coach back to the hotel, choosing instead to take the Metro to take us to Luxemburg Palace and gardens and the Latin Quarter. We walked through this area, which is also the centre for research centres and universities, to another Metro line for the ride back. I think we reached the far side of Paris. The Metro is very user friendly and very efficient.
    After all our walking in the last few days, we went for dinner and went into the first Bistro we came to. Lovely food!
    Back to the hotel to pack for the morning. Our bags have to be outside our rooms by 7am. We will travel to Amsterdam by very fast train.
    J&J    Read more

  • Janette and JohnParis to Prague
    Day 8

    When it's Spring again.....

    May 27, 2017 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    It's Saturday, we must be in Amsterdam. Left Paris on the 10.30 very fast train from Gare du Nord. We had 1st class tickets, so it was like being on a plane, with a steward coming down the aisle with a trolley. First there was morning tea and later lunch - all at 300 kph.
    Arrived at Amsterdam central and a 10 minute walk saw us at the boat. WOW!!!... photos later in the trip.
    Because 6 of us took the train, we were a lot earlier arriving than the others so we walked back towards town and took a canal cruise. You need to be very careful as a pedestrian in Amsterdam - there are cyclists everywhere going very fast. Where we have car parks, they have massive bike parks.
    Dinner is in the restaurant but there is also a small one called the chef's table which only holds 28, where there is one menu for the first week and then a different one for the second week. All passengers can go once each week but must book. The head waiter came over and told us about it and asked if we would like to go tonight. Another wow! 7 courses with matching red and white wines.
    Tomorrow morning Cologne and after lunch - sailing. J&J    Read more

  • Janette and JohnParis to Prague
    Day 9

    We are sailing......to Cologne

    May 28, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Today we were coached to Zaanse Schans, a village of typical Dutch houses, windmills and craft stores. The windmills are functioning. Some windmills were for pumping water to drain land and others were to power workshops. We went on a tour of one which makes paint pigment as it would have been made for the old masters. There are clog makers, a cheese factory and, of course, an antique shop and craft stores.
    When the coaches left the ship, it sailed off and we caught up with it at midday. The rendezvous point was the lock which was to lift us 3.5 metres from the Amsterdam-Rhine canal to the Rhine River.
    Explored the ship then guess what ??? - more food - afternoon tea. Everything looks so nice and is even tastier than it looks.
    Then time to get ready for the Captain's Welcome Dinner tonight. First champagne (and a long stemmed rose for each lady), then a lovely dinner. We sat in the dining room at a table for four and were joined by a lovely couple from Sydney. This is a bit of a strategy so that we can meet as many people as possible and not get into a group.
    We will be sailing through the night in order to reach Cologne in the morning. We were very surprised to see cows and horses freely walking on the beaches on the banks of the river.
    On return to our room, there is an invitation to dinner tomorrow from Princess Heide von Hohenzollern at her Palace. First chance to really frock up! J&J    Read more

  • Janette and JohnParis to Prague
    Day 10

    Oh the Cologne

    May 29, 2017 in Germany ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    Spent the morning in Cologne. For the first hour we had a guide showing us some of the old town. There are beautiful old buildings and a huge gothic Cathedral. The Cathedral was hit by 14 bombs in WW2, but has pretty well been patched up now.
    We then wandered around the shops, went into a cafe and had a cuppa before buying some eau de cologne. We couldn't find the original brand so we bought 4711.
    As our ship had sailed as soon as we disembarked, we were coached to Bonn to rejoin it. This meant we had a nice drive through the town of Bonn. Back on board in time for lunch. Janette's caught a cold so had a sleep and I sat up the pointy end and watched the Rhine roll under us.
    Tonight - dinner at Namemby Castle - wow! The Princess and her daughter live there in a private wing. We were free to explore the rest of the castle and the garden until the gong sounded for dinner.
    Dinner was served in the Mirror Hall - three courses with a piano recital between each. APT are involved in helping young piano masters, and it was one of these who played for us tonight. Julia Polinskaja, born in Moscow, raised in Hamburg, was our pianist. Don't know if it was appreciated by a few, but most knew how good she is.
    We stay here in Bonn tonight and set off again at 5.30 am tomorrow.
    Tomorrow we sail through the Rhine Gorge. This is one of the cruising highlights. It has been highly recommended the we all be on deck for this. J&J    Read more

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