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Europe 2026
  • Pat Esler
  • Tracey Esler
  • Pat Esler
  • Tracey Esler

Europe 2026

A 64-day adventure by Pat & Tracey Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 19, 2026
    Europe 2026
    We had to buy four litres of gin to get the 20% discount.

    Melbourne

    May 19 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    After a beautiful last Aussie meal (roast lamb) the night before with Matthew, Mary, the grandkids and Seren, Matthew very kindly dropped us at the airport nice and early. The flight to Bali was like a flying daycare centre, with every seat taken plus about 50 pre-school aged kids. Fortunately we like kids.Read more

  • Europe 2026
    Over WA somewhere.
    Leaving Aus between Broome and Port Hedland.

    Denpasar transit

    May 19 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Our direct Jetstar flight to Singapore had been cancelled and we had to transit through Denpasar, making our Melbourne start three hours earlier. The transit was ok though, basically just doing a quick lap of the airport on foot then getting back on the same plane. Good DVT prevention, and keeping our daily steps up.Read more

  • Europe 2026
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    Singapore

    May 20 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Overnight in the land-side airport hotel Yotelair. If the room was any smaller we would have had to put our luggage in the shower, but the bed was ok. No window of course, but half the price of the Crowne Plaza. In the big round building with a giant waterfall fountain in the middle.
    Very close to our check-in with Turkish Airlines this morning, which was very pleasant.    Read more

  • Europe 2026

    Istanbul arrival

    May 20 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    The flight wasn't quite full and we had three seats! Turkish Airlines is very good. The toilet on the plane was more spacious than our ensuite last night, except no shower of course. The flight managed to find it's way between all the war zones and landed safely and on time. We are in Istanbul for four nights to de-jet-lag and see some must-see stuff.Read more

  • Europe 2026

    Istanbul

    May 21 in Turkey ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    We are staying at The And Hotel right in the heart of Sultanahmet. We have a spacious corner room on the fifth floor. Out our northeast window we can see bits of the Topkapi Palace, the Ayasofya Mosque, and across the Golden Horn to the Galata Tower.
    Today we visited the Palace and Ayasofya.    Read more

  • Europe 2026
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    Istanbul wanderings

    May 22 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Our first visit this morning was to the Basilica Cistern, about 100 metres from our hotel. This is an absolutely incredible water storage built underground 1500 years ago (!!!) by the Romans.
    We then started to follow the Lonely Planet walking tour until someone told us the Blue Mosque is closed Friday mornings, so we jumped on a tram and had a wander through the Grand Bazaar.
    This is an enormous complex of little shops, all under cover with arched roofs over the walkways. Eventually the cigarette smoke in the air got too much for Pat so we headed for fresh air.
    We took the tram(s) to the end of the line, over the Galata Bridge to Kabatas, then took the underground funicular up to Taksim Square.
    Searching for a good gluten free lunch had us wandering down steep narrow streets among the stray cats. We shared a surprisingly good chicken salad at Art Salad, a tiny shop with one table out the front. While we sat there probably 20 food delivery motor bikes went past.
    Back to Kabatas and onto a ferry across the Bosphorus Strait to Uskudar on the Asian side. We had a coffee and Pat had tiramisu at a little upstairs cafe, then home by ferry and tram.

    NB:Basilica Cistern had just been closed to the public.
    https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/istan…    Read more

  • Europe 2026

    Blue Mosque last day in Ist

    May 23 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    After a slightly more leisurely start, we headed straight to the Blue Mosque, along with a thousand other people. A beautiful but overcrowded place!
    Passing through the Hippodrome (think chariot racing, lynch mobs) and various obelisks, Theodosius's being the best, we followed the Lonely Planet walking tour and visited a few lovely old mosques . The oldest and most beautiful was notable for its exquisite tiles and peaceful emptiness. Heading home, we stumbled across a cafe with gluten-free Granola & decent coffee - a real find in this city.Read more

  • Europe 2026
    Airport ist
    Our cave hotel12

    Ürgüp (Cappadocia)

    May 24 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Today we start our three day tour to Cappadocia with Bellaturca Travel. We were picked up at our hotel and dropped at the airport, about an hour drive. We are staying at a cave hotel in Ürgüp for two nights. Dinner at the hotel restaurant was good. At least you can't hear the 4:30am call to prayer in a cave room, but we'd rather have some windows.Read more

  • Europe 2026
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    South Cappadocia Tour

    May 26 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Today we visited a huge underground town. The full extent of it is 17 square km. Used by various people over the millennia to escape persecution and murderous invading Mongols.
    After the tour we were transferred Nevsehir airport for our flight back to Istanbul. Picking up the hire car was a bit of a nightmare. We ended up having to pay in cash with a stack of lira 4cm high. Never use Nissa Car Rentals. Wanting a one-way hire to Kas, and coinciding with the Eid holiday period, we had no choice.Read more

  • Europe 2026
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    Ephesus (Efes)

    May 29 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
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    Kastellorizo

    June 1 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    This morning after breakfast we walked down to the port and caught the ferry to Kastellorizo, only a ten minute trip. We are now in Greece and the EU. A short wait and a nice coffee in this very pretty little town, then on to the whopping great ferry for the 3.5 hour trip to Rhodes. So far we like the Greek islands!Read more

  • Europe 2026
    Into a sea cavePebble beaches - painfulFresh and delicious

    Sea Kayaking Rhodes

    June 3 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    After an early pickup from one of the ancient gates of Rhodes (the old town is pedestrian only, theoretically), we headed to the sea on the east coast. After a 4.75km paddle, we stopped to swim, snorkel & lunch at Traganou beach. We kayaked past Anthony Quinn - otherwise known as Zorba the Greek- beach & Falariki beaches to arrive there. Beautiful clear water but only a few shoals of little fish, 9.5 km in the kayak, swimming and some walking made for quite a big day.Read more

  • Europe 2026
    On Pat's evening walk.
    "If I could turn back time..."Filling in time before heading to the ferry.HeraklionHeraklion

    Rhodes last day and ferry.

    Jun 4–5 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    There was no one coming into our room so our host Gioni very kindly allowed us to check out at 4pm. We walked into town via the waterfront and went to Gluten Free Rhodes again, where the coffee is very good.
    We did a bit of sitting and people watching to fill in the time before catching the free bus to the port.
    6:30pm ferry for a 12pm arrival at Santorini. Quite a nice spacious cabin with a window.
    Through the night the ferry stopped at Karpathos, Kasos, Sitia (Crete) and Heraklion (Crete), with each stop requiring loud announcements on the PA.    Read more

  • Europe 2026
    8Sunset from our dinner table at Nektar
    The bus route up from the port.Santorini selfie.Tracey with the purple umbrella.Our quiet hotel oasis.2Our dinner table at Nektar.Sunset from the best view in town - Nektar. Highly recommend.222So many shops, restaurants, hotels!Three cruise ships in the bay.When we got back to our room there was a swan on our bed.

    Santorini

    Jun 5–7 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    After checking into the Anamnesis Spa Hotel, we wandered through the myriad lanes and alleyways of Santorini. This place is really busy. Fortunately, our hotel, only 5 mins from the central square, provides a quiet oasis.
    The highlight of our visit here was undoubtedly dinner at Nektar, at the recommendation of our hotel receptionist. Superb food and view, including a visit from the chef to modify a dish for gluten free. Sadly, no gf dessert.
    Day 2, we walked from Fira through a couple of "villages" to Imerovigli, then caught the packed bus to Oia. With three cruise ships visiting this day, the whole of Santorini was packed.
    Day 3, A relaxed morning, a last stroll around Fira, another fresh Greek salad and it was time to bus and ferry to Naxos .Santorini is an incredible place. A whole economy built on a small precipitous rocky island and totally based on tourism.    Read more

  • Europe 2026
    Blue Star Ferries keep the Mediterranean connected
    Plaka BeachTwo old AussiesWe sampled the fish, lamb, potatoes & salad with goats cheese at a nearby taverna tonight.Cute pair!1Closed on Tuesdays so we did the only thing possible and sneaked a peak..Temple of Demeter (on Tuesdays)Making olive oilBeautiful ChalkiChalkiCalamari, meatballs & home made wine and "liqueur", aka rocket fuelKurosawa statue near Appollonas

    Naxos Greece

    Jun 7–10 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Cruising along beside The shores of Naxos, it was immediately apparent how different it was from Santorini. The island is huge in comparison and flat enough to accommodate development along much of its coast.
    Our first full day on Naxos included some time on the beach and a nice dinner at Petrino restaurant.
    The second day we hired a car and did a road trip across the island and around the north end. The first stop was to the Ancient Temple of Demeter, which is closed on Tuesdays so we just got a peek at it through the fence. We're pretty relaxed about ancient stone things. It's hard to beat Ephesus.    Read more

  • Europe 2026
    Temple of Apollo, Port of Naxos

    Farewell Naxos. Hello Athens

    June 10 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Today was mostly spent travelling. Return hire car (& pay parking fine- bit of a joke), catch fast ferry at 10, Port of Piraeus at 2. Train into Athens, hotel at 3.30. Evening stroll for gf dinner and quiet evening.Read more

  • Europe 2026
    Caryatid Porch of the Erechtheion, temple dedicated to Athena & PoseidonThe ParthenonCappuccino Frigo2Tracey and Maria CallasLots of gum trees in Athens, and even some kurrajong trees.Athens from Lycabettus Hill, the highest point in the cityThe changing of the guard.Very excellent Silly Walking.2Tracey getting our lunch at Kostas.

    A few days in Athens

    Jun 11–13 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Our first full day in Athens required an early start to join the ticket queue for the 8am entry to the Ancient Acropolis site. An easy walk from our hotel and it all went well. Pat joined the queue pretending to have tickets while Tracey waited for the ticket office to open then joined Pat with the tickets. After the Acropolis site we visited the Ancient Agora site, followed by very nice burgers (one gf) at Hard Rock Cafe.
    A bit more relaxed the second morning, but a long walk through an up-market part of Athens to Lycabettus Hill, then down to watch the changing of the guard at the parliament building, followed by lunch in the shade at the National Gardens.    Read more