• R and R Travels
  • Robin Braithwaite
  • R and R Travels
  • Robin Braithwaite

Europe 2023

A long awaited trip to Europe via Japan.
We'll visit;
Japan, France, Sardinia, Corsica, Spain and England
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  • Mt Fuji at high speed

    25 lipca 2023, Japonia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Heading back to Tokyo from Kyoto today on Nozomi 24, in the Green Car. Nice.

    We got a glimpse of the famous mountain, obscured by cloud as it almost always is.

    Was interesting to see what I estimate to be 10's of thousands of solar panels in fields by the railway.

    Oh, and another video from the Shinkansen at 285kph. (can't get enough of it)
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  • Dinner, Tokyo - Manten Sushi Maranouchi

    25 lipca 2023, Japonia ⋅ 🌙 30 °C

    Tonight's dinner was an unusual one. The concept is called "Omakase". The phrase omakase, literally 'I leave it up to you', is most commonly used when dining at Japanese restaurants where the customer leaves it up to the chef to select and serve seasonal specialties.

    We were served the following courses;

    Clam soup
    Banded snapper
    Seaweed
    Snapper
    Scallops
    Abalone & liver
    Sea bass
    Steamed egg and crabmeat
    Shrimp 20 little shrimp
    Tofu
    Wasabi leaf
    Bitter melon
    Amberjack
    Green tea
    Enoki
    Endamame
    Eggplant
    Octopus
    Salmon roe and Sea Urchin
    Bluefin Tuna. One from back one from front.
    Tuna onion cone
    Clam miso
    Saltwater eel
    Pickled cucumber
    Omelette
    Watermelon

    Suffice to say we left well satisfied.

    ¥7,700 per person
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  • Underfoot in Japan

    26 lipca 2023, Japonia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Sometimes you should look down.

    Kyoto's manhole covers are part of Japan's unique tradition of decorative manhole art, which began in the 1980s as a way to make the high costs of sewerage systems more palatable to taxpayers. Each city or district often has its own distinct designs that reflect local culture, history, or landmarks. Czytaj więcej

  • Farewell Japan, see you real soon

    26 lipca 2023, Japonia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    We stayed at the Royal Park Hotel at Terminal 3.

    It's a reasonably priced, modern hotel with easy access to the airport transportation network and very easy access to the check-in desks.

    JAL made it easy to check-in using a kiosk and the security and immigration stops were very smooth with no lines.

    Off to Paris today. 15 hours ahead of us.
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  • au même moment à Paris...

    26 lipca 2023, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Dinner with old friends, Henry and Ray, at L'Entracte and enjoying the view of the Opéra Garnier.

    L'Entracte is a classic French bistro strategically located near the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris's 9th arrondissement, from which it derives its name - "entracte" meaning "intermission" in French. The restaurant has historically catered to opera-goers and theatre patrons, serving traditional French bistro cuisine before performances and during intermissions. Housed in a typical Parisian building with characteristic burgundy awnings and outdoor terrace seating, L'Entracte embodies the quintessential Parisian café-bistro atmosphere. Whilst restaurant offerings can change, they have been known for serving classic French dishes like steak-frites, escargots, and croque monsieur, along with a fine selection of wines. The restaurant's prime location on rue Auber, combined with its historic connection to the opera house, has made it a notable part of the neighbourhood's cultural landscape. Czytaj więcej

  • Galeries Lafayette

    27 lipca 2023, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Touristing... great views from the Terrace on the Galleries Lafayette store. You'll need to search it out.

    Galleries Lafayette, the grand magasin located on Boulevard Haussmann in Paris's 9th arrondissement, stands as one of the city's most iconic department stores. The flagship store, opened in 1912, is renowned for its spectacular Neo-Byzantine coloured glass dome and Art Nouveau staircases, which create a theatrical shopping atmosphere beneath its 43-metre-high central cupola. The building's stunning architecture, particularly the ornate balconies with their Belle Époque ironwork, draws visitors as much as its luxury retail offerings. The store spans multiple floors of fashion, beauty, and homeware departments, whilst its rooftop terrace offers breathtaking views across Paris to the Opéra Garnier, Eiffel Tower, and Sacré-Cœur. During the festive season, the store is particularly famous for its elaborate Christmas decorations and window displays, which have become a beloved Parisian holiday tradition. Czytaj więcej

  • Balade à Montmartre

    28 lipca 2023, Francja ⋅ 🌩️ 24 °C

    Walked between rainstorms to Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Getting some miles out of our raincoat purchase.

    Sacré-Cœur Basilica dominates the Parisian skyline from its perch atop Montmartre hill. This gleaming white church, built in Romano-Byzantine style, stands out against the city's predominantly Haussmann architecture. Construction began in 1875 and finished in 1914, making it a relatively young monument by Parisian standards. Its interior boasts one of the largest mosaics in the world, depicting Christ with outstretched arms. Visitors climb the steep steps (recently featured in John Wick 4) or take the funicular to reach the basilica, rewarded with panoramic views of Paris from its dome or the steps leading up to the entrance. At night, when illuminated, Sacré-Cœur takes on an almost ethereal quality, visible from many parts of the city. Czytaj więcej

  • Flâner dans Paris

    29 lipca 2023, Francja ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Another day wandering the streets of Paris:
    Place Vendôme
    Musée du Louvre
    Le Centre Pompidou
    Musée des Archives Nationales
    Place de la Bastille
    Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
    Hôtel de ville de Paris

  • La Coulée Verte or Paris High Line

    29 lipca 2023, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    The elevated boardwalk trail, built above the viaduct, crosses the 12th arrondissement from Place de la Bastille to the outskirts of Paris, until the Château de Vincennes. La Coulée Verte is a lush public park with unique views of Paris, perfect for getting some fresh air, having a picnic, or simply exploring a part of Paris, that is off the Beaten Path. Czytaj więcej

  • Cuisine Parisienne

    29 lipca 2023, Francja ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Visited Galleries Lafayette Gourmet to drool over the food.

    Galleries Lafayette Gourmet houses several pristine pastry counters where classic French pâtisserie is displayed with characteristic Parisian elegance. The selection ranges from precisely crafted macarons and éclairs to seasonal tartes, whilst respected chocolatiers showcase their pralines and truffles. The space combines retail efficiency with careful presentation, maintaining the department store's standards of quality and style. Czytaj więcej

  • Flâner dans paris

    30 lipca 2023, Francja ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Some dans le métro entertainment, café with Georgie and Fraser at Marché Bastille and then lunch at L'As du Fallafel in Le Marais.

    Édouard-VII-VII, 9th arrondissement.

    The Paris Métro, marked by its Art Nouveau entrances and white-tiled trains, shuttles passengers efficiently through its maze of underground corridors. Riders swipe their tickets, navigate colour-coded lines, and follow signs to platforms whilst watching for pickpockets. The automated 'attention à la marche' warning echoes through stations as trains depart, whilst buskers move between carriages during quieter periods, adding a quintessentially Parisian soundtrack to the daily commute. Czytaj więcej

  • Last dinner in Paris

    30 lipca 2023, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Final dinner before we head to Lyon, Henry and Ray to Doha then home, Georgie and Fraser to enjoy a few more days in Paris before joining us in Salon-de-Provence. It's been wonderful.

  • Galeries Lafayette Le Gourmet

    31 lipca 2023, Francja ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    What an amazing experience this part of Galleries Lafayette is. It's everything David Jones food hall in the Sydney CBD wanted to be.

    Lafayette Gourmet, the food hall at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, combines upscale food retail with casual dining. The space houses wine merchants, cheese and charcuterie specialists, patissiers and international food counters, alongside a champagne bar with city views. Local office workers mix with tourists during busy lunch hours, when the fresh food counters do their fastest trade. Czytaj więcej