Day 26 - Paris

Another big day, today is museum day but first a visit to the Notre Dame cathedral, the RER takes us straight to the front door and we manage to get inside just as mass was finishing and the organ was playing, very loudly and filling the whole cathedral. After doing a lap of the cathedral we head off to the Musee D'orsay to take in the art, once again there is a long line of people waiting for tickets but we waltz through the pass entrance, we wander around and I am disappointed to see that there are paintings and sculpture not on show as there is renovations going on. After 4 hours of wandering we get some lunch before heading to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa, her room is filled with people 5 deep trying to get photos.
We wonder around till closing time ending up in the medieval louvre section, before getting Hustled out.
A quick walk to see Joan of Arc and we are back on the metro bound for our hotel.
Tomorrow is our last half day before catching the 3:15 train to London, a long day tomorrow with a late 10:45 pm flight home.

Day 25 - Paris

Today is another full day of walking and we head of the see the tomb of Napoleon, on our way we encounter a street parade, many cultures with tall figures are heading along the street to the sound of music.
We enter Napoleons chapel and visit his tomb, then it is off down to the Grand Palais before turning and heading for the Place de la Concorde.
Lunch is taken in the Tulleries garden before heading to see Monet's lilies, many people are lined up but our museum pass works wonders again. After taking in the paintings it is off to the metro to catch a train to the Arc de triumph. The arch is flooded with tourists and after taking some photos it is onto another metro train to the Trocodaro
To visit the Musee de Marine, the museum is full of ship models, all in exquisite detail.
4.30 approaches and it is time for a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower, I have booked the tickets on my phone so we can use the reserved ticket entry, good thing as the line for tickets is very long and would easily take an hour, we enter with only a 5 min wait, through the two elevators we make our way to the top of the 324 m tower, the view is a good one, a little hazy and a cool wind is blowing. We stay for the sunset from the second level and watch as the lights of the tower turn on. Another excellent ending to a day.

Day 24 - Chateau of Versailles

First full day in Paris and it is sun sun sun, today we are catching the RER to Versailles to see the Chateau of King Louis the XIV. I have bought the tickets yesterday so it is just a matter of catching a train, unfortunately that is not that easy as there are track maintenance and we are sharing an hour for a train.
Finally we are underway and soon arrive at the end of the VICK line, it is a short stroll to the chateau and the sight that greets me is over whelming, the marble and gold leaf detailing is amazing.
We join the line and head inside, once again the detailing and paintings are outstanding, room after room, each one outdoing the next. The size of the buildings and grounds are hugh, a golf cart is a definite must, one should plan 2 days to see things properly.
After 4 hours of wandering the halls and grounds we wander back to the station to catch the train back to Paris and then back to the room for a well eared rest.

Day 23 - Paris

Well the morning is a better one as we look out over the Reims cathedral while having breakfast. There is a light mist but also breaks of sunshine as well.
It is a short stroll to the cathedral and it is a very impressive sight that greets us, the statues on the front of the cathedral are the largest I have seen so far, and the inside is also very impressive, there is a difference in the amount of light from one end to the other as a result of some of the stained glass windows being destroyed during the war.
After our visit it is checkout and we have to drag our bags to the station to catch the TGV fast train to Paris, the trip takes 45 min and is a smooth trip through the French countryside. The fact that we have been traveling at close to 300 klm/hour is only released if you concentrate on the power poles whizzing past the window.
Paris garde de est is our final destination, the station is busy with people and it is a quick trip to the ticket office to book our eurorail train to London for Monday.
We decide to take a taxi ride to the hotel, the mayhem that is Paris traffic ensues but despite the impending chaos we arrive intact and having seen many tourist sights all for the princely sum of 20 euros.
After settling into the hotel we head out to have a look at the Eiffel tower which is at the end of the block, people are settling in for the evening on the grass in front of the tower with there wine and food. A perfect way to end a first day in Paris.

Day 22 - Reims

Well the alarm is ringing for 7 am but it is pitch black outside, to dark even to see the clouds. Today we are on the rails to Reims, the 11:07 train to Tergnier with a connection to Reims. We arrive at the station early so as I can make reservations for the fast train to Paris For tomorrow.
The train leaves on time a small single carriage sprinter, the surrounding country side is flat and the fields are full of busy farmers getting in the harvest. We pass through Villers-Bretonneux and can see the war memorial on the hill in the distance. Lots of windmills are dotted around the landscape most turning in the breeze.
We arrive at Tergnier on time and have 13 minutes to spare before our connecting train is under way. The next major stop is Laon and as we pull into the station we can see high on the hill above the town the medieval cathedral, a very large imposing sight that is visible for miles around.
We arrive at Reims, pronounced Rras, and after getting a local map head out into the streets to find our hotel, our hotel is in the main part of town mid way between the train station and the cathedral, it also has a rooftop restaurant that looks out to the cathedral, and it is from here we get our first site of the amazing building.
Since the day is bit ordinary we decide to visit the cathedral tomorrow morning hopefully with better weather.

Day 21 - Amiens

Well today will be an interesting day, a lot of train connections to catch and not a hugh amount of wiggle room.
The day starts out well with our first train being cancelled, one minute it was on the board then it had disappeared. After searching for another train we finally find one that turns up, so it is off to Moescron, where we can catch a train to Lille, the trip goes smoothly and we catch our connection to Lille, thankfully we arrive ahead of our connection to Amiens, so it is a 3/4 hour wait for our train, we board the train and head out across the french fields, the potato and sugar beet harvest are in full swing, piles of vegetables are gathered at the ends of fields.
After a long trip we arrive in Amiens, the train has passed through Albert and this has given us a chance to survey the station for a taxi rank.
After dropping our bags at the hotel we are back to the station to back track back to Albert, upon arriving I am disappointed to find no taxis, after enquiring with a local shop keeper, he kindly calls us a taxi. After a 10 minute wait we board our taxi bound for the cemetery in Longueval. We arrive at the cemetery after a fast paced taxi ride in the country side, there are another couple looking around, the flowers are all out and the cemetery look very peaceful. I place my plaque at the head stone of Ernest Ely, words and a photo are taken, after signing the visitor book it is back to the taxi and back to the station for another train ride back to Amiens.
Upon arriving back we take a walk to have a look at the cathedral, it is truly magnificent, the work in the carvings is spectacular and the size is amazing, we are unable to look inside but the walk around the outside was fantastic.
So brings an end to another day, tomorrow we are back on the train to Reims, some confusion about trains has already taken place so tomorrow will interesting.

Day 20 - Amsterdam

The sun is showing signs of making an appearance today and we are heading on another day trip, this time to Amsterdam.
The train leaves the station on time and this time we are heading north through the field, crops of all sorts are being grow, some in hugh glass houses. The fields are all surrounded by drainage ditches all leading back to main canals.
The journey will take 2 1/2 hours but there is a lot to see along the way.
There is a definite change in the soil as we cross the border into the Netherlands, light loamy soils of Belgium are replaced with the rich black soils of the Netherlands.
We arrive in Amsterdam and decide that a tram ride around the city will provide a good way to see the city given our limited time. The tram cost 2.60 for 1 hour of travel and it is not long before we are making our way through the bicycle ridden streets and over canals, the tram takes us out into the inner suburbs and it is nice to see how people are living. It is soon obvious that the bicycle is king in Amsterdam as to our amazement people on bikes are beating the tram.
After a little delay we are back on a train bound for Brussels, the trip goes by quickly and it is 7:00 by the time we are back at the hotel, just time for some food and to get ready for our moving on tomorrow.

Day 19 - Ypres

Rain rain go away, not perturbed we are heading off on our first long train trip to Ypres.
The trains today are on time and it is not long before we are cruising through the country side on our way.
As we arrive in Ypres the rain eases and as we make our way to the market place the rain has stopped. As I look at the guild hall I can just see the golden dragon on top of the main spire through the low hanging cloud.
We make our way to the remembrance gate, so many names, we find out that the last post is played at the gate every night. Climbing up the stairs we make our way out onto the top of the wall and start out on the walk around the wall, the path makes it's way around more than a kilometer of the wall all the while having the moat on one side.
After completing the walk we head back to the station to catch the train, the trip takes 2 hours and it is tea time by the time we arrive back in Brussels.
Another day done and more train trips tomorrow.

Day 18 - Brussels day 1

Drizzle is the best way to describe the weather today, and it looks like it will be with us for awhile. We start the morning with a wonder around the streets of the inner city, as we approach the grand market place we see that there are several weddings going on, and the square is full of cars and people.
After a look around we attempt to head out to the EU center but the trains are being cancelled and so we decide it is better to go for a beer instead, so off to my favorite pub we go.
A warm welcome is received and after several beers we return to the hotel in search of food.
It is still raining as we retire for the day, hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Day 17 - Brussels

Well the last day of driving around Britain is upon us, only a 1 hour drive back to the airport to drop off the hire car is left. The day is quite good as we head down the motorway, the traffic is playing ball and no delays are experienced as we arrive at the airport. With the hire car safely back it is a small bus ride to terminal 3 to get the underground to St Pancreas station.
The train trip up the piccadilly line is a bit slow in parts but the train is not crowded and we arrive with 1 1/2 hours up our sleeve. The tickets that I reserved online were easily printed from the ticket kiosks, a very easy and fast system of getting a ticket.
The 12:57 euro rail train to Brussels pulls out on time and it is not long before we are streaking through the Uk country side heading for the tunnel. Plunging into the darkness it is a 20 minute trip through the tunnel, the time passes quickly with only the tunnel lights whizzing past the window breaking the darkness and giving a sense of speed. Bursting into the sunlight and onto French soil, the farmers are seeding there fields and flocked of sea gulls are having a free feed.
It is not long and the train is pulling into Brussels Zuid station, a quick connection to Central Station and it is then a short stroll to our hotel.
As we venture out to get the evening meal the dark clouds that have built up finally break into rain and a mad dash from awning to awning begins, safely back at the hotel, a little wetter than when we left, it is time to retire for the evening.

Day 16 - Winchester

Well yesterday I bought a nice scottish woolen scarf and today the icy winds arrived.
Today we head to Winchester via the long way, and the first stop is the Avebury barrow, a earth barrow that would be at least 20 meters high quite amazing to see in a flat field.
Next is Stonehenge, the icy wind is blowing as we make our way around the henge and I am glad to have my new scarf on. Lots of people are also doing the anti-clock wise walk around the stones, audio guide to ear.
A warming cup of coffee and a bite to eat later and we are on the road to Winchester, the hotel is found and after settling in we are off to check out the cathedral. The cathedral was started in 1070 and amazingly most of the cathedral is still intact, there is also the 12 century bible to have a look at, I can only compare it to the book of keels very impressive.
Tomorrow we are off to Brussels, bye bye Britain, hello Europe.

Day 15 - Bristol

Bath is covered in cloud this morning, we are heading to Bristol today, followed by an afternoon in Bath.
The traffic is a bit heavy as we head to Bristol, our first stop is the Clifton suspension bridge, we are lucky and get a park at the start of the bridge, we head to the observation point to get a few snaps before a walk across the bridge, the drizzle comes in and it is a wet trip across the bridge, next it is off to the SS Great Britain, for a visit, we spend an hour exploring the ship from top o bottom.
Next it is back to Bath, for a look at the Abbey and the Baths. Our hotel is within walking distance so it is a short walk along the Avon to the city centre.
We make our way into the baths and take the self guided tour, an hour later it is time to head back and get some tea.
Tomorrow is our last full day in England and we are off to Winchester.

Day 14 - Bath

Sunshine greets us and it is a short trip to Pontcysylite which is the home of the longest aqueduct in Britain, it is 1007 ft long and 127 ft height and is a one lane river in the sky. A very impressive sight all made from cast steel and sealed with lead. The wind is blowing and the drizzle hits me square in the face as I start out across the Aqueduct, there is a single path on the left side, it is quite interesting in the middle but there is no going back now. Safely across I look back to see my first long boat heading across, a very strange sight that of a boat in the sky.
Safely back across we head off for Ironbridge, home of the very first iron bridge. There is a lot of tourists, not exactly what I expected but it is the starter for the industrial revolution, to my suppress there is an Eley bakery, perfect time for a lunch time pasty.
After lunch we head off to Chepstow and then onto the Severn bridge crossing from Wales back to England, heading down the motorway we make good time to Bath, home for 2 nights.

Day 13 - Wrexham

Well today we are off to Wales, Wrexham is our final destination today.
Due to the bad weather our first stop today is a bit of a back track, we head out of town bound for Hadrian's Wall, and it is a trip down tight windy tracks, hopping for no farm vehicles coming the other way. We finally arrive at the wall and are greeted with showers, but thankfully they don't last to long. The wall is amazingly intact in some parts despite it's age.
Next it is off to the Lakes district, the rain is persisting as drizzle as we drive along towards Windermere, a few breaks of sunshine allow for a few photos and even on a week day there is quite a few tourists.
The lakes district behind us it is motorway blasting now all the way to the Welsh border.
Our hotel is on the out skirts of Wrexham, tomorrow we head for Bath.

Photos first half of trip

Here is a link to photos from the first bit of the trip

England 2011

Day 12 - Carlisle

Today London is forecasted to be the hottest day on record for October, 30 deg, but we are not in London we are in Oban and we are in for rain, rain and more rain.
Today we are off to Carlisle in Cumbria, it is going to be a bit of a meandering journey and a long drive but it should be fun.
The first attraction on the trip is Loch Lomond unfortunately it is rainy with low hanging cloud which obscures the lovely views over the Loch, it would be a great drive on a sunny day, next we are off to Stirling, the castle is covered in low cloud, we take a drive up the steep road to the castle unfortunately I had forgotten there is a pay point before the car park so a 3 point turn is done and down the steep hill we go.
Back to the motorway and Glasgow bound we head, the motorway is pretty clear and good time is made.
As we approach the Scottish border the heavens open and the heaviest rain of the trip descends on us.
At this point a re think is required, the next stop was to be Hadrian's wall but with the weather as it is it is decided to head to the hotel and then out to the wall in the morning, hopefully with better weather.
We find the hotel okay but the car park is another story, lots of one way streets in Carlisle, oh well it gave us a good chance to see the castle and cathedral lots of times.

Day 11 - Inverness

Wet. It has been raining most of the night, but luckily it has eased and after a hearty breakfast we head off for a walk along the river, over the bridge, and around the castle. Today we are off to Oban and so it off along the lochs we head.
Loch Ness is first on our trip and it is a nice trip through light rain that finds us Nessy spotting down the loch, next it is a short drive, crossing the Caledonian canal several times, to Loch Lochy. Mmm thoughts of Michael Palin run through my head as we drive along the calm water.
Fort William is shrouded in mist and Ben Nevis is not visible, 2 visits and 2 no shows from the mountain.
The road to Oban was rainy and quite twisty, we pass over a bridge just out of Oban and find that the tide has caused rapids to appear, kayakers are bobbing around on the white caps and having a great time.
The tide is out when we arrive at Oban and the ferries are having to negotiate the sand banks, we find the hotel with ease and it is a short walk into town to find the fish and chip shop, the board out side says " the best fish and chips I've tasted, Rick Steins" how could one walk past.

Day 10 - Inverness

Another sunny day greets us as we rise and think of the highlands. Today we are off to Inverness and we are bathed in sun light as we cross the fourth bridge and head for Perth. Last time I was here I journeyed to Aberdeen but this time I am heading to Inverness via the Grampians.
First stop is Perth a lovely town on the river Tay, I have to stop for petrol, and the current price seems to be around 1.30 pounds per litre.
We head out of town and head for Pitlochy which is situated on the upper part of the river Tay, it is a picturesque little village and it is a short run to our first stop of the day, Edradour distillery, the smallest distillery in Scotland. After driving down small twisty lanes we arrive and it is a pretty sight to see the little white buildings gathered around a babbling stream. The tour takes 1:30 and a welcome dram of the 10 year old is a nice start to the day.
Traveling on we head into the Cairncombs national park, wind swept peaks and fast flowing rivers rise and fall as we head north.
Inverness finally comes into view and we make our way to the hotel, it is situated right on the river Ness and is just under the castle. Heading out to find something to eat leads us to a Chinese takeaway and interestingly they serve chips as a side dish, so it is a green curry and chips for tea.

Day 09 - Edinburgh

Yes another sunny day, perfect for walking and so it is off to Calton park to have a look over the city, the climb to the top is rather steep but the view is well worth it. The weather is taking a turn and the wind has picked up and is blowing a gail. Our morning is spent exploring the area around princess street and then back to the car for lunch and to put more money in the machine for parking.
The afternoon is spent in a walk up the royal mile to the castle. The mile is full of buskers, most likely left over from the comedy festival and some are quite good. The scaffold from the Tattoo is being removed and the forecourt of the castle is very busy, after a look around the castle we head back down the mile and into a pub for a refreshing ale.
A nice end to a good day, tomorrow Inverness.

Day 08 - Edinburgh

Well it is time to point the car north and head for Scotland and today is another sunny day, after taking a walk around Warkworth and a closer look at the castle it is off to Alnwick and then Bamburgh for lunch and more castles this part of Northumberland coast is castle heaven. After having a nice lunch in Bamburgh it is of onto the motorway again heading north.
Next stop the border, and the obligatory photo shoots and goodbye Britain hello Scotland.
It is a smooth drive into Edinburgh and the hotel is found with ease, we are lucky to get the last park at the hotel. Tomorrow the walking begins.