Category: 2018

Off to Austria on our annual Ski trip, 19 in all this year but some are not skiing.

11.20 flight from Bristol

Snow appears to be good especially at higher levels and more is forcast with temperatures dipping.

Met up with L&M and others for the traditional Xmas day swim

Thousands of onlookers and a few hundred brave souls “swam” in the freezing cold water

Back to L&M’s after for a glass of champers

Xmas dinner at the Red Lion

Spent the rest of our 5 weeks away at the apartment in Nice. Weather generally really good with plenty of sunshine and still pretty warm during the day for time of year ( 17 – 19 degs )

Spent time completing some of the jobs that were needed to keep the place shipshape.

Decorated the bathroom, cleaned the sofa covers, new shower curtain and track and had the internet fibre optic connection installed by Orange which now includes more rubbish TV channels and the phone and internet all under one tariff.

Said goodbye to Ron and Ingrid & Chris and Martin who were going on their travels and welcomed back Richard and Joelle from theirs.

Good trip, good sun, good wine, good meals out and in, what more could one ask ?

We spent the last two days walking in the Portifino National Park which as it’s name suggests is an area of natural beauty within the hills and along the coastline immediately behind the little and very commercialised village Portifino.

Above Portifino looking towards Rapallo

Being out of season the village was dead with very little open except a couple of restaurants that were catering for a group of tourists on a tour.

One of the most expensive places to go in Italy, €7.50 for a coke and € 9 .50 for a small beer. Bonkers!!

Also walked from Camogli on the coast half way to San Fruttuoso and back via San Rocco. Quite a climb up to San Rocco but then levelled out a bit. A couple of nasty drops along the way where you had to hold onto a chain “just in case ”

Took about 3 1/2 hours in all

Nets collecting the olives as they fall.

Left Nice for a few days and travelled into Italy and staying in Rapallo which is a little east of Genoa.

Took the train this morning to Riomaggiore which is at the far end of the Cinque Terre National Park with the intention of walking to Monterosso al Mare, about a 5 hour walk and visiting all 5 villages along the coastal path.

Arrived only to be told that the coastal path was closed the whole way. ugh!!

Thought we may do a circular walk from Riomaggiore but then found out that the was the likelihood of a train strike after 2 pm. We couldn’t take the chance at not being able to get a train back to Rapallo so had a wander around the village and then came back.

The village and harbour of Riomaggiore

The coast that we would have walked along

Back in Rapallo after an uneventful day although we at least got a feel of the Cinque Terre so will go back sometime, maybe before we leave this time and do a circular walk from one of the other villages we did not get to.

Back in Nice for 5 weeks and we have been here nearly a week already.

Weather mixed so far but have had a few nice days and managed a few walks so far.

Another warm and sunny day.
The ladies went shopping around the old town and us chaps went the opposite way along the prom towards the new bridge and the renovated dockside warehouses.
Two cruise ships came up river and tied up just along from our hotel. The river must be quite deep for these ships although it was high tide.

Caught the train to Arcachon on the Atlantic coast west of Bordeaux to visit the seaside town and go to the spectacular Pilat sand dune which is the largest in Europe at 105 meters high.
Stopped for a super fish lunch first but then it started to rain so sadly abandoned our trip to the dune. Had a wander along the prom and the town before we returned to the station for our ride back to Bordeaux.

We met on the hotel roof terrace for breakfast which has a nice view over the city and river.

Off we went to further explore the city. Spent the next few hours doing the “walking tour” interspaced with with a beer stop and then a light lunch. Took the 4.15 open top bus tour of the city.
Back to the hotel to freshen up. Decided to eat at a fish restaurant we had seen the night before. Food good but spoilt by lousy service.

After a nightcap at our local we all retired to bed after a long but eventful day.
Weather sunny and warm.

Good flight to Bordeaux and arrived on time to a lovely sunny warm day.
Caught the city bus from the airport and alighted where the driver told us which transpired not to be near our Mercure hotel. Had to catch a tram a short distance and then walk for 15 minutes but eventually arrived but had to store our luggage as our rooms were not ready.
Walked around the corner and found a restaurant for beers and lunch and rose wine.
Back to hotel for a bit of shut eye before going out again to explore and have dinner.
Very lively old town with lots of cafes and restaurants.

Good flight to Bordeaux and arrived on time to a lovely sunny warm day.
Caught the city bus from the airport and alighted where the driver told us which transpired not to be near our Mercure hotel. Had to catch a tram a short distance and then walk for 15 minutes but eventually arrived but had to store our luggage as our rooms were not ready.
Walked around the corner and found a restaurant for beers and lunch and rose wine.
Back to hotel for a bit of shut eye before going out again to explore and have dinner.
Very lively old town with lots of cafes and restaurants.

Saturday 15th September

We are off tomorrow to visit Bordeaux with the Hampshire gang (8 in all).

This is to celebrate all of our 40th Wedding aniverseries as we all married in the same year and went to each others weddings.

Early start in the morning as our flight is at 8.00 from Bristol Airport

Early start to catch the ferry back to Dover and managed to get on an earlier one, the new Spirit of France. Had breakfast in the restaurant and very good it was, all cooked to order and only £13 each. Good value.
Arrived home late afternoon.

A great month away travelling around Europe.

Left early for our trip back to Pas de Calais and our last night stop. Stopped for a short break in Saarbrucken. A nice centre but the area is very industrial.

A beer bike in

Arrived for our last stop at Chateau de Cocove and very nice place it was. Good dinner.

Went for a drive to a few towns around the Black Forest and started by going to a super town called Staufen where they produce various flavours of schnapps and of course had to sample some of the best gateaux of the region. The townsfolk were preparing for a wine and musical festival in the streets for the week-end.

The schnapps distillery

Next stop was St Blazien to visit one of the largest domed churches in Germany. Quite magnificent inside and very unusually all white.

Went back to Staufen for dinner and to watch some of the festivities.