End of Term Report Cards
France: 9
Best Subjects – Cooking; History
Sport – Has lousy defence … Continue readingEnd of Term Report Cards
Category: 2014
Switzerland, and not a chocolate in sight.
In order to avoid overloading (of both readers & author) I have tried not to post too often, so please forgive this short attempt to catch up and make this as real-time as possible.
After a few sunny days on the shores of Lake Geneva’s French side we drove around towards Montreux on the lake’s Swiss side stopping by Château de Chillon (pictured at top of post). From there it was on to Lake Thun & Interlaken. … Continue readingSwitzerland, and not a chocolate in sight.
France – you had me at Chamonix
Driving through more breathtaking mountain landscapes we were amazed to find a campsite nestled in a small valley. As we parked the farmer was herding his dairy cows through the area and the noise made by the bells they wore sounded like giant wind chimes.
Even though we were still 40 minutes from the Swiss border there was a small chapel (image at top of post) and a Swiss restaurant 100m up the road and Deb was hanging out for a cheese fondue, unfortunately it wasn’t the best but the sausage & onions made up for it. … Continue readingFrance – you had me at Chamonix
White pointers in the Mediterranean & the Alps
Descending down the French side of the Pyrenees (pictured above) was certainly a picturesque drive despite the intermittent showers, and we soon made our way to Carcassonne. … Continue readingWhite pointers in the Mediterranean & the Alps
Family Reunion on the Costa Brava
The week or so we took to drive from Madrid to the Spanish Mediterranean coast was very pleasant with some ever-changing landscapes but nothing too dramatic. Of the small towns we visited en-route we stopped at Toledo & Cuenca. Having felt like we have visited every church ever made it was only fair to visit the two remaining medieval Spanish synagogues in Toledo (apart from the small one in Cordoba mentioned in a previous post). … Continue readingFamily Reunion on the Costa Brava
Antiquity, Renaissance and Inquisition
Seville being our first stop back in Spain I was expecting a city that, like most others, had developed itself into the 21st century at a cost to it’s heritage but I was soon proven wrong. As we approached the old quarter the crowds started to thicken and an exciting vibe filled the air. … Continue readingAntiquity, Renaissance and Inquisition
Architecture, Photography & Beaches Oh My!
200 kilometers NE of Lisbon, Castelo De Vide was a breath of fresh air. A tiny town only 20k from the Spanish border whose attractions boasted of castle ruins, a juderia (old Jewish quarter), old synagogue (converted to museum), church and a fountain. … Continue readingArchitecture, Photography & Beaches Oh My!
Telling the Tale of the Tile
Entering the home of port was both unnerving & amazing. The first because it was a large city whose steep, narrow streets were filled with busy traffic but amazing because R.A.L.F. had taken us to an Aire that was just across the Douro from the old town that was perched up high glowing brightly in the afternoon sunshine. … Continue readingTelling the Tale of the Tile
I left my heart in Cudillero
It would be unfair to compare France to Northern Spain from a tourists view as they are very different. This area is much more underdeveloped and has a wild & craggy coastline. … Continue readingI left my heart in Cudillero
You say “au revoir”, I say “hola”
As the last post was rather large you are getting off light this time. The landscape is no less beautiful and the villages no less quaint but seriously, how much of this stuff can a guy take.
The drizzle had given way to a downpour the day we visited Sarlat, but this did not take away any of the charm on offer in this great town. The afternoon was spent browsing the shops whose specialty was ‘foi de gras cunnard’ (duck pate to you lot). … Continue readingYou say “au revoir”, I say “hola”