Aviao, Trem, et le bus
All good things must come to an end and what an adventure it has been. It’s hard to believe it’s already over. 23 fun-filled days in Portugal, Spain and France. We have logged over 3795km’s in Europe via planes, trains and bus’! My tracker says we walked over 250 km’s, and many of those packing around my 20kg backpack. So lucky my foot held up, no air-boot required, but damn it if I didn’t pack that thing around the entire trip! 

So many things I didn’t get to do, time to start planning the next trip.

Back to reality! 

Parisian Culture

For our final day in Paris, we started with a stroll through our neighbourhood and maybe a little shopping, I’m not sure I will get my bag closed….

A must see, Notre Dame cathedral. I arrived on the hour, just in time to hear the bells toll. The lineup was huge, however it was only a few minutes before I was inside. The cathedral is full of stain glass windows, floor to ceiling, spectacular.
I did not go up to the upstairs as a mass had just started and I felt that I was intruding. It was the only cathedral that I actually heard the wonderful organs playing.

Our last evening, we spent at the Opera National de Paris to take in Eliogabalo, an Italian opera. Lucky for me, English (and French) sub-titles. The Opera house is stunning! What an amazing way to end the trip.

J’aime Paris!
But of course we needed to take in some fashion and do some shopping today. The people are pretty and the fashion is amazing. It’s too bad we are leaving the day before SS17 fashion week starts. The damage I could do on my credit card, if only someone would pay my card off for me….

While dropping off our bags, we stopped by Gate Sans Gluten for some GF treats including an amazing almond treat “Paris Brest” and a framboise macaron . #nomnomnom

Our afternoon was spent with a leisurely stroll through the very lovely and colourful Luxembourg gardens. People picnicking around the fountains, children playing on playgrounds while others are playing tennis and basketball. 

We then set sail for a cruise down the Seine River and a champagne diner beside the Eiffel Tower during sunset to watch the tower sparkle. 

Eiffel Tower Summit and Musee du Louvre!

Have I told you I’m afraid of heights? This morning we went to the Eiffel Tower. It’s amazing, over 100 years old, built for the world fair in 1889. It’s 324 meters high, remember I’m afraid of heights! We took a very small ‘elevator’ to the 2nd floor up the massive west leg of the tower. I must admit, the view is spectacular. We admired the view from all corners of the 2nd floor. Did I need to go higher, no but I already bought my ticket. We entered an even smaller elevator to the summit. It was packed and I held my breathe until we reached the summit at 276m, that’s 906 feet in the sky. Yes, I admit the view was even more breathtaking, but I could barely manage to make my way to the outside ledge to take look out.  

There were too many people on a tiny little space, so I didn’t last long up there and was thankful to be on my way back to the 2nd floor. I was hoping to catch a macaron and champagne but the place was closed on the way back!?! I have been in Paris for over 24 hours and still not had a macaron, how is this possible? 

After lunch we walked down to the Louvre to find Mona and Venus. Le Musee du Louvre is ginormous. I would need a week or two to see everything. We enter at the famous Pyramid. Our first mission of course the Denon wing for the Mona Lisa. We took our time to admire all of the pieces in the wing, however you could tell there were people with only one piece to see. We took in paintings by Bottocelli, da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt and Corot to name a only few. There are hundreds and hundreds in one wing. We finally found Mona and it was a frenzy, a shame that you can’t actually take a moment to enjoy it. 100+ people all jammed in trying to take selfies. Perhaps they could organize a line or something? I have heard stories that it will be small, but it wasn’t as small as I imagined. I was lucky enough to view a piece from 1503, if only for a few moments. And maybe I snapped a picture too, but at least I wasn’t rude about it. Our next stop, Venus de Milo, Aphrodite discovered in 1820. Along the way we found sculptures from Donatello, Michelangelo and Canova. We also found Greek and Roman antiquities on our leisurely way out. Still so much more to see including an Egyptian section, upon my list for my next trip to Paris. 

After all this walking, a bottle of Bordeaux is in order! 

Bonjour Paris!

We board the train from Nice to Paris, getting a mere glimpse of Cannes along the way. On my list of things to do on my next trip to the French Riviera; Eze, Monaco, and a long bike ride along the promenade. 

After a 5 hour train ride, we arrive to Paris train station and within a few minutes on the bus we are at our home for the next few days. It’s a ‘quaint’ apartment in Paris’ Latin Quarter. The bed is a loft, I literally have to climb a ladder to go to bed, this should be interesting after a few glasses of wine. It is definitely nice to have a kitchenette and the location is good.

After getting a little familiar with our new place, we set out to explore the city. We were only going for a short walk with intentions of a bite to eat but first thing we see is Notre Damn, beautiful. We continue to stroll down the Seine River and in the distance we see the Louvre, and I know we are close, but yet not, and we can’t go back until we find the Eiffel Tower. It was just before dusk when we arrive.  I’m here, can you see me? 

As we start walking back, the lights start to twinkle. The picture doesnt capture how pretty it looks. 

Tomorrow we will take a ride to the view point! 

A private wine tour through Provence.
This was a day I have been looking forward to for months. We booked a small wine tour that meets outside the antique market, a short walk from old town Nice. As we wait for our guide, I see two people approaching and immediately I know they are part of our tour. Kelly and Travis, BFF’s from Chicago. As it turns out there are only four of us booked in for the tour but little did our guide, Cedric, know he would have his hands full with the four of us. We climb into the van and off we go on our way to Provence, rose wine country. Approximately 85% of the grapes in Provence are for rose wine, 5% are red varietals and 10% white. 

Our first stop, Chateau de Saint-Martin, Cru-class vineyard noting recognition of the soil and knowledge of wine making for the Chateau. Nestled on a 100 hectare property, the vineyard has been in the same family since 1740 and inherited to the ladies of the family since the 18th century, very unique. We visited the underground cellar that was built by monks of Lerins from the XII to XVI century. We were fortunate that our wine tasting was out in the beautiful courtyard. I thoroughly enjoyed all three varieties of this winery, aside from the port, just not a fan of port. It also has a bed and breakfast on the property… Hmmm I know where I am going to stay on the next trip to France. 

Our second stop, Chateau D’Astros, a lovely property also housing an apple orchard. The property is amazing, the wine was… Okay. I guess that’s why they started growing apples too. It is award winning wine, apparently I don’t like award winning wines! We were allowed to walk around the property to view the vineyard, already harvested for the season , as well we went out to the luxurious house. The owner of the property is known to invite his guests to the property to hunt for wild boar, as long as they don’t eat the grapes.

We stopped for a tasty lunch and a few bottles of wine at a quaint bed and breakfast in the heart of Provence. The banter around the table is infectious after all the wine consumption. As I sit across from Cedric, our guide, I think he doesn’t look like the entertainer, but the French Hugh Jackman. I wondered if he has ever heard that before.  Or maybe it’s the wine?

Our last stop of the wine tour, Chateau St. Julien D’Aille, amongst 172 hectares of land. The wine was delicious, and got better and better with every husky pour. We toured the facilities to see where the wine is stored in barrels in caves as well as where it’s bottled and labelled. Something like 3000 bottles and hour. It takes me an hour to bottle, cork, foil and label only 30 bottles. 

Although our tour was over, our wine filled day did not end there. Kelly and Travis were kind enough to invite us up to their penthouse room with an amazing balcony overlooking the promenade at Le Meridian. We sat on the patio people watching and exchanging hysterical travel adventures. While the sunset we polished off a few more bottles wine. Since the last time we ate was lunch, we opted for a dinner in the old town and one last bottle of rose. Such a fun day spent with new friends, I have a feeling this is not the last we will see of Kelly and Travis and I can’t wait.

Today was a low key day lazing on the rocky Castel plage  (beach) until the skies opened up and rain poured down accompanied by thunder and lightening. To avoid the rain for a few hours we meandered around the old town shops. 

Tomorrow we start our last leg of our adventure, I can’t believe it’s happened so quickly. 

Adios Barca, Bonjour Nice

#nofilterrequired

We say goodbye to Espana as we board our plane to Nice, France. The landing into Nice was ‘interesting’ as the airport is literally on the water. I felt as though we were going to land on the Mediterranean Sea. Looking out the window, it appeared we were only a few feet above the water. After watching the planes land, we really were only a few feet above the water. 

Thanks to google, with ease we arrive to the Airbnb on Rue de la Poissonnerie in Vieux Nice (old town) and we are greeted by Cecile, our welcome ambassador. She gives us a tour of our home for the next few nights. Outside our door, a delicious smelling bakery and a gelato shop. A few steps away on the corner is an antique market by day, by night full of restaurants that have taken over the square. 

The location is perfect, less than a block to the beach on Baie des Anges. We walked down Quai des Etats-Unis which has a great bike lane along the beach, we may need to explore it later this week as it seems to go on forever. On Promenade Des Anglais we found one of many restaurant patios to have lunch and a glass of rose. On our return home, we came across two memorials for the Bastille day attacks, still grievous to see. The Police are on full alert stationed with riffles in multiple places along our walk. I would say we are probably in the safest place with the heightened security. 

I cannot wait for tomorrow’s adventure….

Barca dia de playa (beach day)

With a late night/ early morning at the club, a bit of a lay in the morning. We just managed to make brunch and then started the day. The forecast called for rain, however it turned into a perfect sunny day. We took a refreshing walk down La Ramblas, passed thru the marina mooring many, many mega yachts (who has this kind of money and do they want to adopt me?) We found our spot on the beach of Plata Barceloneta. As most businesses are closed on Sunday’s, even the shopping, the beach was busy. The water was busy with standup paddle boarders, para-sailers and so many sail boats enjoying a light breeze. The beach was bustling with people selling everything from beach wear to henna and massages to hair extensions. It did get a little annoying with the people walking around ever five minutes trying to sell water and beer, the policia would occasionally swing by and they would scatter for a few quiet minutes but before you knew it they were back selling mojitos or sangria made from who knows where? 

After a short nap we head out for dinner to a fantastic restaurant,  ‘Flax & Kale’. Dining alfresco amongst the edible garden, eating amazing homemade GF bread and a spicy red curry and maybe a glass of vino. 

Never in my life have I ever spent so much money to enter a night club! At 20£, Opium you better be worth it! 

Barca!So much to see, not near enough days. I could easily spend an entire week in Barcelona and still not see everything. Today a must see, Basilica de la Sagrada Familia. The last time I was here I only viewed the exterior, I did not go inside. This time I made sure we bought tickets to enter and it is as just beautiful inside as it is outside. The stain glass window colours are perfectly placed to coincide with the sun through the entire day. 

Construction started in 1866, Antoni Gaudi took over in 1883 to 1926 with an estimated completion date of 2026. I cannot wait to compare my pics from my last trip to see how far the exterior has come along. And maybe start planning my return trip after completion.

 Barca2026, who’s with me? 

After a walk through the the museum underground featuring sketches and the workshop, we walked to Park Guell to view the Casa Museu Gaudi. Gaudi was a man with a very unique vision for the 19th and early 20th centuries. Unfortunately, we did not get the opportunity to view the Gaudi monument as they sell only a select number of tickets per hour. A must do upon my return trip (mental note buy tickets online in advance for all Gaudi work). The park did offer amazing views of the city.

As the rain held off, we decided to walk back to the hotel with hopes to make our way past Casa Bastllo, which we found. Tomorrow on the hunt for Casa Calvet.  

Our tally for walking today is near 10 miles, luckily not once have I needed to wear the boot on the trip. If I keep shopping, it may or may not make it home in my luggage!