In 2019 we had a trip booked to two Baltic capitals but had to cancel at the last minute. We (Mrs Wilbur, our great friend Chris and I) decided to rebook for 2020, following exactly the same itinerary that we had planned before, flying Air Baltic, staying in central AirBNBs and taking a train between […]
It would be a fair reflection to say that Hautvillers was shut for the day! We were doing the Vallée de la Marne Champagne route and this village was described as one of the region’s prettiest. Indeed it was, but it was also pretty much asleep. The general store, cafe, restaurant, art gallery, tourist office, […]
To set the scene, my book chronicles my travels around the Balkans with my regular travel buddy called Hamish. Albania had always been a mystical place to us, Europe’s outcast being neither east nor west. During our teenage years we used to try and get information about the place, but in those Internet free days […]
To set the scene, Hamish and I had taken a taxi from Northern Albania into Bar in Montenegro, before catching a train to the Montenegrin capital……… Our arrival at Podgerica signalled our last train journey on this Balkan trip; it was buses only from now on sadly. First stop Kotor, situated on the Balkan’s largest […]
This extract follows on from our ejection under armed guard from Yugoslavia in 1987 (click YUGOSLAVIA for this part of the notorious night). So we found ourselves back in Austria at a small border station called Spielfeldstrass…… The backdoor to the station was locked – oh no, you don’t say, surely not……… Thankfully the front door […]
We mapped the 350KM route from Alsace, through Lorraine and on to Champagne. As usual we had a lot to pack in – I never have been one for a beach holiday. This is not the same for Rania who puts her love of the sea down to being an Aquarian. We therefore do spend […]
This morning it would be time to say goodbye to our lovely Fiat 500 soft top. We had really grown attached to it and struck a deal that if we ever purchased a fun car, this would be the model we would buy. We left the hotel in plenty of time to find the TGV […]
Back to our chariot for the latest adventure taking in the Roman city and renowned wine region. We stopped first for picnic supplies and a whistle-stop tour of Villeneuve’s striking cathedral with it’s fine cloisters. After that, it was all green for go to Orange for its impressive amphitheatre. Unbeknown to me before the trip, […]
We breakfasted on fresh croissant, even fresher cherries and the kind of filter coffee that screams WAKE UP at you. Today was to become one of those instant recall days. Pierre, our attentive/slightly fussy host, told us that today was market day in town. Our plans to stroll up to the Fort Saint-Andre and the adjoining Jardins […]
Today was chill day – we had been flat out for six days after all and we would be on the road again soon enough. Aix is one of those places that I have heard of so many times but hadn’t got around to visiting – it was worth the wait. A chilled vibe prevailed, […]
