Tag Archives: European Cities
France Part Six – Avignon to Strasbourg via Lyon
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 […]
France Part Cinq – Orange and Chateauneuf du Pape
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, […]
France Part Quatre – Avignon
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 […]
France Part Trois – Aix-en-Provence and up to Avignon
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, […]
France Part Une – Nice to Aix-en-Provence
I had heard of the beauty of Provence of course, I just never realised just how damned fabulous it was until I witnessed it for myself. We flew to Nice on easyJet and stayed three days with a good friend of ours called Anna in her Cannes apartment, before picking up our Fiat 500 convertible […]
A Weekend in Stavanger, Norway
I was looking for a cheap solo weekend away and after a little research plumped for Norway’s 4th biggest city. But isn’t Norway expensive I hear you exclaim. Well not really actually. A return flight from Gatwick with the excellent Norwegian Airlines arriving 2pm Friday and departing 7pm Sunday cost £75, two nights room only […]
The Balkans – Europe’s Forgotten Frontier.
The above is the title for a two part BBC production hosted by Europe correspondent Katya Adler. The two part series visits Croatia, Romania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo & Serbia and focuses on the divisions that still remain there, the extraordinary beauty of the region and the battle for influence there between the EU, […]
The Olympics – Athens 2004
Having just watched the brilliant Paris 2024 Olympic Games on TV, my mind wandered back to attending my first ever Games in the flesh. I had always wanted to go to the Olympic Games, so when my wife’s home city was awarded the 2004 Games, plans were hatched. Athens went into a building frenzy to […]
Euro 24 Non-Qualifiers Part 8 – Russia & Belarus
Due to the war in Ukraine, neither Russia or Belarus were invited to participate. Russia Due to Covid and the horrid war I have been denied the opportunity to ride on the trans-Siberian Express. My mate Poll and I had booked a trip from Helsinki to Vladivostok, with a side trip to Mongolia, which was […]
Euro 24 Non-Qualifiers Part 7 – Sweden
Sweden The largest Scandinavian country I have visited many times, most recently in 2022. On that occasion I travelled with Mrs Wilbur and my nephew & his husband to Stockholm to see Snarky Puppy perform. We also did a day trip to the lovely city of Uppsala by train. My first introduction to Sweden was […]
