heelspur travels

Italy and Spain 2013

4ofus — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:57:00 GMT

Hello again

so happy to be holiday again, and in good company with Cheryl and Val along too (Marceelle providing this update)

We chose Venice as a stop over to revisit some of our favourite places, and then Spain because it was new to us.

We will b flying into Seville, and busing up to Granada and then flying to Barcelona.Then over to Capri and Ravello, and. Few nights in Ischia.

Lastly we will trek up to Varenna on Lake Como for some serious r & r

Will write from Venice soon

cheerio

marcelle

September 2011 Return to Lago di Como, Swiss Alps and southern England

4ofus — Sun, 4 Sep 2011 17:04:00 GMT

Marcelle and Cheryl are travelling again and in the last stages of preparation and anticipation at what will be another great adventure - both relaxing and invigourating.

Here we go on 7th September. Keep tuned for highlights.

Verona Opera - Madame Butterfly

4ofus — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:03:00 GMT

And so to Verona for a short stay and to attend the famous Verona Arena Opera Festival. This was a warm Italian evening of much glamour and ceremony, and probably too many Prosecco's (sparkling white).The lead soprano was no spring chicken (as I am told is often in Italy!!!) but she sang like a butterfly and her vocal performance dominated the evening and the stage. Superb.It was a very expensive ticket (181 Euros) but I am glad that I finally got here for a performance.My seat was great, I could see the orchestra and the stage was quite close (4 rows.

My stay at the Catholic Hostel for the Protection of Young Women (my financial pennance for the extravagance of the Opera ticket!) was pretty crook, but there was clean sheets and a hot shower - so I guess I cannot complain too loudly for 27 Euros - and also located in the middle of the oldest historic part of Verona (next door to the very old Duomo), the neighborhood was 12th century and so was the hostel.I was up in the attic, where the only redeeming feature was the little odd attic windows which, when flung wide open, allowed the swiss breezes to flow down the mountains and into my room. Thank God for them, because there was no airconditioning and the whole of Verona was pretty warm for my short stay - 30's or higher.But when the bells rang (frequently), my whole room shook. Cracks all over the place, hate to be there in an earthquake!I was the only English speaking guest, but I met a lovely teenager from Urzbekistan studying Opera at the University of Padua. She sang me some aria's from Romeo and Juliet and from Madame B, her favourite opera. She was thrilled to meet someone from Australia! Her name was Kamila, and she is determined that one day I will hear her sing as Madame B on the big stage at Verona.

All over now. Leaving Verona this morning for Milan, and thank you again, John, this is very nice business class lounge! My first decent computer for a while, so i will try and download some pics. However, the food looks good, so we will see what wins!

Back to work and much dieting.

Note: The pcs I have tried will not download anything! Its seems security has been a big issue and hotels, lodgings and airport lounges forbid downloading of your pics etc. Most want you to haul your own laptop.I may have to consider this next trip!

Cheerio, hoping for a smooth flight home on Cathay via London and Hong Kong.

Marcelle

Bella Lago Di Como

4ofus — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:52:00 GMT

I imagined that my remaining time in Europe would be in the roughest accommodation so far, so I was very pleasantly surprised to find my family home B & B in Menaggio, Lake Como(at 40 Euro per night!) was extremely pleasant, and the breakfast loaded with calories and homemades! The views from Eleanor's terrace were hard to beat.The hospitality was great too, she gave me a lift down to the village every day. Now, several well deserved kilo's later, I'm trying to walk all the good food off. Fat chance.

The scenery is top class, the boats and the little towns, the villas and their gardens are the essence of elegant Italian living. But the most striking feature of all is what nature has provided - high mountain ranges topped with snow, surrounding a rather interesting irregular shaped lake, with interesting loops and bends. Cannot describe the lovely array of flowering shrubs, too many. Some of the villages sport lots of expensive hotels, boutiques and cafes (Bellagio), and others (like Varenna)are more arty and serene. As you get closer to Como, the villas and houses become more frequent. Como was actually a small city, with a different outlook onto the Lake than the other villages.

I enjoyed some walks through the villa gardens (Villa Menzi, Villa Barbiernello and the Monastery gardens) and around the little towns, market day in Lenno,and boat trips to the neighboring villages. Favourite day was my art class in Varenna, haven't taken on painting since Grade 4! What a hoot, and I have a creation to bring home.

Lake Como is highly recommended for a relaxing break from Venice, Florence or Rome. Weather was warm and sunny all week, except for the first day (only day of rain for whole trip).I've been overall quite lucky considering the weather forecast in France, which was all gloom and doom. But I do believe some had it very bad in Provence, with the rivers flooding. Lucky we were not motoring there this year!

The Matterhorn, Gornergrad, Glacier and Bernina Trains

4ofus — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:31:00 GMT

18/6/10 -Took the early Gornergrad train up to the summit and the Matterhorn, the skies were clear of fog and cloud (reportedly) and so off I went! It was pretty foggy all the way up the mountain, then suddenly the clouds parted - like I'd landed on heaven - and there she was - the Swiss Matterhorn - resplendant in the morning sun, as clear as if I were standing next to her.The clouds were sacttered beneath me, what a weird feeling.

I only had 40 minutes because I was scheduled for the glacier train from Zermatt later this morning, so I wandered around the hotel and kiosk, kicked some snow around, and that was that! People do stay up there at the lodge, and ski in the summer!They would have to be very keen. Its brisk, but not all that cold. The sun is very warm on the face, you feel as if you could run around in a tee-shirt, but you would propbably end up with frost bite on the weeny bits!

Glacier train was less of a thrill, I'd seen better on the Matterhorn and the Sunnegrat Paradiso (train up to the lovely Swiss meadows tracks, opposite the Omnia hotel, in Zermatt)- I am sure Heidi lived here on this very mountain and that I saw grandfather's cottage , it was a very surreal environment walking down the mountain back to Zermatt. Wanted to sing 'Maria'all the way down. I was very glad I ran into some Swiss mountain climbers because they led me back the safe way to Zermatt. Apparently I was on the track down that was not so safe! Thanks for the prayers, all.I had also ran out of battery on my cell phone, so thanks again! Could have been a very cold night.

Glacier train took me to Chur, a real working Swiss city (5 hours across the alps to the other side) with quite a charming old town. I stayed at the local pub (didn't realise I had booked the noisiest place in town) so I pay great homage to my gel earlplugs, at least I managed to sleep most of the night. The next day was the Bernina train, which was a real treat in store.

Lots of glaciers, mountain scenery, rivers, streams, waterfalls and just very pretty. It was also a nice day which makes it all visible, some of the glaicer train scenery was affected by the fog amd mist. The Bernina train took me to Tirano, and I then bussed it to Menaggio, via Luggano on Lake Como. Some funny stories about the buses, only those who have walked around Italy wondering where the bus stop is and why the hell isn't it here will know why I shrugged and thought - gee, I'm in Italy alright! There's no mistaking the lack of logic. Who needs it?

But a very pleasurable week in the Swiss mountains and the trains. Highly recommended!

Had some nice company in the form of other travellers too - a german and american, also travelling solo. Had a few good laughs falling about the cabin trying to take photos.

Off to Lake Como for a 6 day stay, then Verona for a few days before departure for home.

Zermatt, the highest village to the Swiss Matterhorn

4ofus — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:24:00 GMT

Wow, this is so much higher,and the landscape has changed to pine (but it smells like spruce)wild flowers, trickling streams and snow capped peaks that are much closer than before.

The hotel Omnia have upgraded me to a double executive, saying the other room called D (Dads room) is not available, for no reason they could give me! So here I am, in my lovely scandinanian style executive room overlooking the swiss village of Zermatt. Just sublime, especially after the welcoming drink. I am listening to the Bose surround sound music theatre, and I shall love my little spot of luxory.Probably the fastest 3 days ever.

Unfortunately, I had better not get used to it. Some of my roughest accommodation yet to come in Italy,including the convent for the protection of girls in Verona.

For now, I will just enjoy. Off to the 3 different spas/saunas and the pool!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Montreaux, Riviera of the Lake

4ofus — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:16:00 GMT

Well named, this place is very picturesque and the walks along the lake are different to Annecy, mainly because it is higher on the swiss side of Lake Geneva, and then higher mountains are snow capped. Lots of 5 star hotels, lots of cashed up people.Famous Jazz festival held here every year, and I booked the little Tralala Jazz theme hotel - a 3 star B & B with themed bedrooms. I had some black guy playing a sax behind the bed. But the rooms were lovely and new, and I had a partial view to the lake and mountains. Very happy here, very serene. Lovely promenade walk at twilight, nice Swiss folk out walking their dogs.

Off to Zermatt tomorrow!

Photos: Colours of Annecy

4ofus — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 20:04:00 GMT

The colours of Annecy, French Alps

4ofus — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:37:00 GMT

I finished my special train trip at Montreax on Lake Geneva, and continued around the lake by train to Lausanne, which surprisingly is quite a big Swiss city on the lake, but more French than Swiss. Too big and bustling for me, but I managed to book online a little guesthouse that had 1 room left - somewhere close to the roof - so I had a great view over the town. I had arranged to collect my car the morning after, and spent the few remaining hours of the day plotting my exit from the centre of town. Then, after dinner, I catch a glimpse of a BBC weather report for France and the Alps, and it forecasts very bad weather for a few days, possibly more. The main concern is fog.

I waited until the next morning for a final report (no better) and I could see the storms coming in from across the lake, very dark and misty. I made a final decision to cancel my 4 day car trip, there seemed no point. So off on the train and buses, to Annecy.

There was some bad weather about, but for the next 4 days it had cleared (mostly) by midday and then sun rays came through and lit up different parts of the town and Lake.I was really annoyed that I had cancelled the car (with a penalty) but I didn't have the crystal ball I needed - and that was that! There were great day trips around, but too much hassle with the public transport, you really needed a car!

Best part of Annecy was the very substantial Sunday markets (wonderful Chinon quality nougat in huge blocks, a real blow for the diet!) clothes, shoes, vegetables, fruit, cheeses, pastries and all things gourmet and good. The walks around the lake foreshore at twilight were very scenic, with changing lights and moods on the lakes surface and the surrounding mountains. The old town isself was a larger size Basque town (similiar to Dordogne in the streets and buildings) but surrounded by quite a large more modern township. I also had an interesting stay at a 2 star, run by 3 gay french guys, who were so hospitable and so gentle and so accommodating! But I didn't like their taste in room decor, it was a nightmare of blue paint (even the floor boards stained blue) and a tiny box of a bathroom. But the view down the canal from my bedroom window was from the cover of a french book on basque buildings, very pretty during the twilight hours.

Decided to leave the area 1 day early, and track back to Montreax (on the lake) for a nights stay, as it was so pretty and was also halfway up to Zermatt, next stop for a 3 day break.

My thoughts so far is that I love the countryside and the smaller towns, and bigger places not for me

Photos: Golden Pass Swiss Train

4ofus — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:18:00 GMT

Yodell o eee aaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Golden Pass Panoramic Train

4ofus — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:58:00 GMT

On Thursday 10th June I took the first of 3 special swiss train rides, and wondered whether I would be really bored, as each is at least 5 hours, and someone had written a review which said that Golden Pass was pretty ordinary. So I was not expecting much, but it turned out to be a special day of beautiful blue skies, lush green snow capped mountains,meadows and streams;.And the lovely Swiss villages too. No point describing more, but I highly recommend Lucerne and the panoralic golden pass train to Montrieux.a

i DID NOT NEED TO RESERVE THE SEAT. THE TRAIN WAS ONLY HALF FULL AND WE ALL MOVED ABOUT THE &ST CLASS CABIN TAKING SNAPS FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES AND WINDOWWS

Lovely Lucerne

4ofus — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 02:06:00 GMT

How wonderful it was to leave Budapest on a hot humid day and fly into Zurich and feel the crisp air, then to Lucerne which was like an airconditioner had been switched on, really crisp and lovely. The lakes and mountains are picture postcard greeness against blue skies. It has been raining here too, but cleared up the day before I arrived - so I seem to be bringing the good weather with me.Hope the luck stays around until I leave.

Toured on the boat around the lake today, and around the old city on foot. Not as busy and easy to walk around this lovely little town.

Off tomoorow on the Golden Pass scenic train to Montrieux, will pick up a car at Lausanne and motor down to Annecy for the weekend.

Wish me luck

cheerio for now

Marcelle

Budapest via London

4ofus — Wed, 9 Jun 2010 01:58:00 GMT

Scored a free-bee from BA for cancelling my flight on the evening of the 3rd June, stayed overnight in London and flew out the following morning to Budapest. Really grateful for the opportunity for a bed before the next flight, so worked out well. Lovely blue skies in London, not a cloud in the sky. How rare that is.

Budapest is a very elegant city, very impressed with its architecture and parks and gardens. Transport not quite as well organised as Prague, but in other respects in may even be a better planned city, but much larger area so harder to navigate youself around, so had to take buses and trams. As a result, quite a bit of traffic congestion.bTook in some organ music at one of the famed cathedrals (st Stephens) and a ballet at the Budapest Opera House.

Unfortunately, the rains have been heavy and the Danube is flooding! All canal cuises have been cancelled, so lots of tourists roaming the streets of Budapest.

Enjoyed my stay, red top bus and great Spa and massage at the Gellert Hotel. Cheap. May as well enjoy before I hit Switzerland where I believe everything is reputed to be expensive!

Off to Lucerne tonight

Cheerio

Marcelle

Photos: Budapest

4ofus — Wed, 9 Jun 2010 01:36:00 GMT

The Danube is flooding

Photos: shanghai

4ofus — Thu, 3 Jun 2010 19:05:00 GMT

Marcelle in Shanghai

4ofus — Thu, 3 Jun 2010 18:24:00 GMT

Hi there from Shanghai

Im travelling as a solo bum this year, courtesy of Qantas and One World. Hopefully I will not get offlaoded anywhere I dont wish to be. Excuse the spelling, as the letters are quite different.

I arrived here last Saturday 29th May, and managed to make my way to my litte Magnolia Bed and Breakfast on the Megeve train,speed 450mph to outer suburbs, and then Subway to Changshu Rd station. What a culture shock, but I was helped along by some students from Beijing who even managed a little english.

I found Shanghai to be a city of many contrasts (and perhaps contradictions too), although much beauty to be found around the place!

Start with the good bits. The lovely panorama of the "Bund" over the river is spectacular, the buildings a lovely array of shapes and pastel metallic colours over the river, reflecting against water and sky. The flower beds and baskets line the entire embankment of the Bund and give vibrant colour to the waterfront. It would look great to frame the city of Perth. I guess this sort of development will be part of our future. But it is also eerie to suddenly see a future filled with super highways, super skyscrapers (Dubai is merely a small sister town in comparison) and pedestrian overpasses across 6 lanes in each direction (multiple escalators on many of the overpasses), huge stadium size metroplitan subway stations with so many exits and entries you need a Tom Tom to guide you around inside them. So frustrating to get lost in, you could literally walk miles trying to work our how you missed the exit, or the subway entry.

A contradiction - perhaps - because the people themselves seem to be still immersed in their culture of previous centuries (which I preferred to their fast lane) with their colourful antics in the parks every morning (lots of sword and flag waving, hand clapping, back and head tapping,acupressure points being stimulated, and Tai Chi exercise groups) and their many beautiful temples and places of worship. Some chinese appear to be lost in the pace of their own city, many unable to read simple maps or even familiar with the english terms for famous places like the "Bund" even though english is written on signs everwhere - they seem not to be able to read them.I was told its because many have poor eyesight, and no healthcare system that assists them with glasses for the vision impaired.

I loved watching the pedigree pets being walked in the mornings, one little fellow with soccer boots on his little paws -the lovely bonsai and the abundance of flower baskets and embankments of flower beds. It made a real show for the Expo tourists.

I also really enjoyed the oriental massage (particularly the foot massage, a very complex procdure that involved more than massaging the feet!. Hot towels were placed behind my neck and on my stomach, and my neck arms and back massaged as well. Wow, give me more. of this.So I did, I had one every day (at least) 25 dollars 60 minutes..My little bed and breakfast in the French Concession, with its pretty chinese silk cushions and gentle hospitality was a quiet haven to return too.Loved the silk markets!

But I didn't like the queues, the traffic and the populations density. I didn't bother with the Expo when people reported up to 5 hour queues to get into a Pavillion (and there were lots of them).Thats after queueing to get in. Nope, had enough of other queues! Shanghai main train station was a nightmare of people and queues. No more for me. Traffic was nasty - green pedestrian lights ignored by the drivers - making it very hazardous to cross streets if there were no overpasses. Off to Budapest via London.

Hopefully no queues in sight. My tip on Shanghai (and maybe all China)is to go on a 5 star plus tour, and stick with the tour guide!

Cheerio

Marcelle

Provence

4ofus — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:06:00 GMT

Well, we did arrive in Provence, finally!!!!!

We had some fun and games around some towns where we missed turns or ended up in reconstruction areas with no redirection routes. But that is part of the travel experience in a car, and not for the faint hearted thats for sure! A good nights sleep and some very good vino from Cahors(deep and throaty, or so they explained!)settled the nerves, and we woke up to the tropical weather of Provence and Cezanne's Mount St Victore in front of our b & b. Thank you Cheryl at Bentley Hospital for the wonderful recommendation.

We have been around Aix en Provence museums and Cours Mirabelles and the many designer shops, and will be motoring to some villages and seside places over the next few days.

Cheerio for now

3ofus

Gallery: The Valley of the Dordogne

4ofus — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:52:00 GMT

Dordogne Valley and the Perigord, Southwest France

4ofus — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:40:00 GMT

We drove down through central France on Saturday 6th June, with huge storms and winds on our tail, but a great highway in front of us. We drove right through the lower half of the Loire Valley, into the Massif Centrale and into Dordogne region - about 4.5 hours according to Tom Tom, but it took us most of the day with pit stops. The beauty of the rolling valleys and hills (and many winding roads!) was pretty immense, and made up for the grey skies.

We found our gite at Petit Maison (near Sarlat) without too many hitches and have settled in pretty well. The gite is built into a small embankment and has a cave like quality (!)but it pretty comfy with all mod cons. We have done well with a little home cooking Dordogne style and dining out in some super nice places. Duck seems to be on every menu, and we enjoyed most of the different styles of cooking, including in the crepes! all the patie de fois gras cunard style are everywhere, with the cute little ducks in all the shop windows! quack quack,poor little beggars.Walnuts and truffles also feature strongly in this district.

Thumbs up to the lovely little French villages, beautiful despite their winding narrow roads and speeding locals,the gorgeous old castle gardens preserved so lovingly by the French,the ambience of the River Domme and its lovely green lush valley terrain. The valleys are so numerous here that each has its own weather pattern, distinct from the next! We also have to say that the rural French people have remained very charming, and have tolerated our poor attempts at French very well!

I am not sure there is any thumbs down, except the weather could have been better overall; but has not really interfered with our plans, and today was quite sunny and warm! Tomorrow also predicted to be warm, then off to Provence.

Enjoying ourselves immensely, more stories soon (and photos tomorrow)

cheerio

Val, Cheryl and Marcelle

Gallery: Loire Valley

4ofus — Sat, 6 Jun 2009 07:18:00 GMT