Travel, life, loves and laughs.
La Tour Eiffel
Sigh!! My first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower (La Tour Eiffel) in Pairs. We arrived in Paris yesterday and had an early night last night in anticipation of getting to the Eiffel Tower early this morning. It’s a bit of a Metro ride but we’ve made it. … Read the rest
Our 10am booking for the Eurostar to Paris was a sensible choice. We are staying with Claire in the 15th Arrondissement and as I rise to my 6:30am alarm and rouse the boys from the cartoon channel, which has likely been on for a while already, I’m resigned to a long day ahead. … Read the rest
A day out at Tyntesfield is one for the whole family. This exquisite Victorian Gothic Revival estate includes a grand home, complete with its own chapel on a sprawling estate. Here you can watch the children play hide and seek between the trees, climb around the playground and explore the hothouse plants.… Read the rest
It’s a beautiful, if a little crisp, Bristol morning. We’re off to Kings Western for the junior park run. My friend Alison used to run these in Brisbane when Miranda and Jasper were little, now it’s the children’s turn.… Read the rest
“Come to Bristol in August when the Balloon Festival is on” my friend, Alison invites. At least I hope she did because we’re here now. It’s early morning and the household is still quiet. I stir Jasper & Miranda awake and we dress as quietly as we can.… Read the rest
If there’s one thing Italy does well (after gelato), it’s Villas. Villa d’Este was a fantastic example of this, Villa Borghese is another. Whilst the Palazzos and Castellos are interesting and impressive, the villa gives way from the regal, political and military to a more laid back take on Italian lifestyle, architecture and the outdoors, namely a garden. … Read the rest
There is a lot of gelato in Italy. In fact, there is a lot of gelato in this part of the world. But my knees go weak for Venchi. We have been travelling around the Mediterranean and it’s summer. … Read the rest
The alarm rouses me from sleep for a day at Villa d’Este and the first thing I feel is my aching feet, sore from a couple of weeks of walking. Not that I don’t like walking, I do, I like it a lot, especially when exploring new and wonderful places.… Read the rest
Castel Nuovo is an impressive building. From its perch on the entrance to Naploli, it stands guard over the Gulf of Naples almost as impressive as Mount Vesuvius on the other side of the city. Certainly as proud, almost as formidable. … Read the rest
Nestled just off Naples’ bustling Spaccanapoli, Complesso Monumentale di Santa Chiara unfolds as a testament to Gothic resilience and Franciscan simplicity. Instantly I find this place both overwhelming and incredible. Like a little walled world of its own, it must have been even more so, a haven from the outside world, during periods of Napoli’s unsettled past.… Read the rest