Our last day in London was spent at the Victoria and Albert Museum and then a walk into Hyde Park, a place we haven’t been for 35 years! Still the same.

Tuesday 29 August – Flight from London to Madrid. We checked into the Westin Palace Hotel and were upgraded to give us continuity in the room once we joined the tour. Early evening was a walk around the surrounding streets to orientate ourselves and then a tapas dinner at a small local pub. The Palace hotel in very central to all museums.

Wednesday – Breakfast in a small cafe was interesting – a large toasted roll with pureed tomato and milky tea. For the morning we took a walk to the Museum of Archaeology which holds a fabulous collection of exquisite carvings made from stone and ivory, gold crowns, pottery and rare Andalusian glass. There was a replica of cave paintings from the Atamira caves in N. Spain. After lunch we walked back towards the hotel to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum which contains one of the world’s foremost private art collections – old masters from Holland, France,Germany, Italy as well as modern works. Painters such as Hans Holbein, Carpaccio, Caravaggio, Rubens, Renior, Degas, Jackson Pollock, David Hockney. There was also a special exhibition of Venetian Renaissance artists.

Thursday – We decided on a quiet day. Caught up with the UniWorld Rep and took a walk to Parque del Retiro, a huge and beautifully manicured park in central Madrid. The weather was warm, many people on the lake in boats. We viewed the Crystal Palace which is like a huge glass house now used for special events.At 4.15 we joined a neighbourhood walk with a guide, Ana. Even though we had covered most of the area ourselves she gave a very informative commentary of the history of the area and suggestions for eating. With a Canadian couple we walked to the oldest pub to have a drink before finding a restaurant in St Ana Plaza.

Friday – Today we took the Go Active tour which involved a bus tour of some areas of Madrid then a 11/2 hour walk through15th, 16th 17th century Madrid called the Hapsburg area. The areas included wonderful old buildings from each era. The bus then took us to the Prado Museum where our guide Ana, gave us a most informative tour of some old masters. We decided to stay on and after lunch viewed more rooms. At 6.30 we headed off for dinner and a Flamenco Show. The dinner consisted of tasting plates of Spanish cuisine which was delicious. The dancing was excellent – very energetic – with 2 female and 1 male dancer, all with international reputations, accompanied by two guitarists, a drummer and three singers.

Saturday – our last day in Madrid and we are on tour to Toledo – a World Heritage site about an hours drive from Madrid. Toledo is built on a hill surrounded by the Tagus River which gives it natural fortifications. The buildings are Muslim, Jewish and Christian dating from the middle ages. The three cultures managed to live in harmony. We had a great walk around narrow alley ways and cobble stoned streets. After returning to Madrid we walked to the old City Hall taking an elevator and steps to a viewing platform which gives beautiful views of Madrid.

Sunday – We leave Madrid and head towards Portugal and our ship which is waiting at Vega de Terron near the border. On the way we call into Salamanca an old university town with a tour of the UNESCO designated old town.

We arrived in England a week ago and have hardly drawn breath. Our first 3 nights were at the Highdale B&B in Nailsea, near Bristol. We had timed our trip to join John’s second cousin, Gillian and her husband Bev in celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Their son Jonathon, wife Rebecca and children Jake and Charlotte were staying with Gillian and Bev. On Tuesday afternoon, the day of their 50th W.A. they had a garden party at their home for about 30 people. It was great that we could be with them to help celebrate.

While in the Bristol area we visited The Great Britain, a ship designed by Brunel and at the time the largest passenger ship built and the first to be propeller driven. Among voyages to many parts of the world it had taken thousands of migrants to Australia in the 19th century. It was salvaged from the Faulkland Islands in 1970 and towed across the Atlantic back to the same dock where it was built in Bristol 120 years before. The restoration work is fabulous.

On Wednesday 23rd we took a train from Birmingham to London making our way back to William Goodenough House near Russell Square where we stayed with Duncan and Rowen for several months in 1981. We spent the afternoon re-aquainting ourselves with the area noting all the changes and development. But fortunately much is familiar. Our unit at WGH has a bedroom, sitting room, kitchen and bathroom – much like before, except much modernised.

Thursday we joined a “London Walk” around the back streets of Covent Garden, hearing from a local guide about the history and development of the area over the centuries. The walk finished at Trafalgar Square near St Martins in the Field Church. We then enjoyed a 40 minute lunch time choral concert in the church – the music of Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell. It was great.

Thursday night we saw ‘The Book of Mormon’. Fabulous musical, very funny. We had booked this before we left home. Just as well as it was ‘house full” – and our seats were front and centre.

Friday morning saw us visiting the fascinating underground Churchill War Rooms at Westminster which were sealed immediately at the end of WW2 and reopened in the late 80′s. On display are the original maps and equipment just as they were left. A museum on the life of Winston Churchill has been added. Highly recommended!

Then on to the Tate Modern. A wonderful piece of architecture beside the Thames River. The collections ranged from early 20thC to very modern. Not all easy to fathom! That night we saw Agatha Christie’s “The Mouse Trap” which has had a continuous run at the same theatre for 65 years!

Saturday was another walk – ‘Brunel’s London’. As we had learnt a little about him at the Great Britain in Bristol we thought this walk sounded interesting. It included a boat trip on the Thames to Greenwich and a visit to The Brunel Museum which included tunnels he built as part of the London Underground rail system. We had a very late lunch with the Director of the museum in a local pub. Late in the afternoon we arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral just in time for Evensong at 5pm.

Sunday we took a canal boat trip from Little Venice to Camden. The boat was one of the original restored cargo boats that moved slowly up the canals100 years ago. Modern canal boats now motor slowly across England. The Regents canal we were on continues to Birmingham, although it can take weeks as the speed limit is 6 miles per hour! A visit to the British Museum in the afternoon.

DUBAI

Wednesday 30^th September and we arrived at Dubai approx midnight, met our shuttle bus contact for transport to our hotel. Our room is very spacious and comfortable and we had a reasonable nights sleep.

Thursday 1 October – Off just across the road to visit Deira Mall (at least three times as big as Belconnen Mall) and check out where to pick up the Big Bus Friday. Bought food for breakfast and lunch back to hotel. The temp is 32*C, a dry heat but it is still great to get into aircon. After lunch decided to take Metro to Gold Souk and Spice Souk. The Gold Souk s an amazing place – a street with alley ways selling gold and some silver. The gold is sold at current value with no added cost for making into jewellery, only 18 and 22 carat sold. You wonder who would wear some of the elaborate pieces we saw, they were big, chunky and very elaborate. We visited quite a few shops but not tempted to buy. On the way to the train we visited a Heritage House, built around 1890 but only restored in the last 20 years. Shows life in a merchant house of the time. Tonight we had an Indian meal in the food court of the mall. Very good.

Friday 2nd October – major attractions closed this morning some not opening until 4pm., being the Islamic religious day. So we caught the Big Bus and visited other areas. Visited Dubai Mall and saw their indoor waterfall (below) and skating rink among hundreds of shops and various forms of entertainment. Next door is the Burj Khalfa Tower, the tallest in the world. We took a dhow cruise from the marina, then onto Palm Island t to visit the Atlantis Aquarium in the Atlantis the Palm Hotel (below). Amazing the amount of land that has been reclaimed and construction going on in the city. The architecture is very innovative and varied. Then to the Mall of Emirates where the indoor ski slope is housed – 80 AED (about $35) for 2 hours includes clothing and equipment. Slope is only 400 m. and designed for beginners. A four-seat chair takes you back up the slope. There is also a short toboggan slope. The photo seems to to make it look more impressive than it is. We decided just to watch.  Dinner at a Lebanese Rest in Hall of Emirates (overlooking the indoor ski slope) before getting the metro back to hotel.

Saturday 3^rd October – Our last day in Dubai. Decided to take metro to Dubai museum as bus would take 2 hours on its circuit. Very hot and humid today – has to be 36*. Dubai Museum fabulous. We spent almost 2 hours there with lots of people from tour groups but we took our time. Bus then to Heritage Village and Shindagha Museum which houses documents, coins and family photographs of the royal family. Only short time there so we could catch the bus for a second Dhow cruise, this time on the historic Dubai Creek. It was restful, out of heat. Always an advantage to see a city from the water. Lots of freight dhows which sail as far as India and South Africa. Bus back to Deira Centre to cool down, coffee before walking to hotel. Tonight doing a night tour of lights and a walk through a C14th area of the city.

6.15am pickup tomorrow morning for our flight home. A great few days in Dubai.

The end of a great holiday.

NICE

We disembarked Azamara Quest at 9am Saturday 26^th and took a taxi to our hotel. After checking in and storing our luggage we took a bus t(30mins 1.50 euros) o Monaco as Hiliary hadn’t been there and she and Janet were only staying in Nice 1 night. Arriving in Monaco we found there was a boat show on and couldn’t walk along the sea front, however from a high vantage point we could observe the craft on the harbour. WOW! Boats worth many millions $$$.We walked towards the casino but it was closed. A late lunch and train back to Nice (20 mins 3.60 euros). Room ready at 3pm, very comfortable. Met Janet and Hiliary at 6pm and walked to the sea and along the promenade before returning back to the old town to find a restaurant for dinner. This is our last night together as both Janet and Hiliary are flying out in the morning. The old town is a vibrant place with many squares and side streets with restaurants.

Sunday 27^th. We had breakfast with Janet and Hiliary and said our goodbyes. We took a bus to a hillside town – St Paul – that is one and a half hours away on bus (1.50 euros). The town is on a mountain with fortified walls, lots of cafes, art/clothing/providore stores. Museums closed at 12.30 for 2 hours so we didn’t get to see them. Bought some lunch and decided to walk 4kms (1 hour) to Vence. The walk was strenuous at start and end, through the woodland areas. We didn’t have much time at Vence before we had to catch the bus back to Nice, but there had been a special market day which we caught the tail end of. Relaxation before going to old town for dinner.

Monday 28^th. Today is a visit to Musee Matisse. We arrived early so we could walk through the park and not knowing if we had to que. We didn’t, and went straight in. The first part of the museum was his collections of artifacts that his family have donated. The next of his drawings/paintings and sculptures. It was interesting to see some of his original works. We walked to a bus stop just catching the bus to Eze Village, (35 mis 1.50 euros) another hilltop town with massive fortifications. Quaint streets and dead end alleys with art galleries and boutiques and cafes. How did they manage to build these towns? Great town to stroll through for an hour or so. Bus back to Nice and a wander along the main street and a coffee at McDonalds! Into the old town again for dinner.

Tuesday 29^th Visit this morning to the Museum of Contemporary Art. The building is i n the round but you don’t realize this until you go to the roof and look down the centre to the pavement. The view is spectactular. Then by bus back to Monaco to visit the old city and palace and view more boats. Workers were dismantling the infrastructure from the boat show but we could walk part of the foreshore. The old town is built on a rock high above the modern town. The Grimaldi’s have been there for 600 years. A worthwhile tour of the palace to view some of the rooms.

Wednesday 30^th. Our last day in Nice. This morning is a trip to the Fine Art Museum then pack and off to the airport at 1.30 for our flight to Dubai.

Cruise Barcelona to Nice Sept 2015

Ibiza – Very steep walk into the walled old city. Visited the cathedral and museum, then just a walk through the old town. After lunch walk through the lower part near the water. Mostly touristy style shops. Is the 3^rd largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands. A popular holiday destination.

Palma de Mallorca (Majorca) – is the largest of the Balearic Islands, is the capital of the islands. A popular resort area with winding streets and numerous churches including the Gothic Cathedral which dominates the sky line. Unfortunately the museum was closed. The cathedral we’ll be going to tonight for a concert and tour so we spent the morning walking the streets. The concert was fabulous with organ music and a choir.

Mahon, Menorca – 2^nd largest island in the chain. Resort areas but remains relatively unspoiled. Wonderful natural harbour – we took an hour and a half harbour cruise on a glass bottom boat. There was also a lot of historical information given. Again a walled city with steep steps up, just walked the town and visited the museum. The permanent collection of artefacts was closed for renovation but they had an exhibition of paintings of women since C14th which was very interesting especially when a C16th art work was next to a C21st piece and you noticed the change in how women are depicted. Shopping streets quite good here, most closed for siesta at 2pm.

Propriano, Corsica, France – the island where Napoleon was born. Gain we just walked the town. Tourism has brought a lot of growth. The inland areas would have been great to see but there are no buses, public transport os taxis.

Amalfi, Italy – The Amalfi coastline is World Heritage listed. Great natural beauty and wonderful scenery. Picturesque fishing villages, houses/churches cut and built up the steep cliffs. We took a tour to Ravello. The road was narrow, a lot of traffic and we were in a 40 seater coach! The road was windy with hair pin bends. There was a lot of backing up by vehicles coming down the hill and many near misses. I am glad we did the tour and not hire a car and do it ourselves, we’d have probably turned around. Ravello was a beautiful old town, our guide gave us lots of information. Pottery is made here so I bought a small bowl. On our return to Amalfi we had a tour of the Cathedral museum and Cathedral after which we wandered town before returning to ship.

Sorrento – Italy – 2 nights. Day 1 we decided to take the local train to Ercolano (Herculaneum) where the old town was covered with volcanic ash, mud and pyroclastic materials (pumis) in 79AD after Vesuvius exploded. The town has been excavated and is now 250m from the shoreline – in 79AD the shore lapped the walls. We spent a few hours touring the site with the aid of an English language recording. Unfortunately all the artifacts that survived looting, have been removed to the Naples museum. We took the train into Naples where we only had time to walk to the port and wait for a ferry back to Sorrento. A trip to the museum would have been good as Pompeii artifacts are also there.

Day 2 – Pompeii with Vesuvius as a backdrop. Our tour left early for a coach drive that took us about an hour.We were taken first to a shop where they carve cameos out of shell. We saw a brief demonstration before being taken down to the shop. The cameos are beautiful and very intricate but also very expensive.

The walking tour of Pompeii was approx 21and a half hours, our guide was excellent, very thorough imparting information and taking us to the most important areas of the ruins. Pompeii was also covered with ash, mud and pumis so was easily excavated. If it had been larva, as in other towns nearby, it would have hardened like rock. Pompeii was very crowded with tour groups and people doing it on their own. A great experience. Unfortunately most of the precious stones, silver, china was looted by Roman emperors around 100AD who wanted the artifacts for their palaces, the remainder are in Naples.

Returning back to the ship for a late lunch – 2.15. Later we went into Sorrento to look around. Lots of leather products plus inlaid timber boxes, cabinets etc.

Day at sea travelling between Sorrento and Livorno (Florence)

Florence/Pisa

Early start to the day for a one and a half hour drive to Florence. First stop Hill overlooking Florence – magnificent view. Then drive down to Gallery Acadamia to view David by Michaelangelo. Very impressive statue. The remainder of the time in Florence was walking past the various sites and plazas.

Pisa – we were only there an hour but again the tower and other buildings were impressive.

BARCELONA

After a 2 hour flight we arrived in Barcelona at 11.15pm. Friday. Our shuttle bus guide met us and we sat, then moved to another area and sat! At 12.20am he told us our driver will be here in 10 mins, he was and it was just us in the van. We picked up another couple at terminal 2 and drove into the city. The driver dropped us off 400metres from our hotel, pointing us in the right direction and left. We were not impressed but made it to the hotel who were waiting for us, but were great. We finally got to bed at 1.30am. We did not give the shuttle company a good report on the feedback form.

After a bad start we had a fabulous time in Barcelona. Our hotel was close to La Ramblas the touristy area but we were able to walk to other parts of the city.

Saturday – decided to visit Palau Guell, a home designed by Gaudi, which was very close to the hotel. It was much more than we expected. We spent 2 hours touring the building which has been renovated in Gaudi style if necessary. We had English translation recordings which were very detailed with the history and architecture of the building. The architecture was amazing. Even ceramics around the chimneys! Photo included.

After lunch we walked to Barcelona Cathedral. Like all Catholic Cathedrals it was very opulent, plenty of art works, stained glass windows. We took lift to roof which gave a view over the city.

Dinner in a great little restaurant near the hotel – 3 courses for 19 euros, good value. We actually ate there every night but not always choosing the 3 courses.

Sunday – Late start again – we are on holidays! Walk to the harbour to take a cruise around the area. Lots of stalls and human “statues” along La Rambla. While waiting for the cruise watched a swim race in harbour. Quite interesting, lots of people and swimmers. The cruise OK was actually going to another port through the heads to the sea – 45 mins there, 45 back. We saw Barcelona from the sea.

After lunch went to Picasso Museum. We had a half hour wait to get tickets and then couldn’t get in until 4. All well organised our tickets were for 4 and that is when we went in. Again had an English program and spent about 2 hours there. Traces his painting career from the beginning. Didn’t know he painted landscapes initially.

Caught up with Janet and her friend Hiliary at 7pm for dinner.

Monday – Walked to Museum of Contemporary Art. Spent about 2 hours there. The art works were interesting, a little way out, but impressive.

We rested after lunch before taking the metro to Sagrada Familia. We had organised a tour prior to leaving home with a trip up the tower. Gaudi took over the construction of the Basillica from another architect and he died before it was completed. All his plans were destroyed in the Spanish Civil War but most of his ideas were in his head. He died in 1926. The building is not yet completed and they hope to do so by 2026 – a hundred years after Gaudi’s death. Enough of the fascade was done for other sides to be completed. The inside is magnificent. Unlike the usual catholic basillicas in that there are no religious alcoves for saints. The inside is an open space, very high ceiling and columns, all natural light. Absolutely stunning. Will include photo of the tree like columns that hold up the roof.

Tuesday – This morning we went to Parc Guell – a park designed by Gaudi. Again amazing works , sculptures on buildings. We have certainly seen a lot of Gaudi while in Barcelona.

About 2pm we took a taxi to the cruise terminal and boarded Azamara Quest for our cruise to Nice.

Cabin very comfortable.

We had a fabulous 6 days in Malta, immersed in the history of a very small country. It was very easy to travel using a 7 day bus pass for 21 euros that gave us unlimited ravel on buses even to Gozo. The re were many highlights such as Hypogeum a 5000 year old burial ground older tham the pyramids and Stonehenge! Built underground using bone as the tools. How did they manage to do it?

Our flight from Buenos Aires to Sydney came via Antarctica which was a bonus. The photos were from 35,000 feet and show the massive iceflow. Unfortunately no large icebergs.

Pacqueta Island is accessed only by ferry which takes an hour. It was originally inhabited by Indians their decendents are still there as well as other nationals – very much

a holiday destination for swimming, walking, fishing – no 5 star hotels. No cars on the island the only motorised vehicle was the tractor otherwise its pushbike or horse and buggy which we took around the island. The old driver talking to us in Portuguese even though he knew we didn’t understand a word.

Our hotel was across the road from Copacabana Beach which is the first photo. Ipanema Beach which was around the next headland – a very upmarket area. Rio from the top of Christ the Redeemer Hill which was accessed by a train – very steep in parts Cablecar to Sugarloaf and view from the top. Unfortunately it was quite hazey.