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Europe » Switzerland » North-West » Lucerne May 30th 2024

Our morning started with packing, breakfasting, cleaning up amd walking over to Irvahn's for a coffee before catching the train to Lucern. Sadly, it's time to move on and it has been fabulous to spend physical time with my favourite niece, her kids and her husband, Marc. We returned to our house and Marc drove over to pick up our luggage and take us to the station. The weather was looking dicey so not a day to drive over the Klausen Pass so we had chosen to get the train to Zurich, have lunch, then train to Lucern. On arrival in Lucern, we had to find our Ibis hotel which looked not far on a map. Towing luggage isn't easy when it's for a kilometre. We booked into our rooms and were surprised how small they ... read more
Our house
A fine painted building in one of the squares
Note the fine features of these buildings


I forgot to record last night that our room had a surfeit of power points and … dried flower arrangements. No fewer than ten power points and four floral arrangements! We’ve had a few rooms on this holiday suffering from being filled with way too much stuff. Sometimes in a hotel room or B&B less is more. I’m sure I’m not the only traveller who would prefer fewer cushions and less bric-a-brac reflecting the taste (or lack thereof) of the owner? But the power points are good. We haven’t struggled for power points to charge all of or electrical devices at all on this holiday. Reflecting on our itinerary again over the last couple of days and wondering if we could have been more efficient? On the map the distances between our accommodation destinations seemed so ... read more
St Eugene's Cathedral
St Eugene's Cathedral
Guild House

Europe » Greece » Pelopennese » Nafplion May 30th 2024

Arrived at a pleasant and spotless Airbnb for the next four nights. We were just admiring the place when the owner bluntly informed us to keep the screens closed as mosquitos are here. Just super, been avoiding the bloodsuckers so far, but she said such a warm winter the awful insect kept them company all winter. Imagine that will produce a bumper crop this year. Imagine we must burden you folks with two postings from Nafplion. This one and a few pix of the Venetian Fortress. There are four here.... read more
Lunch Somewhere in the Peloponnese
Mycenean Palace/Fortress
A Look Down

Europe » Croatia » Dalmatia » Split May 30th 2024

So this morning, we were to go down to the shoreline and meet a boat that was going to take us on an adventure to the Blue Cave of Biševo, to the Blue Lagoon, Vis where Mamma Mia was filmed and Hvar. So we walked down to the harbor and found where we were supposed to meet. I kept looking for the boat that we’re supposed to be boarding. Now have I ever said I’m not big about Water? I mean I like to go to the beach but I really don’t spend a lot of time in the ocean. I like to go to the pool but I’m not a swimmer so I just play in the pool. I’ve been in a few boats, but most of them were large boats. It’s just not my ... read more
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Europe » Switzerland » North-West » Lucerne May 29th 2024

Day 3 – May 28 Today we said farewell to Zurich as we transferred to Lucerne. As part of our tour package porters picked up our luggage before breakfast (7:15 am) and transported it to the lobby where we later identified it before it was put on our bus as we boarded. We took a panoramic trip through the countryside, including some very narrow roads bordering the lake. Eventually, after navigating a very tight stretch where they are widening it, with minimal space to do so, we arrived at the docks in Vitznau where we boarded the cruise boat Pegasus to cruise across the end of Lake Lucerne. One of the accompanying photos is a map of the lake – Vitznau is on the middle right – Lucerne is on the upper left; the “T” is ... read more
Lakeside road construction.
Cloudy lake cruise.
Manor overlooking lake.

Europe » Switzerland » North-West » Lucerne May 29th 2024

Day 4 – May 29 Today was reserved for an optional trip up the Stanserhorn for a spectacular view of the Alps and Lake Lucerne from above. We travelled by bus twenty minutes out of Lucerne to the funicular station at Stans. The funicular took us a third of the way up the mountain where we transferred to the Cabrio cable car system. The unique feature of this gondola is that it has an open top deck permitting unrestricted views of the landscape all around. At the top of the gondola run is a large viewing platform and restaurant. Leading off from this area are a number of walking trails including one leading to the very summit of the Stanserhorn. Our guide took us on a 45-minute hike to the top and provided insightful commentary along ... read more
Tunnel from abandoned funicular.
Alpine flowers_1.
Alpine flowers_2.


This morning we pulled out onto the N15 and inserted ourselves into a convoy of vintage Citroens beetling along the highway. We were in the middle of a group of four of them for a few kilometres before coming aside a layover where they started to pull in just as the leading members of their group, who we presume had been waiting for them, started to pull out. Aargh! Vintage Citroens going everywhere. Thank goodness that soon after they decided to pull out onto a local road. It’s always a bit awkward getting caught up in groups travelling together. That goes for caravan convoys crossing the Nullarbor and the 2CV6 Club on tour in Ireland! Today we are going over road already travelled again. We thought we were heading from Sligo to Letterkenny and we are ... read more
Gweebarra River viewpoint
The Bristi
Bristi Cliffs

Europe » Greece » North Aegean May 29th 2024

Drove almost four hours from Delphi to Olympia in the Western Peloponnese. Rather nice drive through country that is noticeably less arid than Cyprus or Crete and more scenic. There are many olive trees and some grape vines, they even receive enough rain to grow hay, although for what we don't know, as have not seen one cow or horse. Olympia, while memorable, is less impressive that Delphi. It is thankfully, quite flat resulting is easy walking. Departing later today for Nafplion along with Epidavros where sits a reportedly exquisite ancient theatre and also Mycenae. Yes, finally come face to face with the folks who assisted in the destruction of the Minions and reputedly Troy as well. Neglected to mention earlier, but while the Olympic Games officially began during the early 8th century BC, the Mycenaeans ... read more
Bird's Bathtub
Palaestra
Workshop of Pheidias

Europe » Switzerland » North-East » Glarus May 29th 2024

Today we met our Swiss friends, Bruno and Gertrud at the Nafels station, down valley to spend the day with them. As always it was great to catch up with them and enjoy their hospitality. Bruno is a retired engineer and spent some time working on the Linth plain melioration project. What is it? That was what Bruno thought we'd find interesting and had put in a lot of planning to show us aspects of the whole project. I'll try to explain it briefly so as to jog the memory as I re-read it in the future. Essentially, the flat area of the Linth River outlet from the valley upstream to the flat outlet plain was prone to flooding in the past hundreds of years. Back in the early 1800s it was decided to straighten and ... read more
Linds. Gertrud, Bruno and Stephan
The drainage plan
Linds at one of the canals outside a pumping station

Europe » Ireland » County Dublin » Dublin May 29th 2024

I'm back home. I've been home for 2 days and finally able to function enough to make a to do list and start unpacking. Finishing this blog is top on my 'to do' list. If this last post doesn't get out today, it never will. I did start it at some point so here's what I got... The night we left Belfast I couldn't sleep trying to decide what to do in Dublin. One last night spent with Rick to make a plan for the next day and half.. We made it to Dublin from Belfast with only a quick rest stop along the way. Don was in his element here and gave us the grand tour of Dublin. He's very proud of this city. We went to Phoenix Park for a drive by of the ... read more
American Embassy in Phoenix Park
Drive by of the Irish Parliament
Oscar Wilde is watching us from behind as we take this group picture.




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