http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Gaye-and-Letitia/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Gaye and Letitia en-us Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:24:58 +0000 Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:24:58 +0000 To be completed http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/London-City/blog-373416.html To be completed http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/London-City/blog-373415.html To be completed http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/London-City/blog-373413.html To be completed. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-373411.html To be completed http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-373405.html After a little sleep in we finally made it out to Sacre Coeur to have a look around which Mum had been raving about all trip and waiting for her chance to go back to it. We had had the same idea as a lot of people although we decided to forego the funicular cable car thingee and climb all the steps up to the church instead so that wasnt quite so crowded. It was a grey and misty day so we http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-365304.html Finally the time had come to brave the Louvre. We headed out reasonably early to get there to start queueing but we still dismayed at the crowds that were already queueing there to get in. But just as we got to the end of the line to take our places we were directed off by staff to another side entrance and ended up only having to wait for 45 minutes to get in which if any of you have alrea http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-365296.html On the last day of our 21 day train ticket we headed off to do some serious shopping in Troyes. We hopped on the train for the hour or so ride over to Troyes and arrived to some rainy weather. We started off having a look at some churches which were beautiful one in particular which was built around 1100 and took our breath away but unfortunately we had arrived at lunchtime and didnt get to http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/blog-365288.html Today we headed off to parc Asterix for the day. We weren't sure if we were going to be able to get to the park as it usually closes in October for the winter but for the last couple of years they have just opened for two weeks over the ChristmasNew Year period so we got to go along with a bunch of karaokesinging teenyboppers on the bus thats a whole different story. However a lot of the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-364991.html After mum let us lie in and we had sorted ourselves out Tesni was comfortable on the couch and didnt snore too much thank goodness we headed off to take in the sights at the Musee d'Orsay. We stopped a Metro stop away and walked through the park next to the Louvre so we could have a quick look around as we walked and then waited in line for about 45 minutes or so to get in. The musee used to http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-364989.html Today was our last day in Strasbourg before heading back to Paris. We took a walk in the morning to go back to the governmental buildings that we had seen before at night which were just as beautiful in the daytime. It was a bit sad walking past the christmas market that was being packed up and moved off until the next year. We had another look at Petit France which we had also only seen at ni http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Alsace/Strasbourg/blog-364978.html This morning we jumped on the train to take a trip to Colmar. This is a smaller town about half an hour away and is another one of the pretty little towns that are on the wine trail in this area. The town was beautiful with lovely buildings and gardens and the christmas markets had a great atmosphere. The first market was pretty traditional but the second market we went to had all sorts of lo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Alsace/Colmar/blog-357402.html A merry christmas to all of you hopes it has been as enjoyable as ours. We started off the morning by giving out our presents that we were too tired to do the night before although Tesni was a bit shortchanged as we havnt got her anything yet as we didnt know what she needed we are going shopping when we get back to Paris. Tesni had been very sneaky she had made notes of what we liked when http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Alsace/Strasbourg/blog-357153.html Strasbourg has lived up to all our expectations. It calls itself the capital of christmas and they really go all out for it here. All the streets are decorated differently and in themed and the markets have been wonderful. Our hotel seemed to be ages away from everything but when it came to actually walking into town in the morning turns out everything is very compact it only took us about 15 http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Alsace/Strasbourg/blog-357150.html Well after being woken up by our conductor at 5.20am for breakfast and getting off the train in Zurich at 6.25am we had a walk around the main area of Zurich while all the shops were still closed we wouldnt have been able to afford anything anyway. They had awesome lights set up everywhere and the shop decorations were wonderful so we were glad we arrived so early in the morning. They also http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Switzerland/North-West/Basel/blog-356836.html Today was our bonus day in Vienna. We took it easy having a sleep in this morning and then sauntering into town for a spot of shopping and more sightseeing. We went back to the main Christmas market to have a proper look although didnt buy anything except some excellent sausages and also stumbled across another excellent market between more beautiful buildings everywhere you look in this ci http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Vienna-State/Vienna/blog-356404.html Today we headed into the town centre to have a look at the buildings around the town centre and to do some museums and other activities. First we headed over to the Spanish riding school to see what sort of tickets we could get and scored ourselves some excellent ones. We then had another wander around the town centre saw amazing building after amazing building and found the main Christmas ma http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Vienna-State/Vienna/blog-356400.html Today we arrived in Vienna. We will be doing a whirlwind tour cos we are only here for two days but it is a beautiful city so far. We arrived on the train at around 9am and after dropping our bags at the hotel headed off to Schloss Shonbrunn the austrian version of Versailles. There was a Christmas market located outside the Schloss but it was nothing compared to the Salzburg one and it http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Vienna-State/Vienna/blog-355863.html Our last day in Salzburg... the locals all seem to think a week is far too long to stay in such a small town but we have enjoyed every moment of it and will be sad to leave. It was still snowy this morning although raining a little bit as we were leaving our hotel to head into the town. We started by strolling up some side alleys to see what we stumbled across and were rewarded by finding an e http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Salzburg-State/Salzburg/blog-355861.html Another day trip had to take advantage of our train ticket. We headed off early to Innsbruck which is just under 2 hours away on the train. The first thing we wanted to do is visit the Swarovski Kristallwelten crystalworlds which is in a village a little way out of Innsbruck. It was all very well organised we hopped in a dedicated shuttle straight out of the train station and were at the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Tyrol/Innsbruck/blog-355545.html