Today we do more planning for the time ahead. Tomorrow we will go to Turkey for the day, then we leave to stay on Kastelorizo. Today I found this joint - right next door to the hotel and looking over the beach (and Turkish coast) 100m from the water's edge, with the best internet facilities yet. Inexpensive and real good equipment. It's called Patty's Lounge Bar Restaurant. The bar is also good and I reckon the food will be worth a try. [View Full Entry]

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At 8 we meet a bus for the harbour of Rodos. Here we get on the 2 hour ferry to the Dodecanese island, Symi. First stop, for a look around is at Panormitis. Their museum here indicates the significance of their resistance to the Nazi regime during WW2. It's in a beautiful enclosed and protected harbour. We leave at midday for the main harbour of Symi in the north east of the island. This whole area is yachting heaven - and some mouth-watering craft sit in the harbour to watch. There are yachts going in all directions, to Turkey, along the [View Full Entry]

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Today is really the first time we've come across a reliable internet connection. There is one in the hotel - but is quite expensive and down every time I go to use it. The hotel (Ialyssos Bay) is recently refurbished - completely rebuilt more like - is very modern and luxurious. It's a one minute walk to the beach, in case you can't stand fresh water such as in the waveless pool. The view out of our window is beautiful, looking north across to the Turkish mountains about 10km away. The temperature is superb and great for just padding around soaking [View Full Entry]

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Just can't say "no" to these enthusiastic young Americans. Today our guide is Sadie, with the Fat Tires again. We walk 15 minutes from the hotel to meet at their headquarters. We ride through Paris (I think it's good that it's Sunday morning.) At the RER station we leap on with bikes and go to Versailles. Negotiating the traffic to the palace and grounds is more challenging - and fun. After a long ride through the grounds (it's on 2000 hectares) we stop at the bottom of the lake crucifix for a picnic lunch. Then we ride to the palace for [View Full Entry]

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I just love the Paris metro. Getting anywhere is such a breeze. This morning we take it to Gare St-Lazarre to meet our group for the day. The Fat Tire Bicycle Company seem to be guided and organised by young ex-pat Americans. Today it's Paul. We ride to the RER station and jump on with our bikes (4 to a carriage entrance) to go to Vernon (45 minutes away). Once there we get off, ride to the local produce market and buy up great stuff for lunch - including a bottle of viognier. Amazingly, of the 16 in our group, 8 [View Full Entry]

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Finally got away after changing our flight from last Saturday. Travel with MAS was pretty uneventful - arrived in CDG-Paris after 24 hours in transit (via K.L.) Took the RER from the airport, then, after a coffee and a croissant, we take a taxi from Gare du Nord. We arrive at the address on our hotel printout only to find it's a (closed) orthodontist - even though Jo might have been glad of it, it didn't offer any chance of accommodation. Kindly the taxi drive rang the hotel (pleasant place it turned out - Hotel Yllen Eiffel) and we find the [View Full Entry]

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Well, it's been a long couple of days. What with the family from hell and their three little ones who rostered themselves to squeal, cry, demand, fight and run down the aisle throughout the night, it just made me realise how lucky I was. We were at least seated on the other side of the aircraft, and I had kept my earplugs supplied by the Hotel in Heidelberg. In any case I resorted to watching another movie at around 5am. Considering that we left the hotel Saturday morning at 8:45am and finally cleared customs etc at Adelaide on Monday morning [View Full Entry]

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It was a long day and night - left Les Jardins Eiffel at 8:45 am and finally took off at 1pm. I guess it takes a while to cover 13,000 km. So we have the day in Singapore - Starting out with a very civilised relax in the QANTAS lounge before we hit the city. Scheduled to move on at 11 tonight... Keep watching the space - have a lot of gaps to fill in when we get home... [View Full Entry]

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Final morning in Paris. Had beautiful weather yesterday (at last); Now heading for Charles De Gaulle for the long trip home (be there Monday morning). Here it is Bastille Day [View Full Entry]

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On Sunday we all meet at the other hotel for a breakfast, again sponsored by Jean-Paul and Janine who are as ever, unbelievably hospitable. Afterwards some guests depart back to France and other parts while a number of us go with our hosts to stay in Lavey. Juliane and Ueli take us to Lavey les Bains which is a natural thermal pool system turned into an extensive playground for the steamed, frozen and water-logged. Just stunning, to visit the various steam rooms, spa tubs, heated pools with anticyclonic whirlpools, and a giant mushroom that rains hot water. To sit in steaming [View Full Entry]

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