We only have two days in Hawaii, and didn't really intend to write another blog, but this place is so lovely we changed our minds. We both agree that Hawaii has to be at the top of the list of places we would love to return one day. When James (our son) was about ten years old he bought a board game called "Hotels". The setting of the game was Waikiki on Oahu, Hawaii. Players would circle the board and buy and develop hotels in a manner remeniscent of the gameplay of "Monopoly". Despite its simpicity, the game was surprisingly [View Full Entry]

---

---

The SS Zaandam docked this morning in Vancouver after a week cruising the inside passage with about a thousand American ship mates. It was a kind of Clayton's visit to America, with just about every state in the country represented on board. It was a surprise to hear just how distinctive the accents are in America - far more than we heard in England which is always held up as the stock example of regional accent variation. The corridors of the ship reverberated with the sound of the Deep South, then New York Jewish, then mid-west, so we really began [View Full Entry]

---

---

Canada seems very familiar. It's not just the language, it's something about the way of life. Admittedly, the hats are different - theirs curl up at the sides, cowboy style. And they don't include their sales tax on advertised prices. And sometimes they add an additional 15% gratuity to the price even if you are not particularly grateful (rare - Canadian service staff seem extremely polite, respectful and hard working). But besides that, there do seem to be more points of connection with Australia than most other countries we have visited. Like Australians, Canadians appear to "pullulate t [View Full Entry]

---

---

What a week in London! Tony Blair resigned and Gordon Brown took up the new post. There have also been record floods across the country and two enormous car bombs were found before they ignited in the West End. As if London wasn't already interesting enough! The Best Things About London 1. So Much to Do We realised very quickly that a week was not enough time in London. Not wanting to miss anything, we raced from site to site, sampling rather than savouring. Obviously, we will have to return one day. This week we managed to squeeze in: A London [View Full Entry]

---

---

England is a strange kind of home-coming. We were looking forward to reaching the British Isles for the relative ease of travelling in a country whose primary language is English and the cultural divide is easily navigable. So much of our national heritage (and my husband's personal heritage) is derived from the Mother Country that it has been fascinating for me (Dee) to actually see it at last. However, there have been a few surprises. Northern England seemed to be overflowing with floral prints, wall papered rooms, and bone china. I mean, I expected it, but it was still a surprise [View Full Entry]

---

---

I have to admit that there was a small lump in my throat as our flight from Paris descended to Manchester airport. All that I could see through the occasional gaps in the clouds were patches of green - bits of English countryside. I (Richard) had not seen this shade of green since leaving England in 1964. An hour later, we were driving northwards on the M6 to the Lakes District and I spent my first night on English soil, after a 43 year absence, in the small town of Bowness on Windemere. The following morning we strolled down to the [View Full Entry]

---

---

I have always harboured a secret, preposterously childish, romantic fantasy. In fact, the kiss at the top of the Eiffel Tower has long held more allure for me than any ribbon bound box of roses, giant fluffy bear or even white wedding extravaganza. Loathe to admit it to even my closest friends and family, I have kept a silent romantic vigil that burned fiercer and fiercer, the closer we came to France. With heart pounding, I headed for the tower at the first available opportunity. There were two lines of approximately 500 people queuing for tickets to the tower. They were [View Full Entry]

---

---

After leaving Nellie in Belves, we headed across country to Normandy. On the way we stopped in at the Chateau de Cheverny to see the 'Supper of the Hounds'. There was a lot of hype about it in the guide books, but basically, it was just a giant chow-down on chicken carcasses and dog pellets for a pack of ninety hunting dogs. There were a few minor skirmishes as they tore the chickens to pieces but not nearly as many as you might expect from so many hungry dogs in such a confined space. It is a testamony to the good [View Full Entry]

---

---

At Nellie's, we ate and only occassionally ventured outdoors. For the first time since our sojourn began, the grey clouds moved in and the rain began to pour down. Nellie had invited our old Westfield's mate Laurie and his lovely wife Jocelyn (and cute daughter Elsa) to stay so that we could all catch up. The rain provided the perfect weather for eating, drinking and generally lazing around enjoying each other's company. Those of you who know Nellie will understand why the rain was a perfect blessing. The talk revolved almost entirely around food and we began to get some idea [View Full Entry]

---

---

Yes. I was joking. We loved Venice and our tongues were poking right out the sides of our cheeks. Even Richard enjoyed it! That brings us to France. After two exhausting days in Interlaken, followed by an overnight train to Venice, we arrived in Italy completely exhausted. Venice kept us awake for another 48 hours. How could we sleep only metres from the San Marco Piazza with only two days to enjoy it? Richard had to drag me away from the music in the Piazza at 9pm so that we didn't miss our next overnight train to France. By the time [View Full Entry]

---

---