http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/johnstonsineurope/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from johnstonsineurope en-us Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:27:59 +0000 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:27:59 +0000 Itrsquos a really pretty area but the weather just isnrsquot in our favour so itrsquos not quite as desirable as it should be itrsquos cold and overcast. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Cumbria/Lake-Windermere/blog-297137.html The kids are hooked on exploring by bike especially Lucy she tags on the back of Darrenrsquos bike and has an easy ride. The track we chose was an old railway line so itrsquos nice a flat running along beside the river through a few tunnels and over bridges to a little village with a pub for lunch. Trouble was we were too early for lunch so when we saw a sign to the ancient lsquoStone Cir http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Cumbria/Keswick/blog-297002.html At the northern end of the Lake District is Keswick pronounced Kesick another pretty town as they all seem to be. I havenrsquot come across an ugly town yet. Walking is the main attraction here too. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Cumbria/Keswick/blog-296996.html Having skipped Scotland we had to cut across the top of England and find somewhere to stay. Our resident lsquoRoman Historyrsquo buff wanted to see Hadrians wall. The Romanrsquos built it to separate the area they conquered from the lsquobarbaric Scottishrsquohellipyawn.hellipmiles and miles of nothinghellipyawnhellipstone walls though slightly wider just like all over England http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Northumberland/blog-296992.html We spent the afternoon at Alnwick Castle but should have allowed more time it was great. The Duke of Northumberland and his family still live there and it was the set for some of the Harry Potter films. It was so interesting the kids were knights and princesses for a day fighting their way through the lsquoDragonrsquos Questrsquo in the many towers and rooms around the fortified walls wer http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Northumberland/blog-296982.html Pronounced Anick how can they keep skipping letters of a word I keep having to check words for local pronunciations.We have a hostel in a quiet country lane all to ourselves with the added bonus of an open fire. Itrsquos still not getting above 1618. But we soldier on and go for some nice walks around the coast discovering a castle here and there and try to warm up on a sheltered beach and w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Northumberland/blog-296970.html Seems this area was a haven for pirates to smuggle in their booty. The village is supposed to have a network of tunnels linking houses and escape routes. We couldnrsquot find any but the kids imaginations were set off. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/North-Yorkshire/blog-296963.html The rain has eased so we went into the old harbourside town of Whitby. Quaint little shops in quaint little cobbled streets around a harbour with old wooden fishing boats. If everyone would just dress in 1800rsquos style clothes I would feel like I stepped back in time. As it is there are a lot of lsquoGothrsquosrsquo around Bram Stoker centred a lot of Dracula in Whitby. Gothrsquos and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/North-Yorkshire/Whitby/blog-296633.html First stop is Robin Hoods Bay a picture postcard seaside village. No cars allowed. It has one main very steep street and little cobbled paths winding up and down between the cottages all covered in beautiful flowers. The beach would have been a great place to explore on a summers day except for the cold wet weather. But wersquore not complaining yet thankfully our little cottage is so cozy w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/North-Yorkshire/blog-296622.html Yeah itrsquos a nice day at last so we set off for a bike ride through the wonderful old streets of Brugges. Itrsquos a great way to see the town but riding on cobbled streets through pedestrians and traffic is a challenge though. Wersquove loved every minute of Europe but wersquore looking forward to being able to speak to some one in Englishhellipanyone even a shopkeeper. Wersquov http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Belgium/West-Flanders/Brugge/blog-296597.html Thought wersquod detour past the beaches of Dunkirk to pay respect to the many lives lost in the battles. What was here was obviously destroyed in the wars and quickly rebuilt in the fifties. Now days itrsquos a holiday town thatrsquos stuck in a 50rsquos time warp though itrsquos a dreary place for a holiday now. And the windhelliptrying to make lunch from the boot of the car in gal http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Belgium/West-Flanders/Brugge/blog-296594.html Today is Fete de Musique The whole of France has music festivals. Thankfully we have a late check out so after a sleepin we reluctantly leave Paris after lunch with the streets alive with the sound of music. Itrsquos a relatively short drive to our hostel in Arras. I can hear the music I can see the music but wersquore exhausted after such busy days in Paris I just need a cup of tea and a q http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Nord-Pas-de-Calais/Arras/blog-295194.html The kids have been such troopers throughout the trip itrsquos been a really busy day today finishing after midnight theyrsquove been doing anything we suggest and keep going all day and night without a grizzle. All it takes is an ice cream somewhere along the way and theyrsquore happy. After treating the kids to some time at Jardin de Tuilluries and walking back along the river Seine we t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-294747.html As we head off for the day the street below us is buzzing itrsquos 11am and the market is just being set up. Paris and all of Europe finishes late it doesnrsquot get dark till after 10.30pm and starts late in the morning. The beauty of Paris is more than just visual. Itrsquos also in the ambiance photos canrsquot quite capture the magic. We spent most of the day just wandering the st http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-294066.html Finally theyrsquove found some keys and wersquore in the apartment I booked. Itrsquos fabulous. Decorated in a curious eclectic style on the rooftop level the sun's streaming in through the French windows that look out over the courtyard though it is a climb up 4 flights of stairs thatrsquos gotta help with all the pasta and baguettes. Finally we read Darren are able to cook after b http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-292506.html Our misfortune has a slightly silver lining the replacement apartment is free so wersquore able to lash out and see Paris from the top of a double decker bus. Paris is just so beautiful and from 15 feet up you get a a unique perspective of things. Lucky wersquove got a bit of extra cash to spend Paris is the first place wersquove found to be genuinely expensive bought the kids a tiny 25 http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-292481.html So much for gaining an extra day in Paris. The owner of our apartment didnrsquot leave the agent with any keys so wersquove spent most of the day wondering where we will sleep again. We keep having to ring the agent to see if he can find us somewhere else to stay but no luck the phones don't take coins our phone cardrsquos run out and wersquove walked all over to find somewhere that sel http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-292460.html We spent the day traveling 5 hours across France towards Paris then looking for somewhere to stay to fill in the night we left Switzerland early. We thought wersquod stay in the outskirts and go to Versailles or Fontainbleau Palace. Itrsquos Sunday afternoon and everything is shut. The places we found on the internet were deserted. Every town looks like a ghost town. No WiFi no internet c http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-292458.html We took a drive of the area some really quaint houses and towns and beautiful forests. We spotted a castle on a mountaintop so drove up to find a huge beautifully restored castle to explore for 8euro. After another swim we walked into town to the music festival I saw being set up earlier. A dozen or so bands scattered throughout the town. We arrived a little early only 1 hour after the schedul http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Alsace/blog-287375.html Rouffach a small town in the Alsace area in the north east of France. The area was once under German influence so it looks like Germany but the language is French. Once again the town is covered in bright flowers which I love. Oh oh I donrsquot know how we are going to revert back to hostels after this. One of the few hotels on our itinerary and it has an indoor pool and spa and itrsquos so http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Alsace/blog-287373.html