mnmlivinthedream

As per usual we take our time hitting the road with John and Ingrid questioning whether we have left our departure time too late to be able to see The Isle of Mull. The weather has again changed and we are bathed by a warm and sunny sky. From the lodge we head a couple of kilometres north and take the free Corran car ferry across the loch, turning left we wind our way towards Lochaline where we will catch another car ferry to the small port of Salen on the Isle of Mull. It is easy to underestimate how long driving in this area will take. Most of the roads are nothing more than single tracked lanes with passing bays strategically placed every hundred meters or so. It doesn’t take us long to understand the ... read more

There has been a change of plans, instead of Ireland we have travelled into Scotland, this might account for why my backpack has gone to Paris. Ahh, the joys of flying with budget, low cost airlines. So, instead of only spending the night in Glasgow before heading off we will need to hang about until my bag turns up. “should be tomorrow” we are informed, “but don’t hold us to that!!” – grrrr. We arrive at our hotel, dump (I was going to say “our” bags) our stuff and head down to the bar/restaurant as the hour is getting late, for a beer and a bite to eat. When we get back to our room we are over joyed by the fact that the toilet system won’t stop running and is making a hell of a ... read more

The scenery from the train, as we speed across the southern English countryside is as one would expect. Rich green fields, in dispersed with rough looking regional towns. Rustic looking farm houses and terraced town homes compete for our attention. We arrive in the beautiful ancient town of Bath and here will stay at Belmont House, with Annie and Archie as our fabulous hosts. Belmont house is a traditional Georgian dwelling and very cosy. No sooner have we dropped our bags then we are out the door. Bath is one of those places that is truly tourism focused and it works well. One of the welcoming features is the free walking tours, organised by the local tourist board, both informative and fun. For several hours we stroll the streets and receive a detailed explanation of how ... read more

We have been constantly bombarded by one and all, even the French, on how rude the Parisians are. Well maybe we were in the wrong Paris, as we found the Parisians to be among some of the friendliest and most helpful anywhere we have travelled. Mind you we did attempt to speak French and the mock horror and expressions of “please STOP, you are butchering our language, we will speak English” may have had something to do with it. The train and subway system to Montmartre and Hotel du Square d’Anvers is quite simple and we find getting around the city a breeze. Our room sits, virtually, on the top floor with glimpses of the Eiffel Tower and overlooks the garden and leafy area of Square d’Anvers. It is easy to walk to Sacre Coeur Basilica ... read more

Again we crisscross Germany and enter Belgium, the weather is fine until we hit Antwerp. We are absolutely drenched getting from our car into the hotel. Why Antwerp, you ask?? You may well remember I mentioned a couple we met in Venice, Jan & Peggy. Well it seems that they are heading Down under, with their good friends (Chrystal and Sanders) and their boys, Jef and Silas Well we had arranged to meet up with them at their home, in Antwerp, for dinner and give them some information on Oz and then Bali. (By the time I finish this blog they’ll probably be back home). What a wonderful evening, we are very fortunate to have met two warm, fantastic families. We stayed at the Sir Plantin a lovely, friendly hotel, in a dodgy area yet close ... read more