The last few days in Paris were relatively quiet, though we did manage two dinners at the Aussie Embassy! Very nice view of the Eiffel Tower I must say, just metres from the back terrace, lucky you Louise and Paul! We had our biggest night to date after our second dinner at Damien and Syl's house after which we headed to a few dodgy bars. Despite the pouring rain we managed to find our way to the Musee d'Orangerie which has the most delightful Monet waterlillies. They were just huge, too big to photograph though I did try (and almost got [View Full Entry]

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Hi all, in Paris having a ball. Seeing heaps every day, yesterday was Notre Dame and the Louvre - just huge! The Mona Lisa was bigger than I thought as everyone goes on about how small it is, still heaps of people even though not technically tourist season :-) We have been getting to know the streets of Paris very well as we have been walking everywhere. The other day we walked from our hotel (Rue des ecoles, just near the Sorbonne) to the Pantheon then the Eiffel Tower, up the 700 stairs and down again (where I got a little [View Full Entry]

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A little out of order but here is our entry from Bruges!! What can I say - this place is just picturesque and I urge you all to come visit! Our hotel was a quaint little B&B with the steepest stairs, Nick had to carry my bags up as there was no way I could do it! The owners have this enormous dog, a daschund, which sat in the middle of the dining room and didn't really move, I had to wheel my luggage around him! Nick managed to set the smoke alarms off both mornings due to his long showers... [View Full Entry]

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Bonjour mes amies, arrived in Brussels after a brief train ride from Amsterdam through the countryside - the tulip fields are looking very green and keen for Spring to come along; only two windmills spotted yet a million bikes in Amsterdam! Brussels is just picturesque, though the cobble stones are a killer on the feet! Not as many bikes as Amsterdam, though there are chocolate shops on every corner :-) Nick actually ran into a Treasury colleague in one! Great to get stuck into the French food and language - we have had to speak French quite often as many don´t [View Full Entry]

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Hi all, having a wonderful time though I have about one million blisters on my feet already...! Spent yesterday walking around, our plan was to walk through Hyde Park down to Westminster and the Houses of Parliament then onto the Tower of London before lunch. We got sidetracked at the War Cabinet Rooms (dad you would like these) which was probably appropriate given it was Remembrance Day. Finally made it to the tower and then on to the Tate Modern. We decided we don't get modern art! Today heading off to Notting Hill then onto Lords. I guess Nick came and [View Full Entry]

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Lise and I have only two work days to go until we head off. In an attempt to be suitably tanned for the northern winter, we headed up to Newcastle, my home town, for a bit of time at the beach and to visit family. The weather turned away from the summery conditions recently and proved to be rugged, with the beach impossible! Here was the unofficial start to our travels. Thought I had better buy an essential piece of equipment for the two months ahead - luggage! (or rather, a backpack). This reflects our preparation, which has been a mix [View Full Entry]

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