Geo: 50.2918, 2.77I managed to score a tour of Fromelle today. Apparently this is something I really should have booked ahead. The first tour company I approached were fully booked, but they recomended Phil, an Aussie expat living here in Arras. Phil had just returned from holiday and had no bookings the afternoon. The usual tour bus was in for a service, so as it was just the two of us we toured the countryside in his car. The tour was fantastic, sad, but really good. First stop was a trip to Pheasant Wood, where the bodies of 250 missing Australian and British soldiers were found in 2008. It is a quiet little nondescript paddock on the edge of town. A Melbourne history buff by the name of Lambis Englezos, found the bodies by comparing aerial ... read more

Geo: 48.8529, 2.27588So today I got up, showered, rang Air France and Etihad and picked two more fights....still no bags. I had hoped to spend today seeing the catacombs, Sacre Coeur and Monmarte, but as it now looks like I will be without luggage for several weeks (if at all) I thought it might be best to go buy some clothes. I put in a call to my insurance company to find out exactly what I was covered for. The guy at Global Nomads was able to give me the number for the Etihad service desk at CDG....this is a number that neither Air France or Etihad themselves could give me. I rang the service desk, they took my details, promised to investigate and call me back. They also gave me two phone numbers for the ... read more

Geo: 48.8588, 2.30331So after an absolutely fabulous nights sleep I was up early today and ready to take on Paree. I decided to catch the bus to Notre Dame and then make my way back along the Siene visiting all the sites along the way....that may have been a bit ambitious, there are a lot of sites to see. Notre Dame cathedral is built in Gothic style and from the exterior is quite impressive. Huge arches, imposing gargoyles, impressive spires. The interior by comparison is quite sedate. Along the sides of the church are little chapels dedicated to various saints. I was quite impressed to see a statue of Joan of Arc, they must like her on this side of the narrow sea. Surprisingly, there were not many dedications to the Virgin Mary. For those that ... read more

So by now most of you will have heard I've broken my wrist so here is the down low. I had an early flight from Venice to Paris. Easy jet recommends passengers arrive at the airport two hours before the flight. So being the diligent traveller I was up at five to give myself plenty of time. I left the B&B at six and as I was walking out the front door my trolley bag got stuck on the door. I was yanking it free and stepping out onto the street and I forgot there is one step down. I tripped and fell, twisting my ankle and I must have put my right hand out to break my fall, that it did. I was a bit shaken up and hurting but I could put weight on ... read more

Today I set my sights in the island of Murano, where they make beautiful glass. As I left my hotel I took my first step in the wrong direction. I don't know where my head was at, considering I've had the way to San Silvestro stop down pat ever since I got here, but I soon found myself in a street I didn't recognise. No matter, ploughed on and it wasn't long before I spied a sign pointing to Rialto. Took a short stroll over the Rialto bridge and found the vaporetto stop. As I was trying to figure out which dock to get on I heard a guy giving away complimentary trips to Murano. It was a promo thing but it was a free taxi to the island and a glass blowing display. Its Sunday ... read more