Page 3 of andjulbed Travel Blog Posts


Europe » France June 13th 2015

Geo: 43.7034, 7.2662I read on a major newspaper website that Nice is like a "courtesan" and wasn't quite sure what that meant at first but now I think I understand. I thought after the relative gentleness of Corsica we might find Nice too busy and crowded. It is busy but its also exciting and interesting and strangely seductive. If it was anything specific that made Nice seem this way then maybe it was the Promenade de Anglais at dusk after a late dinner, walking amidst couples strolling hand in hand enjoying the last of the evening light shining on the waters of bay, as the sun disappeared behind the cliff face opposite. Or maybe it was the many little piazzas buzzing with diners chatting and laughing and enjoying the great food and carefree ambience. Or perhaps ... read more
Lambo and top class hotel
First impressions of Monaco
Bikes in the streets of Nice

Europe » France » Corsica » Bastia June 8th 2015

Geo: 42.7021, 9.45075Just when we thought it couldn't get any better we arrived in Corsica!First impressions were not good as the collection of the pre booked rental car definitely didn't go according to plan but it all worked out well in the end and we finally left Bastia airport bound for Algajola about 90 minutes drive away. From the outset the scenery was beautiful and certainly rivalled Mallorca although it was green and thick with vegetation in comparison. Not suprisingly since we are actually quite close to central Italy, the scenery was reminiscent of Tuscany. We enjoyed the drive in the sunshine and as we got closer to the coast and to our destination it just got better and better. Instead of the pretty little bays in Mallorca there were wide sandy beaches and only a ... read more
West Coast
Les Calanche
Photo Stop

Europe » Spain » Balearic Islands June 5th 2015

Geo: 39.6078, 3.01197Wow Mallorca, what an awesome place!! Its difficult to think of what it didn't have to offer. What did it have to offer? Beautiful mountain and coastal scenery, fabulous food, great beaches, historical market squares and ancient architecture, quaint and quiet villages and farms, friendly people. Sure there were alot of tourists in some parts and some of the most picturesque bays were crowded beyond belief with English holidaymakers. So its not perfect by any means but we certainly enjoyed our time there and could definitely have stayed longer. Admittedly it didn't go that well at the start. Our flight was delayed by well over an hour leaving Prague so we didn't land at Palma until about 10pm. Our bags took about another half an hour to appear on the carousel. At this point ... read more
Port Soller
Kite Surfing
Serra de Tramuntana

Europe » Czech Republic » Prague June 4th 2015

Geo: 50.0878, 14.4205On the way to Cesky Krumlov from Bratislava we were fortunate to find our way to the Brno Autodrome which regularly hosts Moto GP and World Superbike events. Just as we arrived a club ride day track session was getting started so we had a bit of fun watching the bikes take to the circuit at great speed.. A stroke of luck in a trip that does not always run as smoothly as we would like it to. Booking an apartment in the middle of the old town of Cesky Krumlov seemed like a good idea at the time. However the only road in was right through the middle of a small cobbled town square and over an extremely narrow bridge. I really don't know how we managed to arrive without hitting a pedestrian. ... read more
Town & River
River Dining
Town View

Europe » Slovakia May 31st 2015

Geo: 48.1484, 17.1073The drive from Zakopane to Bratislava was quite spectacular. The journey took us deeper into the Tatra mountains and through parts of the Mala Fatra National Park. At some points it seemed like the densely forested mountains were reaching up from the road at almost a 90 degree angle. At other times the road was more open as we travelled through a wider valley with the mountains in the distance, always an incredilbly deep green with rocky outcrops. Occasionally out of nowhere we would see a castle perched high on a isolated piece of rock.At first Bratislava seemed quite intimidating. As we approached the street where our apartment was situated we passed rundown buildings and grimy streets. It occurred to me to wonder what I was doing in this city. Large parts of the ... read more
Bratislava Sreets
Monument Bratislava
City Wall Bratislava

Europe » Poland May 28th 2015

Geo: 50.0553, 19.9274As we drove west from Oloumouc we knew we were getting close to the Polish border but weren't sure exactly where the border was. We figured we were in Poland when the road signs changed slightly. We knew we were definitely in another country when all of sudden there were all these interesting bridges to cross. The designs of the bridges were elaborate and innovative and they were all painted in varying and bright colours. We continued our drive from the border to Krakow. Once in Krakow we found ourselves in the university district which turned out to be not so far from the town centre so quite a good location after all. Our apartment was bright and airy and we had a small balcony which looked out on to a leafy courtyard. This ... read more
City Streets
Zakopane
City Cafe

Europe » Czech Republic » Prague May 25th 2015

Geo: 50.0878, 14.4205I think I have adjusted to the difference between Greece & Czech Republic. Greece is brash in its beauty. The scenery can be awe inspiring and a large majority of the young women have a unique beauty which they wear so well. And some of the men just make you weak at the knees!In the Czech Republic the beauty is more subtle and sometimes partly hidden. The women can be handsome and chic. The men occasionally the same but not so much. The scenery is pretty and the villages quaint. As you drive the motorway the landscape is mostly flat with rolling hills in the distance. You see nothing but vivid green broken by the occasional yellow of the canola fields and the terracotta of the village rooftops. A tall spired church or town ... read more
Prague Old Town
Cheese Shop Olomouc
Prague Old Town Sights

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens May 24th 2015

Geo: 37.9792, 23.7166Our last night on Milos was particularly memorable. We dined yet again on another fine meal of the freshest seafood and witnessed perhaps the most spectacular sunset that either of us had ever seen. The sunset was so colorful that even the restaurant staff were taking time out between waiting tables to get a quick photo. Our return to Athens had a lot to live up to and I wasn't sure I was ready for a city again. We were pleasantly suprised however that after a short walk to nowhere in particular we found ourselves passing various interesting roman ruins and in no time at all were at the base of the Acropolis availing ourselves of the many photo opportunities. A climb up a short stairway lead us to an awe inspiring view across ... read more
Below the Acroplis
Athens View
Enjoying the view

Europe » Greece May 17th 2015

Geo: 36.7469, 24.4309If I had the power to make time stand still only once I think I would do it right now. I don't know what it is about Milos but I know I'm not the only one to have felt this way. I think its the blue skies and idyllic views, the serenity and the feeling that you can do as little or as much as you want, as well as the warm hospitality and relaxed demeanour of the island's inhabitants. I feel like I could happily stay here forever. The village of Pollonia is perched on the north east corner of the island and is almost an island in itself being surrounded by the calm azure waters of the Mediterranean on three sides. Our two bedroom beach house has a large two level balcony ... read more
beach house view
across to the village
village lights

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens May 15th 2015

Geo: 37.9792, 23.7166Relief comes to mind when I call recall arriving in Athens. With Greece being the focus of the journey and missing our connecting flight due to bad weather in Shanghai I think we could be forgiven for thinking we were never actually going to arrive there. After an unscheduled overnight stop in Frankfurt we walk through the arrival gates at Athens airport to be greeted by a very tall dark greek man holding a sign with my name on it. The greek man greets us and immediately takes my bag out of my hands. My bag has come to feel particularly heavy after two days in transit. He lifts the bag almost to his shoulders and walks purposefully towards his taxi with us following. Within minutes we are speeding toward the city and I ... read more
The view
Skirts and pom poms
Changing of the gaurd




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