Page 3 of mickandjoc Travel Blog Posts


Europe » France » Île-de-France » Paris December 13th 2009

Activities * Marche Bastille * Le Pere Lachaise (Cemetery) Highlight(s) * Getting a sense of the community whilst walking through the Bastille Market * Relaxing lunch at the bistro near the cemetery * The impromptu tour by the local cemetery expert. Temperature Variance (celsius) = 16 ( Melbourne 19 / Paris 3 ) Odd Spot(s) * It will cost you a lazy 12,000 Euro per person to be laid to rest at the cemetery. * Plots can accommodate up to 25 family members (they dig 'em deep). Layer upon layer: coffin, slab of rock, coffin, slab of rock ... * Many have already booked their spot at the Paris cemetery. There were a number of graves that had the family name and no other details on a new head-stone. * Graves that happen to be ... read more
Roast Chicken - Bastille Market
Bastille Market
Communal gardens

Europe » France » Île-de-France » Paris December 12th 2009

Activities * Breakfast at Les Deux Magots * Designated shopping day Highlight(s) * Mick got a coat - hurrah!!!! * Walk along the river with the promise of crepes keeping us moving. * Celebrated Mum's birthday with a few glasses of champagne - Happy Birthday Mum!!! Temperature Variance (celsius) = 18 ( Melbourne 24 / Paris 6 ) Odd Spot(s) * We were totally surprised by the volume of people boarding trains at around 7.30pm on Sat night. So many must come in to town to go shopping and head home just after the shops close. It was a real squeeze - but everyone was very polite and there was no real shoving or agro. * The lift at the apartment building sounds like the trombone section of an orchestra tuning up - unsuccessfully. Not ... read more
Abbey of Saint Germain de Pres
River Seine
Notre Dame

Europe » France » Île-de-France » Paris December 11th 2009

Activities * Flight from Melbourne to Paris * Orientation day to discover the neighbourhood * Sleep, sleep, sleep... Highlight(s) * Getting off the plane * Friendliness and helpfulness of the locals - ticket man at the airport rail station went out of his way to get us the best ticket combination for our stay in Paris * Random stranger asking if we needed assistance as we opened our map to find hotel - very friendly. Why do Parisians get a bad rap? * Apartment is in a great location, is very warm and inviting Temperature Variance (celsius) = 15 ( Melbourne 24 / Paris 9 ) Odd Spot(s) * Joc's quote when discovering all the designer stores in the streets around apartment - "wow, we must be in the Collins St end of Paris" * ... read more
St.Germain Boulevard
Christmas stalls
Retail Therapy

Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Florence September 21st 2008

Activities Open top bus tour Market shopping Boboli Gardens Trattoria dinner Highlight(s) * Taking the tourist bus to get a feel for the city * Walking through the Boboli Gardens, especially the view from the top. * Michel's Gelati count - 26 * Joceline's Italian / French / German Coffee count - 88 Odd Spot(s) * Although it's sunny - it doesn't mean it's warm. We got out early on the open top bus unprepared for the freezing cold air. * When walking through town we noticed signs and barriers being erected for a bike race. After further investigation we were told that the bikes will be coming through at 4pm. Perfect - we could have lunch first and then catch the end of the bike race! We arrived back at 4.15 to find that ... read more
Unlikely Tourist
Bronze art
A little more to your right ...

Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Florence September 20th 2008

Arrividerci Bagnoregio, Buonjorno Firenze Activities Train transfer to Florence Initial walking tour of town Ponte Vecchio window shopping Highlight(s) * Arriving in Florence and having our own personal tour guide (Barbara) * Friendliness of the locals * Dinner at local Trattoria * Michel's Gelati count - 26 * Joceline's Italian / French / German Coffee count - 84 Odd Spot(s) * Sometimes it pays to be fussy. After querying the state of the bathroom in the original room we were upgraded to a fantastic larger room with a balcony and outdoor furniture. Weather Sunny, low 20 degrees... read more
Just Browsing
Every Day Is Market Day
Festival of The Brides

Europe » Italy » Lazio » Bagnoregio September 19th 2008

Ciao Como, Salve Bagnoregio Activities Transfer from Como to Bagnoregio, via Milan, Florence and Orvieto Holidaying with Guazzarotto family - Barbara (mum), David (brother), Emma (sister-in-law) and Oscar (nephew) Sightseeing around Bagnoregio, Civita, Pitigliano, Bolsena and Orvieto Visits with Italian family in Pitigliano Family lunches at Civita and our villa, and lunch with extended family near Pitigliano Highlight(s) * Meeting up with the immediate family and all hanging out in Italy together. * Long lunch with extended family on Friday. There was bruschetta, handmade ravioli, bean & chilli rigatoni, pork stew, fruit tart and of course home made wines and liquor. * With the family as our hosts we were able to pause tourist activities to experience the region and the way locals live. * Admiring and exploring the ol... read more
3 Wise Monkeys
Bambini...
Biglietti si prega di

Europe » Italy » Lombardy » Como September 14th 2008

Activities Italian Grand Prix - Race Day Highlight(s) * Being at Monza for a GP! * Hiring the Kangaroo TV which provides access to various commentary, stats, driver radios and television broadcasts. With all the rain the race was so frantic and following it would have been impossible without the Kanga. * The two guys in the tour group that managed to find a couple of stray bottles of Mumm champagne whilst in the Paddock Club. * The Hotel guy opening the Champagne with a sword in spectacular fashion. * Michel's Gelati count - 22 * Joceline's Italian / French / German Coffee count - 65 Odd Spot(s) * The Brass band that played the Italian National anthem out of tune and out of time. * Aftering meeting Sebastien Bourdais the night before, we can't ... read more
Monza Mud
Max Mosely
C'est la vie

Europe » Italy » Lombardy » Como September 13th 2008

Activities Unofficial Rest Day Shopping Race Preview Party Highlight(s) * Exploring Como a little more * Meeting Sebastien Bourdais and hearing him speak candidly about his car setup * Trying on whacky hats in Coin (Department store) * Michel's Gelati count - 22 * Joceline's Italian / French / German Coffee count - 60 Odd Spot(s) * We missed breakfast again because we were too late getting up. During the first two weeks of the holiday we were always first there. * The rain storm in the morning was so heavy it created flash floods around the streets and flooded the pit garages at the track. * One of the few places to shelter from the rain was in the doorway to Coin. Conveniently it gave us a chance to check out the hat department ... read more
Rain storm
Hat 1 - The Lincoln
Hat 2 -  The Red Ruski

Europe » Italy » Lombardy » Como September 12th 2008

Activities Ballagio Shopping Highlight(s) * Lunch was traditional Italian trattoria with small menu, great food and mamma in the kitchen * Cruise on Lake Como to view the villa's and see if we could find George Clooney's place * Michel's Gelati count - 22 * Joceline's Italian / French / German Coffee count - 57 Odd Spot(s) * Given the change in seasons, the weather at Lake Como varies from hour to hour. When we left for our lake cruise it was misty and foggy, but on the return trip it was brilliant sunshine all around. Weather Overcast and wet, mid 20 degrees... read more
Lake Como
Bag Men
Little Piece of Paradise

Europe » Italy » Lombardy » Como September 11th 2008

Ciao Modena, Salve Como Activities Panini Private Collection Monza Pit Walk Highlight(s) * Cheese tastings at Panini's * Pit walk at Monza and the close proximity we were allowed to get to the pits, cars and teams. * Waiting at Honda for a glimpse of Jenson * Pints of gin and tonic at the local bar following the pit walk * Michel's Gelati count - 21 * Joceline's Italian / French / German Coffee count - 53 Odd Spot(s) * At the track, the Safety car driver weaved the car through the crowd to the petrol bowser and then proceeded to fuel the car whilst the passengers continued to talk on the mobile phone. * A group of us were entertained at the conclusion of a night out at the local pizzeria when the lights ... read more
Cheese Making Machine
Can We Take One Home?
Bambini




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