Advertisement
Published: October 3rd 2010
Edit Blog Post
A three and a half hour comfortable train journey from Cologne brought us to Paris, Gare du Nord. Here we stayed three nights at Le Grand Hotel Lafayette. There was nothing too grand about the room!! - a tiny attic room on the 6th floor. Only 2 people could fit in the lift - and they would have to be very good friends! It only went to the 5th floor!
We walked to the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysee on the first evening. On the map they looked quite near the hotel but... the novelty of walking round Paris soon wore off and we learnt how to use the Metro! We only lost each other once when Eliza left David behind at Eiffel Tower station. We invested in a two day museum pass and got our money's worth!! Visited the Louvre, Notre Dame towers and cathedral, Musee d'Orsay, Museum of Decorative Arts, and briefly, Musee du Quai Branly - a very modern museum next to the Eiffel Tower.
We went back to the Arc de Triomphe another night and climbed to the top - amazing views of the city, Champs Elysee and Eiffel Tower illuminations. On our last
David Goliath
David with his forebear(?) at the Louvre evening we visited Sacre Coeur, browsed around the tourist shops, night clubs and Moulin Rouge.
Our flight to Scotland left about midday so we had heaps of time to get to the airport - right?? First we had the challenge of repacking our bags to comply with EasyJet's strict baggage allowances. Then we had to convince the hotel receptionist we had not eaten breakfast there, and she then directed us to the wrong Metro station for the connection to the airport. Eliza was on to that but it was a mission trying to get from Metro to rail, buy new tickets and find our way to the train to Charles de Gaulle airport. Then we had to sprint for what seemed like miles through the terminal to check our luggage in just before the flight closed (on the dot - as seen on reality TV!!)
Scotland
Not impressed by the food we bought on the flight, Eliza complained to their inspector who happened to be on board to see how they could improve service. It was a short flight to Glasgow where we were met by Eliza's brother, Graham. We checked in to The Moorings hotel in
Gargoyle Notre Dame
...or is it David having a snack?!:) Motherwell and then visited Graham's wife Irene at Hairmyre’s hospital, East Kilbride. David just had to experience the local cuisine for dinner - special fish, haggis & chips from the local Takeaways! Later Graham joined us for drinks in the hotel lounge - quite pricey :-(
Eliza showed David around Hamilton - the original one! He was impressed by the Motherwell Heritage Centre and not only because it was free :-). We went to Baron's Haugh for a walk along the River Clyde - where Eliza collected a few midge bites (she had forgotten what a pest they are!)
Fiona and Caleb checked in to the same hotel for a night. We all visited Irene in hospital, got lost on way there, and on way back!! and had an evening at Graham's with the rest of his family.
Caleb & Fiona had a rental car & Eliza & I went with them to Strathclyde Park. Visited Annie MacDonald, Malcom’s sister-in-law at Netherton. Visited Mary and Charlie Keenan with Fiona & Caleb. Had a lot of trouble finding their place, which was a terrace house on the opposite side of the street to where Billy Connolly’s daughter lived. Had
The Bells of Notre Dame
Eliza giving Quasimodo a few pointers on bell ringing a big meal there and slept the night. Charlie had fallen from a ladder and broken many bones. He was an excellent cook and cooked our evening meal.
Sun 5 Sept
Arrochar via Aberfoyle. We stayed at Ben Buella B&B with Caleb & Fiona - (breakfast in conservatory.) Rita and Ronnie & Graham stayed the night at David Marshall Lodge. Had dinner there in evening. Sadly Graham's wife, Irene, was in hospital and could not travel to visit Loch Lomond with the rest of the family gathering.
Mon 6 Sept
Fiona & Caleb drove on to Skye. Graham drove us back to Motherwell in his Ford Fiesta - same model as one we were later to hire. Stopped at Balloch on way - by Loch Lomond; shop selling jackets. We visited Irene in hospital. Picked up rental car and visited Wishaw and Bonkle where Eliza grew up.
Tue 7 Sept
Left Motherwell at 11:45.
England
Stopped at Gretna Green & Penrith and stayed the night at Kendal - a private B&B
Wed 8 Sept
Kendal to Sedgwick. Winderemere & Grasmere. B&B at Chestnut Villa. Two gay guys - got a packed lunch.
Thur 9
Sept
Grasmere to Dent via Staveley. Two little ladies - one said this was the “industrial part of Staveley” Aysgarth Falls & church. Thirsk. B&B at Grindale (suite for family), Pickering
Fri 10 Sept
Pickering to Goathland - aka Aidensfield, made more famous by the TV series 'Heartbeat'. Went to the hamlet of Beck Hole, where there used to be a railway line. Continued on to Whitby (around where Captain Cook grew up), Robin Hood's Bay, to inspect the coastal erosion - there is now a huge protective sea wall. Scarborough, Filey, Hunmanby - Royal Oak B & B. Visited Reighton Sands in the evening
Sat 11 Sept
Hunmanby to York. Art gallery, city wall; York Minster. Knaresborough, Harrogate. B&B at the 'Wharfedale', Atherton.
Sun 12 Sept
Adel, (church) Visted 19 Spennithorne & environs. Otley, Ilkley - Cow & Calf rocks, Heber Ghyll & the swastika stone. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika_Stone for more info. Visited Alan & Jennifer’s. Premier Inn at Yeadon near airport.
Mon 13 Sept
Yeadon library - internet. Thornton - 11, Leaventhorpe Grove. Hawarth & Bronte country Shipley Back to Premier Inn Yeadon.
Tue 14 Sept
Headed towards City Centre - tried unsuccessfully to
Eliza - Mona
...the enigmatic smile!? drive down Cookridge St & City Square. Went round Quarry Hill roundabout and by the waterfront (of canal) and found Dewsbury Rd and Beeston. Visited 86 Allenby Rd, and Dewsbury Rd and Tommy Wass's, and along to St Marys which didn’t appear to be there. Went to 1 Green Lane. Fish shop was now called Luckys takeaway (Chinese) Parkside School was renamed Cockburn.
Motorway. Two stops - ? to Rugby. Lost. Premier Inn phoned for Greyhound Coaching Inn - Lutterworth
Wed 15 Sept
Lutterworth - Wycliffe & Whittle (jet engine) Rugby school - museum ( a shop selling shirts & rugby memorablia) Web Ellis Cup and statue - built 2003(?) when England won World Cup(?) Warwick Castle - traffic. Coventry cathedral. Boy statue dedicated to future youth by cathedral & man telling off boy for skateboarding. Kidlington. Cotswold House, Oxford B&B.
Thu 16 Sept
Must return car by 4 pm. Oxford to Gatwick - Staines for fuel (diesel). Returned car at 1:30. Met at car rental return by Lorna & Mike in their Citroen. Stayed night with them at Horsham. Dinner outside in garden.
Fri 17 Sept
Visited Polesden Lacey, National Trust property. House, and walk around
Mona Eliza
..a much improved version!! This must be priceless!! extended gardens. Lunchtime. Visited ?? Hill - lookout of airport on horizon & surrounding countryside.
Sat 18 Sept
Walk round Horsham. Mike & Lorna drove us to Heathrow airport. Flight to LA & shuttle bus to Radisson Hotel.
Los Angeles
Sun 19 Sept
Breakfast at Hometown Buffet - very cheap. Trolley to Manhatten Beach. Air hostess from Delta, Atlanta - took our photo. Went to gym.
Mon 20 Sept
Gym. Tour round LA at 12:30 of celebrities homes & Hollywood sign, Rodeo Drive and Chinese theatre. Quick sandwich at hotel bar and plane at 8 pm to Auckland.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.199s; Tpl: 0.015s; cc: 11; qc: 53; dbt: 0.1488s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb