SYDNEY & HOME - Thursday

We're back!

Our flight touched down (very smoothly) at 6.00am. We passed through customs very quickly, but are now waiting to check in for our flights home.

It's been a memorable three weeks - 4500 kilometers around Europe - Europe's Highlights. We saw some incredible sights and had a fantastic time.

Photos and memories will linger for a long time, with the help of this blog.

It's time to return to our homes and our families and settle back into our normal routines.

Until next time .......

SINGAPORE - Wednesday

We had a little sleep in this morning. Last night we had dinner at the hotel. As Singapore Stopover clients, all meals at hotel restaurants are half price! What a bonus! The International Buffet was delicious. Fresh prawns, mussels and scallops, as well as a host of other interesting dishes. We were most impressed!

It was the same with breakfast - all sorts of interesting fare - including my favourite - omelette made to order.

After breakfast we caught the hop on bus to Orchard Road, the famous shopping precinct of Singapore. It didn't take us long to work out we wouldn't be buying anything - Armani, Dolce & Gabana, Prada, etc etc.

As we were walking along the road, there was a tropical storm. It started raining, absolutely pelting down! Of course we hadn't brought umbrellas, so we got soaked. It was very funny! 

We eventually found Lucky Plaza, which was more of the type of stuff we had seen in China Town, as well as shoes, clothes, etc, that locals were buying.

From there we went to Raffles Hotel, intending to enjoy a Singapore Sling. However, at $27 we chose to take photos instead!

The bus then took us to theSingapore Flyer, where the driver took a break. We used one of our stopover vouchers to get a coffee/tea and a serve of kaya toast each. Kaya toast is a bit like cinnamon toast - quite tasty!

Back to the hotel at 3.10pm, we checked out at 4.00pm and waited for the shuttle bus at 5.00pm. Peak hour traffic got us to the airport at about 6 15pm. 

So, we're on our way home. The plane is boarding now!

PARIS TO SINGAPORE - Monday & Tuesday

Monday

We were up early to catch a taxi at 8.30am to Charles de Gaulle Aeroport in Paris. We got there in plenty of time, but after queueing for check in and customs it was almost time to board.

We left Paris at 12.00 noon for the 12 hour flight, arriving at 6.00am Singapore time (12.00 midnight Paris time). 

Tuesday

On arrival in Singapore, we were transferred to our hotel, arriving by 7.30am. Our room initially wasn't available but after we'd had a cup of tea in the hotel restaurant, we were able to bring our bags up - we're on the 14th floor!

The Singapore stopover includes tickets on the hop on hop off bus, so off we went! 

First stop was the Singapore Flyer, the world's largest sight seeing wheel (like the London Eye). It was just the two of us in the booth and the view was incredible. The ride took 30 minutes and we probably took that many photos!

Back on the bus, we headed for China Town in search of bargains. Yes, things were cheap, but not the type of goods we were looking for, although we did manage to buy some things.

Next stop was Clarke Quay, where we stopped for lunch. It looks as though it comes alive at nights and on weekends, but not a lot was happening while we were there.

Singapore is a busy city with some modern and innovative architecture on show in the buildings we have seen.

By 2.30pm, we had run out of steam so decided to find the nearest bus stop and head back to the hotel. We have a late checkout tomorrow, so will have more time to explore Singapore.

PARIS - Sunday

This morning we farewelled the bus tour travellers as they headed back to end the tour in London.

We successfully navigated the Paris Metro to arrive at Trocadero to meet the Eiffel Tower tour guide. An informative young man took us to the Eiffel Tower, all the while explaining its historic significance. We were able to go straight up in the lift, ignoring the long queues of tourists. 

From the second floor we could see all over Paris, easily identifying the iconic landmarks. We queued for about 15 minutes to ride the lift to the top floor if the Eiffel Tower, from where the view was incredible in all directions!

Next job was to board the hop on bus and enjoy the commentary as we drove all over inner city Paris.

We left the bus at the Louvre, like so many tourists chose to. There were people everywhere! From the Louvre we walked along streets and across bridges to reach Notre Dame. We intended to have another look inside the cathedral, but a long, snaking line of tourists waiting to enter changed our minds.

Back on the bus, we continued past more incredible buildings, statues and bridges built hundreds of years ago. 

On the bridges with wire railings, lovers and partners have placed padlocks. The keys have been thrown into the river Seine, locking them forever in love.

We left the bus at the Arc de Triomphe at the end if the Champs de Élysées and worked out how to catch the Metro back to the hotel. The Paris Metro app is invaluable, but it's essential to READ THE SIGNS to get where you want to go.

Tonight's dinner will be at a nearby restaurant, as we need to pack our suitcases tonight, ready for our flight from Paris to Singapore. I think we're going to enjoy sitting in one place for a while! 

We're exhausted! We've walked and walked and walked, with several hundred stairs thrown in to keep us active.

We'll sleep well tonight!

PARIS - Saturday

What a beautiful city!

This morning we enjoyed a city tour with a local guide and our fellow travellers. We visited Notre Dame cathedral, with several thousand tourists. We had a group photo taken in front of the Eiffel Tower and drove past many iconic landmarks, including the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe.

Once the tour ended, we left the group and set off to explore Paris.

We walked the length of Champs de Élysées to see L'Arc de Triomphe, passing many, many shops, cafes, souvenir places and crowds and crowds of tourists. 

Lunch was at a cafe on the sidewalk of the Champs de Élysées. C'est magnifique!

The plan was to board the hop on hop off bus, so we chose the one that would take us to Sacre Coeur at MontMarte. We enjoyed the ride and the scenery and once off the bus, made our way up a very crowded street, stopping off at souvenir shops along the way. At the top of the street, Sacre Coeur loomed above us, with a flight of stairs on either side. The stairs were full of people, many sitting down staring at the view. The grassed area between the steps was also full of people sitting in groups enjoying the sunshine and the view.

Once at the top, we too admired the view before joining the crowds in the nearby streets. There was a wedding underway in the chapel beside Sacre Couer, so we didn't get to visit there. 

After a spot of shopping, we had a drink in Corcoran's Irish Pub, before descending many flights of the stairs back to road level.

Our hotel is in the general vicinity of MontMarte so as it was 5.00 pm, we decided to walk back. It was an interesting trip, passing Moulin Rouge, assorted live sex shows and sex accessories shops and an endless variety of bars, cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops. It took almost 90 minutes to reach the hotel, so we have vowed to only use the hop on hop off bus tomorrow!

LAUSANNE TO PARIS - Friday

Today was the longest drive of the trip. We left Lausanne at 8.00 and travelled across the French border on our way to Paris. The landscape was initially mountainous but changed to flat pastures. 

We stopped at Beaune for lunch and spent time walking the cobbled streets of the village.

As we arrived in Beaune, a Cosmos bus was loading up to leave. We walked into Kelly and John Smith as we headed into town! 

Beaune's Notre Dame cathedral was not as grand as Notre Dame in Paris, but it was grand, just the same.

The bus ride continued, arriving at our Paris hotel at 6.30pm. We caught a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower as we drove through the city. Tomorrow morning is a city tour with a local guide, that will include all the famous landmarks of Paris.

LUCERNE TO LAUSANNE (SWITZERLAND) - Thursday

LUCERNE

This morning was a little slower, with some free time to start the day. We wandered along the waterfront of Lake Lucerne before visiting the shopping precinct to look for Swiss souvenirs. 

We enjoyed a cruise on the lake, which is very large. All along the shores of the lake were assorted hotels, villas and apartments, including a chalet belonging to Sophia Loren.

There was time for lunch at a sidewalk cafe before boarding the bus to head further south. 

INTERLAKEN

Interlaken (between the lakes) was a small village with several expensive hotels  - a favourite holiday destination for wealthy Europeans. We're all shopped out, so opted for a walk along the main street to enjoy the atmosphere and the warmth of the sun.

The drive is very picturesque, as the road winds around the mountains. The grass is very lush and green, with cows grazing in the pastures. Quaint cottages dot the hillsides and waterfalls cascade into flowing streams and rivers.

LAKE COMO TO LUCERNE - Wednesday

LAKE COMO TO LUCERNE

LUGANO 

First stop was Lake Lugano, Switzerland. We arrived early so could wander the streets and shops without the usual hordes of tourists. It was very beautiful. Many shops were top brand names: Gucci, Armani, etc, so shopping wasn't for us!

STANSERHORN

We rode a cable car and a firnicular to the top of Mount Stanser. The views to one side were of snow covered Swiss Alps, while to the other it was across a series of Alpine lakes and villages. Magnificent!

The hillsides were zig zagged with tracks made by the cattle wandering the pastures - way up high where there is no pollution and the grass is lush and green and the air icy fresh! Cow bells can be heard as the cows graze. 

LUCERNE 

Set on Lake Lucerne, Lucerne is a bustling city. Our hotel is very centrally located. This afternoon is time for some strolling through town to soak up the atmosphere.

Tonight we plan to head to a local restaurant for dinner.

PISA - MILAN - LAKE COMO

PISA TO MILAN

The bus travelled through picturesque alps, with villages dotted through the landscape.

The mountains are the source of the marble used by the great sculptors such as Michelangelo and da Vinci. The white colouration looked like snow capped peaks, but were evidence of the marble stone within.

MILAN

Our stop in Milan was brief - just two hours. We strolled down the main street of the old town, which was lined with expensive looking shops. This lead us to the city's duomo (cathedral) which was located in the City Square. Amazing! Yet another incredibly huge architectural masterpiece towering above us.

We went inside the duomo to explore the intricacies of the church and were further amazed by the patterned marble floor, incredible stained glass windows and magnificent columns supporting the highly decorated ceiling. Two of the church's cardinals lay in glass coffins in the duomo, dressed in their robes, wearing their jewellery.

From the duomo we visited the Milan shopping centre, with it's glass domed ceiling. Gucci, Prada and the like seemed to be the prominent shops, so we didn't get to buy anything.

We headed back down the mall to the 700 year old Sforza Castle.

It was back in the bus again to travel from Milan to Lake Como, a lakeside resort popular with the rich and famous. It is a beautiful location, with many houses, apartments and hotels covering the hillsides surrounding the 'Y' shaped lake.