I love Paris in the Springtime..... (well actually Autumn, but close enough!)

Missy and I headed off for three nights away for a girls weekend in Paris, and I must say I think it's one of my favourite cities now! Thankfully we had both been there before on our Contiki tours so had done the real touristy things, so it gave us a chance to explore the city at a slower pace. We took the Eurostar and arrived late Thursday night.

Friday morning we hopped on the train and went to Versaille for the day, a massive royal palace and grounds. We paid our money and did a smallish tour, thinking is this it? It was such a nice day we had a good walk around the gardens and spent the day lazing around. It wasn't until we were about to head back that we realised we had only done 1 of 5 tours!! We quickly managed to squeeze another one in before closing time, but at least we had enjoyed our day. The town was so nice we decided to stay for dinner before returning to Paris.

Looking back at the Palace of Versailles

Looking out at the Grounds from Palace of Versaille

Saturday morning first stop was the Notre Dame Cathedral. We then wandered through the backstreets visiting odd shops and delis picking up bits and pieces for a picnic. We then headed to Jardin du Luxenburg a beautifully manuicured park for a typical french picnic lunch. In the afternoon we wandered down the Champs Elysees to look at the shops and stood under the Arc de Triumph. Back to our room for a cat nap before heading out to dinner.

After having crappy restaurant suggestions from the hotelier we followed the recommendations of the lonely planet. Having a little difficulty with directions a really nice old French man offered to help us, he spoke no English, we little French so it was quite interesting!! Instead of directing us he actually led us there, about a 10 minute walk in the opposite direction he was heading, uphill and up two massive flights of stairs! The whole way I was a little suspicious wondering what he wanted (I've been travelling awhile now!) When we arrived he said goodnight! We were gobsmacked. But what a find, we were right in the middle of a lovely little district full of restaurants spilling onto the pavements, music playing, people drawing pictures on the side of the street - absolutely devine.

We had a fantastic meal and then decided to go for a walk afterwards, as we wandered around the side streets we found the most amazing church, absolultely massive and lit up from the outside. I have later been told is Sacre Coeur, a famous french Church. As we were now ontop of a massive hill we had the most amazing view over Paris - what a find!

Outside Notre Dame Cathedral

Picnic with our fine French cuisine

In the middle of the Champs Elysees looking back on the Arc de Triumphe

Out to dinner

Artists in the side streets

Sacre Coeur

Our last day we caught the metro to the Eiffel Tower (which we had both previously visited so didn't bother going up) to catch a boat down the river on a cruise. This was fantastic (and very relaxing at this point!) We passed many of the landmarks we had seen previously. We stopped off for a quick crepe under the Eiffel Tower - full of ham and cheese (delicious but not so fantastic on the waistline!) Then it was time for a quick stopoff at the Louve, unfortunately we only had an hour so Missy dashed inside to check out the Mona Lisa while I wandered around the shops and gardens as I'd seen it previously. On our way back to pick up our bags we had just enough time for a quick photo opportunity outside the Moulin Rouge. Then back on the Eurostar to London.

River Cruise

Crepe under the Eiffel Tower

Outside the Mouline Rouge

Summer Time

It's been a fantastic summer as we've had a backyard this year - which inevitably let to lots of bbqs!! For the first time since I was a child we cooked over coals, and I must say although it seems more 'cavemanish' - makes for a better bbq!

Past and present crew from 15 Francis Rd

Philip and Lourens with the 'hubbly' - strictly tabacco I promise!! Sadly it has to be left behind as customs won't let us bring it in :(

Myself, Henry and Karin

Our 'in door picnic' with Mum and Dadwhen the weather packed up on us!

BBQ with Tanya and Carl and their family and their family

The men cooking the barby!!Picnic after work one evening in Hyde Park

Food at Spitalfield Markets

mmmm pastry display at the markets

Notting Hill Carnival 28th August

Annually during the Late Summer Bank Holiday weekend for the UK the Notting Hill Carnival is on. A massive Carribean street parade/festival. They shut off the whole area to traffic for miles around the area. The street parade includes hundreds of floats and takes a good hour to see it all. The streets are lined with stalls selling Carribean cuisine and we tried as much as we could fit it! Including curried goat, Jamaican Jerk chicken, plantain, bbq corn and Jamaican sweets. We left at about 4pm and the streets were throbbing with people. We had walk miles and miles to find a tube. They shut all the surrounding tubes and buses don't run until you are way out of the carnival because there are so many people. It was a good time to leave because apparently it gets a bit rowdy and drunken later on at night. Just to give you an idea how large it is I think 1 million people attend and they serve a tonne of curried goat!!! I'd recommend it to anyone who is in London for this weekend, however go early!

Philip lining up for some Jamacian Cuisine

The street parade

mmmm bbq corn!

Hemel Hamstead

On the 26th August Philip and I headed out to Hemel Hamstead for the day to visit friends of Mum and Dad's who they were staying with, Jan and Sarah. Missy, Mum and Dad had been staying with them for a few nights prior to this. They lived about an hour out of London and it was so nice to see some countryside again. We walked along the canals to a pub for lunch. us girls walked back along the canals home while the boys took the car home to race home to see the All Blacks beat the Springboks (couldn't resist sorry!). We then went off to find the pub and high school Rose (Missy's friend) used to work at four years ago during her stint to London. We enjoyed a pint then back home. We then headed out to dinner before jumping on the train back to London.

Myself, Dad, Sarah, Mum and Philip by the canals

Jan teaching Philip how to change the locks over to allow water in/out for the boats to pass through

Having a pint at Rose's pub

Bath

Philip and I decided to get out of London for the day on 2nd September and visit Bath, a beautiful hostorical township about 1 1/2 hour train ride out of London. We spent the morning visiting the ancient Roman Bath ruins and exploring the township. In the afternoon we visited the newly refurbished Roman Baths - which you could swim in. Quite pricey £19 for 1 1/2 hours but the complex was quite flash. There were two hot pools, one was on the top floor had open. There was also the most devine steam room, foot baths and massive showers. We had dinner there picking up a bottle of wine at the offy for the train ride back to London.

Philip sitting by the Ancient Roman Baths

The township of Bath

More of Bath

Train ride home with our wine out of papercups!!

The Church

Every antipodean must include a visit to the church as part of their London experience, so Missy and I joined Simon, Nat and a few of their friends one Sunday. From 12-4 every Sunday afternoon NZer/SAFFAS/Ozzies and whoever else congregate in North London for a drink fuelled afternoon. It's pretty rough around the edges (rule 1 don't wear white) and they even include strippers for entertainment. Drinks are sold three at a time in plastic bags that you tie around your waist. Needless to say it's not something I would want to do every Sunday but was lots of fun!

Simon, Nat and myself

Missy and Nat

Nat showing us how it's done!!

The carnage at the end!

Ireland

Missy, Geoff (minus Philip due to the usual visa issues) and I headed off to Dublin for the weekend of the 4-6th August to visit Kyle. Kyle had prepared some devine nibbles and roast pork for Friday night's dinner. Then it was off into town to some of the local hotspots for some Irish Cider.

The next day we spent exploring the city of Dublin the highlight being the Guiness Factory. I am pleased to say I finished my first (and most likely last!) pint of guiness at the top bar. The annual Edinburgh Busking Festival was on so we spent the afternoon watching world class buskers which was great entertainment. That night we went to a typical Irish Pub and had 'Irish Stew' served with soda bread - absolutely devine!

Four finished Guiness pints at the Guiness Factory!!

Busking Festival

On Sunday we went on a bus trip to Glendaloch and Kilkenny. Glendaloch had a whole lot of ruins/forest/lakes. True to Irish form the weather was misty and drizzly which added to the charm. Then it was off to Kilkenny a cute little town where we wandered around for the day. Then it was back on the plane to London.

Kilkenny

Forest in Glendaloch

Greece!! A week on Crete with Missy 6-12 June










Missy and I headed off for a girls week away in Greece. We decided to stay on the island of Crete for the whole week as there were fantastic flights and accomodation packages. We were staying half way between Malia and Stalos, about 5 mins walk between each. This was a great combination as Stalos was quaint with nice restaurants etc and Malia was the party place with all the bars!!

We did several day trips, my favourite was to Santorini for the day. This island is postcard material and looks exactly like all those countless Greece scenes you see with blues skies/water and white wash buildings. It was much smaller than I imagined though! We only really had time to explore the main township, it was very tourity but still lovely. Apparently it is only open about 6 months of the year as most of their income comes from tourists.

Another day trip we took a boat to Spinalonga - a small island that used to be a leapar colony until a few decades ago. Very interesting and it also had ruins dating back to 1600s (i think?!) Our boat also stopped off on another island for a bbq lunch.

We also spent a day exploring the next township over from us, did a spot of shopping and went to a typical 'Greek Night' with food and dancing.

Of course we had to spend several days doing nothing and lazing around on the beach and eating! This was the perfect place for dining out and I think we ate out all bar one night! The meals were devine and massive and Missy often had the waiter looking at her at the end of the meal asking 'What happened??!!' as she hadn't managed to finish it!!

Again more pics at: http://www.bebo.com/PhotoAlbum.jsp?PhotoAlbumId=1449542538