On the pages at NZ Bash, which you can also get to by going to Adventures up the very top of the page, I’ve put details about the planned itinerary.

And then, during the Bash the plan is to update Twitter with details and a photo or two a day, which you should see on the main home page of this site.  Also, from the NZ Bash page is a page of maps, which should show both where we are during the trip and where we have been.  Of course how well all of that goes depends on how well technology behaves while I’m on the road.  There will be little / no time to tweak things during the trip, so I’m keeping fingers crossed that it works as expected!  When I get time, probably when I return to Sydney, I’ll be putting more photos online.

Not long now – just 8 more sleeps!

• Looking at the Paris set of photos (which you can choose “View as Slide Show”), or,
• By clicking on More Photos on the right side of this page.

Ah, beautiful Paris.

In starting to unpack my suitcase I see brochures from places like the bateau mouche in Paris, or from Chenonceau Chateau, or about Orta, bringing back memories of wonderful times in fabulous places a world away in distance and experiences.

As I get time to go through my Paris photos, I’ll upload those to this web site, soon.

Thank you so much to all of our friends and family around the world who kept us in your  thoughts and prayers while we were traveling.  I could feel the Hand of God protecting us.

It was a memorable time, a highlight of both of our lives.  I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to have the time with my dear Mum, to explore all those places together.

• Looking at the Loire set of photos (which you can choose “View as Slide Show”), or,
• By clicking on More Photos on the right side of this page.

We had a lot of rain, cold days, so the photos are not brilliant, but hopefully they’ll be enough to give you an idea of the beauty of the area.

What the photos don’t show are the pretty country roads, just because it was difficult to capture (and find a place to stop to do that!). Imagine winding through quiet country roads, through rolling hills with fields or vineyards, and the prettiest of villages every few kilometres, and that was what we saw of the Loire.

Enjoy!

The new photos were taken with my camera. I’ve also included the photos already loaded (taken and sent from my Nokia N95 phone).

As you can probably tell, I absolutely loved Orta, and the area around it!

The photos are here:

• Orta photos (one option from there is to click on the View as Slideshow option at the top right of the photos)
• Or, by clicking on More Photos in the right column of this page

The apartment here in Paris has an internet connection, so we’ll write more another night.

On arriving here we strolled through the Tuileries and then on around past the Louvre.  We’ll rest tonight and then head out exploring tomorrow!

We decided to come to Milan earlier than planned to be sure we could find the station in time for our 6:43am departure to Paris.  We are very glad we did that!  Getting to the station was not straightforward, despite having a good map.  It was better to do that without a deadline, and during day hours so we could ask people where to go.

Orta and surrounds was unbelievably beautiful.   Words cannot adequately explain what a picturesque place it is.

Here are some of the things which will remain in my mind about the past week:

• The sound of the bells from the numerous churches surrounding Lago d’Orta ding-donging.  The bells from the Benedictine monastery on Isola de San Giulio rang out at 6:30am and 7:15am every morning.  Such a rich sound.
• The sound of the multitudes of swallows and sparrows and other birds in the trees.  They sang all day, and in the morning and evening flew around and around in circles overhead.
• Being  there in spring was a good time of year  to visit, so the leaves on the trees were full and bright green.  Flower boxes overflowed, mostly with geraniums.  Gardens were full of roses and star jasmine and honeysuckle.  The fragrance from all of these wafted by as you walked by.
• The feeling of the gentle breezes blowing across the lake, and listening to the sound of the water lapping the shore.
• Starting the day with superb coffee and croissants in a little piazza.
• Then having panini with meat and cheese so full of flavour.
• And at night having the tastiest of fresh pasta with sauces bursting with flavour.
• Watching nuns in full habit board a small boat, just below where we stayed, to head over to the island, with their veil blowing in the breeze.
• Walking through the narrow cobble-stoned streets, with beautiful sights around every corner and down every laneway.
• Watching the trucks squeeze through the lanes with inches to spare, even with mirrors folded in.
• Looking out across the lake at the little villages dotted around the lake, each with their own church.
• Sitting in the piazza in the evening after dinner, feeling the cooler evening air, watching the reflection of the lights across the water, people watching.
• Also at the piazza watching the boats come and go across to the island and other parts of the lake.
• Watching some very new ducklings / cygnets bob in the water and chatter to each other.  One was yellow and the others mottled black and yellow.
• Talking with Elio at Cerri and other shop owners.  Friendly, helpful people!
• The history of the place, with San Giuliano arriving something like 379AD.  Many of the buildings date from the middle ages.  They require constant maintenance, and those which have been maintained are splendid. The textures of the building walls and colours and decoration (flower-boxes, shutters, painted finishes, windows, doors, gates) were all so picturesque.

Spending a week at Orta San Giulio allowed time to soak it up and relax and enjoy it.  We could easily stay much longer.

All around the lake was beautiful, such as at Pella, but the atmosphere at Orta was the best of all.

Now it’s on to the Loire tomorrow, going by TGV to Paris then to Tours.  And another set of adventures.

Now at Walsh Bay there is Sebel Pier One Hotel, the Sydney Theatre Company. There are also numerous fine restaurants, including the Wharf Restaurant, the Firefly Tapas Bar, and  Ottoman Cuisine.

I can imagine that it woul be a magical place at night, with views of the Harbour and across to Luna Park.

Walsh Bay	Walsh Bay
Sebel Pier One	Sydney Theatre

P.S. These photos are taken with my newest toy: the Nokia N95.

On the Milan-Paris-St Pierre des Corps day we will be going 1st class, and the other trip will be 2nd class.  That will be interesting to compare the two.

The trains travel up to 320 km/hr in commercial use, although in test use they have been clocked at 574.8 km/hr.

If you’d like to read more about the TGV, here are some good links:

• Wikipedia on TGV
• The official TGV site
• Rail Europe – online booking of TGV and other Europe rail tickets for people in Australia

• Wikipedia entry on the Loire Valley
• France for visitors: Loire
• Touraine

And here are some links for places we will probably visit:

• Château de Chenonceau: Wikipedia and official site – in a moat and river
• Château de Azay-le-Rideau: Wikipedia and official site – in a moat and a river
• Château de Villandry: Wikipedia and official site – beautiful Renaissance gardens
• Chinon: Wikipedia and official site – château in ruins, charming town
• Château de Chambord: Wikipedia and official site
• Tours – main town of the Loire, an hour from Paris on the TGV

There’s certainly plenty to see and do in the region. The France for Visitors site has a helpful guide: "Which châteaux?"