After three flight changes due to the US, Iran War, we finally made it to Scotland via London and Singapore. We would have cancelled the trip had we not already paid for our Mediterranean cruise. All this led to less time in Scotland and I couldn’t do many of the things I had planned to do, still it was great meeting up with most of the family and some of our closest friends. As usual I have had to limit myself to a fraction of the photos I took on this trip.
Linda and Ann at Paisley Cross Park. The little Italian restaurant on Glasgow Road was lovely. Great catching up with Alan and David at the Largs front. The makeup of the new Scottish parliament and the Welsh, Plaid Cymru, government will raise the debate on the future of Westminster. After leaving Scotland and have caught up with most of the family there and some of our best lifelong friends. It is time to fly to Spain. Sorry to those we did not have time to catch up with.
Preparing to start out cruise from Barcelona. We did not take many photos here this trip as we have spent longer stays over the years and have recorded them on earlier posts. Just added two photos from our short stopover before joining the Cruise.
The sculpture cast iron is Escultura Carmela, is a 3D head of a young girl by Jaume Plensa.
Barcelona Cathedral. Statue of Christopher Columbus next to Barcelona’s old Customs Buildind Just arrived onboard the Sun Princess, wait for our room to be ready
Boarded the Sun Princess for two weeks on the Med.
Inside the Dome on level First cocktail, level 18 looking over the pool area waiting for the sail away party to start.Piazza preparing for the nights entertainment.
Arriving at the Port of Palma Majorca.
Below is a number of photos from Palma Majorca This is recorded as day two, not sure that Barcelona should be referred to as day one, anyway that’s how they record the days.View of the new style ship the “Sun Princess” aft
Day three was Marseille. We decided to stay onboard as we had walked all over Marseille before.
Day four. Ajaccio Corsica where Napoleon Bonaparte was born 1811
Next stop Santa Margherita, Italy. Needed to take a tender ashore.
Walking around the hilltop gardens of Villa Durazzo.
The walk up a winding archway to the villa was pretty steep and many people had to stop for rest breaks.
A monument to Christopher Columbus
Back onbord for a refreshing cocktail
White night at the Piazza
Got off the ship at Genoa and had a leisurely walk around the Port town
Linda got captured but I managed to set her free😂Back onboard for our next port of callAt the Port town of La Spezia, the Port here for Florence and Pisa. Again places we have visited so opted to stay localAfter walking around the town, visiting the markets we went looking for some shade. The park near the Port was worth the visitA statue to General Garibaldi. He is famous for leading a volunteer guerilla army “Red shirts”. He is considered one of the founding fathers of modern ItalyCivitavecchia, the Port for Rome. Again we stayed in the Port town as we have visited Rome a few times and did not want a rush visit thereAt the port of Naples on day nine of the Cruise. It was midday Sunday and the streets were mobbed Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace)Guard post at the Plazzo Reale. The Prova d’ orchestra (Orchestra Rehersal) by artist Mimmo Paladino. The sculptures are in the Romantic Gardens at the Plazzo Reale The Castle Nuono ( often called the Maschio Angiono, built 1279)A clear view of Mount Vesuvius from the Plazzo Reale ( the Royal Palace) The view also showed part of the harbor and the front of the Sun Princess in port.Fountain of NeptuneMount Vesuvius from the ship leaving NaplesLoannis Vlachos, better known as Daskalogiannis, fought against the Ottoman rule in 1770-1771. In Chania, CretePhotos from Chania shore front.Ephesus, Kusadasi, TurkeyVirginia Mary statue near where she apparently stayed, close to Ephesus18 is a vessel for saving tears. Met a lovely couple and made friends with, Mick and Pam, from the USAWe enjoyed our day on Mykanos. Here’s a sample of photos from thereWalking around the lanes was great and the colours were beautifulThe five Windmills.Relaxing with a drink at the Little Venice sector on MykonosNow in Athens heading towards the Acropolis. And while it was crowded you still were able to move freely and see everythingThis day was very hot and Linda improvised with her scarf and hatThis photo was taken from the rooftop of our hotelThis is Emperor Hadrian’s Arch (Gate)The Temple of Olympian Zeus, undergoing partial restorationZappeion Hall, conference and exhibition centre in the National GardensThe Panathenaic Stadium, built entirely of marble. It hosted the first modern Olympics in 1896We stood hoping to see a changing of the Evzones Guard at Hellenic Parliament, near the National Gardens, but unfortunately we missed the ceremony.Talking a slow walk through the Plaka district.Last night in AthensEnjoying a few Ouzos before leaving Athens
Took off for a 6 day drive from home (WAIKIKI WA) to Kalbarri stopping off at Cevanties for 1 night then on to Jurien Bay, Lesueur National Park, Eneabba, Three Springs, Mingenew, Coalseam Conservation Park, Mullewa to Geraldton. Stayed one night there. Next day we drove to Kalbarri for 3 nights, travelling up the coast road. We had intended returning to Geraldton on the Saturday but decided to drive home from Kalbarri, a 7 and1/2 hour drive. Many of the wildflower pictures were taken during our driving from place to place.
Waikiki to 670km. Stopped at Moore for a short break and a coffee. Stayed the first night at Cevantes and took a short walk along the shore front before continuing towards Geraldton. From the lookout at Coalseam Conservation Park. From the lookout. The Memorial in Geraldton to HMAS STIRLING sunk in WW2Stopped at Port Gregory Convict Hiring Station operating from 1853 to 1856. The Pink Lake at Port Gregory. Unfortunately the photos don’t show how vivid the pink was. Continue reading Mid West WA Wildflowers→
We left Perth 00:10am on Friday 3rd. We spent three nights in Tokyo then two nights at the port in Yokohama before boarding our 10 day cruise.
We took the Skyliner from Narita AirPort to Tokyo Train Station, after working out how to get to Ginza by underground train I tried to find where I could get a Suica Card. I could see how you could top the card up but there was nowhere to buy one. Luckily we had met two young Mexican lads who live in the States and work for Microsoft, one had a Sucia card on his phone, the other didn’t. Anyway we worked out how to buy tickets. It’s easy enough and the underground was good but very crowded.
Flew into Heathrow London, via Dubai, on 25th April. After spending a few days in London, where we managed to catch up with a few friends we prepared for our European rail journey. Our trip took us from London to, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, to Cologne and Nuremberg in German, Prague in the Czech Republic, Vienna in Austria, and finally to Budapest in Hungry, then back home to Perth Western Australia. Our trip was a long term plan and we spent 23 day’s riding the rails.
As a brief overview of the trains. Leaving from St Pancras Station was pretty hectic but once on the train the four and half hour trip was very smooth. The DB trains,from Amsterdam to Cologne approx 2:40 hours and from Cologne to Nuremberg 3:40 hours were very clean and comfortable. However, the planned trip to Prague was changed due to maintenance and our trip’s mid way transfer at Schwandorf, a very easy cross platform transfer, was re routed to Regensburg. Here we had about 5 minutes to transfer from one platform to another. That in itself was okay but we did not know the train sitting on the platform had come from Prague and was heading to Munich. We found the train on the right platform and got on. It immediately pulled out. After a flush of panic and help from a young woman we were able to get off at the next stop, 25 minutes later, and get a train back to Regensburg, extending our overall trip by 2 hours. Not a huge disaster and something to tell friends about. From Regensburg just going to Prague was 4h:5 min.
A few of our rail trips. This trip is the pink route from London to Budapest.
Some of my favourite photos of the Colosseum. The Colosseum was started under Emperor Vespasian in 72AD and was completed under Emperor Titus in 80AD. It is still the largest ever-built amphitheatre. Originally called the Favian Amphitheatre.Continue reading 2023 Rome→
Although this was our second time in Venice, we still got a buzz walking out of the railway station and looking straight onto the Grand Canal.Continue reading 2023 Venice→
Our next stop was Paris for 3 nights 4 days. This was the first time we took advantage of the metro.
Below are a few photos looking out over Paris from the Montparnasse Tower. The Tower opened in 1973 and was celebrating its 50-year anniversary. The same year, we were married.Continue reading 2023 Paris→
Although I had been in Scotland only a few months before this was our actual planned holiday for three weeks from 27th of August until 19th September. The weather was fantastic. Linda and I had few day in Largs and Paisley before heading to the highlands where we based ourselves at the village of Spean Bridge, just north of Fort William. We plan to visit Glencoe, Glenfinnan, Neptune’s Lock, the Commando monument, Urquhart Castle, Culloden and stopping off at Loch Lomond on the way home.
It was great walking along the foreshore in Largs everyone was sitting around enjoying the glorious weather. Up In Glasgow for the day. I see Wellington has now taking to carrying a spare traffic cone, just in case.
I decided in late May to travel to Scotland as my young brother was having serious health issues. I booked to be there for a month and left Perth on 2nd June. In no time at all I discovered how difficult it was dealing with numerous Government bureaucracies. And nothing moves fast.
I am happy to say we struggled through most of the requirements but some will take months to finalise. But we both felt we had achieved a lot.
Walking along the Largs front. David at this point needing to use a wheelchair. The weather was glorious. I am happy to say that he is walking better using a stick. It still takes it out of him but there has been good progress.
Everyday is was on to the things to do list. Spending hours on the phone and sending numerous emails. And later no matter the weather we went out for a walk. At least one day a week we had a break. I would leave David in peace and catch up with family and old friends. It helped us recharge our batteries.
We managed to jointly catch up with family members some in Largs and some in Johnstone. During our breakouts days I spent time visiting old friends In Glasgow and Renfrew. I also had two great visits to Paisley , to meet up with Ann. She arranged for us to visit a local art gallery, the old weaver’s cottage, our old workplace, as well as where I used to stay. We then went to the crematorium to help Ann find the plaque to hers and Linda’s dad. We had found it years ago but Ann could not find it since.
Ann was so happy finding the plaque again and she has the place firmly memorised now.
Inevitably it became time to leave, which is always hard. And even though I had a couple of, much appreciated offers to take me to the airport. I decided it was easiest all round for me to take the train from Largs. The trip went well, then things started to go south.
My flight was half an hour late in boarding, that’s okay. Just as we moved from the terminal we had a power shutdown. The plan was towed back and we sat, on the tarmac for about two and a half hours. It was quite oppressive and Someone was medically taken off, adding to the delay.
During the flight and over the next seven and a half hours I hoped we would make up time and I would get my once a day connecting flight. The flight took off 13 minutes before we landed. I, along with others going to various destinations found ourselves stranded.
I have to say Emirates was very efficient. We were met with signs sending us to agents who had hotel accommodation booked, our boarding pass for the next days flight. The seats are not great but at least we are on the flight, and transportation to and from the hotel. At the hotel I had the room until I departed, and all meals covered. Before you ask, it did not include any alcohol☹️. I can’t fault the support given. But by this time it’s after 4.30 am and I am shattered. Slept until ten , went for breakfast and wondered what to do for the next 12 hours. I could not go out for a walk as it was far too hot. Picked up a two hour tour, I will show some pictures below, then after a late lunch 2.15 I went back to bed until 9.45pm, only slept on and off. Then something light to eat before heading to the airport. Hope you enjoy the pics below.
Just to show I was there 😂I hope that tallest building in the world doesn’t fall down on me😂The back of the hotel. It was very humid and the camera started to mist up instantly.
Les McLaughlan 