1501-1650
Wow. This European adventure is full of surprises!
So many beautiful places, delicious food, stunning country side.
Just 10 days of this European adventure to go.
1501-1502/2018: Happy Birthday Roderick. In our happy place at 1760m above sea level.
1503/2018: Words can't really explain the beauty of being up this high!
1504-1505/2018: Thank you Makarska.
You have been amazing, relaxing, joyful, peaceful, clean. refreshing, colourful.
Just what we needed to recover so we can keep enjoying the last 9 days of this adventure. Can't wait to come back with full health so we can explore and enjoy you even more!
1506-1507/2018: Something a little different. A change from the sceneries and villages. Nana, do you know the names of these flowers I found outside our apartment in Split, Croatia?
1508/2018
Split is such an intriguing city. An old town with lots of little old laneways, big churches, large piazzas and tall bell towers. Then it has the most beautiful wharf and port with lots of ginormous, expensive boats and ships. Then it has the views of the Dalmation islands and lots of boats going to and from. Then it has the industrial new town which is very bland compared to everything else. So much to see and explore and not enough days to see it all.
1509/2018: check out these massive beautiful boats. AND see Oosterdam in the background [which comes and hangs out in White Bay in Sydney too!]
1510-1511/2018: Such a beautiful view point from teh top of Splits Bell Tower. Then climb wasn't the safest or the funest but totally worth it [better than the Munich Belltower]
1512-1514/2018: Bon Voyage Croatia. You have been beautiful. Relaxing. Such a stunning place, so much to see and do and explore [not enough time to do it all]. Can't wait to come back again and experience the rest of this beautiful place.
But for now it is time for part three of this epic adventure. From Split we are catching a ferry to Ancona, Italy and off to check out the north east coast.
1515/2018: from Ancona, we took a little detour inland [in our Peugeot 208] to a small university town up in the mountains [approx 700m] called Urbino. Surrounded by hills in every direction this little town was full of very steep, slippery steps and little coffee and fruit and vegetable shops. Such a cool place miles from anywhere, no tourists, no tourism, just localness.
1516/2018: Welcome to country #31.
Note really sure where this cable car goes to. Down there is some random suburb of San Marino but there doesn't seem like much down there and up here is the beautiful city of San Marino itself. Off the beaten track a bit but so worth the visit!
1517-1519/2018: Walked up to the city towers of San Marino that were built as look outs and protectors of the walled city on a rock face of Monte Titano 900m above sea level . Stunning views up here but after walking all the way up here can't believe the towers are off limits to the public.
Such an extraordinary history to this third smallest country in the world. At just 61 square kilometers only Vatican City (which I can't believe is even a country, such a joke) and Monaco are smaller. Check out the Republic of San Marino's history here
1520-1521/2018:
Climbing all over the city walls seen as we can't climb the city towers.
1522/2018: the Repiblic of San Marinos Capitol, San Marino, literally built on a rook at 900m.
1523/2018: This is my MOST FAVOURITE picture up of our 3 days in Venezia [Venice].
For me it captures Venezia in a single photo.
Colourful. Crazy. Chaotic. Dogs. Birds. Water. Reflections. Messy. Creative. Glossy. Charming.
Venezia. whether you love it or hate it. If is a must see one day.
1524-1529/2018:
Some of the sides of Venezia that you don't see in travel magazines or on Instagram or on tourism websites and marketing.
1530/2018: These boats are beautiful. They require you to pass a written and practical exam to be a gondolier and requires a a lot of training. But at 80Euro for a 30 minutes ride, it is a tourism scam. Walk through Venezia instead and really see the true an honest venezia.
1531/2018: Reflection wonder
1532-1534/2018: So many laneways and buildings. So much to see and explore. 6 districts fo Venezia all gorgeous [Except San Marco which is expensive and full of tourists]. Once you get into the back suburbs and the little laneways there is so much more to see and experience. Like the delicious Venetian food in takeaway bars. .
1535-1537/2018: Night mission on the Rialto Bridge.
From L-R: Dawn looking south. Looking north at night and looking south at night.
1538-1539/2018:
1540/2018:
Not quite sure what all the excitement is about about this square and basilica. Its old, ugly, busy, tourist, expensive. plain horrible. As soon as we arrive in San Marco Square I wanted to get out of there.
1541/2018: beating the crowds with an early morning walk. So peaceful at this time of the morning!
Venezia, First I hated you but as we got away from tourist central and found our feet on your beautiful laneways I grew to understand you and get a feel for why so many people love this place. Wish we have some more time to explore the rest of your sites. Will just have to come back and explore again.
1451/2018:
1542-1543/2018: So lovely to meet @missrolli in Pozzelengo and Sirimone in the Lake Garda District. Thanks so much for coming to see us. Look forward to seeing you again soon!
1544/2018:
There were so many massive swans swimming and sun baking there way through Sirimone.
There was one golden Labrador that wanted to eat the swans and was barking and barking but he was on his lead and couldn't get near the swams so they just sat there and flapped their wings and said 'na na na na na nah!'
1548-1549/2018: Love the foral ness on these buildings. Might be a bit annoying standing on the balcony with all the plants blocking your view though!
1550-1551/2018: Which one is real and which one is a reflection?
1552/2018: WOW. Flying high. Where else would you want to be?
Monte Baldo, Lago di Garda [Lake Garda]
1553-1556/2018:
Such beautiful views up at the top of Monte Baldo. 1800m above sea level there is so much to explore and lots of hikers and mountain bikers adventuring these hills.
Would love to come back in the winter time to ski this stunning terrain! Next holiday ?
1557/2018: You can tell from this picture but it was actually freezing up her at 1800m. Stupid us we left our jerseys in the car and singlets just weren't keeping us warm, even though it was 28˚C down at lake level it was only 15˚C and blowing a howling gale. So a quick happy snap before venturing back down to warmth!
1558-1560/2018: It took us all day due to lots of stops for food, drinks, swimming, reading, town wandering, mountain hiking but we eventually made it to the top of the lake Riva del Garda. It reminded me so much of the shores in Queenstown, NZ. Lake surrounded but mountains, just a little more rockier here. What an adventure today has been. A great way to end this epic European Adventure #frostyandgingeadventures
1561/2018:
So sad to be sitting back on a plane. The last 6 weeks have been amazing. 6 countries. 10 passport stamps, 3 cars. 2 ferries. So much walking and eating and drinking and swimming and adventuring. So many stories. So many photos [363 to be exact].
[Thanks to Miriam], I have kept up my journalling of our adventures so one day when I am old and frosty and losing my marbles I can look back and read about all the fun adventures we've had.
What an epic adventure the last 40 days have been. Now it is back to reality, back to Izzy and back to work to earn some money for the next big adventure.
Continue to enjoy this mst epic photo adventure with me, just 91 days to go and 457 photos!
1562/2018: WELCOME HOME. Thanks @lesley.cunningham1 for lookign after my poinsettia and thanks Miriam and Mitch for looking after our little girl who was very excited to see us [Yes she wet her pants] and glad to have us home.
1563/2018: What is all this water on the ground?
1564/2018: after 6 weeks travelling, it is so nice to be back in my own kitchen cooking up some healthy food. On a pescatarian diet for the month of October so Prawn Stir-fry it was tonight.
1565/2018:
These might look a little gross. Burnt even. But they sounded delicious, they are pescartarian, asian and smelt good. So they ticked all the boxes. unfortunately we were disappointed they didn't tick the flavour box. Even with chilli sauce they were a bit average and the black squid ink was probably actually just black food colouring.
1566/2018: The good thing about Europe's lack of sandy beaches is all the cool stones you find and can bring home to add to your bathroom collection!
1567-1571/2018: Enjoying back having fun adventures with this little girl. She's cute and naughty and just a bundle of joy, except when she hides under the bed and doesn't want to hang out.
1572-1575/2018: Spring is definitely here. The things you find when you escape your desk at lunch time and go exploring!
1576-1578/2018: A rainbow of colour in Pyrmont.
1579-1580/2018:
1581-1583: Pescartarism...we got this. Left to right: Vege nachos, Prawns with pesto rice saland, snapper with roast veges and garlic. Yum!
1584-1587/2018:
1588/2018:
1589/2018:
1590/2018:
1591-1592/2018: Which is your favourite? iPhone v Canon?
1593/2018: Just want to jump in and snuggle in amongst all these bean bags. Pity it's pouring with rain. #pyrmontlocal
1594/2018:
It's pouring with rain, Sydney hasn't really put it on a show in the last few weeks since we got back. After 6 weeks of summer coming back to rain has been tough. Looking forward to some sunshine soon. Not that it has prevented us going out and exploring letting Izzy sniff and smell play in the park.
This is one out locals, Call me Harris. We normally have a coffee and bacon and egg roll. Delima. Can't have bacon. So egg and cheese roll. Yum. But bacon would have been better.
1595-1596/2018: A last minute visit but very cool to see this little guy. Conor and his mum @bridgetsugden stopped over at Sydney airpotrt for a few hours so Roderick and I went and hung out and danced. Hoped we burnt off some energy to allow him to sleep on the next flight.
1597/2018: This time last year we were driving along the Wild Atlantic Way (WWW) from Northern Ireland down the west coast to Cork. One of the most amazing drives in the world. And this year we are in a back laneway in Sydney and the WWW has come to Sydney!!!
1598/2018: Mussels or oysters over the ground
1599/2018: Petanque
1600/2018: What a day. Very much needed!
1601/2018: I just want to go for a big run. But the rain is pouring and it is too wet. I like the rain but don't really like having to get dry afterwards.
1602-1604/2018:
1605-1616/2018: Saturday adventures in and around middle head.
1617-1619/2018:
1620/2018: It took about 100 photos to get this one.
1621/2018: The calm after the storm...
1622-1637/2018: What a spectacular wander around the Eastern suburbs this morning. So much creativity, so much wonder, so much beauty, so much intrigue. On display until Sunday 4th November. Check it out now!!
1638-1639/2018: It's not quite Sculptures by the sea but it is still pretty impressive art work.
1640/2018: Love the different lines and textures here
1641/2018:
Back in the kitchen and being a bit more creative with this pescartarian diet. Thanks to @riverstone_kitchen for this amazing cook book by head chef Bevan Smith, so much delicious, healthy, easy to cook food.
1642-1643/2018:
1644-1645/2018: An unexpected tript o NZ, a bit of a rush to get on the plane but then I got an upgrade to the exit row. So much leg room. [the black toe has been there for so long, 4 months long, all from dropping a slide board on it when unloading the work car]
1646/2018: They look so innocent don't they! Fun waking up to these beautiful puppies. Meet Belle [black] and Moss [Ginger].
1647-1648/2018: Even though the drive from Darfield [near Christchurch] to Timaru is practically straight [except for 3 railway crossings], I always love this adventure, so much beauty, mountains, clouds, farmland and this time...on my way home to see Nana!!!
1649/2018:
SYDNEY STOP COMPLAINING AT HOW EXPENSIVE PETROL IS.
YOU GOT IT EASY COMPARED TO NEW ZEALAND!!!
[NB: diesel is so much cheaper in NZ because you have to pay a mileage tax on top of your registration if you own a diesel car]
1650/2018: If this is where CALTEX started, I'm very impressed where their business has taken them. Love the col things you find in the country in NZ. Would love to take this beauty for a spin around the block. Maybe up to the Darfield Bakery?
81% done and dusted. So close to the finish line.
Check out the remaining 19% here!!!