OUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY
PRECIOUS grandies
We miss them already
FAMILY MEMORIES
Europe 2025 - A LONG FLIGHT!
Flying Perth to Doha
Viva La France - Toulouse
Viva La France - Toulouse
Friday 23 May: 12.30am Qatar Airways flight Perth to Doha was comfy enough for "Cattle Class". We joined a Doha Tourist Tour around the city which was so interesting. The Qatari's have spent millions $'s building their city from a desert - amazing feat. Then on to Madrid for the night. Sadly no time to visit Madrid.
Top tip: be careful sen
Friday 23 May: 12.30am Qatar Airways flight Perth to Doha was comfy enough for "Cattle Class". We joined a Doha Tourist Tour around the city which was so interesting. The Qatari's have spent millions $'s building their city from a desert - amazing feat. Then on to Madrid for the night. Sadly no time to visit Madrid.
Top tip: be careful sending your luggage through to the final destination when you have a night stay in between and no clothes change!!
Viva La France - Toulouse
Viva La France - Toulouse
Viva La France - Toulouse
Saturday: early morning flight Madrid to Toulouse "The PinkCity". Our unit is in the heart of the city - Capitole, Toulouse. Restaurants, shops, pubs all around us, so good.
Immediate visit to Victor Hugo Market - largest undercover food market in France. Amazing produce from 60 farmers; cheese, meats, bread and so much more - was mouth watering.
Sadly Bunbury Farmers Market well behind!
Toulouse
Viva La France - Toulouse
Toulouse
Sunday: fun exploring the city and along the Garonne River. So many cultural activities everywhere. Toulouse Museum and Gardens was lovely. The Japanese Gardens was a huge surprise with an Agricultural Fair showcasing fresh produce and some animals. A brass band was excellent while tasting the local Rose!
Restaurants are too numerous within 1km of our unit, all such a pleasure.
Europe 2025 - France
Toulouse
Carcassonne Medievil City
Toulouse
Monday: Ross was collected by his work colleague Dr. Hicham Ferhout head microbiologist with De Sangosse, France for a tour of their labs and to meet other team members of the company. Claire explored the city more + the endless women's fashion shops!
Toulouse
Carcassonne Medievil City
Toulouse
Tuesday: we were collected by Dr Hicham again for a further tour of the De Sangosse R&D facilities. Dr Hicham gave a full description of his microbial research and showed us all the labs producing Biofertilizers, some world first formulations.
Carcassonne Medievil City
Carcassonne Medievil City
Carcassonne Medievil City
Tuesday: In the afternoon we visited Carcassonne medieval city outside Toulouse. A Neothilic city which is still operating today. There is so much history here.
Europe 2025 - spain
Toulouse to San Sebastian
Polborino - a Secret Bar!
Polborino - a Secret Bar!
Wednesday: caught an early morning bus to San Sebastian, about 6hrs. Booked into our unit only 200m from La Concha beach the 2nd best urban beach in the world. Walked around the Old Town with absolutely stunning views of the beach and town. We were advised to visit a "Secret Bar" Polborino, up the side one mountain looking onto San Sebastian.
Polborino - a Secret Bar!
Polborino - a Secret Bar!
Polborino - a Secret Bar!
Wednesday later: quite a climb up the hill to search for the secret bar and beer & wine! Through an underground tunnel over aged old steps we arrived at Polborina. What an experience! The best bar view in the world with few people and a beer + wine for A$8 - unreal! After a couple we carefully returned down the hill for Tapas in the Old Town. Quite a first day!
San Sebastian
Polborino - a Secret Bar!
San Sebastian - Monte Igueldo
Thursday: early morning run along La Concha Beach - amazing, you felt like the rich & famous! Got a taxi to collect our hire car 20km out of town then visited Pasaia a port town. Back to home and a swim and rest on the beach. Another Pinxtos evening in the Old Town and amazing sunsets walking back at 10pm where people were still swimming! The life here is get up later and bed later including kids.
San Sebastian - Monte Igueldo
San Sebastian - Monte Igueldo
San Sebastian - Monte Igueldo
Friday morning: we climbed Monte Igueldo the highest point in the region overlooking La Concha beach and San Sebastian. A very steep 2km walk! Amazing views at the top. Got some good drone footage
San Sebastian - Good Bye
San Sebastian - Monte Igueldo
San Sebastian - Reflections
Friday evening: met up with Greg & Amy Roberts from Bungendore NSW whom we had previously met. Took them to Polborino Bar and a great session with a rock/jazz band. Amy sings in a band and we had such fun. Then down to the Old Town for Pinxtos and red wine from Rioja region. Ended up at Hotel de Lodres for Espresso Martinis - very fancy spot
San Sebastian - Reflections
San Sebastian - Monte Igueldo
San Sebastian - Reflections
Reflections: we loved our stay in San Sebastian - 7 years since our last visit. Really a great seaside city to visit and so much to see and do. Downside is prices definitely higher: 1 Tapas in 2018 cost about 1 Euro and today 3 Euro. Dinners, wine and beer all still excellent with prices very similar to Perth.
Travels through Basque Country
Travels through Basque Country
Travels through Basque Country
Saturday: back in our car and a 6hr drive through Basque country. We thought we were back in the WA wheatbelt with all the wheat and barley in full head, lovely crops! We arrived at Villamencia a huge B&B house in Corullon. A typical rural area amongst vineyards and fruit trees - beautiful place. Walked through the village seeing a very subsistence and simple life
Departing Spain for Portugal
Travels through Basque Country
Travels through Basque Country
Sunday morning: after a very noisy bell ringing night we climbed the mountain at the back of the village to Castillo Corullon. An old castle and church. Put the drone up for a few shots of the valley below. Left the BnB anda great drive through Basque high country with lots of trout streams. Into Portugal and masses of vineyards through t
Sunday morning: after a very noisy bell ringing night we climbed the mountain at the back of the village to Castillo Corullon. An old castle and church. Put the drone up for a few shots of the valley below. Left the BnB anda great drive through Basque high country with lots of trout streams. Into Portugal and masses of vineyards through the Duoro Valley. Arrived into Porto and reminders of Old Beira, Mozambique.
Europe 2025 - portugal
Porto - first explorations
Porto and the Clerigos Tower
Porto and the Clerigos Tower
Sunday arvo: our apartment is great and only 200m from the Duoro River. We walked along river through the heart of Ribiera - The Old Town of Porto. Masses of pubs and restaurants and very busy - would be a madhouse here in mid-summer! Walked across the Port Luis 1 Bridge and dined and was entertained by buskers along the river. Great intro to Porto!
Porto and the Clerigos Tower
Porto and the Clerigos Tower
Porto and the Clerigos Tower
Monday morning : early run along Douro River towards the river mouth. Ross taking strain with hayfever! Think every plant is In full bloom sending pollen across this city. Thanks to Dr Pedro via video consult he now has a some meds that hopefully shall help him !
Walked into Baixa - the newer part of Porto. Climbed the Clérigos tower and m
Monday morning : early run along Douro River towards the river mouth. Ross taking strain with hayfever! Think every plant is In full bloom sending pollen across this city. Thanks to Dr Pedro via video consult he now has a some meds that hopefully shall help him !
Walked into Baixa - the newer part of Porto. Climbed the Clérigos tower and museum, built in 1753 and tallest tower in Portugal. A beer and a wine to freshen up.
Porto - sunsets
Porto and the Clerigos Tower
Porto - reflections
Monday evening: back into Ribiera for dinner and a magic restaurant on the river. Been longing for grilled sardines and we got them - so good. I know most at home only think of Mulies as bait, but cooked Portuguese way they are delicious. Amazing sunsets up the river during dinner.
Porto - reflections
Livraria Lello Bookstore
Porto - reflections
Monday reflections: Portugal is definitely poorer than France and Spain but so beautiful!
We love the architecture and people. Our local pub owner says Porto is still old Portugal compared to Lisbon where you can't see many Portuguese and The Algarve is full of English....We'll soon find out
Porto - city attractions
Livraria Lello Bookstore
Livraria Lello Bookstore
Tuesday morning: walked into the city and a visit Porto Cathedral. One of the oldest cathedrals in Portugal ,1734 with amazing architecture and masonry work - I doubt masoner's survived long 3/4 centuries ago, their work was serious laborious and punishing on their bodies. Downtown Porto has some amazing buildings from recent times with all the upmarket shops - Gucci, Rolex etc
Livraria Lello Bookstore
Livraria Lello Bookstore
Livraria Lello Bookstore
Tuesday afternoon: visited Livraria Lello Bookstore, rated the most beautiful in the world. Booking is essential with 200 people enter per 1/2 hr. Built in 1869 has mixed architectural suggesting Neo-Gothic, and Art Nouveau elements. Includes a massive range of books in various languages. Kids section great and grabbed a couple books for Maggie & Blake
Taylor's Port
Walk and See More.......
Walk and See More.......
Tuesday evening: walked across the Lois 1 Bridge to Taylor's Port Winery for tour and tasting. Founded in 1692 by an Englishman Bearsley and then changing hands through the centuries to Taylor's today. We have visited many other wineries, but this tour was another level. Really professional and interesting. So good learning the different
Tuesday evening: walked across the Lois 1 Bridge to Taylor's Port Winery for tour and tasting. Founded in 1692 by an Englishman Bearsley and then changing hands through the centuries to Taylor's today. We have visited many other wineries, but this tour was another level. Really professional and interesting. So good learning the different Port styles at the tasting. See below a bottle of Port from 1896 @ 4,600Eu!!
Walk and See More.......
Walk and See More.......
Walk and See More.......
Walk as much as possible: at the beginning of the trip we both agreed we would walk as much as possible - and we have! Claire checked her steps/km watch today and we have walked 12 - 17km's every day. Much of that uphill and climbing steps. You get to see so much more walking than car or public transport. Although the hire car does spend some days unused.
Adeus Porto
Walk and See More.......
Bem-vindo Algarve
Wednesday morning: in the car early for a 6hr drive to The Algarve. We decided to bypass Lisbon - seen enough big cities! Great trip travelling though the agricultural country with regions in the south so similar to summer in WA! Cork trees had been harvested - now a $2 billion industry. Lots of varied agriculture and irrigation. Arrive to our apartment in Alvor - such a stunning place!
Bem-vindo Algarve
Mozambique reminiscing
Bem-vindo Algarve
Thursday: a walk around the suburb - again architecture so similar to what we remember from Beira, so much neater! We had been told there were many English living here - oh yes! English radio stations, English newspapers, English Pubs and English translations everywhere compared to where we have been. But what a lovely spot. Spent the day
Thursday: a walk around the suburb - again architecture so similar to what we remember from Beira, so much neater! We had been told there were many English living here - oh yes! English radio stations, English newspapers, English Pubs and English translations everywhere compared to where we have been. But what a lovely spot. Spent the day at the beach walking amongst the cliff faces and tunnels along the beach, stunning!
Mozambique reminiscing
Mozambique reminiscing
Mozambique reminiscing
Thursday evening: found Restaurant Mozambi nearby and knew it had to be a an ex-Moz. Sure enough, we met owner Mario Soeiro a 76 yr old born and schooled then engineer in Beira - was 4th generation Moz. His father built a hotel in Garuso between Manica and Chimoio. Ian Smith used to stay there on way to Beira and Mario stayed with him 3 t
Thursday evening: found Restaurant Mozambi nearby and knew it had to be a an ex-Moz. Sure enough, we met owner Mario Soeiro a 76 yr old born and schooled then engineer in Beira - was 4th generation Moz. His father built a hotel in Garuso between Manica and Chimoio. Ian Smith used to stay there on way to Beira and Mario stayed with him 3 times in Salisbury as his daughter was born there while doing army for 3 yrs until 1975 when the family lost the hotel to the govt and all emigrated to Portugal and never been back. Lots of similar experiences! He loved all the memories, was sad but said he loved all of his 30 years in Mozambique. We had a lovely Moz fish meal
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