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 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 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 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 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
Beaches around Lagos
Mozambique reminiscing
Mozambique reminiscing
Friday: the Algarve coastline is littered with beaches, rocky outcrops, caves and cliffs all architecturally formed from sandstone. We drove to Lagos and visited a couple beaches and walked along some prominent cliff points. The most stunning walkways with views in every direction. Got some really great drone shots. Spent a while on Praia Dona Anna a lovely beach down a million steps and nestled amongst huge cliffs and caves. There were about a 100 gorgeous looking people all tanning themselves with some pretty neat visuals too!!
Great dinner at the Chicken Tavern, typical tasty local Portuguese food, again memories from Moza. Another fantastic day in The Algarve!!!
Europe 2025 - back to spain
Portugal - reflections
Farewell The Algarve - Hello Spain
Farewell The Algarve - Hello Spain
Reflections: Portugal seems to be on the up, especially in the Algarve judging by the amount of tourism and apartment buildings going up. Everyone seems happy and getting on with their life. Prices for meals, beer, wine, and essentials a little cheaper than home. But its the simplicity of everything and their way of life that is so refres
Reflections: Portugal seems to be on the up, especially in the Algarve judging by the amount of tourism and apartment buildings going up. Everyone seems happy and getting on with their life. Prices for meals, beer, wine, and essentials a little cheaper than home. But its the simplicity of everything and their way of life that is so refreshing. Hence the huge migration of English here. Something the authorities could seriously learn back in Aus.
Farewell The Algarve - Hello Spain
Farewell The Algarve - Hello Spain
Farewell The Algarve - Hello Spain
Saturday: an early morning swim at Praia dos Caneiros and a farewell to The Algarve - a very special place. We will definitely be back!
A 2.30hr trip back into Spain to go meet our great old friend and Zim farm neighbour, Scott von Memerty in Zalamea la Real, 1hr east of Seville. We did so much together with Scott in the 80's and 90's both
Saturday: an early morning swim at Praia dos Caneiros and a farewell to The Algarve - a very special place. We will definitely be back!
A 2.30hr trip back into Spain to go meet our great old friend and Zim farm neighbour, Scott von Memerty in Zalamea la Real, 1hr east of Seville. We did so much together with Scott in the 80's and 90's both on the farm and holidays including building our villas in Mozambique. Scott was also very close to all the kids.
Mates and Zalamea la Real
Farewell The Algarve - Hello Spain
Mates and Zalamea la Real
Saturday: lovely drive from The Algarve back into Spain, with plenty vines and orchards along the way including many new avocado plantations. Arrived at Scott and Michelle in the afternoon and excellent catch up after many years. Into Zalamea in the evening with such old history. Village was so vibrant and dinner at 11.30pm! Fantastic to be with Scott & Michelle again.
The home of Rio Tinto
Iberian Black Foot Pig - Alenetjo
Mates and Zalamea la Real
Sunday: visited Rio Tinto Mine only 10km from Scott's house. The home of Rio with so much history from copper mining over many thousands of years. High copper prices have really invigorated the mine in recent times. The English built a village in 1914 for the Rio workers and all so English - not Spanish buildings, very out of place! We vi
Sunday: visited Rio Tinto Mine only 10km from Scott's house. The home of Rio with so much history from copper mining over many thousands of years. High copper prices have really invigorated the mine in recent times. The English built a village in 1914 for the Rio workers and all so English - not Spanish buildings, very out of place! We visited the local bullring and other historical sites. Scott his signature meal - Paella which was great!
Iberian Black Foot Pig - Alenetjo
Iberian Black Foot Pig - Alenetjo
Iberian Black Foot Pig - Alenetjo
Monday: visited Scott's BnB a great stay for anyone passing through the region.
Find it on: Booking.com and Airbnb
- Cortijo, Zalamea, Spain
Had coffee in town watching all the locals go about Monday morning. Visited a huge butchery noted for cured pork products produced from the Iberian Black Foot Pig. Pigs are grown with minimal handling
Monday: visited Scott's BnB a great stay for anyone passing through the region.
Find it on: Booking.com and Airbnb
- Cortijo, Zalamea, Spain
Had coffee in town watching all the locals go about Monday morning. Visited a huge butchery noted for cured pork products produced from the Iberian Black Foot Pig. Pigs are grown with minimal handling and fed on acorns. All these pork products including Jamon (ham) are a Spanish speciality.
Farewell Zalamea
Iberian Black Foot Pig - Alenetjo
Iberian Black Foot Pig - Alenetjo
Monday arvo: we were so impressed with Scott's Spanish - imperative to learn if you are living in Spain. Farewell to Scott and Michelle and a 1hr drive to Seville. Spent a lovely evening walking The Old Town and a Tapas meal amongst all the very narrow streets. Stayed in a hotel close to the railway station for the morning.
Europe 2025 - greece
Spain to Greece
Greek Islands - Kefalonia
Greek Islands - Kefalonia
Tuesday: very early start to catch the bullet train from Seville to Madrid. A connecting flight to Athens and then a short flight to the island of Kefalonia. Then a taxi ride across the island to Sami to meet old friends Dave & Chantal Seagreen. Ross worked for Dave for +10 years.They have a 38' motorised catamaran and we were ready to sail the Med - both so excited.
Greek Islands - Kefalonia
Greek Islands - Kefalonia
Greek Islands - Kefalonia
Wednesday: waking up on the ocean just off a peaceful Greek island is magic! An early walk through the town of Sami, we set off to another island Lefkada and the town of Sivota. Absolute bliss sailing across the Med, with sailing boats in every direction. We chucked out tuna lures but nothing. The harbour town of Sivota is just great - full of restaurants and bars right on the water and probably 200 houses. After 4pm the action started with all the massive 40-60' yachts coming into berth - such fun to watch.
All aboard SALIS!
Greek Islands - Kefalonia
All aboard SALIS!
Thursday: if you love the sea and boats, being around the Greek Islands is the absolute ultimate! You can spend hours gawking at all these boats - 40' to 60' few are smaller. All the captains are so very skilled mooring their vessels alongside all the other boats, like parking cars in a huge shopping centre. We are here in the early part of summer, by all accounts it only gets busier. You have to book your night's berth well before.
Lefkada Island
Kefali Church - Kalamos Island
All aboard SALIS!
Thursday: we've had a walk around this village of Sivota, absolutely lovely - could spend days here. English is spoken everywhere and trying to learn a few Greek phrases. When you berth in 12 Gods harbour, it is free as long as you have dinner at their restaurant, as we did last night. Fabulous Greek meals and prices similar to Spain and Portugal. However, Happy Hour at 5pm beer pints only $2.50, so plenty consumed. The house wines are great and cheap.
Kalamos Island
Kefali Church - Kalamos Island
Kefali Church - Kalamos Island
Friday: we left 12 Gods harbour in the morning and sailed to our next stop - island of Kalamos. On the way we stopped at The Blue Caves, and swam into the caves, amazing deep caverns with amazing water clarity. Further on we dropped anchor in a secluded bay with no other boats around. Spent the day swimming, snorkelling and paddle boarding - absolute bliss. Tried for a tuna again, but fish seem somewhat sparse.
Kefali Church - Kalamos Island
Kefali Church - Kalamos Island
Kefali Church - Kalamos Island
Friday: we were moored close to Kefali church built during the Byzantine era (1200-1600) and still used today. A Venetian Villa is next door and all in amazing condition. A real pain was the Med Wasp, bee size pest which came buzzing around us and Chantal says from experience their sting is painful. Lovely peaceful night.
Kastos Island
Kastos Island
Kastos Island
Saturday: we chugged off from Kefali after breakfast heading for the island of Kastos. A narrow long island about 1hr away. We stopped along the way for a couple swims and into the Kastos harbour where a ketch and ferry had dropped off day trippers. The Winmill Taverna where everyone was heading to looked fun. We carried on to Wasp Bay - which looked terrific but wary of the wasp! What a lovely bay and beach where we dropped anchor for the night.
Wasp Bay
Kastos Island
Kastos Island
Saturday: lots of swimming, snorkelling and girls resting in water armchairs with G&T's! A huge big 90' super yacht anchored close to us and met the owners and couple kids. English folk and all having a ball. We will probably meet son in law Mark again as he is coming for the Ashes and wants to visit Marg River. Lovely evening with Chantal producing a 5 star dinner.
Atokos Island
Kastos Island
One House Bay - Black Pig Beach
Sunday morning: beautiful morning again today, we have been absolutely blessed by the weather. Around 30deg all day with gentle breezes. We planning to head off to Atokos Island about 1hr away. We arrived in One House Bay which already had about 15 other boats moored.
One House Bay - Black Pig Beach
One House Bay - Black Pig Beach
One House Bay - Black Pig Beach
Sunday afternoon: not long after dropping anchor we noticed a bunch of black pigs on the beach and people all flocking to see them. Dave and I swam and Claire and Chantal went on the SUP board to the beach. We spent a very humorous hour playing with the pigs! Sounds like the pigs were dropped off by marooned fisherman or pirates many decades ago and now have become wild on the island. Lovely night spent in the bay.
Ithaki Island
One House Bay - Black Pig Beach
Ithaki Island
Monday morning: woke to a cracking morning and the rest of the world at work! We so lucky. Swimming in the Med is so good, the water is much more salty than the seas we know. Pulled up anchor and headed for the island of Ithaka and in Greek Mythology the island home of the hero Odysseus. So much history about this. We arrived at the little port town of Kioni and moored alongside their beautiful waterfront wharf. You have to dock early in order to get a spot.
Kioni Bay
One House Bay - Black Pig Beach
Ithaki Island
Monday arvo: explored the small town of Kioni and a swim at one of many beaches. Living on the boat gives you options of eating at a Taverna or cooking on the boat. Dave has a Webber type bbq at the back and so good for cooking meat and fish.
Europe 2025 - LAST DAYS ON THE ISLANDS
Back to Kephalonia Island
Back to Kephalonia Island
Back to Kephalonia Island
Tuesday: we sailed early back to Kephalonia Island to get a berthing spot at Fiskardo. Lovely small town which was the only town on Kefalonia not affected by the devastating 1953 earthquake. So many of the old Venetian buildings still standing. Fiskardo was busy with a number of large ferries bringing in hundreds of day trippers. We walked a good distance of the bay
Fiskardo
Back to Kephalonia Island
Back to Kephalonia Island
Wednesday: we sailed out of Fiskardo south for Sami to refuel. Sami is where we started. When Spiro arrived with his diesel tanker on the back of a ute he told us Mark Zuckerberg was anchored off Sami. Spiro's diesel filling was so efficient. We went off and soon found LAUNCHPAD - Zuckerberg's boat, amazing! Quite new and nearly 400' long
Wednesday: we sailed out of Fiskardo south for Sami to refuel. Sami is where we started. When Spiro arrived with his diesel tanker on the back of a ute he told us Mark Zuckerberg was anchored off Sami. Spiro's diesel filling was so efficient. We went off and soon found LAUNCHPAD - Zuckerberg's boat, amazing! Quite new and nearly 400' long. Has 23,500Hp of motors and believe it cost US$300 mill. 45 crew onboard. Accompanied by WINGMAN an exploring ship also huge with chopper onboard.
Agio Effenia
Back to Kephalonia Island
Driving the island and wine tasting
Wednesday arvo: berthed in Agia Effemia - lovely town - again! We visited the ruins of the old town believed to be from 2,000yrs ago. Couple of beautiful beaches got us swimming. Went out for dinner at a local taverna, literally 100m from the boat. Interesting to see caper plants (in pics below) growing all over. The small flower buds are
Wednesday arvo: berthed in Agia Effemia - lovely town - again! We visited the ruins of the old town believed to be from 2,000yrs ago. Couple of beautiful beaches got us swimming. Went out for dinner at a local taverna, literally 100m from the boat. Interesting to see caper plants (in pics below) growing all over. The small flower buds are picked and pickled. The bougainvillea's were in full bloom everywhere as well as Med Trumpet creepers.
Driving the island and wine tasting
Driving the island and wine tasting
Thursday: we hired a car and drove across the island to visit the town of Asos and also Myrtos beach which is rated top 3 beach in Europe - both fantastic. We had booked wine tasting at Hertatos and Sarris wineries. Hesitates was brilliant with the elderly owners showing us around the estate they have had for +600 years. Their wines were
Thursday: we hired a car and drove across the island to visit the town of Asos and also Myrtos beach which is rated top 3 beach in Europe - both fantastic. We had booked wine tasting at Hertatos and Sarris wineries. Hesitates was brilliant with the elderly owners showing us around the estate they have had for +600 years. Their wines were great. The roads were nerve racking at best for most of the trip - lots of screams from the girls in the back
Farewell Greek Islands
Friday: an early final swim then bag packing and helping Dave and Chantal tidy and clean their boat. They still have 6 weeks cruising the islands. A taxi to the airport and then flights to Athens and Doha and back to Perth. A huge thanks to the Seagreen's for the trip of a lifetime.
Greek Islands
Reflections: the islands are truly amazing. Whether cruising via boat, driving island to island using ferries, etc, we highly recommend visiting. The history of the region is fascinating and the people all so friendly and interesting. They do not earn big salaries and are very humble with their way of life. An example is the ute below, v
Reflections: the islands are truly amazing. Whether cruising via boat, driving island to island using ferries, etc, we highly recommend visiting. The history of the region is fascinating and the people all so friendly and interesting. They do not earn big salaries and are very humble with their way of life. An example is the ute below, very common transport, but they happy. An amazing journey and holiday!!
MEMORIES FROM DOHA, qatar
MEMORIES FROM TOULOUSE - THE PINK CITY
MEMORIES FROM DONostia SAN SEBASTIAN
MEMORIES FROM basque country
MEMORIES FROM portugal
MEMORIES FROM spain - again!
MEMORIES FROM magical greece
travel associates - thanks kimberley!
Our travel bookings made by Kimberley
Kimberley Buchanan
Office Manager
Travel Associates Australia Pty Ltd
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PO Box 52
Wembley Western Australia 6913
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