A brief introduction to Paris and learning about the past

Clock art at Gare St. Lazare

The day after the Kangaroo joined us we flew to Paris. Or, rather, we flew near Paris and took a bus the rest of the way (after a rather shady looking Frenchman tried to offer us a lift). From the moment we arrived it felt as though we were lost - it was also a far cry from the Paris I remember from 7 years ago.

Together we negotiated the metro system to get to Paris Gare St. Lazare where we intended to catch our first InterRail/EURail train to Caen. We didn't know about the "social action" (aka: a strike) which had started a couple of days earlier. After queuing for ages to get their passes validated, the Bear and Kangaroo were ready to go. Unfortunately, we had missed our train so we decided to have a late lunch nearby instead.

After filling up on burgers, fois gras, and French desserts we were on the next train to Caen - which just so happened to be packed so full we spent the 2 hour journey sitting on the floor.

D-Day posters at the train station

It was a relatively uneventful evening after that, which I believe C & J spent the majority of asleep. The next morning we caught a bus to Courseulles-sur-Mar, a little over an hour away. We were lucky enough to catch the bus with a lovely French woman who gave us advice and helped us find our train back to Paris, as well as making sure we knew when to leave in order to catch said train. This did, unfortunately, leave us with less than two hours to spend in Courseulles, but at least we had the opportunity to visit the Juno Beach Centre.

Map of the planned invasion

The centre was inspiring. It was built around the information and history of the Canadian forces who took part in the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944. We didn't make it for the anniversary itself, but we did our best to be there as close to the time as possible. There were still many commemorative decorations around - it was so strange to see so many Canadian flags in France!

Outside the centre there is a memorial garden with plaques and names for all those who gave their lives during the operation; inside they have a wonderfully informative and interactive exhibit about the history leading up to the landings and Canada's role in the war.

The entire experience was moving. I come from a military family, although (to the best of my knowledge) none of my family participated in either war. Despite this, the knowledge gleaned from our visit and the life, experiences and repercussions laid out before us was extremely emotional and informative.

Field of poppies nearby

I would definitely recommend a visit to the Centre for anyone who is interested in Canadian war history. There were other museums nearby as well - it was a rather long stretch of beach - but we didn't have time to visit them; however, I am sure there is much available for the inquisitive mind.

After our visit we hopped on another bus and made our slow way back to Paris.

'Til next time

~Crown

Porto, Portugal: the commencement of the main journey (day 1 & 2)

The Bear and I landed in Portugal on Monday to sunny skies and warmth; not that we weren't having gorgeous weather back in England, but it's a different type of warmth when the sun has practically set and you're still sitting outside in a tank-top and capri's.

We made our way by Metro to the centre of the city to find our accommodation for the next 3 nights. This required walking uphill (quite a ways) which was delayed by my constant admiring of the tiled buildings (on the exterior!) and cobbled mosaics of the streets and footpaths on the way. This was my first trip to Portugal, so there was lots to see.

After checking in and ditching the heavy backpacks, we ventured back downhill for a bite to eat. We found a lovely bakery/diner where we had "beef in butcher style" which came with fries, rice, vegetables and salad. It was amazingly delicious and only €15 for the two of us!

The next morning we took a walk through town, enjoying a bakery breakfast - pastries for breakfast? Yes please! I have fallen in love with Portuguese desserts - in the old hospital square with palm trees and a fountain to keep us company. Afterward we attended part of a mass at the church nearby (this on a Tuesday, apparently mass isn't just on Sunday's here). This church was amazing outside and in; outside there was beautiful tiles depicting various biblical scenes, inside everything was gilt. Luckily, despite the fact mass was in Portuguese, we were able to follow along.

After mass we walked some more. ... And more. It was a beautiful city and I found the best way to see it was on foot. We walked along the waterfront, through some parks and back up through the shopping district. So many tiled homes, churches and shops to see! Such an interesting way to decorate!

In the evening we were picked up by C's cousin to enjoy a home cooked Portuguese meal. It was so delicious, I could go on about it forever; and don't forget the freshly picked (small) crate of strawberries her aunt got! Such fabulous food. I could easily get fat there if I stayed any longer!

C's cousin and his girlfriend took us for an excellent night-time tour of the city by car afterwards. The city lights up and transforms the buildings; additionally, there were so many architecturally interesting buildings to see.

C and I saw so much, yet it was only our first day in Porto!

Next time: the last member of our team joins us, a bus top tour and Port!

Boa noite!

~Crown

Due North - Part 2

Tuesday morning the Bear and I had grand plans of getting up early so that we could get to Edinburgh at a reasonable hour (instead of 10:30pm which was the reality).  As you may have guessed, that did not happen.

Breakfast

I woke up some time around 5 in the morning to sunshine and bird song - quite a pleasant way to wake up, I must say. However, I did not get out of bed until 7, then spent the next hour or so chatting with one of the lovely hosts of the campsite about all the archaeological wonders of the area.  After, upon discovering that Charissa was also up, we started to make breakfast on my little camping stove (a Biolite for those who are interested). Within an hour we had made tea, fried bread and cooked up eggs for a delicious ham, cheese and egg breakfast sandwich, which brought us to 10:30am.

Our camp site - what a view!

It took us another hour and a bit to pack up camp, so we didn't manage to set off until noon.  No worries! It's only a 6 hour drive.

Croxden Abbey

But, being the explorers that we are, we made some stops en route.  First we checked out Croxden Abbey, not typo far from our campsite.  It was HUGE! Well, as  ruins go! Croxden Abbey was a Cistercian Abbey hundreds of years ago.  I really enjoyed wandering around the ruins - it was fascinating to see.

Next we stopped at Sudbury Hall for lunch.  You may not recognise the name now, but what if I were to refer to it as Pemberley Hall? 

Sudbury (Pemberley) Hall

Sudbury Hall was the stately home used as the home of Mr. William Darcy in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.  It was a breathtaking structure and we both wish we had more time to explore.

However, the afternoon was running on and we still had to get to Edinburgh!  As we set off, Charissa was on the phone booking us accommodation for the night and I was grumbling about the rain - which, typically, had decided to start up again.

Angel of the North

We also took a slight detour in order to see the Angel of the North, as it was on the way.  We'be both decided that it resembles a bird more than an angel.

A number of hours, a few Service Station stops and many construction zones later (including the offering if cookies out the window to a lorry driver stuck behind us in a queue) we finally reached the Scotland/England border.

The border!

We finished or epic 6ish-someodd hour drive with the setting of the sun; and a beautiful sunset it was, too.

Finally, we had made it to Edinburgh!

More to come.

~Crown

Lunch at Sudbury Hall - cream teas and scones!

Due North - Part 1

So £700-someodd later and Bear and I have made it out if Surrey, around the M25 and approximately 175km up the M1 to find ourselves in Staffordshire.

In a tent.

In the rain.

Details, you ask? Well. After the big mess that was my MOT and subsequent garage visit (thank you ever so much to an amazing mechanic who was a huge help) we managed to get the car in for the MOT recheck just as the shop was closing. Fab timing! We then hopped straight onto the A3 to the M25 and headed north. What a beautiful day we'd been having!

Sheep on the way to the camp site

That is, until the last 30 minutes of our journey. That's when the heavens decided to open and we turned to each other with a look of dread.

At which time we started to discuss the roadside motels as a superior alternative accomodation. Especially when my Sat Nav decided to take us on a crazy route to get to the site (one can't get lost with a Sat Nav, surely!)

Some of our stuff in the tent

But, alas, we decided to drive on to the campsite anyway where we were met by a pair of brilliant hosts who have been nothing but kind and full if helpful advice -

More stuff

like parking the car at an uphill angle so it doesn't settle overnight and we shouldn't be stuck in the morning.

Dessert - classy!

C and I set up the tent - at 10:30pm! - in a light shower and are now to be found happily within with full bellies and ready for sleep.

So good night, dear readers!


~Crown

Hello from the UK! It's Charissa and I can't believe its day 2 of my epic adventure with Felicia and Jacinta! I arrived into London Heathrow at just after 9am yesterday after having Jacinta over at my place the day before (She was visiting me in Calgary before a wedding in Canada).

Generally, I love flying and am eager to have that "hermit time" where interaction with other people is minimal and I can sleep, eat and watch crappy movies to my hearts content. however, this was the exception, as I was stuck next to a woman who kept on elbowing me the entire flight. For a larger woman, she has surprisingly bony elbows! And of course,to go with the extremely full flight, I was seated behind a bunch of babies  and in front of the seat kicker.... boooooo!

Anyhow, after I arrived and spent an eternity waiting to pass customs, Felicia picked me up and we went on to the place we are staying temporarily.

After a quick lunch and a lovely little jaunt in the countryside with the doggies, we headed into the hamlet of West Byfleet where we did a bit of op-shopping (aka: going to the thrift shop) and got some groceries.

Now this morning, since I've caught up on my sleep and since I've adjusted fairly well to the time change, we're off to London Central for lunch with some of Fe's friends and more shopping!!!

Cheers,

C

PS: the bag I brought over to travel with only weighs 9kg! More to come on what brought with me :)

First Posts - A bit of Background

This blog is the brainchild of – initially – Charissa and Felicia upon their spontaneous plan to go travelling through Europe.  These two have been friends since early High School where they bonded during German lessons.  Upon the addition of a third traveller, one of Charissa's friends from her time living in Aus, it has developed into a place where the three Old Maids – aka: unmarried women in their mid to late 20’s – can record their adventures.

Charissa “the Bear” was born and raised in South Africa and moved to Canada at a young age.  She is now a Canadian citizen who lives in Western Canada.  She an artist, and a very talented glass blower.
Felicia “the Crown” who is a Canadian ex-pat living in England.  She is working as a freelance interactive programmer and loves to bake, recently baking her very first loaf of bread – and yes, this seems to be a proud point.
Jacinta “the Kangaroo” hails from Australia and is still living there.  She is a Personal Assistant who loves music and travelling.

The headline of this blog, you may have noticed, comes from the three nicknames we have chosen for each other.  It sounds a bit like a pub name, but unfortunately a pub with this name doesn't exist anywhere!  What a shame, how amusing that would have been.

The three of us are travelling through Europe, starting in the UK (with Bear and Crown), continuing through Europe starting in Portugal, where Kangaroo will be joining us.

Seeing as Bear has just arrived in the UK to join Crown, I (Crown) decided it was about time that we posted something on here – I do so hope the other two don't mind! ;)


Signing off!
~Crown