From literary giants to world class optics to international cookies, Jena and the surrounding region has been full of surprises. We had no idea this area had so much to offer. Throw in a comfortable home base, the use of a car, home cooking, and generous hosts and it has added up to a relaxing and enjoyable visit.… [Read more]
Archive for » 2012 «
Friday, September 14th, 2012 / christina
Category: Europe, Germany
2 Comments
Thursday, September 06th, 2012 / christina
Champagne and sunshine welcomed us to Germany where we are visiting my cousin Detlev and his family for a couple of weeks. Although we arrived in Leipzig quite late in the evening last Saturday night and we had to travel about 100 km to Detlev’s home in Jena, the family popped open a bottle of champagne to celebrate our arrival. … [Read more]
Category: Europe, Germany
5 Comments
Thursday, September 06th, 2012 / christina
We began our three week trip through Ireland with a preconceived notion of what Ireland would be like. I don’t think we were completely unrealistic as I was quite sure we wouldn’t see any leprechauns or fairies fluttering about, but we did expect to experience something quite magical, maybe even mystical. … [Read more]
Category: Europe, Ireland
3 Comments
Monday, September 03rd, 2012 / christina
With images of majestic castles and stunning landscapes dancing in our heads, we set off for a three week tour of Ireland. We were in search of a romantic maybe even nostalgic vision of Ireland that we had somehow conjured up in our minds, perhaps based on clever marketing that we had unwittingly absorbed, movies we have watched over the years and literature we have read. … [Read more]
Category: Europe, Ireland, Travel Tips
2 Comments
Monday, August 20th, 2012 / christina
What can you do and see with three weeks, a rented car, a glorious/glovebox map, three guide books, and no set itinerary or plan? We’re two weeks into our three week trip and we’ve travelled about 1400 km so far. … [Read more]
Category: Europe, Ireland
3 Comments
Wednesday, August 08th, 2012 / christina
We’re sitting in the airport in Bristol, England waiting to board our flight to Ireland which we have just learned has been delayed by 4 hours. I see this delay as a bit of a blessing as I’m feeling rather unprepared for our upcoming three week road trip in Ireland.… [Read more]
Category: England, Europe, Ireland
3 Comments
Friday, August 03rd, 2012 / christina
We left Paris at noon on Wednesday under warm, sunny skies and we were greeted with gloomy, rainy weather as soon as the train emerged from the chunnel onto British soil. How disappointing! We arrived back “home” in Newark-on-Trent by mid-afternoon, giving us plenty of time to give the kids a tour around the town centre. … [Read more]
Category: England, Europe, Travel Tips
Comments off
Sunday, July 29th, 2012 / christina
Paris is such a huge city with an estimated population of more than two million and a metropolitan population of over 12 million, covering about 105 square kilometres, we could barely do it justice in the short period of time we had. … [Read more]
Category: Europe, France
2 Comments
Saturday, July 28th, 2012 / christina
Andrew and Alyssa arrived first thing on Friday morning after an overnight flight from Toronto. I was so anxious to see them, I barely slept at all the night before. Funny how I have managed for almost a year without them (and them without me), but once I knew they were coming, I could barely contain my excitement knowing they were on their way. … [Read more]
Category: Europe, France
2 Comments
Saturday, July 28th, 2012 / christina
We arrived at our apartment in Paris around 6:00 on Wednesday evening. The apartment was in the garment district in central Paris within walking distance to most tourist attractions. We found the apartment on airbnb.com… [Read more]
Category: Europe, France
2 Comments