Go and See

Beautiful Strasbourg in France was our town of choice for Christmas Day and it lived up to all of our expectations. Strasbourg's charming Old Town dominated by Notre Dame Cathedral and cobbled streets was sheer enchantment. Christmas markets in the shadow of the Cathedral One of a zillion pics I took of this stunning cathedral … Continue reading Strasbourg: Christmas markets

The next part of our trip was a late addition and out of whack with the rest of the itinerary thanks to my daughter who was travelling with us and at last minute, wanted to visit Neuschwanstein Castle (pictured above). The castle is geographically closer to Munich, but with so much to see in this … Continue reading Fussen: Christmas markets

Touristy it is, but medieval Rothenburg ob der Tauber (on the Tauber River) is worth bottling and taking home. Just one hour by train from Nuremburg, it was the perfect Christmas village to while away a couple of days during the Christmas market month of December. Despite a steady stream of day trippers, we never … Continue reading Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Christmas markets

After running ourselves ragged in Vienna, we took the train to Nurnberg. There's a lot to like about this German city. It fairly crackles with the hum of people, the bright lights of a medieval old town and the taste of that famous Nurnberg sausage. Lorenzkirche Christmas markets against a medieval backdrop Showing its medieval … Continue reading Nurnberg: Christmas markets

The hills are alive with the sound of music here in Salzburg Austria. It's been a long time since I was 16 going on 17 but this town that's steeped in the Von Trapps, Mozart, good coffee, apple strudel and chocolate is one I very much enjoyed. Two hours by Flix bus from Munich, we … Continue reading Salzburg and Vienna: Christmas markets

I really like warm weather. In fact at this time of the year, I'm found mostly on a beach beneath a clear blue sky sweating away in temps of 30 plus. I don't ski or toboggan or do any of those winter sports. A northern hemisphere winter has never on my bucket list. But it … Continue reading Munich: Christmas markets

Two years ago I flew into the Thai capital to toast my retirement and had myself such a fine time that I've returned; this time to celebrate my big 4-0 wedding anniversary. My husband jokes he'd get less for murder, but I know he's quietly pleased we're not letting this decade anniversary slip by without … Continue reading Bangkok: One quick week

Croatia on the stunning Adriatic Sea was the final destination in our three month Balkans trip and we found it extremely easy to lap up everything Dubrovnik, Korcula Island, Split, Vis Island, Zadar and Zagreb offered in sun drenched July. UNESCO listed Dubrovnik, the very popular Game of Thrones and cruise ship town was our … Continue reading Croatia

Sarajevo, 555 year old capital city of Bosnia Herzegovina really is superb. It's a city that's got the lot - history of course, sights, friendly and open people who enjoy a chat. We bussed into Sarajevo from Mostar (an easy two and a half hours) taking in the stunning scenery along the way. BiH is … Continue reading Bosnia: Sarajevo

Well and truly tourist friendly, Bosnia Herzogovina (BiH) with its beautiful landscapes, interesting sites and difficult history was a compelling destination to spend 10 days. Mostar was our first stop in BiH and we arrived here by bus from Croatia where we'd spent a fantastic time in Dubrovnik and on Korcula Island. I will blog … Continue reading Bosnia: Mostar

If you love train travel, then you must arrive in Montenegro from Serbia on the rather famous Belgrade to Bar train. This is the train line that Tito commissioned in 1976. His trademark blue carriages were used to conduct meetings with officials from the Yugoslavian countries as well as heads of state from foreign countries. … Continue reading Montenegro: Belgrade to Bar train and Kotor

This is what I knew about Serbia before I visited, just a loose collection of history facts really: Ottomans ruled, then the Austro Hungarians. In 1914, a Serb killed the Austrian Archduke and the world went crazy for four long destructive years. Later, Tito integrated Serbia into Yugoslavia and then there was Milosevic and wars … Continue reading Serbia: Novi Sad and Belgrade

So glad we chose Timisoara to be our last port of call in Romania, this town that's designated European Capital of Culture for 2021. It’s certainly impressive with some very beautiful European style buildings cloistered around three distinct squares. Often referred to as 'Little Vienna' the Austrians who conquered the Ottomans in 1716, set about … Continue reading Romania: Timisoara

We had a fabulous time in vibrant Sibiu which was a comfortable train trip from Sighisoara. From the train station in the middle of town, it was a short walk to our apartment where we met Florina, aged 26 who owns the apartment we rented. She's done an excellent job renovating it to include a … Continue reading Romania: Sibiu

The wonderful Transilvania area is home to this drop dead gorgeous town, a three hour train ride from Brasov. Sighisoara is a walled fortress town dating from the 12th century. Skilled artisans from Germany were encouraged to relocate here and hence the town's fine reputation for craftsmanship was established. It goes without saying that Sighisoara … Continue reading Romania: Sighisoara

Brasov in Transilvania is pure medieval magic and it's the first of the Transilvanian towns that we're visiting. Settled by the Saxons in the 12th century (explains the German flavour), it boasts well maintained former merchant houses transformed into cafes, restaurants, guest houses, hotels and shops. The three hour train ride from Bucharest rendered beautiful … Continue reading Romania: Brasov

Updated in parts after March 2025 visit Bucharest was completely different to what I expected, in the best way possible. After zipping through border control on our comfortable Flix bus from Sofia Bulgaria, we arrived in the Romanian capital, a city I knew nothing about in a country I knew of only dark stuff. Think … Continue reading Romania: Bucharest

Sofia, Bulgaria's capital was clothed in a haze of rain clouds when we landed and with temps of 18 degrees, it was a little chillier than we expected for the start of the European summer. For those flying in from Australia, Emirates offer a reasonable 25 hour flight through Dubai. I'd booked an apartment in … Continue reading Bulgaria: Sofia

I confess to knowing little about Albania before my arrival other than it was home to thousands of solid concrete bunkers built by a communist leader who was convinced his country would be attacked. Hoxha (pronounced Hodger) kept his people in the firm bosom of isolation, but departed this world in 1985. Since then, Albania … Continue reading Balkans: Albania

I feel slightly torn writing this blog; torn because this country of two million people is simply fantastic and if promoted in this light, tourists may descend in droves. But on the other hand, boosting tourist numbers may be the way to turn around North Macedonia's economy where the average salary is just $A13000. It … Continue reading Balkans: North Macedonia

At long last, I'm flying high with Qatar Airways enroute to the fabulous Balkans. My Lonely Planet guide, my Blue Bible, has had quite the workout and while I'm OK with the itinerary I've prepared, I know there's nothing like impulse and travellers' talk to get me off track. The Balkans (formerly Yugoslavia) is a … Continue reading Someone’s going to the Balkans

It's been a while since I've blogged - too much lazy time under an Oz sun! But, here I am in Bali, enticed from my GC cocoon by an invitation to a wedding in Nusa Dua and the chance to spend some extra time in Canngu, Tabanan and Kuta. The wedding of our close friends … Continue reading Bali: Everyone’s happy place

It's January here at the Gold Coast; it's summer, it's hot and it's high time I blogged about my own backyard. The Gold Coast is a stunning coastline of surf beaches, just south of Brisbane Queensland stretching for 57 kilometres and a place where I like to spend my summers. So, for the next couple … Continue reading Australia: Gold Coast QLD

Thriving, bustling Budapest, Hungary's capital was a fabulous city in which to end our quick three week European holiday. We arrived by train from Bratislava after a comfortable journey of just two and a half hours. Over 5 days, we touched the tip of the iceberg in terms of what's here for the tourist taking. … Continue reading Hungary: Budapest

Bratislava is often overlooked by tourists who gravitate to Prague, Budapest and nearby Vienna which is only one hour away. A shame because this city on the Danube River has a whole lot to offer. It's smaller than the big three, the people are warm and welcoming, there's a vibrant cafe/bar scene and a bunch … Continue reading Slovakia: Bratislava

This pretty little town in Southern Bohemia has 13,000 people, is nestled on the Vitava River and is a bit of cuteness overload. While it leans slightly to the touristy side, it is well worth a comfortable stopover for a couple of nights. The weather is particularly warm, the flowers are blooming, the UNESCO listed … Continue reading Czech Republic: Cesky Krumlov

Far from the madding crowd is definitely what you won't experience in Prague. The Czech Republic's capital city heaves and churns with tourists and with good reason. In a nutshell, it is truly splendid with beautifully decorated and coloured medieval, Renaissance and 19th century buildings on show everywhere. This is a city where you can … Continue reading Czech Republic: Prague

Last year when we were kicking back in Bangkok at a street food market – you know the scene – rows of long tables, people from all corners of the globe shoulder to shoulder, laughing, chatting, chugging down ice cold Tiger beer and steaming hot chilli noodles – I struck up a conversation with a … Continue reading Germany: Dresden

I’m smashing out this blog in double quick time in Germany’s lively capital where there’s no rest for the wicked. Five nights went some way to doing justice to a city that’s hell bent on giving tourists value for their euro. But, I needed longer, much longer to absorb the breadth and depth of the … Continue reading Germany: Berlin

It's very easy to say a big 'Kalimera' to this slice of Greek island paradise tucked firmly and squarely 400 kms south of Athens. Stretching 260 kms east to west and 60 kms north to south, Crete is big and packed to the brim with all the good oil. Looking for a destination to finish … Continue reading Greece: Crete

Lithuania is the Baltic's southernmost country and we headed towards its capital city Vilnius from Riga on this Ecolines bus. For 4 hours we were comfortable, perched up top enjoying views of green fields. An agricultural country, nearly half of Lithuania's land is given to growing potatoes, barley, wheat and rye. In Vilnius, we were … Continue reading Lithuania: Vilnius

Riga is one vibrant city. Its old town is an overload of medieval gothic delight; easy to see why it's a firm favourite of those who've travelled here. Cobbled streets carry mostly pedestrians who take their time admiring the architecture, gazing in shops, drinking coffee in the many cafes, ducking into a museum or two … Continue reading Latvia: Riga

Tartu lies 185 kms south of Tallinn and this town of 93,00 people is an easy town to like. Parks, a river with cycle and walking tracks, an attractive old town and energetic young students pretty much sums up Tartu. Our two days here sped by. Tartu is the intellectual hub of Estonia honoured with … Continue reading Estonia: Tartu

The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been on our travel radar for a while now, and with Tallinn a short 5 hours Ecolines coach from Saint Petersburg, we didn't hesitate in booking seats. Dubbed by Lonely Planet as the best value destination for 2018, Tallinn is UNESCO listed as Europe's best preserved … Continue reading Estonia: Tallinn

What a city! Once the Imperial city of Peter the Great, this UNESCO listed city of 5 million people reeks of magnificent buildings, riches, long canals, beautiful churches and great little cafes. We arrived here from Moscow on the very fast train. This comfortable train travelling at a speed of 150 kms/hr took 5 hours. … Continue reading Russia: Saint Petersburg

It's a rare week when Russia doesn't feature in our western news. We've been served up platters of mostly negative, dark diatribes. There's been Crimea, MH 17, Sergei Skripal's poisoning and before; the Communist doctrine, Cold War, space race, 1980 Olympics boycott, Kursk submarine and Chechen crisis. Add to this a youthful couple of years … Continue reading Russia: Moscow

North of Armenia lies the very likeable Georgia and for a country with only 3.8 million people, it certainly packs a punch. An Austrian couple who joined us for dinner at a taverna in Sicily's Petralia Soprana last year had sung Georgia's praises to us, guaranteeing that we would enjoy our travels here and we … Continue reading Georgia: Tbilisi and Batumi

Armenia is a green country and its majestic, grassy mountains with snow still on the summits captivated us from the start. This landlocked country hemmed in by Iran, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and the worrying de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to the east is well and truly worth a visit. We arrived in Armenia after a … Continue reading Armenia: Meghri and Yerevan

My husband and I have just spent a month in Iran and we've billed it as one of the most interesting countries we've visited. There's a wealth of fabulous information in Lonely Planet's guide to Iran, travel blogs written by tourists who have recently travelled here, the excellent facebook site See You In Iran and … Continue reading Thinking of travelling to Iran?

The Caspian Sea area was a late addition to our itinerary, spur of the moment really and from Dorud we easily found a bus to Tehran and then another onto Ramsar. It was a long day of bus travel but worth it. The mountainous road from Karjat to Ramsar is incredibly scenic, but I have … Continue reading Iran: Caspian Sea to Tabriz

From Shiraz, we headed north west to Shushtar. Regular bus services ply the route to Ahvaz, then it’s a taxi ride to Shushtar. Ahvaz is dusty and industrial; petro chemical plants dominate the desert landscape. This area was heavily bombed by Iraq during the war 37 years ago when Iraq was determined to covet Iran’s … Continue reading Iran: Shushtar and beyond to Dorud

Wherever we travel in Iran, we are constantly asked by Iranians, ' You like Iran?' Iranians are justifiably proud of their country, their rich culture and history. We feel lucky to be part of it in the smallest way and in the most superficial way, really; as tourists. We're into the start of the third … Continue reading Iran: Shiraz

There's a well trodden tourist track around Iran, and Yazd the city in the desert, is definitely on it. Located about four hours by comfortable bus from Isfahan, it's a must see. Five thousand year old Yazd has a population of 1.1 million, but it's the UNESCO listed Old City that warrants the attention. We … Continue reading Iran: Yazd

We departed Kashan enroute to Isfahan with Hossien, a taxi driver who throughout the day, morphed into a really interesting guide. He's a family man; his wife doesn't work outside the house and together they have two children, a son aged 8 and a daughter 3. He laughed when I asked if his 3 year … Continue reading Iran: Isfahan

Kashan lies 3 hours by bus south of Tehran and after the hustle and bustle of a capital city, this was a town in which we could take a breath. Buses leave Tehran via Qom regularly and there's no need to book, except if you're travelling on Iran's Holy Day which is Friday. On Friday, … Continue reading Iran: Kashan

In April this year we arrived in Tehran, Iran’s teeming capital city of 8 million people. Our plan is to travel independently around Iran for a month. Air Asia from Kuala Lumpur delivered us to Imam Khomeini airport, and with our visas from the Iranian Embassy in Canberra firmly in hand, we were able to … Continue reading Iran: Tehran

Nothing compares to that high you experience when you arrive in a place unlike anywhere you've been before. It’s the unfamiliar, the completely different; it’s an adrenaline rush of the very best kind and I hope it keeps kicking in for a long time yet. This year my travel stars have well and truly aligned … Continue reading Iran to Russia to Baltic – beyond excited

From the hills of northern Thailand, we headed south to Krabi on the Andaman Sea. We flew Bangkok Air, an airline we'd liked on a previous trip to Koh Samui. It's still good value and the crew; lovely. Krabi is nice and easy. It's not party central, held in check as it is by the … Continue reading Thailand: Krabi

Well, the best laid plans of mice and men ...gotta love Steinbeck ... went astray when we arrived at the bus station in Chiang Mai determined to catch the next available bus to Chiang Rai. But ... no buses for 4 hours. You're kidding! However, in the blink of an eye, a young girl behind … Continue reading Thailand: Chiang Rai

Have to say, I really like this northern Thai city that's found at the base of the Himalayan ranges. The terrain is flat and the walking is good. It's also quite pretty with its many elaborate temples and grassy canals that come with fountains. And...it's very green. We arrived here on the night train from … Continue reading Thailand: Chiang Mai

From River Kwai we hired a driver for the three hour journey to UNESCO listed Ayutthaya. We were keen to see the sights of this once grand capital city of Thailand which was established in 1350 and then attacked and left in ruins by the Burmese in 1767. In 1700, interestingly, Ayutthaya laid claim to … Continue reading Thailand: Ayutthaya

Australians are brought up on a healthy diet of the grim events that took place during World War II on the River Kwai. It was here that thousands of Aussie POWs (as well as British, Dutch, Americans and South East Asians) were forcibly sent by the Japanese to bring to fruition an engineering marvel - … Continue reading Thailand: River Kwai

Bangkok is a lay down misere. This teeming city of 14 million people definitely rates as a top place to visit and I couldn't have picked a better place to start celebrating my recent, two years in the making retirement. It's been 28 years since I've visited Bangkok and memories dredged up from that visit … Continue reading Thailand: Bangkok

I first went to Hong Kong at the end of my final year of uni - a very long time ago. I was young and completely captivated by this vibrant, heady city. I returned ten years later and wondered why I'd left it so long to return. Still, it took another 20 odd years to … Continue reading Hong Kong: Too long between visits

This gorgeous northern seaside town is our final destination in Sicily, deliberately chosen so we can recharge the batteries, wind down from the driving and hit the beach. Just 80 kms east from Palermo Airport, it means a short drive when we wing our way back to Australia. Besides having a great beach, Cefalu has … Continue reading Sicily: Cefalu

We had every intention of visiting the Queen of Baroque: Syracuse and its famous palazzzi; however, traffic in the town was horrendous and finding a car park impossible. So we drove on to Noto where I had booked a small apartment in the centre of town. Like the other Sicilian apartments we had rented online … Continue reading Sicily: Noto, Modica, Ragusa

Taormina is quite spectacular, perched as it is on the side of a mountain with fantastic views to the sea. Cruise ships berth here and tourists flock to shore for all the obvious reasons; the mix of sand and pebble beaches offer blue and crystal clear water, the scenery is drop dead gorgeous, a myriad … Continue reading Sicily: Taormina

This remarkable little hilltop village is found in the north of Sicily, not far from its sister, Petralia Sottana. We loved the narrow cobbled lanes and stone houses with their cheery red geraniums. We arrived in the late afternoon as the town was getting ready for its night of nights. The small piazza was full … Continue reading Sicily: Petralia Soprano

Arriverderci Palermo! Today, we picked up our hire car and headed west, stopping at Erice, billed by Lonely Planet as 'Western Sicily's prettiest hilltop village.' The drive there, I kid you not, was heart thumpingly nail biting. Dozens of switchback twists and turns meant we couldn't see cars travelling towards us. When we arrived at … Continue reading Sicily: Erice, Masala, Selinute, Agrigento

Sicily's capital Palermo is a very easy city to like. Central Palermo which is where we are staying for 4 nights heaves with narrow alleys full of life. There's people talking, shouting, laughing, clapping each other on the back as they buy and sell their cherries, apricots and peaches, cheese, fish, olives, clothing and household … Continue reading Sicily: Palermo

Someone told me that a week in Malta doesn't cut it and it's so true. A day passes too quickly here in the middle of the Med even when the June daylight hours are long. A morning Maltese coffee and delicate pastries helped kick start each day before we took advantage of unlimited bus tickets … Continue reading Malta

We're nearing the end of our week long stay in Malta, and quelle surprise, we've still not seen all that Malta offers. For a small island measuring just 27 kms by 14 kms, there is much to see, much to do. There's the sights, the history and of course the food. Too much for one … Continue reading Malta: Valletta

I'm sure Charles Dickens would have given me free licence to borrow some of his famous words for the title of this blog. When we flew into London City Airport (an experience in itself thanks to an almost straight line vertical descent in full brace position), I knew we would struggle with London, yet also … Continue reading London: A Tale of Two Emotions

Whenever I think of Montreal, I think of the 1976 Olympics when Stephen Holland was tipped to bring gold home to Australia in the 1500m freestyle event. The nation ground to a stop for the race and when Holland placed third, there was a collective gasp of disbelief. Funny the memories you dredge up when … Continue reading Canada: Montreal

Long story short, we've fallen for Nova Scotia, the province where no place is more than 40 miles from the ocean. Gritty fishing villages with their colourful boats, lobster pots stacked up in their dozens, cute cottages perched beside beautiful lakes on the South Coast, dramatic coastal drives around Cape Breton, lighthouses in all shapes … Continue reading Canada: Nova Scotia

PEI, Canada's smallest province (5620 km2) packs a lot of punch. Oft called 'the gentle island', it certainly lives up to its moniker. Picture green rolling hills, pretty houses, brown soil farms begging for potatoes to be planted and the bluest water. This island is reached by the world's longest bridge over ice - 13 … Continue reading Canada: Prince Edward Island

My rather pathetique French is being sorely tested as we drive around the large province of Quebec. We didn't realise just how strongly the French have held onto their language in this very scenic part of Canada. Here, all students must attend French school if they have French parents. This is a given. There is … Continue reading Canada: Quebec Province

Quebec City, particularly Old Quebec is very likeable; it's pretty and imbued with plenty of history, cafes, bars, shops and attractions in walking distance to keep us busy for three days. French is the official language, although English is widely spoken. We were grateful. Old Quebec was once a walled city and some of the … Continue reading Canada: Quebec City

Canada's capital city turned on some hot weather during our stay with temps in the mid 20s so it was good to spend time walking in the sunshine catching up on some much needed Vitamin D. Ottawa has some excellent sightseeing. There's Parliament House with its Peace Tower and Eternal Flame, Rideau Canal, Notre-Dam Cathedral, … Continue reading Canada: Ottawa

This weekend marks the official start to the Canadian summer and locals in the pretty town of Niagara-on-the-Lake are in a flurry making sure flowers and lawns are looking good, buildings are freshly painted and cafes are ready to open. Niagara-on -the-Lake oozes charm in the same way that Montville Queensland does. It's cute, it's … Continue reading Canada: Niagara-on-the-Lake

I'm stating the bleeding obvious here but those Canadian Prairies, the Great Plains, the breadbasket of the world are incredibly vast. Millions of tons of wheat and canola are grown and harvested here and the sheer size of the farms is replicated in the trucks and machinery that drive this billion dollar industry. Even the … Continue reading Canada: Winnipeg Manitoba

Waving au revoir to Banff, we headed into a totally different part of Alberta; Calgary, home of the famous Stampede and cowboys. A few cowboy hats adorn heads in this part of Canada. Just south of Calgary is the very interesting UNESCO site Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. It was the name that hooked us, as well … Continue reading Canada: Saskatchewan

After Revelstoke, we drove the Trans Canada Highway through Rogers Pass, set high at 1330 metres. The sights were spectacular and can only imagine that the sights from the train (the rail line parallels the road) would be even better. The small towns of Golden (on Kicking Horse River – love that name) and Field … Continue reading Canada: Jasper and Banff

My Lonely Planet guide describes Okanagan as Canada's Napa Valley. I've not been to Napa Valley, but those I know who've been there describe it in glowing terms. I really enjoyed Okanagan which is a long valley stretching 180 kms and dominated by large lakes. Grapes grow well here and of course, wineries are plentiful. … Continue reading Canada: Okanagan Valley and Revelstoke

Vancouver turned on some dismal weather for our last day, so we hightailed out of there in a rental car, thanking our Navman a million times over for an easy exit. The rain kept us company as we headed west on Highway 1, making our way through a series of 7 tunnels which slice through … Continue reading Canada: Sun Peaks

A road trip from the west coast of Canada to the east coast is the final candle on my husband's birthday cake. This trip is his dream, his nirvana to drive 6,156 kms from Vancouver to Nova Scotia along the iconic Trans-Canada Highway blasting out Gene Pitney at 100 decibels. Air Canada now flies direct … Continue reading Canada: Vancouver

Back with a vengeance with part 2 of my Turkey trip. From Turkey's capital city Ankara, it was an easy bus ride to Goreme in Cappadocia. We were here to see the famed fairy chimneys – huge phallic shaped rocks whose interiors were carved out by Byzantines and transformed into churches, hotels, houses and other … Continue reading Turkiye 2

Since I'm still new to the blogging game, I've written a practice blog from a trip I did in 2014. I enjoyed Turkey immensely and despite the current DFAT advice, I would still visit, although I would be checking my travel insurance. Turkey is intoxicating with its incredible historical and geographic sights, a zillion beautiful … Continue reading Turkiye 1

I am an unashamed Bali lover. From my first trip here in the 80s, I was hooked on the island’s lush rice fields, laid back beaches, spicy food, thatched bungalows, blissful daily massages and friendly people. Each year, my husband and I spend a few weeks in Bali inhaling all the good stuff. I have … Continue reading Bali

A trip I had always yearned to do in my own backyard was to walk Sydney's famed beaches. Like most Aussies, I love a good beach and the chance to walk from Barrenjoey Lighthouse in the north to Maroubra in the south seemed a perfect way to spend 6 days. At the end of June, … Continue reading Australia: Sydney Beaches

A common travellers' lament is that they don't stay long enough in a place to really explore it. Such was my lament about Malang. We arrived here by train from Surabaya. This was our second long distance train trip in Java; the first being Yogyakarta to Surbaya. Indonesia does trains well: they are efficient, punctual, … Continue reading Java: Malang

Ten years ago I spent just one day in Yogyakarta, adding some spice to a Bali holiday with friends. I vowed to return, hubby in tow next time and pay this town its dues. I also vowed to try and get a grip on Java, the Indonesian island you hear so much about, but never … Continue reading Java: Yogyakarta