Tag Archives: europe

Last day, travel highlights and reflections. July 25 2026

As I sit in the Westjet Salon lounge at gate C83 at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, I am reflecting on some trip highlights. 

For me the most significant was my travel companions. A lovely hand-picked collection of friends and family who joined together with me. We offered each other support and kindness. Mostly I will remember the laughter. What fun we had!!!  

The two hotels we stayed in were comfortable and quaint. Centrally located and easily found. We shared spaces and enjoyed the walk ups. 

Mostly due to dietary restrictions I ate from grocery store purchases. We pooled our money in a kitty and purchased cheese, olives, fruit and wine.  It worked well. We shared cabs and walked many kilometres in the heat and bright sun seeking shade when we could. 

Few days in Paris getting familiar with the city sights and boat tours, hop on bus, evening river cruise, the sight of the sparkling Eiffel Tower. Market shopping with careful search for least expensive rose, white wine or sparkling French type Prosecco. Comte cheese and baby tomatoes. 

The Toulousers road trip, singing, driving, eating and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. 

Our lovely hard working tour guide (CEO) Francoise was so helpful and always available to find washrooms and assistance with busses and little tourist trains, finding information centres and delicious food. 

The Taste of Toulouse food tour was extraordinary and delicious. Easy to understand with lots of samples to share- wine, cheese, olives, bread, charcuterie. Lovely introduction to local cuisine. 

The special access for Westjet gold status members to the airport lounge is really nice. It’s a perk that only I got to enjoy in our group today. Quiet, spacious and lovely. Breakfast was offered initially with gluten free baguettes 

For now I am signing off until my next travel adventure 

Bon soir. 

Toulousers. 20 July 2026

Toulouse and another day. 20 July 2026. Pictures to follow or on facebook

Waking up itchy from last nights bites accumulated from the river. So worth it and … itchy. 

Today the plans changed. Instead of Carcassonne trip by train we stay another free day in Toulouse and tomorrow to Carcassonne.

Five of us concoct a last minute plan to rent a small car and go for a swim – somewhere out of town. It takes a while to coordinate the rental. We are determined to make the dream come true on this free day. 

Heading out on the open road in our electric car we agree on a name for our brave group. We are “Tou- lousers”

  A little play on words we use all day. We hear the sounds of the song from Queen … “no time Toulosers – we are the champions of the world “. We can do anything!!  This is a freedom road trip.  

One of my favourite sites in France is rows and rows of Plane trees lining the sides of the roadways. I take another hundred pictures out the windshield with my iPhone. 

OMG fields and fields of golden heads – Sunflowers looking down from the harsh sun and clear blue sky. Nestled in their green rows we were almost speechless at the abundant display of beauty. Perfection 

Each suggesting musical preferences that we could all enjoy, through Spotify we enjoyed classics including Joni Mitchell and we burst into song and memory. 

A necessary stop to turn around seemed a great opportunity to photograph sunflowers up close and find a sheltered field to P 

We drive through small town of Castres. And stop. Photos of the River. Bridge. Baby ducks.  Fountains 

Monday everything closed. I have been here before, I recall. I think we had a picnic lunch here?

Singing along with Bohemian rhapsody through roundabouts, sometimes twice as we missed our off turn. Haha. Laughter and happy voices filled our car. Joy and freedom through small towns and backroads in south of France. 

Miles of rich green lushious vineyards. We find a rest stop and talk to some horses. Canals, bridges, rolling hills, terra cotta rooftops, little charming stone buildings nestled in quaint communities. 

We are determined with goal set to swim in the Mediterranean. We arrive at Valras Plage and park in a spot with with charger for our electric car. A mere block from the sandy vacation spot. 

The beach was beautiful with soft light tan sand and broken shells. So many people enjoying the water, resting under umbrellas and baking in the hot sun. The water was not cold but provided coolish relief from hot sweaty day. We floated, some in bathing suits, some in clothes. Happy for the experience and grateful to share it together. 

We swam in the sea for 20-25 minutes while car charged (we thought). But it didn’t. Now the other charger is in use so we are waiting and trying again with another cable. A full hour probably. 

We decided to try to push onward and find a better charger on route back to Toulouse. We used an app and found just the right fast efficient charger. Deanna was an excellent driver, Rachel navigating and working the phone, map and keeping us organized and moving through this adventure. 

Laughter. Singing. Fields of sunflowers. Picnic lunches. A swim in the Mediterranean Sea. So many highlights of this special shared day. 

We dropped the car at 11 pm, home to hotel heliot at about 1230. Exhausted, satisfied and completely happy. Bon soir from Toulouse. 

Paris day 3, last day. Friday 17 July 2026

15 Kms, 22,000 steps today. We (four of us) started together to pick up gluten free baking from Copains bakery on route to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur. Weather update is improving. The sunshine is lovely and warm, some gentle cloud cover and more tolerable temperatures. Yay. The whole country sighs in relief, us tourists included. It’s still plenty warm and we welcome air conditioning. 

We walked from hotel and found the entrance to funicular up to Sacre Coeur. A nice uneventful ride, met my aunt and her travel companion. At the top. We all walked around looking at the views of the city from high up, through the haze. 

We thought of going in to the church but very long queue so abandoned the idea. Cute little tourist train the my aunt rode later. Easier way to get around. 

Artist square with 20-30 painters, drawing portraits and lots doing acrylic painting of flowers and sights of Paris. Charming. 

Walked down stairs and down and down on way from Montmartre district generally toward direction of the river.

Everything seems to take long to walk to following each other through meandering streets and trying to follow Google Maps. Sometimes we just allow ourselves to get lost. Haha. 

We made it to Gallerie Lafayette for a bit of overwhelm and crowds, glitz and glitter. Up to 6th floor by escalator to pay toilets. 

Next destination was 

Escirite pen store L’Ecritoire Stationery Paris 26, passage Molière. Purchased a beautiful cartridge pen made in Paris France and brown ink. And a small sketch of the view from Sacre Coeur. It was a really special store. Recommend. 

Back to hotel. Charge devices. Meet group. Plan the next day. Hear about everyone’s day. There are 8 of us travelling together in total. Really fun group. 

Arranged to return to same room for night of 24th July – we love our room. 

Out again to gf bakery and pick up groceries for tomorrow train ride

Back again to Hotel for showers, prosecco and some dinner together and preliminary packing. 

Paris day 1, 2026 July 15. Arriving 

Our first delay while at Halifax airport. We arrived early by 3 hours to be sure and planning to maybe check bags. Turns out we were too early for that, haha. So waltzed right through security. Traveling with my aunt and my good friend Mary. Heading to Paris to meet with 4 more friends who are coming from Calgary connection. An 8th person, second Mary, arriving the next day

For now we are sitting in the lounge waiting for our plane to arrive. People around us are talking about their exciting travel plans, river cruise, Italy, Spain and more. 

I do love airports and the chatter, watching families and couples, friend groups and solos. What they wear and carry, how they express and carry themselves.

Our flight is delayed about half hour so we sit and wait. A little moment later it seems we are boarding and on our way. 

The plan is to meet in Paris, some of the group for the first time. Some like me have been before. In a few days we will join a GAdventures Local Living tour in Toulouse and venture to exotic historic towns of Carcassonne, Albi and Lourdes. More on this later. 

https://www.gadventures.com/trips/local-living-france-toulouse/EFTL

Excitement has been building for months as we talked, shared, did research and got excited about our adventure. The time is closer and closer and now finally here as we arrive from our embarkation ports to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. 

The view from the air as we near the destination includes lush and dry farmland surrounding homes and small villages. There has been record breaking heat here for weeks. I expect temperatures to remain hot for our visit. Now over the big city. Red roofs as far as I can see. The river, railway and roadways. The Eiffel Tower. IKEA. Landing safely the passengers applaud. 

We have been flying all night and meet to arrange transportation early this afternoon local time into the city of lights. Our first stop will be Hotel Marena. Hoping to drop our bags and check out surrounding area, maybe grab a lunch. And orient to time and space in this magical city. 

No structured plans this first day as most of us will be challenged a bit by popped ears and jet lag. We shall see. 

Welcome to the first day of our Paris adventure!  Thanks for following. 

Pictures will be posted on Facebook

Bordeaux France 29-30 September 2025

Sailing up the Dordogne river to Bordeaux during breakfast onboard Sirena. We are sitting on the back of ship outside and enjoying the brilliant clear blue sky, the green flat coastline stretching for miles. We passed Pauillac where we will stop at tomorrow evening. 

Guest bloggers participate providing descriptive words. Rich in mystery. Colourful. Autumnal.  Peaceful and serene, glowing, wind kissed, verdant.  Radiant. Fertile. Lush. Vibrant. Dotted with farm buildings, spires and towers. Vineyards. Sheep. Cows. Charolais. River cruise ships. Vineyard estates. Church steeples. Water towers. Colourful Channel markers. It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood. Oh my. Perfect rows of vines in green fields. Each site begs to be described in vivid detail. The gentle wake of the ship rolling towards the shore in persistent waves. 

The ship parked right in town travelling under the bridges. 

Off the ship and a visit to Cite du Vins (museum of wine). Some fun activity. And five wines to taste. Yay. A tram to fountain where we will go on a city walking tour. 

Monument of Girond

Grand opera. (Like opera de garnier, in Paris)

3 moons. Symbol

Paris is a bigger Bordeaux. 

Replicated architecture in Paris to mimic Bordeaux. 

Romans brought wine vine 2000 years ago

Wine cellars in basement 

Big gates, big doors for protection and to collect taxes for people coming in to city

At Andrew’s cathedral. X inside. Killed on cross   Gothic style. Gargoyles. Spikes on top. 

Eleanor of Aquitaine. Movie. The Lion in Winter she died at 83 years of age with 11 children. 

Rue st Catherine longest. Pedestrian at now. 1.3 Kms. Triangle gate. North-south. 

Sculpture for blind people. Water mirror. Bridge. 

Wine tasting afterward at Coleurs du Vin. Women owns company. First one white , 80% Sauvignon blanc and somillion. Then clear red wine out of Merlot and cab sav. DeMeter With very strict organic rules. Less sulphites. Third one is Merlot. Very smooth. And a 4th complementary tasting. Very nice, sweet little place. 

30 Sep we set alarm to be up early. Gorgeous sunrise promises a sunny day. Hotel notre dame. 3 star. Very nice location and price advised my friend. Off to find market. Photos of doors, fromagerie, coffee, fleuriste, we purchase cheese and try while waiting for the tram. Past jardins publique. Exploring Bordeaux. Wonderful. A few churches with beautiful stained glass, large pipe organs. Some kind of soaked cinnamon sweet that others can eat. We spend some time in the most beautiful and interesting wine store, all wines of Bordeaux region, prices showing, round spiral staircase.  Up. Up. Up. Delight at every one of 6 floors. We make a few purchases. 

Back to the ship using our tram pass from yesterday. 

Dublin Ireland. 27 Sept 2025. Oceania Sirena

Dublin Ireland 

27 September 2025. Saturday morning 

Waking to the grey wet morning in Dublin. We can see town and will be provided a shuttle to drop us off further up river. We wanted to be on shuttle after breakfast before 10 am to miss the safety drill for staff. Yay, we made it!  It is light enough rain to start. 

We are on Do Dublin hop on bus. Starting with stop 6. Live commentary which is charming and understandable Irish accent. Places of rich n famous. 300 year old Georgian houses four stories up. Basement for servants and receiving coal through shoots. Doors painted different colours. 

Oscar Wilde quotes. Fun. Everything in moderation including moderation. Always be yourself as everyone else is taken. 

Pearse street, longest in Dublin. Police is Guardians of the Peace. Guns not allowed here. 

Trinity college. 60% grads are women now. There was a time when no women allowed to study here. 

Molly Malone statue. Our guide sang the song. And received applause. Fun

Dublin castle. 

Christ Church Cathedral. 1028 built. Was where Viking first settled. Architecture from 9th century. Archways. 

Viking museum with artifacts. 

St paddy’s cathedral built 1100s. 

No catholic service in over 500 years in either cathedral even though originally built as catholic. 

Built 1701 a library we pass. 

Teeling Distillery at 11 am stop.  Guinness stop. Sold out tour and tasting due to football activity this weekend. 1759 Guinness history. 7 floors. Sold out for weekend. Can take 7000 people a day!  Original owner had 21 kids. 

Another song. Wild Rover with audience participation clapping. 

Pearse Lyons Whisky distillery. In a church. Big renovations. 

Largest park in Europe. Phoenix park. Wellington monument. Flower garden. In 1660 was opened for royal hunting ground for royal family. 

Liffey River through city. Several bridges. Few swans through raindrops 

Jameson whisky distillery. 

There is a famous Dublin pub. 

Four courts of Dublin is very old. 

New courthouse for all Ireland. 

Vikings came in 9th century. 

Ha penny bridge. Before the bridge there was ferries connecting both sides of river. A family charged a toll. Ferries fell to disrepair. The city said either fix ferries or build bridge. It was cheaper to build a bridge. 

25 stops. On this tour.

1757 built Maternity hospital. Still here

As Rotunda hospital. 

we shall stay on a bit more to finish the tour. Our driver is great. He gets off at end of line, start at number one stop. 

Irish Writers Centre. Dublin Writers museum. Clerys department store and the tallest needle sculpture on o,Connell street. “I can see clearys now the crane has gone”. 

We walk about and find some fine Irish woolen shops. The city is alive with anticipation and celebration of big football game today. The Guinness.  The road closures. The pubs. 

We head back to the ship on shuttle bus. We will grab some food, have tea and then share a table for 6 of us, friends for dinner in main dining room. Yay. 

Good night. From Sirena at sea. Sea day tomorrow. 

Lehavre France

Wednesday September 24 2025

Waking up in the Cruise port of LeHavre. Requires a shuttle into town. Searching for an open tourist Information shop we walk to the sea. Yay. We found beach. After talking to the gal at tourism office we decide to go to Etretat cliffs for the day. We joined up with friends and took an Uber. 

Beautiful drive through serene countryside on route to Etretat. 30 minutes one way by car. 

Doors. Rooftops. Unique stone and brick buildings. Apple trees. Farmland. Black and white cows. Sculptures at roundabout of Vikings, stone farmer, fisherman with crab. Corn fields. Little villages. More roundabouts. 

Upon arrival we take in the view of the majestic sea and round stone beach. Blue sky and wind today. The sound of the mighty surf pulling relentlessly in waves over the round stones is very loud yet soothing. I walk to the famous cliffs. Up. Up. Up. Some 358? Steps someone said. Lots of micro stops for taking photos and catching my breath, allowing heart race to calm. Beautiful at top. A stone church, a garden. Taking in the spectacular view of the sea, surf, cliffs. Ancient and eroded. What a sight!

Specialties of this area mouilles frites and buckwheat crepes!  

Took city bus for 1 euro 80 each to LeHavre from Etretat. It took half hour by uber to get there and more than hour to get back with cool little stops off the highway. Beautiful regional experience. Bus dropped us at the train station and a quick brisk walk to our pick up point for Oceania shuttle into centre of town. 

I asked for specialty restaurant again tonight so we will go back to Red Ginger. Yay. We did not attend the show tonight after dinner, we sat and talked to our dinner share people. Following we went out dancing up on deck 10, Horizons lounge    Time now to sleep and gain an extra hour tonight with sea day tomorrow. 

Bruges, Belgium. Sept 23 2025

I had a glorious long solid sleep. Bit of a late start this morning with a nice shower in very small stall. 

Spoke to guest relations person who is local to the area. Free shuttle to Blankenberge to catch train to Brugge!  We get ready, get our gear and out the door, off gangway and to shuttle. Due to timing we will have a short day here, back on last shuttle at 230 pm. We can do this!

Outside the terminal of rail station, in Blankenberge the Sign says: “Kiss and ride. Max 15 minutes”. 

I think only 10-15 minutes to Brugge. We will do a walkabout and check out Belgian chocolate and some wine?  On train ride i enjoy the architecture and different roof textures of the homes. The greenery and farmland once out of the town limits of Brakenbruge. Farm equipment and crows in the fields. Many windmills making power. Blue sky again and cool but sunny temperature. 

I arrive at Brugge!  Red squirrels frolicking through trees

I am enchanted by the Waterways. Rivers or canals, locks, home for beautiful white swans and pairs of ducks. Old red brick architecture. I can hear an owl and pigeons. Weeping willows reaching down to the canal. Sunshine is bright and it is warmer now. Distant church bells clanging as we walk along a path through park to town. Rows of attached brick and stone buildings along cobblestone streets. In town little artistic shops selling Belgian chocolates and lace, pillow covers, bags made of needlework. 

Carrefour express store sells lots of wines, we pick up some rose, red and a Cava from Spain. A little something of every kind. Despite the poor map and my lousy sense of direction, we find our way back to the train station and there explore a little chocolate shop. By 130 pm we are once again on a fast train heading closer to the ship. We explored Blankenberge (some very old buildings and some locals riding bicycles, a quiet town today)and then complimentary shuttle to the ship by 230 pm. 

Time for tea at 4 to 5 pm, happy hour from 5 to 6, dinner 630 and show tonight in the lounge. Done. Done and done. 

We are out at sea heading toward LeHavre and we will be there in the morning. Good night from somewhere between France and Belgium. We have an app for finding ships!!

Monday 22 September 2025. embarkation day. Oceania Sirena

I spent the last two days in Paris. We left home on 18 September in late afternoon to begin the journey. Adjusting to a very long set of Westjet flights from Victoria BC Canada, via Calgary and overnight to Halifax.

A day at my mom’s in Wolfville. We are picked up by my friends friend and driven to my moms for the day. The gift of delicious meals, loving hugs and a restful needed nap. We drove to Kingsport beach and quick drive by some favourite sights. A beautiful gift of time. I have been pondering this article https://ckarchive.com/b/75u7h8h699kkzb6rgg7rlawl85666tnhordn0 and stringing beads through out the day. 

Back on last flight Halifax to Paris. We catch an uber to stay with our friend. 

Wandering our way through Paris, Montmartre district. Lively music in a bandstand in the park. People people everywhere enjoying the architecture, sights, sounds, energy, lights and texture of Paris. So alive. Cafes and bars with lots of patrons sharing a delicious meal with wine or beer. Walking. Lebanese lunch, tasty gluten free wrap, Grom sorbet to go. 

We spend some time on the river watching people and lights. Galleries Lafayette and Opera house. Green boxes of artwork. Bridges lit up. Bateau on the Seine. Fabulous day exploring beautiful Paris. My last blog post was featuring yesterday in Paris. 

This morning up early to repack and catch train through France to Belgium, Antwerp. We took an uber with all our bags to Gare du Nord rail station and on prebooked train 9415 to Antwerp station. Wifi free on train. Beautiful large spacious red velvet seats with huge windows and beautiful view of the lush green countryside. 

Eating quiche and focaccia bread purchased a day or so ago at Copains gluten free bakery. Fantastic breakfast. Quiet except for the rattling sound of the train on tracks. Gentle rocking as we speed along. 

Windmills and vehicles. Brilliant blue clear sky. Perfect day for a train ride. We stop in Brussels to exchange some passengers and next stop Antwerp. 

We get off train a few minutes later than scheduled. With no one around we navigate and take escalators up up and up. 

We find transfer bus arranged to take us to the ship. Yay. We drive by castle of Antwerp. I can breathe and relax and let Oceania look after the rest. Seatbelt mandatory here on bus. The Scheldt River coming from France and Netherlands. People in this part of Belgium speak dialect of Dutch, Flemish. 1813 became independent. In other provinces speak German and French. 12 million inhabitants of Belgium. 250 miles one side to other side. Very dense population. Lots of traffic. We pass through city of Ghent or Gent. Lots of grains, convergence of two main rivers. 

We arrive to the ship, get checked in and have lunch in buffet. Then to our room to unpack our bags. We had a nice time settling in. Dinner followed by a movie. 

Time to rest. 

21 September 2025. Paris France

In the necklace du Paris, we are adding the beads. 

Here is an article to read. https://ckarchive.com/b/75u7h8h699kkzb6rgg7rlawl85666tnhordn0

Sunday morning quiet in the apartment. My ears still plugged from the flight. Haha. We had a wonderful walk by the river in the city of lights last evening. Then enjoyed telling stories and a game of cards. Slept a full night and now preparing for the day. 

Walk to Sacre Coeur. Through quaint pretty little streets alive with ceramics and tourist baubles. Walking groups. 

A moment in Catholic Church service. Organ playing. Voices in song. The acoustic sound reminds me of a time long ago. Someone had a vision for this cathedral. 

Pushing through throngs of people gathered for a Sunday morning run, organized and wearing numbered purple t shirts. Bouncing to the music. I can hear the church bells clanging through the sounds. UrbanTrail. We persue the goal to see the sights of Paris from Sacre Coeur. ! The run begins Down the steep cobblestone streets. We paid for a novel ride down funicular. We passed a women’s lingerie shop but decided not to go in. 

Angel store contains everything angels!. Rubber duck store of all themed little yellow ducks. Chocolate specialty shop, Dengo. Omg. We taste and try. We purchase some treats. Amazing. 

Bougies candle store. Fragrance store. 

Copains is totally gluten free enjoying pizza, focaccia bread, flan, cookies and other delights. Beautiful French pastries all gluten free. Magically presented. We sit inside and try. 

Towards the outdoor market. A free street toilet is pleasantly surprising. We find weekly flea market for several blocks. Shopping. Browsing. Looking. Touching. Then to cemetery. A very old place, walking between little houses with family names. We share a gf cookie on a park bench. Peaceful. Quiet and amidst the city. Gentleman playing accordion in open cafe. We stop for the briefest moment. Back home to drop off treasures. 

St eustache cathedral with huge organ. More tour groups everywhere. Stained glass, candles, wooden pews. 

A map of where we can find crème brûlée in the area. Goal for later. People watching, kissing of both cheeks. Fashion forward women and men. 

The Bourse de Commerce for a large blue liquid pool full of white ceramic bowls moving gently. So many people the sound is muted and lost in the large 4 story room with glass dome. We have tickets. 

Reflections. Beads. Another. All making music, subtle. Gentle. Nevertheless. Can I just listen and hear the bowls?  Singing. Apart from the words and talking sounds. There it is, the music. 

The craving mind wants more quiet, more bowls, less chatter. The grateful mind hears the song. Thank you

The sunshine through the glass dome. Reflections on ceiling. Magic. Up the elevator checking out each floor and finding the little mouse art. I bought a postcard for boys. 

Five Guys for fries (gf) on way to Shakespeare and Co. , Notre Dame cathedral and walking over some bridges. 

We line up for the book store only five minutes till close. No time to shop in a meaningful way. But fun and we went inside- bead. Over the beautiful bridge to Notre Dame cathedral for the bells ringing at end of service. The people spill out. 

We find a grocery store and pick up Comte cheese, bubbly water, green olives, red wine from Bordeaux with a new corkscrew.   Down to the river by a bridge. Waving at the passengers. Such a lovely way to spend the evening. Good friends. Another bead moment. 

Back to the bridges for sparkling lights view and people watching. Couldn’t get the metro so we bussed to the area. Walked to La Village for shared crème brûlée. More walking up up the hill. Ready for another relaxing evening and good sleep.