Ive recovered from last night, the non dinner companion man, the never ending music, the late light show and a few blisters. Ready for more today………

I was going to stay in Strasbourg but the weather fined so I hot footed it to the station and caught the train to Colmar a half hour away. It’s reportedly a gorgeous Alsace town and fairly central in the wine region. Hope it quieter being a Monday and overcast. 

I’ve been enjoying the wine. This is a white area. Mostly Reislings and Pinot Gris. I’m looking forward to learning more tomorrow as I’ve booked whole day wine tour. Small group of 8 in a van. This could be interesting. Lots of different people. Hope they are interesting. It’s English speaking so probably Aussies and English. Maybe American. 

I arrived in Colmar and walked the 12 mins or so through a lovely park to the Centre Ville. 

  
  
Then it started to rain and the Tourist Office had moved to another unsign posted place so I jumped on the little train. Yes I was amongst the old , worn out, young and wet people. In my little row there were the only other English speakers. An older couple from Canada. They thought I was English and I thought they were American. So we corrected ourselves and got along well. He was interesting because he told me he’d designed and driven a solar panel car in the first race across Australia in 1990. He was from Vancouver University. Most interesting. 

The little tour was a good orientation to a beautiful town. If you haven’t been to this region I really would advise it. It’s beautiful, good food, great wine, easy to get around and close to Germany to be able to get there as well. 

  
  
There is a charming Little Venice complete with boat ride. Too wet for most though. 

  
  
I walked back in the rain to the station only to get splashed by a car driving through a puddle. Shame on you French driver. 

At the station I went into the ticket office and booked a ticket to Baden Baden in Germany. Going there on Wednesday. Hope the weather clears. I haven’t been into Germany for ages so a little taste will be a treat. 

Back to hotel for R&R then Out to dinner. I can’t wait for the Vietnamese restaurant to open tomorrow night. Tonight a very quick meat and veg at a busy cafe near the carousel. Tonight I took my book! 
Tomorrow the wine tour. 

  
Who can guess what this is a statue of? It’s a copy of a famous one. 

I was off to a concert but needed dinner, so chose a place not far from the hotel and the Cathedral. When I arrived there were only 2-3 tables occupied. So he sits me on a long banquet, with six little tables,  next to the only other single person! A man. 

How embarrassing. He  looked not too exciting, in fact he looked a bit odd but I can’t really say why because I didn’t want to look at him. 

So I remained composed , but we stuck out like a sore thumb and for a change people looked ( when on your own you are often invisible), wondering if we were a couple at adjacent tables – not talking – only he was talking – to himself. I was very careful not to get eye contact in case he engaged me in conversation. When my meal arrived I heard a voice say ‘ Bon Appetit’ I snuck a quick look and said Merci. 

Thank goodness he didn’t speak English. Anyway it was a nice meal  – duck with veggies. 

I’m writing this to distract myself! 

Whoops , another couple have arrived as I’m leaving. Hope they don’t think I’m with this strange man! 

It’s now after the concert and the saga continued. 

When I left the restaurant to walk in the drizzle to the cathedral, my strange dinner companion came walking past me! He was on his way to the concert. We took a slightly different route but I arrived at the door just behind him. “Please don’t see me ” I thought, but he engaged the doorman in some conversation that had only him laughing and I snuck I behind him. The cathedral was almost 3/4 full and the concert was great. 

It was an ensemble called Balthasar. There were 10 male and 6 female singers. 2 violinists , 4 cellists, 3 trombones, a sax and an oboe. Unusual mix but absolutely perfect sound in the lovely cathedral. The conductor a Frenchman, a lookalike for Robbie Williams,  in a beautifully fitting suit was fascinating to watch.  Only problem was it went on with no break for 1 1/2 hrs. 

It ran up to 10pm so then I went outside for the 10.15pm light show. Unlike Bayeux where the show was on the trunk of a huge tree this one was on the whe side of the cathedral. It was wonderful. It reconstructed the building of the cathedral. Wonderful. 

  
This photo doesn’t do it justice. It was beautiful. It had figures climbing scaffolding, bricks falling, mosaics being installed. 

So I staggered home with my blistered toe just before 11 

Off to Colmar tomorrow. 

  
My view in the restaurant with the stranger on my left. 

Might have take away tomorrow ! 

The French slow down on Sundays. Everything is closed, so it’s all about eating,  drinking and meeting friends. No shops except the touristy ones. 

So I started with Mass in the Cathedral and it was so lovely and peaceful. I was so judgemental towards the tourists who thought they could just wander around! . Particularly the Asian variety who slipped through the barriers and wandered down the aisles taking photos. The ushers made quick work of getting rid of them so the 4 priests, several servers, the choir and someone dressed in what appeared to be a religious army uniform could get on with the Mass. 

 This photo was taken after the Mass finished! 

When I left the church there were a group of traditionally dressed people outside being accosted by a rather inappropriately dressed lady who insisted on a photo with them. See if you can spot the inappropriate outfit. I wonder who bought it for her!  Or perhaps it was her I her younger years. There is a resemblance. 

   
After all the singing – the head priest had a very good voice despite the amount of smoke being thrown around, it was time for coffee at a nearby coffee place. Believe me there is no shortage of places to eat and drink. It’s quite a touristy place here but you can escape the hordes as I did by crossing the river. 

Here’s the coffee I had. Ginetta and Wendy check out the sugars! One for each of you.  I was thinking of you both wishing you were here with me   
Then it was exploring time. I found:

The Sunday cyclists: John, Marg, Jenny, Andmc0 I was thinking of you! 

  
 Old postcards 
 Views from a bridge. The way to arrive for lunch!  
More beautiful scenes  
And when I stopped for a gorgeous salad for lunch the guards arrived. Someone important was around. They moved off in a little group after about 1/2 hr!  
After lunch I headed off for a tram ride to experience Sunday in a big park. Parc de l’Orangerie. Beautiful only half an hour after I got there  it started to rain! 

Back on a crowded train and I got off too early and had to walk further. So now in the hotel room writing and catching up before dinner and the concert. 

Enjoy your weekend I hope? 

Oh my. I’m all alone. After all the wonderful company of the past few weeks now it’s just me. I had a lonely dinner last night where I had free wifi along with my Italian salad and wrote my previous blog. 

I slept late then walked as you do in Paris. The morning light was lovely on the river and I headed towards one if my favourite areas. The Marais. It’s always interesting. Great shopping. Great people watching. Just wandering. Anyone visiting Paris , this is a great place especially on a Sunday when most of the shops etc are closed on Sunday. I’d recommend the Carnavalet Museum. It tells the history of Paris and is in a wonderful building. 

It was a quick taxi to Gare de l’est and onto the TGV for. 2 hr 20 min ride to Strasbourg. I’m not sure what I expected from Strasbourg but I was delighted to find a really charming city dominated by its Cathedral which is celebrating the Millenium of its foundations. So it’s summer time , party time. 

All alone the streets near the Cathedral there are statues of people all doing everyday things 

 i even made some new friends

  
There are deck chairs and fountains to play in

  
And a light show each night. I thought I might have gone tonight but by 10.15 when it started I was too tired and headed for the hotel. I did go on a river cruise for an hour. It circles to old town and you can see the building from the 1600’s restored and looking beautiful. 

  
  
The boat ride was great. Full of German, French and Asians and I swear I was the only one listening to English commentary. The boat goes through two locks and it’s fun to travel along at a leisurely pace and see the wonderful buildings. As you move around the city you get to all the important buildings. The European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights. All very stylish new buildings. 

  
  
  
  
I was hoping to meet up with a friend of Jill Wilsons’.  But as it turns out this is a super busy week for them. Her husband is retiring this week! He’s been a Judge in the Eurpoean Court and his term is coming to an end. They are caught up with celebrations. So I doubt very much if she’ll have a minute to spare. It would have been interesting. 

I had a great dinner after coming off the boat cruise. It was at a Vietnamese restaurant ! It just looked so lovely and fresh and clean that I thought I’d give a different type of food a go. And was it delicious! Yes. I really wanted the rice paper rolls but thought it would be too much so settled for the prawns in a light curry sauce with vegetable. Yum. After all the frites it’s nice to have wok veggies. I got talking to the owner who was the only waiter. His mum was in the kitchen and they only have 30 seats and it appeared to be all booked out. So as he said to me ” you are lucky” I also had a lovely Pinot Gris.  I was lucky and I’m going back. ( I saw him in the street today and he remembered me!) 

So off to bed to plan the week. So much to choose from. Poor Steve will be sad to hear there is a trombone festival. I’ll go to the concert in the Cathedral for him 

I’m also planning Mass tomorrow – a music one. All sung 

A concert tomorrow night. 

A trip to Colmar on the train. Apparently a beautiful town. 

I booked a wine tour for the day. Small group of 8 visiting the Alsace wine areas doing a bit of tasting and visiting a couple of the charming villages and having lunch. Hope I get a nice group! It is in English so we’ll see! Also might take a train to Baden Baden in Germany if I have the energy! 

  

My new friends invited me to afternoon tea! 

 

  Past the meringue……. 
Through the passages……..  
Smell the flowers  

 Spot a bride  

Lust after the Rose  

Admire Moulin Rouge

 Drink the wine. Eat the food.  

Admire the view  
 Smile contentedly  
  Leave the Teressa Hotel and Restaurant behind me as I roll down the hill. A lovely afternoon. 
 

You all know I love Italy …….. But Paris tests my love for that other great city. Roma!  

We arrived later than we thought and found our little hotel with its lovely but little rooms. This time I choose Hotel St Honore in Rue Honore near Rue Rivoli and Les Halles. It’s very nice in this area and quite convenient to lots of things. 

We walked around having our first drink near the Seine,  then found a not too bad restaurant and had a nice meal but I’m over frittes. Still the wine from Burgundy was lovely. I had tried to book a few restaurants before we left home but quite a few of the smaller ones are closed for the holidays. Disappointing. I’ll have to come again! 

We slept well in our little shoe box ( big by Paris standards) but small compared with our lovely riad in Tarifa. We’re also missing the company! 

We had our usual breakfast. Though not much for me ! It sucks being gluten free when they offer bread and pastries. Sometimes I have eggs but not this morning. Juice and coffee! 

Then off we set. We walked and walked. Up Rue Montgrueil with its markets and delicious food shops 

  along the coveted passages, finding Paris’ only gluten free bakery called Noglu. I think I’ll franchise it. I bought a small brioche. 

  
Noglu tarts. Yum!

  
The Galleries La Fayette. Gorgeous but so expensive! I did receive a new watch from Steve. Thank you Stevie. Mine got water in it and the glass fell out. I got another Skagen. It’s got a white face this time. Lovely. Thanks 

This beautiful ‘Grand Magazine’  – Department store is mostly serving Asian  tourists. On the designer floors they were the only shoppers we could spot. 

I also bought some sandals. Mephistos. Very comfy. 

We walked all the way to lunch. I had booked Terasse. It’s a small roof top restaurant above a very smart hotel in Monmartre. It was great. Lovely views of the Eiffel Tower and great food. 

  
 
  Gravlax. Yum.   
Delicious fish and sweet potato three ways. No FRITTES! 

Combined with lovely wine and a happy lunch companion. It was lovely. 

 
We then walked most of the way back down to Rue Rivoli and I bought my tickets for the train to Strasbourg. 

We walked along the Seine and I was sad Steve was leaving. 

Tomorrow I pack and cart my bag in my own to Gard Est bound for Strasbourg. 

I can’t believe we are up to our last day in this lovely little Spanish beach town. 

We spent the day quietly. The other swimmers have gone so it’s just the 7 in our group. 

The only downside was my card being eaten by the bank last night. It’s my Qantas Club debit card which I loaded with euros before we left. So this morning I went to the bank where a non English looking rock star , doubling as a bank teller, told me in hand signs and a ‘I couldn’t give a {%££#>!!!! About your card. I pleaded for them to look in the machine but he wasn’t interested! So on returning to our riad,  Pia our landlady who happened to be here,  said she would go to the bank and talk in Spanish to find out what happened. Senior ‘I couldn’t give a %}>>€%> ‘ gave a practised shrug and rattled off in Spanish the explanation. All left cards get dropped into a locked box even the bank can’t open It’s collected once a week and cards are shredded. Nice! 

Meanwhile John Donati whose card was swallowed at another bank got his back no trouble. So I have suspended the card and have my cash sitting unable to be used! At least I’ll have money on my return. 

So the rest of the day was peaceful with strolling the streets, a little shopping, a swim, a Sangria at our lovely white cafe at the beach, ice cream – my first! Packing and drinks on the roof terrace eating John Donati’s mothers’ fudge. Goes great with red wine. 

 Then our last dinner as a group at a very crowded tapas bar. Here you have to be prepared to wait for a table -even when you book. You stand in the narrow street drinking wine and trying to blend into the mostly young crowd. I love it. 

So our week has been fantastic: 

Swims to Africa, tension over weather and the team combinations, group dinners, sangria, hot days, cool breezes, red wine, churros and hot chocolate, late nights, later morning starts, more sangria, ice cream, laughter, friendship, swimming, walking, eating, drinking, day trips to interesting places, watching sunsets and swooning, fresh tuna, market visits, cocktails and fudge on the terrace, group photos, flag waving, newspaper photos, the morning parade of revellers past our riad sounding like the end of a football match, more laughter and stories, pink pigs, sun hats and everlasting memories. 

 Oh what a week. 

  
  
  
  
  
   
 
  
   
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  
Farewell Tarifa  

What a great time we had today with Lisa and John in Cadiz. We set off in the early morning light not long after the last of the towns party goers were making their way home! It took 1 -1/2 hrs in a comfortable coach to get there and we arrived to lots of blue water and shining sun. 

  
Cadiz is on a peninsula and is set out in barrio of small street and lots of green parks with fountains. It’s easy to walk around and they are well set up for tourists, supplying you with a walking tour map with 4 colour coded walks around the town. The colour is then painted on the footpath and you can follow along if you want. 

The architecture is amazing. Quite decorative but not too over the top. 

  
  
We stopped along the way for refreshments. 

  
and tapas. 

The markets were clean and bright and full of life. These Spainards are an entertaining lot. 

  
  
We headed back to Tarifa for our last night on the town. Last dinner with great friends. Rob and Jordan had returned from Granada and we had a last drink with Dan, Chris and Paul. Beautiful Yves had left during the day to meet up with Francesco our lovely Italian guide from last year. They are doing a swim trekking adventure in Greece. What a life Yves has 

  

 Yves with Dan. 

So it’s with sadness we bid our friends farewell. 

  

Chris Masek, Dan Garr, Yves Watt and Ben Masek crossed in 5 hr 40 min. 

  
Steve , Rob, Cameron Votan and Chris Gretch crossed in 4 Hr 40. Might effort. 

Off we went to Cadiz at 8 in the morning. OMG. They are only returning from the nightclub /  bars at 7 and there we were going to the bus stop at 8. But arriving in Cadiz at 9.30 for breakfast, in a  beautiful plaza we knew we’d made the right decision. We were there with Lisa and John , Jordan’s parents, after a big night out at “puncamama.” It’s a bar / restaurant/ pool party/ rave.

We had mojto. You know the song. 1 mojito 2 mojiti 3 mojito , floor. Well it was a bit like that. So it was hard to get up at 7 to get the bus at 8. I nearly piked but I’m glad I didn’t. It’s a lovely small city with lots to see and surrounded by water.

We walked all day as Lisa’s fitbit counted the steps. Easily 10,000 + steps. We had a few stops for refreshments , and  lunch at a tapas bar. With Sangria. I have nothing but admiration for Steve who has an eye problem and a really swollen hand after the epic swim to Africa.  But a beer or Sangria always help.

We got back to Tarifa round 6 then had drinks on  the  terrace at 7 with the swimmers before Rob, Jordan and Cameron  got back from Granada. Then dinner and drinks.

We signed photos, shirts, maps. We hugged and cried and promised to meet for another swim.

It’s amazing how you bond with people you swim with. They are strong,  focused,  committed, but so different. Gay Chris from London, Dan from LA , a legend of invention who loves to surf : brothers Ben and Chris. Then the Aussies. Steve, Rob and Cameron. And not forgetting beautiful Yves. It’s a memorable time. Very bonding.

It’s time to say farewell TL the next adventure.

But the holiday adventures continue – but now just the kids, the parents and us.   Not forgetting Cameron.

Tomorrow’s the last day   Can’t believe it.

  Some of the group thought it would be a good idea to visit Morocco by boat instead of swimming. So I found a man in the little shop nearby who happened to run private day tours. His name is Aziz Saint Laurent – as in the fashion designer ! 

So as the swim was off we headed off on the 10am ferry. Not with out drama though, Yves and Dan were coming with us and as they  had been out on the party scene last night ( with Cameron and Rob )they  were more than a little tired. Yves just made the ferry but Dan missed it and had to get the second one at 12. 

We were met with Mr Saint Lauent himself who promptly told us he was No 1 guide in Morroco. He was quite a character and one of the first stops was one of the oldest more palatial hotels in Tangiers. Hanging on the walls were photos of the famous people who had stayed there,  so when we spotted Yves Saint Laurent it was the perfect photo opportunity. Aziz jumped at the chance for a photo with himself and Yves in front of the photo so we had Yves Saint Laurent! 

We visited a beautiful cafe, full of locals all sipping on their mint tea. It was somewhat different to see women there. Often it is just men out sitting in cafes. But these days women are getting out and about. Many still in head scarves. 

We continued the tour into the Casbar. The Casbar is the old fort And couldn’t stop singing the song. You know it.  Go on sing it now!!!!!

Then onto the Medina the living working area ,  where we had the obligatory trip to the carpet place and the plates, lamps and odds and sods things. The carpet show was particularly spectacular. It involved a man talking about the carpets and another man waving them around like they were magic carpets! They tried had for a sales but our group were impervious to their suggestions. 

Lunch was in rather nice restaurant overlooking Tangiers and involved tangines and couscous.

We wandered the alley ways of the medina trying to look like locals, unsuccesfully – and had a few attempts at engaging with the locals. i think they are weary of the low spending tourist like us. but Aziz our trusty guide persisted until I said. ” no more please. we are not spenders”

We detoured to the beach and marvelled at the way they dont care for their public spaces like we do ! the beaches were long and open and could only be reached by long sets of stairs. Some of the group decided on a camel ride. Poor camels i say!
We didnt get back to Tarifa till about 9.30. We’re developing into locals with the times we are arriving at dinner.

So after a long day of sight seeing , we arrived back to the wharf at about 9.15. Is that too late for dinner I hear you ask? apparently not.