My husband (C) and I (B) just got back from a month and a half trip through Europe. We kept thorough journals and took a ton of pictures. We didn’t have easy internet access most of the way, so we waited til now to post it all on a blog. Most of [...]
Archive for the ‘Europe trip journal’ Category
The Epic Journey through Europe
Posted in Europe trip journal, tagged blog, Europe, Intro, Travel Journal on June 3, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Sat, April 12th: Night train to Sanford, FL
Posted in Europe trip journal, tagged Amtrack, Europe, Raleigh, Raleigh development, Sanford, Travel on June 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
When we left Raleigh, we were standing in the Amtrack station looking at the perfect view of downtown skyline all lit up – and a close-up view of the newly alive “warehouse district” they call it now – a fitting goodbye to our grand re-introduction to Raleigh. The city is completely re-developed and ever [...]
Sun, April 13th: Sanford, FL
Posted in Europe trip journal, tagged Florida, Florida architecture, Sanford on June 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Southern Florida is very different from any other part of the country I’ve seen. It reminds me of Costa Rica somewhat. There are palm trees littering the landscape and lush jungle-like woods with vines and Spanish moss hanging. Except for the many palm trees, most of the landscape looks like any other [...]
Sat, April 19th: Train to Thues-Entre-Valle (Day 2)
Posted in Europe trip journal, France, tagged France, Thues, Le Train Jaune, Little Yellow Train, Mas de Bordes, gite, Olette, Pyrenees, mountains on May 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Breakfast was fit for kings! Water in fancy almost-wine glasses, croissants, chocolate-filled pastries, small rolls made of French baguette-type bread (soft, moist and fluffy on the inside, hard on the outside), and some other kind of folded flaky pastry in a real bread basket! Everything was so fancy – or old-fashioned – the glasses, saucers [...]
Sun, April 20th: Thues-Entre-Valle (Day 3)
Posted in Europe trip journal, France, tagged France, gorge, Gorge de Caranca, hike, Mas de Bordes, mountains, Pyrenees, Thues-Entre-Valle on May 29, 2008 | 1 Comment »
We hiked the Gorge de Caranca today! It started out rainy – hard downpours during our morning (really early afternoon since we went to bed late & slept for 13 hours.) We’re glad we stuck it out and went on the long hike instead of the short one as it eventually cleared up. We could [...]
Mon, April 21st: Thues-Entre-Valles (Day 4)
Posted in Europe trip journal, France, tagged birthday, France, hike, hot springs, Mas de Bordes, mountains, Pyrenees, storm, Thues-Entre-Valles, village on May 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
C turned 26 today and didn’t even realize until he wrote the date in his journal yesterday that it was his last day as a 25-year-old! We had a great day even though we didn’t do anything special – other than spend the day enjoying the French Pyrenees! I told him we might be able [...]
Tues, April 22nd: Train from Thues to Villefranche (Day 5)
Posted in Europe trip journal, France, tagged Casa Penalolen, Fort Liberia, France, French service, Irish traveler, Le Petite Train Jaune, Pyrenees, Thues-Entre-Valles, train, Villefranche on May 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
We had only eaten in one French restaurant until today, so I had forgotten a lot of the cultural differences between eating out in the US and France. When you ask for water, they ask you if you want it with gas (tonic water) or without. “Without” gets you a 1.5 liter bottle (very expensive). [...]
Wed, April 23rd: Villefranche (Day 6)
Posted in Europe trip journal, France, tagged American Politics, Casa de la Nine, Casa Penalolen, caves, Cornellia, France, French words, Grand Canallette, mountains, Pyrenees, stone oven, Villefranche on May 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I forgot to mention – there was a bread oven in the living room in the apt. of our gite! Luc, the owner, was proud to say it’s the “old style” – just how old, I can’t imagine. He explained that he uses it during busy times to make several loaves of bread at once. [...]
Thurs, April 24th: Train to Sete (Day 7)
Posted in Europe trip journal, France, tagged France, French food, hike, La Casa de la Nine, Le National, Mediterranean, mountains, Pyrenees, Sete, train, Villefranche on May 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I had a great snack yesterday: cous-cous with apricots, almonds and raisins, with a sweetener, possibly apricot juice? I’ll have to try to reproduce that.
The French like some foods cold that Americans don’t usually eat cold: cold cous-cous, sautéed vegetables, coffee, and even cold crème brulee! They also like creamy, heavy sauces and cheeses. I [...]
