Category: Holiday

Walking Bedford to Cheswick

A hard day that started in the rain and was due to be 22 km but became about 30km.

We missed the correct turn at St Cuthbet’s cave which lead to a few extra k and then the accommodation was a bit further away from the path than expected.

So tired feet and bigger blisters.

Definitely a stretch to see great mushrooms.

The early stretch inland was not so good but as we moved back to the coast after Fenwich things looked up. But trouble sourcing food was an issue. A late coffee and cake at Goswick golf club.

We arrived late at the b n b but the beer and sausage sandwich worked well.

Hiroshima

Not really Hiroshima but the ‘Bullet Train’ works very well ll over. And the drivers wear proper train driver hats!

An unplanned event was a visit to the baseball. Clearly a big sport in Japan and a great family event on the Friday night.

There were a few north Americans playing. I quite quickly reacquainted myself with the rules and appreciated the skills.

As with the US they like to make a little entertainment in the 7th innings.

I am now a ‘Carps’ fan and have the cap to prove it.

Of course we visited the peace memorial and had a guide to help. It was a stimulating experience, with an explanation of the events and then a visit to the museum to explain and recount events and experiences of the local population.

An historic image of a standing building. Plus a lovely meal.

Kyoto

Blogging after date but that is the way it goes sometimes.

We arrived in Japan from NZ and Melbourne after following the advice of Lei much to the annoyance and frustration of IQ.

First stop Kyoto after landing at Narita and making our way to central Tokyo to pick up the bullet train.

We arrived at the accommodation late in the evening after a taxi ride with a very patient man. He was very tolerant of us. The property owner was vert welcoming- really a theme for the week.

We managed to navigate the metro- overground and underground – eventually. Different lines and different companies! But with the use of electronic card on out wallet- all became easier. I did like the fact the drivers and station staff all wear proper uniforms and caps!

We enjoyed the food tour to the market as well as the trip to the gardens. We had great experience with the food we ate. The sushi on conveyor belt which we struggled to work out how the system worked. As with so may places in Japan the ordering was via a screen. As means of needing less staff I think. It was the delivery that was difficult for us- which dish belonged to us?? The first place we found in the evening- by accident- as the original venue was closed to sit -ins- was great. All Japanese customers and such simple but beautiful food.

There are so many temples in Kyoto- it does seem unnecessary to just concentrate on the best well-known. We were happy to see a few different sites and walk around for a few kms.

Then the owners of our accommodation were kind enough to drive us to the station to catch the train to Hiroshima.

Bangkok

We are currently on the way to NZ.

This time via a new city. A layover for a couple of days which for the most part is being used to deal with the fatigue of flying, which should not be that bad, and the previous days poor sleep.

Yesterday we slipped in a trip to Chinatown and some street food. Noodles followed by coconut ice-cream. Today a trip to the Grand Palace and temples. Low key for us, not too long, but a good view of part of the culture. Despite our limited time it is clear that this is a busy and huge city.

Venice

A rip to the busy city. It was packed as you would expect, but in places not as much as you might fear.

A place to walk and take the vaporetto and enjoy the scenes from the water. We did not take a gondola at 80 euros for 30 minutes!

There is the beauty of the place; including the churches and art within.

St Mark’s

Cinque Terre

Last week we were there to enjoy the scenery and the walking. Which we did- but with plenty of other people. There were so many people in the villages and on the trains in between- ir was mad. It brought back memories of Amalfi.

The walking of the coast line was hard to very hard. Part of the usual track was closed for repairs after a landslip. A big job in progress.

The train trip after, our few days, back to Milan was not a great experience. Not a great advert for Italian railways.