Gorge de Verdon & Moustiers Ste Marie 13th June 2015

We had the b and b breakfast and then drove down to the lake to paddle into the gorge on a pedal boat. This is a spectacular thing to do!  As Jim says it was GORGEous! Colours were out of this world and the pedalling was fun. Well I think it was, Jim did most of it. We were one of the first down the gorge and by the time we came back there were lots of others even with their dogs. We drove back to Moustiers and walked up to the chapel way up the cliff a steep 20min walk but views were worth it. We wondered why the french built these churches in such remote ,hard to get at places, but the reason escaped us! Lunch was the local "Verdon" pizza with goat cheese, fig, honey and olives.  We did also head out to a small village of Aiguines after lunch but it didnt have much except a large ornate looking castely thingy. We headed back to have our own tea at the b and b. #

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Drive to Gorge de Verdon 12th June 2015

Had bfst in bed of bananas and bagettes that we bought yesterday. Caught a bus to the airport to pickip hire car . For the boys it was a Renault Clio and for the girls it was a red one!  We tried to keep it simple with the driving as we headed out of the airport after doing a few laps to figure out how to exit. Then we were off heading past Grasse into the mountains. We just kept gojng up and up ,huge masstifs. What we thought was a 2 hr drive turned into a 6 he one with lots of photo stops and needing to drive very slowly on the narrow roads. We will know for next time! Very scenic . We stopped in Castellane for lunch and then followed the gorge to our destination at a b and b just outside of Moustiers ste Marie. We walked the steep walk into Moustiers in the evening for crepes and will explore it more tomorrow. Long but lovely day #

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Antibes, 11th June 2016

Woke up way too early, jet lag! Got up to take a morning sunrise photo but it wasnt quite up. This morning we caught the bus to Antibes ,bought croissants for bfst and wandered the old town and an antique market . Then a found a food market which reminded me of the markets in Barcelona ,lots of interesting foods,cheeses, pestos, etc...but thats just France! We had hoped to lunch at lulus but it wasnt open so lunched in a garden restaurant including Strawberry creme brulee. YES! Bus home to watch the soccer on tv ,Switzerland vs Albania, and chill by the pool at the b and b with our own tea again on the terrace. #

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Vence, Fondation Maeght, St Paul 10th June 2016

Buffet Bfst at B and B on the terrace. Bus to Vence . Walked to Chapelle de Rosarie but closed(again) Went into old town and wandered markets and cute streets. Bought a couple locarts. Coffee at cafe with wifi where we chatted with Sam (messenger). Socce,(a popular chick pea pancake) for lunch.Bought couple of gifts.Bus back to Fondation Maeght, I went(Jim didnt)into this art gallery housed in great architecture and famous collection of historical artwork  but contemporay for that time, Miro, giametti, Bonnard,and special exhibition of Christos barrels. Then walked back to St paul de vence and walked around the wall with panaramas to ocean.Had gelati near the church, checked out the many art shops. Back to accomodation where we ate a bought meat and cheese baggette for tea on the terrace. Magnificent view to St Paul and the ocean,(window of our room can just be seen in building with largest roof just left of pot of bergonias on white pillar ) #

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Brisbane to Nice 8/9th June 2016

9pm. We settled into 71j and 71 h for the Brisbane to Dubai leg on this doubledecker daddy of all planes . This was the only leg of our flights to and from Nice where we had not managed to secure a window seat and also the only leg on the A380.
As I sat waiting take off I wondered why on earth plane manufacturers  would skimp on seat cushioning as I could tell my deriere was not going to last a 15 hr journey in a sitting position.
We watched a couple of movies, "A lady in the van" and "Eddie the Eagle"and were served a 2 meals.
Jim had calculated that to avoid jet lag we should sleep on the last half of this flight which is alright for him who can sleep at the click of your finger, even no doubt on wet concrete. Me, on the other hand, would be lucky to even get to that wonderful state of drifting off before the aching of said deriere or the jink of my neck would demand a rearrange. I managed to find a few positions to rotate through that didnt involve too much sitting.
Fortunately I can even rearrange Jims arms and legs to accomodate my vain attempts at these "sleeping" positions without waking him from his heavy stupor! How do people do that! Gone are the days when I could lie all the kids on the 3 seats and fit nicely stretched out under the seats on the floor and get some quality shut eye lolled asleep by the humming of 4 jet engines.
Dubai to Nice went without a hitch and we landed in Nice mid afternoon and caught a local bus to our accomodation La Hameau just outside St Paul de Vence .(photos) landing in Dubai, flying over french riviera,arriving at accomodation, our room. #

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Palm Cove

14th October 2014. We had a sleep in till 7.30 then went to breaky on the balcony. We caught a local bus to Palm Cove. It was a 40 min trip and passed through Clifton Beach. Clifton is a nice spot but Palm Cove is a stunning place. Palms lining the beach and huge Melaluca trees lining the road. I think it  would make a nice honeymoon spot. Reminded me of Hamilton Island  but I think there would be more to do here. We were dropped in front of "cockys" a coffee shop dad went to with Lyndie and Darren. So for old time sake we had our coffee there.   We walked a short way along the esplanade and bought some papers for mum and dad. I then walked the rest of the esplanade and  bought fish and chips for lunch .  We ate it at a picnic table by the beach. Then did some more sitting,  me on the sand and mum and dad at the table. We all didn't want to catch the bus back just yet. Eventually we went back to Cairns and went to the esplanade.  I went bin the pool for a swim. We had tea at Hides cafe and a lady took our photo.

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Moore Reef, Cairns

13th October 2014. The alarm was set again for 6am to get to breakfast at 6.30am do we could slowly walk to the jetty by 8am. We too the reef magic boat out to a pontoon on Moore Reef .There were numerous activites included which were glass bottom boat tour,  semi submersible boa tour, an underwater observatory and snorkeling . A guy did a fish feeding show and the friendly mauri rass came in close. Lunch morning and afternoon tea also included which made for a very enjoyable day . I went snorkeling and saw more live coral and many more varieties of fish than other times I gave snorkeled. We got back to the room and dad crashed in bed while mum and I watched bear grylls and played cards.

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