May Bank Holiday weekend #2

We decided to stay in London for the second May Bank Holiday weekend and as Saturday was forecast to have the best weather we decided to go to Brighton for the day. After an easy 55min train ride we followed the crowds down to the beach and then for a walk along the pier with its tacky amusement parlour and rides - the highlight being the Helter Skelter ride of Beatles fame. This is a picture of the pebbled beach with the pier in the background.


We then found the Royal Pavillion which was built by George IV. It's very surprising as it is done in an Indian style and its interior is Chinoisie. It has two amazing rooms - the banqueting hall and the music room (no photos allowed). Here's Nick out the front.


We then went on to discover why people said Brighton was so nice - there's an intricate network of little lane ways and shops and cafes to keep you entertained.

Gay Paris

Last year we came to Paris for a week and at the time decided not to kill ourselves fitting in all the sights because we had a pretty good idea that we'd be back soon. So last week I had to be in Paris for work and Nick came and met me for the weekend. This time we crossed Sacre Couer, Pompidou Centre and Montmartre cemetery off the list.

Sacre Couer - Nick had already been, but I've never been before. Loved the view of city and thought the building itself was stunning albeit much more traditional than something like Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia.

Relaxing (with a bad case of hay fever) out the front of the Pompidou Centre which is famous for it's "inside out" design and modern art collection.


Here's Nick, in front of the Arc de Triomphe which is a significant centre piece for the finale of the Tour de France every July.

May Bank Holiday weekend #1

With Nick finally back from Copenhagen, we got to spend the long weekend like tourists in England. On Saturday we went to Hampstead Heath for the afternoon and on Sunday we went caught the bus to Oxford. We spent Monday looking for a new wok and knife to add to our small selection of kitchen tools.

One of the lakes at Hampstead Heath:



This is University College where Bob Hawke set the record for drinking a yard glass (1.7 litres) in 11 seconds:


Christchurch College which was used in the filming of Harry Potter:



Stopping for a couple of cheeky pints at the Head of the River:

Lovely Dubrovnik

We were lucky enough to spend last weekend in Dubrovnik in the south of Croatia. It's a beautiful and clean walled city surrounded by sparkling water and with the most amazing views. The weather was great and the seafood excellent!


One of the things that struck me was a beautiful fragrance that you can smell all over the city thanks to these trees covered in yellow-ish white flowers. Does anyone know what kind of tree this is?



We did the walk around the top of the city wall where you can take in the most amazing views. This is Nick, standing on the city wall overlooking the harbour.


Nick in the quiet back streets of Dubrovnik.


The view from a bar that sits nestled into the side of the cliff outside the city wall.


This is a bit hard to see but it's a picture of a very modern, rectangular war memorial which displays images of the war in the early 90's. At night time, the memorial is very striking. This image shows the city being bombed.