Lyon, France

Hmmm where do I start? I love this city :) It's gorgeous and has so many facets! My "tour guides" have been great in showing me both the "touristy" things but also the areas that make this city's heart beat :)

I've been through several districts of the city and seen how each period of Lyon's history has shaped the area.. My only problem is that my wonderful guides is that they give me waaaaaay to much information and I don't remember it all!!!! But I am trying to write most of it in my travel journal so that I can read back and remember...

Have had the opportunity to take some amazing photos though....

Flights - how many time zones can you cross for one trip????!!!

Wow so my flights were as comfortable as can be expected for long haul flights - China Southern was pretty good, comfy seats, pillows/blankets, headphones, 2 meals each flight & drinks :) Guangzhou was interesting - I thought it was supposed to be considered a modern airport but there was a distinct lack of air con, a smoking "room" that was just a little open alcove (no doors to stop the smoke pouring out and up the stairs!!!) and only toilets located downstairs - but don't even get me started on the toilets!!!! Wow that was an experience lol....

But I've arrived in France, picked up by Helene and we've arrived in beautiful Lyon where I've been lucky enough to have two fantastic tour guides - many thanks to wonderful coincoins - Helene & Francois - gotta run, the city awaits me with much more to discover... More later :)

Day 1 - Canberra to Sydney

I'm here YAY!! And in one piece :) Big, big thanks to Michelle for driving the mess that was me at 11.30am to catch my bus - and thanks for the hugs and well wishes from the amazing Reid crew at work :)

My room (as you can see) at Airport Hotel Sydney - while it's very small, it's proximity to the airport is amazing - 10 minute shuttle ride, it's on main roads so it's very very LOUD :(

I can't wait to get a good night's sleep and then wake up early and head over to the airport to check in, then get on board my first flight... It's surreal to think that i will soon be in Europe - wow...

Travel journal

Hey everyone :). I was excited last Wednesday to finally receive my travel journal! It's been about 6 weeks in planning with Paul-Francis (he has an eBay store - The Diary Shop) and then him hand tooling the leather (embossed with a honeysuckle design) and the hand bound with hand made recycled paper!! I had 2 commissioned, one for myself (the pics are of my journal) and one for my dear friend Helene, to express my gratitude for all she's done in making this trip happen for us :)

Usually we've been just voice skyping as it's easier when we were planning the trip and researching different websites, but once she'd told me that the parcel had arrived (I'd been very naughty and lied!!! I told Helene that I'd found a book for my mum in the UK and could I ship it to her address because it would be cheaper postage and I would be there in a few weeks anyway). She very kindly offered to open the parcel just to check the right thing had been sent to me, but I told her it was ok... Then I video skyped her for the first time and after we'd had a bit of a chat, I asked her to open the parcel to check for me because she had me worried about if the right book had been sent (obviously another lie but I'm sorry it was for the right intentions!!!!). I won't forget the look on her face when she opened the parcel, saw the journal (exactly the same as mine but with a buckle rather than the c lock clasp) and read the letter I'd had Paul-Francis print out and send with it :)
It was so great to see her reaction and how much she loved it - now I can't wait until my trip starts and we can start writing in them - a momento to keep forever :)

Not many sleeps now until I leave, so I'll attempt to post more often as my adventure of a life time starts!!

My new camera

I got a new camera on Sunday, an Olympus SZ-14 and took it out for a trial run on Lake Burley Griffin here in Canberra...  I had a great time walking around the lake and taking pics... the best part of all was realising how amazing the zoom is on this little camera! I can't wait to really test it out in Europe :)  I also need to thank my sister, Kate, for her help in my researching my new camera...  Knowing I'm not exactly a camera boffin, she was great at talking about the pros and cons of different features and VERY patient!! lol   But I think she's a wee bit jealous and may just steal the camera on my return :D

 

Introduction to my Euro trip of a lifetime!

Ok, so the official countdown has BEGUN!!  For those who don't know (where have you been??!!) I am heading to Europe on July 10th 2012.. I'm so excited because I'm loosing my overseasinity and also will be meeting and travelling with my dear friend Helene!

We will meet in Paris and then make our way through France and explore Italy. So I am going to attempt my first blog ever (hmmm would that mean I'm loosing my bloginity too??) to show you the things I'm discovering and the people I'm meeting while on this amazing trip....

So watch this space :)