Roaming Daltons

DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!

Well we made it and apart from feeling a wee bit spacey and jet lagged we managed to spend a good 7 hours running around at Disneyland today.

It’s been a spectacular day spent in the sunshine, not a cloud in the sky – it’s a nice change from London grey and drizzly.  Even had to buy sun hats and sunscreen.  James is a real thrill seeker and has dragged Matt on most of the big rides.  While Gemma had been a bit hesitant, she doesn’t do fast, loud, dark or scary – but she really got into the swing of it towards the end, even suggesting the kids roller coaster – (cue gobb smacked parents  here!)

Weve seen lots of familiar characters, Micky, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Winnie, Tigger, Eyore, the Beast and Malificent to name a few.  We met a few, but the crowds were getting crazy and the lines were too long.  Thank goodness for fast pass though – we’ll worth the extra money to skip the lines.

And we’ll do the same again tomorrow!

So the crazy storm you all had back in NZ closed the runways at Auckland airport.  This in turn has delayed our flight from Heathrow – which works in our favour as we had almost a whole other day out in London.

So we took a walk along the Thames back to The Palace of Westminster and popped in for a quick look around inside Westminster Abbey.  We saw the tombs of King Henry III, King Henry V, King Edward the Confessor,  Queens Elizabeth I, Queen Mary I, and the tomb of Mary Queen of Scotts amongst other numerous famous peeps from history.

We also were able to see the Coronation Chair and the Alter where every British monarch has been crowned since William the Conqueror in 1066 – fun fact right there!

We then decide to take another stroll past Buckingham Palace where we bumped into the Changing of the Guard.  We were all very impressed with the parade, and the military band played a number of ABBA songs, which we thought hillarious.

We are now at the airport waiting for the plane, ready for the next leg of the journey xx   Next instalment will be coming to you live from LA!

Yesterday we said goodbye to our cosy Gite in Ile Tudy and took the long 3 hour drive to Nantes to catch our plane back to the UK.  With the French train strikes both of our trains in and out of Paris had been cancelled 😢 but thankfully we’ve been able to replace them with flights instead.  Thank goodness for comprehensive travel insurance!

Today we headed out and walked to South Kensington where we had full intentions of visiting the natural history museum.  But on seeing the crazyness that comes with school holidays we decided to avoid the queues and go shopping instead.

Hamleys ✔️ John Lewis ✔️ Selfridges ✔️ Oxford Street ✔️

Now off to the Lion King 🦁- a fabulous way to end our trip in Europe!

Yesterday was an exciting day – our friends Kris and Jayne tied the knot at Cathédrale Saint-Corentin de Quimper.  This Cathedral was founded in 1239 and is quite an imposing site, you can see it’s steeples from across the city and it really leaves you speechless when you enter inside it.  

The service was beautiful, the bride – stunning, and the attendants gorgeous and dapper.  Thankfully for us the majority of the service was in English so we could follow along, I know Gemma and James were thankful for that!

After the ceremony (and a quick stop for a ride on the Carousal in the square next to the cathedral, we drove out to the reception which was held at Manoir Kerouzein a historic house located on the banks of the Odet river.  The building itself was gorgeous and the gardens immense and James and Gemma had a blast running about on the grounds with the other children.

Tomorrow sees us flying back to London from Nantes . . . thanks again to the French Rail strike.

These last 5 days have been so busy, lots of catching up with friends from all over the world.  We are staying in a small beach side village called Ile Tudy.  It’s absolutely picturesque.  We are staying in a Gite (pronounced Geet) which is like a seaside bach.  We’ve been cycling around the village, walking the beach, eating Croissants straight from the oven for breakfast and drinking Cider Bretagne which is world famous in France!

We have really been over indulging in the local produce here in Bretagne – the food is amazing, Galletes (savoury crepes), pastries, cheese, wine, cider, saussisons, cured meats and fresh fruit and vegetables are so cheap and the taste is out of this world.  We have been eating and drinking like Kings!  I’ll have to buy an extra seat on the plane ride home.

These past 2 days have taken us to the next tourist level!

Yesterday saw us heading to St Pancreas international station very early to catch the Eurostar to Gard du nor in Paris.  We are staying at a cute little hotel in the Latin quarter so we are within walking distance of lots of attractions.

On our first day we took a stroll through the streets of Paris and headed towards Pont Neuf to take a river cruise along the Seine.  Here we got to take in the sights; Notre Damme, the Louvre, the Grand Palace, the Eiffell tower, Concorde, Hotel du invalids, Musee de Orasay, plus the wonders of Paris’ 37 bridges.

For dinner we headed to a local restaurant with a friend, and we were treated to a fabulous beof burgundy, local cheeses and rich red wine.

This morning was another early start off to the Eiffell Tower.  After making it through 3 ques and a croissant, we finally made it to the elevator to head up.    Thankfully it only took an hour. Once up the Eiffell Tower the views were stunning, we could see across Paris and the kids really loved it – so it was well worth the wait.

After we ‘beat the feet’, from the  Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triumph, down the Champs élysées to the Grande Palace and Concorde, then across the Pont Alexander III and along the Seine and back to our hotel.  Nothing like a brisk spring stroll through Paris but the 11kms of the streets of Paris have given us some great memories!

The only down side is the train strikes and riots in Mont Parnasse, we saw the riot police heading out (was a tad concerned it was something more serious) and our travel across to Brittany has been affected  so we’re currently attempting to sort it out.  😤

This weekend has been a busy one, we’ve been playing tourist every chance we could get!

On Saturday we caught the tube to Piccadilly Circus and from there we walked through London, Leicester Sq, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Sq, Charring Cross, along Fleet St, passed the Old Bailey and St Clements and up Ludgate Hill all the way to St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Sunday morning we took a stroll from Pimlico along the Thames to Westminster to see the houses of Parliment, Big Ben (in all its scaffolded glory!) and Westminster Abbey.

James and Gemma are in love with the underground tube – seriously looooove it!  But Matt and I love seeing London from above so we have a bit of a battle about this.  James has to stand right by the doors to see the tunnels whizzing past, and then when we exit the train he insists on waiting to see the train depart.  I think that boy would just ride the train all day long if given the chance.

We’re off to Paris tomorrow – we’re travelling on the Euro star so I’m sure James will get his train fix then!

Today we went to Warwick Castle, a favourite of ours from when we lived in the UK and one we wanted to show the kids.

We had a great time exploring all the rooms of the castle which was still lived in until the 1970s and seeing wax works of how people use to live.

The kids especially enjoyed seeing the peacocks roaming and climbing the battlements and towers  – Gemma was complaining that her legs hurt by the end!

after visiting the Castle we had a lovely lunch at the Saxon Mill a Country pub.

It was a great day out and the last of visiting family and the Countryside as we head back to the big smoke for a few more days. Thanks Fran for hosting us!

Another day done and dusted.  We left the grand country manor at Morton Paddox and said goodbye to Andy and Nicola (and their fabulous swimming pool) and headed off towards the Cotswolds for some postcard scenery.  Even in 3 degrees and rain, this is my favourite place in all of England, and if you ever make it to this part of the world – definately add it to your list of must dos!

First stop was Morton-in-Marsh, mainly for a quick stop at The Cotswold Cheese Company as it is owned by Matt’s cousin John and his wife Lisa.  We housed their son Tom for a few months when he arrived in NZ so we figure we can have a lifetime supply of cheese 🤣

Next was a quick visit to Bourton-on-the-Water for its beautiful canals and stonework, then onto Stow-on-the-Wold for fish and chips at the Porch House which is England’s oldest inn circa 947 AD!  Now that’s history for ya!

Our last stop for the evening is with Aunty  Fran in Coventry.  Another lovely family dinner catching up with relatives, Ian (Matt’s cousin) and his wife Evgenia and their son Alex.

Tomorrow brings more Medieval exploring and hopefully some warmer weather.

Yesterday’s adventures took us back to Stratford to the butterfly house.  Gemma and James loved all of the butterflies, the mini beast exhibit and the iguanas!  Well Gemma freaked out a little bit at the iguanas but apart from that the kids had lots of fun.

Next we headed to the Arden hotel for high tea, sandwiches, quiche, scones and jam, macarons, carrot cake and eclairs – oh my!  Jeans are getting tighter!

The rest of the day we spent swimming, chilling and relaxing around the place, and a quick trip into Leamington for a pint at the Fizzy Moon.