Slipping back into Sydney

"Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep & permanent, in the ideas of living." Miriam Beard


And so this sojourn has come to an end and as always I was more than excited to arrive back in Sydney, my favourite city. The bright blue skies, sparkling harbour and home.

And as I hurtled through the air (thanks to Qantas for the upgrade for the last leg...) I had time to reflect on the last three months including the highlights, learnings and dreams. Perhaps Seneca all those years ago summed up why I love travel so much........"Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind."

Here's a summary of the vigor I have developed over the last thee months.

Starting in Texas it was really exciting to accept the award n behalf of Sydney when we were announced as the global event city for the second year in a row......Visiting the Texas State Fair is something that has to be seen to be believed. I never had imagined the types of food you can fry...



The Galapagos Islands were beyond my expectations, the animals, volcano climbing, snorkeling, meeting the future mayor of Isabella Island and travelling with an amazing group of people was all very special.




























The people and sights of Ecuador left me wanting to go back and explore the country with much kore time. The Hacienda we stayed at in Cotopaxi National Park was quite breathtaking and the walk and visit to the local community priceless.



















I had many people warn me about travelling in Colombia, you have to be careful about travelling everywhere! I loved Bogota the people couldn't do enough for you, it felt very safe (once I got used to all the people in uniform with guns), cycling the traffic free streets on a Sunday, hearing first hand from locals about living in a country that has experienced significant turmoil and the Gold and Botero Museums were outstanding.









Cuba - what can I say but I loved it! All my senses were on overload as we travelled the country, coined 'a living museum' by my travelling buddy Susan. It far exceeded my expectations as I met locals, learnt about the revolutions, learnt to salsa, heard great music, drank many a mojhito and daiquiri, ate some wonderful food and had some very memorable travel experiences.
















And then on to Mexico another place I loved and certainly didn't even begin to scratch the surface of. I must say Mexico City was a little overwhelming after the tranquility (and lack of advertising) in Cuba. However the history and silver did suck me in. Both Teotihuacan (the sun and moon pyramids) and the archaeological museum reminded me how I need to brush up on my history.



My time in both Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido was amazing and totally relaxing in stark contrast to Mexico City. I participated in a great cocking class with Nora who was so passionate about local food and produce and met numerous other wonderful women who were proudly celebrating their indigenous culture.









The flight to Puerto Escondido was stunning (even the plane was tiny with people on their mobiles all trip including take off and landing) and I could only be thankful that I wasn't on the bus negotiating the hairpin bends! It was great to see so many locals enjoying the sun and sand on the pacific coast. Apparently it's one of Mexico's top surfing destinations. And again the place I stayed in was fantastic.

























The majority of places I'd stayed in throughout south/central America were home stays or B&Bs and without exception the warmth, generosity and hospitality of the owners added a whole richness to the trip. It certainly meant I got to meet locals, talk about living in their respective country and eat some of their delicious food.

That warmth, hospitality and generosity did drop there - as the next part of my trip was visiting friends where I not only got to catch up with dear friends but I also got to really experience Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere.

Firstly New York with Kate and Robbee Fisher where we raced around exploring the sights and shops in the city that never sleeps.





Followed by Boston where I checked out Harvard and realised just how expensive it is to study there and explored the town with Grant.



Ireland was the next stop where I of course was made to fell 'very welcome' by Conor, Al, Mike, Des, Laura, Jantze and Diarmurd. Had many laughs, songs, drinks and Christmas cheer.















A flash through London to catch up with Aunty Anne and Alia as well as checking out the wonderful Christmas lights in Oxford Street and a quick theatre fix at Legally Blonde.



And finally France and a great time with Gerard, Susan, Isobel, Seamus and Duncan Cahill who got me back on skis for the first time in fifteen years. I got to have a very white Christmas in a winter wonderland (and even Santa found us there) and stay in the same bed for more than three nights for the first time since I left home!
























My trip ended in Paris where they lit up the Eiffel Tower for me as I said farewell to the amazing adventures I had had in 2011 and welcomed in the dreams (and reality) of 2012.




The three months has flown by and I have had so many fantastic experiences, learnings, laughs and adventures that will no doubt help shape the next chapter of my life.






I hope you have enjoyed the trip vicariously through this blog (even with the occasional error...). I don't believe I will have any regrets in twenty years and who knows I might be back with more chapters in the near future.....



“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe Harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”. Mark Twain

Fabulous France

My first stop in France was Saumur in the Loire Valley with the beautiful Cahill family (friends from Dubbo who have been living in France for the last three and a bit years). Gerard, Susan, Isobel, Seamus and Duncan had invited me to spend Christmas with them and it was a real treat to catch up with them all again.



They live right on the Loire River with the photo above the outlook from their front window. My school girl French was very rusty (thrown in with having spent nearly two months in Spanish speaking countries) so it was a bonus having the kids as my personal interpreters on call - oh to be able to speak another language.....

In the couple of days I was in Saumur we managed to sneak in a drive along the Loire checking out the beautiful chateaux and towns, a visit to the local markets, drinking 'vin chaud' as we viewed the Christmas lights and most importantly shopping for ski gear for me. Yes that's right after 15 years of abstinence I had been persuaded to hit the slopes again, I wasn't sure that was a good idea for either myself or others around me.......




It was about a six hour drive on christmas eve racing down the auto from Saumur to the alps with a couple of stops along the way. Cluny was a highlight of the trip with it's abbey (back in its day Cluny was up against Rome to be the centre of the catholic church), fruit and veg markets, winding cobble stoned streets, Christmas decorations and beautiful shop windows. We were all mesmerised by this window, food plays a big part at Christmas in France both in the form of gifts and traditions and as usual they do it with style.




But on to the Alps, we were staying in Morillon part of the Gran Massif and once Gerard won the battle with the chains we arrived at our home for the next week with it's beautiful views over the slopes and village. It didn't take long for it to feel like home or Christmas, with our freshly cut pine tree quickly covered in decorations and presents under the tree.




And what a place to wake up to on Christmas Day, blue skies, plenty of snow, lots of Christmas cheer and off we went to hit the slopes. I quickly realised I didn't need to have felt nervous about not having skied for all those years, it just all came back and in no time we were all swishing down the slopes. The snow was plentiful, runs long and views spectacular and with my godson Duncan by my side encouraging me along it was the perfect way to spend Christmas Day.


The weather was right on side with day after day of clear blue skies, quite mild temperatures and the most amazing views. It didn't take long to head off and explore the many slopes and I have to admit I kept on being drawn back to one particular chair lift which provided us with a spectacular look out point to Mont Blanc - it really felt like you were on top of the world!




And on my final two days we woke to a winter wonderland as snow fell and whilst visibility was somewhat limited, and at times non existent, it was such great skiing we had to be out there (that was certainly a change of heart for me where at the beginning of the week I wasn't even sure I would ski!) but it couldn't last and after an adventurous departure in deep snow (thanks to Gerard for braving the roads and conditions) I was on the train hurtling across the snow covered French countryside to Paris.























It doesn't matter how many times you go to Paris, or what time of year it is, it is always magical. The christmas lights were twinkling, shop windows mesmerising, streets filled with immaculately dressed people, many options of live music and of course all the amazing Paris sights.

























And then of course New Years Eve - the reason I had landed in Paris at this time of year. I had decided if I couldn't be in Sydney for NYE I needed to be somewhere else iconic. It was a magical experience but very different to Sydney. People didn't come out onto the streets until after 9 having been to dinner with family and friends beforehand. I met up with Laura and we headed to Place de Le Concorde and joined the crowds (and people who just stopped their cars in the middle of the road) waiting for the Eiffel Tower to light up and at midnight it twinkled into life with a gold and silver shimmer.



There were no fireworks, 5 minutes of twinkling and it was over but it was an amazing experience. We wandered up to the Champs Élysées which was packed with people - it's not often you get to walk up the middle of the road to the Arc de Triumph.












The following morning the streets were deserted as we made our way to my favourite part of Paris, Montmartre. I love the steep streets, little cafes interesting locals, views from Sacre Coeur and it has lots of great memories from my 2007 visit with the Leavers and Actons.




Walking around Paris is such a delight, I rechecked out the Seine, l'opera, the many streets, cafes, shops and some great concerts at Eglise de la Madeline - an organ recital and the next night a gospel choir. And of course the many different vistas of the Eiffel Tower - probably my favourite this time was from the ferris wheel at the Tuileries Gardens at sunset.
















And so that ends my second France experience for the year. It's hard not to love it. As I left I had to pick up a little part of it to take with me - i'll have to go back to return it soon.....



"Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind." Seneca