Europe trip 2023

We came out of the Austrian mountains, into Germany for a bit then finally into Pilsen, Czechia. It was an easy check in to the apartment. We ended up loving this Airbnb, from the furniture to the crockery to the internet speed. I took photos of a high back chair and the couch and hope to find similar in NZ for our collection. Next year’s goal is to not to travel the world but to finish renovating our house.

 

First on the to do list was a brewery tour, Pilsner Urquell to be exact. It was a hot day so we went in our singlets but knew they’d take us to the 5 degree cellar so took fleeces and jackets with us. There will be a photo coming on Facebook of me all bundled up. It was a great 90 minute tour finished off with tasting unfiltered beer which BK thought was the best thing ever! I had 2 sips but it was a bit tart for my liking. We purchased two beer glasses, to add to the growing pile of stuff we lug around before we finally take it home to NZ.

 

The following day we drove to Prague, we parked in the suburbs and took the subway into the city. After walking around a bit and seeing some of the main sights such as, the river, the old town, the dancing house and having a turn on a playground, everyone was a bit over it so we headed back to our apartment in Pilsen for an early night. Prague was a nice city and another day there would have been great.

 

After a big sleep and a slow start to the day, BK had a bunch of work to do so the kids and I went to our first science museum, it was very hands on. I tried to explain the science behind everything they were doing, at their level, which sometimes they were interested in but sometimes they just wanted to do the activity to see what happened. A lot of it was high school level physics and went entirely over their heads. There was a part for under 8’s which R particularly enjoyed. Some school groups came through and a couple of the kids weren’t very nice to my kids which tainted the visit a bit but we still had a good time and after 4 hours I dragged the kids out the door! Techmania Science Centre in Pilsen, is definitely worth the visit. First bit of science for the whole trip ✔️

 

So it was a short visit to Czechia but great to finally see the area. One thing that stood out to us was everyone’s courteous driving. A big high ✋🏻 from Team Knowles! Awesome work Czechia 😎

 

Till next time,

 

Claire

 

Budget update :

Czechia : $339 under

Total budget : $3832 under

It was a long drive up into Austria but we were happy to find much cheaper petrol and our destination, a very cool campground.

 

We had booked through Eurocamp.co.uk and got a 3 bedroom cabin. Though a bit cold at night it was well set up and easy to live in for a week. The camp had an onsite kids club running, which had 2 morning sessions and an afternoon session so for most of the week the kids went there. BK found an onsite library so he got some work in while the kids were at the kids club. I was happy to have some much needed peace and quiet while everyone was out of the cabin. The rain set in for a few days so no one was very motivated to explore further afield than the camp.

 

We celebrated C’s birthday during the week. At the supermarket I found a make you own cake in a box, just add eggs/butter/water, and thought to myself “I can do that”, then proceeded to march myself to the onsite camp restaurant and ask to borrow a cake tin, which they kindly obliged! When he woke up to balloons everywhere, a cake and gifts on the table he was very pleased so that was a winner! He had a great day despite the rain.

 

Little R went to the kids club by herself that day which she never ever would have done a year ago. We are so proud of our wee girl’s personal growth during this trip, it’s been so lovely to watch her spread her wings and take on the world. So much thanks to her teacher last year for working so hard on not only R’s education but also her emotional side too. We love you Mrs B! Forever grateful! 💜

 

By Friday it had fined up so we did the things we were meant to on C’s birthday. We played mini golf and went on an Austrian style luge which they call a toboggan. It was attached to rails (like a roller coaster) as opposed to driving on a track like the type of luge we were familiar with but the fundamentals were the same, drive your self, in a cart, down a mountain…at speed! The boys went together on one cart and the girls in the other. I was instructed plenty of times to slow down by my passenger, she wouldn’t have done well in a cart with her Dad, I was slow compared to him! 😄😄😄

 

The following day we woke up to blue skies. We had come to this area of Austria for one reason, 10 years ago when we were in Europe we did a bit of a WWII stuff, we followed the Band of Brothers TV series and found ourselves in the middle of nowhere several times exploring where they had been (I, to this day, have never seen the series!) Anyway, they were the company to come across Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden after the war ended. The un-researched young us pitched up at the start of winter trying to see an alpine area, only to find it was shut for the season! ☹️ So, take 2 in 2018, we turned up on a great day, took a bus to a very gold elevator and were taken up into the house, which is now a restaurant. We looked around, ate apple cake and enjoyed the views. R found some snow on the ground and formed it into a ball to throw at her brother, except she missed and got a lady! 😲 Fortunately the lady took it well and we all had a laugh together.

 

It’s time to continue the trip north!

 

Till next time,

 

Claire

 

Budget update:

Austria : $581 under

Total budget : $3493 under

It appears to me I either way over budgeted or I’m awesome at keeping the fam on the straight and narrow after 2017’s efforts of hard core saving! Either way, yay!

Rome, Amalfi Coast & Cinque Terre

 

The day before we were due to leave the east coast I realised I was a day ahead of myself and wasn’t supposed to be arriving in Rome on a Thursday, it was meant to be a Friday! Eeek! No accommodation was booked. A quick look on Airbnb and we found a perfect place halfway between the east and west coasts. On the way there Little R spied a beautiful old town out her window about 5 minutes away from our apartment. It was called Spello, we enjoyed exploring its alleyways which were so beautifully dressed with flower pots.

The following (correct) day it was off to Rome. Our friends from London flew out again to see us. They had booked an apartment about 500 meters away from the Vatican for us to stay in and Rouge (our car) got emptied out and parked on the road for a few days rest. The next day it was up early to join the queue for St Peter’s Basilica. BK and I hadn’t seen it last time we were in Rome. The queue moved very quickly and we were inside within 15 minutes. It was an amazing and very expensive looking church! Wee R was hopeful to see ‘Pope’ but it wasn’t to be. However while we were in there they opened up the basement so we saw the tombs of past popes. BK took R home, leaving our friends, C and I to climb the dome. Amazing views of the city. I purchased some postcards to send to some friends for their birthdays this month, then it was back to the apartment for a rest.

The next day we hauled ourselves out of the apartment at 7.30am to bus to the Colosseum. It was free that day (see my tip below) and evvvvvveryone was there, the queue was at least 2/3rds of the way around the base. Disheartened we decided to not go in, but to see if the Roman Forum was having a free entry day too. When our friend went to ask, she was scooted to the front of the queue, got us the 6 free tickets we wanted and managed to score us an extra special skip the line pass for the Colosseum, she’s 8 months pregnant soooo it obviously has its perks! So we happily walked back to the Colosseum where a man took our tickets and escorted us past the normal queue, past the skip the line queue and right up to security. High fives all round. We enjoyed an hour wandering around. Apparently back in its prime it used to seat 50,000–80,000 people, wow! After that it was through the Roman Forum, past the Trevi Fountain, up and down the Spanish Steps and lunch at pizzeria, a quick visit to the Pantheon, then home to our apartment for a well deserved nap! 20,000+ steps that day. After two very full days it was goodbye to our friends, we’ll see them again in London after their baby has arrived.

Top tip – if it’s a free day (first Sunday of every month) go really early or line up and see if you can get a skip the line ticket by the entrance to the Roman Forum, the ticket allows entry to both.

On the way to Naples in the rain, we had our first motorway issue. The toll machine wouldn’t give us a ticket! With the barrier arm still open from the car in front of us and traffic behind us we drove onto the motorway with no ticket so when we got off it was a bit of a drama using google translate to tell the person in the toll booth where we got on so could pay the correct toll, then he gave us a fine for €96 and directed us to ‘punto blue’ so we turned up with our fine and our google translate again trying to explain ‘YOUR MACHINE WOULDN’T GIVE US A TICKET WE SHOULDN’T BE PAYING A FINE!!!’ He understood and canceled our fine and we were on our way.

Due to us being so exhausted from the driving, the big weekend in Rome and the rain we spent the first day resting, which meant we didn’t see central Naples. The following day was perfectly blue skies and we headed off to the stunning Amalfi Coast! Wow! Wow for two reasons, the scenery which was amazing but also driving the road there which was quite the challenge, it took both mine and BK’s full attention in parts. We were glad Rouge was so little, and at one point a car got so close to us the GPS started screaming because the car were too close to the sensors on our bumper. Ugh. Anyway we got there and enjoyed a walk at one of the little villages called Maiori and pizza for lunch on the outskirts of Sorrento. A quick look at Pompei then back home to pack and start the 2000km drive north.

Our first stop heading north was Florence to meet up with my Aunty and Uncle who’d brought a few things over for us. It was lovely to see some familiar faces. Thank you Aunty and Uncle! Unfortunately while in Florence we drove into a restricted traffic zone and think we’ve got ourselves yet another fine! I’ve emailed Peugeot to tell them.

Next stop was Cinque Terre. A set of 5 beautiful seaside villages. We had arranged last year to meet up with some friends from home. We started early and went to the furthest away village of Monterosso. We had a focaccia snack while walking around. We then met our friends in Vernazza where we had another focaccia snack and all the kids found the sand and had a wonderful time. We pushed on to the next one Corniglia and had drinks before meeting with our friends again in Manarola for gelato. We were going to keep going on to the last village, Riomaggiore, but when the train stopped we couldn’t face anymore walking so we skipped it. We got back to Rouge and found we’d gotten ourselves yet another fine! We hadn’t parked in a proper car space as we’d just followed everyone else’s idea of parking on the kerb.

It was a stay in your PJs all day kinda day the next day. Totally exhausted from moving so fast through Italy. Laundry, school and naps 💤

So that was Italy. It’s been nice to see some different bits of the country BUT I will not miss the roads.

I also won’t miss some of the citizens who seemed to have an ‘I’m better than you, get out of my way’ attitude but the beauty and history will always bring me back. Next time it’s your lakes and islands!

 

Till next time,

 

Claire

 

Budget update :

Italy : $1684 under

Total budget : $2912 under

#nailingit 😎

Venice and San Marino

 

Last time BK and I were in Europe a highlight of ours was Venice, we visited in November on my 25th birthday. So I was looking forward to returning but didn’t want the same kind of trip repeated. At least it was going to be warmer this time!

 

We decided to stay out at an outlying beach area. Then got an all day pass on the ferries and spent a lot of time out on the water. The first day we stuck around our apartment, did a beach walk, a look at some shops, and that ever pesky school work!

 

The following day we set out on a ferry toward Murano, the island known for glass blowing, we went via Burano, the one known for lace making but didn’t stop there. We found a glass factory and got a booking time to go back and see the glass master in action. There was still a bit of time until then and lunch time was approaching so we found a park, the kids had a play and I prepared some sandwiches we’d brought along. As we sat and ate I realised this was not a park, there were bags, and classrooms…it was a school! Whoops! So it was a quick walk to somewhere else followed by lunch.

 

The glass master was amazing, he’d been an apprentice for 10 years and then a master for 30. Talk about a life career! He made a glass apple, vase and horse in front of us. The furnace was cranking at 1100 degrees! Hot! We had a lady explaining things to us, she swapped between English, Italian and French speaking all of them fluently, she later told me she also spoke a bit of Venetian too! Wow!! Of course on the way out I found a glass Christmas decoration so that’s another one to add to the collection! 😃

 

Then it was off to the main Venice island, which was a quick ferry ride via the cemetery island, we did not get off! We walked from one side of the island to St Marco’s square on the other We managed to get lost on our way to St Marco’s as we lost the signs pointing that way to go but we carried on, however trying to find your own way in Venice never works because you always seem to end up down an alleyway facing a canal with no bridge to cross. So we retraced our steps and refound the signs to carry on! Gelato helped our situation 😎

 

Making the most of our 1 day pass we chose a ferry that does a loop through the grand canal. It was good to sit on the back of the boat enjoying the sights rather than walking it, though I did walk 18k steps that day!! After that we tried to find a toilet but at a cost of €1.50 each to use it we held on till we got home!

A long but great day. We didn’t do the famous gondola ride, because at €80 for a 30 minute ride we decided ‘Nah, we’ve done one before, the kids can do it when they’re older’.

 

The following day was a rest day, no one felt like walking anywhere! So school work, laundry, supermarket and sandcastle building on the beach it was.

 

See you again Venice, I wonder if it will it be another 10 years?

 

It was then off down the east coast of Italy, can’t say much about the east coast beaches, they were pretty average. I also seemed to get us an Airbnb which was not close to anything interesting so we had lots of rest. One of the days we went for a drive an hour northwest of where were staying to a mini country called San Marino.

We went early, as we’ve learnt that’s the thing to do! We got a park by the gondola and went up into the old town. It seemed to us that it may have been tax free country as there were lots of duty free type items, and guns!?

We walked around, ate lunch at a restaurant…pizza 😄 Talked to a couple of Swiss cyclists who were having a long weekend cycling around the area, we told them what we were doing and all of a sudden we had a captive audience of everyone sitting around us (who all of a sudden could understand English 🙄) they, like 99% of people we have encountered thought it was an awesome idea and what great parents we were (ego boost ✔️ haaaa!) and lucky LUCKY kids.

I found a Christmas shop which had signs ‘no photos’ plastered everywhere and also bought my first Christmas gift. Then it was back to the apartment to work out how on earth I was going to keep the present in good condition while we finished off our 4 months left in Europe! Hmm.

 

Till next time,

 

Claire

 

Budget update will come on the next blog 😎