The view from my "office"

[Pushka]

Tonight’s office, Legian Beach
View attachment 409178

Whereabouts are you staying. We are in Padma in just over three weeks.

 

[jase05]

Whereabouts are you staying. We are in Padma in just over three weeks.

A mix this time as we are all arriving and departing on different dates. It’s our annual trip with 3 other couples. The last lot get here today and then we all move into Villas not far from the Padma. We are currently in the Pullman Legian for 3 nights and a massive regret. Won’t make that mistake again.

 

[pjm99au]

Athens Day 2: The e-bike Tour

I am now a fully baptised disciple of e-bikes and vow never to use a regular bike again. Our 3 hour tour run through Athens by Bike was an effortless tour of old Athens.
Starting near the Acropolis museum our first stop was observatory hill for a different view of the acropolis


We then “peddled” through the Agora and then Plaka to the main Athens Cathedral

A further leisurely ride to the modern Olympic stadium. The stadium was being set up for a two night fully sold out concert by Greece’s most popular 70 yr old pop singer who’s name now escapes me but it did somewhat ruin the view

And then the changing of the guard at the presidential palace. The process is very choreographed and the walk is representative of the stomping out of the 40 yrs of Turkish rule. The Pom Pom’s on the shoes were apparently to hide knives in the toes



Dinner day 2 was at Simul for a 10 course, 4 hour degustation at an outside table on a beautiful night. Incredible food very creative and full of flavour. Unfortunately pretty much ruined by a gentleman on the table next to us who decided to smoke a cigar for the final 1.5 hrs.

 

[love_the_life]

Nyhavn Copenhagen before the wind picks up and it clouds over.
View attachment IMG_9318.jpeg

 

[Flashback]

Sinaia, Romania - the castle was rather interesting, the monastery was worth a visit too.

 

[CaptJCool]

Apparently Scoot at 39,000
& Garuda at 37,000

Not seen this before and it’s a sight to behold

 

[Solid]

New Sydney fish markets taking shape.

 

[pjm99au]

Greece Day 3: moving day

Day 3 sees us moving from Athens to Mykonos

The Aegean intra Schengen lounge. Quite a good spread of food but seating was at a premium closer to flight time.


We have 4 nights at the Mykonos Grand. Beautiful hotel on the south west coast. It’s getting close to the end of the season so the island is quite quiet but the weather is still sensational.

 

[Bindibuys]

Greece Day 3: moving day

Day 3 sees us moving from Athens to Mykonos

The Aegean intra Schengen lounge. Quite a good spread of food but seating was at a premium closer to flight time.

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We have 4 nights at the Mykonos Grand. Beautiful hotel on the south west coast. It’s getting close to the end of the season so the island is quite quiet but the weather is still sensational.
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We will be there in exactly 1 years time. Glad to hear the weather is still nice into October.

 

[pjm99au]

We will be there in exactly 1 years time. Glad to hear the weather is still nice into October.

To my mind mid September to mid October is the best time for southern Greece. 26 degrees most days and the water is still warm and the crowds have mostly gone. I booked this trip on points in October of last year so I know what it is like to wait but it’s worth it

 

[Princess Fiona]

Wish this was a year in Provence and not a week

 

[Port Power]

Today’s lunch “office” in the high Atlas Mountains.









The entertainment



And let’s not forget the “throne”! (This really did feel we were being royally treated!)

 

[Flashback]

Brașov centre.



Bran Castle................ errr ... Bram Stoker's Dracula?



Sighișoara by day.......


..... and night

 

[RooFlyer]

Brașov centre.

I loved a few days in Brasov. Fantastic wine bars .

 

[Captain Halliday]

Morning walk office.

These are usually out in shallows or on the mud flats, but this guy was hanging out in the garden.


Sandgate, Queensland.

 

[pjm99au]

Greece: Days 4 and 5 - Mykonos

Day 4 was a slow day (I have come down with man flu) swimming and lying around on the beach and at the pool. Dinner was at Sunset by Amazon. A very nice restaurant with a wonderful outlook


Day 5 - washing day
We are HLO so the first stop today was to drop off a bag of washing at the Ornos laundry mat (Central Dry Cleaners €10 for wash and fold)

Ornos beach


and then the public bus to Mykonos old town (€2 PER pax)

 

[Flashback]

The Transylvanian Highlands of Romania, a mixture of main towns around here with a dash of very rural thrown in for good measure.

First, Valchid. We certainly were the odd ones out and got funny looks! There was a small bakery there, so we popped in and had a snack and the kids (!) who were in there spoke a little bit of English so we all made it through the ordering, payment and serving of food process without too much of a hitch. He told us that as we were first time customers he gave us a 1 lei discount. I tried not to smile too much, as I knew he'd added up wrong and we were overcharged by 1 lei....... all good, support the local economy



Then it was on to Copșa Mare where we were hoping to see a fortified church, albeit in quite a state of disrepair. Reviews we read said that there's a number on the door and the locals (who are collecting funds to try restore it) who live on the street will pop over and let you in. Alas, no sign to be found.




From there it was on to Biertan, which has a very impressive fortified church to visit. The oldest Saxon town around Romania, if I remember right......

 

[RooFlyer]

First, Valchid. We certainly were the odd ones out and got funny looks! There was a small bakery there, so we popped in and had a snack and the kids (!) who were in there spoke a little bit of English so we all made it through the ordering, payment and serving of food process without too much of a hitch. He told us that as we were first time customers he gave us a 1 lei discount. I tried not to smile too much, as I knew he'd added up wrong and we were overcharged by 1 lei....... all good, support the local economy

Talk about supporting the local economy! I think it was that village:


where we stopped at a roadside stall. Local woollen products. A very thick pair of socks caught my eye. Thick yarn, quite coarse stitch. perfect.

10 euro!! I blanched, but paid, quite happy to do my bit for the local economy. Still have them, 10 yrs later, still wear them. Good value.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Morning walk office.



When this one landed the couple nearby eating caramel ice cream received a free upgrade to salted caramel thanks to the downwash and sea spray.






Cairns, Queensland.

 

[Flashback]

Talk about supporting the local economy! I think it was that village:
View attachment 409812

where we stopped at a roadside stall. Local woollen products. A very thick pair of socks caught my eye. Thick yarn, quite coarse stitch. perfect.

10 euro!! I blanched, but paid, quite happy to do my bit for the local economy. Still have them, 10 yrs later, still wear them. Good value.

Those roads look to be in far too great a condition compared to what Valchid offered us

Most people travelling from Sighișoara to Biertan take a different road, so would usually miss it.