How many hours do you have in a day? Never enough!
Over the last two months I have been escorting tour groups through Portugal and France. Every minute of each day I have been moved by beautiful views, interesting people, and offered the chance to share with other people my knowledge of history and life in Europe.
But when you are travelling for long periods of time from a suitcase and the glove box of a bus, some things have had to give. Travel blogging has been one thing that has had to take a back seat in the short term. But I am now back living out of my home wardrobe and am ready again to share with you a range of enticing and rich stories of travelling through France and elsewhere.
One place I was especially moved by on my travels was Portugal, and I look forward to the opportunity to take more travellers back there in the future.
Of course all New Zealanders have been deeply affected by the Christchurch earthquakes over the last year, and for me Lisbon was a beacon of hope for us all. Lisbon was devastated by an earthquake over 200 years ago and seeing their rebuild was extraordinary, and I look forward to sharing with you stories on this. Even while touring through this rebuilt city from 200 years ago, my own family were living in a hotel as our house was being re-built from the results of our own quake β but on a personal aside, after 12 weeks of living in a hotel my family have now returned to our repaired house with level floors, walls, and ceilings, and itβs bliss to be back!
I travelled back to Provence with its vibrant colours and smells and look forward to sharing my stories of our visits to beautiful gardens and even the local bullfighting!
Vincent Van Gogh was such a tortured soul and I especially enjoyed taking people to the auberge just outside of Paris, where he last lived (and where he died), to sample food β the same meals that he dined on 120 years ago. I will share these menus with you in the months ahead!
So although I have been away from the blogosphere, I have been busy entertaining travellers and myself with the joys of travelling through France and Europe, and look forward to sharing my travels with you in the weeks ahead.
Im glad to see you are back in the blogosphere where I live too much of my life- instead of in real world travels.
regards
Mark
Haha!! Travelling does bring you back to reality!! Thanks Mark.
Was missing reading your blog but pleased to hear you have been so inspired by your travels to Lisbon. A place i have wanted to visit, so will be looking forward to hearing all about it in future blogs. Might put it on next years travel wish list!
Regards
Kate
Lovely to hear from you Kate! We’ve had such fun, amongst the misery, sorting our home out! A bientot.
Hi John,
So glad to see you back on the blog scene. I look forward to reading about the foods/menus and your travels in the months to come.
I love your perspective on the earthquakes – so positive and uplifting.
Cheers,
Priscilla
Thanks Priscilla – yes you will love the seven hour cooked lamb dish at Auberge Ravoux!!
Welcome Back! I have to agree with Priscilla, I’m looking forward to reading about the food!
I’ve always thought it would be fun to lead tour groups. Especially in a place with so much history.
Thanks Scott for your comment. There is nothing more fun than leading a group of people through such interesting countries – sharing the countries stories and ways of life! Now I’m busy planning what adventures I will offer for 2012!!!
I am right there with you on not having enough hours in the day… Or days in a week, months in a year, etc. How did it get to be AUGUST already?!
Looking forward to hearing about and seeing your travels!!
Sara
Thanks for your comments! I look forward to checking out your site and blog! Thanks
Welcome back John! Sounds like you had a fabulous summer in Europe. I look forward to reading about it.
Portugal has always been on my radar but one of those place I haven’t visited yet.
Thanks Corinne. One of the interesting things about Portugal is that it is physically a little isolated, being on the extreme edge of Europe – because of that I believe it gets left out of travel plans!!