Where am I – I travelled primarily for a reunion with my school friends in Wales, with Italy and Switzerland beforehand, and France following.
Duration - 4 weeks
Suitable for – Couple, Solo Traveler, Small Groups, Families
Italy - Milan, Bologna, Tuscany & the Italian Riviera
My journey began with business class flights to Milan, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was very impressed with Oman Air, particularly the spacious business class cabin and flatbed seating offered by this Boutique Airline.
Milan was a short stay on our way to Bologna; a new city for me, where I particularly loved the easily negotiated historical centre and fabulous food. I fully immersed myself in the history of this Italian city, which boasts the largest number of Medieval Towers and covered Porticos, enabling students walking access throughout the oldest university city without ever getting wet! The city still has a strong student vibe, with lots of well-priced bars and restaurants offering nightly live music. Next, I revisited Florence, before making Greve in Chianti our base to explore Tuscany. The walks from here, through some of the oldest vines in Chianti, were so relaxing 😎 and provided a much-needed delicious lunch stop at Villa Bordoni – a 4* tranquil, romantic setting just 5km from Greve that is just perfect for couples and comes Conde Nast recommended.
Self-driving this part of our travel enabled visits to Sam Gimignano , Sam Maniato ,and Lucca before revisiting the Cinque Terre. The volume of tourists spilling into the tiny seaside villages of Cinque Terre was a very different experience and I was happy to have stayed in Portovenere (to the south) and Sestri Levante (to the north) and access the villages by regular ferry and train. To walk between the villages a permit is necessary, and full shoes a must, or a fine of EUR2000 is imposed!
Switzerland Rail Journey
Train travel from Genoa (via Milan) to Lugano enabled our scenic rail travel through Switzerland. BERNINA and GLACIER EXPRESS rail journeys have long been on my wish list, and our stays in Zermatt and Montreux completed a picture perfect Switzerland experience!
Wales - time to reconnect with friends!
Low-cost airline, Easyjet then whisked us from Geneva to Birmingham, for access to Wales. Gwbert, near Cardigan was my base in Wales, with easy access to stunning Cardigan beaches and Mwnt; a favourite and national trust listed location – it’s worth the steep cliff walk to visit. A stay in Saint David’s completed our Wales visit this trip.
France - Dordogne, Bordeaux & Paris
It was then on to Bristol for our Ryan Air flight into Bergerac, located in the heart of the stunning Dordogne area of France. A rental car enabled visits to the super scenic riverside villages, and well organised canoe hire allowed us to meander along the river to enjoy them from a water aspect. A highlight here was our stay in hilltop Domme, a medieval walled village, offering stunning views down to the river, picture perfect lodgings and a great choice of family run dining options, and cute shops, all within walking distance of each other. An unexpected highlight here was the underground network of caves, with 45-minute guided tours from the main square; the commentary was only in French but we were able to get the gist of it. Sarlat was another favourite; a visit to the market here was a quintessential rural France experience and I loved my stay here.
Our rural visits behind us, Bordeaux city exceeded expectations - fabulous lively pedestrian area, with every square offering a wealth of choice when it comes to food, accompanied by delicious local wines of course. Trams give good access to all of the city, with the wide fast flowing river a central focal point with locals and tourists enjoying the walkways and cycle paths that dominate.
A return to Paris completed our European adventures. I chose to stay on the right bank Marias area and loved the shopping and hidden squares buzzing with local restaurants.
A visit to Versailles palace was a sightseeing highlight - the Palace looked stunning with all the gold trim polished, and stonework cleaned in readiness for the 2024 Olympic Games events scheduled to be held at this venue in the weeks following our visit.
Oman & Malaysia - the journey home
The journey home to Melbourne included a 3-day stay in Muscat, Oman. This fascinating country gave the feeling of a very authentic Middle East stay; no high rise buildings, just friendly welcoming locals, clean modern buildings, a fascinating old town with a terrific market, and impressive Sultan's palace and Forts. Oman has a high standard of living and it is pricey, but offers a very different stopover option enroute to Europe - highly recommended! High summer temperatures too hot for many, but ideal October through to April.
Finally, a quick stop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia before landing back in Melbourne to conclude a fabulous trip!
