Greece - The Frappe

This is a very important part of the day in Greece. Large glasses of ice cold coffee usually with a frothy top always with an accompanying bottle or glass of water, which is very useful to extend the frappe so you can spend an hour or two contemplating the clear blue seas and life in general!

Off to Greece Again

The time had come for our much awaited summer trip to Greece so off we headed through to Provence where we spent a much needed couple of days after the trial of packing up the house for the summer tenants. We had on a previous trip found a rather smart campsite on the Med with basic accommodation - the campolete! This consists of a tent-like structure with walls and with a semi closed in deck attached to the front which contains a kitchen / dining area. The best of both worlds and a perfect spot to change gear and try and get into Greek mode.

Then into Italy for a few days on the way to Brindisi for the ferry to Greece.

Trip to Menton

What a wonderful place this is. Its actually in Monaco, though most people assume its in Provence - and just a hop from the Italian border, and with a very Italian feel. The old town winds up and down the hill with tiny narrow streets and brightly coloured houses.

France 2008

So now here I am in 2008, happily ensconced in the Languedoc region of SW France. Life is great here - very simple really and much less social than Sydney, so plenty of time to smell the roses -explore the area, sketch and paint etc. Peter and I (and Miura the dog) are living in the town of Montagnac, not far from Pezenas, and 20 mins drive from the Mediterranean towns of Sete and Meze. It is also only 40 mins from Montpellier.

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We spent the first few months of the year setting up house and falling into a relaxed routine, before heading off on yet another soujuorn across Europe to Greece. So here we go again....

Venice - wow!

What a truly amazing spot. I was totally prepared to be disappointed having seen and heard so much about Venice, but what an absolutely magic place - even in the middle of August! Every corner you turned there was another stunning photograph, and to just spend an hour or so watching the traffic on the Grand Canal and see everything that we take for granted on the roads, all being dealt with on the water - DHL has a big presence, as did boats loaded with clean laundry for the many hotels!

A Brief European Jaunt No 2

Then back to the chaos of Athens - a wonderful place - vibrant and full of life until all hours of the morning......

Next, off through the Peloppenese to the campsite again, before heading off on the Ferry from northern Greece to Anacona - towards the north of Italy to explore the wonders of Venice.

Ireland

It was a huge shock to the system to arrive in Ireland from Athens to temps ressembling mid winter in Sydney, but County Clare was beautiful - a wild barren Atlantic coastline with brilliant green fields and giant clouds scuttling across the skies. The weather seemed to manage each season most days, but with a predominance of winter, although it was actually mid summer.

It was great to see my Irish friends and be welcomed into their homes and we had lots of coffees and fun exploring the area. The Cliffs of Moher were just down the road - great huge cliffs with waves crashing at the bottom, and the surrounding burren with its many little silvery grey stone walls was beautiful. Paintings will some day be conjured up to capture the wild beauty of this coastline.

I also spent a week in Lismore, down towards Cork. This area felt rather English with lots of big trees and a castle in the middle of the town. And next......... back onto the plane to Athens and Peter!