Zurich...ticking along beautifully...

I think this is a beautiful photo, imagine how Louis would feel today...

Zurich...after the hustle and bustle of Greece and Turkey, wow what a difference a flight makes! This city is sexy in a kind of clock worky way, everything from the service to even the sounds of the many (many) trams, efficient not overbearing but making you feel secure that everything is as it should be, you have got to love a town that gives you seats with swanky furry covers and the option for a lap rug when you sit down for a vino.

It's a city of many historical Louis's, LOTS of clocks! and the Bismark Baguette..Pickled herring, polski gherkin and sliced boiled egg...

Hrrrrrr! yes baby!

This was the city that I decided to "up the ante" of solo travel and rather than do my usual grab a cab to the hotel, I thought I would give the local rail system from the airport a red hot blast.. I could have ended up anywhere in Europe, (well at least Germany or Italy) that day, but I had time on my side so, I kind of had a "wander" and a "play" on the ticket machine, a "wander" and a play on the platform, boarded a train with clenched teeth (mine not the trains) and BINGO! I got it right...Happy days! Achievement ratio V high, $ value (or CHF) rewards/spendings points... one Dior Lipstick...#991 actually, fabulous!

                                                                                                        

Marc Chagall 1/5

On one of my first wanders I came across the

The Fraumunster Abbey, Built by King Ludwig the II, it was a Benedictine Convent for female members of the Aristocracy....I kind of lost the thread a little there, why on earth if you were a member of the "Aristocracy" would you EVER want to go to a CONVENT?... interesting space, very austere compared to the gold/silver and general lavishness of recent places I've visited, however a stunning set of stained glass windows from Marc Chagall...once again the Swiss, understated but Oh so classy...

With a little more "time on my hands"  I visited the National Museum, in general am frankly not much of a Museum girl, however on discovering a special exhibition of Horological Art (yes you guessed it Clock making!) it seemed churlish to not have a look...so...Louis -Abraham Breguet (yes the name in the main photo that was taken this afternoon on the poshest street in Zurich) is the most renowned watchmaker of all time, a major claim to fame was that he first invented the "perpetual" watch that did not need manual rewinding....

                                                                                                 

The first people he supplied these to were King Louis XVI AND Marie Antoinette, can you just imagine her keeping her watch going with the "let them eat cake" wrist action, I had to stop myself from laughing out loud!  If you can believe it, there was an alternative exhibition at another Gallery showing the skills of Louis-François Cartier...these guys takes their Louis's and there watches VERY seriously indeed.

A couple of other Swiss points...they are the airline that has the tag line of "We're more disappointed when we're late than you are..." my flight was late, poor loves...hope they're ok...

I can't resist luscious blooms!

It is a City that I learnt not to be too "cocky" with the foreign, language but seriously...

Kabien Hieren=lift has arrived, right, so...

Bathroom scenario...Herren, what would you do? Hmmmm, sorry broad shouldered  businessman type, yup I should have gone the Damen....

Must be said they're a bit "skimpy"on the pour sizes of their beverages....

Not quite the wild and reckless

Swiss do swans not seagulls OR pigeon

generosity of the vino's and G&T's I'm used to, having said that though this is the first country I've visited (Turkey excepted) that is not in financial meltdown...Oh, I hope it's not my fault...

A local burly bloke sorry he's a little grainy!

I've enjoyed some lovely food, no, I didn't eat a Bismark baguette, however I couldn't resist a Swiss sausage in a bun with sauerkraut and spicy mustard, some roasted chestnuts from a street vendor, a rather delish Lobster Bisque and a very nice little hand made pasta with olive oil, chilli and parmesan. This interestingly from a restaurant with wines supplied by the Antinori family of Florence, I met the ex-wife and and heir apparent, many years ago on a train from Paris to Florence on their way to an access visit, she was as mad as a cut snake but that child probably made the wine I had with my lunch, you just never know! 


I loved Zurich on so many levels, efficient friendly and with great great service, easy to get around and as you can see below, not THAT buttoned down...  

who can resit a naughty sign, my nephews will love it!

More moonset than sunset here....

even their telephone booths are lovely, they play soothing music until you pick up the hand piece...

                                      Thank you for sharing xxx 

 

Istanbul...a Turkish delight

So, how did we end up in Turkey? it was quite literally plucked out of the air one night in Athens with high recommendations and it's proximity to Greece it seemed a "why wouldn't you?" opportunity... armed with not much more than that in expectations, I met the lovely Miss Mel there for a week of sensory overload and exploration, what a fabulous vibrant and interesting city it turned out to be!

My little Demon..

Istanbul is where Asia and Europe literally join continents, these two influences can clearly be seen in the architecture and the culture (perhaps there is a little bit of America in there too, they sure do love a tip!)

Old and new comfortably together

It's busy, bustling and pretty efficient for a city with a population of 14ish million busy bustling people, most of these people can be found on the Metro at all hours of the day and night, not for the faint hearted, sardines are SO lucky!

We visited the Modern Art gallery, again, what a rich and vibrant history, present and future this country has represented here, just one more delicious layer!

The Grand Bazaar is SO big and SO overwhelming (October 8th was it's 550th birthday) and has between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors DAILY!!! (I felt like I bumped into most of them) + 4000 stalls and boy do those "traders" all have something to to sell "yes, lady you" eventually I relented to the man who said simply "can I sell you some thing from my shop?" I am a sucker for refreshing honesty, so I said "go on then" which is how my "little" Turkish delight "habit" began...it's slippery slope folks...




 Despite it's European influence it is very distinctly it's own respectful culture, the call to prayers that can be heard over loud speakers throughout the city are poignant, thought provoking and make you a little quiet on the inside... 

There are Mosques left right and centre, each with a fabulous and rich story, this is the Blue Mosque the most famous in the City and unbelievably took only seven years to build, evidently they were a little under the pump toward the end especially with the 20 odd thousand hand painted tiles required (this became apparent during recent restoration where it seemed the last tiles were not quite a flash as the first ones) It is absolutely beautiful and with so many things I have seen on this fabulous adventure, one of the things that springs to mind is the time and "people" hours...makes you grateful it's not our day job... 

The entry gate to the Blue Mosque with a hangy down chain that created the need for the Sultan to duck his head each time he rode his horse in, there by keeping him humble to his people (The Sultan not his horse:0)

Mel mixing it up with the "locals"

Now to the horror story of Istanbul, No it wasn't the strange touchy man in the Turkish delight shop, who wanted to dance with me and know where we were staying (I told you it was slippery slope, I just had to have some more!) nor was it the odd little letchy bloke on the Metro who was seen to quite promptly by the 99.9% of fabulous men who treated us with such respect and graciousness each time we rode the Metro, no it was...

THE TURKISH BATH HOUSE... The Hamami!

The staff do not look like that person...

words simply fail me, except to say do not ever do it! I have such empathy now for the poor little fish laying on a marble slab waiting for something horrible to happen to them, little fish I feel your anxiety...flip flop and slide away now...

Some key words: large and pendulous, string bikini with"baby" in diamantés, cranky, shouty and rough (that's just the Staff)...actually as I shared with some  people previously, my life would be sufficiently fulfilled without this particular "experience"... All over now though!

                                               

We took a ferry to Princes Island (or one of them) for a day on the water, and a possible donkey ride to the top (but we couldn't find them, phew!) we did find some pretty whiffy horses though Phewwww! in a different way...

 Bosphorous Sunset

We saw beautiful sunsets whilst sipping Vino's in the Restaurants under the bridges, we ate in some lovely places, although I was surprised to find the cultural menu was really "doner" driven, so for me not a lot to report there, we walked and saw and did... but the loveliest thing was sharing this this with a special beautiful friend Melissa, thanks for flying half way around the world darling! I look forward to making many more memories of a life time in your kind and funny company, such as the little old man on the Metro that had stopped early and said to us finish, finish and Mel said "No,no Australian and American" with that killer gorgeous Texan smile. Priceless!!

                                       

In all fairness we were often asked if we were Spanish...must be those castanets I've taken to carrying around....what another beautiful chapter...

As always, Thank you so much for sharing xxx

Stairs to Heaven...Santorini

One of my lovely friends said that I was in Honeymoon territory, I have a theory on this, after spending four days there I really believe that the reason people can't walk properly is indeed an S word...STAIRS! Oh my goodness they are everywhere!

Prettier than Fava Beans

Santorini was created 3,600 years ago as the result of a Volcanic eruption, it is famous for it's white eggplant, cherry tomatoes, capers and split peas which when made into the local speciality Fava (a Euro version of Dahl) is also responsible for some rather epic volcanic eruptions...

It is without doubt one of the most glorious places I've visited, the views the wine and the food! In addition to my prerequisite sardines they have some of the most "foodie" restaurants in Greece...as an example...
Beef fillet potato puree flavoured with bergamot, summer truffle sauce and parmesan ice cream...clever, inventive and DELICIOUS! 

Even the beautiful hotel breakfast, what could be better than licking home made syrupy cherry jam off your fingers, that has dribbled off crusty on the outside and soft on the inside fat white bread...actually, thick Greek yoghurt with lashings of melted chocolate is...

earning lunch

the beautiful Eleni earning a swim

Now, so we could continue to indulge in these fabulous delights, let me tell you why you don't turn into a "porker"...because you have to work for every thing there, whether it's a meal or a swim...
However, the rewards...




When you finally arrive and fall into that beautiful clear crisp sea (its not and Ocean here) my goodness all the hard slog becomes a distant memory, and a G&T on the way home takes care of the return journey!

There is of course the option of taking a donkey, but after a rather traumatic incident with a donkey when I was little, leaving me with a scar on my head and the fact that they're a bit "ponkey" and it's a mean thing to do...we did it the proper way...even though it was tough!


So my Greek odyssey is nearly complete, once again my heart is overwhelmed by the kindness, generosity and sharing of beautiful people in my life. So many adventures and so many memories made!

It was tough...

REALLY TOUGH!

 

 

and to all the beautiful people at home and abroad who continue to read my stories, I so appreciate it...we're off to Turkey next!


Thanks for sharing xxx

Party at the Parthenon!

Party King Mr D!

I visited the new Acropolis Museum on the weekend (as in a new Museum not a new Acropolis) it's a bit of a triumph and wealth of info about the olden days, seriously the stuff in there is super old... interestingly they appear to use Artline marker directly on these pieces to label them though...a lot of the statues have some extremities missing (I had held high hopes for the Erectheion section to find them, sadly it's just another time frame :0) but just incredible history none the less!

I discovered that those guys really knew how to party (in between wars with the Persians and other such people...)

The party King however was Dionysus, he was the God of Wine, Inebriation, Ecstatic Dance and finally Vegetation (which I think is the state they all found themselves in the day after)

His symbols, amongst other things such as grape vines and the Kantharos Cup (the one with a handle on each side) was the phallus.. it is no wonder that he was the most popular Deity, his part of the Parthenon was jumping!

Zeus's place with taxi to Dionysus's

Athens is amazing, in the roads and even some of the shops, are clear floors so that you can see the original aqueducts and real ruiny type locations that run under the City (not like those second rate ones in Lira!) It's amazing to imagine how they worked it all out... 

Authentic ancient tools...Bunnings BC

The Akroploi, Monestiriki and Central area are filled with great little shops and of course gorgeous restaurants, just imagine strolling along glancing up and seeing the Acropolis with the most beautiful night lighting...however I think my fave meal to date was in Gazzi (the old gas station area) and seriously I have to stop eating sardines or I will turn into one (or a cat) but oh my... freshly grilled, liberally sprinkled with sea salt, doused with olive oil and fresh lemon juice and on the side a little wilted wild spinach, steamed baby zuchinni, fat plump vine ripen tomatoes, baby cucumbers and of course feta cheese and the sensational chunks of bread to mop up the plate... you get the idea :0)

Mind the GAP is very serious over here...

I am proud to say not only have I got the hang of the Metro, I also managed to find my favourite bookshop in Athens from my last visit! 

 Pigeon territory...

So, am as happy as the proverbial little piglet in mud, stocked up on books and ready to choose my next Island (I love the international travel library, it feels so great to leave a finished good book behind "somewhere" knowing it will be appreciated by a "starved reader") actually I could say, someone who will fall upon it like a seagull on a chip at the beach...which would segue quite nicely into "a pigeon flew into my head today"...true story, no injuries but I really hate pigeons... 

Yet again I'm pinching myself at how truly lucky I am, currently at the beautiful Eleni's (tall, slim hazel eyed super model material) beautiful apartment with a heaving stocked girlie fridge (wine, smoked salmon, wine) and beauty cabinet with instructions to "make my self totally at home and not to replace anything"...when I pointed out that this was beyond any expectations...Eleni's words were "this is not beyond expectations, THIS is simply hospitality..."

  
No, this is quite simply being the luckiest most appreciative girl in the world knowing I'm loved to bit's by by beautiful, warm, generous people...

As always...thanks for sharing xxx

Greece is the word....

They have splendid knockers on Mykonos..

Back in Athens after a very long absence, so much has changed including my gorgeous friends having two beautiful bambinos...

Last time I was here was about 13 seconds before the Olympics when everyone seemed to realise that nothing was actually "quite" ready and the city seemed in gridlock with Stadiums and pools being built left right and centre...

Well, they did a great job everything looks lovely!

I've had my favourite Greek meal cooked for me by Jenny's authentic Greek Mum, slow cooked beef with tomato, eggplant and feta cheese, and I currently have access to a genuine "family" fridge, positively groaning with all that stuff "family" fridges have, including left overs, I'm in heaven! My beautiful sister will recognise that comment...:0)

So, not to hang around and get porky, it was off to the Islands (well, technically one so far) dead set sexy hollywoodesque Mykonos! Corrrrr....what a spot!

It ticks absolutely all the Greek Isle boxes of the beautiful blue and white architecture and cobbledy streets (in fact I'm sure at my hotel they whitewashed everything each morning!) with the addition of being the playground of choice to a lot of the "celebs"

We spent a sensational day at one of the "private beaches" surrounded by the beautiful peeps,it was utterly fabulous.

This was of course after we learnt the rules, that no you may not just sit down

you need to consult with "Mr Yannis" I almost had a heart attack, imagining Mr  Yannis to be some scary portly bloke with a cigar and dark glasses and a Carte Blanche ownership of all sun lounges on beaches...turns out he was a very nice young guy who said "of course" and to the minxy, huffy little "chick" that told us off, honey...you're job is to bring people drinks (oh yes that would be me) on a beach...and that suntan you have, one day is going to be wrinkles...

I'll have a Bloody Mary thanks....

My gorgeous mate Jenny!

Having said that it was so swanky they gave you big fluffy towels in a very understated taupe, so as not to offend the visual senses with everyone having their own and it looking "unmatchy"...

The next day we went to a less salubrious beach, and had our eyeballs nearly bleed with the "unmatchy" of it all...

However, this one did have a button on the brolly to push for drinks and the waiters were very easy on the eye!

I had a wander through the shops during the week and had been wondering how on earth these wall to wall blingy jewellery stores survive...

Tuesday it be came very clear when I could hardly move for the eleventy billion meandering old people that where clogging the streets walking at possibly top speed of half a pace per five minutes and making many suddenish lurches from left to right going "ooohhhh! ahhhhh! ooohhh!" Yup! They ship 'em in!

The behemoth filled with old people! 

Yes, it's gorgeous, breakfast with Greek yoghurt and warm runny Nutella (that has to be finished off with a flourish of the spoon as you can't lick it at a hotel buffet). Fabulous fresh grilled sardines, hand made pasta with truffles, baklava and of course the cheese the cheese the cheese!
                

I do believe I'm on holidays!!!!

Thanks for sharing! xxx