Hi all,

This is an update to let you know our recent travels:

Madrid

Met up with everyone on the tour, with some welcome drinks.
Then the next day we went on an excursion to Toldeo and saw a synogogue, church and a steel factory. Got some nice jewellry with two tone 23/24 carat gold. (Heidi)
The weather here was very hot in deed with 38 degrees. Good old air-conditioning.

Barcelona

We visited Monserrat and then walked around and saw Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, which was a church that has been under construction for over 100 years and should be completed in the next 30 years. Apparently this church has been constructed by donations from the public.

Aux de Provence and Les Baux

Now we are back in France again. We visted a Cathedral if St. Trophime and saw an old Roman Arena and lost one of our party members. It took over an hour to locate her and gues who found her??
You guessed it Chris came to her rescue, she was so relieved to see him as he was a familiar face.

Saint Tropez

This morning we took a boat ride to Saint Tropez and saw how the other half lived. It's exactly like the woman's magazines back home, billions of dollars of leisure craft in the marina's.

Best be off now as we don't want to be late for the bus as having people late makes our schedule out and they even threaten to cancel some of the excursions.

Cheers,
Heidi and Chris

Paris

Left Madrid this morning at 04:45, gosh that was hard getting up so early.

Arrived in Paris at 09:30 and then tried to find out the best way to our hotel. Which mind you is only 21 km's away but of course the public transport system doesn't have a straight route there.

After talking to information at the airport they advised the best way was to get the bus to Opera which is the central area in Paris. Then to the local Metro station. We then took the Metro line A and line 9.

Gosh navagating the Metro took some effort with the suitcases and backpacks. Going way down in the subway with very minimal ventalation and escalators. So stairs were the only way to go. Chris definately got some muscles and sweat.

But we finally made it to our accomodation some 2hours later and didn't even get lost for a change.

Will do some sightseeing tomorrow and post some pics when able.

Cheers,

Heidi and Chris

Madrid

Arrived in Madrid and did some sightseeing, went to the local Botanical Gardens and the Prado Museum. Have some good pics.

We walked our socks off in 42 degree heat. This was Madrid's hotest day of the year so far. It was so nice going back to our hotel with the air-conditioning. Not long after arriving back Chris was crook as a dog. He obviously had heat stroke and not drinking enough water. Gosh the loo was not a pretty sight!!!

Left Madrid 04:45 this morning for Paris.

When we find an internet cafe with camera/usb connections will post some pics.

Chris and Heidi

The Swain's are about to leave Portugal

Tomorrow the Swain's are leaving Portugal for Madrid for 3 nights, then onto Paris for 4 nights. After this we will be traveling back to Madrid to start our tour through to Europe.

Will keep you posted with pic's when able to.

Cheers,
Heidi