Euro Excursion 2008

Pro's Euro Excursion 2008 - Featuring "La Biondina"

May 16th - June 1st, 2008.

Cities (in order) : London, Stockholm, Edinburgh, Florence, Asiago (Bassano del Grappa)

This year's Euro Excursion was for me 16 day event and for Sheila a 10 day event.

Because Sheila only had one remaining week's vacation (having already gone to Puerta Plata in February) she returned after Edinburgh, and I continued to Italy.

(this is just a sample of the pics and there are a lot of pics ...)

London

Arrived at Heathrow Airport.

Walked around London - Here are the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

Here's Sheel at the Lions at Trafalgar Square.

If you notice to the right of the picture above, you can make out the Canadian Flag. That's our Embassy ... and just down the street was another sign that Canadians were in the area.

Piccadilly Circus.

Here's Sheel in the Tube Station near some "Sherlock Tiles" ...

And near some heroic structures in the tube .... and at the gate of the Houses of Parliament.

The Houses of Parliament.

Westminster Abbey.

That night we went out to a Pub full of Australians. Although pictured below are women representing England, Ireland & Canada.

The next day, we went on a walking tour of the South Bank. Starting with the Design Museum, here's Sheel and Sophie.

This is the underside of a bridge.

Here is the Tate Modern, the Millennium Bridge & St. Paul's to the right.

Here's the view from the VIP section of the Tate Modern. (Thanks to Martin Little)

The Tate interior.

Here's the walk over the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul's.

Here's an amazing Tourist Centre, across from St. Paul's.

Here is Sheila crossing Abbey Road - a la John, Paul, George & Ringo.

And Abbey Road Studios.

City View ...

Tower Bridge.

Here is the view from London City Hall. Tower Bridge to the right & the Gherkin (Swiss Re Building) to the left

The interior public stair at London City Hall ... it descends from the top (called London's Living Room) to the council chamber.

Sheila looking at the Gherkin, and a pano from the London Eye.

The London Eye offers a spectacular view of London.

From the Eye, Houses of Parliament/Big Ben.

Waterloo Station

The Gherkin off to the right.

Here's the British Museum.

The interior space.

For many reasons, we made it to Bar Italia in London.

And as a thank you to our lovely hosts, we made it to Sophie & Bernie's local pub. Next day ... Sweden!

Stockholm

So, we jumped on a plane and popped over to Stockholm. I liked the airport imagery used to familiarize tourists with Sweden's famous people.

We recognized this guy.

Here are some city shots.

Because Sheila's best friend Nermin works in Swedish Government, we kinda got a personalized tour of Swedish Parliament.

Council Chamber.

Interior Courtyard Sculpture.

And dinner at an uber cool cafe. Everything in Stockholm is kinda uber cool ...

Next day we walked around Stockholm.

Here's a park dedicated to mothers with babies. Kinda nice Swedish landscape.

Another Swedish landscape!

People kept talking Swedish to Sheila, assuming that she is Swedish. Even with my Swedish colours I couldn't pull it off.

The Globe (their hockey rink)

Stockholm Public Library

Studied it in school. Did not realize just how stunning it would be in real life. The pictures don't do it justice.

The Vasa Museum

This was stunning - a museum that "displays the only almost fully intact 17th century ship that has ever been salvaged" ... it sunk on it's maiden voyage.

Because they used rounded rocks as the ballast for the ship, with one gust of wind the rocks shifted and couldn't right the ship. So the second gust of wind sunk it.

This is what the ship's intricate carvings and decorations would have looked like.

Here are shots of the Royal Palace.

Me and Sheel in the courtyard of the Royal Palace. We went shopping while in Sweden. I asked some locals (who all speak very good English) if I looked Swedish, in my new ensemble ... they said no, but they said that I did look like I went shopping at a Swedish Store.

Here's a shot of the Parliament, from the river.

Parliament on the right, Royal Palace to the left.

While in Stockholm, I needed to watch the Champions League Final between Manchester United and Chelsea. So I went to the first bar I could find that was showing the game, and allowing patrons in.

As a Chelsea supporter, the final result really hurt - you hate to win or lose in penalties.

Watching CR miss his shot from the spot didn't even comfort me.

But I did make some new buddies who were very, very well versed in European Football & Ice Hockey. (My kinda guys!)

Next day we went out walking again. Here is Stockholm City Hall, where the Nobel Prize is presented annually.

This is the backside of the Opera House.

The front side of the Opera House is to the right.

Just a department store in the newer part of the city ...

This is the old city centre.

And prior to our next day's journey to Edinburgh, we brought out our incredible host Nermin for a last drink/meal!

Edinburgh

I have had a great connection to Edinburgh for years now ... chiefly my friends Polly, John, Martin and my Godson Robbie Ashdown Adams (I sent him that jersey!), and having met him for the first time, his brother Max (or Little Wayne Rooney, as we liked to call him).

They're fantastic lads, and a source of great entertainment.

After chilling with Polly, John & the boys we made our way around Edinburgh. Here's Balmoral.

This is Dynamic Earth.

Interior Shot.

This is Hollyrood Palace. (the Queen's Summer Residence)

So cold we had to buy wool scarves. The locals were sunbathing later that afternoon.

This is the rather incredible Scotish Parliament building, by the late Enric Miralles.

This is the view of Scotish Parliament from Dynamic Earth.

We got a chance to hang out with dear friends, Polly, John, Martin & Hazel.

Here's Poll & Sheel.

Et all.

Here's the Scottish National Museum.

Ironically, there was a show on Canada (life in Subarctic Canada, but Canada nonetheless)

Interior Shot.

View from the Terrace.

Here's the park that extends between Princess Street and the Royal Mile.

Same park, down the way.

Here are some city shots.

Some church, that is beautiful!

This is the home of Alexander Graham Bell, to the left.

Different Shots of Edinburgh's castle, from different locals ....

Sheila showing the biggest burger of the trip ... actually in recent memory!

Me and Sheel in front of Edinburgh's Bar Italia.

This house marks the entry into Dean Village, where we stayed with Polly, John, Robbie & Max ..

Hanging out with Polly, John, Robbie & Max

Then Sheila left for home, because she only had a week's vacation time after our week in Puerta Plata earlier this year. Here we are dropping her off at Edinburgh Airport.

Then after spending 10 days in 3 countries with La Biondina, I was left alone ... and terribly bummed out. So I did some 'Edinburgh coping', prior to heading to Italy the next day for a week ...

John, Me & Martin

Next day, I left for Florence.

Florence

So, I flew into Florence and hung out with my cousin Roberto & Remi. Because it was a late night, it was a simple meal/ice cream session.

After a good night's rest, first thing in the morning we went to Coverciano (homebase of the Italian National Team) to see if we could see anything.

There was nothing going on, the team was already practicing by the time we'd arrived.

Then out of nowhere, a group of Greenpeace protesters came to demonstrate.

Which made the newspapers the next day.

Then we drove around Florence and Tuscany

Artemio Franchi

Then (as we've done in each of the previous 5 years) we went for a Bistecca alla fiorentina. And this years was the best yet. By far.

We drove part way to Siena to a certain place famed for it's Bistecca. Here's the view from the restaurant.

Remi & Roberto

Steak cooked over coals.

Always served rare - because of it's size.

It was back to Gelatria De' Medici for Gelato again after the meal ...

Then off to Piazzale Michelangelo ...

After finishing work that night, Ergilio came by to say hi.

Next day, I went and sorted my train ticket out and hung out in the historic centre.

I made it over to an Enoteca (wine bar) for a light lunch - a glass of Brunello, Prosciutto di Parma and Mozzarella di Buffala.

Then made it around the city.

Piazza S.Maria Novella.

Basillica of S.Maria Novella.

Piazza della Signoria - Palazzo Vecchio to the left.

Ponte Vecchio

So later that evening I took the train to Padova where my buddy JP picked me up and we went to Asiago.

Asiago

JP and Silvia had a baby boy Alessandro in late December, here are the proud (maternal) grandparents.

And the proud parents.

Next day, we went to Bassano del Grappa to see the Bolle (Italian for 'bubble'), a grappa showcase building built for the Nardini family, designed by Massimiliano Fuksas