This part is about my travels.

The Travel Part

Since May I have been to:

• Egypt
• Cyprus
• Montenegro
• New York/Washington D.C.
• Paris/Bordeaux

Egypt

I can’t describe how I feel about not being able to see Alex as often as I’d like. Since we met in 2016 we’ve managed to organise a holiday each year together and I really hope we can continue this tradition. Last year we went hiking in Norway for the main event and then tagged onto the end a short stay in Budapest and Krakow. This year our main course was just over a week in Egypt, a cheese course of Cyprus in the middle and then Kotor, Montenegro for dessert. I’m not sure how that ended up being food related. 

Alex started her holiday in Spain with her friend Daniela and then they both met me in Cairo for the tour.

What can I say about Egypt? How do you start describing it? It’s been a dream of mine for years. I first watched the film The Mummy with my mum and Berni, and I remember Libby saying that her sister Nicole has seen it and “the scene with the bugs” really freaked her out. I was in primary school, I know that much but I’m not sure how old I was exactly. Anyway, I loved it. That bug scene was creepy but I was more distracted by how blue their shells were. I loved the clothes and the landscape and how Hamunaptra only appeared in the morning sun, I loved the slight comedy of it all and the hieroglyphics. Berni and I have seen that film so many times that we can quote it, follow along the entire thing and say the lines word for word with the actors. The second film was ok, it wasn’t as classic as the first but you did get to see much more of the country than just Cairo and a fictional city. And now I had finally been to each of those locations. I got to touch the walls and see the difference between the carvings being inlaid versus having them stand out of the wall. I was asked along the way what the highlight of that tour was for me and it was the first day we went to the pyramids. It was when we were able to step into one of the first ever constructed pyramids, down, down into the chambers underground. I looked up and there on the walls all around me were real hieroglyphics, from ANCEINT EGYPT! They were real, they weren’t just replicas in museums or paintings, and I could touch them and lay my fingers in each groove just like the original artists. 

This is the pyramid we entered

The hieroglyphics that took my breath away 

The places we visited:

• -      Pyramids and Sakkara
• -      Valley of the Kings
• -      Nubian Village and homecooked dinner
• -      Abu Simbel, Philea Temple, Felucca Cruise for two nights
• -      Hot air balloon ride over Luxor
• -      Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple, Edfu (Temple of Horace)
• -      Cairo, Citadel of Saladin and Mosque of Mohammed Ali, Hanging Church and the Khan El Khalili Bazaar
• -      We also had a day in Alexandria once we arrived back to Cairo – separate from the organised tour

 

Swimming in the Nile

 

On the felucca

 

Me and Horace at his Temple (Edfu) trying not to burn anymore than I already had

 

Inside the Templ

I’m not going to describe each place, I can’t.  I will tell you however about my experience with the camel. That darned camel Charlie Brown. And if you want to see a photo of that creature, it’s on my Instagram. Before then I only had one known fear, and that was falling from height and not having complete control over my situation, as I found out the hard way when indoor rock climbing. Completely strapped into a harness and everything I just freaked and began crying uncontrollably. I eventually made it to the top of the wall but it took almost an hour and I couldn’t see through all the tears. I guess this experience was much the same, with the lack of the control being at its centre. I thought I’d be fine, but got really unsettled when the camel stood up and every time it took more than a slow step, if it hopped or gained a MICRO SECOND in speed, the tears came flowing. I was really scared of falling, I only had one little handle to hold onto and I didn’t like it. The guide had to come and hold onto my reigns and I think he was scared I’d dunno, hop off and run into the desert or scream, I’m not sure but Alex supported me the entire time. She laughed and took photos and I’m just glad I was wearing my sunnies and not wearing mascara. God, I was not pretending. I honestly don’t think I’ll ever get back on one of them again. Ships of the desert, sure, I’ll take the bus thanks. Or walk. I’d gladly walk over sitting atop a moving creature. But hey, the view was incredible. Camel ride through the desert towards the Great Pyramids of Giza. Ha! Incredible.  

The Nile is the only source of water for the country, so you’d think that they’d take better care of it downstream so due to the ill-education and idiocy of some of the locals, downstream in Cairo the Nile is part sewerage system, part landfill and part transport system. But upstream it’s clean and clear and beautiful and we all swam in it. Jumped off our feluccas into the Nile, as you do. Put that on your bucket list. As there’s only 1 inch of rainfall a year, the Nile is their everything. As we rode in our hot air balloon (yep) we could see the blue of the river, with a kilometre on either side of green where there were trees and vegetation and houses and roads, and then after that was just desert. On either side as far as the eye can see. Strip of blue boarded by thicker strips of green and then yellow. So much yellow. And it was beautiful. We owe a lot to our unbelievable tour guide Hassan with Travel Talk Tours, yeah let’s plug him. He’s incredibly educated and not only that, can tailor the tour to his specific group, had a dark and witty sense of humour which Alex, Daniela and I completely got on board with and he truly made the experience for us. 

Cyprus

Let’s do this one in dot points.

• -      Ayia Napa is basically Ibiza and I didn’t like it
• -      Nice beaches, clean water and relaxing atmosphere during the day
• -      Crazy nightlife
• -      Kinda got drunk
• -      Spent the next day in bed
• -      Paphos is more my speed, the old town of Paphos
• -      Lovely food and wine, great seafood
• -      Swam in the harbour
• -      Cute little shops
• -      So many cats!!! We stopped to pat nearly every one we came across
• -      Still hot. I got heat rash again.
• -      Went on a jeep safari up the whole west coast of the island and swam under waterfalls and in a blue lagoon, saw turtle nests, went into a gorge, through old neglected towns

 

A really cold waterfall we swam in

The really warm blue lagoon we swam in

Some of the tasty food

Montenegro

Alex told me last year that her dad’s favourite place in the whole world was Kotor, Montenegro. 

I told her that we’d go. 

So we did.

I knew how much it meant to her that we were there, I mean how could I do anything but add it to our travels? It was a little selfish of me, and they do say that every good deed is in fact selfish, because I liked seeing the joy on her face as we walked in. It’s a tiny town, tucked away in the corner of a bay. Look it up. A fortified town surrounded by massive mountains, the water crisp and perfect for summer dipping to relieve you of your mozzie bite and heat rash itches, I should know. It’s quaint and only just popular enough with tourists so that it still holds on to a lot of local charm. I won’t spoil the rest of the surprise; just promise me this one thing…

That you will live your life to it’s fullest. That you won’t settle. Go wild, get back to your roots, get lost out there and find yourself. Promise me you’ll travel, to somewhere that scares you, somewhere that challenges you, somewhere that inspires you and leaves you in absolute awe. Just get out of the house, out of your town, out of your country, out of your mind. 

Everything you read and everywhere you go will add something to your life, add a colour to your soul and when you take a step back and look at what you’ve created, you’ll see a goddamn rainbow. 

Go on. I dare you.

Old Town Kotor

NYC and Washington D.C.

Earlier this year I was riding a train with my friend Amy heading into the city for our girls’ date. We wanted to spend some quality time together and to treat ourselves to a night of luxury. We stayed in a hotel in town, had a lovely full body massage and scrub, got all dolled up and had a romantic Italian dinner and then grabbed an Uber back as it decided to pelt down with rain (London, not surprising). On our way into the city for this special day, Amy brought up the topic of the Foo Fighters, I’m not sure about what in particular but I told her that of all the artists out there, they would top my list, they’re the only one I’d want to see. I love them. I had never seen them. I then Googled them, oh look they’re on tour… and they’re in the UK when I’m not in the country but yeah they’re hitting plenty of other cities… I’ve never been to NYC oh wow, playing at Madison Square Garden, and tickets are available. * Messages uncle that lives in San Fran * Hey Want to see the Foo Fighters in New York? 

Berni was free too and wanted to get out of Aus for a while. She went to visit Danny on the West Coast and then we all met up in NYC. Berni and I planned the best exploration of the island. We hit up every movie filming location we could think of, we even recreated a scene from one of our favourite movies, You’ve Got Mail. We went to Riverside park and hugged in front of the garden at the spot where the paths cross like they do in the movie, ate at the café from Serendipity, we stood on the rock and looked out over the city just like they did in Made in Manhattan, passed the Palace from Bride Wars, had Breakfast at Tiffany’s, tried to call home from the pay phones on the basement level of the NY Public Library before the world froze over and Denis Quaid could save us, danced on the floor piano of Macy’s like Tom Hanks, stood in front of the Easter Island head from the exhibitions in the Museum of Natural History, and stood at the top of the Empire State Building like Cary Grant in An Affair to Remember. 

So we learnt a few things from this trip; that rollerblading should not be taken lightly once your adult brain takes over and forgets about that careless kid you used to be, that you must learn the art of zen when queuing for anything in Manhattan, chilli dogs are delicious and pretzels need to be consumed with a pint of beer and wearing a good pair of shoes is essential because walking from place to place can lead to exciting new finds. Like pizza!

As for Foo! I’m speechless. I have no words. Let’s continue.

Berni instead treated herself to a fantabulous night on Broadway. She saw Anastasia and Musical (not the singer Anastasia, I don’t know why they’re make a play about her, although I guess it would have a catchy soundtrack). The Russian Grand Duchess that went missing and they made a film about staring Meg Ryan and John Cusack. Just ask her about it, she loved it. 

We took a train to D.C. for the day and walked the length of the National Mall. Incredible experience walking the length of all that history. And no, we tried sneaking into the library to find the President’s book but that pesky middle-aged, unarmed security guard asking us to politely move along just had us trapped. 

 

Our Riverside Park moment

 

Breakfast at Tiffany's

 

Heart and Soul

 

Hiding the fear

Highlight of the trip = Running around with Berni.

Lowest point of the trip = Leaving her. I cried. Again! Every single time I leave her, it’s getting annoying. Then again I don’t wear makeup so I don’t ever need to worry about mascara running. I hate departure gates. 

Paris and Bordeaux

I am so honoured to be telling this story. Two years ago I spent 6 months in an ambulance with a man. Locked in! No no. We were crewed together. He was sweet and kind and for some unknown reason that still baffles me, he thought I was nice and we got along just fine without killing anyone and believe me, in this job that’s a really important thing. Brian, this man, invited me to his wedding in Bordeaux and I couldn’t contain my excitement so I think I probably giggled and hopped up and down and maybe exclaimed “Yes!” just a little louder than I should have. It was going to be in Bordeaux, France, at a chateau on a vineyard, there were three of us from work invited so we decided to make a week of it. We went to Paris for two nights and spent a day at Disneyland, drank quite a bit each night and a word of the wise; don’t drink the night before rollercoasters. I love Disneyland, I do, so much. Then we trained to Bordeaux and it’s such a beautiful town. Now to the wine. I quite enjoyed the Saint-Julien – Les Fifes de Lagrange and the Lussac Saint-Emilion – Chateau Du Courlat, curve Jean-Baptiste. Ok I’ve probably copied that incorrectly but I’m sure you can find those two online quite easily.

The night before the wedding Brian’s father Joe hosted a wine and canapé evening where we could all meet and celebrate the couple before their big day and it was stunning. We played the game ‘Spot Brian’s Four Brothers”, it’s an easy game, we succeeded within 30 seconds because they all five look so alike.  Great game, everyone’s a winner! 

As I said I was extremely excited about the wedding but now that it’s over, I am so much more grateful for being invited to this incredibly special day. The ceremony was sweet and the bride looked beautiful but it was the look on Brian’s face that brought a tear to my eye and made me glad I had on my sunnies (I’ve just realised this is a trend for me, crying with my sunnies on. First that blasted camel and now this). I have never seen Brian smile like that before, he had an absolutely ecstatic look on his face and I was so humbled by the experience. There was champagne, and hors d’oeuvres and then we were seated for dinner and wine. I danced all night and at one point ran around the dance floor wearing not-my-own jacket and we left after 3am.

Toasting the happy couple at a beach bar

 

Ready for wine and canapés

 

Wedding time at Chateau Le Thil

And I believe that’s all folks. The next trip I take might very well be the trip back to Australia. Hopefully if I get some time here or there I will go somewhere for a few days. Maybe back to Ireland or maybe just northern England. I have another friend’s wedding coming up in September; Bryony is marrying Frankie in Richmond Park!!! But other than that, nothing’s set in stone. 

If you have any questions, feel free to ask me either down below this post or shoot me a message. 

Love, Patrice.