Archive for category Travel
Paris Day7: Say Goodbye
Posted by martin newham in Holidays, Travel on September 5, 2009
After another great breakfast to keep me going throughout the day – I sadly packed my case and ordered my taxi to the station for 2:30pm
Doing the tourist thing I hadn’t finished; I was only able to work half way through Rick Steves’ Historic Paris Walk that I mentioned yesterday – so it was back on the Metro and out to Notre-Dame again to pick up the rest of the tour.
Below you can see the Conciergerie, not to be confused with the guy that helps you out at the front desk of a hotel 
The Conciergerie is a gloomy prison famous as the last stop for 2,780 victims of the guillotine including Marie-Antoinette. Previously the building had be used to torture and execution of failed assassins.
Paris Day6: Culture Crazy
Posted by martin newham in Holidays, Travel on September 4, 2009
Throughout my holiday in central Paris, I’ve been using my technology. I’ve been using a number of iPhone applications which use local databases and GPS to route you around the city, find the nearest metro’s etc. There have been a number of digital guides I’ve used as well, later I’ll post some of the ones I’ve used and how to reduce data charges and increase battery time.
After a great breakfast; thanks Sofitel – I was ready to go…
The day started of dark and threatening but I was determined to get out… using Rick Steves’ Historic Paris Walk for the iPhone and Touch was the walk around the Notre-Dame area…
Paris Day5: Culture Shock
Posted by martin newham in Holidays, Travel on September 3, 2009
Well what a day! Slept well, left the hotel about 10am, visited the Arc de Triomphe at the end of the road…
… and caught the metro. Arrived at walked to Eiffel Tower; got some great pictures it’s an amazing structure built to celebrate the turn of the century in the 1900’s and its still as strong as ever.
Paris Day4: Chalk & Fromage
Posted by martin newham in Holidays, Travel on September 2, 2009
Dear readers, you will remember that I was enjoying the new room at Disney Newport Bay Club hotel yesterday; well last night at 3am the balcony door opened and refused to close! Lucky it wasn’t wet of cold but after 20 minutes of trying to stop it banging on the stop, I just jammed it open with a chair for the rest of the night – needless to say the interruption ruined my sleep for the rest of the night and I woke up like a bear with a sore head.
Needless to say the “cast members” were as always very helpful and fixed the door around 8am; at which point I went back sleep.
I packed again and distributed my various belongings with the concierge for a half day in the Disneyland Park. I must admit the cast members are great in the hotel, although in my opinion my whole hotel experience with Disney was let down by the physical hotel – however grand it looked.
Paris Day3: Silent Night, Stormy Head
Posted by martin newham in Holidays, Travel on September 1, 2009
With the fiasco of the rooms yesterday; you’ll be glad to hear that last night I slept the whole night – without interruptions!
But the morning itself woke with a bang. The weather had flipped 180, yesterday was one of the hottest – today it seemed like one of the wettest! Of course it didn’t just rain there was also thunderstorms and lightening – I’m sure it was natures work just to prove Disney how to do it properly.
Breakfast today was with Pluto; he made an appearance in the hotel lobby having pictures taken with the guests – a talented pup, signing autographs as well; although I’m a little concerned as it seems he has very poor vision…
Paris Day2: Disneyland Park
Posted by martin newham in Holidays, Travel on August 31, 2009
At around 12:30am I was woken up by the refuse collection below the room I was staying in – not a quick five minutes, but I can only assume some unhappy “cast member” taking it out on the empty bottles. I much have counted at least 20 glass bottles being thrown into refuse, that interspersed with the lift next door delivering people; a thankless task, but still noisy.
The following morning, after inspecting the HUGE queue for breakfast, to be honest I’ve seen smaller queues within the park! I decided to forgo the most important meal of the day and see what can be done about my room.
Paris Day1: Arrival.
Posted by martin newham in Holidays, Travel on August 30, 2009
Arrived at the hotel at Disney around 2pm local time. Check in was a bit of a chore, bit finally got onto the room – it’s on the 8th floor and overlooking the hotel delivery area – 4/10 for location.
Paris Day1: Departure
Posted by martin newham in Holidays, Travel on August 30, 2009
Well we’ve just left St. Pancras station, I feel as if I should be wearing a seatbelt.
Paris Day1: Ready to go
Posted by martin newham in Holidays, Travel on August 30, 2009
Arrived at London St. Pancras International to get the Eurostar train direct to Disneyland Paris.
The train leaves at 09:53, so I’m hanging around in the very small departure area waiting.
I think Disney has loaned the station some brass band. They seem very Disney-esk.
Weekend of Celebration – Tim & Belinda’s Wedding
Posted by martin newham in Holidays, Musings, Travel on July 20, 2009
17th ~ 19th July 2009
Ceremony occurring on the Saturday 18th July 2009
Update: I’ve posted the Slideshow video from the DVD at the bottom of this post
What a fantastic couple of days; a good friend of 20+ years honoured me by inviting me to his very exclusive wedding located in Winchelsea near Rye in the UK.
They had converted a small hotel, into what can only be explained as an extended family home for 3 days. The whole hotel was reserved for the wedding group, and the setting and location was amazing.
We arrived late Friday afternoon and we shown to our room, the 18th Century building can only be described as unique, its exposed beams and low ceilings really brought home the historic charm of the building (I have the bruises to prove it).