We don't know where the eight days in Russia went, but if "time flies when you're having fun" has any truth in it...we really had a great time in Russia.
The flight to Paris on Air France was fine and we were pleased to have a couple of days R&R in Senlis, a small town about 20 minutes North of the airport. We stayed in a charming 17th Century manor house ...yes spiral stairs again, but a beautiful large room with heavy wooden beam ceilings, a beautiful garden view and fitted out with all the mod cons.
We had an interesting experience on the first night which reinforces for us that stereotypes can be misleading....really!
We were lost (I know, not for the first time this trip) in dark lanes in the centre of Senlis, looking for a nice restaurant recommended to us, when we were rescued by a lovely French lady and her young daughters. In order to ensure these hopeless Aussies got to their destination, they went out of their way to walk us there, to the door. Small kindnesses...much appreciated and certainly not forgotten. ....and the food and wine were also worth getting lost for!!!
We met up with Cindy for lunch...her visa application is still being processed but she is looking forward to coming to Australia before the Winter really bites here in France.
In our wanderings around the township we came across a funny little shop (closed unfortunately) but, ....you wouldn't believe it....it was full of cats! We counted nine of them in various positions of repose.
Cindy and me outside the "cat shop"...and you should've seen the fur-balls gathered in the corners of the windows.
It looks like, from this angle, that my shirt must have shrunk in the suitcase!
How much is that pussy in the window?
It was also market day in Senlis which was a great experience with just locals and no tourists. Twice a week with such a range of foods...they sure have the "Joie de vivre" these French.
Food, glorious food.
We were really pleased to have had time to wander around the village, soak up some French ambience and enjoy some French wine and cuisine before resuming the long trek back to the antipodes. Sort of therapeutic after our hectic schedule of the weeks before.
Bike in a lane. They drive cars through these.
We know it takes longer, but breaking the journey really works for us. Thirteen hours, a long layover and then another eight hours is pretty hard on the body so we were pleased to have a nice hotel room in Singapore to rest up in.......and seeking out nice Asian food is no hardship really.
The Singapore Harbour light show projected from the Marina Bay Sands Hotel with a sea of container ships at anchor in the background.
Well, that's our 2016 "Battlefields Tour" all over.....and the subtitle of "World Hotspots Tour" didn't really affect us much at all....well part from a bit of an extra police / security presence in Turkey!
It's been an "excursion" we won't soon forget, a variety of experiences and highlights we'll reminisce over for years to come.....but until the next one....over and out!
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