Here I am back at home again after a fabulous week away and what an adventure this has been. I would like to share some of my photos with you and hope that you will enjoy the journey too. For this holiday we decided to go to Lake Garda in Italy and do it all ... by train.
We went with a company called Treyn and they provide a Tour Manager who escorts the group the whole time... and her job is to ensure that all runs smoothly.
We went via the Euro Tunnel from the very elegant St Pancras station in London into Paris and then switched to the TGV towards Italy.
We arrived at Gare du Nord and then had to cross Paris to the Gare de Lyon and this part of the journey was to take place by coach .... but the coach did not turn up
Now if that was my job I would have been in a panic but Louise the TM ...stayed as cool as a cucumber, did some neat haggling with a taxi driver and managed a deal that took 26 people, in his large fleet of taxis across Paris in rush hour ... which is no mean task
They weaved in and out of other traffic ... used the bus lanes and got us all to Gare de Lyon with about seven minutes to spare....
Panic over ... medal to Louise !!
The scenery on the route was spectacular with white fluffy clouds covering the tops of the high mountains... as we sped past on a very fast train
This was the first nights stop in a pretty town called Chambery in France, with the beautiful snow covered Alps in the background.
We arrived late in the afternoon and just had time for a quick look around before going for dinner and this picture was taken looking down one of the tree lined roads on the way to the restaurant.
This time we go into Italy for our destination by the side of beautiful Lake Garda for a five night stay in a hotel by the waters edge.
More tomorrow ...
Hugs xx
wow....thanks for sharing christina, we would love to do this sort of holiday but never seem to get round to it, looking forward to your next chapter x
ReplyDeleteChristina,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are back, I missed you. Italy? Wow, what a great vacation. The photos are great, can't wait to see, and hear more about your adventure.
wow!! Christina what an awesome holiday you both had looking forward to the next installment. It is great when things go smoothly or at least when the TM makes things happen just when they could go horribly pear shaped. Wonderful that that part of the journey was so enjoyed by you. xxxx Lyn
ReplyDeleteGood morning christenia Oh you lucky thing it luck gorgeous. And the weather looks good too. Debs xxx
ReplyDeletedebsartliffscards.blogspot.co.uk
Glad you had a good time. Looks beautiful. Xxx
ReplyDeleteWow lovely pics Christina, sounds like a great trip. xxxx
ReplyDeletebeen there when we went to Austria ,loved it Hubby wants to do a train journey from home all the way to Austria!! not been anywhere else but Austria apart from visiting places on way and trips out xxx
ReplyDeleteWhat a trip! The picures are lovely, welcome back to us,
ReplyDeleteand Happy Creation ;) Anki J - Sweden
These tour Holidays with your own guide are fantastic and so well organised ,i am pleased you enjoyed yours and all went well in the end .
ReplyDeleteElaine H X
Morning Christina, nice to see your blog "live" again so to speak. Sounds like an adventure, look forward to the next installment.
ReplyDeleteHi Christina,
ReplyDeleteGood to see you back and those photos are great....such beautiful scenery. Your TM sounded like one great 'Mrs Fix-it' lady...just the type of person who knew her job especially when things go a bit haywire.
Love Sheila xx
Hi Christina, glad you enjoyed your hol. Sounds like you had a fabulous time. Hope you managed to try some of that delicious ice cream.
ReplyDeleteLove & best wishes
Jenny C xxx
Welcome home Christina, delighted to know you had a wonderful time and are back home safe and sound, thank you for sharing, looking forward to episode 2 tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Margaret corgi owner
Good to see you back.... and thanks for the travel update and photos. Did you pick up any crafty goodies while away? :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had a wonderful vacation! Sounds as though it had a very exciting start, and happy you were able to catch the train! BethAnn M.
ReplyDeleteWhat an adventure you had! Lucky that Louise was a cool headed lady and saved the day for you all! So pleased you had such a great time, though I do think you might have taken little ol' me with you too! Sigh! ah well ...never mind! lol! Hugs, Karen xx
ReplyDeleteLooks a stunning place thank you Christina for sharing them x
ReplyDeleteWelcome home Christina, I really enjoyed your account of your first day.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Christina. Love the pics you take and share, exciting journey so far. Looking forward to episode 2.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures thank you for sharing them with us...glad you had a great time...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, sounds like your vacation got off to an exciting start. Have a blessed day.
ReplyDeleteHi Christina,
ReplyDeleteWelcome home. Thanks for sharing your photos and stories of your holiday, sounds wonderful.
Lydia
X
Welcome Christina and Griff. Seems like you had a wonderful adventure! Look forward to part two. Thank you for sharing. Hugs. Jan. xx
ReplyDeleteChristina
ReplyDeleteAre you the lucky people? Lake Garda is a gorgeous place with stunning scenery and hail stones the size of marrowfat peas. Seriously though, I'm jealous, I've been there and would just LOVE to go back. Venice and Verona within easy reach and the spectacular Dolomites not far away, although you need to close your eyes tight coming down if heights aren't your thing.
Every corner is a photo opportunity.
Sigh!! I'd live next to the lake for the rest of my life.
I hope you took loads of pics and videoes
Welcome home - sounds like you've had plenty of excitement in day one! Pat x
ReplyDeleteWelcome back Christina, we sure have missed you, but your posts have been fabulous. Glad you enjoyed your holiday, the pics are super, look forward to some more.....luv Ursula xx
ReplyDeleteHi Christina that sounds like a fantastic Holiday,and the Taxi man must be like superman,to get through Paris and in the traffic busy time.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to part two tomorrow .
Ita.
Welcome home Christina and Griff! So glad you both had a great time. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Em
Creative Em
So glad you had a wonderful vacation.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear you had such a great time even with a bit of change there, sounds like you had a wonderful tour manager, it is always nice when they can calmly take care of a situation. When we lived in England we went over to Paris by way of the Euro Tunnel, I can't remember the name of the tour guide we had but it was a very nice trip
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing as this is the only way I will see any of this part of the world.
ReplyDeletehello christina, welcome home! nice to have you back.
ReplyDeleterinda