The Maze

Telephone Box

Longleat

Roman Baths, Bath

Clara Oswin's house

The Doctor's companion, Clara Oswin lives in this house - in the show.

Sushi Lunch

For lunch we went to a sushi place where the food comes past on a conveyor belt and you choose small portions as you like.

Safe to say we've found a new favorite of Courtney's.

Cardiff

The Doctor Who Experience

Today we went to the Doctor Who experience in Cardiff. It started with an interactive show and then you could wander around and see all the old costumes, TARDIS consoles and characters.

Cardiff

oday we travelled from Belfast to Cardiff. Basically the whole reason for coming to Cardiff is to see the Doctor Who Experience. We are booked in for the big show tomorrow so today we spent the afternoon wandering the streets looking at places where Doctor Who episodes had been filmed. For lunch we stopped at Eddie's cafe, the place where the episode Impossible Astronaut was filmed (in part).

Tonight we had dinner at Jamie's Italian, one of the restaurants owned by Jamie Oliver. It was some really lovely Italian cooking.

Cardiff Penthouse

Titanic Exhibition

Today we went to the Titanic Exhibition in Belfast. It was a really modern museum with heaps of cool interactive exhibits.

Afterwards we walked along the Titanic trail which ended at the dry dock where the Titanic was launched from. We got go down right into the bottom if the dock and see the second last place the Titanic settled.

View from the girls window

Thecranegirls are currently staying at Rayanne House in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

 

Courtney's Birthday

Today is Courtney's 14th birthday. Although she is missing her family and friends very much, she knows show lucky she is to be spending her birthday in two different countries.

Today we sorted of "wasted" a day away in Paris. After a week of getting up early, waking and rushing we decided on having a little sleep in. There is along way to go yet and we don't want to get burnt out. 

We packed the suitcases up and Dad and the girls went to the Le Comptior Cafe down stairs and had fish and chips while Louise ducked out for a last minute look at the shops (the rest of us had retired our feet)

But the resting didn't last long and soon we were walking with the suitcases to the train station (where the escalator was broken) to catch the two trains to the airport. 

We flew Easyjet from Paris to Belfast which took about 75 minutes - once they'd changed a wheel on the plane. 

When we arrived at our accommodation there was a huge bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates for the birthday lady, delivered all the way from Mum in Australia.

Rayanne House, the guest house we are staying in is beautiful. Courtney thinks it is jury like the house in a book she is reading at the moment. The girls have their own room with huge beds. 

M&M World London

Volvo S60 Parental Control

Stonehenge

Courtney's Birthday Flowers

Courtney has been lucky enough to have her birthday in two different countries. 

When we checked into our Bed-n-Breakfast today, Courtney received a bunch of flowers and chocolates sent to her by Mum on the other side of the world. She loved her gifts.

Euro Disney

Today we went to Euro Disney. We had to get up really early and walk (again) to the place where the bus picked us up. 

The bus ride took about 45 minutes which gave us a little chance to have a snooze. 

We arrived at the park and were given invisible stamps on our hands (or were we)... 

Firstly we went on the Buzz Lightyear ride which had us in little space ships, shooting at the aliens and other bad guys. 

Space Mountain was awesome but left us a little giddy and queezey. It was a really fast roller coaster in the dark - it went upside down and jerked side to side. 

We went to the shooting gallery and then to a roller coaster called Thunder Road - which we thought was going to be sedate enough for

Brooke - we were wrong. Still Brooke love the roller coaster. She did not know if she wanted to laugh or scream. We got a great photo of her - eyes closed and tense. 

We watched the stunt cars and the history of animation as well as show on special effects. 

We went on a tram ride which showed how the movie makers made sets etcetera. That show had thousands of liters of water and fire balls coming towards us. 

We went on a Pirates of the Caribbean boat ride which had some great puppets and also a life(ish) size version of the Black Pearl. 

The girls did a little shopping and lastly we wandered through the Mad Hatters maze. 

Eiffle Tower II

Last night we planned to go out for dinner and to go up the Eiffle Tower. Our plans were somewhat ruined because there was a large protest underway and the police had closed all the streets between our accommodation, the restaurant and the tower. 

We eventually made our way around and made it onto one of the last assents of the evening. 

Every hour the lights on the tower flicker like a strobe light and there are two search lights on the very top which cast light for miles and miles. 

We left the tower and because it was a warm night and the protest was still going, we had to walk all the way home along the river. 

A lot of the bridges in Paris have hundreds, if not thousands of padlocks attached to them. All the tourists write of engrave their names onto the padlock as a sign they have been there.

Thecranegirls now have a sister lock.  

On the Bridge to the west of the Musse D'Orsay (the one with the Jefferson statue), on the hand rail on the eastern side of the bridge, on the right hand side of the 14th upright - the girls have locked an 'Fortress'' padlock to the bridge. 

On the padlock the girls wrote "Courtney and Brooke. Sisters 2013"

The girls have each kept a key to the lock. We hope it is there for years to come. Who knows, one day they might get back to Paris to check on their lock.

Terrible Weather

Over the days we have been in Paris the weather has been wonderful. Most days it is Tshirt  weather - almost warm. Louise had us all expecting to be freezing cold most of the time.

It's become one of our ongoing holiday jokes how awful the weather is in Europe.

Euro Disney

Centre Pompidou

This afternoon we went to Centre Pompidou, the modern art museum. It's fair to say, thecranegirls share Dad's appreciation of modern art.

There was heaps of Picasso paintings but this one was our favorite... Basically a huge white canvas with white textured paint on it...

Norte Dame

This morning we wandered down the the Notre Dame cathedral. There was a mass being held whilst we were there and the stain glass windows were amazing.

Versailles

The girls had such a tiring day yesterday at the Lourve, this morning called for a slow start. We woke about nine and then caught the train to Versailles. The line to get into the palace was at least 300 people long bit to be fair it took only half an hour or so to get inside. Inside was chaos with hundreds of people wanting to see the same rooms. Just when dad was about to give up, it appeared everyone did and it quietened down.

We saw where the kings and queens of France grew up and from where they often controlled the country. We also got to see lots of their furniture and art work.

 After looking inside the palace, we explored the gardens which had lots of beautiful ponds, some some with waterfalls. There was one pond in which there was a water fountain that squirted water in time with the music.

The girls got to try crepes for the first time - they are just like Nana makes! So again today was a lot of time on our feet walking and everyone is looking forward to tonight's sleep.

Dumb Dumb

The highlight of the Lourve visit was meeting "Dumb Dumb" - he is a character from the movie Night at the Museum - but in real life, he's an Easter Island Head.

The Mona Lisa

Today the girls went to the Lourve. It is a massive place and we really don't think we saw half of what it has to offer. Simply, exhaustion won the day.

Dad and the girls pushed their way to the front eventually and got a really good look at the Mona Lisa.

5kg tubs of Nutella !

Today we went to a food hall which sold 5 kilogram jars of Nutella. Brooke's eyes really lit up.

Day 2 Paris

It's been a really long day - and a beautiful sunny day in Paris. We started out expecting the worst and Dad spend the whole day lugging a backpack full of jackets, beanies, scarfs and gloves which were never needed.

We started the day at Musse D'orsay, an art gallery which had some Van Gogh paintings (a favorite of Doctor Who fans) including 'The Church'. The girls want to go back again if time permits.

We had lunch at cafe nearby. Brooke was more than happy with the lamb chops.

After lunch we walked towards the Arc De Triomphe and found a bridge over the river Seine where visitors have started attaching padlocks, on which they have written their names. It looks really good.

In the sky there is always long jet streams. They look awesome criss-crossing over each other.

The Eiffel Tower

Day 1 - Paris

Last night we arrived at CDG airport about 8:00pm. We stayed at the Novatel Hotel which is attached to the airport.

 This morning we caught two trains, arriving at the station just below the Musee D'orsay museum. When we came out of the underground immediately saw the museum, a statue of an elephant and the river Sein. It's an amazing place. Beautiful.

We're lucky Louise is able to speak French. She has negotiated all the street signs and check in counters.
Our apartment is fantastic! Although the girls are sharing a fold out sofa bed, the view out the window is breath taking. Dad has already claimed one of the streets as his own.

This afternoon thecranegirls and Dad went wandering the streets of Paris until we eventually found the Eiffel Tower. Courtney was the first to spot it - Brooke and Dad looked left.

Courtney's school art assignment has her taking photos of all the trees - which looks odd when you're facing away from the world famous monument taking photos.

We had a lovely afternoon wandering the streets looking at buildings and shops. It's fair to say the girls have fallen in love with Paris.

Tripod

Courtney has worked out a way of staying stable whilst she takes photographs.

Arrived in Paris

Today was really long. We were awake and up at 3:00am and then caught our flights from Perth - Dubai and then a from Dubai - Paris.

We have arrived safe and sound. Brooke's first flight that she can remember went off without a hitch. She was a little concerned about the turbulence but was frequently reassured by her big sister. Although she loves watching movies and playing games on the in flight system, after the first few hours her enthusiasm for long flights diminished and she is not looking forward to the next one.

Tonight we're sleeping in a hotel near right next to the airport before we tackle Paris city.

Perth to Paris

Qantas Club

We had a really early and slow start to the day but all is well now.

The girls are pretty sure they could live in a Qantas club. They had a really good breakfast, helping themselves. Unfortunately, Brooke is starting to think all air travel is like this!

On Holiday! - False Start

After all the planning thecranegirls are off on their holiday!!

We had a little false start with the girls forgetting to pack/bring Woof Woof, Tickle etcetera.

Mum and Dad had a little half way meet and all is well again.

Threading

Courtney Arrives in Geraldton

Great Escape

Brooke Turns Eleven

Today is Brooke's eleventh birthday!

Last night we measured her against the door at Grandma and Pa's house - she has grown a couple of center meters in as may months.

Happy Birthday Darling!

Almost 11

Fast Eddys

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Australia Day

The girls have experienced their Australia Day weekends apart. Brooke was lucky enough to be invited to a raft up on the river with Riley and his family. Hopefully there will be a photo to post soon.

Courtney had a sleep over weekend with her friend Jasmine. We rode down to Matilda Bay to watch the fireworks from the river banks.

Happy Australia Day 2013.