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Showing posts with the label vacation

A Skateboard Shock And A Goat

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A Skateboard Shock And A Goat Leaving Ceuta on the north coast of Morocco and well into our 3rd month on the road, we had decided to carry on South. Rumours had reached us of a virtual border war between Algeria and Morocco and it was felt by us that prudence was the better part of valour. Our original intent was to go west but south it was to be. We were headed to a place called Ouezzane and this meant crossing the mountains. Once again filling our canteens with clean water and after devouring our muesli, a staple of ours so far, that was coming to an end now, we headed towards a tatty and really forlorn bus station in the middle of the town. After some hasty negotiations we had discovered that the next bus headed out was actually headed in our direction....and it was leaving. We ran, shouted and waved, all of which helped attract the attention of the driver, who looked at us with incredulity...remember.. this was before the days of mass tourism to Morocco, and we must've been qui

Afrique

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Afrique ! I’ve been asked to write a little more about my 'escape' from the British Isles, that took place many years ago. As I previously mentioned, I was a 17 year old who needed to get away from the 'woes' of my life. I had decided to embark on a backpacking and hitchhiking trip, across Europe and into North Africa. Now remember, this was in the days before mass tourism, and we were going to a place that was having trouble of its own. North Africa, namely, Morocco, and Algeria were in the throes of Civil wars, that we knew little about....but more on that in another blog. My friend and I (he is also a Rick Steves guide now) had agreed to meet on the outskirts of Bath, our hometown. It was a wet and very windy evening. It was also dark. We laughed at each other as we stood there with our military style backpacks and gear, our wind cheaters on and a bedraggled piece of cardboard in my hands. That piece of cardboard was our secret weapon ! On it was written the one word

My Itchy Feet

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My Itchy Feet I was 17 years of age when I first realised that travel was life changing.  Until then I had taken the family vacations to camp sites and holiday camps all over Britain. I had enjoyed traveling to farms, cider presses, and mountain trails with my grandfather in his caravan. I’d spent 6 weeks every year in London with my grandparents. and I always learnt from my vacations and the people around me...   but life changing... No ! At the age of 17....nearly 18, I had already lost both of my parents and a sister, in very close succession. I’d fallen in and out of love... as you do at that age. ..and my spirits were low. My best friend asked me if I’d like to go on a bit of a trip with him. I asked him ‘where to ?’ He said that it was going to actually be a big trip ! I agreed to his plan and we got prepared to hitchhike across Europe and into North Africa !…a trip that was scheduled to last 6 months.! Our preparation involved cutting up 4/5 sheets of cardb

Observing

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Observing . Walking around Carnac yesterday, filming some video for my ‘stones’ tour, we came across some beautiful places. In amongst the grasses, and the stones, was a tree trunk... just an ordinary tree trunk.. I’ve walked past It before and ignored it, but my wife, Toni, yelled out and asked me to stop walking as she took this gorgeous photo...   I’ll never walk past that tree again. She captured the moment and I was able to understand my surroundings a little more thanks to her photo. Travel is a career for me, and sometimes I feel like I’m becoming jaded or tired of it. The constant packing and unpacking, always having to look ahead and motivate others to enjoy and understand what it is they are looking at, can be exhausting. Yes, there is always the reward of seeing their eyes light up ( I’m an ‘eyes’ person), as they realise or learn something new...  but sometimes, I just want to be in the moment myself.  The second photo, was one such moment. I had been busy, filming

Creating Tours On A Woodland Walk

Creativity is a strange thing.  Office work can sometimes be tedious, particularly for an active tour guide. You know how it is... sometimes you’ve gotta get up and leave the office behind in order to make a little space in your mind for creativity to creep back in. I need creativity when I’m dreaming of a new tour itinerary. This may sound mundane to you, but to me a new itinerary is a new Christmas present that an intrepid traveller can unwrap. It’s a dream being fulfilled or an experience that will be gained and remembered for life....it’s a very special thing. I’m a tour guide with a passion for giving these things to people, but I need to create them first. The process starts with a simple question....    ‘where do I want to go next’ ? The next question is, ‘how do I want to do it’? And the final question is, ‘how long will I need to explore this place’ ? With those things resolved, I then need to imagine what I’ll do from the moment I meet my small group of tour members,

Afoot In France - Personal Tours and Guides for Brittany

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WELCOME TO " AFOOT IN FRANCE " Personal Tours and Guides WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS SITE AND ARE MOTIVATED BY IT ENOUGH TO COME AND EXPLORE FRANCE AND SOME OF THE VISUAL AND CULINARY DELIGHTS THAT THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY HAS TO OFFER . FRANCE HAS A WONDERFULLY RICH HISTORY, AND ALSO A DEEPLY ROOTED LOVE OF FOOD AND WINE. ALLOW US TO HELP YOU ENJOY SOME OF THIS INCREDIBLE CULTURE. COME AND SOAK IN THE SIGHTS AS WE PERSONALLY ESCORT AND GUIDE YOU THROUGH ANCIENT CITIES, AND WALK AROUND RUGGED AND WINDSWEPT CLIFFTOPS AND CHATEAUX. PERHAPS YOU WOULD PREFER TO BE DRIVEN THROUGH SOME OF THE FAMOUS VINEYARDS OR WINERIES OF FRANCE. LET US CHAUFFEUR YOU TO ONE OF THE NUMEROUS PRODUCE MARKETS, FOUND IN EVERY SMALL TOWN AND VILLAGE SO THAT YOU CAN TRY SPEAKING A LITTLE FRENCH, WHILST PURCHASING FOOD FOR YOUR LUNCH OR DINNER. WE ARE ABLE TO FULLY CUSTOMIZE A PERSONAL GUIDED TOUR IN FRANCE FOR YOU AND YOUR SMALL GROUP. Come and visit. We'll customize a tour in France for you, lastin

Afoot In France - 2013 Personal Guide and Escorted Tour Season in France !

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THE 2013 Personal Guide and Escorted Tour Season in France ! We are offering these destinations for our personal and escorted guided tours during the 2013 travel and tour season in France. Your travel party (family friends etc) have a choice of the following destinations in France.  Prices quoted are in US dollars and are for 1 person per day. They include pick up from your hotel, personal English speaking escort and chauffeur, who will also be your tour guide, liquid refreshments all day, fuel, tolls, insurance, and taxes. On these destinations within France we can provide a fully chaffeured and escorted tour package, that can be for a single day or for a week. Plan your itinerary and contact us for your travel needs, whilst in France. Our personal tour guides will do the rest. Brittany and Normandy - With the aid of your own personal tour guide, Visit the World War 2 beaches in Normandy, Mont St Michel, the standing stones in Carnac, and the Pink Granit

8 Day Tour of Brittany, in NW France

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This personal and guided tour of Brittany is 8 days long. We pick you up in Nantes, Dinan or Rennes and take you to your hotel. We spend 2 days in Dinan and will give you a walking tour of this superb medieaval town and its walls. An excursion up to the ruin of Fort Latte and lighthouse at Cap Frehel will give you chance to stretch your legs and enjoy the great view across the North Atlantic. and a seperate visit to the amazing island abbey of Mont St Michel is included. We then drive over to the ancient seaport of Roscoff, on the Western tip of France. Spending 2 nights in a lovely hotel 'with a view', we will explore the megalithic cairn of Barnenez and the wonderful and enchanting Pink Granite Coast. Onwards to Josselin via Belon (famous for its oysters and seafood.) and the standing stones of Carnac, and chance to stay for 3 nights in a lovely hotel adjacent to the magnificent fortress of Josselin, home to the Rohan family for centuries. We will make sure