On the Road Pt1 July 29- 31

Got out of Oslo (eventually!) after finding the right tunnel entrance. By the way, if you’re going to the west coast of Norway, you have to follow signs to Stockholm, which is totally the opposite direction! Then to see our first, maybe only, stave church. These are old wooden church/cathedrals built hundreds of years ago, and lovingly maintained by the people. Unique to Norway, apparently.

Stayed the night in a little red cabin we found on Airbnb- it sits on the edge of the deepest lake in Norway- Lake Tinn, 400 metres straight down!

Hello Oslo! July 27-28

Jetted into Oslo last night just as the sun set - 11.30pm!
The European heatwave continues, 32 in town and it seems everyone was at the “beach” (actually a wooden boardwalk into very deep, murky green water).

So, most unexpectedly, we spent the day by the water, swimming and eating ice creams!

If this climate change, the scandis are all for it.

We also had a look at the Alfred Nobel Museum,

And the Resistance Museum, dedicated to the heroes of the Resistance against Nazi occupation in WW2. I found out the story of Quisling, the much-hated Norwegian traitor and collaborator with Hitler

Back to Provence, then on to sample some Scandi Noir! July 16 - 27

We had a standing invitation from Aude and Xavier, our hosts from our visit to their gite in Provence in 2010, to return one day. Little did they know that we would return in 2019 and stay for 2 weeks!
The gite was just as we remembered it from 9 years previously.

We flew to Singapore, had a 24 hour break there ( with a great pool), then flew 13 hours to Paris, staying at the Bercy Village, highly recommended!

Simon's plan was to follow the Tour de France with a small group of Australian Mamils, led by Stuart O'Grady. We were happy to let him do that while we lazed around the pool in 39degree heat!

Highlights were seeing the Pont du Gard and exploring more of Pernes les Fontaines. The kids loved the morning walk to pick up the croissants and pain au chocolats!

Simon after a particularly hot hill climb - the Col du Galibier