London to Hong Kong to Sydney

We departed London Heathrow on an 8 month old Airbus A380 for our flight to Hong Kong with British Airways. We then had a layover in Hong Kong of 8 hours but as we arrived two hours later that was shortened. We continue onto Sydney with Cathay Pacific, so all up we have flown a total of four different airlines on three different types of Airbus aircraft. 

Our A380 in Hong Kong G-XLEF

Another photo of our plane parked in Hong Kong

London (day 23)

Our final day in Europe and in London and we made the most of it before having to be out at the airport in the evening for our flight homeward bound. 

A very leisurely day today, although for a Sunday London was very busy there were people everywhere. We decided to visit the Natural History Museum and do some shopping before heading out to the airport. 

Planet Earth and the discovery of what makes our planet tick. 

It also has an impressive dinosaur fossil collection. 

Mammals section

Very impressed in the few hours that we spent here we didn't touch the surface. Oh well more to do for our next visit. 

London (day 22)

We had a leisurely day today with a tour of the State Rooms inside Buckingham Palace and then we ended the day with another musical which we both loved and have been waiting to see for a very long time 'The Book of Mormon' what an incredibly clever and funny show. 

The back of Buckingham Palace leading into the gardens

Prince of Wales theatre

London (day 21)

Day 2 in London and we took in the Tate Modern and Tate Britain museums, we also visited Shakespeare's Globe theatre and finished the day off with another musical 'Evita' a much slower day but very enjoyable. 

A Picasso from Tate Modern

Showing the Tate Modern museum (the brown brick tower) plus where we ate lunch today 

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

Tate Britain gallery

A piece of art from the massive collection

Dominion Theatre 'Evita'

London (day 20)

We left France this morning and arrived in London in time for lunch. We visited The Shard which is Europe's tallest building and the views from level 69 & 72 were incredible. We finished off the evening with some musical theatre in London's West End with 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' a brilliant performance. 

Paris (day 19) - part II

Our last evening in Paris and we decided to return to the wonderful restaurant that we ate our last meal at two years ago on our last visit le Clos des Gourmets. The restaurant was still there and the food was a delight. After we ate we headed to the Eiffel Tower and took the elevator to the Summit to take in the views before we leave France for London tomorrow morning. 

Paris (day 19) - part I

Our 4th and last day in Paris. We traveled around Paris today at a much slower pace as we didn't have a timetable just a few more things on our to-do list that we wanted to visit and we had a successful day. 

Our first stop was Bastille and the local markets. The aromas and sights were wonderful. 

July Column

Marche d'Aligre

The Grande Arche

Jardin du Luxembourg

Time to stop and smell the flowers in the gardens. 

Paris (day 18) - part II

Tonight we went to the top of Paris at Tower Montparnasse with a 38 second lift to the observation deck on level 56 and an outside observation platform on level 59 of 208m. Then we dined at Ciel de Paris. The views of Paris were stunning. 

Bubbles in the sky!

The centre Pompidou which is near our hotel. 

The Eiffel Tower

The changing lights of the Eiffel Tower. 

Sunset over Paris. 

Paris (day 18) - part I

Day 3 in Paris and we have managed to cover a lot of territory and tick of a few more sights that we have had on our to-do lists. 

We were up nice and early and arrived before the Catacombs opened and lucky for us we were one of the first through this eerie sight and something that I have always been interesting in seeing. 

The Catacombs

Second stop for the day was the Musee Rodin where the famous statue 'The Thinker' or Le Penseur

Then across to the Invalides and the Musee de l'Armee

Tomb of Napoleon inside the Invalides

Paris (day 17)

We had another wonderful day in Paris exploring parts new and old on our second day in this wonderful city. 

In all it's glory and the queues were much shorter today than the last time we visited

La Madeleine

Palais Garnier

Inside the theatre looking at the loges up to the magnificent ceiling

Paris (day 16) - part II

Our first night in Paris was amazing, we found an incredible restaurant in Montemarte called 'The three little pigs' and then we took in the views of Paris by night. 

Sacre-Coeur

The restaurant Aux Trois Petits Cochins - just wonderful

This one needs no explanation. 

Paris at night - just beautiful. 

Paris (day 16) - part I

We continued North to Paris today and arrived in the morning and made the most of the day.