Arriving in Porto Covo around 8 pm we decided to eat in the hotel itself. I had a perfect room overlooking the sea. The restaurant looked to be first class and we weren’t disappointed.
We were staying here for three nights, and would be exploring the villages and towns nearby.
The next morning we had a delicious buffet breakfast together. Before setting off for the day I went for a walk along the cliff top.
I took the above photos sitting on the veranda. A man doing Tai Chi and a family of joggers.
Photos below of my walk along the cliff top. It was a beautiful walk. It went around in a loop to the back of the village. Alternatively, you could keep walking further along the top. There was a warning about the stairs being unstable down to the beach, so gave that a miss.
Top: Having fun posing with the sign – Bottom: Porto Covo Spa Hotel
What a difference a day made! The weather was beautiful on one of the days.
Photos of Porto Covo Village
The village of Porto Covo is picturesque and postcard perfect. I could easily visit here again, preferably in the summer months. We did eat out one night at a fabulous Italian Pizza place. On our third night we opted for the hotel again as the heavens opened as we were about to walk out of the door!
The day finally arrived when we flew to London to visit my dear mum and enjoy some side trips during our stay in Essex.
We flew Qatar as I believe they are the best airline for long haul flights, and it is indeed a long journey from Perth. I wanted to sit upstairs and Anthony wanted to be on the lower deck, so we comprised and did one leg on each. The way to travel such long distances is to research the best pillow, I took my trusty Turtl again and it worked a treat. We had around two hours in Doha and I was amazed as to what had been constructed since last year.
Upstairs Deck
There is a place now called The Orchard and is a 6,000 square metre indoor tropical garden. There is a huge water feature plus over 300 trees and 25,000 plants. It was a treat to walk around and immerse ourselves in nature while in a busy airport.
Exotic Plant
Finally arriving in Heathrow after 11 hour and 7 hour flights, we decided to stay one night at an airport hotel to recoup our strength.
After dropping our cases at my nephew’s we went straight to the home, sadly my mum did not recognise me at first but then just couldn’t believe I was really there. We sat and chatted for a while but her memory obviously has got that much worse. We promised to be back the next day.
The next morning brought clear sunny weather to my amazement as I was expecting cold and rain. I had a short walk down the lane and across the fields.
Over she goesAny chance to pose!
After this walk we drove to the home again and borrowed a wheelchair to take my mum for a stroll up the high street. She was over the moon to be wheeled out into the sunny day and kept asking me if I wanted a turn.
We stopped for lunch in an olde tea shop after buying her new shoes and clothes. There is a lovely old church in the high street so we had a wander around.
Holy Trinity Church
I couldn’t find out much about this church except that it dates back to the 15th century. I believe there was a church here during Saxon times and the building has a Norman chancel. I thought it looked very grand in the sunshine and the stone and brick work were beautiful.
My mum said she had a lovely time with us and couldn’t believe how wonderful it was to be out. It does make me sad to hear this but such is life and I’m glad we are able to do such a small service for her.
We have a fairly full itinerary planned for the next four or five weeks and I’ll be sharing all of this very soon.
The week started with a trip to the cinema with friends to see the much acclaimed movie Barbie. It’s had fantastic reviews so off we went. After we walked over to an Indian restaurant, “Bollywood” for a few curries and a lively discussion. We were all in agreement that it was an enjoyable film. For me the best scenes were the ones with Ryan Gosling, who was brilliant. I’m not sure how he kept a straight face! The choreography with all the Kens dancing was wonderful to watch. We chatted about who had Barbies and our different memories of playing with dolls.
There were some very political messages they were trying to put across, and the Space Odyssey scene at the beginning was clever, a tad scary! When I go to the cinema I like to watch something that’s feel good and uplifting, I’m not one for true life films.
The rest of the week flew past as usual, before you know it the weekend has arrived. It was Bridge on Tuesday where my partner Donald and myself are in a two week competition, we came fourth out of 22, very happy with that.
Wednesday and Friday are Zumba mornings, where we are currently doing one dance to a Barbie song, lots of fun.
Thursday night we had dinner out with friends at a yacht club overlooking the Swan River, a lovely evening eating and drinking.
Saturday we had a birthday lunch at a winery in the Swan Valley. A gorgeous sunny afternoon outside looking out across the vineyards. We caught up with many old friends, some we hadn’t seen for a few months and even years!
All the vines had been pruned so did not look that picturesque.
This time next week I’ll be back in the UK again, a last minute decision to attend a wedding.
Finally we were on our way to Langkawi! Penang to Langkawi is only a 40 minutes flight and we flew on Firefly Airlines.
A propellor plane, hopefully it won’t be a rough flight
Goodbye PenangHello LangkawiRebak Island Marina
A driver from the hotel was waiting for us at Langkawi Airport and the Tanjung Rhu Resort was a 30 minute drive away. The resort is situated on the Northern part of the island and is quite isolated from the rest of the island. Surrounded by lush greenery with a large beach fronting the property.
We arrived around 2pm shortly before check in. The lovely lady who checked us in said would be mind an upgrade to a beach view and larger room. How polite, of course how could I refuse.
There was a separate living room plus a small balcony overlooking the beach, how wonderful is the view?
On exploring the resort we realised that only half is open to visitors, the other half is sadly beyond repair and closed up. We found out that the hotel is now owned by the bank. There seemed to be no overseeing of the staff. We did experience long waits for food or not turning up at all, and everyone blaming the next in line!
The deserted beach and beautiful pools did a lot to make up for these oversights. Being so far from everywhere else in Langkawi there was nowhere else to eat but at the resort.
Even though we were told the hotel was full we couldn’t see any evidence!
Adults only pool
Sunset Pool for families
It seemed like we had a private pool anytime we were there. The perfect antidote for recuperating, nothing but rest and relaxation.
Chef’s Table
This was the five star restaurant that we visited for two nights of our stay. The food was excellent as was the service.
There was also a pizza restaurant that put on a BBQ buffet one night that we ate in also.
This resort is good for day visits to get away from the busyness of the rest of the island, although it was wonderful for our three night stay.
It’s definitely a five star location and our room was five star, but with the restaurants that were open and only serving a limited menu definitely not a five star rating. The staff while extremely friendly seem to be working under different rules. Some were busy and others just standing around chatting. The website needs to be updated as one of the restaurants is closed to guests that are not on a package, the spa is also sadly derelict and the sunset pool bar is no longer open.
There wasn’t meant to be a day five here, but here we are! Today is our 31st Wedding Anniversary, I had planned to be celebrating with my dear husband on the beach but instead had breakfast and lunch by myself. On the positive side Anthony did feel well enough to take a walk along the esplanade in the early evening.
We decided to have an early dinner right in the grounds of Fort Cornwallis, at a restaurant called Kota, luckily there was a “healthy vegetable broth” on the menu for Anthony. Fort Cornwallis is now under construction and there are plans to rebuild it exactly as it was in 1786 complete with a surrounding moat.
Captain Francis Light
Captain Francis Light greeted us at the front of the restaurant.
Queen Victoria Clock
This clock was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and stands sixty feet tall. One foot for every year of her reign.
Last photos of our trip below
This is Beach Street Fire Station built in 1908. A beautifully restored Edwardian style building.
Penang Town Hall
Another Edwardian style building built in 1903 by the British
A typical home of a rich Chinese family over a century ago. Many years ago we did take a tour inside. It has been kept in exquisite condition and over 1,000 antiques are on display inside.
Apart from the drama with my dear husband, we enjoyed being back in Penang. Staying at The Prestige Hotel was a real treat and the Malaysian people were just so kind through the whole stay.
Waking up to blue skies again was a very nice surprise, especially after the weather forecast had predicted rain for the whole of our stay here. We had the day to ourselves, so what to do! I do like a walk along a river so did a quick search and saw we could walk the Yarra Trail into town.
We hoped on a tram right outside our apartment building and got off at the start of the trail to walk into Melbourne. It’s a great scenic walk, good for cycling, walking and running, starting with bushland and ending up with skyscrapers.
Church Street BridgeMorell Bridge
As you can see there are many bridges to cross the Yarra River, whether by foot, train or car.
I spotted these concrete blocks high up on the ridge, the photos make them look larger than they are. Pretty cute I thought!
Rowing is a very big part of Melbourne sports, dating back to the 1800s. There are many clubs to choose from and the Yarra River is ideal for training.
Warin the WombatAngel – Deborah Halpern
“Warin the Wombat was carved from a 2.5- tonne redgum log by Des McKenna and took two weeks to complete. The wombat is named ‘Warin’ pronounced Wareeyn, a name derived from the local dialect of the two most important Aboriginal tribes of the Melbourne area.” . Source: City Collection Melbourne
This is one of my favourite photos of the trip that I took. I’ve decided to call it “Elements and Textures”. There is sky, water, earth and foliage and also steel, glass, tile and brick. It captures the diversity of Melbourne.
“Temple of the Winds” and Government HouseHanging lanternsPrinces BridgeFinally ending our walk with some beverages!
Of course as we were now so near to the city what choice did we have but to go shopping! Anthony always says it’s just for a look, but I think I know better after 30 years.
The day finally arrived for our trip to Melbourne to visit Laurence and Maddy. It was a bright and clear day in Perth and there was so much excitement as we packed up two cars to drive to the airport. We parked in the long term carpark and then caught the shuttle bus to the terminal. When we arrived at the airport, Lachie was already saying “are we in Melbourne yet”, a phrase that was heard very often over the next few hours.
On the bus to the terminal
As we prepared to print our luggage tags a Qantas assistant came up and did everything for us, so helpful, then walking through immigration we were once again assisted through the hand baggage check. Of course poor Anthony gets stopped every single time because of his titanium shoulder and always gets frisked and patted from top to bottom.
The plane was almost full and we were all sitting in a row. Masks needed to be worn which was a great game for Rose as she tried repeatedly to take mine off. Although it was nice to be travelling to Melbourne again the masks are a pain to wear! You were only allowed to eat at designated times, when the food was served and masks were to be placed back again when the time was over.
We were staying at The Hamptons in St. Kilda in a two bed, two bath apartment. We had decided not to rent a car as it is hard to park in Melbourne for any length of time.
On our first day Elena and I took the kids to Prahran Market where there was live music for kids. It’s a wonderful market with lots of cafes and food stalls selling all kinds of fruit, veg and baked goods.
Patiently watching the trams go by
On the tram
We couldn’t believe how helpful people were assisting with the pram and giving us the correct directions to the market.
I had to stop and take photos of the great murals always found in Melbourne.
After the market it was home again for nap time before our visit to DiscoverLego at Chadstone. This is something Lachie had been looking forward to for a long time. It’s a great experience if you are a lego enthusiast, young or old. The work that goes into creating these exhibits is astounding.
As we were technically still on Perth time we went out for dinner to The Grosvenor Hotel within walking distance from our apartment. That’s the best thing about Melbourne you don’t have to go far to find a pub, restaurant, cafe or bar!
A lovely end to our first day, hopefully tomorrow goes as smoothly!
I have decided to go with one of Becky’s suggestions for PastSquares – posts that didn’t receive much recognition. We visited San Sebastian a few years ago when I had just created a blog, so maybe understandable that this post didn’t receive much attention. Below are some of the photos from that trip.
This was a fantastic road trip from Biarritz to Porto. A combination of driving a hire care and hoping on and off Flix buses. Hopefully we can do another road trip around Europe one day.
Margaret River is in the South Western area of WA and a popular tourist spot Nationwide and Worldwide. The beaches are great for surfing and swimming. It’s a wonderful place to visit in the winter and we generally try to get down once a year for a short break. So after Pemberton we drove back up to enjoy a two night stay. Margaret River is home to many wineries and restaurants, it’s hard to know where to go when you only have a couple of days.
We stayed at our usual hotel Margarets Beach Resort and had a small unit with a balcony. I had asked for a partial seaview and that’s what we got. Although it was a fair way in the distance. This hotel is actually located in Gnarrabup and ten minute drive from the town itself. Very peaceful.
Our room
Sunset from the balcony
That night we drove into town to a South American Tapas restaurant, El Toro. We had quite a few plates between us. It was a fantastic restaurant, the food and service were wonderful and I definitely enjoyed my mojito listening to latin music.
Mojito Monday!
The next morning we walked down to the local cafe, White Elephant, for breakfast. This cafe sits practically on the beach. It was a bit chilly but we sat outside so we could enjoy the beautiful view.
“Healthy”
We were lucky to have such a glorious day to sit and take in this gorgeous view.
Gnarrabup Beach
Walking back to our apartment
A bit later we drove to Eagle Bay to Wise Winery for lunch. It’s one of our favourites and never disappoints.
A lightish lunch! A creamy Chicken Liver Parfait, Spicy Green Beans and Duck Confit with a wood sorrel sauce.
Of course you can’t go to a winery and not have a glass of wine
Wise Winery has stunning views overlooking the Indian Ocean
We definitely needed a walk after this lunch, so drove to Yallingup and walked down to the beach from the carpark at Caves House and back.
There were a few whales out there in the distance.
The sun through the trees
I was determined to see the sunset back at Margaret River that evening, so around 5.30 pm we walked back to the White Elephant Cafe and sat and watched a magnificent sunset.
After saying goodbye in Pemberton to our friends Cheryl and Vaughan we drove onto Yallingup for our overnight stay at Caves House. Although we had previously had dinner here we had never stayed. Spending the night is always something I have wanted to do. The inside of Caves House is wonderfully well kept and has…
Yallingup is in the South Western region of Western Australia. Its a great spot to visit for a short break especially from Perth. The drive takes just under three hours. With so many places to stay it was so difficult to decide, we eventually chose the Sienna Lodge and it did not disappoint! Situated in…
On our recent trip exploring country towns of Western Australia, we were recommended a visit to Gwalia in Leonara. Around a 2 ½ hour drive from Kalgoorlie, maybe a bit more with a stop on the way. It was well worth the drive to see this fascinating ghost town. We had a beautiful day for our visit after yesterday’s grey and gloomy day. At the bottom of this post there is a short history.
We first went up the museum to have a look around at the top and to view the mine and managers’ buildings. The husband of the lady running the gift shop and information centre is the restorer of all the buildings.
A view of the town from the road
A mural painted by the artist Roderick Sprigg in 2018 who grew up in Gwalia. He actually painted the corrugated effect as well.
The head frame made of Oregon Pine in 1899.
The mine at present
The tram used from Gwalia to Leonara
Old engine boiler
Hoover House
Verandah of Hoover House
A view of Mt. Leonara from the verandah
Hoover House is now a bed and breakfast and also serves Devonshire teas on the verandah
Inside Hoover House
The Ghost Town
The miners and their families tried to make the best with what little they had. It must have been boiling in the summer and freezing in the winter. These are some of the homes below of the outside and inside.
The Pink House
Patroni’s guesthouse – while some miners had their own homes many were single men who boarded here. Families often ate their meals here if they had no kitchen facilities.
An entertainment room, the piano looks in need of an urgent tune up and repair
The State Hotel built in 1903 and once I imagine a grand old building. It was built to give the town a licensed premise and to lessen the “sly-grog” trade.
Short History of Gwalia
In 1896 a gold reef was discovered by prospectors. It was originally named Sons of Gwalia which signifies the Welsh heritage of the investors.
In 1897 110 miners were employed at the mine and in 1898 Herbert Hoover (the 31st president of the USA) was appointed as mine manager, working for only six months here.
By 1901 – 1903 the goldmine is thriving and surpassing its predicted production. By now 884 people live here and a school opens. Also a tram service established between Gwalia and Leonara.
1914-1918 many men leave to enlist in WW1.
1919 – it is now the deepest mine in Australia.
1921 – 1929 – A fire destroys the power station and mill and reconstruction works commence. Herbert Hoover becomes President of the USA (1929).
1939 – 1945 – WW2. The Italian miners employed at the time were interred and the mine is now operating at a loss.
1963 – On the 28th December the mine closes, there was a mass exodus of most of the people, abandoning their homes and many belongings.
1964 – The population drops from 1,200 to 40.
1983 – The mine was reopened and is still a going concern today.
