I met Ornella from last night at the Château de Chillon and we walked around it together. The castle dates from the middle ages and was a popular destination for such literary greats as Lord Byron, Victor Hugo and Mary Shelley. I was not really familiar with the works of Byron because I don't think … Continue reading Big Trip Day 9 – Montreux
Author: Derek Lee
I was born in Croydon, South London and eventually settled in Northamptonshire. After more than 30 years as a clinical psychologist in the NHS, my welcome retirement finds me dabbling in bits and pieces - e.g., writing, running, martial arts and photography.
Big Trip Day 8 – Genève to Montreux
Lunchtime found me lying on a small pebbled beach on the shore of Lac Léman outside the town of Rolle. I am on the road to Lausanne, skirting the northern shore of the lake. Blue sky, snow-capped mountains; dark clouds; gorgeous blue lake lapping at my feet; white swans (2); floating peacefully....Black cloud rising like … Continue reading Big Trip Day 8 – Genève to Montreux
Big Trip Day 7 – Freiburg to Genève
The entries in my notebook for today read like an essay written by a 10 year old. To paraphrase: I went somewhere, and then somewhere else, and something happened, and then went somewhere else and then all of a sudden something else happened. I will try to be a little more eloquent in my description … Continue reading Big Trip Day 7 – Freiburg to Genève
Big Trip Day 6 – Freiburg
I spent a lovely day exploring Freiburg with Becky. We visited the 13th century minster (The Cathedral of Our Lady) where... molten candle-wax forming weird designs in the faint light There were many religious sculptures and paintings in the museum and we saw the Historical Merchants' Hall dating from from 1520 - red and gold … Continue reading Big Trip Day 6 – Freiburg
Big Trip Day 5 – Strasbourg to Freiburg
This morning I set out across the bridge over the Rhine. At one point, as I looked down at a barge passing below, I had the strange feeling that the bridge was moving. It is all a matter of perspective. I crossed the border into Germany a little before noon and found a cafe for … Continue reading Big Trip Day 5 – Strasbourg to Freiburg
Big Trip Day 4 – Reims to Strasbourg
I was out on the road this morning for about an hour until I got a short lift to a motorway. The road is very, very long and not much traffic. There is wind and rain (more accurately drizzle) behind me, and miles of road ahead of me. I am about 35km from Châlons-sur-Marne. I'm … Continue reading Big Trip Day 4 – Reims to Strasbourg
Big Trip Day 3 – Rouen to Reims
This morning I wandered around Rouen in my characteristically aimless way, until suddenly I... ...left world of hustle and bustle to find myself surrounded by crumbling "Tudor wood-framed" houses, yellow with age; narrow streets, houses towering either side. Saw 12th to 14th century Church of St. Ouen, and may have seen the place where Jeanne … Continue reading Big Trip Day 3 – Rouen to Reims
Big Trip Day 2 – Dieppe to Rouen
It is interesting how our early lives provide us with the templates for later. I spent a long time this morning wandering around a large housing estate in the suburb of St. Aubin-sur-Scie trying to find a road out of Dieppe. As I said, things do not change. I eventually found the Paris to Rouen … Continue reading Big Trip Day 2 – Dieppe to Rouen
Big Trip Day 1 – From Croydon to Dieppe
The title does not have the same ring to it as Patsy Gallant's From New York to LA, but it serves my purpose. It was fifty-two years ago today, in 1973, that I set out to hitch-hike across Europe on my own. The trip was originally planned with my friend Iain, but he had to … Continue reading Big Trip Day 1 – From Croydon to Dieppe
First Run in a Hopeful Year
Today saw my first run in several months. It was short (1.5 miles), it was slow (19:50), it was a mixture of running and walking - and it was a great feeling! I was running in a new area, along quiet paths next to a small lake, and the air was clear and not too … Continue reading First Run in a Hopeful Year
Psychologist on the Move 