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 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 →