Item 66: Versailles.... thanks Eurostar

Location: Versailles Palace, France

As mayhem would have it, a giant Icelandic-induced ash cloud is causing chaos to flight schedules and holiday plans throughout Europe, the same weekend as I had booked Eurostar tickets to Paris.

So Friday night, after dinner a the Champagne Bar at Kings Cross St Pancras International, I hopped on the fully booked last train to Paris, arriving at Gare du Nord at 00:15 Saturday morning.

After a breakfast and a connection from the metro to the RER station of Versailles Rive Gauche station we arrived at noon to find a crowd of people exiting the train station, think Stamford Bridge, or MCG on game day. They were all heading to the Palace of Versailles to join the queue for entrance tickets.

Again, as the Volcanic Gods and a little planning ahead would have it, an Internet pre-purchased ticket allowed us to bypass the queue and enter the extravagant abode of King Louis XIV with little hassle.

Overwhelmed by the rooms of the palace and tempted by the sunshine in the manicured gardens outside, we made way for a quick lunch and then pranced into the gardens which had music beaming out of hidden speakers as we waited for the 3.30pm Grandes Eaux musicales show. Yes, we waited for the 1.5 hour show that involved the fountains spitting out water. C'est tres impressive! Non?

Although our all-inclusive ticket involved access to the Grand and Petite Trianon, residences of Marie Antoinette, I'd recommend a tour of the palace, picnic in the gardens and then a row on the lake outside for a lovely summer afternoon. Also, catch the Eurostar if you're travelling from London.

Item 66: Versailles Palace? CHECK!

Item 65: Cornwall - Easter Road Trip

Location: Cornwall, United Kingdom

Easter long weekend came around faster than I expected but thankfully there were spare seats in a friend’s hire car and I hopped on the bandwagon as we headed on my first long weekend road trip down to the south west coast of the UK to Cornwall.

Good Friday and Easter Saturday were filled by day with scones with jam and Cornish clotted cream, fish and chips, a Cornish pasty and Cornish ice cream. The nights saw the threat of flying drink trays thrown by the renowned bucks and hens' weekends of Newquay. Searching the streets we discovered £2 Jagerbombs at the Belushi's backpacker bar, which turned out to be a winner. Its sticky floors proved to be a rather nice atmosphere to be spending our vacation.

Our trip continued through to the coast of St Ives, as we sought cover from the rains in the town's amusement parlour on the two penny machines. Again it was perfect weather for a Cornish ice cream or two.

Next stop was Penzance on Sunday, for the pirates. Slightly disappointing but the town was a good base to get to St Michael's Mount which we approached during low tide across the beach.

We also sought out a local craft and food market. Arriving an hour before closing time were excused of the exorbitant £3 entry fare. Afterwards, we went for a drive down to Land's End - the most western point of the UK, just so we could check that one off the list too.

On our drive home on Easter Monday, in free-flowing traffic towards London, we balanced off our tour with a visit to the giant biomes of the Eden Project. With 'Mediterranean' and 'Rainforest' environments in the giant greenhouses, a bit of cover from the weather in the artificial climates completed a most successful road trip!

Item 65: Cornwall? CHECK!