Broom-Broom to Barcelona
September 1, 2011 - September 23, 2011
  • What we did: Drove and camped across Europe from Amsterdam to Catalonia - via Provence
  • What we learned about travelling with kids: 1) Keep non-stop driving to a 3 hours absolute maximum and 2) Don't expect provincial French restaurants to serve meals between 4 and 7pm
  • Overall rating:
    • Adults: 3.5
      (+) Excellent camping sites and exquisite food
      (-) Long travel distances led to major meltdowns en route
    • Kids: 4
      (+) Swimming pools, play parks and fine weather
      (-) Hot, long travel days
Going Dutch With Lars And Elvy

While we catch up with Dutch buddies Noes and Edgar, Maxwell shows he is a natural Dutch 'clogger'!

Blown Gasket

The pressure seems to finally tell on international entrepreneurial dynamo Stephen Fletcher.

His over-stretched cranium blows a leak during a picnic in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam.

Campbell United

An all too rare show of sibling unity in front of (yet another) new tent.

There followed a night of boozy carousing with Stephen, after which he vowed to give up the world of high finance and return to his first true love - cross-stitch quilting.

The Girl Who Loved Too Much

A bitter-sweet image: Zoe's beloved Teddy was soon to be accidentally abandoned in Denver International Airport, never to be seen again...

Robin Allenson: Santa's Not-So-Little Helper

Over lunch Robin Allenson revealed his secret plan to corner the market in festive gift delivery (previously dominated by the Lapland Elves).

His plan: a website offering the intriguing sounding "Presents Management".

The First Cut Is The Deepest

Zoe's first haircut.

The verdict? Cute before, even cuter after!

Playing In Provence

Zoe and Maxwell were unmoved by the luscious countryside of French Provence.

Show them a play park with a choo-choo train in it however, and WOW are we excited!

A Gordes View

Sandstone houses cling to the steep hillsides of picture-postcard Gordes in Provence.

Unfortunately no restaurant would feed us in the toddler-friendly early evening hours before 7pm.

Result: the ultimate indignity of being in foodie heaven yet skulking into McDonalds for our dinner!

A Monks Life

The austere but beautiful monastery at Senaque.

Daddy, There's An EVEN Bigger Beach Over There!

Toddlers are sometimes easily pleased: Maxwell played happily in a tiny mound of sand by the curbside.

Only later did he notice that the endless golden beaches of the Mediterranean lay just over the hedge!

Viva Barcelona!

End of the road and time for top tapas and scary statue ladies on the Ramblas.

Gaudi

Weird & wonderful architectural creations from the Spanish maestro.

Cooling Off

Respite from the sweltering Spanish heat in our rooftop pool.

Maxwell Drives

While Zoe cranks the tunes on the radio.

All Hands On Deck

Drummer, carpenter, philosopher and would-be gold miner Robin flies in to save the day by driving our car back to Scotland.

After introducing the children to the delightful world of heavy weaponry, of course!

We fly on - to the U.S. of A.

More Photos

If you want to see even more photos of our trip to Barcelona, check out the Full Europe Album on our photo album site.


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