Europe summer of 2017

A beer in the pavilion at the campground, this place has about 50 very small 2 person cube tents. The campground is on a bus line from the airport, train station, downtown, and bus station. So there are a lot of backpackers here. Liam has struck up a conversation with some kids, so im  off to the van. Up and shower, on the bus into town. So we're "wicked smaaaht" and we figure out about the boat bus system people use here... Instead of walking another 23,000 steps as my health app tells me about yesterday on my phone ( thanks isidro), we buy a water bus pass. Off we go riding along the grand canal, baby carriages, guys w briefcases, Italian  leather shoes,  workers in indestructible work pants etc.. How did they build these houses and get a bank loan with water in the basement? We ride the "bus" out to the island of lido, Liam finds a beautiful Italian girl gets married has 10 kids.....oops wrong  story... And ride the bus back, oh yeah we had to physica

So the day started at about 830. We woke up and had some coffee. Then took a shower and headed to the front of the grounds were they were serving breakfast. We got some grub and decided to head in to Venice . We missed the bus so we had to wait for another. It was about 20 min away. Once we arrived in the bus depot we went to the water bus station and got 2 day tickets for unlimited rides in and to and from the city.  It was a really good deal. We rode the boat for about 90 min through the city. We got off on the island of Lido. We immediately got on another boat going back to the Plaza San Marco. That was great. We then decided to head down towards the naval depot in Vience. We walked for about 20 min and eventually found our way through the winding allys of the city. When we got there we decided to go into  the museum of boats in Italy. Boy was that worth it. We saw some incredibly old boats some dating back to the 17 hundreds! We saw WW1 and WW2 naval ships. Got to see anti aircraft

So today we left the Matterhorn to head to Venice. We left at about 9:20 am with bowls of granola for breakfast and 2 cups of coffee in our bellies. When we left it was cold grey and raining :/ Once we left the valley the sky cleared and we were blessed with clear blue skys and a balmy 80° weather. We proceeded to climb the Swiss alps headed towards Italy. About 45 min after leaving we reached about 8,000 feet and were above the clouds! We then got stuck at a stop sign at one end of a construction sight. We waited there for about 5 min and during that time the clouds rose and completely enveloped us! There's cool. About another hour into the ride we reached the top of a hill and read the sign that said we had a 10° grade! Wow we thought this is gonna be crazy and it was for 10 miles as well. Once we got into Italy we quickly realized that there roads are in dire condition. We were met with potholes and dips everywhere, uneven pavement and different textures ever couple hindered fee

we arrived at Normandy beach. That statement alone still blows me away. Once we got there we decided to go get a campsite and then head to the beach and tour around a bit. We found a nice campsite and ate some pizza and had some drinks. We then headed down to the beach where 10,000 men my age died. Being on the beach was crazy and it really made me think about my life. We then drove to see some pieces from the assault and that was really crazy. We then had a shot in honor of the lost young men. A very interesting and humbling day.

Today we woke up and had coffee and a baguette and headed down to the beach then I ran the mile and a half to the Normandy memorial. Once I got a ways down my dad finished the run with me. Once we got there we played out respect and lit some candles that were there. Then we went to the WW2 American memorial. That was crazy to see all of the graves from the fallen. It was also very interesting to see all of the stories about the fallen men and there struggles. We found out that there were 3 Comerfords that fought during WW2 and one that fought during the great war. That was crazy and saddening, none of them made it home. After that we went to a land vehicals museum of the 2 years. After that we headed out on the road towards Switzerland.

I awaken during  the night to piter pater on the roof...hmmmm sounds like R A I N SHIT Glad I put the hiking shoes that were on the roof under the van...... Glad we took the campsight with the lean- to and didn't leave all our stuff out. Now I know all you that are reading this always when camping prepare for rain.....ya right So up I get in a drizzle the shoes are dry The table and chairs damp. They now get moved under the lean to so Liam won't yell at me when he gets up for not thinking about  this, as we adults sometimes often don't k now. I have a coffee and can't decide whether to stay in Swiss or Venice???? Frank would say venice....... I ponder over maps and books for 1 & 1/2 hrs... I wake the dead guy in the van up...5 more minutes please dad......ok Now get up!!!@@ He has a coffee and we decide it's raining here, maybe wes should go to venezie... Ok were outta here Of c ourse 1 mile downt he road the rain stops Down out of zermatt valley

On the road again. A shower, coffee, baguette , Liam makes me organize our van again. Stop at the store for TP and other essentials, Sometimes the campgrounds don't supply tp, We haven't had to resort to the left hand yet, Probably cuz Liam has tp attached in everypocket hidden in his sock  and some behind his ear.....just in case.... We travel east into the mountain pass between France and Switzerland it's gorgeous, rushing water,  trees small little villages up up up, then down we descend for a long time........into view is the lo ng and narrow Rhone river valley, there are extensive vineyards plastered on the hillsides,  old ancient castles and lots of new stuff too. We drive check or 2 hours and start to head up the side valley for another hour through villages and the narrow valley ascending slowly and winding up. We stop overlooking a massive land slide site. Liam has prepared chicken sandwiches on a baguette with brie. A train track a small river, old Swiss far

Up early coffee and Becky the hill through the tunnel and down to chiminox  (the aspen  of france) We wander into town trying to park the van and find the tourismo office. This is a narrow valley with huge mountains almost straight up on both sides We park and get to the tourist office 60 euro's each for a pass Up on the gondola now we're at 1,100 meters in the valley. So at the halfway tram stopat 2,300 meters Board the next tram up to 3,850 meters Now Liam force's me to go out onto the glass booth which overhangs the cliff thousands of meters above......liam is not with us anymore.... We head back down the tram to 2,300 oh yeah there's a bunch of guys working on the tram station. They're all harnessed up and all their tools are attached to lines..... Now we start the 2 1/2 hour hike dropping 600 meters ( now remember were at about 7,000 ft so I have to carry Liam on all the uphill swtchbacks....) to go to the next tram to head down into the glacier . Al

Well after an evening walk around the village last nite and fine dining in our campsite. The sliver of a moon rose and we fell, asleep, after 3 mount blanc local blonde b eers 25ccl. Up at 5 for some reason, by the way I tipped the mechanic 20 eurtos for his efforts to get us in and out yesterday efficiently. Today a kilometer walk to the boulangerie for a baguette and 2 croissants.  Back in camp , Liam rudely wokennup by mean ole me.... Breakfast veggie and ham scramble .caffee' Shower, pack up and off to the local tourist info office to Check out Rafting Cable car up mount blanc Hike to remote shelter " refugee" It's getting hot again. We finally find the rafting place not far away in the chaminox  valley.. The want to much money for a short class 2 paddle boat trip for 2 hours, tourist stuff.... Liam says let's go to Italy! Ok so we head up the valley towards the massive alps an d mount blanc. Let's see mount hood is impressive, but mount bla

Awaken by cowbells... Yup 5:45 the farmer across the road was moving his cows, they weren't real loud,  but I had been sleeping for a bit. Nuthin bettah than instant coffee... Another fantastic croissant A shawah We decide to head up the hill to a dam small lmountain lake and 150 ' footbridge, this was gorgeous, and some cows on the hill, their bellsringing away . We hike 2 kilometres walk across the bridge and return. Now it's an hour down the skinniest roads, and I mean eye closing skinny. We head down this tourist area that was of constant beautiful huge "alpine style homes". Head back to Albertville Why? Well the van front tires didn't look good when I checked the air pressure at Omaha beach, the passenger tire was bald on the outer edge. I wish I had checked them at our friends in the Netherlands... I stopped Saturday on our marathon drive across France at a tire store and they didn't have our size, and they called 5 stores looking for the

So today we decided to go to a small French town at the base of the alps. We quickly realized apon arriving that the French don't work on Sunday or do much of anything. So everything was closed. We then threw a couple of ideas around and finely decided on heading up the mountain pass and exploring part of the alps. This was a great decision. Apart from the roads being made to fit tiny French cars it was great. The view was simply magnificent. We found ourselves situated in a tiny French town on the side of one of the mountains. We got some drinks and sat down to admire the French alps and boy o boy was there a lot to marvel over. We could see for about 100 miles to the south and could see massive mountains easily exceeding 3000m in height. We then decided that I should go for a run. So I threw on my headphones and took off. The run was great I got to see some of the tiny houses and ally ways that intermingled with the French streets.  We then drove about 30 min up the road and deci

Our campsite last nite was about 20 minutes outside Lyon french in the foothills of the alps. It felt good to end the driving marathon.... Searching for a tire store , the old great internet sent us into city center of lyon France's second biggest city,  and alas it had a sign but nothing else, so much for businesses updating their websites... Into the hills we went....our campground 20 stes and rentalable cabins. Free wifi for 30 minutes that couldnt send pictures, again...was great free showers hot! A squat toilet, now that's new, sinks for dish washing and shaving.after a dinner of pasta and veggies,sausage sauce. I walked with my newly acquired Heineken glass filled ! from our campsite to the boules' court, a family ( males) were playing, it's kinda like bocce.  I was also doing our laundry only $7.50 for wash and 1/2  dry....the office closed and tokens only In The machines, so the undried dryer load  got hung on the clothes  line behind our site, with the neigh

We visited ww1 & ww2 battle sites this past week..really sad to stand were thousands had their lives snuffed out in horrific ways. The 10,000 white crosses at d day American cemetery near Omaha beach was another silent reminder of their silence.... Then off to Mont st Michel unbelievable castle on a rock! We turned east and began our drive across the beautiful countryside of France 350 miles of it, to the alps Rolling hills of wheat, and other crops. Cows of  every black, brown and white combination you can imagine. Narrow village streets with ancient buildings. Hedge rows that grew tall and thick and sometimes appeared to be almost as thick as stonewalls. We pulled into a small town to gas up the $1.75 liter!! guzzling beast..... While refueling I walked over to another guy refueling and as has been continually happening asked parlez- vous  englais? The usual answer is "very little". But this fellow had been to the states last year on holiday.... We asked about ca

Todsy was our first real day in Paris. We started out by going to Notre Dame. That was simply breathtaking. It was built over the course of 8 centuries being paused during wars or famines  . The architecture was crazy. Next we got on a hop on hop off open air bus. That was great we saw all of paris's landmarks in about 2 hours. We got off at the Effile tower and wow is it impressive in person! We climbed it's 400 steps and got to the top. I stood on top of the see through floors and I even convinced my dad to step out onto it. We then had a quaint dinner of some French thai food. All in all a great day

We are having phone troubles..... Please send emails for communication or comment on the blog Liam has put a link to Insta gram for pictures, they will not upload on the blog in paris....we will post them later on the blog, but look on Insta gram We're off to visit the crypt at Notre dame today, then hopefully find our knives and out of the city by train to the van . To Flanders field. Au revoir!

Liam doing pushups on the glass floor overhang 400 steps up de tour d' Eiffel

After a breakfast of croissants and coffee We headed out in the extremely efficient subway system to the huge and beautiful Notre Dame cathedral. Visited the Shakespeare and company famous bookstore across the river where Ulysses was written by James Joyce our famous Irish writer. Then it was into the " hop on, hop off" bus to see all the city sites Arc de triumph The louve Eiffel tower The seine river Etc....and many more What an old and beautiful city..... After a 20 minute wait to be scanned to go into the Eiffel tower, we had to exit because I had my weatherman, and bbq pocket knife, Liam had his picket knife... We his them in the adjoining  gardens . Walked up 400 stairs to the 2nd level of the tower, had a Heineken marvelled at the vast city scape... Took the elevator down exited and made it through the hawkers of souvenirs.. We decided to run the length of the promenade, only to see near the end that the hop on / off bus was just closing it's door,  b

Liam overlooking Paris from" Sacre Ceour" a beautiful church high up on a hill about 1/4 mile from our hostel "woodstock". We walked to the church and up the steps to have an amazing view of the city. Lots of tourists were here, sitting enjoying the view, drink ing wine and relaxing

Today we arrived in Paris after driving for 5 hours and checked into our nice little hostel. We then decided to go up to Sacre Coeur. A old church like place and it overlooked the west and central parts of Paris. It was really amazing. We then had a delicious dinner at a quaint little French cafe. Todsy was great! Tommorw we are going to go to the rest of the famous Paris  landmarks and hopefully be just as amazed as we were today. Peace Liam and David.

So today we decided to help Paul with plastering his bathroom. This was great and provided us with an opportunity to help out someone who is helping us tremendously. We then we're tasked with outfitting our van for our tour around Europe. We decided to go to a store called Action. It is kind of a cross between a target and a Wall Mart. We got everything from big spray to single use barbeques. We then came back to Paul and Charlene and spent the next few hours outfitting the Van and organising everything into separate bins and boxes. The end result was a great looking van that will take us all around Europe, hopefully without any complications. Nest stop Paris!

We have had a great time staying with Paul and Charlene. They have shown us around Holland,  and have had a lot of perience with us around new languages and the culture differences. We will be going to Paris and then moving around France and meandering our way to Germany after that. We have already experienced so much in these last 5 days! It's crazy to think that we are just getting started. Ps. Blogger seems to be broken at the moment and is not letting me post any pictures with our posts :/ so please refer to my Instagram for pics as I will be uploading there frequently. liamcomerford is my Instagram

Today we drove about 90 min south of Ommen to a mountain biking place. The four of us rented "fat tire bikes" they are bikes that have tires that are about 3 times wider than your average tire. We then we went on a 17 mile bike ride!. It was a blast. We went all throughout the different terrain the Netherlands have to offer. This included Savannah like fields, young and old forest and some "mountainous" terrain. While we where there we were in the highest point in Holland. About 6m above sea level haha. 

Most Dutch ride bicycles.

Our day in amsterdam was great. We saw a ton of unique things and got to see some amazing old architecture.

We are staying with some great people about 90 min outside if Amsterdam .