This is probably going to be my most cosmopolitan Sunday Sevens ever… featuring photos taken in Italy, Spain, Gibraltar and France! Are you ready to join me for a Sunday Sevens European tour?
The Pantheon
Last Sunday, after two days of tours around some of the amazing sights of Rome, we had a quiet day to potter about the city. There were a few more places we really wanted to visit before leaving and the Pantheon was top of the list.
It is such a beautiful building, and just mind blowing to think that the ceiling, the largest unsupported dome in the world, was made using cement by the Ancient Romans!! It’s now used as a church, so we waited until noon before being allowed in so that Sunday morning Mass could be celebrated before the crowds of tourists invaded.
Back home
Monday meant waving goodbye to Rome and catching a flight back to Malaga, then driving home to Gibraltar. It was so warm and sunny as we left Italy, but Gibraltar had Levante winds and the heavy cloud that brings.
You may be fooled for thinking it was cool when we got home but it wasn’t- it was sweltering and incredibly humid.
Sea mist
Another common weather phenomenon at this time of the year is sea mist. We had a couple of days this week when we could hear the boats in the Bay singing to each other with their fog horns.
Autumn already?
A walk into town and through the lovely Commonwealth Park took me by surprise when I spied leaves on the ground. It is one of the few places in Gibraltar with trees which actually lose their leaves. It looked like autumn is on it’s way even if the weather didn’t feel like it!!
Beach life
I am slightly ashamed to admit that we managed to get to mid August without a proper trip to the beach in Gibraltar this year. We have had walks along the sand but this was our first trip with deck chairs, buckets and spades and swims in the sea. Sandy Bay is such a lovely beach to spend time with children, calm and not too deep, and of course it’s great for sandcastles.
We only stayed a couple of hours though as I needed to head home to pack…. again!
Bonjour Toulouse!
We have been so lucky this summer to be able to do a lot of traveling, normally we have a couple of weeks in England visiting family, but this year we’ve been lucky enough to enjoy a mini European tour (while we are still allowed in before Brexit). Yesterday we headed back to Malaga airport and caught a flight up north to southern France.
Toulouse is such a beautiful city and our first visit to this part of France. We had a walk around some of the city centre and the architecture is so beautiful. I can’t wait to go back out again later on today with my camera to get snapping! This shot is the view from where we are staying. Isn’t it amazing?!
In the meantime, here’s a quick picture of a pretty fountain close to where we ate last night. It is dedicated to the victims of a flood many years ago.
Thanks so much for joining me this week for Sunday Sevens! I’m linking with Natalie from Threads & Bobbins who created the Sunday Sevens series of blog posts.
Lovely postcards.
Thank you Cathy 😊
That brings back so many memories- we stayed at Both Worlds in Sandy Bay on our first visit to the Rock in 1981 – arriving the day after Charles and Diana!! First ever foreign holiday and the location on the beach was just fabulous!! Always make a run past on every visit since just to reminisce!!! Europa must be the best travelled unicorn ever!! Xx
Oh I’m trilled my post brought back good memories for you. How amazing I visit at the same time as the Royal couple! I think you may be right about Europa, she’s certainly clocked up a few air miles! 😊🦄
Looks like you have had a lovely week. A few more trips to Gibralters beach with buckets and spades are definitely needed though. 🙂 Toulouse looks like a beautiful place.
I think you are right on the beach trips, the summer is still far from over, so there should be plenty more opportunities to get the buckets and spades out! We have indeed had a splendid week, Toulouse is so beautifulz
Beautiful even!
Ooh, how fabulous! We’ve managed Spain, Holland and France this Summer but you’ve outdone us! Lovely photos – the Pantheon brings back happy memories of Rome. What a good mum you are for braving the beach. I must admit to avoiding it at any cost:)
Hmm I have to admit that it’s not my favourite place and although Mr Postcard grew up at the seaside he doesn’t like it either, if I didn’t take the boys they’d never go! That said on this occasion we went as a whole family and he admitted enjoying being in the sea, so that bodes well for a few future visits. The thing is that the littlest two love it, they tend to fight less and are in and out of the sea, burning off energy and it’s so good for them.
I can’t believe how lucky we have been with our holidays this year, I feel very privileged to have visited so many lovely destinations 😊
Get you, you little gadabout! 🙂
😊 indeed, I can’t believe all this traveling, it’s most out of character!
Stayed at Both Worlds in 1976 (my dad worked in Gib for 2 years) where I celebrated my 16th birthday . . . a lifetime ago, xx
Oh wow! So many people have memories of Both Worlds – a former teacher of Little Postcards told me recently that it was once a hotel and when she was growing up they had a great swimming pool there – just fascinating 😊
A fascinating collection of images and great stories for your week of European experiences.
Thank you Denis, it’s been an amazing summer 😊
What great pics and summary. I am often envious of your travels. I have been away and off grid myself but I am not so good at getting good photos to share! We were in Toulouse some years ago – I remember the nightmare of leaving the airport – for some reason we couldn’t get out of it easily and then couldn’t get out of Toulouse – yes it was pretty but we saw a lot of it twice by accident! ha ha!
Oh crumbs! Sounds like a bit of an ordeal! We took the tram from the airport to the Centre of Toulouse as there was a tram stop just near to our accommodation. I’m glad to say our exit was pretty straightforward (if 3 children and 5 cases on a tram is straightforward 😉). I did consider going off grid myself but I’d set myself the challenge. I think it would probably do me good to do that at some point.