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Brunate Photos

Trip Over to Brunate from Como

Selecting High Ground

A visit to Como must include a trip up to Brunate, (pronounced:- Broo-nart-eh) , high – very high – up on the ridge. The views over Lake Como and some of the lakeside towns create a memorable panorama, and looking way up and over the northern end of the lake, the snow covered Swiss Alps complete the postcard.

From the lakeside path leading to Villa Olmo on the other side of the lake you can see the funicular carriages heading up and down through the trees, just as they have done since it opened in 1894. There have been a few upgrades in that time, from steam to electricity in 1911 and more recently the carriages were replaced with very comfortable, fully air-conditioned ones.

The Como-Brunate Funicolare Station is a short walk around the east side of the lake and the funicular departs every 15 minutes, or every 30 minutes in winter, and takes 7 minutes to travel up just over 1 km of track to the Brunate station 500 mts above the lake. In those 7 minutes everyone is taking photos frantically as the view changes constantly. Going up in the morning is good idea as by afternoon you will be taking photos directly into the sun – which can also give a good effect with the sunlight sparkling on the lake below, and you’ll have the opportunity to take advantage of that on the way back down after lunch.

As the funicular rises up from the lake the historic town of Como looks more and more like a model on exhibition in a museum, and the boats in the harbour rapidly get smaller, shrinking into the distance.

At the halfway crossover point the track splits in two to allow the downhill carriage to pass, this causes much hustle and bustle as everyone in the carriage turns their gaze away from the view and trains their lens on track above.

Brunate is a small town, and most of the residents seemed to be away when we were there. As is normal in European holiday destinations, things pick up from Easter onwards, (we were there the week before Easter), the weather was magnificent and with few other tourists the peace and quiet was perfect.

From Brunate you can go even higher up to Faro Voltiano, a lighthouse built in 1927, 100 years after the death of Alessandro Volta, a local lad made good after inventing batteries. There are a number of statues, squares, museums and of course the lighthouse named in Alessandro’s honour in the Como area.

After alighting the funicular and climbing the stairs to leave the platform, signs all directed us from the funicular to the shuttle bus from Brunate up to Faro Voltiano, but again, that is something that starts at Easter. So……… we set off on the steep walk up a few kilometres of winding roads, cobbled tracks and steep uneven steps. The walk gives the advantage of having many rest stops along the way to catch your breath, only to have it taken away by the view, and take many photos, which wouldn’t happen on the shuttle bus – I’m digging deep here looking for the positives in walking up a very steep hill!




Up the first stairs from the main square you come to a small cobbled piazza outside the church, from here you get your first taste of the view looking north towards the alps of Northern Italy and Switzerland. Behind you is the beautiful little church, Chiesa Sant’ Andrea Apostolo, well worth a look inside. Then you are ready for the up hill climb……………passing villas all shuttered and waiting for the inhabitants to arrive for the summer and peeking between houses to see the amazing view they have from their balconies. In some places you have the choice of heading up a short, steep, uneven path or taking the more gentle climb following the road, both give interesting things to see along the way, the decision is purely based on fitness levels.

Arriving in the village of San Maurizio…………we were shattered to find there were still more steps to walk up to get to the lighthouse………

We pressed on. The lighthouse is not the most impressive looking building, I held out high hopes for the views from the other side of it, and was not to be disappointed – looking down on the seaplanes flying over the lake as the fast ferry to Bellagio was heading up Lake Como well over 700mts below, passing the lakeside town of Cernobbio, home of the Villa D’Este luxury hotel. During the summer the lake is dotted with boats as this area turns into one of the many playgrounds of the locals enjoying their beautiful lake, the tourists who book their summer holidays here, and of course, the rich and famous.

The time came to leave the never ending panorama and head back down the hill, looking forward to lunch back in Brunate having worked up quite an appetite. Striding down a different cobbled track for the downhill walk we came across a medieval lookout tower and ancient wall from back in the days when you would see the undesirables approaching from the watch tower knowing, or hoping, you were safe behind the wall that could keep them out.

Back in Brunate hoping to have lunch at the Bellavista Hotel having read the delicious food is served at tables lined up at the windows, we were met with closed gates, not due to open until the following weekend – Easter – wouldn’t you just know it? I called them later to try to book a table for Easter Sunday lunch but they were booked out – again, wouldn’t you just know it?? A couple of weeks later I booked a table there for lunch, but when we arrived to catch the funicular up from Como we found that the funicular was closed for the next few weeks for maintenance before the peak summer season – and again, wouldn’t you just know it??? So lunch at the Bellavista was not to be, on this holiday at least.

I asked a man in one of the souvenir shops in the main square if there were any restaurants in the area that would be open, he directed us down a lane on the other side of the hill to Cacciatore Trattoria, a home style restaurant with seating both inside and out.

As we were quite hot after all the walking we began our meal sitting outside in the shade, it soon became quite chilly so we moved into the sun, the meals and local wines were delicious. Then as the temperature dropped further, we were on the shady side of the hill, we moved inside for a cheese platter and another glass of wine. I think the locals would enjoy this place in the evenings to catch up with each other and discuss their days.

On the path outside Cacciatore there was this access cover for the aquaduct, I’m not sure if it is still functioning, but it looked like it hasn’t been opened for some considerable time.

The only problem for me at Cacciatore Trattoria was a rather smelly squat toilet, I couldn’t bring myself to use it. We headed back to the area near the Brunate funicular station, there were a few seats outside in the sun at one of the bars so we ordered coffee. I asked if they had a bathroom I could use, I was told to go to the brown door with a gesture in the direction I was to walk. About 20 mtrs down the road there was an unmarked brown door, I tentatively pushed the door a bit frightened of what I might find – but there was no cause for alarm – perfectly clean public toilets. So remember when visiting Brunate, look for the brown door just to the right after getting off the funicular.

Heading back down to Como at the end of a fantastic day in Brunate there are many more photo opportunities, the best place to be on the funicular is standing right at the front window. If you sit in the front seat someone will stand in front of you, so stake out your territory as soon as you get on. We discovered this by accident as we were about to board the previous funicular the doors suddenly closed and having put our return tickets into the turnstile we were now trapped between the turnstile and the boom gate waiting for the next funicular. This foiled the plans of a group of teenagers who had deliberately missed the previous carriage thinking they would be first in line to choose the front row for the trip down – that position was now reserved for us!!! I could see them trying to formulate a plan for how they were going to get in to the carriage one door back and leap over the chairs to get the front row first. We calmly took up our ‘reserved’ position and held our ground.

Book a Tour on your Trip Over to Lake Como

Itinerary for Trip Over to Italy – Milan, Como and Venice

Qantas flight (Emirates code share) to Milan (Malpensa) from Sydney via Dubai
Stayed in Milan, Airbnb, for a week before going to Como
Picked up in Milan by Como Limousines and driven to Como
Stayed in Como, Airbnb, for 3 weeks
Picked up in Como by Como Limousines and driven to Venice
In Venice, water taxi to Al Ponte Antico Hotel for 3 nights and water taxi back
Picked up in Venice by Como Limousines and driven back to Como
Picked up in Como by Como Limousines and driven back to Milan (Malpensa) Airport
Qantas flight (Emirates code share) to Sydney via Dubai

The Endeavour at the National Maritime Museum of Australia. It`s a replica, but a very good one. You can go onboard and take a look around - all those ropes, how did they cope?
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It`s a squirrels life, just sitting in a tree, eating a snack, looking over the lake and watching the world go by.....in Regent`s Park in London.
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A winter willow tree by the lake in London`s Regent`s Park, there were birds flying everywhere on this beautiful winters afternoon.
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The Christmas windows at Fortnum & Mason all festive with baubles, lights and chocolates, even the reflection of the Christmas angel lights above Piccadilly showd in the window.
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This was Christmas Eve outside Fortnum & Mason, it was raining, the store was packed with people - look at all the blue Fortnums bags!!! Plenty of last minute shopping going on!!
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Hampers full of Christmas cheer in the window display @fortnums on Piccadilly.
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The cafe by the lake in Regent`s Park, London, looking like autumn in the middle of winter.
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A swan and a few ducks on the lake in London`s Regents Park, enjoying a moment in the winter sun.
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#regentsparklondon #regentspark #swansandducks #swansandducksofinstagram #swanlake #outonthelake #reflectiononwater #walkinthepark #londonparks #london #londontrip #londonwalks #londontravel #seetheworldthroughmylens #seekandyoushallfind
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Fortnums hampers full of chocolates in the Christmas window display on Piccadilly, you can never have too much chocolate!!
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Exploring St James`s in London, there are many little lane ways, visit them all and see what is to be discovered.
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#stjamess #pickeringplace #pickeringplacelondon #exploringlondon #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
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At the eastern end of Pyrmont Bridge, one of the old sandstone pylons dwarfed by highrise towers now all around the Darling Harbour area.
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#pyrmontbridge #pyrmontbridgesydney #sydney #sydneyinwinter #darlingharbour #sydneycbd #lunchtimewalk #blueskyandsunshine #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmylens #sydneylocal
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The Christmas window displays at Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly are amazing, so many small details.
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The water receeds around the edges of Tunks Park under Long Gully Bridge, but there seems to be another downpour forecast next week, so itbis likely to go under again. But look how green the grass is!!!
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#tunksparksydney #tunksparkwalk #tunkspark #longgullybridge #longgully #greengrass #parkunderwater #aftertherain #sydney #sydneyparks #sydneylife #sydneyharbourwalks #myhometown
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The gate on Sydney`s Pyrmont Bridge once to block traffic, now pedestrians when the bridge swings open to allow boats through to Darling Harbour. The W Hotel in the background is not likely to open this year as planned......
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#pyrmontbridge #pyrmontbridgesydney #gateonthebridge #whotel #sydneycbd #blueskyandsunshine #sydneyinwinter #lunchbreakwalk #darlingharbour #heritagebridge
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Giant red velvet bows and lights for Christmas down the centre of all floors at Fortnum & Mason on London`s Piccadilly.
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#fortnumandmason #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly #piccadilly #christmasatfortnums #christmaslights #shoppinginlondon #oneofmyfavouritethings #favouritestore #londonlife #londontrip #londonchristmas #londonstyle #londontravel #londonatchristmastime #christmasinlondon #redvelvetbows #redvelvetbowsforchristmas #christmasdecorations
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As my ferry pulled in to Circular Quay I saw this new sculpture near Government House in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
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#sculptureinthepark #sculpturegarden #artinpublicplaces #governmenthousesydney #royalbotanicgardenssydney #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneyaustralia #bluewater #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
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The chocolate department at Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly. So many delicious goodies to choose from - best to just buy at least one of each!!
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#fortnumandmason @fortnums #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly #fortnumschristmas #fortnumschocolates #shoppinginlondon #piccadilly #christmasatfortnums #christmasinlondon #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmylens #traveladdict #londonlife #londontrip #londonatchristmastime
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One of my favourite stores in London.
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#oneofmyfavouritethings #fortnumandmason #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly #shoppinginlondon #london #soelegant
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The Christmas tree in Pickering Place, St James`s, London. These houses are now the offices for Berry Bros & Rudd, London`s oldest wine merchants.
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#pickeringplace #pickering #berrybrosandrudd #stjamess #christmasinlondon2022 #christmastree #exploringlondon #winemerchant #publicsquare #londonssmallestpublicsquare #londonlife #londonlandmarks #londontrip #londontravel #traveltheworldwithme #seeeverythingdoeverything
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I was surprised to find out this is a private home, known as Holme, in London`s Regent`s Park. And, it has just gone on the market for a cool £250 million, its got 40 bedrooms, so perfect for the average family!!
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#regentsparklake #regentspark #regentsparklondon #holme #livinginthepark #londonlife #londontrip #londonwalks #walkinthepark #londonstyle #london #beautifuldayinthepark #viewacrossthewater #seetheworldthroughmylens
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One of my favourite stores @fortnums
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#fortnums #oneofmyfavouritethings #london #seetheworldthroughmylens #shoppinginlondon
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Pickering Place is London`s smallest public square, located in St James`s not far from St Jame`s Palace, home to London`s oldest wine merchants Berry Bros, it feels a but like you are walking into someone`s private courtyard.
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#pickeringplace #pickeringplacelondon #stjamess #london #historiclondon #sculptureinthesquare #exploringlondon #londonlife #londontrip #seetheworldthroughmylens #christmastree #walkingaroundlondon #seekandyoushallfind
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One of the Royal parks in London for some time out from the hustle and bustle.
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#regentsparklondon #regentspark #londonparksandgardens #royalparksandgardens #londonwalks
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The Golden Lion pub in King St, St James`s, London. Started off life as a seedy workers pub in 1762, now very gentrified.
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#thegoldenlion #thegoldenlionstjames s #londonpubs #historiclondon #stjamess #kingstreet #london #londonlife #londoncity #londonwalks #christmasinlondon #stainedglasswindows #traveltheworldwithme #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seeeverythingdoeverything
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A day out in Sydney, catching a ferry across the harbour then heading out to Bondi Beach and walking around the headland looking at Sculpture by the Sea.
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#sydney #sydneyaustralia
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The Christmas tree just inside the Duke Street entrance to Fortnum & Mason`s Piccadilly store. This was about a week after Christmas, it took that long forvthe crowds to diminish so I could get some photos! Love this old original staircase too.
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#fortnumandmason #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly @fortnums #christmasatfortnums #christmastree #londonvibes #christmasinlondon2022 #londonvibes #londontrip #londonchristmas #londonstyle #londonatchristmastime #london #londonhistory #shoppinginlondon #oneofmyfavouritethings
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Upstairs in Fortnum & Mason on London`s Piccadilly, in the beautifully decked out china and hampers area.
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#fortnumandmason #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly @fortnums #ilovefortnumandmason #piccadilly #shoppinginlondon #oneofmyfavouritethings #christmasinlondon2022 #christmasatfortnums #christmasdecorations #londonvibes #londonlife #londonlandmarks #londontrip #londonchristmas #londonstyle #londonatchristmastime #london #london
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Between down pours, Tunks Psrk continued to fill with water. Lucky someone thought to put the "Ground Closed" sign in the middle of the cricket ground 🤣 I think anyone who turned up to play would have realised after wading through knee deep water on to the sodden grass that it wouldn`t work out!😂
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#tunkspark #floodedpark #waterwatereverywhere #greengrass #aftertgerain #walkinthepark #sydneyinspring #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #myhometown #cricketground #toowettoplay #waterviews
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The trick is to go on Christmas Day to take photos of the lights, not Christmas Eve!! There are 75% less people doing the same thing!!
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#london #christmaslights
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Another arrangement in the David Jones Spring Flower Show at Sydney`s Elizabeth St store.
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#davidjonesflowershow #davidjonesstore #davidjones #davidjonessydney #flowershow #flowersofinstagram #notthechelseaflowershow #flowerseverywhere #orangeflowers #blueflowers #orchids #orchidsofinstagram #explorethecityyoulivein #lunchtimewalks #seeeverythingdoeverything #colourmyworld
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Waiting at McMahon`s Point for the ferry to Circular Quay, lovely day for it, blue sky, blue water, what more can you ask for on a weekend.
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#sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourbridge #sydneyferries #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneywaterways #sydneyoperahouse #sydney_insta #sydneylife #sydneyweekends #bluesky #bluewater #outandabout #exploretheworldwithme #explorethecityyoulivein #sydneycbd
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David Jones Spring Flower Show
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#davidjonesflowershow #davidjones #davidjonessydney
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And the rains came to Sydney again, Tunks Park has taken a battering with water seeping through all the sandstone blocks.
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#tunkspark #sydneyparks #sydneyintherain #rainagain #sandstonerock #walkinthepark #runningwaters #drippingfromthesky #sydneylife #sydneywaterways #sydneyaustralia #sydneyharbourwalks #sydneynativeflora
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From the National Maritime Museum in Sydney behind the boats in the foreground you can see the masts on the replica Endeavour, on the right are the glass towers in Barangaroo.
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#theendeavour #sydneymaritimemuseum #australiannationalmaritimemusem #barangaroo #darlingharboursydney #tallships #sailingboats #sailonsydneyharbour #glasstowers #sydneyharbour #blueskywhiteclouds #visitthemuseum #sydneylife #sydneyaustralia #sydneywaterways #sydneylocal #myhometown #traveltheworldwithme
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Looking out from the Endeavour and the Australian National Maritime Museum at another tall ship in the harbour.
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#anmm @sea.museum #endeavour #theendeavour #tallships #view #sydneyharbour #viewacrossthewater #sydney #sydneymuseums #outonthewater #pyrmont #darlingharbour #darlingharboursydney #seeeverythingdoeverything
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In Marks Park on the headland at the southern end of Bondi Beach looking through this Sculpture by the Sea to Bronte Beach framed in the sculpture.
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#sculpturebythesea #sculptureinthepark #sculptureart #sculpture #markspark #brontebeach #brontebeachsydney #bonditotamaramacoastalwalk #artinthepark #sydney #sydneylife #sydneybeaches #sydneyaustralia #sydneywaterways #sydneyparks
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Cool, crisp lunchtime walk over Pyrmont Bridge, nice bit of sunshine between the rain.
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#pyrmontbridge #pyrmontbridgesydney #sydneyinspring #outinthefreshairandsunshine #lunchtimewalk #sydney #sydneyaustralia #sydneycbd #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmylens #greenandgold #explorethecityyoulivein #myhometown
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Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly, all decked out as an Advent Calendar for Christmas. Fortnums is definitely one of my favourite stores in London, but trying to get inside on Christmas Eve was impossible!!
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#fortnumandmason #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly #adventcalendar @fortnums #piccadilly #oneofmyfavouritethings #localgrocerystore #londonatchristmastime #christmasinlondon2022 #christmasshoppingtime #londonvibes #londonlife #londonlandmarks #londonstyle #londontrip #londonlover #londonchristmas #seetheworldthroughmylens #traveltheworldwithme
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The Christmas Tree and beautiful staircase where I am staying in London.
Click on the link in the bio to see my postcards from London.
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#christmastree #christmas #christmasdecorations #staircase #christmasinlondon #christmasday #merrychristmas #royaloverseasleague #royaloverseasleaguelondon
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Merry Christmas!! I hope everyone has had a great day!!🎄🎉🥂 ...

Looking south towards Tamarama and Bronte Beaches, and all those people walking on the Bondi to Tamarama Coastal Walk to see Sculpture by the Sea.
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#bonditotamarama #bonditotamaramacoastalwalk #pacificocean #sculpturebythesea #bluewaterwaves #sydneylife #sydney #sydneyaustralia #explorethecityyoulivein #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #outandabout
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That`s how you design a gate!!!
These gates at Regents Park in London, were made in 1935, during the reign of George V.
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#regentsparklondon #regentspark #regentsparkgates #beautifulgate #gatestothegardens #royalgate #georgiangate #walkinthepark #londonlife #londonparks #londonlandmarks #londontrip #londonwalks #seekandyoushallfind #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #londontravel
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I walked across Sydney Harbour Bridge on a very cold night to see Vivid, this is the view from the Bridge, over The Rocks to Circular Quay and tge Sydney CBD.
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#vividsydney2022 #vivid2022 #vividsydney #sydney #sydneyaustralia #therocks #sydneycbd #circularquay #lightshow #coldnightinsydney #explorethecityyoulivein #colouredlights #myhometown
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Inside Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly, their famous hampers, cups and saucers, teapots, tea cosies, and all the Fortnums goodies you can dream of.
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#fortnumandmason #fortnumandmasonpiccadilly #fortnumshamper #cupsandsaucers #teapots #teacosies #piccadilly #christmasatfortnums #christmasinlondon2022 #londonlife #londonlandmarks #londontrip #londonchristmas #londonatchristmastime #shoppinginlondon
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