The Akermen Family European Tour Scrapbook

Charlie AkermanCharlie is the youngest of the team, but can pull her own weight with camp-kitchen chores. She can grate cheese competently but always likes to have a bit to check it's ok. Around the camp fire she will entertain with her very own version of Santa Baby, and is a keen air-guitarist Lena StranksLena aka Mum is the tours chef, route planner, photographer and geologist. It all sounds quite grand but it really just means she did rocks at university once, can make an omelette and knows that if the sun is on your left you are most likely heading west(ish). She is wonderful in many ways, hem hem and edits the website Bear AkermanBear is just a freeloader along for the ride and the icecream Nick AkermanDont be confused by the sombre look, Nick is actually genuinely grumpy. He is with the trip for 4 weeks out of 7 as he had to pop back and do some work for a bit in the middle. He is chief campfire entertainer with his guitar and singing. He is also the main driver and in charge of interpretting navigational instructions from Lena. As if that is not enough he will be lifeguard at the seaside, and helping bear with his icecreams Abigail AkermanAbi is the team artist and ballerina. She will be looking to document the trip on her own felt-tip version of the bayeaux tapestry. Her speciality in camp-kitchen is "Gods Own Mash" but she will hopefully get to experiment with local ingredients on her nights cooking tea. Libby AkermanLibby is the eldest of the youngsters on the trip and so will no doubt be keen to stay up after all the others and watch the telly....ah there is no telly. Fortunately Libby has other means of entertaining us and herself as she is able to sing all of the three HSM soundtracks and the Sound of Music from memory. She will no-doubt be persuaded to join in with Nick singing even though he has a penchant for 70s tracks and Elton John. Shes nice like that!

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Food

Will Abi really try snails? What will we produce on our campfire and trangia? This is where you will read about it first

As chief cook Abi's work on sandwiches has been much appreciated. Here she is with the now famous Pompidou sandwich which had its filling on the outside (Chorizo).


We all tried snails and we liked them, although it was the sauce that they were served with that was scrummy


The Paella was fabulous! Look at the shellfish and shrimps. The rice was lovely too


Menthe a l'eau is a traditional drink for children in France. Charlotte and Libby liked it. Abi was not so sure (see her video)


We spent 2 nights in a campsite on the coast of Provence, famous for its food. These Provencal Herbs have been a big hit on our BBQs. We've taken to popping them into virtually everything we cook!


Charie has discovered a love for Cherries. Lets hope we get back to Willersey before the ones on our tree have been eaten by birds


This big wedge of cheese is Parmesian which is a famous Italian cheese, the one they offer to grate onto your Pizza in restaurants. We got some from Parma as we drove through on our way to Verona and grated it onto our Pasta that very night. Very tasty.


Spot the Difference

We enjoyed a coffee and cake at the world famous Sacher Hotel in Salzburg. Salzburg is well known as the birthplace of Mozart and setting of the Sound of Music but we headed past the horse and von-trapp and straight for the home of the worlds best chocolate cake (apart from Mrs Thomas' of course). The two images below are separated by a matter of seconds. Can you spot the difference?



Snails and Sea Food

We've had some fabulous food on our trip. Abigail, Libby and Charlotte have all tried (and enjoyed) snails. We have eaten lovely Paella in both Spain and Southern France where it is also a local delicacy. See our videos and pictures below.