Matamata Travel

26/06/2026

One of the best things about travelling is the supermarket and comparing items and prices. Here is today's sample :)

24/06/2026

Back in Deurne. Back thuis. ❤️🇳🇱

Since leaving the Queen Victoria, I've swapped cruise ships and bustling ports for bicycles, family visits and the familiar streets of Deurne.

There is something very special about being back where so many childhood memories were made and waking up surrounded by family. For the past few days, life has been wonderfully simple — cycling between relatives, drinking coffee, sharing stories, and catching up on everything that's happened since my last visit.

So far I've caught up with 8 aunties and uncles and 9 cousins, with plenty more family still to see. One of the joys of coming back to the Netherlands is discovering just how many relatives I have nearby. Every day seems to bring another family connection, another story, and another reminder of where I come from.

In fact, I met someone yesterday who took one look at me and immediately asked, "Are you related to Thea?" (my mama). As it turns out, we're related (though about twice removed)! And apparently I look just like my mama. I absolutely loved hearing that. Mama was a real beauty, and being told I resemble her is one of the nicest compliments I could receive. That is one of the reasons I love being here. It's being part of something bigger.

However, the weather is super hot. 37 degrees and I'm reliably informed that tomorrow will be even hotter. 🥵

Fortunately, having a large Dutch family has its advantages. As I cycle around visiting everyone, there is always somewhere to stop, have a chat, escape the heat, and refill my drink bottle. I don't get very far without running into family!

For someone whose roots run deep in this part of the world, being back here always feels a little different from any other trip. My family has lived around Deurne for generations, and while I've travelled to more than 120 countries, there is still something special about coming back here and hearing the familiar Brabant accents, cycling the same streets, and spending time with the people I love who share the same family story.

It's hot, busy, and my cycling legs are getting a workout, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Ik ben weer thuis ❤️

21/06/2026

Valencia ...

Rather than taking an organised tour, we decided to do what the locals do and hopped on the public bus from the cruise terminal into the city. At just €2 each way, it has to be one of the best-value shore excursions in the Mediterranean!

Of course, no adventure would be complete without a small mishap. I managed to get on the bus just as the doors closed, leaving poor Roxy standing outside. There I was waving frantically through the window while she waved back from the pavement. 🫣

Valencia itself has a fascinating history. Founded by the Romans in 138 BC, it later became one of the most important cities in Moorish Spain before flourishing as a major Mediterranean trading centre. Walking through the old town, you can see layers of history around every corner.

Our first stop was the magnificent Valencia Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María de Valencia). Built between the 13th and 15th centuries on the site of a former mosque, it blends Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque architecture. The cathedral is perhaps most famous for claiming to house the Holy Grail — yes, that Holy Grail. Whether you believe it or not, it's an impressive piece of history.

We then wandered through the beautiful streets before going to the Mercat Central, one of Europe's largest and most beautiful fresh food markets. The building itself is stunning, with colourful tiles, soaring ironwork and glass domes. However, being Sunday, it was closed 🥳

Valencia feels authentic. It's large enough to be vibrant, yet still relaxed enough to enjoy at your own pace. Add in beautiful architecture, centuries of history, fantastic food and an easy €2 bus ride from the ship, and it made for a wonderful day ashore.

Sometimes the best shore excursions are the ones you create yourself.

21/06/2026

Saskia tries .... Amaretto Sour on the Cunard Queen Victoria ...

18/06/2026

Today we came ashore at Livorno and headed into Florence.

This was my seventh visit to Florence and honestly? I still absolutely love it.

We started with a walking tour through the historic centre. Florence is often called the birthplace of the Renaissance, and everywhere you look there are reminders of the powerful Medici family. Originally bankers, the Medici became one of the most influential families in Europe, funding artists, architects and thinkers who helped shape the world we know today. Without them, names like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci may never have become household names.

What I love about Florence is that history isn't tucked away in museums – it's all around you. The beautiful stone buildings, grand piazzas, ornate churches and narrow streets tell stories that stretch back hundreds of years. Every time I visit, I notice something different.

After the walking tour, we had free time to explore. Some people headed for the leather markets, others found a shady café, and a few simply wandered the streets soaking up the atmosphere. Florence is one of those cities where getting lost is half the fun.

Of course, no visit to Tuscany would be complete without good food. I enjoyed lunch at Casa Toscana, a restaurant that has been welcoming diners since 1872. Good food, a glass of wine, and watching the world go by in one of Italy's most beautiful cities – that's not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

Seven visits later and Florence still has a way of drawing me back. Some destinations are worth seeing once. Florence is a destination that keeps rewarding you every time you return.

🇮🇹❤️

Big enough to know the world. Small enough to know you.
and travel

17/06/2026

Today we were in Toulon, France, and what a lovely surprise this city has been.

One of my favourite things to do when I travel is to wander around with no clear plan. No rushing from attraction to attraction. Just seeing where the streets take me. Toulon is perfect for that.

Roxy and I spent the morning exploring the old town and stopping at Les Halles, the local produce market. If you want to know how people really live somewhere, visit their market. Fresh fruit and vegetables, cheeses, breads, seafood, olives and plenty of people catching up over coffee. It felt authentic and wonderfully French.

Later, we took the gondola up to Mont Faron. €10 return from the city to the top of the mountain including bus fare. The views from the top are spectacular. The harbour stretched out below, framed by mountains, with the Mediterranean sparkling in every shade of blue imaginable. It was one of those days where the sky is so blue it almost does not look real - I call them Blue Stratos days.

As a former History teacher, I was excited about Toulon's connection to Les Misérables. This is where Victor Hugo placed Jean Valjean's imprisonment before his journey of redemption began. Standing in the city where that famous story starts added an extra layer - travel, history and storytelling all come together.

It was also HOT. Properly Mediterranean hot. The kind of heat that had these girls searching for every patch of shade we could find!

Travel days like this remind me that sometimes the best experiences aren't the big-ticket attractions. They're wandering streets you've never walked before, discovering places the locals love, learning a little history, and taking a moment to appreciate just how beautiful our world really is.

Now it's back onboard Queen Victoria as we sail towards our next port.

Until tomorrow...

🇫🇷☀️🌊

17/06/2026

When something seems too good to be true, sometimes it is.

Saskia and I have had our beady little eyes on this Melbourne-based tour company for the last year or so. When you see a 10-day tour to China advertised for $999, alarm bells start ringing. Travel costs are real, and if the numbers don't add up, eventually something has to give.

Sadly, AVG has now gone into liquidation, reportedly owing millions of dollars to travellers who had entrusted them with their hard-earned holiday funds.

This is another timely reminder of why booking through a reputable travel broker matters. We don't just compare prices – we assess the financial stability and reputation of the suppliers we recommend. If something looks unrealistic, we'll tell you. If we wouldn't put our own family on it, we won't put you on it.

A bargain holiday isn't a bargain if the company disappears before you travel.

At Matamata Travel, we're committed to working with trusted operators that have proven track records, proper financial protections, and the experience to deliver the holiday you've paid for.

Sometimes the cheapest option can end up being the most expensive lesson.

Hundreds of Aussies holiday dreams have been shattered after a loca...

15/06/2026

Whilst Oi Oi Madam is off swanning in the Mediterranean .. someone (namely moi) is in the cold lonely office .. luckily though, because today our local newspaper the Scene has our Welcome to the Community full page advert in it ..

Looks like we are giving the Trivago teeth man a run for his money!

https://sceneonline.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PDF-Complete-2.pdf

15/06/2026

Saskia tries .... A Queen Victoria on the Cunard Queen Victoria ....