• Cheryl Moody
  • Cheryl Moody

Spain and Italy

Finally after 3 years we're off for 7 weeks to Europe
Trained it to Sydney for an overnight stay
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  • Trip start
    August 30, 2023
  • Montserrat

    September 3, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Took a day trip to see where the Benedictine Monks live. Caught the funicular to the top, San Joan Nature Park and walked down.

  • Sevile

    Sep 4–7, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Seville is full of life. Very relaxed. Found a great local place for dinner, Dos d Mayo.
    Walked around the old town.

  • Cordoba

    September 5, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Up early for another day trip.
    We had the funniest guide ,
    Ishmael, who made the day so much fun but he knew so much.
    It's such a fascinating place to visit

  • Granada

    Sep 6–8, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Came here to see the Alhambra. Certainly not disappointed. The history is fascinating, the gardens stunning and the architecture beautiful. Nassir's place is stunning.
    Did a walking tour of Granada through the Jewish sector and old town.Read more

  • Tossa de Mar

    Sep 11–23, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Great fun staying with Karen and Ian. Met their friends 😄.
    Lunched at the beach bar, dinner at their fav. spots, drank lots of Sangria and wine.
    Did a lovely walk into town with recovery drinks at Don Juan. Walked around the castle, took a ferry ride, swam in there pool, used the spa and helped garden.Read more

  • Provance

    Sep 12–14, 2023 in France ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    A little side into France with Karen and Ian.
    On the way to Caromb we stopped in Mornas. The walk to castle is a very steep 137m up but worth it. Afterwards we needed to stop by Vignoble Art Mass to taste some beautiful wine.
    Stayed in a cute little town, Caromb where not much english is spoken. Our accommodation was very french, 3 stories up very narrow steep steps.
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  • Provence

    September 13, 2023 in France ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Next it was off to Gordes, a french resistance town and L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for the day.
    Found a great truffle shop with the best truffle chips in Gordes and Karen got her crepes in L'Isle-sur-la-SorgueRead more

  • Cadaques

    September 14, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Heading back to Tossa via a brief stop in Carpentras. We were all a little under whelmed even though the street was good.
    So on to Cadaques, where Salvador Dali used to visit .Absolutely stunning white town.Read more

  • Besalu

    September 19, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Before leaving Tossa de Mar we had our last day trip to visit Besalu. Another lovely old town from the middle ages. It was the capital of the county of La Garrotxa, 10th century .There was a large Jewish quarter.Read more

  • Genoa

    Sep 21–23, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 21 °C

    Stayed in a lovely apartment nearly at the top of a hill.
    Found a great bakery with everything gf...hard to make a choice. Of course we had coffee and icecream while sightseeing. Got lost in the narrow streets. Walked Via Garibaldi,a UNESCO list area. This street was for the very wealthy in the 1600s walked the port area, listened to a fabulous free concertRead more

  • Cinque Terra

    Sep 23–27, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Caught the train from Genoa. 1st class was great but then we changed trains and it was 2nd class madness. Vernazza is beautiful.
    Saturday here is crazy so many people, Monday not much better . We escaped by walking from Vernazza to Montorosso. Stunning. Also walk to a tiny church high up in the hills.
    Took the ferry along the Cinque Terra coast getting off at Riomaggiore and Porto Venere. Another perfect day
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  • Florence

    Sep 27–28, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Trained from Vernazza to Florence. It was a bit confusing...we didn't realise the train was late so it was redirected meaning we didn't have to change trains ..bonus. Florence station was like Central but on steroids.
    We love Florence, busy vibrant and crowded.
    We visited the Uffizi, walked across the Ponte Vecchio to the Pitti Place, did 2 walking tours to hear the stories of Florence and visited the Galellio museum.
    Found delicious pasta, ravioli and pizzas to eat plus cakes and ice creams.
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  • Sienna

    September 29, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Day trip to Sienna by train. Walked around the town. The main reason for visiting was to see the Sienna Cathedral. - not disappointed. We did the stairway to heaven climb, where we could look down on the inside of the cathedral as well as look at the countryside. The floor inside is marble pictures and the library books date 14th century.
    Gordon bought his man bag here.
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  • Venice

    Oct 2–7, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Arrived in style, 1st class on the fast train. What scene greeted us...the Grand Canal. Got the water bus to our stop, Rialto Mercato. There's a little Piazza where we go for drinks and delicious dinners.
    It's a little confusing at first trying to navigate the streets and canals.
    We've walked around St Mark's Square, the waterfront, sat and watched the boats while eating icecream, fun shopping at the local market,visited the Doges Palace and had a gondola ride.
    Love Venice
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  • The islands

    October 4, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Today we took a break from the hectic pace of Venice and did a day tour of Murano, Burano and Torcello.
    We cruised for 30 mins to Murano, famous for glass blowing. After watching a demo we some time for a wander. Back on the boat for another 30mins to Burano, known for its brightly coloured houses. Fishermen painted their house so they could find them at night. Then onto Torcello a historical islandRead more

  • Doge's Palace

    October 5, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Today a did a bucket list item....... gondola ride. Enjoyed every minute. Everything thing looks different from the canals.
    Afterwards it was off to the Doges Palace.. This was the residence of the Doge and the seat of government. Built in 1340
    The opulence on the chambers is amazing.
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  • Verona

    Oct 7–9, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Romeo oh Romeo where art thou Romeo.. ... Verona the home of Juliet and Romeo. Of course you have to see Juliet's balcony.
    Verona's arena, built in 30AD predates the Colosseum .
    Walked the famous Ponte Scaligero which spans the Adige River so we could have a drink before strolling along the river then over Ponte Pietro for dinner. Dinner- the best seafood risotto ever- cooked in Amarone wine.
    Spent some time in Castelvecchio, now a museum.
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  • Lake Como

    Oct 9–14, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Arrived in Lake Como after a short delay the train was late so we missed our connection.
    Such a beautiful town. Met Karen and Ian. .. time for a drink. Found a great place for dinner then a walk along the foreshore.
    Gordon got his bucket list ✔️,.... Motto Guzzi museum. He was in his element. Had a look around Mandello del Lario while we were there
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  • Boating

    October 10, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Another bucket list ✔️.
    To celebrate all our birthdays we hired a speed boat to take us around Lake Como for 3hrs. Perfect weather and so much fun. Saw George Clooney's house, Versace house, the house used in Oceans 11. Stopped in Bellagio for a drink before being whisked back to ComoRead more

  • Balagio

    October 11, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    Today we drove around the lake to get a different view. Still stunning but much mister than yesterday. First stop Menaggio for a gelato and walk before catching the car ferry to Bellagio. After checking out the shops and a bite of lunch it was off to Nesso, a quaint little town. Walked down to the Nesso bridge and waterfall then drove back to Como along the narrow winding road. Thank goodness Ian was driving.Read more

  • Brunate

    October 12, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Up up on the furnicula to Brunate.
    It's a steep 30 min walk up to Volta's lighthouse but definitely worth the view.
    Celebrated our 40yr anniversary with Karen and Ian plus our last night together. Sad,Read more

  • Milano

    Oct 14–17, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Our last destination before we head back to the land down under.
    We've walked the old town on a historic walking tour which we loved. Walked around the Duomo, Sforzesco Castle, Naviglio Grande the canal area, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele ll where we window shopped in all the stores you can't afford except for a hot chocolate. We also enjoyed the Teatro alle Scala (opera house) and the Ambrosiana gallery where we saw a 15th century copy of The Last Super and of course lots of aperitifs.Read more