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Nolene DE LUCA
Nolene DE LUCA

Nolene DE LUCA

traveled in 12 countries Read more🇳🇿Tauranga
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  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Syracuse, Sicily

    July 11, 2018 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    Another early start for a 2 hour train trip to Rome airport. Beautiful scenery on the way lots of grass being cut for hay & acres of sunflowers. Met John & girls, now all in our appt in Syracuse. Went out to have a swim on the waterfront, so lovely and warmI could have stayed in forever. Supermercato to stock up, home for shower & snack. Just back from waterfront after a drink and light dinner. So nice, lovely temperature.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Last day in Florence

    July 10, 2018 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    A much needed ‘chill’ day today although I did go out for a couple of walks, one this morning, went exploring and found places I hadn’t seen before. I stopped at a lovely little restaurant for a great lunch. Back to hotel to read the paper and siesta, really tried to pack a little, seems to get more & more difficult!!! Didn’t feel like dinner so had a bar snack and the usual aperol spritz (this is becoming a habit) will have to stop (when I leave Italy)!!! Went out for another walk, lovely to see everyone eating outside and enjoying themselves. Off at 7am in the morning to meet John & the girls at Rome airport, then we all fly to Sicily for another adventure. They have been enjoying Rome.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Cinque Terre

    July 10, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Early start yesterday for Cinque Terre, started by a two hour bus trip, three train rides and two boat trips, lots of tourists but all good. Such a beautiful part of Italy. Amazing how they built into the rocky outcrops and have managed to stay there. Lots of locals swimming and a number of super yachts. Lunch was included at a wonderful place overlooking the sparkling water at the third village, lots of local wine and even a limoncello at the end. Didn’t get back to Florence until 9pm absolutely knackered. Chill day today.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Pisa and Lucca

    July 8, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Long bus trip to Pisa but well worth it. Very hot day with big crowds but plenty of space really. Met a lovely American couple an teamed up with them. Had a lovely lunch with wine tasting? Not bad either!! Nearly caught by pick pockets but heard them just in time and yelled at them, they are so quick. Luckily I had my wits about me, not day dreaming as usual!!! Loved Pisa. Then on to Lucca and a wander around the old town, great little place. Back about 8pm. Another big day tomorrow.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Florence

    July 7, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Out early this morning for an hours walk to find where I have to be tomorrow to meet a group to go to Pisa and Lucca. Back to watch some dragon boat racing. Unfortunately I couldn’t get close to the kiwis. Lunch beside the river then siesta. Did 12 km today so not bad. Just back at the hotel in the bar having an aperol spritz before bed. Big day tomorrow.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Hotel Bernini

    July 6, 2018 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Said goodbye to John & girls this morning as they head off to Rome. I moved into Hotel Bernini right in the middle of all the action. Very fancy pants hotel. Had lovely lunch overlooking the river then back to hotel. Went out late in arvo to see the opening ceremony for the world dragon boat racing. Met up with kiwis from Pyes Pa, we couldn’t believe it. Cheered for the kiwi team. I will be watching the racing tomorrow.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Florence

    July 6, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Woken up to bells ringing at 7am, they will forever be in my mind!!! Breakfast in a lovely cafe 5 mins from our appt. just love their fresh juice and food. Walked around one of the many squares with all the tourists. Waited in a queue again to visit a museum. Had an early lunch at the same place we had dinner last night. Walked over the Ponte Vecchio bridge and watched the dragon boats practising on the Arno River. Opening ceremony for the International Festival tomorrow night with racing on Sat. NZ team racing. Came home for Siesta (could get used to this)!!! Back downtown to see the famous sculpture of David, just mazing. Claire has sore throat so only three for dinner. Let’s hope Claire better tomorrow. Nothing worse than being unwell whilst on holiday.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Florence

    July 5, 2018 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    Woken up to bells ringing at 7am.. They will forever be in my mind!!! Breakfast in a lovely cafe 5 mins from our appt. just love their fresh juice and food. Walked around one of the many squares with all the tourists and waited in a queue again to visit a palace museum. Had an early lunch then walked down to the Ponte Vecchio Bridge and watched dragon boats practising on the Arno River . Opening ceremony for the International Festival tomorrow night with racing on Sat. NZ team racing. Had siesta then back on the streets to see the famous sculpture of David, just amazing. Claire has sore throat so only three for dinner, hopefully she will feel better after a good nights sleep.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Leaving Venice

    July 4, 2018 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    Up early to look through St Marks Basillica and well worth the wait in a queue. Such a beautiful church with lots of history. We said goodbye to our appt and breakfast cafe to board a train to Florence. Two hours later and a short walk from the station to our appt then out. We booked to go in to the church, through the museum and up the cupola (dome). Not quite as tall as the Vatican but still about 367 steep steps and yes I did it albeit slowly. I am now knackered but I did it. Museum was so interesting. Don’t think the girls were impressed with seeing a finger from John The Baptiste!!! Out to a lovely restaurant 10 mins from appt. we all love Italian food. Lovely appt right in the middle of all the action, just great.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Venice

    July 3, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Went to a small glass blowing factory, on Murano Island and I drooled over some of the items made, prices to make your eyes water. Visited the (Peggy) Guggenheim art museum, very interesting story on how it evolved. Wandered through the narrow streets in pleasant temperatures. Had a Gondola ride on the canals, all touristy but with doing. Ended the night with a lovely meal in one of the back streets, trying to keep away from the crowded ‘eatery places’, works well. Just love all the wonderful old buildings.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAItalyNolene DE LUCA

    Italy

    July 2, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Long flight from Hong Kong to Milan. Caught train in to Central station to meet with John then back to his hotel for a quick shower and a catch up with the girls before we all boarded a train to Venice. Four bedrooms, four bathrooms (YAY) air bnb close to Rialto bridge. Settled in then went walking, lovely lunch and of course the inevitable shopping for the girls. (Capping that!!). Early night, ready to hit the road or canals this morning.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAGraduation trip to the USANolene DE LUCA

    Co Tu

    August 28, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    8.00 am start today in an American Jeep, real basic, open sided but did have a plastic top, and knees under our chins, good fun. Top speed was 35mph and the driver loved every minute of it, he was very good at dodging trucks, cars, motorbikes, dogs & cattle. We went to a factory where they made marble statues and every else as well. Great stuff. We had lunch with a Co Tu family, lovely old man and at 93, very sprightly. He played a couple of instruments for us then insisted he share his pet cobra with us, horrible!!! Then showed us an even bigger one. Yuk, yuk & yuk. Great to talk to him about the war though. On to another village high up in the mountains, they played their music and sang for us. Bach home at 5pm. Off on our big journey home tomorrow.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAGraduation trip to the USANolene DE LUCA

    My Son ruins

    August 27, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Picked up this morn by our lovely guide & driver, drove for an hour to the Champa temples. Very high in the mountains where the Viet Cong hid during the war, amazing place. The USA dropped bombs everywhere and it is very noticeable. Back early for a fitting for our clothes!!!! Then a swim before a 'small' 😴. Assistant Manager a South African, sent us a bottle is SA wine to try so sat on our day beds outside our room overlooking the pool and enjoyed every little drop.🍷🍷🍷🍷Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAGraduation trip to the USANolene DE LUCA

    Bike Tour

    August 26, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Rained all night and still raining this morn, so no bike tour (much to Mikes delight) so our guide organised a 🚗 for a tour of the veg gardens and pottery making villages. We walked all around the gardens in the pouring rain then through the pottery village. Just as well it was warm. Had to buy some pottery (my weakness) then on to lunch at an amazing restaurant on the riverside. Still pouring with rain. Went and had a fitting for our clothes then back to the Irish pub to watch the second half of the rugby. Nail biting stuff. BBQ at hotel tonight, presumably in the rain!!!!!Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAGraduation trip to the USANolene DE LUCA

    Hoi An Old Town

    August 26, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Red Bridge Cooking School yesterday, went to the local market first to learn all about the produce we were going to use. The usual busy, smelly and bustling with locals and revolting meat. Lovely boat ride in relatively clean water as opposed to the Mekong. Cooking great, but not so great on the veg carving!!! Mike even enjoyed himself but don't expect him to break out in the kitchen any time soon. Went to a lovely place to get some clothes made - wow, it is just amazing how they treat you. Go this arvo for a fitting. Off this morn for a bike ride. Sore bum material🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️🚴‍♀️Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAGraduation trip to the USANolene DE LUCA

    Saigon/Da Nang/Hoi An

    August 24, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Up real early this morn to get to the airport before the peak traffic, Tauranga is a dream after Saigon. Met by our lovely tour guide
    & her driver. 40mins to our hotel in Hoi An.
    Hotel fantastic, our room is 10m from the pool so welcome this afternoon after doing a walking tour of the old town. Absolutely buggered tonight. Just finished an amazing meal at the hotel. Cook school tomorrow. Watch this space!!!!!Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAGraduation trip to the USANolene DE LUCA

    Lunch in Saigon

    August 23, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Went with three Australian couples we met on the boat to the markets and a to have a general look around the city. Lots of laughs, nearly run over a few times, so many motor scooters and they take short cuts up on the footpath around a tree and then back on the road only achieving a couple of meters. Had lunch and a beer in an outside beer garden.
    Tonight we have a farewell dinner and fly out for Hoi An early in the morning.    Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAGraduation trip to the USANolene DE LUCA

    Cu Chi Tunnels

    August 23, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Off the boat, onto a bus for a 2hr trip to the centre of Saigon stopping at the Cu Chi Tunnels, some 250km's of tunnels that housed about 16,000 people built by the Vietnamese resistance fighters during the war. Just amazing and hard to imagine what it must have have been like, the tunnels were so small in diameter, made for little people, not westerners like us. Stopped for lunch at a lovely restaurant on a river on the way to the hotel.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAGraduation trip to the USANolene DE LUCA

    Tan Chau

    August 23, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Going backwards, sorry but some of the footprints are 'stuck somewhere an I can't retrieve them' (need you Garry). We went on a small boat ride up one of the tributaries of the Mekong, then did a rickshaw ride to a 'silver factory' really interesting to watch how they go about things, so very primitive. Rickshaw ride was hilarious.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAGraduation trip to the USANolene DE LUCA

    Tan Chau

    August 20, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Went for a small boat ride this morning to a tiny village on the river, passed lots of fish farms and stilt houses. Went into a private home where an elderly man & his wife live with their son & daughter-in-law & grandchildren. A wonderful experience. Then had a rickshaw ride to a mat weaving factory & then to a silk factory. Of course the silk factory was the best!!!!Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAGraduation trip to the USANolene DE LUCA

    Cambodia to Vietnam

    August 19, 2017 in Vietnam ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    As you have all no doubt gathered getting wifi here is non existent. We have tried every night to no avail. Should be better now we have crossed the border. On boat all day today with various activities but like most of the passengers we just rested on the sundeck, just great. Had to stop for three hours for border crossing formalities. Trip in morning to silk factory so should be interesting.Read more

  • Nolene DE LUCAGraduation trip to the USANolene DE LUCA

    Phom phen

    August 19, 2017 in Cambodia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Finally have wifi, yah. Left Siem Reap, lovely cruising on the Tonle Sap Lake & river. Have been for a ride on an occasion & cart, great but bloody uncomfortable. Visited a few primitive villages, & had a lovely time with the children.Read more

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