And the journey begins.
April 22, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
The journey starts.
Picked up at 7.30pm by Hughes and dropped right at the departure gate. Check in was easy, and an option to upgrade to first class for a very reasonable value. We declined. Kim hasRead more
Landed safely in Dubai.
April 23, 2024 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
After 3 attempts to land, our A380 finally hit terra firma. Apparently it’s windy out there.
We’ve had to weave our way through more security checks, many escalators and then the Lounge check in,Read more
San Giovanni, Rome
April 23, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
We’ve made it.
Our first ever Airbnb experience. Didn’t go smoothly.
Flight from Dubia was great. Being daytime, we stayed awake. Food was great. Little bit of a drama with and older customer.Read more
Touring Rome: day 1
April 24, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Today we joined a tour of the Colosseum, the Forum and other old stuff. Our guide, Eduardo, was very entertaining.
So many people!
We learnt a bit, saw a lot and generally had a good time.
It rainedRead more
Piazza Navona
April 25, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
A brisk walk this morning, passed the closed roads due to a public holiday, Republic Day.
First stop, a few fountains representing 4 rivers.
And we stopped for a coffee.
We were here in an eveningRead more
Spanish Steps
April 25, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Although they are called the Spanish Steps, they were funded by a Frenchman, built to connect the Spanish Embassy and an Italian church.
And again, so many people!
Pantheon
April 25, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
There are so many tour groups out today. So many lines to get in to see anything. The atmosphere is great.
Mt Vesuvio
April 26, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
A 3 hour bus ride from our pick up point in Roma.
A very narrow road leads up the mountain to our check in point, then walkies.
Our second ‘active’ volcano we have walked up.
Unfortunately itRead more
Pompeii in 1.5 hours.
April 26, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Not sure what I think about Pompeii. It’s a very big excavation, so much to see.
Our guide was very good but limited in what she could show because of limited time. And again, so many people. OurRead more
Pompeii part 2.
April 26, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Took more photos than we thought.
Walk to the Vatican.
April 27, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
We’ve strolled to St. Peter’s Square this morning. A nice hours walk. It’s a big square and the line to get in is very long. Must be devoted to want to go in.
Knights of Malta keyhole.
April 27, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
So we walked around 8k’s.
We waited just short of 2 hours.
A slow, sunny wait.
In the sun.
To have a peek in a keyhole.
Apparently you see, Malta, Italy and St Peter’s.
We peeked in the holeRead more
Castel Sant’Angelo
April 28, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Built by Hadrian. Parts pulled down. Rebuilt to use as a prison and a garrison. Parts pulled down again. Rebuilt again and added too. Restored and is now a museum.
Wandering Roman streets, last day
April 28, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
After our visit to the Castel, we wandered about. A nice stroll on our last full day in Roma.
Leaving Roma
April 29, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Fast train to Florence. 280km in 90 minutes. Do the math! Comfy as. Not sure 1st class was worth it. 🤔
Cooking class. Pasta.
April 30, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Kim decided we need to learn hot to make pasta. Here we are at Pastamania making fettuccine, cappellacci, ravioli.
Wandered Florence
April 30, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
After a superbly cooked lunch, from our cooking class, we are having a stroll. So much to see. If only we understood what all these statues were about. Probably need a guide? 🤔
Michelangelo piazzala piccy time
April 30, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Just came up the hill above Florence for some evening shots.
A few people around.
Siena. Day your.
May 2, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Hopped on the bus early today. A few sites to see before the days over.
Wine tasting time.
May 2, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Part of today’s tour is some wine tasting. Chianti is the grape variety. Maybe should have done a rating vid? 🤔🤔
But i didn’t really rank these.
ri-Colle-ghi-Amo
May 2, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
3 regions joined to form one municipality.
Sangimignano.
May 2, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
A town full of towers.
He who has the tallest tower wins.
Oh, the best beer in Italy so far.
Vernazza on the Cinque Terre coast
May 3, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
A 2 hour bus ride. 20 minute wait for the train and we are here in this quaint little, busy, village.
Manarola. Cinque Terre coast.
May 3, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
A small town but full of people. Omg it’s busy.
Monterosso. Another in Cinque Terre
May 3, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Our lunch stop.
Seafood salad, penne and pesto, panacotta on offer. And white wine.
We’ve jumped off the tour and 2 hours for ourselves before heading back to the bus.