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GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
  • Lara Marich
  • Rudi Marich
  • Lara Marich
  • Rudi Marich

GFY 12 Month Sabbatical

A year long adventure through Europe and South East Asia - turning a crazy dream into reality. Read more
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  • Trip start
    June 20, 2019
  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical

    Family dinner

    June 19, 2019 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    After a crazy week of Lachlan being very ill, we managed to throw together.a family meal on our last night.....including a birthday cake for Josh. Not quite up there with the Women’s Weekly Kids Birthday Cake recipes but it was the best we could do with the dregs in the pantry and it was lovely spending the evening together. We finished packing at 2.30AM and had the alarm set to get up at 4.30AM.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
    As the sun goes down
    Our first 'home'Saluting the sun 'Italian style'

    First stop Rapallo

    June 21, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Rapallo is a beautiful small town on the Italian Riviera, between Genoa and the Cinque Terre. Although the seafront promenade is bustling, we have hardly heard English being spoken at all, so it feels like we are off the crazy tourist trail - I’ve even put my Italian to use straight up!Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical

    Camogli and Punta Chiappa

    June 23, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Today we took the train to Camogli and walked up through the Nature Park of Portofino to the small village of San Rocco and then down to Punta Chiappa. The hike took us through woodlands, past small bars and restaurants perched on the cliff face and we were rewarded with incredible panoramic views. Punta Chiappa was a narrow rocky point with access to the ocean via steep steps and a rope to haul yourself out - a stunning swimming location after a 14km hike and 1000 steps back up!Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
    Our swimming location for the day - San Fruttuoso
    Wild boar (sow and 5 piglets) next to the swimming cove3PortofinoSwimming coveSan Margherita

    S Margherita, Portofino and San Fruttuos

    June 24, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Today we caught the train to S Margherita then walked on to Portofino along the cliff top. It was very hot for walking but blue skies above and crystal clear water below. We then hiked straight up the mountain and continued through the Portofino Nature Park, arriving in the little port of San Fruttuoso 2 hours later. This stunning little port/village has boat only access and we spent the next few hours swimming and relaxing at a little bar/restaurant before catching the ferry and train back to Rapallo, once again enjoying breathtaking views of the coast.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical

    Rapallo to Lecco

    June 25, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Our home for the next month - every time we walk past one of our windows (or go out on our private roof top balcony) we are stopped in our tracks by the incredible views...mountains, rock face, lake and city.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
    Second swimming location Varenna
    First swimming location- BellagioLunch location - such incredibly clear water!Aperitivii time

    Day trip to Bellagio and Varenna

    June 27, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 36 °C

    Today we took the ferry on Lake Como to Bellagio and then on to Varenna. The forecast temperature for today was 38 deg with a ‘feels like’ temp of 43, so we decided to stay by the water for the entire day, enjoying a swim in a couple of different locations. We survived the heat pretty well but it was incredibly hot and humid away from the cool waters of the lake.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
    Proud home cooks -Pan fried sardines with pangritata
    Todays swimming location

    Lecco

    June 28, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Another extreme heat day today ....had to resort to lots of swimming and keeping our fluids up!

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
    Large cliff face lit up with different colours

    Lecco

    June 30, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Last night we walked into town for the Lake and Mountain Festival. It was a wonderful party atmosphere and included a regatta and more than 30 minutes of incredible fireworks (the noise reverberated off the mountains all around us). We somehow managed to slip through into a ‘members only’ club right on the water front and had a sensational view!
    The very hot weather has continued and our days tend to go something like this - Lake swimming in the late morning, siesta in the afternoon in front of the fan, icy aperitif on the terrace in the evening and sleeping with the fan and wet towels. Not so bad really.    Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical

    Afternoon trip on Lake Como

    July 2, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Today we took the ferry to Bellagio and Varenna again. It was lovely and cool on the water and we returned to a beautiful cafe on the waterfront to have dinner before returning home by train and walking the 2km up the hill to our apartment.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
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    Mount Erna by funicular and hiking

    July 3, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    With wild thunderstorms forecast for mid afternoon, we took the bus then funicular up to Piani d’Erna in the morning. At the summit we had panoramic views of the lakes and surrounding mountains and we then had a beautiful 2 hour steep hike down through forest with a lovely lunch/beer stop at a Rifugio along the way. We arrived back in good time ..... but the forecast storms never eventuated!Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
    We saw George.....through the shop window......on a poster!
    This is actually George's house on Lake Como

    Day trip to Como

    July 5, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Bus to Bellagio (think taking a bus up Greenhill Rd to Mt Lofty but with half the width of road, and yes, it was 2 way traffic) then ferry to Como. It was yet another very hot day and with nowhere to swim we enjoyed the visit but loved returning to our lovely Lecco later in the day.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
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    Monte Barro, Lecco

    July 9, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Today we walked from our apartment, down to Lecco, across the bridge and into Parco Monte Barro. The forecast for today was a much cooler 28 degrees so we were keen for a decent hike. We walked up to the peak of Mt Barro which at times was pretty much rock climbing but still listed as ‘demanding but extremely panoramic path’! We met a couple of guys on the path and chatted in Italian as they desperately tried to convince us to take a path less ‘pericoloso’ but we made it. Stopped at Eremo for a beautiful lunch of fresh goats cheese (made on the next hill) and bread. We arrived home 7.5 hours later and within 10 minutes the heavens opened with drenching rain and spectacular thunderstorms.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
    View from our little balcony with the Grande Hotel behind

    San Pellegrino Terme

    July 10, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    What a contrast today was to yesterday’s long hike .... a heavenly day spent relaxing in the warm waters of San Pellegrino Terme! We caught a train to Bergamo and then bus to San P where we had a booked a night at the lovely little Hotel Centrale. We then spent the next 12 hours at the magnificently restored San Pellegrino Terme spa. We went to another QC Terme near Rome a few years back and it was incredible so we were very excited about experiencing this one also .. and it definitely lived up to our expectations...... more than 50 different plunge pools, spa treatments, saunas and relaxation rooms with gourmet lunch and free flowing wine/Prosecco. The grand old building was stunning by day and after dark and we were treated to a dramatic night sky with the moon drifting behind the clouds and the mountains silhouetted behind.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
    Night view from our terrace
    Today's swimming location

    Walk along the promenade to Pradello

    July 14, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Over the last few days we have continued to explore Lecco and surrounds - visiting the Saturday markets, walking up the hill to a local restaurant and walking along the lake promenade to a small beach/swimming area.Read more

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