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Europe 2019

août - septembre 2019
  • Sandra strongman
  • Peter Bowman
August 2019 En savoir plus
  • Sandra strongman
  • Peter Bowman

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  • Europe 2019
    21

    Beautiful Venice

    22 août 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    It’s raining in Venice! After a slow start to the morning we headed off to use our hop on hop off water bus pass. It was much cooler today which was great for walking around. Our first stop is St Marks! So many people. We ended up getting tickets to explore the Doges Palace and only had a short wait to get in. Absolutely fantastic and the history was amazing. We spent about two hours wandering through the palace and then the Bridge of Sighs which led to the prison area.

    When we finished we were going to wander around but there were way too many people so we jumped back on the bus and went to Murano. It is a beautiful place and much quieter and less tourists. Interesting that some shops had signs saying not Chinese glass, which it wasn’t and it would have been a shame to destroy the local industry with Chinese imports.

    Had a yummy pizza on a canal and then looked at the many shops with amazing glass sculptures and jewellery. I was lucky and got a pair of Murano glass earrings. The ride back passed some beautiful buildings and sights!

    We got back to the start and then found a little bar for the expected refreshments and then we found a wonderful little restaurant where Pete says he had the best Seafood pasta ever! We shared some yum mussels and made short work of the bowl!

    Walked home after Pete had the best Tiramisu ever! We are off to Rome tomorrow.    En savoir plus

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  • Europe 2019
    View from our hotel

    On to Roma!

    23 août 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    After a lovely relaxed morning we said goodbye to Venice, we probably could have had another day here but there is always next time! I am going to learn Italian when we get home as it would make life much easier and I love Italy❤️.

    We boarded our train and once again had a relaxing trip with table service and free water, drinks and snacks! Very civilised.

    On arrival in Rome we were hit with two things - millions of people and the heat! After a bit of research we hopped on a local bus and found our hotel which was a lovely hotel with a big room. Had a brief rest then it was out to explore. We found the Spanish Steps and the Trevi fountain, which considering the heat and people was amazing.

    One thing about Rome everywhere you look there is history, beautiful buildings, fountains, statues and gardens. Back to the hotel for dinner and an early night to build up our strength for a full day tomorrow!    En savoir plus

  • Europe 2019

    A Day in Rome - A Test of Endurance!

    24 août 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Ok so off we set after a great breakfast in the hotel, even had scrambled eggs, a bit upmarket for our travel, but this hotel was booked by the travel agent so we certainly paid for it!!

    Firstly we ended up at something similar to our Shrine, which was a monument to an unknown soldier. The polizia were everywhere making sure you didn’t sit on the steps or the side of fountains. I didn’t want to sit on the edge I wanted to jump in to cool down, but alas that is forbidden. We continued our exploration and finally found the Panthenon which was open and free to explore. What an absolutely stunning building. We listened to an audio that talked about the history of the building and I marvel at how they got the massive slabs of stone and marble into these buildings. Incredible architecture. We stopped after this visit to sample a cold Sangria before moving on to the next place.

    We found the Piazza Navona which has three fountains and is beautiful square with lots of restaurants and bars. Again I was tempted to jump in a fountain but again the fun police were not cooperating.

    We found an exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci’s work and models built from his many drawings, what an amazing man. Must admit I didn’t realise the extent of his brilliance.

    We stopped for lunch in a small square where there was a market and enjoyed the misting fans. I was tempted to spend the rest of the day there, but no we were on a mission. We had a tour booked at 3.00 and had to meet the group at the Piazza Colosseum, and so we figured out the bus and the directions (well Pete actually!) if I did it we would still be lost!

    The heat was stifling as there had been a small rain shower which I happily stood in, but that made the heat even worse. Pete was worried I was going to explode I was so red in the face, but 5 bottles of water, and numerous stops in the shade and we made it around Palantine Hill, the Roman Forum and the Colosseum and it was amazing and worth the struggle. There were a few times (I must admit) that I thought I have seen all this before I will wait in a bar, but I’m glad I stayed with Pete and we got to see these things together. So much history it is hard to take in that some of these things are 2000 years old.

    Everywhere you look there is something historical to see from old viaducts to incredible churches.

    After a really full day we made it back to our hotel and decided to go up to a bar for a drink before going to the room to get ready to go out for dinner. Turned into three drinks and lasagne and salad because we were too exhausted to move. Then back to the hotel for dessert and a nightcap before we fell exhausted but happy into bed! Ah Roma!    En savoir plus

  • Europe 2019
    Last Train
    Entrance to our apartment

    Now to Naples

    25 août 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    We had a few hours in the morning before our train so we went to a Museum nearby that housed an exhibition of vintage clothing and decor. Then we wandered around seeing more historical buildings and having coffee and pastries of course!

    Our last train trip on our Eurail pass is to Naples. We would definitely use trains again as it’s been great. After a relaxing trip we arrived in Naples, worked out how to use the local trains and headed to Torre Annunziata where we had a fantastic Air BnB apartment. While we were on the local train a group of young guys hopped on in high spirits. They started talking to us and distracted us so that we missed our stop, we got off at the next stop and it just meant a bit further to walk as we couldn’t find a taxi.

    We had a rest and then headed to a supermarket to buy supplies and then we made our way down to the beach, finding a restaurant with a great view and good food.    En savoir plus

  • Europe 2019

    Lazy Day

    26 août 2019, Italie ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    Ok so we had an incredibly lazy day today. We both felt that a lay day was required after three weeks of pretty full on travel. So we spent most of the day relaxing and sleeping and watching TV, because this was the first place we could get TV in English that wasn’t just the news. Watched a funny series called Jane The Virgin.

    We did get up eventually and had a platter for lunch/dinner and then we went for a walk down to a bar on the beach where we had a couple of drinks and then went home to sleep. A much needed rest day.    En savoir plus

  • Europe 2019

    Amalfi Coast

    27 août 2019, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    After our lazy day yesterday we were up early and back on the local train back to Naples to meet up with our tour bus that would take us along the Amalfi Coast. They call the road Mama Mia, as it is skinny and windy and when you watch the way the buses navigate the tight corners and windy road.

    The scenery was amazing and our first stop was Positano which is a beautiful village with it’s narrow winding paths down to the beach. Shame we only got an hour here, but we would love to come back and explore the coast. Pete couldn’t resist a swim in the Mediterranean. Then it was back on the bus and off to Amalfi where we hopped on a boat and cruised the coast checking out the beaches and the celebrity houses along the coast. We found a boat that looks like the one we should have! Haha!

    We then had lunch at a restaurant on the beach and had yum seafood Spaghetti and a new drink, a lemon spritz using limoncello, Prosecco, soda and limone gelati, very yum and refreshing.

    Our last stop was Revalla (not how you spell it) where there was fantastic views of the coastline and some wonderful ceramic showrooms. Pete nearly had a table shipped home!

    I took a travel sickness tablet (due to windy roads) and so I slept all the way back to Naples. A great taste of the Amalfi Coast and definitely a place we would like to go back to.

    When we got back to the apartment we cooled off in the tiny pool in the garden of our BnB and made another platter that we ate overlooking the garden. We went upstairs to the terrace and watched the sunset. A great end to a wonderful day, our last night in Italy! Off to Greece tomorrow.    En savoir plus

  • Europe 2019
    Working out the selfie stick

    Farewell Italy - Hello Greece

    28 août 2019, Grèce ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    After a relaxing night at our BnB we caught the local train back to Naples and then jumped on an airport bus, as we have swapped trains for planes! Prefer the train though because you waste so much time at airports, waiting waiting. But we finally caught our flight to Athens, where we were picked up a taxi organised by the hotel. Turned out to be a very expensive way to do it. We could have easily done it on the metro but we didn’t realise that at the time!

    Anyway we arrived at our hotel which was in a great spot near the Acropolis and lots of cafes and bars. We got settled in the hotel and then headed out to explore. We had a walk around, worked out the metro system and booked our visit to the Acropolis for the next morning.

    On the way back to the hotel we walked through the gardens and found a Hadrian’s Arch and the Templr of Zeus. And we thought Rome had all the historical buildings!

    Back at the hotel and we went upstairs to the restaurant which has a great view. We ended up there for dinner so we could catch the view of the acropolis at night. Absolutely magic!    En savoir plus

  • Europe 2019
    Finally worked out the Selfie stick
    2Thousands arriving as we leave2Yum Moussaka2Oh so funny

    From Athens to Santorini

    29 août 2019, Grèce ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Who says we are lazy? Up at 7.00 for breakfast then waiting at the gates of the Acropolis at 8.00am. Method to our madness - beat the heat and the crowds!! It was a great time to go there was no queues and the heat was bearable. Amazing sights and history. By the time we were leaving there were thousands of people and we couldn’t wait to get out of there. Still you can’t go to Athens without seeing the Acropolis.

    After getting organised we headed off to the airport again, but this time took the Metro, which was easy and only cost 20 Euro against the taxi which was 55. Made it easily to the airport and again sat around for hours but it was worth it, arriving in Santorini made the airport boredom disappear.

    We caught a taxi to our apartment which is just amazing with an incredible view from our balcony of the sea and the Caldera. Absolutely heaven. Amazing place and the scenery is gorgeous.

    There is one photo of me reclining and trying to look like a model. We laughed and laughed about this one because everywhere we go there are gorgeous girls flicking their hair and posing for photos. They get in your way and you get dirty looks if you dare to get in the way. So we decided to do our own, who says a 60 year old can’t compete!😂😂 well maybe not compete but we had a good laugh.

    Of course we have taken hundreds of photos because you want to capture everything you see which is impossible. But we had dinner on a cliff side and watched the sunset on our first night in Santorini.    En savoir plus

  • Europe 2019
    Moussaka is my favourite

    Santorini

    30 août 2019, Grèce ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Woke up to an amazing view! It was just beautiful and we had breakfast on the balcony, so much food. I decided to have a real relaxing day, reading and lying by the pool. Pete headed out for a walk and a coffee and I retreated to upstairs to the sun and the pool. Put sunscreen on, as I do but it was hot up there. I looked like a patchwork quilt after the morning in the sun! Brown, white and radiating red, and blotchy, it the look I was going for, but it will settle down eventually.

    After I managed to drag myself up we headed out and went for a walk, booking a sunset cruise and having lunch. We explored the narrow winding lanes and looking at shops and glimpses of the amazing views. We found out where the cable car was for the next day. I was here 35 years ago and boy has it changed. Now there are two ports and the cable car, when I came there was one port and only donkeys to get you to the top. They still have the donkeys and they look really healthy which is good. We opted for the cable car though.

    We had a recommendation for a restaurant near where we are staying and so we went up there for dinner. Popular spot, there were people queuing up, and we were lucky to get a table inside. We had already watched the sunset on our balcony with a bottle of sparkling, so we were happy for good food, and it was wonderful. Great that we only had to walk a short distance home, well I should say roll home as we were so full. Wonderful relaxing day ❤️❤️    En savoir plus

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