SICILY/UK/FRANCE 2023

May - July 2023

So we have wanted to do this trip since pre-Covid 2019. It has changed a couple of times but our main goals were to finally get to Sicily and to spend over a month in France. That and more - can't wait. Read more

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Traveler SICILY/UK/FRANCE 2023
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- May 7, 2023
- ☁️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 50 m
- Australia South Australia Mitcham Eastwood Tuttangga -34.933803, 138.61366734°56’2” S 138°36’49” E
ALL READY TO GO!!
May 7, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
So we made the decision to not go out much where lots of people are before we leave. It is a week to go and we are just about ready. Bring it on.
Traveler Bon voyage. Have a great time but post photos please!
4/23/23Reply
Traveler Travel well! So looking forward to your posts xxx
4/23/23Reply
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Traveler SICILY/UK/FRANCE 2023
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- May 14, 2023, 8:20am
- ☁️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 14 m
- Australia South Australia City of West Torrens Adelaide Airport -34.937885, 138.53834534°56’16” S 138°32’18” E
Day 1
Departure
May 14, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
So we were up at 5 am, at the airport by 630 as instructed and it does seem very early. The airport is much changed since we last left from international with many lovely new shops. We are excited but have a long 30+ hours ahead of us before we get to bella Roma!❤️ The Singapore airlines flight has been good 7 1/2 hours to Singapore. I watched a very long movie called Hollywood with Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie. Service has been excellent.Read more
Traveler Have a wonderful holiday Lina and Craig xxx
5/14/23Reply
Traveler Thank you and do let me know when you are safely home
5/14/23Reply
Traveler Happy travels! 💋Business Class! How exciting.
5/14/23Reply
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Traveler SICILY/UK/FRANCE 2023
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- May 14, 2023, 4:47pm
- ☀️ 30 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- Singapore Kampong Ayer Gemuruh Sungai Ayer Gemuruh 1.353303, 103.985071°21’12” N 103°59’6” E
Day 1
Singapore stop
May 14, 2023 in Singapore ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
The trip to Singapore was fine. Once we got to Changi we had a long long walk looking for the exit to find the jewel which was recommended by our dear son Luke. When we tried to get out of immigration we had to wait quite awhile for my dear sister Josy because she stuffed up the exit form. However we are sitting down having a drink and we have had a good look at the jewel which is a magnificent architectural water feature. Long walk back and now we are spending time in the Lounge eating, talking, reading and waiting waiting😳😳Read more
Traveler Great start guys!
5/14/23Reply
Traveler Haha! Has Josey read the blog?!
5/14/23Reply
Traveler I think Singapore Airport is fabulous. There’s always something new to see. If we have a long layover in the way home then the day trip you can do is good value.
5/15/23Reply
Traveler Unfortunately on both ways we arrive in the evening and I too late but we did enjoy walking to the magnificent Jewel
5/16/23Reply
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Traveler SICILY/UK/FRANCE 2023
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- May 15, 2023, 7:47am
- ☀️ 12 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- Australia Victoria Melbourne South Wharf -37.828, 144.954837°49’41” S 144°57’17” E
Day 2
Very long overnight to Rome
May 15, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
So the layover in Singapore was over 11 hours and in the end it just drained us, even with the business class lounge, the visit to the Jewel and the butterfly farm. We eventually got going about 2 am in the morning and by then we were almost in panic mode from being tired, but I did get some sleep overnight which is great and had a nice breakfast and looking forward to arriving in Rome safely.Read more
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Traveler SICILY/UK/FRANCE 2023
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- May 15, 2023, 8:09pm
- 🌧 17 °C
- Altitude: 48 m
- Italy Latium Rome Villa Wolkonsky 41.8904, 12.512641°53’25” N 12°30’45” E
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Day 2
ROMA ARRIVATA!
May 15, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
What a long night that really was. Singapore Airlines was great but it was such a long stop over (11 hours) that even with the business lounge we were quite sick of it. In fact, I gave up my lobster order (being served around 3 am my time because I wanted to sleep. Craig enjoyed it, however! We did get about 6 hours overnight and the Rome arrival and transfer were smooth. How great to be back in Rome again. Our one-night Piccola Novana (with rooftop courtyard) owned by Alfredo is great. We walked and walked today - getting Josy organized, having a quick cafe lunch, and then. walking over to Trastevere. Initially, we went to see the Santa Maria di Trastevere church again - so beautiful - Josy loved it too. We also got Craig's TIM SIM organized for his phone ... to be continued. Our photos below include having drinks on our rooftop courtyard - prosecco provided by Alfredo:) Some photos of the Trastevere church and later we went to the Palazzo Farnese - which is actually the French Embassy (gifted to France for 100 years). We had to go through rigorous security - much worse than the airport. However, the tour guide we had was brilliant and the art and architecture were sublime. We were NOT allowed to take photos but it was a wonderful Palazzo to see.Read more
Traveler That is a very long stop over! Rome is always wonderful. Never get tired of being there. Enjoy!
5/15/23Reply
Traveler Enjoy Rome, it sounds as though you are well into it already!
5/15/23Reply
Traveler I think we have the same picture on our blog!
5/16/23Reply
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Traveler SICILY/UK/FRANCE 2023
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- May 16, 2023, 4:49pm
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 48 m
- Italy Latium Rome Villa Wolkonsky 41.8904, 12.512641°53’25” N 12°30’45” E
Day 3
Rome Day 2a: Old favourites & more
May 16, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Today was excellent with some stressors. Josy joined us at Picola Navona Hotel for breakfast and then we set out on a walk to find all of our favourite places. First was Piazza Navona which is about a one-minute walk from where we are staying in Campo di Fiori. It was a little wet, but very quiet and gorgeous. Next, the magnificent Pantheon - how amazing it truly is. After our daily coffee, we did find the Trevi and with all the other tourists we did throw coins in the fountain. The beautiful church interiors below are of the St Agnes church in Piazza Novana - truly ornate and beautiful inside.Read more
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Traveler SICILY/UK/FRANCE 2023
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- May 16, 2023, 8:44pm
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 48 m
- Italy Latium Rome Villa Wolkonsky 41.8904, 12.512641°53’25” N 12°30’45” E
Day 3
Rome Day 2b
May 16, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Afterwards, we walked up to Piazza Barberini and went to the Barberini Palazzo - another first time ever. This is yet another great art gallery displayed in magnificent rooms. We were hoping to see at least one Caravaggio but it is in Minnesota!! There were many 'Caravaggiesque' paintings - excellent artists who copied his style. Artemicia Genteleschi was among them. The Holbein of Henry VIII was outstanding - how come the British haven't 'acquired' that one? The staircases - wide and spiral were amazing. Rome is so outstanding! I got quite stressed by the time we got back to the Piccola Navona Hotel as I was out of charge and needed the phone to access our next home in Campo di Fiori. Alberto at the Piccolo Navona was helpful and even gave us a little parting gift - fridge magnet!

We are staying in the beautiful property called 'I Tre Archi' - the three arches. Spacious and pretty but the electronic entrance was quite tricky. Finally, all was okay. We are loving being with Josy and ventured out to buy some fruit and other breakfast/lunch goodies in the market of Campo di Fiori. The flowers are magnificent and mainly from Holland.

Rested and tonight we ate at the Giulietta Restaurant near to where Josy is staying. We didn't realize that it is a 'training' restaurant. Service was good, food was fine but somewhat more pricey.Read more
Traveler Wow, you have seen a lot of places already, enjoy it all.
5/16/23Reply
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Traveler SICILY/UK/FRANCE 2023
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- May 17, 2023, 4:21pm
- 🌧 19 °C
- Altitude: 48 m
- Italy Latium Rome Villa Wolkonsky 41.8904, 12.512641°53’25” N 12°30’45” E
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Day 4
Rome Day 3a
May 17, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
Well, we had another excellent day. This morning Josy came round to have breakfast with us in our lovely Airbnb with the three arches. After that, we set off - briefly looked at the Campo di Fiori market, and then Craig had his historical, interesting walk down through the Jewish Ghetto of Rome, Teatro Marcello and around the different temples, Bocca di Verita, and so on. He is indeed an intelligent, sexy man! One of the weird things we saw was an Eastern European young woman, with a photographer - clearly showing off her best assets. We think it was preparation for ripping off/scamming weird rich, Western men.Read more
Traveler We really loved this statue and the story behind the turtles!
5/17/23Reply
Traveler So moving
5/17/23Reply
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Traveler SICILY/UK/FRANCE 2023
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- May 17, 2023, 4:40pm
- 🌧 19 °C
- Altitude: 48 m
- Italy Latium Rome Villa Wolkonsky 41.8904, 12.512641°53’25” N 12°30’45” E
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Day 4
Rome Day 3b
May 17, 2023 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
We did continue to do a LOT of walking and eventually made it up to the Capitoline Hill. What a magnificent area. We had a coffee and cannolo at the Museum cafe and its terrace had magnificent views. Then we went into the actual museum which as previously was absolutely wonderful - many, many beautiful statues, sculptures, art pieces - including 2 Caravaggios!! The building itself was once again very much a part of the beauty. Afterwards, we walked to the recommended VERSO SERA ristorante and had a brilliant lunch with pasta with tartufo, salad, desserts, Aperol spritz and limoncello!! Back to Camp di Fiori and Josy and I enjoyed purchasing matching Italian aprons! Only a little bit of bartering was involved. We are all loving Rome and Tony my brother & Linda arrive today and we should all be meeting our Italian and New York cousins tomorrow hopefully.Read more
Traveler Fly/wall/me
5/17/23Reply
Traveler You earned that cannoli!
5/17/23Reply
Traveler Wonderful image!
5/17/23Reply
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Traveler SICILY/UK/FRANCE 2023
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- May 17, 2023, 4:42pm
- Altitude: 48 m
- Italy Latium Rome Villa Wolkonsky 41.8904, 12.512641°53’25” N 12°30’45” E
Day 4
Rome 3c - more photos😍
May 17, 2023 in Italy
Traveler OMG!!
5/17/23Reply
Traveler I can still smell the freesias in the flower market. They were stunning.
5/17/23Reply
Traveler Twinnies! Stunning.
5/17/23Reply
Traveler Brilliant
5/17/23Reply
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