Hardly a day passes without one of the three of us remembering some event or place experienced during that wonderful 8 weeks. Whether it be from a flashing image on the TV or a “do you remember when” discussion. 

We have all moved on, Steve is back at work, Brodie is now in year 8 and enjoying being a teenager. And for me, well after too many years, I eventually lost my job at Monash. Although not unexpected, it was a difficult time there fore a while.

Our 8 weeks was an adventure that I never really wanted (or felt we needed) to experience. But we have been bitten by the bug and now trying to plan a sequal – although it is not possible for a sequal to be quite as long. The latest idea is 4 weeks a year, to fly into Italy, pick up a hire car and drive to the magical places not seen by most.

OR

it could be Greece, or maybe France ….

Stay tuned.

We have returned from a whole day of retail therapy and I am so disappointed with my lack of purchases. The credit card lives another day and my silent card has not seen any action.

There are sales here at the moment but only for those with a dress size 4 and a shoe size of less that 38! So, unfortunatly I bombed out on both criteria.

Steve has managed to pick himself up a couple of watches but they were not cheap.

We have just spoken to Chase. He and Candice are planning to pick us up at some god terrible time Friday morning. Brodie has her bag packed and is disappointed that she will be going home with an under weight case! I will see what I can do with that space at the airport. 

It does feel strange that 8 weeks have passed so quickly. We have not seen rain since we left. The only news we hear from the boys is that the weather is winter crappy. I gather that the big Opera singer (Pavarotti) may have died a week or so ago and his face and wedding pictures were over the TV, but of course it was in Italian so I am only guessing. Apart from this, catching up with news as well and family and friends will be great.

Brodie is ready to go back to school and constantly talks about a lunch with her friends on the weekend.

So, thanks for all your comments, our trip has gone to plan with no real problems.

Looking forward to boring you all with our pics once I get home – and purchase a new pc!

Love Chez

xxx

Walked out of our hotel and our sunnies fog up and we cant see which way to go.

This is a sleezy place and I want to go!. All the arabs cotinually check us out as we pass them in the streets. Brodie and I are covered and wearing sleeves and pants to under our knees. This is a hard ask as the weather is currently 43 degrees. Steve thinks it is cause we are blonde and fair skinned and probably have not see ankles before. We walk with our unberallas up so not to make eye contact with them. However this is a cultural experience!

Went to the Gold Souk Market yesterday. The taxi ripped us off and took us the long way. The sleezy looks were so bad we wanted to come home. Steve gets a giggle out of it as he hopes they are thiinking how lucky he is to be escorting 2 blondes around. Bought zip! Couldnt get a taxi to bring us back so tried our luck with the buses. No luck there either! After 2 hours waiting we were asked if we wanted a lift by a man who charged us double!

Booked into a 4 WD tour tonight into the desert. Camel ride, BBQ and henna painting included.

Wanted to go to Ski Dubai and the huge shopping mall but cant get a bloody taxi!!!! I suppose if we end up with one, we cant guarantee we can get one back so blogging in the hotel is it until our tour leaves. At least it is cool. Even the pool here is like swimming in soup with us feeling like the lamb shank!

Leaving for Singapore in the morning, and now we are looking forward to going home!!!

There is still room on this blog for a sequal one day. However, Europe 2008 has been successfully completed!

We leave tomorrow for 3 nights in Dubai followed by 2 nights in Singapore.

Then home!!!

Time for Steve to go back to work and Brodie needs to hit those books she has been ignoring. For me, I have some options to consider that I have been avoiding while we were enjoying our travels. We have thoroughly enjoyed this blog as it has become our postcards home.

Most of all we are looking forward to a home cooked dinner sitting around the kitchen table with everyone sharing tales of the last 8 weeks.

Thank you everyone for  your comments and we hope we have inspired others to travel overseas. We have flown, trained, bused, driven and walked in some beautiful cities in and around Europe. If you have ever thought of climbing the Eiffel Tower, lunching on the Cinque Terra coast, walking across the Charles Bridge at night in Prague or drinking wine on the Caldera in Santorini …….

                                                             DO IT, IT IS WAITING ……

Love to all,

Steve, Chez and Brodie

Another really interesting day…

Great to see such an amazing historical site. Bloody tourists everywhere!!!

Still hot, dusty and smelly (thats me tho)

 See Brodie above walking off in the blue t-shirt!

It is soooo hot here. The persperation runs down our backs and legs. As the days get hotter, the foot paths feel like we are walking on carpet as our feet sink into surface.

Found out that the train system is limited to only 2 rail lines. Everytime they start digging to make more, they uncover more ruins and so the works cease.

Yesterday tooka tour with a guide and did Vatican City and Sistine Chapel. Wow what a total buzz!  Really interesting to pick up some tips from the guide. Michelangelo must have had a great sense of humour – not bad paintings, even for a sculptor!

Talamone (ask me how to say this in Italian… ) is a little fishing village on the coast about 1.5hrs north of Rome. We have managed to rank up 2,000kms travelling from Venice in north east to Rome in south west.  

Stefano Fangio has once again done remarkably well. My right butt is toned from constantly lifting  it to overtake the trucks. The Fiat Cromer diesel was good and managed to average 130kph. Still we have cars honking and flashing to pass us.

Only 3 days in Europe left before we head to Dubai. The shedding of un-necessary items has begun. Shampoo, body wash and block out being the heaviest items goes first – sorry Mum! Steve and Brodies cases are always neat and tidy. Brodie is ready for the shopping spree in Singapore and has been prepared for the illimination for quite some time. But I reckon jewellery doesnt count!

Starting to think about going home. Steve wants to burn off with the dog at his feet. Brodie is organising friends to gather at the bakery for a hot chocolate. I am wondering if the boys will manage to get the washing machine fixed before we get home! Oh well. It will be nice to gather around the table with everyone, telling them stories of our travels.

Will blog again from Rome after our afternoon tea with Pope Benny!

No longer going to Amalfi coast (south coast of Italy) — sigh. We were able to stay a couple of extra days in our castle so we have gone to plan B.

Didnt actually know there was a plan B but anyway, we have ended up in Venice. Very nice actually and only 3 hours from Poggibonsi. Had a trip around on the water bus, been to dinner and had a poke around. Very cute city.

Steve noticed that a girl moved a bit closer. It turned out she is from Burwood and came here on a scholarship. She is an opera singer! She loved the opportunity to chat with us Aussies. The trip was about an hour and I am sure you can appreciate that a lot can be said in that time!!! How romantic!!!

She gave us some local tips.

It is sooo bloody hot. The sweat is running down my back and legs. We have been walking around for 3 hours and it has nearly killed us. On the bus, I had a wiff of bad bad B.O. but I am glad to say it is not either of us!

Mum – you are right (of course) I gather that each day will get hotter and hotter and I gather that Rome is shocking at the moment! 

Mel – glad you liked the pic of David…

We had a tour yesterday it was great to see what this place offered years ago. They have a library locked away with walls of books that no one reads and an old old desk. Original paintings and a chapel that was registered with the vatican. The licence is framed on the wall and contains bones from saints to ensure that spiritual peace is contained and passed on to those that venture into the chapel. We have decided to stay another night! Whoo…..