Ciao from the Roman Princess

Well, Rome is completely different, full on organised chaos! People and cars everywhere. How I miss the other places on my trip! It's not bad, just so different to what I have become used to on the rest of my trip. Arrived Saturday at 11.30am. Was allowed to check in before the usual check in time of 12.30 so I was lucky. The trip up from Positano was immensely different to the trip down. Much more relaxing letting a local drive, we got a private car transfer from Positano to Naples, seriously the ONLY way to do it, the roads are twisting and terrifying with sheer cliffs one both sides, only one side is straight down to the sea 500m below! I'm used to winding roads in NZ but these are ridiculous. It cost €120 but was shared between 4 of us, it also cut our treavel time down from 2.5 hours to 1! AND they carried my suitcase from the villa to the train station (my darling Warren carried it down the villa stairs to the street! As well as up when we arrived in Positano, if I needed any testament to his friendship that was it - 30kg worth). I could have cried upon leaving Positano, would have if I'd been alone and not scared of being laughed at! Got the high speed train from Naples (filthy, grotty city! No wonder they have high speed trains out of it!) to Rome, which took an hour and cost €43. Rome is not a clean city either but that is due to its age and not the rubbish problem like Naples has. So Rome. We dumped our bags at our respective hotels on Saturday and met back up and explored the Pantheon, certainly deserves its reputation as one of the most amazing buildings in Rome, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, as well as many many other monuments and obelisks and statues. Bored? Turn a corner and there is another piazza and historic building. We met back up with Wendy and Steve for their last dinner before they headed b ck to Singapore and NZ. Rome is amazing and my hotel is around the corner from the Colosseum. I see it twice a day! It humbles me, it is in far better condition than I am considering its age! Warren, Deb and I had an 'innocent abroad' experience at ten Colosseum on Sunday. We joined a tour outside the Colosseum, €25 gave us 'group entrance' (no queuing), a guided tour of the Colosseum and Palatine Hill. Our Guides weren't the best and certainly were not employed by the Colosseum itself. I would have to say that their knowledge was limited, our first guide was quite good with stories though. While we were there Warren managed to get us booked onto a tour of the dungeons and third level, you can only per-book for this but they had cancellations! We just had to get us back into the colosseum without paying again as the group tour we had joined didn't give us entry tickets. Once again Warren got us sorted. We had to cut our tour of the Palatine Hill short and misse d the Roman Forum altogether in order to get back in time for our second tour of the colosseum. It all came together and it was the most amazing tour I've been on! Our guide this time was employed by the colosseum and is an Art Historian. She was incredible and her knowledge enabled us to let our imaginations run wild. I saw those elephants and lions etc. Poor things! Don't worry Jackie, I'll never let those hunters get you!! After this we decided we had had enough history. But somehow we came across this beautiful memorial to the first king which is a war museum. So once again we are enthral led. By history! Out for dinner then back to our respective hotels after saying goodbye to Warren and Deb who flew home today. Today I rebelled and got up at 9.30, woke at 8 but read, heaven. I walked miles, past the colosseum, to campo de fiori, a lovely piazza where I shopped and had 2 glasses of wine while my feet rested and I could use their toilet. While i sat there, the market stsll holders shut down their stands, a cleaning machine came and took away all the rubbish, the piazza is pristine again! Out of nowhere a man comes and starts playing his guitar, the showers stopped and the sun came out, one of life's magic moments. From there I found the Piazza Navona which is the most beautiful I have found. The fountains are well worth seeing. The Piazza is surrounded by different coloured buildings which used to be mansions, I hope they still are so I can dream about living in one one day. I walked for miles and miles today. I'm now sitting in an Irish Pub as it is just down from my hotel and has WIFI. My hotel is full of Americans and their loudness gets to me which is why I'm sitting in a pub where the music is blaring!! Actually Rome is full of Americans full stop, I think they outnumber the Romans! I have to share my toilet experiences with you all. They are a puzzle in themselves! Each and every one is different! In the toilet itself, to flush you will have to either, push a pad on the wall, a button ont the cistern, a foot pedal, or pull a button way up on the cistern above (problem for kids or short people). Once I've done what I need to it takes me a good 10 seconds to find out what I need to do next! And then there is the matter of washing my hands. To get water out of the tap, you either need to just place your hands under the spout, or push a foot pedal or push a button the the tap etc etc. Jules and I had a system where whoever went to the toilet first would the tell the other what was required to save time!! It's now 9.11! Time I went and found a real Italian place for dinner! Oops just ordered a second wine while I finish this! Tomorrow I am going back to do the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum. I might do the hop on/hop off bus but as I have covered so much of the city on foot I'm not sure it will be worth it, I'll see how I feel in the afternoon. Wednesday I have managed to get on to a guided Tour at the Vatican at 3pm. Obviously they haven't read my records yet. If you see on TV that the Vatican is closed due to a wounding of a tourist you will know who it will be. Looks like I'm going home with Euros. Well had better save some as I think I will be over my 30kg that Emirates allows me!! I have bought a leather bag in Cortona (and don't forget the house!), a leather jacket in Florence and now leather boots in Rome. I sound like I'm a contender for Mr Grey's shades! Oh what fun I've had shopping here and there in the last 6 weeks. Haven't found a new collar for Jackie so I will keep looking. Ha ha, you can tell I'm on my own with no one to talk to, this has to be the longest addition yet! Thanks to those who leave me messages, it's nice to know someone is reading the ramblings! Ciao! Xx

The Birthday Dinner in Piegaro, Umbria

Dinner on our terrace, Polsitano

Fornillo Beach, Positano

Our villa in Umbria

View from my bedroom, Positano

PS. Ciao is used to say Hi! as well as goodbye!

Ciao from the Positano Princess

OK this is getting ridiculous. I can't keep saying that each place just gets better and better but I'm sorry, I have to, as it's true! My sister, Robin, calls Positano 'The Italian Jewel'! I can't agree more. I'm selling the house in Tuscany and I'm buying a villa here. Do they have capital gains tax in Italy? Hell, who cares? I'm on a rock platform, carved out of the cliff bottom. It's covered in sun loungers and umbrellas. We travelled here by boat from Positano, free of charge as we are kidnapped, of course we pay for the sunloungers and drinks and food, we are a captive bottomless purse! I've moved out of the sun to the sail covered area to write my blog. Music is playing, I'm drinking a beer, the people beside me are eating their divine smelling pizza, the waiters are keeping everyone happy, the kids are jumping off the rock into the sea. Can life get any better? Going by my adventures so far, I have to say yes! What will it be? During this entire trip I have only one negative to report so far! And you will never guess but it is Capri! the Blue Grotto was closed due to bad water. I wanted to see Villa Jovis, where Tiberius ruled his empire from (and where people who were out of favour with him were thrown 354m from the cliff to the sea, nice chap really!). After climbing 2.2km up steps to Capri Town we then found out at we had to walk another hour to get to the villa. It was way too hot to attempt that! And there was no other way to get there. What's wrong with this place? They don't tell you until you have spent €35 and an hour to get to the island that the Grotto is closed, and that you have to walk miles to see anything! AND there aren't even beaches to appease us. Having said all this, I had a great day as I was with Warren, Deb and Ali. How can I NOT have a great day? My friend Ali, has joined us here from England. Yep, she is still the crazy gutsy girl I remember and love. I haven't seen her since 1991! We have had such a lot to talk about. It's so funny how the years just melt away. The friendship and love is just the same. Thank God for Facebook which has allowed me to find some long lost friends. Warren drove us from Piegaro, Umbria to Positano. He did so well! The Italian drivers are scary to say the least! Zip in and out (on the wrong side of the road of course!) at a minimum of 20kms over the speed limit while they talk with their hands and text at the same time!! Deb and I were navigators, with written instructions from the Satnav that Julie and I had hired for our car in Umbria. Everything perfect until we somehow ended up in Salerno, south of Naples! We had completely gone miles past our off ramp. Someone had removed the sign for the turnoff to Sorrento!! We had to turn around and get ourselves back onto the autostrada. In Salerno, we stopped at a service station to ask directions. The man tried to explain but he just didn't have enough Inglese to explain it clearly. A man in the car that the petrol man was filling ( they still have personal service here, magic!) said he would show us, and that we were to follow him. How kind people are!! My sisters gave me €300 to spend on my trip for my birthday. I finally found something to spend it on this morning on the way down to the beach and boat to come here. Amazingly, we took a different path down and came across a gorgeous jewellery shop. I spent my birthday money on a ring, large, bold and definitely a statement!! Thank you my lovely sisters! Funny how fate steps in. 2 of my sisters and brother came to Positano last year and loved it, which gave me the idea to come here. How appropriate that I find something here to buy. Now whenever I wear the ring I will say, my sisters bought this for me in Positano, and I will have all the memories to go with it!! Positano is built into a steep cliff. The winding roads terrify me and I have to cover my eyes whenever we travel the roads. It's not as steep as I imagined it was going to be from our villa, a good thing my imagination runs away, our villa is about 12- 15 minutes walk from the beach so not too bad and going back up we can shop which gives our lungs and legs a bit of a rest. The beach is stones and pebbles so not very 'nice' by Australian standards. Maybe this difference makes it special though? The water is very clear and warm, a joy to swim in. It's 4.08pm, time I had lunch, load pics on here, another beer and swim before we head back to town by boat. Hope all is well with you all. Arrivederci xx

Umbria and Lago Trasimeno

Ciao from Umbria, Italy

Its been a week since I last blogged! Too busy living the Umbrian life and getting the most out of the lovely villa and area. It has been a magic week with Julie, my cousin Wendy and Steve, Warren and Deb. Each time Julie and I leave a place and go elsewhere it's a new adventure which just seems to get better and better. No wonder I watched 'Under the Tuscan Sun' that many times before I left. I was getting myself prepared for buying property here and living here evermore. I wonder how Jackie will like flying? The dogs all have very big smiles here so I'm sure she will like it. It's rolling hills as far as the eye can see. A lot have been cut for hay so we have a patchwork quilt effect everywhere, brown, green and sunflowers everywhere. Dotted with occasional houses and cypress trees. In the week we have been here we have not seen one farm animal, neither sheep nor cow. Goodness knows what they do with all the hay? We spent a day in Cortona, another in Florence and another in Siena. Florence is lovely but I really did prefer the smaller hilltop towns of Cortona and Siena. Got a lovely leather jacket in Florence and a gorgeous bag in Cortona (after I purchased my new home). The weather is hot, the pool is amazing and a welcome start or finish to each day. We had a lazy day at home today. The furtherest we travelled was 5kms to buy our wine, 50 metres to the local restaurant for our lunch which was so good we are going back there for dinner! It's now 8.23pm so dinner will likely be about 9pm as the Prosecco wine has been opened and is being consumed while we check out everyone's photos and swap stories. This has been one of the best weeks of my life. My darling friend and travel buddy extraordinaire left today to fly back to NZ. We haven't spent this much time together since about 1984. What an amazing trip together we have had. Thanks Jules, again in 2 years? So sad to see you go. We drive down to Positano tomorrow. My suitcase is now ridiculously heavy and the expander zip is being used. Thank goodness we have a car to get to Sorrento and don't have to train it. We are going to get a taxi from Sorrento to Positano (approx €60) to save having to lug our cases on the bus. I'll try and blog a bit more often in Positano but can't guarantee it as my friend Ali is coming and I haven't seen her in 21 years!! So many stories, drinks and games of backgammon to play. Xx

Porto, Portugal

Wow wee this is the business! What an amazing old city, so beautiful with its colourful houses and massive stone churches hugging both banks of the river Douro. Narrow winding streets up and down with the family washing hanging between the buildings. Everyone's business in open view. Better hang your pretty underwear inside else everyone knows what you got up to last night! We are staying in a twin room at the Magnolia Hostel, 4 floors up, no lift!! Lucky I have grey hair cos the lovely young man saw me as a dear old lady and carried my extremely heavy suitcase up for me. Will he carry it down for me at 4am tomorrow? Ha ha, don't think I could be so lucky!! We have walked the city centre, both sides of the river, got the hop on hop off bus round the entire major city and outskirts, cruised the river, seen the 6 bridges from all angles, visited cathedrals and lesser churches, drunk espresso on the riverside and everywhere else, eaten Pastis de Nata whenever possible (egg custard in a filo pastry case, simply the most delicious pastry I've ever eaten and I don't like sweet things usually!!). The population here is much older than elsewhere so many old men are seen sitting in the Placa (square) arguing and talking bull at the top of their voices. All while their women are at the 'local laundry' handwashing sheets and towels in massive stone tubs. Whilst so traditional in many ways,the flip side is the graffiti everywhere. No wall is sacred! We leave here tomorrow. We are looking forward to a decent bed. We have moved our mattresses to the floor to try and be more comfortable, hasn't worked but at least the beds do not express displeasure (squeak) every time we turn over!! We went looking for a place I had been told to go to to have a glass of port while we watch the sun set. We walked up lanes so narrow and had to squeeze our bodies against the stone walls to let buses pass, terrifying. All cobblestones so our feet were protesting a lot! Finally gave up and walked down the other side through paths that had lost their cobbles, little more than goat tracks really. What fun we have when we get lost! Found a place down the bottom to have my white port (determined that we'd earnt it) and rested our poor feet! Our free bus was in bed so we dipped into our budget and got a taxi home, €8. He told us the place we'd been looking for closed in January! At least now Jules believes that I wasn't sending us on a wild goose chase! (even if we were on the wrong side of the river, sssssh). Caught up with Tricia and Graham our first 2 nights in Porto before they ventured to Lisbon. How nice to have quality time with them. Darren, Annette and Craig, they send you their love. Hopefully have WIFI in Umbria and will blog a bit more often if time permits. Hope you are all well.xx

Tricia and me in Lagos

My dear friend from Perth, who now lives in Edinburgh!

Praia da Luz photo

About 6pm

Praia da Luz

Wow, I sure do love this place! We swam in the Atlantic yesterday! Laid on the beautiful beach and then went to the water's edge! Stood there for 10 minutes trying to get our courage up to dive in. I did, and lost my breath for at least 15 minutes! I could feel all my fat cells and blood cells solidifying in the cold! Braved another dive and then laughed my head off as Jules tried to do the same! It took her another few minutes but we were both wet with the Atlantic ocean at the end, and thank God we could get out then! Will leave the swimming to the pool or Mediterranean from now on!! Totally loved seeing my friend Tricia and her partner Graham here for a couple of days. We will meet them again in Porto for 2 nights which, though I don't want to leave Luz on Tuesday, I am really looking forward to. Tricia, Jules and I went to Lagos on Friday. What a lovely old town. Narrow streets and old whitewashed buildings. I would like to have more time there but I could say that about everywhere we have been. I think I need to travel for 20 years to see everything I want. We are going back to our favourite restaurant tonight, which happens to be Indian. The most amazing Indian food I have had in a very long time, if ever! I went in to book and he greeted me like a long lost friend! Good people skills. We have had an influx of UK holiday makers and lets say I am glad we are leaving on Tuesday. It's blowing a gale and I'm sitting in my favourite beach Internet café, wine this time not beer, my newly washed hair is turning to dreds! We have been very lazy, lying on the beach or beside the pool. Eating bread ham and cheese (blue in my case) tomato for breakfast, salad for lunch and then out for dinner. As it was Tricia's last night yesterday so we went to an African restaurant. Very expensive!! €35 pp for 2 courses and copious amounts of wine. Not much by Perth standards definitely but we are used to paying €16 max each! I guess I will have to order another glass of house red for €2 before we need to leave for dinner! We are walking to Burgau tomorrow morning. We think it's only 4kms but I suspect that's as the crow flies!! As my lovely friend Tricia says, 'Catcha'!

View from my balcony Algarve

Tired and pale, but that was yesterday!

Sangria in Lisbon

Praia da Luz, Algarve, Portugal

OMG OMG OMG! I'm here! Finally on the Algarve, where I've wanted to visit since I was 15!! We arrived yesterday after a 4 hour bus journey on roads to rival Australia for straightness for miles!! Very comfortable journey and only €20! Our apartment is amazing! So clean and spacious, 2 bedrooms (yay!), I get the double overlooking the pool and ocean as I had to sleep on the floor in Paris! Only fair! I'm sitting at a cafe on the beach, drinking a pint of beer so I can use their WIFI. A tough life but all in a good cause - communication!! Our last day (and second) in Lisbon, we walked the narrow lanes through the Alfama district up to the Castle. Wonderful! Then we walked back down again. By this time it was hot and very humid. From there we walked to the riverfront and had a café in the massive Praca (square). A couple of guys were busking, playing Portugese music on guitars. Such atmosphere! There are street performers everywhere in Lisbon. Jugglers, guitarists, accordions. Such talented people. And they make my hippy gear look quite tame! After lunch we joined the Portugese in a siesta! Yes, we gave in and went back to the hostel for a 2 hour sleep!! Then we went out for Sangria and more street entertainment. Dinner then back to bed, well it was 10pm! The Portugese would be disgusted in our weakness! Anyway, today the wind was up when we woke. Damn, we will have to miss the beach and stay by the pool! I went out to the local shop and bought laundry liquid and became the laundry bitch! It's all hanging on an airer on our balcony chasing the sun. I moved it from my balcony when the sun disappeared and moved it to Julie's to get the afternoon sun. Nothing like clean washing!! Heaven after a week!! I just hope it hasn't all blown away while I'm down here at the beach drinking beer and talking to my friends, you! I'm currently listening to a group of young English taking the mickey out of the Australian and Kiwi accents. Ha ha, I'm keeping my mouth shut, there is only one of me and 8 of them! But as they are from the 'Souff o Lundn' they can talk! Or rather they can't!! Ooh my face is burnt, I can feel the heat coming through. Bring it on! Julie left the apartment earlier than me, I saw her walking the beach when I got down here but lost track of her. We are travelling well together which is amazing as I'm a person who needs space. Today I'm having a couple of hours alone for the first time and am enjoying it but I do miss our comments and laughter so my 'alone time' is probably up and I need to go find her. This is such a magic place. I didn't bring my card reader down here with me so I will have to post photos of my current view in a day or so. Here's some in the meantime....xx

Our dinner in the street, Lisbon

This is about 9.30pm!!

Bifana shop photo for Carla

Divine pork sausages

Lisbon walking tour

We arrived in Lisbon yesterday after a stressful journey to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport! Luckily we left with 3 1/2 hours before our flight. We spent 3 hours in our favourite cafe having ,espresso (I'm into doubles now!), then lunch to pass the time. It helped that we had Jean-Paul to gaze at! Have no idea of his name so I've named him this. He's the cutie in my previous photo. Anyway, we leave and get to our metro station. The ticket machines aren't working. All the staff come out at various times to push the same buttons we've been pushing for 20 minutes or more. Then they tell us we must walk back up the 30 metres to ground level and go to the next station to buy tickets! Are you kidding? Our suitcases are really heavy and it's many flights of stairs to the top let alone walk to the next station. We have a train to catch!! Eventually they opened the gates and let us through without tickets. We get to the Gare du Nord and try to buy tickets for CDG. No go here either. They don't take credit cards or at least not ours. Nor do they take cash. We get approached by some very dodgy dudes (I'm sorry to say that I now know why the Europeans hate the gypsies! They are BAD news) this guy eventually said he would sell us tickets which he pulled out of his coat pocket! Dodgy but they worked fine. We were desperate and at least he wasn't trying to steal everything we had. We eventually made it to the airport without being one of those people on Easyjet who can't board their flight because they are late!! I'm extremely surprised by Lisbon. It has a very small town feel. It's old and lovely. The people are friendly and helpfully try to teach us the basic words in Portugese. They laugh and correct us, but the laughter is kind, not nasty. Carla, I had the Pork Sandwich from your place, delicious!! Thanks for the tip. We went on a free walking tour today, provided by the hostel. Then to Belem but their pastries aren't as good as the ones from the pork place! It was 33 and humid today, very hot and sweaty! No wearing the same clothes twice here! Off to bed. It's 11pm. The Portugese will be up for hours yet but then they don't start their day before 10am! We still get up at 7 to pack as much in as possible! We are only here 2 full days. We will chill out when we hit Praia da Luz and the beaches. No sightseeing or shopping there!! Just beach, eating and drinking!! Can't wait!

On ya bike!

Cycling through Versailles Estate

Outside Versailles

The street party below our apartment outside the Creole Restaurant

Versailles

We spent the day at Versailles yesterday. After partying in the streets at the Music Festival we were very tired. We danced on the cobble stones for hours, drinking Mojitos for €5! Delicious! But the best part was the dancing. There was music in most cafes so we just stayed within Monmartre. We wondered around enjoying the happy atmosphere until we found dance music that we liked. People everywhere wondering around with drinks in their hands. No sign of police the entire night. No need for them either, no aggro, we didn't see one drunk person. Certainly far more civilised in their drinking than us Aussies or Kiwis. Or maybe they just missed the aggressive gene. Everyone was just thoroughly enjoying themselves. So, we get on the trains to Versailles at 8am very tired. But all that disappeared once we got to Versailles at 10am! Especially after a double espresso. We went through the Palace with the hordes of schoolchildren and adults. The Hall of Mirrors is not so impressive when it's filled with people! From their we walked through the wonderful gardens to the Grand Canal. Had lunch and hired bikes (thank you Sandra! Just the best thing to do). We cycled to the Grand Trianon, the holiday home for the Royalty, now THIS we did enjoy so much more. It's a smaller version of the palace. Then we went to the Petit Trianon, a smaller version again. This is where Marie-Antoinette loved to be. Then through the fantastic gardens to the Hamlet, Marie-Antoinettes hobby farm. It was absolutely delightful. Then we hopped on our bikes and cycled through the dirt tracks and wooded areas of the Versailles Estate. That is up there on my top 3 things to do in Paris. Everything cool, lush and green. And very few people around! Then home to Montmartre and dinner and wine. Back to the apartment at 8pm so another 12 hour day out and about, lots of walking and cycling. In bed not too much later!! Off to the Fleamarkets today. Woohoo! We will walk there, we've been told its only 20 minutes! Ha! Will see. Didn't get there last Sunday as planned.

Lazy day in Paris

We've finally given in to our exhaustion and are having a lazy day. Again yesterday was spent walking everywhere. We visited the Musee D'orsay, an art museum converted from an old train station. A magic place housing Monet, Manet, Degas, cezanne etc, all my favourites. From there we walked across the Seine to the Musee L'orangerie which houses Monet's water lilies on a massive curved wall that was too long to see in one frame. Amazing, everyone stood in awed silence! " I just kept whispering, My God!Amazing!". It houses many other artists which were incredible as well but just to stand in front of the water lilies? And I've stood there before! Still mind blowing. We left there to wander through the Tuileries Gardens where we had the required 'pot' (50ml) of wine. By this time (4pm) its a wonderful 26 degrees and hot! Sitting at a café under the trees was a magic respite. From the Tuileries we walked to St Louis-en-l'ile. This island along with ile de la cite is where Paris originated. Ile de la cite houses Notre Dame while St Louis is all private mansions and cafes, so another wine. We were waiting until evening, when we would walk along the Left Bank to where the locals gather to dance salsa, etc. By the time we got there it was 8.30 but no sign of anyone. As the sun doesn't set until 10.30pm or so, we aren't actually sure what constitutes evening. Shame, could have done with a sexy dance with one of the many goegeous Frenchmen we see EVERYWHERE. Have only seen one unattractive one so far, goodness and he probably wasn't that bad but we are now used to utter perfection! We ate at 'our' Creole restaurant last night, the one across from our apartment. It was lovely to have to walk 10 metres to our apartment, not counting the 3 floors of stairs! It was lovely, especially as they put the chili oil on the table so we could make it as hot (or not) as we liked. I liked! Making our way through the wine, one with lunch, maybe one in the afternoon then one with dinner, glasses not bottles!. Walking it all off though! Julie is enjoying the pastries, I'm enjoying the stinky cheeses. The bottles of wine for €2.59 from the supermache are good too. Our lazy day today: did washing, loaded pics to blog (if anyone can tell me how to get the pics smaller using an iPad I'd be grateful), painted our toes, went to lunch at Amelie's cafe, best food we've had so far, shopped for the necessities (water and wine) at the supermache, back to the apartment to chill over red wine, Barry White and book or blog while we wait out the storm that's arrived before we head off to the Music Festival around the corner on Rue Lepic. We've just had a conversation with the man on the 5th floor apartment across the road, he says normally at this time there would be dancing in the streets but the storm has kept everyone indoors. 4.03pm, nearly time for the sart. Looking forward to it! Tomorrow an early start! On the train to Versailles at 8am, an ungodly hour after a festival but must be done. I think Jackie and I will come to live here.

Itinerary for Europe

Ive been asked for the itinerary for our trip.... 16 - 24 June Montmartre, Paris 24 - 27 June Lisbon, Portugal 27 June - 03 July Praia da Luz, Algarve, Portugal 03 - 07 July Porto, Portugal 07 - 14 July Piegaro, Umbria, Italy 14 - 21 July Positano, Italy 21 - 26 July Rome, Italy. 27 July arrive Perth

Oh La La!!

Just divine!

Restaurant from favourite film 'Amelie'

Lovely to have a glass of wine here with Amelie.

Sacre Coeur

Hi all, I emailed this to my friend Sandra, got carried away so have posted it to you all as well! Sorry! Had a Gorgonzola, bacon and something I forget, crepe for you yesterday. Was it only yesterday?  We are out and about from 9.30am to 11.30pm and am knackered!  But oh so happy! Eiffel tower, Arc de Triomphe and shopped the Champs Élysées today. We have packed so much in! Incredible! Wish I still smoked(not really) but the French make it look so cool! Hard to get away from it as I think every 2nd person smokes! Thank you for having a drink for me.  We were having lunch on the Champs Élysées today at 2.30, normal time for lunch! The sun doesn't set until about 10.30 so our body clocks are out completely! Totally in love with Montmartre! Such an amazing 'village'.  We have walked the length and breadth of it plus everywhere else!  Julie (oldest friend from NZ) is like you, the perfect travel partner.  No plans, let's just see what happens and where this street takes us....magic! Our apartment is on the 3rd floor and a Creole Restaurant (among many more) is at ground level opposite.  I'm listening to the most amazing music from them, at the moment.  Our French double windows  are open as we are trying to dry our washing, so all the street noise is here and I'm sharing these people's lives for a couple of minutes as they walk past, and they don't know it!  Exactly as I imagined and wanted my Parisienne life to be! I can see people living in their apartment opposite and they can see me!  I'm sitting here, windows wide open, no bugs, thinking what's that noise? It's raining! Magic! Jules is asleep, serves her right for waking me at 6.30 when we'd set the alarm for 8am!  It's only 9.05pm now!!    One of the highlights of our morning was being targeted by the gypsy wedding ring scam! They 'discover' a wedding band on the ground in front of you, hello is this yours? No? Well you have it as I don't wear jewellery! They then appear a minute later and ask for money to buy a coke or coffee as 'you've had such good luck!'. No, I said and gave back the ring ad we moved on down towards the Eiffel Tower. A 100m or so we noticed a guy peeing against the wall on the Seine, another mature man walked towards us and tapped his nose and eyebrow and said 'attention' in his French accent. We did, and behold! Another scammer! Ha ha, we are seasoned now! Then we continued walking to the tower, my cash now buried in my bra!Saw a gypsy making a lot out of gullible people Lots of love Lindylou xx

Our first hours in Paris

I'm sitting in our apartment in Montmartre! Restaurants and cafes everywhere. We are on the 3rd floor and everyone's voices float up, even children are out and about at 11.30pm! Been awake 48 hours and we are exhausted though I did sleep the 7 hours between Dubai and Paris. Julie and I didn't have champagne at Dubai! It was $112.00 for a bottle! White wines please. Getting the metro from the airport to Abbesses was our first adventure! Finding your way between platforms for different metro lines was a challenge as the one we were meant to et was closed! But we made it and poor Jules was a real trooper as she was utterly dead on her feet after 36 hours travelling! I am drinking a 'charming' merlot from the local shop. €4.40! I went out to buy bread but of course you can't buy it from the 'deli' and the boulangerie is closed. I can't wait to wake up in the morning! Best get some sleep. Our apartment is old and run down and its so typical Paris!! Magic! We are off to the fleamarkets tomorrow.

And so the adventure begins! A friend said she would be scared she'd sleep through the alarm and so her fear became my own! 4.06am and no sleep! The first time I have stayed awake all night sober!! I have had a manicure, pedicure, cleaned the house and garage, done 3 loads of washing. I really have no idea what else I did to pass the time. I'm drunk on no sleep but am at the airport, checked in in plenty of time, the taxi cost me 84.00 and I had budgeted on 100.00 so 16.00 ahead already. I have a glass of champagne in front of me and I'm having a ball!! I'm the funkiest lady here and I get to sleep in Paris tonight! Could life be any better? I really don't think so. Meeting my friend Julie from NZ in Dubai at O'Briens Pub at the airport. First one there buys a bottle of champagne. And what better way to start our journey? From there to Paris and Paris music month. Can't wait to see our apartment in Montmartre! I don't care if I don't sleep for the next 8 nights! We can lie on the beach in the Algarve later and sleep then! Just like my life in Cyprus in 1990! Oh oh the champers is nearly empty, time for a refill. Garçon!

The real countdown

My last few days have certainly not gone to plan due to unforeseen cyclones(why did I not plan on those?) and other events sent to try me! All I can say is thank the Godesses that I packed weeks ago! Even if I have repacked since its basically the same, just winter clothes added. Dropped Jackie off with Craig and Claire tonight. Thanks so much to you both for looking after her. I came home and feel like I've had a limb cut off. I am sure she feels as lost as I do but I'm also sure she's loving being with Poppy and her Dad again. I can hear you all making comments on people and dogs, know this, Jackie gives me love and gives me someone to love. Everyone needs love in their life. And she is my blind, I talk to myself and anyone listening will assume that I'm talking to Jackie! One day left. I'm still trying to get my pool to a reasonable chemical level. It has to look after itself until the lovely Emer comes to stay. I wish I didn't have to work tomorrow but I do. Serves me right! I thought about leaving Saturday night but thought why waste a day?!! Gotta go and do more before bed. Next episode from the airport early am Saturday. Xx

5 sleeps to go....have repacked to include warm clothes for Gay Pareee, forecast is not great. Highs of 18 19 24 with showers. Case now weighs 19.6kg! What? How did that happen? I just took some clothes out, added a big mug for my tea (no longer a budget backpacker huh? Much as I love wine, my first cup of tea each morning is far more important, hence a big mug!) Jackie is stressing. How will I leave her? My heart is hurting already....

This photo shows the spirit of my 50th (and my life, really)

Such wonderful friends! 

Poem by Peggy & Geoff for 20.05.62

On this very day in May 1962

To Fay and Clyde, Linda was born

Amongst the cries of - oh joy one more

Little did our youngest sis know just what was in store

After 5 siblings she got the looks

How come the sis's wondered - oh fook!

But the proud parents just took it in their stride

One more to love and join their pride

You joined the happy clan showering you with love

Even amongst the fun, odd jibe and shove

You soon learnt to stand your ground

Confidence and poise you soon found

After a short working life in NZ

Travel beckoned you overseas instead

Life experiences come many aplenty

The journey continues but life isn't empty

To Perth the decision came which has been great

For you to make your home in the sunny state

You have embraced all there is on offer

And what a journey! All those mates.

Today you are the grand 50 years old

How can that be? You cant be as you are told

But we siblings know for sure it is true

Cos we are ahead of you - true blue

Happy birthday Lindy Lou

Hope the wineries today don't bring on spew!

Take it easy and last the day well

For many of those sharing for sure will tell

Happy Happy birthday Linda

Hope you have a truly magical day

With our love

Peggy and Geoff x x x x x x

8 sleeps to go

8 sleeps!  And I'm dreaming about the trip so they won't be good sleeps either!  Sitting here drinking the Moet that Craig bought me for my birthday.  Anything to keep the birthday celebrations going!  Rain forecast this weekend so I won't be able to clean up the outdoor area after our storms this week!  I'll have to leave the house sitter a very apologetic note.  

This photo is a test and as I haven't loaded to Picassa in a long time it is from Murray's 50th.  He looks great eh? 

9 sleeps to take off

9 sleeps until take off. Quiet at work so made my 'last will and testament'. Not that I plan on dying on this trip but as I'm now 50 maybe it's time I grew up in some respects? I'm mostly packed, easy to do as I'm packing summer clothes during our winter season. My suitcase weighs 15kg and as I'm flying Emirates that leaves me 15kg for shopping! Plus as I travel I'll be using the million tea bags and toiletries and creating more free space and allowance that way. I plan on repacking and repacking anyway before the 16th and culling some of the many bottom clothing (shorts etc) before I leave. This is my first ever blog so will see how it goes.....