Venezia

A beautiful hot summer day on arrival, leaped on the bus for a slow trip down the Grand canal to our local stop. A little walk, some bridges (they love their bridges here) to our quite lovely hotel. A quick change into shorts and jandals and off we go. Hard to get lost here but not as easy to get back to where you want to the same way. Who cares, the Whalens took whatever road in front and saw and found whatever. St Marks square still the same for me except the pigeons were older. There are many renovations in St Marks so it doesn’t quite look the same but you can see what they mean.

                ..... not sure what I expected, but St Marks as a little bit of a disappointment for me.

As we are just about to leave Italy i would make the point that many of the world famous, ‘must see’ places we have been to are currently under various state of repair. This is quite encouraging to see although in some place not before time. The Vatican is a gr8 eg and we have before and after pics.

Back to Venice,OK. Very busy here with still many tourists and at least 5 cruise ships in also. Some great shopping here and we managed our share.

                .... Loved Venice right from the start, maybe it’s the water and boats, little streets and walk ways, felt right at home straight away.  Our hotel is awesome, quaint with stairs going up and down, through a courtyard, up more stairs to our room.  Venetian style furniture and lovely and quiet.

Day two. A new day dawned on me again, this time much cooler. A nip in the air (and I’m not talking Japanese tourist) and finally some rain and wind. The grand Canal looked like Cook Strait in a southerly and today we are to visit the Island of Murano (glass), Burano (lace) and Torcello (cathedral).

                ..... From late 20s to low teens overnight, but didn’t spoil our great day. I could stand for hours on a bridge just watching the canals and activity on the water.

Choppy seas and very wet, luckily most of us dressed appropriately.

Early evening spent at a cafe having a few quiets looking out over the canal watching all the traffic including the cruise ship depart....quite special.

                .... absolutely magic, the sunset, lots of boats, nice wine, nice company... you couldn’t ask for more. Roll on tomorrow when it’s us leaving in grand style down the canal.

We've met some great people over the last few days, even some that are doing the same cruise as us. Everyone seems interested that we are from NZ.

Tonight, a very special meal at a lov ely restaurant. We had a couple of really nice seafood dishes with grilled veges. Great i thought, some Kumera. But no, Grilled peppers, Zucchini and egg plant.

I had so much egg plant tonight people were calling me Murray on the way home.

Big day tomorrow, off cruising!!!!

Land of yummy brown bread and mountains

HE SAID .... We left Milan last sunday for Zermatt in Swiss land. Before i start on that i must mention my take on the visit to Duomo of Milan the day before. As Janet said, our timing was good enough to witness some of the traditional old catholic pomp and ceremony and attire they continue to use here. Obviously the service was in Italian  which some will agree is close to Latin. I found out time there that day quite moving on a personal level. It reminded me of my days as an alter boy when the whole mass was in Latin. This service sounded so much more "religious" in Italian. Really deep stuff eh?       

...Yep, our tough Mike showed his true colours! We’ve had a few special moments in churches on the trip, lighting a candle for Tina’s gran when she died, and another couple for friends and family at special places along the way, and some nice, quiet reflective times.

..... and yes, really beautiful brown bread in Switzerland.

Anyway, from Milan we had a great day changing trains and finally ending up in Zermatt. The train ride into Zermatt really is quite special and hard to adequately describe, so i won’t....come and see the pictures!!

Zermatt must be one of the best places to visit, there are no cars here as such only heaps of electric golf cart type thingies. see photo. Our accommodation really was special and no more than Janet deserved for this, her 48th birthday. We awoke early the next day, opened the windows and "SMACK'. There it was, the Matterhorn, bathed in sunlight (not the dish wash) as if ordered. Same thing the next day.  If anyone had of skyped us we could have shown you.

                .... I had an awesome birthday, one I won’t forget for a long time. Thanks everyone for the birthday greetings, and my very special photo from school.  Extra special having all the family together at Mark and Tina’s place for dinner to skype  xxxx

Day one we wandered around the village and had a meal/drinks etc and just soaked up the place.
                ..... we gave everyone something to look at, we were the only ones wearing jandals instead of hiking boots.

Day 2 we jumped on the special cogged mountain train to Gornagrat. Easy to write but harder to experience. We had a great day travelling to 3089 m above sea level, having a good look around continually under the watchful eye of the Matterhorn.

...Michael’s vertigo is well and truly conquered.  Made friends with a English watercolour painter selling his prints, who had been to NZ and would have been happy talking to us all day.

Google this place. There are a number of stations on the way and upon our return we rather foolishly decided to walk between two of them. For every step forward it felt like a foot down. You think DC has probs, i think every muscle from the groin to the inside of my small toe was sore by the time we levelled off.

                ... it was great, peaceful, beautiful, only other very tiny people in the distance ... only me to talk to!  Saw a real live brown squirrel!  I gave Michael my rendition of some songs from the Sound of Music (nebver was one of his favourite shows – he’ll never think of it the same again.

The train on the way down is equally impressive. During the day of course we were surrounded by many trampers, hikers, mountain bikers (we met a couple of mad buggers at the top, covered in protective gear, who were about to race down. One had been to HVHS as an exchange student, small world eh?).  Also the odd handglider

                ... Mr W may have purchased something rather large to bring home!

Last day in Zermatt, up early, Matterhorn still there, following a great breakfast ( the bacon here is fabulous) off on the Glacier Express. This was to be a highlight for us and something we had both looked forward to. The train is mostly glass with a small strip of roof so visibility is everything. Bright sunny day, no excuses? This was a great day for us, this part of Switzerland is very beautiful, much like bits of Nu Zeld but more of it.

                .. the train wasn’t full, so we were all seat hopping to look at everything, and so much to look at.  A few stops to get off and stretch the legs, smell the fresh mountain air.....

They call this the slowest express train ride in the world probably because the train goes further up than along, mainly running on Cogs using a rack and pinion system. Interesting stuff but you are either into trains or not? (Me, I’m a slot car fan). We have heaps of rail shots for John Bertram (Janet’s dad), our family rail enthusiast.

                ..... you’ll be impressed dad, Michael’s been on hands and knees, half under trains, got told off for being on tracks getting lots of photos for you, and another suitcase with reading literature!

Late in the day of Janet’s birthday, we arrived in St Moritz. The Hotel is next to the railway station and borders the Lake, another great find by Janet. After checking in, finding out their WiFi was next to useless, we found the bar (and a very friendly young man – Kristy – could be an option, if the Swiss Guard from the Vatican doesn’t pan out) and ordered a meal. We had Rosti’s. Very nice!!!! We were both quite tired (visual stimulation) so just to make sure I popped a couple of Calandas’ and I had a great sleep.

Must mention the TG sheets we had, stunning!

Next morning, another early start. Breakfast made me feel quite homesick. We walked in and there, on the tables, MUGS.  At last, a decent cup of tea for Janet. I don’t know why but I have started drinking coffee in the morn. When in Europe...........

Today it was the Bernina Express. After a small presentation of a small sewing machine each, off we went. This train journey crosses the alps, up and over the top, not through. Personally, i found this trip magic and at least on a par with the day before. The train journey is from St Moritz to Tirano.

                ...... definitely a highlight, scenery, engineering, thrill factor , sharing roads with cars right through the main streets of towns.....

The next section was by Bernina coach from Tirano to Lugano. This was incredible also and when we arrived in Lugano the driver got a standing ovation.

.... thrilling ride in places, the bus horn signalling continuously on narrow, blind corners, cars and trucks squeezing past each other, or reversing out of our way, (only one ‘hit’ – hopefully just a wing mirror) all done very close to building or cliffs.  Very exciting.  Michael can’t wait to be a coach driver over here!

Last train section Lugano to the graffiti capital of the world, Milan.

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Some notes from Italy

At last we have WiFi, so much easier than internet places when you're tired and scratchy from your big day out and just want to go and sit and have a cold one!
Some deep and meaningful(??) thoughts from the latter half of our stay in Italy.

• One night in Florence .......  After checking out 39 ristorante we arrived back at the first one and had an evening meal before meeting our good friends Margaret and Pat for a drink on the top floor of the Hotel Medici. A few shake, shake, shakes, a couple of mwah, mwahs and a couple of biers and a catch up. After a very tiring day for all of us we decided on an early night. Big day tomorrow, day 2, David day. That was about 9.30. Ken you would be well asleep by now. Its hard to describe what happened over the next 8-9 hours. What stood out initially was the cacophony of noise. It was as if there were 5000 people, all talking at the same time. Remember we are on the fifth floor. Actually you wouldn’t remember because i had not mentioned it.  

Then a street performer started. He had a whistle (ex ref), horn, a loud voice and an amplifier commonly used now by buskers. After 45mins we had had enough, got dressed and went outside for a look. He lasted about 10min and packed up at 10.30pm. After a quick look around for other attractions and a mental to note to self, only 2 million people out, we returned to the boudoir.

During those other minutes between the hour, the street cleaners worked continuously, up and down, up and down. In Europe they have a great system for rubbish. On nearly every street they have these large bins, on wheels for people to place their rubbish. One for paper/ cardboard, one for glass and one for rubbish of a general nature. Explains why the place is reasonably clean.

Where was i?  After the street cleaners the rubbish trucks arrive. The bins are pushed into position, over cobbled street then the MOTORISED truck picks it up and empties it. We liked the paper/cardboard better than the glass one. Also at very stage during the night, the shop owners pulled down their roller doors. Add all of these together and call them sound bites. These sound bites creep up the wall of buildings and look for open windows to crash in and slap you around the ears. 

         At about 6.30 we both fell into a deep sleep.
         At 6.55 Margaret rang, an alarm call, and to tell us about the bells.
         At 8.15 we were standing in front of David............what a man?
         PS. That afternoon we decided to have a nap, Italian style.  Then the parade started..........

• That was the parade with bands, flags being thrown high, lots of men in tights and a cannon going off a regular intervals.
• Pine trees - didn't know this weed in NZ was a treasured, shaped and trimmed found everywhere tree.

• Busker and beggars - some fantastic like the 5 men in silver who broke out in raucous laughter very time someone put  money in the tin, some heart string stuff like the oboe player with his wife and baby on the metro. 
• Oh for some brown bread...
• Pizza with broccoli to get our vege in...
• Loved Genoa and down the coast.
• Pisa has a tower that leans, but that's it.  Almost overshadowed by the lines of stalls all selling the same things.
• HIGHLIGHT Lucca - wish we'd stayed longer than 1 night.
• Driving the backroads from Pisa, Lucca to Florence was beautiful.

• Florence - so many people it was a bit hard to appreciate - back streets awesome.  Spaghetti and clams yummy! 
• Dab hand at the tolls on autostrado now, even getting good at racing the huge trucks as you leave to merge in to 3 lanes!
• Paving - who'd have guessed you could take so many photos of different types, sizes, shapes, even, uneven, old and very old sorts of paving.  And who'd have thought people would wear stilleto's over them!

• HIGHLIGHT 3 actors portraying 10 of Caravaggio's paintings (only by changing the colours and shapes of fabric they had on stage) perfectly timed to dramatic music, in a very old stone building.
• HIGHLIGHT the Vatican.  Our tour with 8 people through the museums, Sistine Chapel, Basillica was fantastic.  Even the other 6 Americans were great, and our guide just the best. Both really annoyed by the huge numbers of people ignoring the 'silence' and 'no photos' in the Sistine Chapel.  Soooo disrespectful.

• Beautiful drinking water all over Rome - fountains and taps to fill the drink bottles everywhere.  ...and you need it.  Did everything at the Trevi Fountain to make sure we come back again!
• Purchased a book for school at the Colosseum.
• Great train rides on very comfortable trains - highly recommend!
• Milan, the fashion capital is covered in graffiti.  In between the Gucci and Armani shops, and sadly on some of the old stone buildings as well.
• Duomo in Milan spectacular, and even more so as there was a service for the ordination of priests occuring while we were there.  Accoustics amazing for music and singing.

Today we have arrived in Zermatt, Switzerland, after a fascinating train ride up the mountains.  Beautiful blue sky day and the Matterhorn looks spectacular from our balcony.  Great recommendation coming here Karl.  We've splashed out on a very nice hotel as a birthday treat, and after the ride today, we're really looking forward to our Glacier Express train trip across Switzerland to St Moritz on the 4th.

Good luck everyone at Sacred Heart for the big production on the 4th and 5th - I'm really sorry I'm missing it. 
Go the All Blacks..

When in Rome.......

Greetings from Rome from an internet cafe!!  After a hurried departure from Firenze (we cocked ...oops, sorry Mr Theo, we inadvertantly had our time down to leave on the train for 10.30 instead of 9.10am), so anyway a great trip down on the train, 1st class, the only way to go.
Next bad decision was Michaelangelos. Lets walk, he said, its not that hot!!!!!! and its not that far!!!!!!. Another Tui ad.  The apartment here is fantastic just no WiFi.
Metro round the corner, so quick easy trips in to see really old, fantastic stuff.  Trevi fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantino, domes, spires, people, people with guns, two great days filled so far.  Tomorrow we have an appointment with the big man at the vatican.
Just happened to be walking past a pub on our way home tonight and someone noticed the rugby on TV, naturally we had to have a beer and watch Italy beat USA.  Strangely we were the only ones watching the game!!
No photos tonight - hopefully wifi next stop.

PS what the hell is going on over there?  We see the Phoenix have changed hands, and what about those Warriors......GO the Warriors.

Kia Ora from Firenze

We are somewhat behind in the blogging dept as the "in a great spot" Hotel Medici does not have free WiFi or any other type available. Here we have enjoyed the company of Pat and Margaret who popped across from London to spend the last 4 days with us and have a look around themselves. We had a great time with them and were sad to see them leave this morning. We are now sitting in the Old Stove Irish pub (free WiFi). We have already spent a couple of hours here on sat morning watching the All Blacks hump France. So much better when there were a coupla of French persons watching also. Bit of a struggle drinking beer at 10.30am but what the hell....when in Rome???
We have a little to catch up on with our visit to Cinque Terre, Pisa and Lucca (highly recommended, we loved it) to skite about but we will maybe do that when we have a bit more time in Rome tomorrow. 

From our roof top garden - very close to the tolling bells!  Had a thunder and lightening storm go through very briefly yesterday late aftenoon. Luckily we were at the Uffizi gallery at the time, having an awesome tour.  Could spend hours there!

We've managed not to buy any leather jackets or bags at the markets yet.
TG, we could have a field day  buying for you here - burnt orange leather jackets, skirts , gloves and bags!!! 

We've had parades with drums, flags and canons going off, Relay for Life (thousands of people in geen t shirts flooding the streets, horses and carriages, tiny wee buses that have taken Michael's fancy (Ken - he's been talking about shipping one home!!)

Thanks for your messages and emails, we love hearing from you.
Arrivederci xxx

Ciao from sunny Genoa

-Train trip to Genova over viaducts and tunnels.
-Blue skies and hot, sunny weather .
-The most amazing B & B and nicest hosts.
-The best location, and a city so easy to get around.
-Amazing tiled and mosaic footpaths.
-Scooters and bikes everywhere.
-Very steep funicolare ride for a panoramic view over the city, except for the odd tree in the way!
-Some very glamorous, beautifully dressed women.

-Awesome dinner and great night out with the locals, no English and maybe some limoncello later in the night!
-Fantastic boat ride from St Margherita Ligure, to visit San Fruttuoso and Portofino.
-Blue, blue, blue sea. Brown, brown bodies.

A very happy Janet and Mike :-) 

Buonanotte
.... bedtime after another awesome day in paradise.