Glenn relaxing on bus.
Colloseum
Peter & Emily at colloseum
Vatican City
Glenn & Emily at Trevi Fountain
Peter making wish.
Trevi Fountain
the last supper!Friday, October 16, 2009
Day 18 photos
Glenn relaxing on bus. Colloseum Peter & Emily at colloseum Vatican City Glenn & Emily at Trevi Fountain Peter making wish. Trevi Fountain the last supper!
Day 18 - LAST BLOG!!!!!
Peter:
Today we got up really really early and caught a bus into Eur Ferme, then caught a train into Rome. Then we went around to all the famous places in Rome by open air bus, which was freezing, it was fun. The colloseum was my favourite place to see; we had a tour guide who was funny.
Emily:
Breakfast was at 8.30am (early NOT!) at the motel - lots of choices. Public transport to Rome. Tourist sightseeing on an open air bus - we went around the whole entire city - it took all day. We simply got on and off where we wished. First stop was the Colloseum, where we paid an extra 8euro for a tour guide. He was pretty funny, but a little sleazy (Peter thought he was great, he kept high fiving Peter when Peter answered questions correctly). It was very interesting to see where the animals were kept and how the gladiators came in and out. Next stop was the Trevi Fountain, Vatican City, other obelisks etc, then we had lunch, Peter threw a coin back over his shoulder, then we walked around the streets to find the "Time Elevator" - this was an interactive history ride, on seats that moved - very interesting for kids and adults alike to understand the making of Rome. We then joined the bus again and saw the rest of the sights from the bus. Caught our train and bus home (bus took over an hour, with a 20 min stop in the middle for reasons we don't know). Home at 7.30pm in time for dinner at the motel. We're repacking our bags again and sorting things out for the trip home. I'm not looking forward to returning home, I wish I could be on holiday forever. I have really loved Italy, can't wait to return.
Glenn:
I personally like looking at historical buildings and the way in which people have lived in the past. I have had the opportunity to do this in England, Amsterdam, Paris and now Rome. Today, we had a guided English speaking tour of the Colloseum, I learned a lot. Just marvelled at the size and capacity of the crowd the building could hold in its full splendour. Other buildings such as the Pantheon and St Peter's had marble columns that when you stood next to them you are absolutely dwarfed. The craftsmenship in carving some of the marble statues and intricate ornate pieces around the buildings, again amazed me. Italy I have found, whilst very busy on the roads, the people seem to be more relaxed and polite than their European neighbours (French). Looking forward to returning to Italy, particularly Rome at a future time.
Rhys:
A day of studying for me.
Today we got up really really early and caught a bus into Eur Ferme, then caught a train into Rome. Then we went around to all the famous places in Rome by open air bus, which was freezing, it was fun. The colloseum was my favourite place to see; we had a tour guide who was funny.
Emily:
Breakfast was at 8.30am (early NOT!) at the motel - lots of choices. Public transport to Rome. Tourist sightseeing on an open air bus - we went around the whole entire city - it took all day. We simply got on and off where we wished. First stop was the Colloseum, where we paid an extra 8euro for a tour guide. He was pretty funny, but a little sleazy (Peter thought he was great, he kept high fiving Peter when Peter answered questions correctly). It was very interesting to see where the animals were kept and how the gladiators came in and out. Next stop was the Trevi Fountain, Vatican City, other obelisks etc, then we had lunch, Peter threw a coin back over his shoulder, then we walked around the streets to find the "Time Elevator" - this was an interactive history ride, on seats that moved - very interesting for kids and adults alike to understand the making of Rome. We then joined the bus again and saw the rest of the sights from the bus. Caught our train and bus home (bus took over an hour, with a 20 min stop in the middle for reasons we don't know). Home at 7.30pm in time for dinner at the motel. We're repacking our bags again and sorting things out for the trip home. I'm not looking forward to returning home, I wish I could be on holiday forever. I have really loved Italy, can't wait to return.
Glenn:
I personally like looking at historical buildings and the way in which people have lived in the past. I have had the opportunity to do this in England, Amsterdam, Paris and now Rome. Today, we had a guided English speaking tour of the Colloseum, I learned a lot. Just marvelled at the size and capacity of the crowd the building could hold in its full splendour. Other buildings such as the Pantheon and St Peter's had marble columns that when you stood next to them you are absolutely dwarfed. The craftsmenship in carving some of the marble statues and intricate ornate pieces around the buildings, again amazed me. Italy I have found, whilst very busy on the roads, the people seem to be more relaxed and polite than their European neighbours (French). Looking forward to returning to Italy, particularly Rome at a future time.
Rhys:
A day of studying for me.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Day 17 photos
Hotel in Rome.
Glenn in lobby.
Rhys & Peter at dinner on their own.
Glenn & Emily at the Trevi Fountain!
Vatican city
Vatican fountain (one of them)
Another fountain somewhere in Rome!
Our driver (this is at midnight & we're still smiling).Day 16
Emily:
Had breakfast on the streets of SanRemo. Our italian is good as long as we have Glenn's Translator! Know how to ask for an ATM off by heart!
Took new car to Pisa. Decided that was far enough to drive in a day - I think we've all had enough of travelling and are looking forward to Rome and staying in the one place for a couple of days... Pisa was extremely busy (people wise) the village itself, really isn't much at all. We're staying at a lovely B&B on the coast, only about 10kms away from the tower. When we drive to the tower, you drive through open fields and farmy type places. The tower is inside a wall - obviously a fortress many years ago for the cathedral and museum building.. I learned that the tower is leaning because when they decided to build it the architects thought it would be different to put 6 steps on one side and only 4 on the other. Throughout the years, the water and wear on the underside made it unstable, hence the renovations to keep it in one piece.
It cost 15 euros each to walk up to the top. Money to go toward the preservation costs.
Peter:
Today we had croissants that tasted bad, then we travelled to Pisa. We checked into our B&B and then we went for a walk around Marina Di Pisa. We got lunch and I had the biggest pizza i've ever had, and I ate it all - that was amazing! Then we all went in to Pisa and went to the leaning tower - Tower Di Pisa. We stayed there for about an hour and went back to the B&B for a rest. We then went out for dinner, I had swordfish and it tasted disgusting and then we went back to the hotel and went to sleep!
Glenn:
Have you ever slept in a bee hive, well walking and sleeping in San Remo comes close. Motor scooters - beep beep, vroom vroom, toot toot in groups of what seemed like thousands continuiously all day and night. Those of you who have travel with Emily know how erratic she can be as a driver, guess what, she fitted in like a local. Yes, Emily is in her element driving in Italy. The drive along the coast from Sn Remo to Pisa going past Cannes, Monaco, the sights were gorgeous and the water views were spectacular (from the train also). Marina Di Pisa is a sleepy little coastal village with some nice real estate that one might invest in one day! So that one could have a permanent holiday villa in a sunny part of Italy. Visitiing the Leaning Tower of Pisa was a real experience in looking at architectural history. I could have wandered around there for hours looking at the tower, cathedral but also the old market place.
Rhys:
Had a fun day it was good, it was great! It was long travelling to Pisa went through 101 tunnels at 140km/h with Emily's crazing driving. Went to the leaning tower of pisa, obviously it was on a lean! Dad wouldn't take a picture of me leaning on it - lamo! We saw Snoop Dogg eating at a restaurant in Pisa with his two body guards. Lots of pizza for me. Called Mum and Nick on the phone, because our gay-friendly hotel had free Internet access and international calls.
Had breakfast on the streets of SanRemo. Our italian is good as long as we have Glenn's Translator! Know how to ask for an ATM off by heart!
Took new car to Pisa. Decided that was far enough to drive in a day - I think we've all had enough of travelling and are looking forward to Rome and staying in the one place for a couple of days... Pisa was extremely busy (people wise) the village itself, really isn't much at all. We're staying at a lovely B&B on the coast, only about 10kms away from the tower. When we drive to the tower, you drive through open fields and farmy type places. The tower is inside a wall - obviously a fortress many years ago for the cathedral and museum building.. I learned that the tower is leaning because when they decided to build it the architects thought it would be different to put 6 steps on one side and only 4 on the other. Throughout the years, the water and wear on the underside made it unstable, hence the renovations to keep it in one piece.
It cost 15 euros each to walk up to the top. Money to go toward the preservation costs.
Peter:
Today we had croissants that tasted bad, then we travelled to Pisa. We checked into our B&B and then we went for a walk around Marina Di Pisa. We got lunch and I had the biggest pizza i've ever had, and I ate it all - that was amazing! Then we all went in to Pisa and went to the leaning tower - Tower Di Pisa. We stayed there for about an hour and went back to the B&B for a rest. We then went out for dinner, I had swordfish and it tasted disgusting and then we went back to the hotel and went to sleep!
Glenn:
Have you ever slept in a bee hive, well walking and sleeping in San Remo comes close. Motor scooters - beep beep, vroom vroom, toot toot in groups of what seemed like thousands continuiously all day and night. Those of you who have travel with Emily know how erratic she can be as a driver, guess what, she fitted in like a local. Yes, Emily is in her element driving in Italy. The drive along the coast from Sn Remo to Pisa going past Cannes, Monaco, the sights were gorgeous and the water views were spectacular (from the train also). Marina Di Pisa is a sleepy little coastal village with some nice real estate that one might invest in one day! So that one could have a permanent holiday villa in a sunny part of Italy. Visitiing the Leaning Tower of Pisa was a real experience in looking at architectural history. I could have wandered around there for hours looking at the tower, cathedral but also the old market place.
Rhys:
Had a fun day it was good, it was great! It was long travelling to Pisa went through 101 tunnels at 140km/h with Emily's crazing driving. Went to the leaning tower of pisa, obviously it was on a lean! Dad wouldn't take a picture of me leaning on it - lamo! We saw Snoop Dogg eating at a restaurant in Pisa with his two body guards. Lots of pizza for me. Called Mum and Nick on the phone, because our gay-friendly hotel had free Internet access and international calls.
Day 16 photos
View of mountain ranges
more mountains - italy!
our B&B
the biggest slice of pizza eva!
Streets of Pisa.
Playing at Pisa.
the leaning tower of Pisa.Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Day 15 photos
Nice
View of South FRance
Room in San Remo
San Remo Port 1
San Remo Port 2
San Remo Port 3Day 15
Peter:
Today we left St TRopez and drove to Nice. We dropped off the hire car. Then we caught a train to San Remo, then we picked up a car in San Remo, then we went and found a wonderful hotel to stay at. Then we went out to dinner at a posh restaurant (McDonalds).
Rhys:
Cleaned the cabin this morning so that we wouldn't lose 160 euro. Travelled to San Remo by car and train. I was a little hypo today getting on dad's nerves. Checked into an OK italian hotel which has free wireless internet, hip hip hooray - all in all it was a good day.
Emily:
Glad to leave camping village, although it had great amenities. Glenn drove to railway station and had to park the car on the 6th floor of a multi-storey building (like the ones in the movies where you go round and round) Rhys freaked out a couple of times, thinking we would hit the sides!! I held my seatbelt nice and tight ha ha. We caught a train from Nice to some little Italian village where we had to get off and change trains for San Remo. Our Italian isn't as good as our french! When we arrived at San Remo, we bumped into missionaries from our church - it was good to speak to someone in English, even though they were American! Caught a taxi to the car hire company, picked up a new BMW wagon. Drove to hotel, where we luckily got a car park on the road right outside the door. The hotel is fantastic, large rooms, shutters open up out to the street, so you can watch the hustle and bustle of the Italian city streets (very interesting). Asked for an icecream each in Italian (with the help of Glenn's translator ipod). Weather hot and 26oC. We've booked a hotel for Pisa tomorrow night - we're not going to Venice... kids want to go to Rome for the rest of the week. Missing my grandchildren xoxoxo
Glenn:
Was glad to further our holiday today as we decided to head to San Remo instead of a lengthy day's travel. Starting to get used to driving on the left hand side of the road, just get really stressed out, because we had no idea where we are going - north south east or west!!
Enjoyed the drive through Nice and the train ride from Nice to San Remo - the coastline is absolutely magnificent, the villages the coastal and ocean views are rivalled by none in the world. Did notice as soon as we hit our first Italian contact that they were much more relaxed and easy going than the French. Nigel you were right - the French are mad on the road, and you said the Italians were insane - I totally agree! Loving the warm weather and Emily has been fantastic, she should get a job for the UN as a multi-linguist, as she has got us out of many a sticky moment wherever we've been.
Today we left St TRopez and drove to Nice. We dropped off the hire car. Then we caught a train to San Remo, then we picked up a car in San Remo, then we went and found a wonderful hotel to stay at. Then we went out to dinner at a posh restaurant (McDonalds).
Rhys:
Cleaned the cabin this morning so that we wouldn't lose 160 euro. Travelled to San Remo by car and train. I was a little hypo today getting on dad's nerves. Checked into an OK italian hotel which has free wireless internet, hip hip hooray - all in all it was a good day.
Emily:
Glad to leave camping village, although it had great amenities. Glenn drove to railway station and had to park the car on the 6th floor of a multi-storey building (like the ones in the movies where you go round and round) Rhys freaked out a couple of times, thinking we would hit the sides!! I held my seatbelt nice and tight ha ha. We caught a train from Nice to some little Italian village where we had to get off and change trains for San Remo. Our Italian isn't as good as our french! When we arrived at San Remo, we bumped into missionaries from our church - it was good to speak to someone in English, even though they were American! Caught a taxi to the car hire company, picked up a new BMW wagon. Drove to hotel, where we luckily got a car park on the road right outside the door. The hotel is fantastic, large rooms, shutters open up out to the street, so you can watch the hustle and bustle of the Italian city streets (very interesting). Asked for an icecream each in Italian (with the help of Glenn's translator ipod). Weather hot and 26oC. We've booked a hotel for Pisa tomorrow night - we're not going to Venice... kids want to go to Rome for the rest of the week. Missing my grandchildren xoxoxo
Glenn:
Was glad to further our holiday today as we decided to head to San Remo instead of a lengthy day's travel. Starting to get used to driving on the left hand side of the road, just get really stressed out, because we had no idea where we are going - north south east or west!!
Enjoyed the drive through Nice and the train ride from Nice to San Remo - the coastline is absolutely magnificent, the villages the coastal and ocean views are rivalled by none in the world. Did notice as soon as we hit our first Italian contact that they were much more relaxed and easy going than the French. Nigel you were right - the French are mad on the road, and you said the Italians were insane - I totally agree! Loving the warm weather and Emily has been fantastic, she should get a job for the UN as a multi-linguist, as she has got us out of many a sticky moment wherever we've been.
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