Sardinia 2014

Well it's happening. We're going back. Sardinia here we come.

After booking, considering cancelling, changing dates, discussing, replanning - its back on. This time two weeks.

The trip is the mastermind of Chris Masek - form London. He is celebrating his 50th this year and part of his celebration is to swim Corsica to Sardinia.  He asked us along last year. and Steve is more than keen to do it. Despite the setbacks we are off. His new knee is behaving and he has been training hard.

Lovely Phoebe Rouse is meeting us there - travelling over with the two Chris'. We asked her to come along, to keep me company and provide some female companionship. She started swimming in london and no doubt will be faster than me already! But what does it matter. It will be great fun.

Chris has organised all the details - from the coast, guides, coast guard, licence, medical support and has booked the hotel (which he tells us know he has paid for!)

We leave on Saturday and fly Cathay to HongKong. Then Air France to Paris - then Air Italia to Olbia, bus to the port, then ferry to La Maddalena. Quite a trip (made easier with business class!) but it will be great to get there and relax. Its been a tough 6 months for everyone. Just wish Rob and Jordan were with us.

ITALY AGAIN in 2003

I am having to learn Italian!

I keep going back!

This time to watch Rob play in the Australian Under 20's World Junior Men's.
What a champion!

We flew to Roma and then onto Naples. I was nervous about the apartment I had booked. Also about sharing it with peter and Elizabeth McGregor. They are Sam's parents and we met them once at a game and decided to share!

As it turned out it was magnificent.
They were such fun and we had a great week.

The apartment was on Corso Vittorio Emmanuale. Top floor - so about 90 steps, so we could stay in shape! It was a short walk to the train station - then about 4 tops and a short walk to the pool. ALl this worked well as we went to the pool  every second day.
Other days we spent exploring.

Highlights of the trip:

* amazing views from the apartment towards Mt Versuvius
* big rooms in the apartment
* heat, heat and more heat
* Showering outdoors on the roof terrace
* watching rob play so well
* meeting the other parents. Especially "My fleshy little peach - Janet Flazon.
* Taking the fast ferry to Positano and our great lunch at Chez Black
* going up on the vernicular
* finding a beautiful restaurant
* dinner with the other parents
* last night party on our roof top

Last day train back to Roma and having our last dinner with Peter and Elizabeth.

Back to Italy 2002

My lovely sister Catherine was planning a visit to her beautiful daughter Clare and asked if I'd like to come along. Well I didn't need to e asked twice!

We started planning! Agreed on a week in rome and a week at Positano on the Amalfi coast.

About two weeks before we left we decided we couldn't go without Helen so Catherine booked another ticket. SURPRISE!

So we flew out on sept 19th - the same day as last year!

Arrived in Rome in the early morning and made our way to Via G.
Apartment wasn't great so arranged another one and it was good. Though Catherine and I had to share a bed. Clare had a bed and Helen had a fold out! But it was cute and convenient .

Had the best week in Rome. Memories include:
* seeing Clare arrive in Rome. Striding down the street backpack strapped to her back
* catching the bus to Trastevere.
* exploring St Peter's
* the Catacombs!
* eating at the strega cafe
* shopping and buying great shoes
* amazing food
* throwing coins in the fountain Left arm over right shoulder
* wandering the Borghese gardens

Then off to Positano by train, circumsurviano then the local bus. Quite and expedition.
The apartment was great. two bedrooms, where again Catherine and I shared a bed.
beautiful sea green tiles on the floors, magnificent views across the blue waters, pink bouganvillia, and Chez Black where we had coffee each morning.

Highlights of the week:
* Meeting John and Bernie on the bus to Pompei.
* meeting up with them other days and having lots of fun.
* going to capri. Helen being hung over after too many cocktails - namely "sex on the beach"
* rain!
* no ferries out of Positano
* bus to Amalfi and up to Ravenna. Gorgeous views
* exploring Sorrento
* dinner out and more amazing dinner in cooked by Clare.

Then off to London where once again Catherine and I shared a fold out lounge! Now that was close. even had to turn over at the same time! We stayed with Clare and Shaun in a little flat in Bayswater.

highlights of the week:
* Opera at Albert Hall
* lovely long walks
* exploring the markets, Notting Hill and other antique markets
* sharing time with Clare
* art galleries
* walking the streets

Holidays prior to 2010

2001 - Italy with Ginetta, Wendy, Lynne, Maria Mark and myself.

We started our trip in Rome. Ginetta, Wendy and myself flew out through Singapore and arrived in Rome in the early morning. We met Maria and Mark at the hotel, quite near the station.

Discovered Rome - the main sites and I even threw a coin over my right shoulder into the Trevi fountain - hoping to come back!
We had a super dinner and Wendy went to sleep!

Next day left for our first stop..Chuisi.
We had a great house with 4 bedrooms. I shared with Lynne. Wendy, Ginetta and Maria and Mark had the other three. We explore the area over the next 7 days.
Montelcino, Montelpulicano, Florence, Sienna, and lots of little villages.

Then off to Venice for three nights. Bellissimo.

We took the train to Milan and changed for Largo di Como. we stayed at the Hotel Victoria at Varenna. Very lovely too. Great walks, food , drinks (including the pink gin!)

From there we travelled back to Milano and onto the Cinque Terre. we actually missed the stop at Monterosso! Then we climbed to our hotel - the Convento di Cappicino. A really special place. Lots of italian speaking and great food. Explored the 5 villages. we walked some, boated along the coast, caught the train and generally had a great time.

At the end of a great week it was back to Milan, where Steve arrived to start the next part of our journey. Wend and Ginetta headed off to France to her sisters place in Vaison La Romaine. Maria and Mark headed to America.

Steve and I flew to Berlin via London! After nearly 24hrs in Milan airport due to a plane crash , which they thought at first was a bomb.

We had 4 nights in Berlin and did a wonderful walking tour, explored checkpoint Charlie, went to Potsdamm, did lots of walking and enjoyed the area.

Then it a train to Dresdan for the day, then Vienna. Oh sigh what a place.

Then the train to Prague and Chesky Kromlov.

Back to Prague before flying to Istanbul. Amazing city.

Altogether a great holiday.

Friday . Our last day in Cotignac

Moustiers - note the star suspended above the town

Gorges de Verdon - wow!!

Lin followed by John being greeted by a shirtless Steve

Oh dear , it's finally here our last full day of holidays and last day staying in Cotignac. It's been so wonderful to stay with John and Margaret and meet their lovely fun friends Lin and Andy McNaught.

We decided to head off to the Gorges of Verdon and in two cars with 3 bikes on board set off to Moustiers our first village stop about 45 mins drive away. It's a beautiful little village with an enormous 12 point star suspended above the village.

After a wander around the village we started the climb up a winding road to look down into the gorge and it was spectacular. We reached Palud and the cyclists took off on their ride along the high road 
along the gorge and we started to drive it, stopping frequently to gasp at the view.

We met John, Lin and Andy for a picnic lunch, before they finished the downhill part of the ride and we drove back via the lake. Quite spectacular .

Steve once again stripped off his shirt to wave the riders in! Lin pretended to be a Tour rider and waved him away.

Back home for a last wander through the streets of Cotignac.

Thursday bike ride

John and Steve debriefing outside the Modern Bar 

The McNaughts, Brannocks and Maitlands relaxing on the Terrace

  

I've swam in  the Mediterranean, now I've cycled the Tour de France route! Well part of it.

We drove to Carces about half an hour away (John, Lin and Andy cycled all the way there!) Then we hired bikes and headed for the lake. We rode along beside the lake on a part of the road the Tour followed! So officially I have ridden the route for about 2 km.It was a gorgeous day and the lake was reflective green and still and it was so peaceful once we got onto the bike track.

We finished as all cyclists do with a cafe latte and headed back to Cotignac for lunch before a big afternoon storm hit. It rained and thundered and lightening struck and it was so good to be safe in this
beautiful house.

By 4 it was fine enough to head off to The Modern Bar (its not very modern at all but has a TV) to watch the Tour; and with John and Andy our resident cycling experts giving us guidance we were able to follow the race tactics and tried to understand what was going on. I miss the SBS coverage.

Cassis on Wednesday

Hugh and Sue McKay with us in Cassis

After listening to the end of the movie last night- lots of music echoing throughout the town from the outdoor theatre movie night, followed by children's voices and parents chattering on their way home - I got to sleep very late. Then this morning it was all soft light and birds.

After breakfast and coffee we headed off to meet Hugh and Sue McKay in Cassis. It took about an hour and a bit.......... and is a beautiful little seaside town. We overshot the exit from the freeway but it turned out just great because we were able to enter Cassis by the coast road with spectacular views. 

A quick look in the markets (similar to Cotignac) and we met on time in front of the port. A lovely lunch later and a glass or two of Rosé and all was good! Had a lovely chat and catch up and back to Cotignac as the rain storm started.

Having tea and a little bit of nougat (John's special ) - yum!







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