What happens when you throw too many coins in the Trevi Fountain!!

When anyone goes to Rome throwing a coin in the Trevi Fountain is essential, we all want the opportunity to ensure our return to Rome. But what happens when you visit the Trevi Fountain multiple times in the one visit and of course throw multiple coins in? You get stuck in Rome that's what!!
It is now Friday morning and we are still in Rome. When Our flight was cancelled we were all quite excited, while still excited our glow of excitement has lessened some what - as each morning begins the same we all feel like we are mice trapped on a wheel.
To explain.....
After we were notified our flight had been cancelled and we relocated, with a little drama, to the Airport Hilton we all went to bed expecting to be put on a flight on Wednesday. After breakfast we had a "team" meeting, the team being all the Cathay Pacific waylaid passengers, where we were told to wait and they would try and move passengers to different flights. So we sat and waited for 2 and half hours in what resembled a Bingo Game - he would gather us and call out passenger names at which point you would hear an excited "Yes" when the passenger "won". The crowds thinned and still we waited, eventually we were told that we would be put on the next days Cathay flight - perfect. He then told us he had also booked us on an Emirates flight that leaves in the evening as a standby because we had only 4 guaranteed seats and 2 waitlisted but he was quick to assure us that this would be fine - all passengers rarely show up.
What do you do with another unexpected day in Rome, that is a question I will answer in another blog but needless to say we had a wonderful day - besides not being able to fit on the crowded shuttle bus back to the hotel and then having to wait till the 11pm bus it but was ok we just went and had "one more Italian gelato!"
Thursday we were up, dressed and packed down in the foyer with only a handful of leftover way laid passengers, where our lovely but stressed Cathay man had to tell us that now there were now only 5 seats left on our flight but one passenger still had not checked in, so it was back to waiting. We were not destined for that flight by 1130 all passengers had checked in and with only 5 available seats we went to lunch and to the pool instead to wait for the 10pm Emirates flight.
About 4pm Mikaela very excitedly comes down to the pool to tell us that Cathay has upgraded us to business on the Emirates flight which was a strong motivation to be ready to checkout early. With the hotel in walking distance from the Airport,we headed off early, sad to say farewell to Italy but ready to go home. But Italy was not ready for us to leave - at the Emirates check in there was a problem and we were asked to wait again. They came back only to tell us that there was an error with the ticketing of our tickets,as well as as the flight from Dubai to Ho Chi Minh had been cancelled AND there flight was full but Carlos (we are now on first name basis with the Cathay guy) had booked us into the Airport Hilton. Who knows what the Emirates man expects when he has to tell passengers that they can't fly - what he didn't expect was our laughter, so the saga continues. On our arrival back at the Hilton to check in even the girl laughed and said "you only checked out 40 minutes ago" so they just put us back into our rooms.
Whilst all this drama is unfolding, Matthew has been in contact with Adriana in Ho Chi Minh getting her to inform our driver to collect us, to not collect us and to collect us again, and the housekeeper to come, not to come and to come again. This morning she also had the task of telling us that our power has been cut off, you can only
pay month by month in Vietnam and only in person and in cash. That will be something to look forward to, arriving in the dark with no lights, no air-con and no hot water.
That brings us to today - Friday. We have just been told to go back to the airport and check in at counter 212, who are we flying with? What time are we going? Via where? I am sure we will know in about an hour but I do have to wander how strong the magic of the Trevi Fountain is.

Rome Still

We drove back to Rome last night arriving late after another challenging directional activity - you know when it's challenging when the children take out their earphones to listen to the "conversation" between me, Matt and the GPS. Our hotel was wonderful besides being situated right at the Pantheon, the staff where just wonderful - seeing our stressed 'driving into Rome' faces he gave us a permit to park right at the hotel, which is a huge thing because there is no parking within the old parts of Rome. Anyway we quickly changed and headed out into a rainy, yes rainy, Rome for our last dinner. We, well me, decided our last dinner in Rome should be at the Piazza Navona - yes it was going to be expensive but it's our last night. We found a place out of the rain and order drinks when Matthew gets a text "Cathay Pacific regrets to inform you that due to a typhoon your flight has been cancelled ....". Well since none of us really want to leave Rome we weren't devastated but after alot giggling and of course checking various websites to ensure that there really was a typhoon in hong kong we started thinking logistics: Tuan our driver had to be informed, as did Nghit, what do we do about accommodation, and our car it had to be moved at 830 and it had to be returned to the airport..., all this started running through our minds - this was not going to be an easy "extension of our holiday".
After our last, well not really, dinner in Rome we headed back to our hotel only to find that it was booked out for the next few days - oh well we thought we would worry about it in the
Morning.
But at 5am this morning both Matthew and I were up checking flights and weather. Still no flights but weather has improved now what??
Matthew decided to head off to the airport and return the car, a subsequent email had asked that passengers please not to head to the airport so I stayed and tried the reservation line - with every other stranded Cathay Passenger from around the world. After an hour and a half of being put on hold then hearing arrividerci and being cut off I finally get through having a conversation that went a little like this:
Lady: yes your flight has been cancelled you will need to come to the airport to get accommodation vouchers
Me: when do we need to come?
Lady: for your flight time
Me: but our flight has been cancelled
Lady: yes i know
Me: what hotel
Lady: we don't know yet
Me: we'll can I come this afternoon
Lady: yes

Anyway since they were going to provide accommodation that was fine particularly since our hotel hadn't been able to find anything else for us - but since Matthew was on his way back from the airport we just had to wait.
Matthew arrived back and we decided to wander Rome, again, have lunch and to book a hire car (cheaper then the taxi Matthew had just used to get back to Rome from the airport).
Fast forward to 3.30 we are at the airport- no Cathay staff - ring the number again only to be to to go to the airport Hilton (could they not have told us that in the first place)
In between this we had another call saying they found us a flight via Bangkok with Thai, which for various reasons Matthew vetoed.
So we are now sitting having yet another glass of wine, who knows when we will leave Italy but really who cares!!

Driving in Italy

We are currently driving back to Rome for our very Last night in Italy. We have driven over 4500 odd KMs in the last 5 weeks. Some of the driving like now has been on autostradas going a very scary 130km an hour, lots of driving has been on the tiny country roads of Tuscany where we all hold our breathe when we meet another car, way too much of our driving has been on dirt roads hence the car is continuously covered in dust and today had us driving through flood waters that were well and truly over the wheels. I pity the person who buys our car next.
So that's the roads, what about Italian drivers. Here are a few observations:
- they like to drive between two lanes with the white line between their tyres
- they believe the speed signs on the road are suggestions only
- they drive with their left hand outside the window
- they talk and text whilst driving
- they drive way too fast everywhere
- blinkers are rarely used and not at all to change lanes, which is ok with us since our right hand blinker still doesn't work
- and 90% of the population drive green fiat pandas

Farewell to Tuscany

Tonight is our last night in Tuscany and We are all feeling a little sad to leave. We have been in Tuscany 4 weeks exactly and we have had an amazing time. I was concerned that 4 weeks in one place would be too long time but it hasn't. We have filled everyday with new places, new sights (and as anyone who has been watching our Facebook checking could attest to,)new restaurants. Certainly there have been parts of Italy that we have left unexplored like Assisi where i was really keen to go to but at 2 and a half hours away it was just too far to drive there and back in a day, but having a home here has more then made up for it. We have explored little towns that don't appear in our Rick Steve or lonely planet guide books and, wandered around Florence so many times that we began to feel like locals and of course eaten in restaurants with locals where we just guessed what the menu said.
We have been so fortunate to have had the loan of our beautiful Tuscan home.
Thankfully we still have a few days left in Italy and tomorrow we make the arduous journey down to the Amalfi coast and then back to Rome before it's home to Viet Nam.

Cinque Terre

I am sitting on the harbor at Vernazza having a glass of red wine watching the people in the piazza and, the waves in the ocean. And I am completely exhausted. This morning when we awoke the weather was overcast and looked quite dismal, after almost 4 weeks of perfect weather why is it that the day we had decided was a beach day is cloudy? So our plans to walk to Monterossa to the beach were put off. Though the weather was clearly not a beach day it was a great day for hiking. Being in Cinque Terre hiking between the villages was something I was keen to do so we set off for the village of Corniglia. It was a bit hilly at the start but it was lovely with gorgeous views back over Vernazza and out to sea. Just to amuse ourselves we decided that when we passed people - (why was everyone else going the opposite direction) we would each say good morning in a different language, I'm not really sure if anyone else noticed but it made the trip go really fast - It took just over an hour at which point we entered Corniglia found a coffee shop and contemplated our next move. The walk between this town and the next was closed but there was a route that involved going up the mountain to another town then back down to Manarola via another small town. Instead of being daunted we set off - it clearly was not a well used track and it involved a 2km walk straight up stairs just to start, which had us puffing and panting. After what seemed like forever we arrived in Manarola, but rather then stop we kept going to Riomaggiore because we knew once we sat down it would be hard to get up, we also knew that this part of the walk was going to be really easy - there's a board walk all the way. This led us along the water which though not as panoramic as the other walks was still beautiful. Lunch then home by train seemed a great way to finish the day but.... Now the kids blame me for what happened next but I think they were desperate to do the last leg of the trail - the walk from Monterossa to Vernazza because when I said we would finish the next day I am sure I saw disappointed faces so a decision was made to train it to Monterossa and then hike the last leg. It's only natural that when you hike over hills you have to go up first but why is it so much more difficult and why do they put uneven spaced steps?
Zander led the way on this leg and he was determined to do it quicker then the two hours that the guide book suggested, we overtook many a huffing puffing person, went round people hobbling- why would you wear those shoes hiking - scootered past people who 'god forbid' stopped to rest and even meandered past, yes we were ears dropping, people on the trail arguing that they just couldn't do it.
Very soon Vernazza was insight a picture perfect view of this beautiful Cinque Terre town.
Which has me now sitting and enjoying the view after our 5 hours, 19km of walking up and down and up some more hills and though we are exhausted it was so worth it.

Europe Summer Crowds

Coming to Europe in summer we expected crowds. Actually I expected an enormous amount of people. However in Rome we were pleasantly surprised there didn't seem so many people - maybe it's a bigger city and because we had pre-purchased our tickets the crowds we didn't line up so it was certainly manageable. In Florence we were a little taken back with the amount of people but we just had to go and book our tickets for both the Accademia and the Uffizi for another day and all was good. But when we got to Venice we encountered every tourist visiting Europe, we sat one morning and just watched the hordes of people descend on Venice, no-one could doubt Josh when he said "look at the people no wander Venice is sinking".
It didn't help that the day we arrived The university of Venice was having the graduation ceremony - just look at at St Marks Piazza - to be so Vietnamese troi oi!

Shopping in Florence

Today was set aside for shopping. On our other excursions into Florence we just gave the stores and the markets a quick glance but today was shopping day. Matthew had it planned out, we were to have lunch together then he was going to wander by himself maybe have a coffee and or a nap in the car there was no way he was shopping. Well best laid plans don't always work. Yes we had lunch together after a quick trip into the Mercato markets to buy pasta and sauces for dinner, then it was time for lunch - pizza and pasta today. Then we all headed towards the stores well we didn't make it very far - we very soon found ourselves in a leather store in the hands of a quick talking Italian leather goods salesman. We heard how his daughters had the jackets that our girls wanted (what a coincidence), how he had relations in Sydney (what a surprise), how when his brother/cousin/uncle came to Italy from Australia they too came through Hong Kong, just like us and yes shopping in Hong Kong is expensive and not good quality. (no surprises there) all in all he was a great salesman - we even had our photo taken with him and all our goods - yes we bought a few jackets from him, but they are the best in Florence and he gave us such good prices! If one was a cynical person you could say we were conned by a very smooth talking Italian but I would prefer to think we met one of the good guys of Italian leather shops who just wanted to be of assistance and gave us an really great deal.
After spending way too much Matthew quickly abandoned us with promises to meet back up later. Well we wandered in and out of stores made a few purchases, got lost in the sales of a clothing store and eventually met Matthew just a little bit late for gelato. Josh quickly decided that sitting in the car seemed a far better way to while away our shopping expedition so he left with Matthew to head to the car for a nap.
We headed to the shoe store where Bella bought gold high heeled sandals, (Zander has already made numerous jokes about them), Kaela refused to buy shoes that had a 2cm platform at the toe, Zander found that size 45 is a hard size even in Italy and I bought sandals similar to what I broke (with Josh's help) in Rome.
With enthusiasm starting to lag - the 32 degree heat wasn't helping - we started towards the car. Along the way we found ourselves once again drawn into the leather spell - spending 40 minutes choosing and buying leather book covers, they are really gorgeous, probably impractical but gorgeous nonetheless. Off we head again to the car but alas I succumbed again. It was a really great overnight bag but kaela and Zander did ask me where I was planning to use it and Bella asked how many overnight trips I do by myself!! so the bag stayed in the store but after an hour of bartering we left with not one but three bags, Matthew will probably suggest that the kids should have let me have the one useless bag but kaela found the perfect messenger bag, Zander found the satchel he has been looking for and I found a bag to take to work thanks to Bella (I think she wanted it but I was happy to help out). Ok we quickly headed for the car before I found anymore leather goods.

Walking around Italy

I love to walk - anybody who has ever traveled with me can attest to my love of walking around a city.  I love to wander around looking and listening to what is happening around me.  For this trip the kids said that I had a kilometer limit - and when I reached my limit they were not walking anymore.  I am not really sure how and if they were going to police this but I secretly think they love to walk as much as I do, as the following photos show

Walking in San Gimiginano

Walking somewhere

Walking up the Spanish Steps in Rome

Walking around Venice

Walking around the Roman Forum 

And this is what happens when you exceed your kilometers for the day

Sunday in Italy

After a wonderful few days away today was left for washing and groceries. Matthew and the boys and I left the girls to hang the washing whilst we did the grocery shopping. Getting fuel became our number one priority when the fuel light came on - not wanting to be stranded in the countryside, albeit beautiful countryside we stopped at the first fuel stop but being Sunday it was closed but they have a self Serve system here but after a lady pushed in front of us, another lady explained ever so politely that we had to put the nozzle back because she couldn't pay, you have to pay first, we abandoned the idea for today. But our car had other ideas because the fuel light was now buzzing so we stopped at another station on the way to the grocery store but this time we knew what we had to do - put your money in and then fuel your car - simple, well we thought so. We watched the guy in front of us so when it was our turn we just copied him but it was never going to be that easy. We put the money in - nothing; turn the money around nothing; try a different note (maybe it doesn't let you have 50 eur's worth) nothing; we then resulted to looking like lost souls until an Italian man came over looked at the machine shook his head and left, another guy came over takes our Money and repeats the turning around of the Money - still nothing, another guy and his girlfriend joined us, followed quickly by two more Italian men all pointing at the machine arms gesticulating; still nothing. Eventually it was decided, well we think, that the machine was now broken - so it was off to find another station. Third time lucky we finally had fuel and now we could get the groceries. As we walked into the store Zander pointed out a sign which said Cash Only. Not having that much cash Matthew went to investigate - yes it was true all machines where down so Matthew decides to go to the bank whilst the boys and I shop. After 45 minutes the shopping was done but no Matthew which was fine except we noticed the store was rapidly emptying which that and the continuous loud speaker saying something gave us a clue that the store must close at 1pm. With no money and no Matthew we just stood there watching people being turned away at the door while contemplating what we were going to eat for the rest of the day. Living in both Vietnam and in Sydney where nothing ever completely closes we are complacent in buying groceries I guess. As we stood waiting to be asked to leave Matthew arrived back after having had to go to the next town to find an ATM that worked. With groceries and fuel we headed home for lunch and a nap after our strenuous morning.

Goodbye to the vineyards

Albeit just for awhile, we left our beautiful home in Tuscany and headed to Venice, about 300kms away which with great autostratas it doesn't take long.
The scenery is magnificent we quickly left the sprawling vineyards and approached the beautiful mountains of northern Italy and then onto the farming flats of the Venice region. Trying to take photos whilst doing 130 on an autostrata did no justice to what we saw but it was truly beautiful.

We did take a little detour at one point very early on, which has the kids now calling Matthew 'detour dad' - but it is no easy feat driving in a foreign country as Matthew said to the kids "it is not easy when you are driving on the wrong side of the ride, reading signs in another language with a wife who is a useless navigator and a GPS who lies". I have to agree on the useless navigator bit I am seriously bad as a navigator - but as for the lying GPS,I'm not so sure but I do know it's isn't easy. Italian drivers are an interesting bunch; they don't use their right hand blinkers when they change lanes (which is good for us since our right blinker is no longer working), they tend not to drive at the same speed and they always drive with a hand out of the window!! What was really strange was at one point we encountered heavy traffic but the trucks just stayed in the right hand lane doing 20kms- a line of trucks which continued for over 10kms with the cars in the left - eventually we found the traffic block was due to road works it was a little odd maybe truck drivers in Italy are very patient.

Italy, traveling and teenagers

Sleeping in Siena

Traveling with teenagers reminds you that they see the world through different eyes. They don't have the same urgency to see everything that we, as adults, do. I want to see every museum, every church, every
Monument. I want to walk every street, over every bridge, up and down every hill but the children are not so desperate, don't get me wrong
They are wonderful traveling companions and are enjoying themselves immensely but sometimes I guess it's all just too much. Sometimes pictures say it all ....

Listening excitedly to an audio guide

Squashing Josh

TMT (Tan Maintenance Time)

Yet another Church Tour

Spending time in the Tuscany by the pool

Got to love these churches

On Our Way To Dinner

The Road

The Road

The View

The Road

Matthew's dislike of listening to the GPS has allowed us to see some beautiful sites.  The following photos show the road we took to dinner the other night.  We ended up in the little town of Tavarnelle Val Di Pesa which was not where we were headed but we took note of it and we returned their last night.  We dined in a lovely restaurant, inside unfortunately due to the amount of people, but Matthew, Zander and Bella all declared their bruschetta the best they had ever eaten, and this  topped off with a gorgeous bottle of wine made for yet another wonderful evening.

Out for a family dinner

The View