Sorry to all of you who were concerned about us.  We just found it so hard to find internet places and to find the time to update the blog.   We cannot believe that it is all over and that the 93 days we were away are over.    We just had the most amazing time.   We were both really nervous before we left about being away from all that was familiar for such a long time but we were so lucky as nothing to dramatic went wrong.   We both stayed healthy and we both managed to do all the physical things we wanted to do.   When we look back on it now we are amazed ourselves just how much we managed to do.   I wrote a journal for every day (can't pretend I actually wrote it every day) and it is going to be fun to go back and read it.   We met some interesting people, some we don't even know the names of.   Someone asked us in Hong Kong a couple of days ago what the highlight of the holiday was and we honestly could not isolate any one thing, it was all incredible.   We would lie in bed each night and say to eachother " can you believe we are here" or "can you believe we just did  that".   We drove a little grey Astra 5000 MILES around the UK.   Can you believe?   That is about 8600 klm's and that is  further than from here to Hong Kong!   We did spend a lot of time getting lost but luckily I managed to persuade Stan to buy a proper road map in the UK.   He still inisisted that most of the roads were not in it, but he would not pass even the most basic test in map reading.   We finally realised that it was better for him to drive and me to navigate!   A lot of screaming went on, as you can imagine!   We will hopefully catch up with all of you in person soon (those of you who are here in Aus) and no doubt bore you all to tears with our anecdotes.    I would like to say a very special thank you to 3 very special people who took us into their home (with no cost) and made us so welcome - Jacquie, Roger and Thomas.   We thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent with you in your beautiful home in Little Marlow.   The only thing I am sorry about is that I did not take a single photo of either you or your beautiful house.   We just had so much talking to do I forgot and now it is too late.   We look forward to catching up with you when you visit Aus again.   Look forward to catching up with every one else too.   Being away made us realise how lucky we are to have such lovely caring friends and family even tho we didn't want to come back!!!!

Leave early at 8.15 as we want to go to Pisa and see the leaning tower before we catch the train in La Spezia at 2.30 for Santa Margharita.   No idea how to get there as it is now off the illegible photcopy map that Avis gave us.   Of we go anway!   Hotel reception tell us it should take 1-1.5 hours.  takes us 2.5 hours as we get lost and seem to go around in a big circle.   Arrive in Pisa, it is a big city.   No idea where the tower is.   We somehow thought that we would be able to see it and just head in that direction.   Quite wrong!   Ask at a servo, he points and off we go.   Still cannot find it.   Stop at another servo,  beg Stan to buy a map, he does and we finally find the Tower!   Park in the street outside the walled town and rush in, take a photo and turn around and rush out again.   Tis now nearly 12.oo and we are supposed to drop the car at Avis in La Spazia at 12.00.   Car still there as is our luggage YAY.   Of we go again, hurtling down the highway.   Find La Spezia no worries but cannot find the station.   Finally find it but no Avis office.   It is now after 1.00 and our train goes at 2.30.   Park in a no standing zone and find another car rental office.   He tells me the office is in the city centre.  EEEEKKKKK.   We unload our luggage and leave it in some office on the station.    Past caring now.   Rush down to the town, cannot find the street, finally find a tourist map on the harbourfront.   Stan gets out and I drive around and around the block,  he cannot find the street on the map.   Why am I not surprised!  Two other tourists cannot find it either.   Luckily I find a park jump out, find the street and off we go.  It is now 1.45.   Find the street, it is a one way street, we are at the bottom and Avis is at the top.   Try reversing up the one way (saw this trick somewhere else)   Too much traffic so give up.   Drive through a pedestrian only piazza, who cares, and finally we are at the AVis office.   It is shut!!!! Only to open at 3.00.   Find a park outside (miracles do happen) drop the keys in the key box.   Hotel next door tell us the station is just up the street, 10 inute walk.   We run.   Get back to station at 2.15.  Luggage is still there, though now moved out onto the platform.  Guess what, the train is an hour late!!!!!!   Finally arrive in Santa Margharita and walk down to our hotel.  Thank goodness that day is over and we have got rid of the car.   Stan phones Avis and all is well!!!

Oh my, what a time we had in Tuscany.   I don't know if I mentioned this but Stan decided not to bring any maps as they were too heavY.   What a disaster that turned out to be.   We got soooo lost.   We decided to go to Sienna.    Didn't want to go on the highway so took the scenic route.   Scenic it certainly was.   We turned around a few times but finally found Sienna.   Parked in the parking garage just outside the walls, no cars allowed inside.   Car park full even though the ticket machine gave us a ticket.   Had to go out again and the machine just ate the ticket.  Went down to next level, no ticket machine so just parked.   Walked into the town.   All very pretty and nice but both feeling very frazzled.   Had a drink took a few photos and left.   Car still there unscathed so had free parking!!!  Drove back through Chianti.   Absolutely stunning scenery.   Stopped in Rada for a coffee and cake.   Lovely and sunny now.   Drove back to San Gimignano without a mishap.   All confident now we decide the next day to go to Cortona (where Under the Tuscan Sun was filmed).   Got lost again, even though we decided we would take the highway.   Couldnt find the damn thing.   Finally found Cortona.   Parked down the hill and walked up into the town.   Very cute but everything shut as is was after 1.00 by the time we found it!   Ate our banana's on a bench in the piazza and decide to drive on to Arezzo.   Not a good move.   Cannot find the highway or Arezzo.   Give up, turn around, finally find the highway and head for home.   Gotten really good at going at 120kms and hour, passing trucks on the wrong side and changing gears with the wrong hand.   Dont want Stan to drive as it is too nerve wracking.   Arrive back at hotel.   Now very overcast and thundering and lightening.   Have dinner indoors tonight, other nights have been outside on the varandah.  Of to bed.   Have to leave the next day for Santa Margharita.

Thought I better send the blog so that I didnt lose it!

On our last day in Venice we went to the Rialto.   Was as busy as all hell as the sun was shining.    Had some coffee, I dont think we have had lunch once since being here, we just seem to miss it!   Not getting any thinner though!!!!  Waiters were as rude as always.    We thought we might catch a gondola back to St Marks.   They wanted €150.00 can you believe.   When we declined they chased us up the alley saying they would give us a special for €80.00 to take us through the back canals.  Forget it!!!   We caught the vaperattto, couldnt buy a ticket as the ticket booth was closed so got a free ride!

Sad to leave Venice but we had to catch the train to Florence.   On the vaperatto again for the last time dragging the suitcases.   Train was packed, everyone is going to  Florence.   Dragged the suitcases again to the hotel, only a short walk from the station.   Beautiful old hotel, built in the 1500's  lovely room.   Took our usual walkabout and went to the Ponte Vechia.   Very crowded and hot.   Fabulous gold jewellery shops all along the bridge.   Looked and loved but didnt buy.   Went back to hotel too exhausted to even eat!

I typed a whole blog while in Florence but the b*** timed out before I could send.   Lost the whole lot and my €5.00.

Couldnt send one from Venice as we only saw one internet place, nothing at the hotel and we couldnt find it again.   The trip up from Positano to Venice was very eventful.  Were taken at 6.00 am by Maria friend the Mafioso to the station in Naples.   Had 2 hours to spare (again!) but chatted to a couple of gay aussies who gave us a lot of useful information as they had stayed at the same hotel as we were in Venice.   Had Italian lessons from a lovely lady on the train to rome where we had to change trains, another hour or so to kill so had McDonalds!!!!!  Slept to Florence where two lovely young Americans on their honeymoon got on and we got a lot of information on what to do when we went to florence.  

Venice is the most amazing place.  We caught the Vaperatto (public boat not bus) to St Marks Square where the Aussies had told us to get off and cross one bridge and we would be there.   They were wrong, it was 3 bridges and it was starting to rain, but undeterred we dragged our suitcases up the steps and down again 3 times and found our gorgeous little hotel.    It is quite something to be in a huge city that has no traffic.   Everything is done on boats!   Even saw some crane boats!!!  We took a walk around the area and found a little cafe for dinner.   Chatted to some Americans at the next table who gave us free passes to see the museums in St Marks Square.   Wasn't that nice???   Next day in poured with rain and was really cold.   We pulled out our coats from the bottom of the suitcases and ventured off.  Went to see the Acadamia, fantastic old paintings, walked through the Peggy Guggeheim museum, didnt go in as modern art is not really our thing.   Had a peak in anyway.   It was still bucketing down really bucketing so we went bakc to the hotel .   Next day dawned bright and sunny YAY.  We took the free(?) trip to the glass factory at Murano.   Saw the very interesting glass blowing etc and then got taken into the showroom where we were given the hard sell by a very smooth Italian.   Saw the most gorgeous Impala for €2,500.00.   Stan wouldnt buy it!   Then used our free passes (given by the Americans) to see the Doges Palace.  Fantastic, walked over the bridge of sighs to the dungeons.  

Today is our last day in Positano.  We are off to Venice tomorrow.   It really is the most beautiful place and the weather has been fantastic.   We both have got sunburnt even though we have tried to stay out of the direct sun.

Yesterday we went to the Isle of Capri.   We took a boat from here and it took about an hour.   We sailed around the island and saw the White Grotto, the Emerald Grotto and unfortunately the Blue Grotto was closed because the sea was a bit rough.   When we saw the size of the opening you had to get through we were not surptised.    A bit disappointed though.   We then got dropped off on the island and we took the funicular rail up to the town.    It was so cute and the views were amazing.   All swish little shops down little alley ways and we pretended we were rich and famous.   Had lunch at a nice restaurant where the waiters treated us like dirt.  So much for the rich and famous.   What is it with Italian waiters:   Took the boat back to Positano.   Met a nice Australian family, was nice to have a chat with people who understood what we were saying.   We had a great day.

Today we took the local bus to Sorrento and then the local train to Pompei.   It was very exciting, specailly the bus trip along the cliff tops-   Better than the taxi though;  The train was full of young people who were very entertaining to watch even though we could not understand anything they said.   Maybe that was a good thing.   When we arrived at Pompei, we discovered that Stan had forgotten to bring his passport so we could not hire  an audioguide.   Decided to go with a guide which cost far too much.   It was really hot and dusty and even though it was really interesting it was not what I expected.    I think they have taken away a lot of the relics and put them into musuems to protect them so it was really only the buildings to see.   Caught the train and bus back to Positano and have just had a lovely swim.

Tomorrow we have to leave at 6.00am to catch the train from Naples back to Rome and then on to Venice-  Badly need to eat as we seem to miss lunch every day.