Rome

We arrive in hot hot Rome. Its about 40 degrees.


We went to a restaurant for dinner which looked over the Colosseum. Mum got serenaded at dinner by another Italian opera singing man. It was amazing to see the sun set through the ruins of the Colosseum.

Rome is chaotic. The driving here is worse than in Paris. Cars drive any where and because there are no road marking they just go where every they want. They park illegally which includes parking on a pedestrian crossing, double parking, parking on the footpath. Basically parking is a good as stopping wherever there is space for your smart car.

The next day a local guide took us through the Vatican City, St Peter's Basilica, and to Michelangelo's masterpiece the Pieta. We also went to the Pantheon where there is the largest dome pured with one piece of concrete and is perfectly balanced that it holds itself up. The guide told us that there were sacrificial fires held here but they were only animal sacrifices. We all thought that there must have been human sacrifices here too. Later we crossed the Tiber river to view some some ruins. Later we went to the Trevi Fountain, threw some coins over our shoulder and made a wish. We then headed to the Collosseum for a tour inside. Its amazing inside. To think and try to imagine the sort of things that went on in ancient Rome when the Collosseum was a buz with activity. Its incredible to think that its the ruin that its turned into today.

After a long day sightseeing we ended the tour with our final night dinner. Again more Italian opera singing and a skinny looking gladiator who probably wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes in ancient Rome.

Florence, Pisa and Tuscany

We left Venice early and headed to Florence. Glad to see the bus as it's air conditioned. Johnny the bus driver is always pleased to see us.

We drove through the Italian countryside to Florence. Most of us asleep again as it was an early start. We finally arrive in Florence which was hotter than Venice. We meet a tour guide who raced around the city. It was too hot to go at her speed and most people got frustrated and tired. We went passed (at lightening pace) the Della Robia Statutes and into another church. We ended up at the Statue of David by Michelangello. It was very moving to be there. The guide finally slowed down and took us up close to David. She explained everything about him as we walked around the statue. While racing around Florence we spotted this strange smart car.

We then drove to Montacatini to our hotel. Montacatini is a holiday town so the atmosphere is relaxed and there is not so many people.


The next day we travelled to Pisa to see the leaning tower. One of the 7 wonders of the world. Mum was so amazed at the tower that she wasn't paying attention to the cobblestone curb and fell down. She got Pisad! Blood knee and sore ankle. Lucky we had hunky Romanian Roberto as our tour guide who kissed it better and wisked mum up. Who needs a nurse when you have Roberto.

Unfotunately we didn't have time to go up the tower but we did go inside the church which was absolutely amazing. I thought I was all churched-out but this church and its 24 carat gold roof was incredible.

We had dinner in a beautiful countryside vineyard in Lucca where we had lovely wine (not as good as NZ though) and yummy food. They also served Grappa which is 40% proof. It was horrible but a couple of the young boys took to it. They needed a big walk before going to bed.

We then headed to Rome via San Gimignano. San Gimignano is a city of towers with a big town wall around it which is up high in a hill top. We had lunch there and shopped (again) a little.

Our toilet stops are always interesting. You have to pay to use them, which is mainly a donation of euro .50. The toilets in San Gimignano were squat toilets with no paper unless you paid the man at the door. They know how to rip a stupid tourist off - just take the toilet paper away. Some toilets are free but you have to climb over the rubbish to get there.









Off to Rome.

Venice

Arrived in Venice. The bus has to take a different ferry so we were glad to not see if for a few hours. We took water taxi's down the Grand Canal to St Mark's square where Nathalie had lined up a drink at a cafe on St Mark's square. We stayed on the Lido Island which was nice as there were not as many people there and the atmosphere was relaxing.


There was a beautiful beach where we went for a swim in the Adriatic Sea. The water was warm but it was refreshing. We went for a tour around Venice, going through The Basillica, the Doges Palace, the prision and over the Bridges of Sighs. Lucky for us we took the guide's entrance which meant we passed the lines and lines of people waiting to get in. The cost of the trip was worth it just for that!
Me inside Doges Palace courtyard

We went to an exhibition of glass blowing where a man made a beautiful water vase and a horse. We also went on a canal boat ride through the tiny canals of Venice. No seronade as it cost extra. We then headed to Burano Island for dinner at Di Romano restaruant, a place where the rich and famous eat.

Hot hot hot here. All the time its about 38 degrees.

Off to Florence.

Austria

It was a long drive to Austria. Its almost like being in the twilight zone when we a driving across the Continent. Nathalie our tour guide tells us when to get up, when to have breakfast, when to get in the bus, when we can sleep on the bus, when to get off the bus for a break, when to get back on the bus, when we pass some thing interesting be we are all too tired to keep our eyes open, when to get off the bus again for another break, when to get back on the bus, when we have arrived at the hotel. We are all like sleeping babies on the bus.

We travelled to Liechtenstein where we stopped to have our passports stamped for the price of $1.50 euro!Mum bought another pair of shoes! The third so far! We then travel to Innsbruck for lunch. Innsbruck got its name from the river Inns. What a beautiful little city. Cobblestone streets and small apartments. We only stopped in Innsbruck for a little while. We would have liked to stay longer. Back on the bus to Salzburg.

We finally got to Salzburg after a long day on the bus. I managed to meet up with Hisami and Michal who had come over Prague especially to visit mum and I in Salzburg. It was really neat to think that we had come half way around the world and we could meet up with them. We joined a local tour guide who took us for a walk through Salzburg, we passed the Mozart statue, Mozart's two homes. Salzburg had a modern art exhibition when we were there which was humourous. There was an upside down helicopter in the middle of the square very close to this beautiful fountain, there was a clock that only had 11 hours and a big wooden fence around a historical garden area. I don't understand modern art! Luckily it was all coming down in about 4 days as the exhibition was coming to an end.

We then headed back to the Hotel for a meal. Unfortuntately the power went out so we didn't eat much. Luckily it doesn't get dark in Europe till 11pm so we all sat outside on the grass until the power came back on. It was actually really nice.

The next day we got up early because we were heading to the Eagles Nest. Exactly where Joy told us not to go. Lucky for us we were the first tour group up there so we pretty much had the place to ourselves and most importantly before all the neo-nazi's arrived. The Eagles Nest was built for Hitler's 50th birthday and it is on the top of a very high peak (not sure how high), it took 13months to construct. It was built mainly for "conferences" so you can imagine the sort of decisions that were made there. It has one road with one hair pin turn leading up to the peak which stops 400 mtrs short of the top. There is a tunnel that you walk through that is 400mtrs into the mountain and then a lift going 400 mtrs up to the building. The inside of the building was enough to make your hair stand on end. The massive marble fireplace was all chipped from the Allied Forces looting the place. The Allied Forces decided not to destroy it after the war so that we can remember what happened to ensure history is not repeated.




On to Venice.

Lucerne

Stopped at beautiful Lucerne for two days. It's very expensive in Switzerland so shopping has been kept to a minimum. We toured around the city for a bit and went on a lake cruise. The houses are so beautiful and everything is so well manicured. Even the gardens and the lawns are all beautifully kept. The Swiss are very proud poeple.

We went up 7000ft to Mt Pilatus which was amazing. The cable car stopped just near the top. I thought we were going to go backwards but the driver worked fast and we got going again.
The view from the top was amazing. Up amongst the clouds!



We then went to a swiss family farm in a small village. We travelled by horse and carriage which was really neat. Hans and wife Hollena served wine and apple cider and we had sammies in their beautiful garden. Hans and Hollena have a big apple orchard but the wages are too expensive in Switzerland for them to employ people to pick the apples so they make the cider for their own personal consumption. The rest goes to waste.

We went out at night to a Swiss Alpine show which was typical Swiss entertainment. It consisted of a lady yodelling at us and the men playing stupid instruments like a broom, a saw, bottles and the swiss horn and even flag throwing. It was really entertaining because it was so aweful. Unfortunately I made eye contact with one of the hosts and next minute I'm up on the stage doing a Swiss dance. Then two men in a cow suit came out and played amongst the crowd. The cow's mouth was open and this big long curled up tounge hung out. I got attacked by the cow, not once but three times!!! The photos have been sensored so you'll have to use your imagination.

Off to Salzburg.

Beautiful Paris

Arrived at Paris after leaving London at 5.45am. We crossed the channel at Dover. Paris is a beautiful city with so many many people. Cars seem to drive any which way, there are no road markings so people drive in any direction. Parking is as good as stopping where ever. I'm sure the people of Paris know it so well but it looks like a mass exit during a fire alarm only everyone is in cars.

We went for a cruise down the Seine River which was beautiful. We got to see many beautiful different buildings and bridges. Lots of people on the side of the river with bottles of wine, drinking, dancing and enjoying the late summer sun. I see why the say Paris is the city of romance. We then went to see the Eiffel Tower all lite up. It was truly beautiful.






We then started up in the morning with a trip up the Eiffel Tower which has the most amazing view. We only went to the second floor which was definately high enough for me. We then we to Napoleon's tomb and then to the Louvre. I have had an amazing time in Paris.







Tomorrow we travel to Switzerland which I'm really looking forward to. I'm going to try and post some photos when I get a chance but I only have 8 mins left on the internet so I don't have time do it now.

Hope everyone is okay at home.

The Bachelor

I received my final results yesterday and I'm pleased to tell all that I've completed my Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, majoring in Economics and Commercial Law.

After 7 1/2 years study it has finally come to an end.

Time to relax and enjoy myself.

Yeah me!!

Irish Shamrock

Finally I have arrived in Nenagh, Tipperary, Ireland.

The man at customs stamped my passport and said 'not everyone has a town named after them.'

We have arrived here for the Draper family reunion which is the main purpose of this trip. We went to the Templederry church where my great grandparents are buried. We then went to various Irish rellies for morning tea and then onto the rugby clubs for lunch and a bigger gathering.




The house we are staying in is a huge mansion called Clanna Rince. Its a 5 bedroom home, only a year or two old. The man who owns it lives in it by himself so with the 7 of us in it we are putting his new house to the test. So far we have discovered a couple of leaks, one of which was the upstairs shower leaking onto the kitchen bench. Nevertheless, the house is beautiful and so is the view. Its semi-rural so we are surrounded by cattle and sheep.

The Irish rellies have given us their car to use which has proved useful but also nerve racking. Driving in these tiny country roads where the hedge rows are so high you can't see anything. There is only enough room for one car so we go slow! The streets of Nenagh are tiny and cars park on the side of the road facing both ways. The roads are very primative but thats the character of Ireland.

Nenagh town has its own castle (and so it should!), which stands over the town. You can just about see it from every angle.
Nenagh Castle

We have spent the week travelling around Ireland. We visited the Cliffs of Mohir, Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle. There are so many castle ruins in Ireland. Its amazing to think of the poeple who would have lived in them and the battles that would have taken place. Its a shame to see most of them falling down.




Cliffs of Mohir

We were going to travel to Cork but the time to travel across country is decieving as it takes hours to travel not very far at all. Its slow because the small roads are very primative so you can't go fast at all. Then we get lost so we have to turn around.......often!

We went to Ciamalta (sp?) which was the house that my grandfather grew up in. Unfortunately it's run down now and in desperate need of doing up but it was still amazing to go there and walk around outside. Its just down the road from Killascully Pub so no wonder there were 13 children. Maureen the bar-maid new the Draper family. Everyone in Nenagh is asking us if we are here for the reunion. They must have heard about the reunion and picked up on our accent.

Tonight is the final dinner for the reunion. I think there are just short of 70 people here, which consist of four generations. There is a 70 year age gap ranging from the youngest to the oldest.

I have taken loads of photos (and Megan this time I'm in some) so when I get a chance to post them I will. Haven't found a shop in Nenagh yet that can download digital photos.

Tomorrow we head back to England for a few days and then head to Europe. A bit concerned about getting out as there are strikes and bomb threats at the airports.

England's Rose

In London.

Stayed in Hampstead with a friend from Martinborough. She is house mistress at a boarding school so we stayed in her flat at the dorms. Hampstead is only about 20 mins on the tube to central London so its very convenient. It felt strange catching the tube!


We went shopping down Oxford St and then got on the hop on hop off bus which took us down Regent St (for more shopping), to Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, the London eye, Tower Bridge and Parliament, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace. Apparently we arrive moments too late to see the Queen as she was driven out of Buckingham Palace but we did get there in time to see the changing of the guard.

We went for a river cruise down the Thames and entertained by the MC. He was so much better than the dragon from Amsterdam. Went to a play with Judy Dench in it and the man from To the Mannor Born. Later we walked to Trafalgar Square and went to a roof top bar to look at the view of London at night. Not as nice as the view from Mt Vic at night.

Next stop Ireland.

Amsterdam Tulips

Inside Nieuw Kerk (new church)

In Amsterdam. What an amazing city!

We spent a lot of time walking around taking in all the sites. We visited the Nieuw Kerk, Dam Square, we looked at the Palace but couldn't go inside because it was under construction and visited a couple of museums.

We went on a canal trip at night which was amazing but the host was a dragon.

We also went to Rembrandt's house which has been restored to its original condition but we couldn't take photos. His house is about 4 stories high with tiny tiny windy staircase. He had little box bed which isn't much bigger than a cuboard. His many paintings were on display and amazingly not protected with glass so you could easily touch them (not that we did).

We also went to Anne Frankhuis (Anne Frank's House) and got to see where she hid for two years. We climbed in behind the bookshelf which was the door to the secret passage. The house was not furnished which was disappointing so you had to look at the pictures on display and use your imagination. Once again counldn't take photos.

On the last night we went for a walk through the red light district. What sites we did see. Lady's in lingerie standing at a glass door with a red light above it. They tapped on the door to attract the attention of the men walking passed. If you looked closely you could see behind them was the bed and mirrors on the walls. If they got a customer they simply let them in and closed the curtains. Dare not take a photo of them!