We're back! Managed a couple of naps on the several flights we needed to get home, but figured out we slept about 6 hours out of 64 from when we got out of bed Wednesday morning in Dubai(!) It was great to see the folks waiting for us at the airport, and we reckon you really need to get away from Australia for a bit just to appreciate what a great place it really is. We had an awesome 7 and a half weeks, and would like to thank everyone for their comments, messages and everything else. Some vital statistics for [View Full Entry]

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Well, Last day of the honeymoon today. (Not counting the one and a half days of constant travel we have just started) We went to the 'Old' Gold Souk today, which was pretty cool. There must have been several hundred jewelry shops, that we saw, with some serious bling in every single one of them. After that, we went back the 'The Mall of the Emirates' to have a go at 'Ski Dubai'. We just couldn't get over this joint. An indoor ski slope, with real snow! There is one lift, with a run down either side - a 'snow park' [View Full Entry]

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Dubai, we’ve decided, is a must see destination. The amount of construction going on here is beyond description. By the time they finish what they have set out to do here, in about 10 years, it would be safe to say they will have built more buildings and infrastructure in 20 years than Melbourne (Greater Melbourne) has built in 150+ years. In 1983 they had 20000 tourists pass through, last year they topped 6 MILLION. By 2010 they anticipate 16 MILLION! There are hundreds of hotels, hundreds of 50 storey + office buildings and dozens of ‘world’s biggest’ everything. They have [View Full Entry]

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Finally got some wireless access now we're back in London. Hopefully I'll get all the pics and Vids up that I want - got 1.5 hours to upload 100Mb of stuff!! Be home in 6 days. Looking forward to Dubai, but also looking forward to going to the best place on earth - Australia. [View Full Entry]

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Last day in Italy! Got to the Borghese a few minutes late ‘cos we thought we didn’t need an alarm (Ha!). This was definitely the best of the museums we went to - thanks again Chris and Rochelle for giving us the tip(s)  Berlinni’s sculptures are sublime, and I particularly remembered from Archi days, and loved - the paintings by Carravagio. Just a really great mix of Painting, drawing and sculpture from Roman times and the Renaissance. They could do with a kick up the bum as far as their ticketing procedures go, but as mentioned, that’s a story for [View Full Entry]

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Howdy. Still no wireless, so still no pics etc. sorry. Spent a frustrating 5 hours yesterday trying to get onto some wireless yesterday around Rome - they're a bit hopeless around here. Had a good morning though, checking out the Colosseum, Spanish steps etc. Then after wasting the afternoon, we went to the Trevi fountain and Pantheon just on dark, which was cool. I have a few entries I've written on the laptop, and heaps of pics and vids, which I'll try to get up at the airport(s) tomorrow as we travel to Dubai. Wish us luck in getting our 3 [View Full Entry]

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This morning we went first off to the Colosseum. It’s changed a little bit since I was last here - they were doing conservation and renovation work last time I was here, and they still are. They have put in a part of the timber floor again, in the same style as it was originally I assume and are working on some of the upper walls etc. - Perhaps they are going to put up the awnings etc as they once were? Actually, before we went to the Colosseum, we got off at the Circus Maximus stop on the subway. This [View Full Entry]

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Today we got up, packed our (now 5) bags and got on the road for Rome. The Tom Tom did it’s job, and got us to the Peugeot joint right on time. We said goodbye to our little Peugeot 207, and got a ride to the airport, where we jumped on an (express - woohoo!) train to Rome. Our hostel is about 300m from the Termini main station, so that was easy. Now Kerryn is having a nap to try and kick a headcold she’s picked up - and we’re contemplating Chinese for dinner round the corner. Ciao for now! [View Full Entry]

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Had to post a bunch of stuff in one hit, as we haven’t had wireless for ages. Did it in chronological order though! Yesterday we went to Positano for the day - well, half day in the end. The Italians seem to have a phobia towards signs. There just aren’t many, and the ones there are are tiny or graffiti’d or wrong or all three! It ends up causing a lot of wasted time. We got to the (un signposted) train station in Sorrento this morning at 10:15, and ended up in a queue, eventually getting onto the third bus that [View Full Entry]

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So, after spending a day in the playground of the rich and famous - Capri, we had a day today seeing the sights in Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius. Pompeii itself is pretty shabby. The property has no value, and can’t be sold, because of the volcano, and as an outer suburb of Naples these days, it’s pretty rough. We jumped straight on the bus to go up the volcano from the train station. What a ride. Typical narrow Italian roads barely big enough for one way, yet designated as two way. Our bus driver spotted a mate driving a bus from [View Full Entry]

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