After the glowing reports from the jazz festival the night before, we decided it was worth the journey in to Perugia to see what all the fuss was about. Obviously nothing too early but we found ourselves a parking spot without too much stress and began the long trek up to the town centre. A bit of wandering and we stumbled across a great band called Funk Off, who were performing in the Main Street. Much to the girls’ horror, their funky tunes inspired some parental dancing, but luckily they found some cousins to share their mortification with. The heat and the dancing were becoming too much so we wandered some more before settling on a restaurant for lunch. Some gelato before beginning the downwards trek to the baking hot car. Back to the house for ... read more

After months and months of plotting, scheming and straight-out lying, we couldn’t believe the day had finally arrived! The tightly managed schedule was tracking well when we left but less well when we hit the freeway…headed in exactly the wrong direction. Adding half an hour to the journey when your nerves are already on a knife edge is even less good when you get the message from Heathrow that the intricately orchestrated plan looks to be falling at the final hurdle due to BA’s overbooking. Some tense minutes, some tears and an express trip to Pisa and we received the joyous news that the plan was back on track. Piazza dei miracoli it truly was!! So back on our way to collect our online order which required a significant amount of wondering and wandering but we ... read more

Being that we were in the birthplace of Ferdi, we thought it only right that we make a pilgrimage to visit his shrine - Mauto, the museum of automobiles. But first, we dropped in on Federica, who was convalescing at home. It was great to see her and catch up. Since we enjoyed the circumnavigation of Porto airport yesterday, we thought we’d try a repeat around the museum. It was particularly enhanced by my desperation for the bathroom so by the time we actually arrived at the museum, I didn’t really care what it housed. But it was a pleasant surprise to wander through the old cars and appreciate what a formative influence car manufacture had on Turin’s history. But there’s only so much ugh history one teenager can endure so we headed to the osteria ... read more

Following the success of yesterday’s plans, we thought a repeat today was a good idea, but with a different lunch destination. First we thought we’d check out this weird thing I’d seen (not on TikTok) called Bom Jesus. I hadn’t bothered to do any reading at all but the pictures looked cool, so off we set. After a false start at some other stairs leading to heavenly redemption, we found the right place. Despite the pious religious motifs scattered left, right and centre, it was actually pretty spectacular, and we meandered up and down the stairs for some cool photos, in between trans-continental tales of the dog’s escapades around the neighbourhood. Next stop Braga for some lunch. We had a quick look around the historical centre before hitting the main drag for a restaurant where we ... read more

Kicked off the day with a delightful breakfast in the courtyard before heading to the Castelos dos Mouros (Moorish Castle). Despite Geoff’s aspirational assertion that we should walk the 1.5km uphill, rejection was unanimous and an Uber summonsed. Thankfully, since the Moors apparently had a fondness for building on a hill. A tall hill. On a ridge. So we climbed and we explored. There are two fortifications on high points of the ridge, connected by walls and surrounded by a lush forest. We enjoyed wandering the walls and peering over the edges, imagining the enemies trying to attack and having hot oil poured on them. Both were quite the climb, but a cooling breeze and views of the surrounding countryside and Pena Palace made it less painful. Maybe my legs will feel differently tomorrow. Some replenishing ... read more