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pn76
Ciao Amicis!! Unbelievably, 9 months since booking this 3rd trip to Europe, it's arrived....pn76
Starting with an aperitif, the 16 hour transit in Japan, at the Hilton (!)...
Entree will then be served up in Tuscany, Cinque Terra and Verona/ Veneto provinces for 9 nights, helped by a Roman friend...
Then after a relaxing interlude at Becici in Montenegro, a filling main course of tasty kidney, liver, filo pastry and feta will follow in the organ -trafficking capital of the Adriatic, Albania.......so I must keep a hand on my heart at all times :-)
A rich dessert will follow in Athens where I will quiz the Oracle at Delphi on my love destiny, thereafter collapsing at a Greek cove to praise the God of olives (and imbibe too many...) and sunshine. Having smuggled the useful Greek God of Hippocrates home to Auckland for future reference at work, the after dinner mint will be a day reunion in Japan with a highschool penpal of 20 years, Gambaroo!! Read on soon.....
Travel Blog Posts
October 16th 2012
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Leaving behind beautiful Perissa, the lovely hosts, and animals that kept sounding like they were in their death throes, being forced to mate, or birthing 24/7, wasn... read more
From central Albania to Greece: History, hassles and hedonism!
Published: October 10th 2012Europe » Greece
October 6th 2012
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The final days of Albania were impressive, even if I was beginning to suffer the effects of too many archeological sites, castles and churches (ABC syndrome)! F... read more
October 4th 2012
Leaving Pogradec, and moving away from the Macedonian border on Lake Ohrid, our bus headed southwards, bound for a sleepy village on verge of tourism called Voskapoja. It is clear this place is geared for tourists, as it has rubbish bins! On the way, we had a diversion to the local animal fair – donkeys, sheep, cattle - all being exchanged and tended to. The sound of ‘moos’ and ‘baas’ was universal, and it was enjoyable seeing the capped and side saddling shepherds so proud of their fleet. This well groomed area of agriculture and the people are known for a hard work ethic, in such trying and cold wintery conditions. They exist on their land and whatever they can make of it, without subsidies or government support. That’s Albania! Voskapoja is known for 2 famous ... read more
Into the Adriatic: land of copious Russian bellies, petrol stations, mohawks, open fires....
Published: September 29th 2012Europe » Albania
September 28th 2012
Coming to Montenegro and beyond was something I was a little concerned about. I am rarely wrong, being a female I always get it right lol, so when I arrived in a wonderful spot called Becici, Montenegro after a days travel from Italy, it felt so right! Montenegro roughly translates to 'land of the Russian tourist' or Ruski central – speedo clad old men with bellies in need of weight loss advice, deep abdominal strengthening and a spot of bio-oil. Well exposed they were, even if you were not of the beautiful people crowd, as clearly I wasn't, anything goes. The 2nd Andre met for the day (aside from the Italian tenor on the Venice to Rome train), my host at B and B Fly and Beach near the airport, was accommodating and helpful. Like several ... read more
Cinque terre, Lombardy and Veneto: why I'll never travel on Eurail pass again
Published: September 24th 2012Europe » Italy » Veneto » Verona
September 24th 2012
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 I arrived in heaven on the 20th - the Cinque terre. Financially, this is not so heavenly - accommodation prices... read more
History, danger and daylight robbery: Rome to Tuscany
Published: September 20th 2012Europe » Italy » Tuscany » Viareggio
September 20th 2012
Jet lag and sleep deprivation waning, my next plan was to complete 2 major sights in one day, the Coliseum and Vatican museum. Roberta did a fabulous job of taking me around her city the night before (including many piazza, the Pantheon (a temple with an open dome), Trevi fountain, Spanish steps). Having booked my queue skipping tickets for the 2 sights online, I set off from Roberta’s chic abode after a strong espresso. We bid ‘arrivederci’ and she sped off on her moped to work, stylish and calm amongst the chaos that is Rome traffic! So followed a long trip to Termini sardine style on the bus, dropping off my luggage to a friendlier Italian who took a copy of my passport – oh, I’m a Kiwi, make a point of it, they’ll smile (unless ... read more
September 11th 2012
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Well here I am the first significant breather in 1.5 years, since rubbing the smoothest rock on Easter island for divine knowledge of the next destination, if there ... read more
New Zealand's south island in winter
Published: September 10th 2012Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Wanaka
September 10th 2012
Spent a fantastic time at Cardrona and Snow farm in the region of Queenstown/ Wanaka 4 weeks ago. Letting the pictures tell a story of NZ in winter!... read more
June 3rd 2012
My travel blog has officially been reignited by time to think and something to report after a year away! Travel experience poor for a year until now, I managed to arrange a long weekend in The Kingdom of Tonga. Arriving at Nuku'alofa airport was a standard Polynesian affair - don't expect efficiency, but do expect a sudden head-lift-come-nod, as in 'Malo e lei lei' to Tonga. Vichi, a Fijian born resident and our driver, graced me with a leis of flowers and we waited out another 30 minutes until the remaining 4 arrived, 25C and fine. The trip from the airport to Ha'atafu takes about an hour, but we quickly turned that into 2.5 hours with stops at ATMs, a mini supermarket and the less elaborate weekday market. Almost everywhere you look in Tonga is evidence ... read more
Saving the best for last: Iguassu to Easter island
Published: March 26th 2011South America » Chile » Easter Island
March 26th 2011
I left Iguassu and the jungle sounds of the lodge after one night for the dry plains of Mendoza province. A delayed taxi driver who had the gumption to ask an extra 20 pesos to stop at an ATM en route completed my time in the tropical tourist capital, which was overshadowed by a kind gesture from a fellow passenger on the Aerolineas flight that got me to the bus station for free. With under an hour to spare I made for the supermarket for essential supplies and managed to get an early bus to Uspallata in time, 3 shopping bags and my luggage in tow! Now that is how I keep so fit, my eyes are bigger than my stomach. Some came over from Chile, without anything (produce is prohibited) expecting a restaurant to be ... read more
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