Geo: 51.5002, -0.126236Arrived today around noon. We left Charlotte about 11 p.m. - running a little late due to a sick crew member. No, we did not get much sleep. We tried. It is hopeless. Dozed a little here and there. No problems with baggage or customs or anything. Everything went smoothly.This afternoon we explored our Notting Hill area where we are staying and walked through the Portabello Market, which is this very long street full of cute shops and then today and tomorrow they add stalls in the street for a street market day. All kinds of stuff. Really fun environment. Lots of treats and weird looking people.Check out the photos for more info. It is 7:45 p.m. and we are still awake. We are doing good.Tomorrow will be busy, full touristy day.... read more

Geo: 38.6276, -90.199Lessons learned & other observations:I don't usually do the blogging on vacation because I spend the evening hours researching our next day's itinerary. I have to write down all the available train schedules, restaurants & gelato places, etc. It's a tough job but someone has to do it. Mary & Paul went off on their own the third day in Italy and managed to take the wrong train thus ending up somewhere going the wrong way!Our first day in Sarlat, France was a market day. It was a little drizzly & I had my umbrella up, but people were everywhere. Not seeing very well in the middle of a square, I ended up tripping over some little old lady's shopping cart she was dragging behind her. Some stranger helped me up & I just ... read more

Geo: 44.3522, 9.2308Today was our last day in the Cinque Terre. Tomorrow we start making our way to Milan to fly home on Tuesday.Yesterday it was raining in the morning so we had a lazy start to the day. Every morning we eat breakfast at our huge buffet downstairs with our cute waiter who caters to our every need. He was so upset our first day because he didn't have any diet coke for Dee. Every day after, he brings it as soon as we sit down.Mary has been popping over in the morning (she is at the hotel across the street) to visit. Mary and Paul dumped us after our first day together in Italy. Of course, first day they dumped us they took the wrong train. I'll let her tell you about that.After our ... read more

Geo: 44.3522, 9.2308We had a wonderful day in Italy today. Beautiful sunny skies, warm temperatures. You can tell from our pictures, the jackets are gone.We started here in Rapalla with market day, but it can't compare to the markets in France, where it was all about the food. Here it more clothes and junk. We went through it quickly, had a few morning gelatos and then headed off on our adventures. We decided to walk to the town of Santa Margerita since it is only 2 km. Santa Margerita is also a port town with lots of interesting shops, and many restaurants and gelato options. There were 2 of Rick Steve's recommendations that were must tries. One dips their gelato in chocolate and the other just has really good gelato. We tried both and are undecided ... read more

Geo: 45.2792, 0.215607Yesterday we went to the fort in the cliffs and then did my favorite activity, canoeing down the Dordogne River to the three medieval towns. The weather wasn't as nice as last year. It was windier, which made it harder to paddle, but we were just about the only nuts on the river, so it was pretty cool. Good upper body workout.After our first wonderful meal we are having a little trouble eating. We haven't wanted to make reservations because we didn't want to commit to anything and we never know what we will be doing. We breakfast at the B&B and then start snacking pretty quickly on pastries, breads, etc when we are out and about. So we aren't hungry for lunch until about 2 or 2:30, and that just doesn't meet the ... read more