Don't know what I did when booking but first part of our train journey from Venice to Verona was in executive class. Hilarious, beautiful carriage, with a boardroom, massive seats and enough legroom to fully stretch out. Not many people in this carriage and those that were, obviously business men and women in suits and discussing business type stuff. They definitely looked down their noses at the two tourist types who wheeled in their 3 suitcases and 2 backpacks! Changed trains at Verona and still an adventure as it was a Harry Potter type train with the little 4 seat rooms. Andrea and Garry had an elderly American couple who had lived in Palmerston North for 2 years with them, they chatted the whole way and Stephen and I scored a whole wee room to ourselves, ... read more

Geo: 41.9091, 12.4899 Just finished three days in Rome absolutely shattered, what a city! We arrived in Citavecchia and waited outside in the hot sun for the transfer we had organised, just starting to feel they had forgotten us when he showed up. Very unusual gentleman who Garry nicknamed mr bobble head because the whole time he was driving he nodded up and down up and down. He was ok when he wasn't driving it was just a driving nod! He was also the most disorganised man who had no change for the toll booths he must of known he was going to have to go through. At one he pulled up then realised he couldn't find his change and tried to tell all the cars behind him to back up and let him out....of course ... read more

Geo: 38.1922, 15.5566 We went out to Taormina a little hilltop resort town/city close to Mt Etna. The bus ride out was a bit of a challenge for the claustrophobic among us, with miles and miles of tunnels to go through, some if them very dark and very long, then to finish off a windy narrow road clinging to the side of a hill to get to the town, with other buses coming down the other way and roads not wide enough to accommodate them. The tour buses were not allowed to park in their usual park and had to do quick drop offs at the local city bus stop as parts of the city are being closed because the G7 conference is being held there and Donald Trump will be staying. Cops, army and every ... read more

Geo: 36.4168, 25.4335 Beautiful view out our window this morning, all the white houses clinging to to the top of the cliffs look like snow. We were a bit disappointed (read really really annoyed) as our original excursion, which was a self driven 4 x4 tour was cancelled due to the fact Andrea, Garry and ourselves were the only ones on it, Andrea and Garry's second choice of volcano climbing was also cancelled, the joys of being on a cruise with older people! We spoke to the lady on the excursion desk who said rule of thumb the longer the cruise the older the clientele......no way are we doing anything longer than this for a few years!! If avoiding other people's little darlings......she said avoid cruises with all the bells and whistles.......climbing walls, water parks etc ... read more

Geo: 35.91, 14.52 Andrea and Garry and ourselves did the same excursion - called 3 cities and a boat ride. Was a good slow start to the day with the boat not docking until 10am so our excursion didn't start until 10.30am. So enjoyed a leisurely brekkie in the nice breakfast room rather than all elbows out in the trough ( buffet). Malta is gorgeous all the buildings made of large yellowy coloured stone, very picturesque. Our first stop was a lovely little fishing village with market stalls, with pretty handmade lacework and textiles, sweets, knick knacks, jewellery, magnets etc. we had half an hour to browse, first sweet stall immediately put me off as the gentleman very kindly gave me a sweet, fortunately before I ate it I worked out it was a prune wrapped ... read more