Very hot here

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Well since I last wrote we have travelled from Spain through the French Riviera and onto Italy.

Each travelling day is very long and the air conditioning on the bus means that everyone now has"contiki cough" a proper medical condition I am told, it happens on every tour. It is a nagging cough and that is all no other sickness involved.

The french Riviera is stunning. We stayed halfway between Nice and Cannes. I decided to go to Nice for the day and walk around there. The water is crystal clear and it was very hot. Did manage to do a bit of shopping - even bought a dress shock horror. Skirts and dresses are the only way to go here as it is too hot for anything else. We went to the beach in Biot where we were staying. Pebble beach but nice anyway. Met up with some others from the tour and ended up swimming in clothes that I was wearing hot enough not to worry about that. Wasn't so keen to match the locals and go topless, yes it does happen and is quite common.

We went up to Monaco that night and went to the Monte Carlo casino. Managed to lose 10 euro put that was all part of the experience. Brad our tour manager played a trick on everyone on the bus especially those that did not have their passports on them. As we were entering a new country he made up a story about having passport scanners and those without passports had to hide in the isle so they wouldn't get caught. Very funny as people were holding their passports up to the windows and others were hiding and crouching down, he took a photo and no doubt will show many people how gulible we all were. Monaco was beautiful at night - believe it or not reminded me of Wellington at night with the harbour. Only don't have the Ferraris and Lanborguinis in the car park.

the longest travel day so far was yesterday from Biot to Venice. We did stop in Verona and go and see Juliet's balcony. There is an awesome stadium there and they were setting up for the opera. Again very cool.

At the beginning of the tour Brad (tour manager) said that every night is like a Saturday night and each morning is a Monday morning. Learning to sleep on the bus. Seeing what he means now. Big night last night - for no appartent reason but it is all part of the fun.

Today was Venice. Walking around the small alleys and over the canals. Even had authentic italian for lunch - ok pizza but still when in Rome ( that is next week by the way). Just keeps amazing me with what we are seeing. Went for a gondala ride today and had a person singing two boats ahead of us. Also the hottest day so far. And will only get hotter the further south we get. Loving it though. Making me realise how small NZ is and how little history we have.

I'm sure that I have forgotten some things but that is the general idea of what we are doing. Tomorrow is Pisa and onto Florence. A quarter of the way through and the time is flying.

Bye for now.

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Photos

Looking over Nice, French Riviera
Again had to climb many stairs, but the view was worth it, could see the bottom of the sea even from this high up

Comments

[Bonnie]

Luck You
I am so envious sounds like you are having a lovely time. Everything is fine here, Mark says hello. Take care and savour every moment, before you know you will be back here.

[april]

liked your review
Phillipa, liked your review of activities and was an armchair traveler in n.J.,usa for a few minutes while reading it was like I was there with you.