Latest posts
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Notre Dame
After the devastating fire in 2019, the restoration of the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral is now nearly complete. Walking inside again was something we never imagined would be possible in our lifetime. It was a profoundly moving and unforgettable experience. Monday and Tuesday were wet and cool, but Wednesday was perfect, and we walked all…
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The Last Supper
Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper is remarkable not only for its artistry but for its survival against all odds. Painted directly onto the wall of a convent dining hall, it endured centuries of decay, a doorway cut through its centre (visible as the square section beneath Christ), and even WWII bombings that destroyed the roof…
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Milan
The train from Rome to Milan was fantastic. It’s still very hot, but that didn’t deter us from visiting the Duomo (the incredible church in the picture) before finding an air-conditioned restaurant for a couple of reviving cocktails. Tomorrow, Da Vinci’s masterpiece The Last Supper (the real deal!). In the gallery I have added a…
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Parking in Rome
Bill Bryson’s quote about parking in Italy, which appears in his book Neither Here Nor There, humorously describes the chaotic nature of Italian parking. He says, “I love the way the Italians park. You turn any street corner in Rome and it looks as if you’ve just missed a parking competition for blind people. Cars are…
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Adventures in Rome
Our first day in Rome was somewhat complicated by the fact that our luggage decided it would like to go to Athens for a little holiday all by itself instead (it finally arrived at our apartment last night). So it was that we arrived for our tour of the Vatican Museum wearing the same clothes…
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Our last night on Crete
We have had a wonderful time on Crete. The photograph is of the Venetian fortress of Heraklion, situated at the entrance to the old harbour, which we can actually see from our hotel room. Tomorrow morning we leave for Rome, but I have a feeling we will be back!
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Saganaki prawns
We did go back for another helping of the saganaki prawns – too good to miss.
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Having a wild thyme
Sorry, couldn’t resist a dreadful pun. On the island of Crete, wild thyme seems to grow in profusion on the sunny, rocky hill sides everywhere we walk. It smells amazing, and it’s used a lot in local cuisine (as is rosemary). We have found a little place that uses it in a prawn saganaki with…
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Greetings from Crete
We arrived in Crete very late and very weary on Friday night. Had a few delays, but nothing that really mattered. Went for a walk yesterday to blow out the cobwebs – amazing coastline! Sore calves today (must get fitter).
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Birthday Bonus
Our flight to Zurich leaves Sydney at 9:15pm on Thursday, and it’s Shelley’s Birthday on Friday (we celebrated earlier this month, as you can see from the photo). A quirk of crossing date lines and time zones is that this Birthday will actually last 31 hours! Bonus!!