Kylie & Simon Travels

Today it was off to the town of Pisa to visit the sights.

Kylie had a go at pushing it over further…

We then visited the very nice coastal town of Porto Vendere near Cinque Terre which was not accessible due to landslides last year. A very pretty place and nice and quiet.

We visited the heart of the renaissance thought, Florence on a very cold day. Here is a copy of the most well known statue, that of David in its original location. We visited the real one by Michaelanglo in the Academia museum, but no photos were allowed.

The Cathederal, very grand on the outside, more plain on the inside, perhaps the inverse of many other Churches.

The very old Ponte Vecchio, the only brige to survive the German bombings of WWII, because Hitler liked this bridge.

Santa Croce Church, the tombs of Michaelangelo and Galieo are here.

In the evening we had a full four course Italian dinner and then to the largest club in Florence, “Space Electronic”.

Actually we had quite a few glasses of wine, a cheese platter and extra virgin olive oil on bread. The vines were sangiovese.

The guarantee

Simon and the vines and olive trees.

The people who first started the winery lived in this castle.

Our welcome to Contiki tour was a pizza party at a local trattoria.

We had a cooking demonstration:

And a face of flour

We ate three different pizzas and a yummy warm dessert with limonchello

Day trip to Capri was cold but beautiful.

Pompeii. Fascinating ruins. Evidence of fast food outlets serving soup, brothels, an arena gladiators to fight, a large and small ampitheatre. You could see the cobbled stone streets were wore with time due to chariots passing through, and there were stepping stones to keep feet dry if it had rained.

We arrived in Sorrento and did some sightseeing along the laneways and found some interesting shops, most were closed howvever as it is Winter.
Cars drive just as crazy as in Rome had a dinner eating local cuisine such as: primavera and drinking limonchello. The area is known for its lemons as it the perfect climate.

Yesterday afternoon we arrived in Rome. We found snow and icy footpaths. It seemed the snow fall hit Rome worse than London, hence a flight delay.

We saw the Trevi Fountain by night and enjoyed some pizza and tiramisu

Today we saw the Trevi Fountain by day and also saw some amazing churchs, namely, the Santa Maria degli Angeli and the Santa Maria della Vittoria. We reached the San Carlo alle Quattro Fonante and the Palazzo del Quirinale where the president resides. The Spanish Steps were also grand.

Snow fight in Rome, first time it has been possible since 1985…

Started at Buckingham palace.

Houses of parliament.

Inside the houses of parliament, went for a tour through the chambers including the house of lords and commons. Here is Westminster hall part of the original Westminster palace. A place I have always wished to visit.

Through Harrods.

Started snowing in London in the evening, this picture is from the next morning on our way to Rome where we now are.

First stop. St Pauls Cathedral

Borough Market for lunch, cheese and bread.

Onto Greenwich. We were in time for the time ball drop, 1pm

We met up with Mum’s (Kylie) cousin, Alison.

And to top the day off, Les Mis.

Arrived late sfternoon in London, in time to see the British Museum and the Rosetta Stone.

Then caught up with Chester at Vertigo 42 with a view of London.