Saturday, July 24, 2010

Roma

During the first full day in Rome Clifford and Delores were so tired they needed to rest up. However, various sites were visited by accompanying travellers. The Trevi Fountain was the first stop. This is about ten minutes walk from the apartment through very narrow streets, cobbled with tiles about measuring 8x10cm. there were gaps between and anyone with stiletto heels had to be very careful not to catch the heel in between the tiles and come a right cropper.


The Trevi Fountain, Fontana di Trevi, is an amazing sight with many beautiful statues. This fountain is the ending of the Aqua Virgo, an aquaduct contructed in 19BC, which brings water all the way from the salone Springs, 20 km from Rome, to the fountains in the historic centre of the city.
In 1732 this large fountain was built in the Trevi square.



Friday, July 23, 2010

Beginnings

Evan, Sally, Clifford and Delores finally left Auckland on Tuesday 20th July. Clifford and Delores were finally on their way on their big OE. They enjoyed the hospitality of the girls in the Korean Airline's lounge at Auckland airport before leaving on a jet plane at 9.10am.


The 12 hour flight to Seoul, South Korea, was pleasant as the plane was only one third full. We were all able to stretch out over four seats and some of us managed to catch some sleep. We stayed at the Hyatt Hotel, close to the airport, overnight and the next day we embarked for Rome at 1pm. Clifford and Delores sat looking at the plane anxiously waiting to get on in Seoul.

Another 12 hour flight but unfortunately this time the plane was full. We stopped at Milan for an hour before going on to Rome arriving at 9.30pm. After a hair-raising taxi trip through the back streets of Rome we arrived at our home for the next five days in the old city of Rome. The apartment on the Via Crispi was small but comfortable and after a short walk around the surrounding area, a couple of beers and antipasto platter served by a very pleasant chap, Hussein from Armenia, we toddled off to bed.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Holidays have started




Holidays have started and packing is progressing. On Saturday Greytown celebrated 120 years of Arbor Day. The parade was good and I walked with some trees aka students from school. We also had a visit from a very friendly Kereru on the walnut tree.