Spring has sprung

Wow, check out the photo below, it is so glorious. It is such a wonderful time to be here when the weather and plants are changing. They have remained dormant all winter and are now springing into spring (hee hee). We don't see this so much in Brisbane but to watch it here well like I said glorious.



We finished off our Big Red Bus tour today and well I had to take some touristy snaps for you. We both really love this city and think we may have to come back to do some study here.





















Thought you all might like to see the great neighborhood we are living in at the moment.




Sorry couldn't get the photo's I really wanted, for example some lady coping a squat behind a car yes in broad daylight, or the guy doing the same thing but just up against the wall. Lovely neighbourhood.



This is our hotel and our window is on the first floor and you can almost see our window, it is behind the one with the balcony.

Today we went without alcohol. It was very hard and we made it. This may be the last time we do something that stupid until we return home and start diets, detoxing etc.


Love Monique, Brett, Marty, Kiwi and Hooter

Location:Milan

Big Red Bus

I convinced Brett that after breakfast and phone calls that we should track down the big red bus that goes around the city and buy tickets and travel around like the tourists we are.

It was so much fun. We eventually got off near the restaurant we wanted and also a Decathalon store. We went into the store and ended up buying a running pack. It is small but it straps on so that you can carry stuff with you.

Brett was looking at heart rate monitors for when we return to Brisbane. I already feel sporty from my purchase.

Lunch was awesome, we had mains and dessert this time. We had an awesome chat to the owner and he told us about where he was born and it looks like somewhere we will visit next time. This time at the restaurant we were treated like a local, handshakes on arrival, little nibbles before the main meal etc. It was so nice.

When we were in Florence they had a modern opera of "i promessi spossi" and I didn't get to see it, I think it had something to do with Brett. Much to my delight it is in Milan this weekend so we are off to watch it on Sunday. I can't wait.

Back on the red bus and travel around the city some more. We eventually arrived home and had some wine and watched tv and read and now it is time to go to bed.

The weather is awesome.

Love Monique, Brett, Marty, Kiwi and Hooter

Location:Milan

First impressions are important

I think first impressions are important. Not always but in this case yes. I really think the weather, the people and the food you first have when you arrive shapes how you feel about the city. With this in mind we love Milan.

We arrived by train to beautiful weather. The first part of the train station when you arrive is sort of ugly but not. However when you walk out into the other area it is a lovely train station. We are staying in dodgy ville area, it got good reviews and is very very close to the train station. The hotel itself from the outside doesn't look great but the room is fine, we have internet and the bed seems semi comfortable. We arrived well and truly before lunch so we dropped our bags off and headed to the centre of the city. I had researched and found another place to eat so off to the metro to get there. This is always entertaining trying to work out a new metro system. Eventually we bought tickets, found the right subway and we were on our way.

I am now a strong believer in reviews - reviews for hotels, restaurants everything. They are so important. Especially when you want to eat well and sleep well. Our hotel is nothing special but the room is spacious and clean and and the place we chose for lunch was fantastic.

We really like it so much so that we are going back again tomorrow.
We had a sparkling pinot grigio and it was one of the nicest white wines I have had this trip. I ordered gnocchi which was lovely but a bit filling. Brett had seafood risotto which was really nice. We had a bit of a funny moment with the waiter. He was asked us if we were from Ireland and we said no australia and he pointed out to us that we were both wearing green. See girls it even happens over here. I hadn't even really noticed we were were the same coloured shirts. Will pay better attention next time.

I had Brett laughing at me for a bit at lunch. Most of you know what a soopy person I am. I love romantic movies and cry at some ads. So we are sitting there enjoying ourselves and an old lady turned up and got a table and said she was waiting for someone. She ordered a couple of wines and sat there waiting. I think she waited for a good 10 - 15 minutes. I had this image of she was waiting for her dead husband and no one would actually show up, so I was getting upset she looked so lonely. Eventually some other ladies turned up and I assume they were her daughters. Not long after her granddaughter turned up with some flowers for her. I was so happy for her I had tears in my eyes. So Brett has been giving me heaps about this for the afternoon.

We got two little glasses of lemon cello afterwards and they were really really nice. When we went to pay it seemed to little so we said something and ended up having a wonderful conversation with the owner (I assume). He said the lemon cello was on the house, asked us where we were from and then when he found out we were from Australia began to tell us his children who both have degrees in something were living in melbourne making pizzas and really loved australia.

We promised we would be back tomorrow for another great meal. I cant wait. We wandered the streets with all the other italians and tourists walking down streets full of shops, cafes, people selling books, trying to get money out of you. In a little space was this asian man sitting there quietly making these animals out of vegetables. They were so amazing, I asked to take a photo and gave him some money. They were so cool.








Marty got out to look at the church which with the blue sky behind it was amazing and a brilliant white. We went and and wandered around. Here is one of the cardinals. That is actually him. He has been embalmed and dressed so that people can pray to him. To me it is creepy but to millions to catholics it makes sense.




Once outside the church brett as asked by this guy to take a photo. It was so funny cause he took like 10 photos. Every time Brett would take a photo the guy would ask for another one from a different angle. Brett was thinking at this point that it was a scam and was trying to work out what it was but I think he just wanted his photo taken.






Walking down the street we saw this police man stop the traffic and a woman just standing in the middle of the road and we couldn't work out why. Then we noticed the dog was doing a poop in the middle of the road. She had to run of the road and get a bag and then run back and pick up the poop, it was so funny.

It was such a lovely first day in Milan and can't wait to see what happens tomorrow.



Love Monique, Brett, Marty, Kiwi and Hooter

Location:Milan

The red centre

We visited Bologna today. We wanted to stay there originally but it was too expensive. So we stayed in Modena which has been lovely and we have had two awesome meals here but when you visit Bologna it just has a different feel.

Bologna is a university town so it is always busy and has a lot on. Today when we arrived they were having a protest about the maffia. They love their protests over here.





We had no plans today but to arrive and wander around the city oh and eat something of course. The weather was perfect.









I was reading online that there is 48km approximately of portoco's (undercover walk ways) which is really nice to walk around and would be great in bad weather.



They make so much sense and maybe when we come back here we will walk all 48km of them.

Bologna is also known for its food so here is a shot for you Julie.


On the way to lunch Marty and I stopped in at the Spanish holiday stand and got our photo taken.



Lunch was at Trattoria da Pietro and was lovey as always. I thought you might have liked our waitress Jules.

After lunch we headed back to Modena which is about 20mins away by train. On the way home we bought a new bag to put our clothes in because on the way we have ended up with 2 rain coats from england, 2 new jackets florence, 1 jumper for me, 1 long coat for brett. I am minus my jeans as they ended up with holes in then. Man it is hard to get good quality these days. Plus all the books from school etc, dvds and a game. It was getting to hard to carry so we now have another bag.

The rest of the afternoon was spent researching and booking accommodation for the rest of our trip. It is all done now. Dinner was in our room again with a bottle of wine and pizza, nice way to finish here.

So till tomorrow stay safe.

Love Monique, Brett, Marty, Kiwi and Hooter

Location:Bologna

A little old man time

Brett found out there are food markets that are on every day except Sundays so we went out to check them out. We even left our hotel by 9am which is unheard of for us. Why is it that when you don't have an apartment you find great food markets. They were great and wish we had somewhere to cook or even reheat some of this great food.











Now we have noticed an interesting phenomena happening all over Italy but you notice it more in the small towns. This was taken at mid morning today as we sat in the Piazza Grande watching the world go by. Notice there are a couple of groups of older men standing around. There were a few other groups around the piazza (not in this photo). We think they come there everyday to talk about the soccer and politics and well not sure what else. It is interesting watching them. Do they plan to meet everyday or does it just happen? Why are they in their separate groups and what creates these groups? What are their wives doing while they are here, I dare say getting lunch ready, looking after the house, the grandchildren etc.

It is nice to see them all hang out together and just chat, just wish I could hear what they are talking about.



Lunch was at Ristorante Omar which is a place Brett found recommended on lonely Planet. We turned up to early and they were only just making the pasta so we headed out and came back half an hour later. I can honestly say this is the BEST pasta we have had in our lives. This includes Locatelli. It was light and cooked to perfection, the sauces that went with them were perfect. They have this interesting concept were they bring you a bottle of wine and you only pay for what you have drunk (never a good thing for us). Two plates of pasta and a couple of glasses of wine later it was 25 euro. So cheap especially considering the quality. The woman in the photo is one of the owners and was still making pasta when we left and I asked if we could take a photo. She learnt from her mother who learnt from her mother etc. It was interesting cause she was saying she didn't want to learn but her mother made her.



Back to the hotel for an afternoon nap but we were delayed getting home by the enoteca that was open near us, so we thought we would drop in and have a look and another glass of red wine later we left. This place is great and has a wide variety of wines to choose from. I think we may have to go back, if we get time.

Dinner was pizza and wine in our room checking out where we are going next. We are thinking Milan, Lake Como and Verona then on to Venice to stay with our friends Fiona, Francesco and William.


Love Monique, Brett, Marty, Kiwi and Hooter

Location:Modena

Modena - 19 March 2012

We left Tuscany a little sad and a little happy that we would be back in the city again. It was such a fab time and we will miss the apartment, the quite and the views from our little paradise. I think Brett will be happy to hand back the car

The drive back into town went off without a hitch which is always great and we got the car back in one piece. Yeh Brett for driving us so safety. We have left behind grover (bretts purple winter jacket) some gloves, and my slippers which will now forever be part of Tuscany (they are buried in the bush somewhere).

The trip to Modena was uneventful and we got to our hotel by 1pm.







The lovely woman on reception gave us a great recommendation for lunch "ritorante danilo" so we dropped off our bags and headed out to lunch. She was right the food and wine was fantastic. Modena is known for its lambrusca wine and it was great and I am sure we will try some more.

Back to the hotel for some internet surfing and catching up on everything that has been happening while we have been out of contact.

So all emails checked, bills paid and well just general surfing. So nice to be in contact again. We did find out that Little Miss Audry decided to do a day trip of her own over the last few days and headed off to the neighbours for some fun staffy time. Lucky she has been found and is now tied up to remind her she is naughty.




Love Monique, Brett, Marty, Kiwi and Hooter

Location:Modena

Under the Tuscan Sun - 17 March 2012

Again we awoke to fog, but knowing it clears about 10 or so we planned one more trip into Tuscany. Guess where? You guessed it Cortona.

Ok on this trip I have picked places I would live if I won lotto and could travel a lot. So in England it was either Bath or Padstow ( I am learning towards Padstow for Audry's sake), in France it was definately no questions asked Bordeaux. Now Italy, up until now I really didnt have anywhere except Florence. I would live in Florence in a shot above all other places. Today was where god spoke to me (ok maybe not but I am trying to convince Brett so bear with me on this whole god talking to me thing) and said I should live some of the year in Florence and the rest of the time in Cortona. For those of you that have seen 'Under the Tuscan Sun" this is the town where it is filmed. This small town is on a hill and is beautiful. Big enough to have a enough to do and enough places to walk and visit and eat and drink and the views are some of the best I have seen.

We got there in time to park and go up to sets of escalators, yes this civilised country uses outdoor escalators to get you from the car park half way down the hill up to the main part of town. I know it is ingenious isnt it.




I have been using a travel guide to find places to eat and today was no exception. We ate at Ristorante Preludio and the food was exsquisite. I had a cheese soufflé for entree with a apple sauce and for main roasted duck breast in an anise sauce with a potato flan. To finish i had a chocolate soufflé.

After lunch we strolled around the town, which wasn't easy as most of the best places are up and up. We walked to the top of the hill where there is an old fortress and took in the views. Walked back down and by this time I had jelly legs from all the walking up and all the walking down. Which was so worth it. Anna start checking out places to buy or rent in this place.








Marty get out of the mouth of that Dragon you don't know what he has been eating.








By the time we left it was around 3.30 which is late for us as normally we would eat lunch and leave but this town needed to be explored.

We took a different way home, thanks again to my sign reading. We went through some lovely countryside and some old abandoned houses (wish I had heaps of money) and eventually found the freeway again.

Eventually we arrived home at about 5.30. All of our neighbours are here and again are having dinner without us. So rude. Oh well we watched a movie, sitting in front of the roaring fire and eventually had tea. Today is our second last night here. Tomorrow is Sunday and our last day here in Tuscany. Time to try and pack everything and get ready to leave.







Love Monique, Brett, Marty, Kiwi and Hooter

Location:Under the Tuscan Sun