Moving on

The Santorini experience was great. I liked the look and the atmosphere of the place. It was foreign and different, but also warm and welcoming.

There are dogs everywhere here! Cats too, but when we were out and about we nearly fell over countless sleeping dogs. We let them lie. Donkeys also were a feature. As Mike mentioned, there is probably no more efficient way to transport heavy stuff around the place. They make their presence known - you can always tell where they've been.

Although it was a bit windy at times we were sheltered as we wandered about and the sun was glorious. I got a little burnt but nothing to worry about. I too enjoyed the food - specially the variety of fresh fish dishes on the menu.

The catamaran trip to Myconos was bumpy. Everyone knows that it is me who is the poor traveller. Well - didn't upset me one bit. I read for a lot of the trip! Don't understand what his problem was. He's a wuss!

About to explore Myconos. Catch you later.

Kerry

The Fairy on the Ferry!

If I ever suggest buying a boat shoot me! We took the Ferry from Santorini to Myconos, oh foolish boy! Never mind the the 44foot swell, the pitching and yawing (a nautical term rolling all over the place) and the fact that we were inside a fast cat ferry. It was hell! If the next stop hadn't been Myconos I was packing up my Tommee Tippee food bowl and jumping ship! I wasn't sick per sae but my god was I unhappy! A sailor I am not!

We had a lovely time on Santorini what a beautiful place. You may notice 2 postings on the Blog that was the only problem we had there, though every body gets their driver training at the Kamakazi school for advanced drivers with suicidal tendancies! 0 to 60 in 20 meters with one hand on the horn and the other giving guestures at eveybody.

Built around a volcano which is still active they have beautiful brilliantly white and pastel coloured houses with prime coloured (almost all blue) doors and windows. Great food, great people an a great environment. I am a fan.

See you soon

Mike

Sun in Santorini.

Breath taking! A 2 hour trip by ferry from Crete but it took us 7 1/2 hours by plane with delays and missed connections!

I now know why they still why they have all the scaffolding up on the antiquities, they haven't finished yet! Athens Airport, Easter Sunday, the systems are down, so take all the people off the counters so that no-one will ask pesky questions. Patience is a virtue here but it is also a necessity, it all came out right in the end and here we are in Santorini.

Buildings of blinding white cascading down the cliff with brilliant blue doors all around the Caldera of the slightly less than extinct volcano! It is like walking through a Post Card. We ran into a lovely Jeweller called Raymond Khan. He was a Cricket fan and knew all about the Basin Reserve! We also almost walked out with a lovely bracelet for Kerry for a cool 2000 euro ($4000 in real money) we bargained him down from 4,400 euro! Very persuasive but we were very resolute, the balance on the Credit Card helped the decision!

We are in a little hotel about 10 mins walk out of Fira it is very concrete with a barrel roof and everything, it looks out over the swimming pool.

First order of business was the washing! We both were on our hands and knees kneading and rinsing about 10 days of accumulated washing. It is hanging out of our window! This seems to be a normal way of doing things here, a way of sharing what you have with your neighbours who live all of 2 feet away. I'm not sure that it will catch on in Kingfisher Close!

Dinner last night an exquisite Greek Salad, for those of you that know of my dislike of Tomatoes will be shocked to know that I ate them all, I had too, there was nothing else and I was hungry, I thoroughly enjoyed them and no ill effects! Souvlaki to follow; Kerry had the fish and I had her red Wine as well.

The food in Greece has been far superior to what we had in Italy except perhaps in Dolo. Nice and reasonably inexpensive.

We are off to explore the Northern village on the Island on the Bus another adventure!

Mike

Crete Airport

Hello from the airport in Crete

We arrived here early and it was just as well. For the first time Mike had to open his backpack - no idea why, and this held us up a bit. I thought I'd just grab a few spare moments to talk about Crete.

The hotel was lovely. We visited the archaeological museum - as we do, and saw the oldest things we've ever seen. This place has stuff from civilisations from before 5000 BC. The Knossis Palace was also interesting. The British chap Evans who dug most of it up, has also reconstructed bits to show what he though it was like. We saw the artifacts found on the site at the museum - so it all tied in together.

One of the things that it becoming ever clearer on this adventure, is the similarities between people. Obviously there are some differences in the ways people do things but we have found it all relatively easy to get about, and make ourselves understood. People have been keen to help and we have enjoyed feeling safe and secure wherever we've been.

Athens and Crete seem fairly similar. Obviously we haven't been able to spend much time here so we don't know how other parts of the country compare. It is warm and friendly. The people re charming and the countryside is similar to NZ in its contours, but definitely not in its colours and variety.

Need to go catch a plane to Santorini. Catch you later.

Kerry

Greece #2

Hello

Mike described our night. We had very little sleep for the first time this trip. Consequently we were late getting organised this morning. Not a problem though because most things did not open 'til after 11am due to it being Easter Friday here. So we walked - just for a change!

We investigated the Temple of Zeus and Mike went into raptures over the original moderm Olympic site. It wasn't too bad - very good condition!

I spotted a very anatomically correct statue in a state of undress throwing a discus. That impressed me.

The shopping is not a happening thing really. We have come for adventure and to view the interesting, ancient monuments and such, so we haven't bothered much with the retail therapy aspect. Mike has that rather stylish leather jacket bought in Florence, and now has a couple of pairs of Greek underwear. I have finally managed today to spend a bit of money - but not on myself! I think I'll wait until Dubai on the home stretch. The Gold Souqs will be waiting there.

We are going to get onto a ferry soon. This should be an interesting experience. My well-known problem with motion sickness will be tested.

Cheers
Kerry

Athena goddess of the proposition

Calimara

I have been accosted and propositioned by every merchant in the Plaka! Always a tolerant man I have had to spend the last hour biting my tounge. I am now hiding in an Internet Cafe!

We went and saw the Temple of Zeus and the surrounding templettes, a lovely family. I loved the fact that the temple of Zeus was started in 516 BC and finished by Hadrian in 156 AD. I wonder if the Union was there? 672 years to get one job done no wonder there is still scaffolding up from the Rennaisence.

I visited one of my Iconic places today, the site of the first Modern Olympic Games in 1896. It was quite moving. I was staggered to learn that it was origanally built in 550 BC and had been renovated only twice since! It is beautiful. It holds 70,000 people in a horse shoe shape. We couldn't get in, actually Kerry wouldn't let me jump the fence, I thought a quick 100 meters and I would be gone. It is in mint condition and you get the sense of an ancient monument untouched in a modern setting.

We are off to Crete on the over night ferry. We are fast running out of clean clothes might have to dry them out through the port hole tonight.

It is Easter here. Aren't we lucky we get 2 Easters. Everything closed, twice! We were awoken this morning by the call of the Greek Orthadox priests calling all to prayer and then the bells for those who hadn't heard their 1000 watt amplified invitation. It was ironic because we had been kept awake by the call of the tourists and the blearing of the Horns and car alarms. A sound designed to wake the dead. Endearing for about 2 seconds and then grating to a degree beyond comprehension. Still the joys of inner city living.

As Kerry noted we walked through little paths yesterday, as we sought a pathway to the Parthenon, that went through peoples yards. They live right on top of each other and in full view of the world. An impossible place, I would imagine, to keep a secret.

Time to catch a Taxi to the Port.

Mike

Arriving in Athens

Hello from Greece.

What a great first impression. We arrived at about 2pm and the taxi was there to pick us up. It has been a warm, sunny day with clear skies. The whole colour of this place is different from Italy and France. The king of heat is also different. It is bright and clear here. The colours are pale. Most of the buildings - old or new, are pastels, cream or white. Walking up through the 'old city' this afternoon was fascinating. At times the paths between the houses, were barely wide enouh to pass through. The steps varied in sixe, height and texture - many were marble, some brick, and some were concrete or pebbled. You could see right into windows and backyards - such are they were.

As Mike said, the Acropolis was amazing. Just like the postcards only bigger and with sounds and smell. It is different being there. There are cats everywhere here. They are furtive and slink around the corners where there are people and some of them look unkempt and mangy. We had noticed that every ruin in Itlay seemed to have a resident cat - well here they have colonies of them.

The meal we had tonight would rate up there with the best one so far which was in Tuscany. Tonight I enjoyed a salad (Greek) for the first time since we've been away. The few others I've tried in both France and Italy were - well pretty awful! The mousaka was also delicious - forst time I've tasted it.

Well time is running out and I will try to put one photo in - we haven't been too successful with this so far tonight - Mike just gave up in the end.

Well here goes....

Cheers
Kerry

Roma to Athena, the Pilgrims progress!

Greetings from Athena

The Vatican was fantastic. We had done the ancient Romans the day before, the Coloseum, the Forums and the like and that was amazing, but Rome is a catholic city. Their are churches everywhere. The have churches dedicated to Saints of Fish Markets! All of them worthy of a visit but so little time to do so. We tripped down the Spanish Steps looked at another Bernini fountain, had a worf to Augustis at wis tomb, he didn't respond but the drunk living under the tree did!

On to the Vatican. It is hard to believe the richness and the beauty of the place. Michaelangelo wasn't bat the Pieta is truely moving not forgetting the Dome and the Museum and the Sistene chapel.

We arrived a bit later than we hoped so the line to get into Saint Peters was only a Km long it started to rain and Kerry was impressed. Catholasism is not her strong suit, but with a great deal of stoicism and only the occaissional complaint we made it in 1hour. It was worth it we got a free guided tour which was good because access to the bassilica was free as well a cheao day. This Irishman gave us a great insight into the workings of the church. It cost us heaps later on when we got the guided tour of the Museum and the Sistene Chapel. I don't know what my expectations were but this blew them away!

Stayed in a 4 star hotel in Rome good nightly rate 2 nights at Euro79 1 at Euro69 thought we might stay 1 more the room rate was Euro 340! Moved out to Ostia for the last night by the Airport and found Ostia Antica. Man this was a buzz. The city fell over in the 5th Century and has been relitively preserved. This was not a Forum or an Ampitheatre it was a real town with real people and it was a great day. We thought we might stay for a couple of hours we were still there 5 hours later.

Athens is beautiful. We have been to the parthenon and had tea a great night.

regards

Mike

Roma

Caio

We left Florence yesterday. we headed for Sienna. We had wanted to stop at a mountain top castle and as we rounded a corner there one was! Brakes screamed, horns tooted and we were off the highway and into a Tuscan back road. There in the middle of a vinyard was this magnificent walled town! It was virtually untouched by modern hands, they were still driving 2005 Porches! A few ancient steel gratings to hold up thhe unwary visitor on the walls, it was magic reeally!

I always thought of Castles as a family home thing for the rich. This was a walled town, they all were part of the programme.

We visited Sienna and didn't do it justice. what a beautiful town. Piazzas and palaces, cathhedrals and churches. It was like a Medieval town should look like before Disney world takes over! We intend to go back and give its' full due. From the weird and wonderful file. We saw Saint Catherine's (Catarina) head, perfectly preeserved in a glass case, on an alter in a church (St Catarina's wouldn't you guess) in Sienna.

Today ancient Rome. Romans and stuff. we saw ruins and ruins and ruins. God those boys could build! I think thhe backyard could do with a Forum or something I am inspired.

We went to the Colosseum today. What a great place, did you know that it had a wooden floor that was covered in sand, the latin word for sand is "Arena" well well.

We saw the Trevi fountain and a whole lot more my feet are killing me but tomorrow its' the religious thing Vatican, St Peter's St Andrew's and so forth. We cannot do it all, this we know but what we are seeing is pretty amazing stuff. We might do a "Dan Brown" tour, visit the sights in the "Angels and Demons" book!

This blog has been done with a wireless key board you have no idea how frustrrating that is!

Aravedici

Florence - the sequel

Hello there

Cathedrals, castles and galleries - we've done them all. Well enough for us anyway. Sculptures, paintings architecture - magnificent. An art history class on the hoof. Reubens and Raphael, Titians and Tintarellos abound. The Palace of Pitti was even more incredible than the others we've visited. So - you get the ipression that Florence has made an impression? You'd be correct.

Mike drove us in again today. We started at Michaelangelo's monument. We visited the church and Franceiscan cathedral close by. Lots of steps and quite a few tourists, but still an awesome sight. Again a great deal of restoration being done on all these great buildings, but it doesn't detract from the grandeur of the structures and the decorations.

Mike's developed a bad habit of crossing himself every time he enters these religious establishments. He seems to think someone will get him if he doesn't. A Catholic upbringing has a lot to answer for. Amen.

The Francescan Monastary with Cathedral attached, was next on the itinerary. At St Maria del Croce (no relation to Jim ('Big bad Leroy Brown')), we saw the graves of Michaelangelo, Galileo, Rossini, Macheavelli to name a few. A walk-through history lesson. We walked with the saints and scientists and feel inspired to great works when we return. Mike will start on his renaissance cathedral in the backyard. I am inspired to decorate the ceilings - our place is so plain! Scenes depicting our triumphs and religious philosophies will be the themes.

Tomorrow we are off to Rome. We are hoping to stop in on Siena on the way. Have heard that it is a 'mini Rome'. Austen Powers eat your heart out!

Regards to all

Kerry and Mike.

Florence

What to say?

We stayed just out of Venice at a place called Dolo. It was a delightful place. After the cramped, to say the least, quarters in Verona, it was bliss. In actual fact it was a restored Venetian Villa on the banks of a Canal! A beautiful place. It had a flat screen TV and individual Sky in each room! I finally got to watch the news and sport in English it was crap news and crap sport but who cares I finally understood what was going on!

Venice was what we thought it would be, an open air museum. It was full of tourists! There were queues! We are no longer foreigners, and mad ones at that, but tourists and that is no where as ecentric or endearing! We had been continually delighted with everthing we had seen. It always, to date, had exceeded expectations so Venice being what we thought it was, was less spectacular. Around every corner was not a special sight but rather another canal with another bridge, capped by a tourist taking another photograph of a Gondola!

But the Glass Island, Moreno, was special. We almost came away with a beautiful glass vase, come work of art. It was spectacular and pricey. It was a wrench to walk away with out it but the mortgage and the future of any grandchildren hung in the balance, so reluctantly we walked away. We do have the details so we can still order it and it will be delivered.

We caught the bus into Venice. A great move in retrospect. There is no way that I could have got us both out alive. There is a big thing about getting the credentials of Tourists, this is a requirement of the anti terrorist laws. After seeing the Venicians drive, suicide bombers would be safer! (CIA just kidding, can't be too sure!)

We drove down the Coastal route to Florence, it was beautiful. The only problem was the state of the roads! The little Puegot needed climbing boots to get out of what seemed like chasms. I am not kidding they were shocking! I will never complain about the roads in NZ again, at one stage I thought someone would have to throw down a rope!

Over the pass and into Tuscany! I now understand why it has its' reputation. It is wonderful. The landscapes are straight out of Michaelangelo paintings and today I saw a statue that he had begun when he was 80! Not a bad boy with a chisel our Mick, could paint a bit too! I wonder if he was sponsored by Dulux!

We have been to Cathedrals and Museums today and my feet hurt. If we can find the car we will have done well. We have to get back to the Hotel though because the guy that owns the restaurant has promised us something special. I must say drinking Chianti in a Restaurant in the hills above Florence has a certain allure!

Bought a leather jacket for moi, Kerry chose it, beware I will be super cool and say caio (Chow for the peasants) a lot.

Time to try the photo thing again!

Mike

Romeo & Juliet do Verona without Shakespeare

Ciao

Sorry folks can't up load the Photos will try at the end!

The room was so small that you needed to move outside to let the other person past. Two single beds on either side of the room. I could sit on the toilet, clean my teeth, shave and have a shower without ever moving. The room itself was about the same size as our ensuite; the bathroom was extra, just!

The Ampitheatre was huge, 30,000 capacity and built in the 1st Century. It is obvious that piles are a modern invention because a few hours on those cold stone seats would not have been good for you! (Keith take note) They are, as Kerry said, preparing for Aida, a huge stage is being errected in the centre. The centre has also been the scene of Gladiatorial contests, judgement fights, jousting and the like so the strangling of the high notes by an over weight tenor should fit right in.

Lots of pointy shoes here, pretty girls with long legs, ugly ones with short ones. Lots of eyebrows Mark Blumsky would be envious. The inventor of the Beaufont hairdo was obviously Italian and the art is still alive and kicking here.

We visited an honest to goodness castle yesterday with an attached art gallery. The paintings are magnificent and we haven't seen the masters yet. There were a couple of Tinterettos there you could have touched them!

It had a draw bridge and a moat and pigeons.

We had a meal last night and were joined by a family of pigeons who kept close company with us. They had certificates attesting to the fact that they didn't have bird flu or aids, they think of everything here.

Disappointing is the huge amount of graffitti. Generations of vandals, since the days of the Vandals, have been adding their marks. It is interesting to note that few of them can spell correctly and that when they use English there are only a few choice words used! Guido still loves Maria 4 eva strange but true and there is a message on the old bridge that spans the river and is attached to the castle that can attest to the fact!

Off to Venice now

Caio

Mike

Verona Thursday 11th April

Hello again

We are wet and thawing out slightly as we sit in the cafe. The first bit of weather we have struck.
Another amazing place. We have just come from the ancient Roman ampitheatre. They are preparing for a performance of Aida on Thursday so there is much banging and clattering to get the seats in - in the wet, quite a feat. It is just like the stadium - yeah right! You'd definitely need cushions on that marble.

The hotel was interesting. Mike took a video to show you - it was compact to say the least.

We met an interesting Swedish couple at the ampitheatre. They have come from where we are going! They warned us that there are already a lot of people about in Florence particularly. We are intending to spend 2 nights in Venice and then head off to Florence.

Saw some lovely painted glassware here. Very tempted to see if they can ship it home for us. Quite unique - but we may see something in Florence.

Oh well, Mike's turn.

Cheers
Kerry

Monday in Cremona

Hello there

We are having turns today. Mike took ages so I'll just add a brief comment.

The trip to Torino had it's moments. While we were on the secondary roads we were able to appreciate the scenery - it went on and on (not like NZ where you are looking at something totally different around the next corner!) When we approached villages and towns the streets narrowed and we had to keep our wits about us or else we'd find ourselves on the wrong road. Thanks to Mike's great sense of direction we were usually OK. I'm getting better as the map reader and coping more with the drivers attacking from the right!

Finding the hotel, as Mike said, was a challenge. We'd booked it on the internet the day before so we were committed to getting there. (They had our details!) It was good - the guy 'Fabio' (yes that was his real name!) spoke English well and was extremely helpful. We walked from 9 am 'til 8 pm that day. Must be getting fit by now.

We used the autostrada to get to Cremona - very fast and efficient!

Cremona is lovely. We are running out of superlatives to describe the sights we are seeing. Each place has suprises. Who would have thought that we would have chanced upon the place with the tallest bell tower in Europe. Mike has great video of the veiws from the top.

The hotel here was right in the middle of the sights - so it was a bit more expensive. We have learned however, that this is not necessarily the best place to get a good nights sleep! Noisey!!

Next we are off to see where Romeo and Juliet lived and loved. I'll try and add a couple of pictures of Cremona.

Cheers
Kerry

Cremona & Torino

Greetings

Over the Alpes like Hannibal with the elephants. We left Digne les Bains and headed off to Italy. We took secondary roads and drove through Post Cards. Beautiful scenery and picturesque villages.

The road was a highway, it said so on the map, in the countryside it was, in the villages it was narrow, people everywhere, so exciting.

We came down into Italy through a ski field, literally people were skiing either side of us as we went over the border. The only thing missing was Julie Andrews and the Von trapp family! But wait there is more not Ginzu steak knives but just as we passed the border "Rain drops on Roses" came on the radio, spooky!

Into Turin, another of those life truths, if you don't know where you are, how do you know where you're going! Thankfully a very kind service station attendant showed us where we were and where we were going. The spelling mistake in the street name didn't help!

Turin is amazing. The centre of the city is beautiful. The Palazza Reale is fabulous. The Chapel of the Shroud of Turin is attached to the Palace, saw it took the picture and said a "Hail Mary", my Catholic heritage is constantly being reminded of how far I have slipped from the path of righteousness. The Palace was open to the public and being Italian Culture week it was free! The home of the Savoy Kings, what opulance. It was about 5 times the size of the Palace in Monaco. A nice little family home for the rich and famous. We have no idea of wealth in NZ, compared to what these places are like we are paupers! They were rich and they wanted everyone to know it. They spent their money well because it delights and amazes 500 years later.

They didn't pull old things down they just added on, so the back of the Palace may have been started in 1100 then there was an addition in 1350 a bit more in 1635 and so on it means that the history is alive and still exists. They often incorperate Roman ruins and those boys really built to last!

Cremona, the home of the violin makers, Stradivari and his mates. It also has by far the most impressive Cathedral we have seen and the highest bell tower in Europe. We climbed to the top of the Bell Tower. Breath taking views breath taking climb for an old person. I got pensioners rates without asking and then Kerry came in and they looked at me like I was some sort of "Sugar Daddy" with my trophy wife!

Internet Cafes are few and far between.

Off now to Verona a Romeo and Juliet thing!

By for now

Mike

Digne les Bains

Wonder why we came here then? Another fantastic place in the foot hills of the Alpes. Very old and very beautiful.

Haven't come across any 15 year old red heads Pete, who run up and call me Papa. There is still time though.

Becky thanks for your efforts but I've no idea what my pin number is.

The mundane is exciting, we have just had a lesson in how to do the laundry in French! It was very interesting! Whether the clothes will be clean or not is another interesting and exciting thing to look forward too.

We have discovered the value of maps! I am finally past my Marco Polo {or Captain Kirk} phase going where no man has gone before is a touch confusing and frightening, not for me of course, but in the interests of marital harmony absolutely necessary! We now have maps for Africa we even have maps to find the maps.

The phrase book is proving quite useless, we have real issues with pronunciation and coupled with our complete lack of knowledge on french grammer we are almost incomprehensible. However there are a lot of people prepared to take pity on us and with a combination of mime and pigeon english and french we are achieving the impossible.

We are off to Italy today. God knows how we will cope there. All the Italians we have seen to date shout a lot! We of course are quiet and reserved it could be a marriage made in heaven. Turin is the first stop. We have already booked accommodation but finding the Hotel could be fun!

Caio for now

Mike

Bonjour

The flight from Qatar was long. We flew over Iraq and I waved to Sadam and the rest of the troops, they didn't wave back; bastards.

The flight over the North of Turkey was very clear; what a rugged place! Hard people must live there it looks such a harsh place.

I am using a European Keyboard, this is not a qwerty one and Kerry is checking me as I go, it is a bit payneful!

I love France so far but with no language it is a bit exciting, everything is an adventure. My abject failure as a french scholar in the 4th form at Heretaunga college did not prepare me for motorway signs flashing past at 130km! Kerry is getting better at figuring out where we are but figuring out where we are going to is still a mission. We stress a bit when turning corners, when passing people, when approaching intersections, through gear changes and nearing motorway on ramps and off ramps. Everything else is a piece of cake!

Accomodation is expensive and substandard. They would struggle to get Qualmarked in NZ. We are still sleeping soundly and according to Kerry noisiley! I love the breakfasts croisants and baguettes with butter and jam. Lots of Coffee. There are no fat people here they are walking adverts for Jenny Craig. They smoke alot but do it with supreme indifference for those surrounding them and with style and elegance. This sums up the French women on the whole they seem stylish and elegant, the men pant along behing wearing their desire on their sleeves, Kerry and I fit right in!

Off to Sisteron, why? Because it has a neat name and a town full of sisters seems very nunnish to me and as a good Catholic boy it just seems right.

I thought I would light a candle for Jeannie in the Cathedral in Aix, Kerry thought I was mad, she is probably right, but I didn't have a Euro so I couldn't. I risked a mortal sin if I had only put in the 87cents I had and I knew mum wouldn't want that on her conscience!

Mike

France

Hello - finally- from France.
We came across this cybercafe quite by chance. We seem to be doing a lot of that on this holiday! It is very much hit and miss.
Had a lovely time in Nice the cote d Azure was warm, expansive and interesting with lots of people always out and about. Petonque seems to be played in every available space. Every one walks or cycles there are no fat people here - just tourists.
Loved Monaco. Did the tour. The Palace and surrounds were awesome.
We are about to move on from Aix en Province and begin making our way to the Italian border. The cathedral was amazingly HUGE - no doubt we will get used to the size of everything here at some stage.

Kerry

Today we walked for 5 hours around the souqs (this is not a spelling mistake!). It was a really different experience very exotic. Kerry spent lot of time in the Gold souq I spent a lot of time following Kerry in the Gold souq. Shopping for clothes is not one of my favourite pastimes and now neither is jewellery shopping.

The array of the exotic was mind blowing from apparel through to Falcons. The smells and sounds were interesting in a pleasant way. We didn’t buy much but it was very fascinating.

Labour is very cheap and plentiful witnessed today by the vision of men moving stones by hand they picked up each stone individually (about 40 meters) and put them in a pile!

We have to be at the airport at 1.45am so off to bed for a couple of hours sleep and then to Nice!

Love the Aussie airport security. we Kiwis are a tricky bunch after flying all the way from Auckland to Brisbane, via I know not where, we had to go through security to go through transit! Of course it was done with grace, dignity and charm; a wonder bunch!

The flight from Brisbane to Singapore is a killer just when you get to sleep they land at Singapore. 1.5 hours later you take off I was so tired I slept through a meal, the start of my diet!

DOha is fantastic so flat and brown! I have never seen anything so Brown and flat! But it is a vibrant, modern and exciting place. There are so many tower cranes working here with thousands of Labouers Indian etc all working with pick and shovel in 35 degree heat.

Anough for now

Mike

A day in Qatar

Well, we made it finally to Qatar.
A very flat, dry place with incredible construction in progress everywhere. The roads, the shopping areas and all other built up places are in the process of being upgraded or built from scratch. We went exploring with Lynley and Steve and visited the corniche, fishing villages, Lynley's school, a huge shopping complex called the 'City Centre' and finally a Cultural Village where there was a cutural festival in progress.

Very warm, safe and friendly!

After 29 and a half hours of travelling we are now beinning to feel the need for rest. It is 7:15 pm here but that is 4:15 am your time. Although we had some sleep on the plane - it was intermittent and not very good.

We'll have a day to explore the place again tomorrow with Steve for the morning and Lynley when she gets home from scholl at about 2:30 pm. She will need to be up at 5:00 am so we will all head off to bed fairly soon.

The adventure has begun! A great first day!!

Cheers to everyone.