Firenze part duo

No photos again today, havn't managed to download them yet.
We went to the Uffizi Gallery yesterday, which houses the Medici family's collection of paintings including some famous ones. Our favourites were the Tondo Doni by Michelangelo (pictured above) and one of Da Vincis early ones - actually I think it was his first commissioned one - the Annunciation pictured below


Also liked Caravaggios 'Sacrifice of Issac'. You could really see why the famous artists were famous from these pics, their paintings just leapt off the walls and outshaddowed most of the ones around them.
The top picture is of the main duomo/church thing here. Its really impressive, with green and white stripes of marble. We haven't been inside yet, thats tomorrows aim. Today we took a train to a town called Pistoia where the pistol was invented in the 1600s. Was a cute wee town and nice to get away from the city for a bit.
More to follow...xxx

Florence part one

I labelled this part one to make sure I do another update before leaving here, as this will have to be quick. Sorry no photos, we haven't been able to download any for a while.
We arrived in Florence yesterday via busabout and really enjoyed the ride through the Tuscan countryside. It was every bit as beautiful as I'd imagined: rolling hills with crumbling earthy coloured farmhouse, feilds of golden coloured dirt with a single olive tree in the middle etc. Very easy to fall in love with. We went on a walking tour of Florence with the busabout group and had dinner with them, it was really nice to talk to some other people in english. They were mostly Aussies. We've ditched the busabouters for now though, cos they are staying in a camping ground ages out of Florence and we wanted to be closer. We're staying at a nice Hostel which has free internet (although its in high demand) and breakfast. Phil likes this one more, although we are missing our Italian friend from our room in our Rome hostel. It was nice having a 'local' (he was actually from Milan) to get an Italian perpective on stuff, plus he showed us some nice untouristy sites.
I've nearly used up my internet allocation for today, so more will follow sometime in the next few days.
xx J

Rome

Hi to you all. special shout out to Anna today! thanks for your comment, i was thinking about the central library the other day for some reason. felt like going to the link for a coffee.
So we've been in Rome now for 3 days. We met up with Tim and Celia when we arrived and spent our first few days sightseeing with them. They've finished their holiday now though so we're back on our own. It was nice spending time with them, and we saw some pretty cool things, the Sistine Chapel and the Collesseum being the highlights. Im really enjoying Rome, its a fun city, with lots to look at and do. Phil is struggling to get used to living in a hostel dorm so I fear his view of Rome is tainted by that. We've had nice, friendly people in our dorm so far though, so it hasn't been that bad. We've got a bit of time here so are kind of taking it a bit easy, not rushing round the sights too much. We still havn't reached the halfway point yet and it feels like we've been on the road for ages, but its been fun so far, wouldn't mind popping home for a night or 2 at times, for a break - if only it was that easy!
Ciao and Love..
Jenn

Venice Pics

San Marco Square
The first pic was taken from the top of this tower

Thats me lurking in the corner of the doorway
Phil inspects his pizza

Boats

Its friday night and we're at a camping ground in Venice. The last few days have been pretty tiring but interesting and a good experience. On Tuesday we left the Islands and went back to Athens on a ferry that quite possibly could've been a retired Interislander. We arrived late after a 6hr trip, and left early the next morning for Patra by bus. Once in Patra we were informed by a very animated travel agent that we could get very cheap tickets (and even cheaper since we're under 26 - ah the benifits of youth) on the deck of the boat which left for its 33hr voyage to Venice that night at midnight. He assured us it was 'BEAUTiful BEAUTiful boat' and there was no need to waste our money on the more expensive ticket options as the deck would be fine for two spring chickens like ourselves. We bought the tickets and after giving us directions to the local sights and bidding us to 'spend good your time here' we spent the afternoon exploring Patra. That night we boarded the Ikarus Palace which looked like a slightly dilapidated cruise liner only to find that deck tickets actually meant literally that - on the deck outside. Imagine spending 2 nights and a full day outside on the Interislander ferry. After contemplating that awful thought and realising our sleeping bags would take none of the hardness off the steel floor not to mention the puddles of water everywhere we enquired about and upgrade. Luckily for us it was pretty cheap to change our tickets for ones which entitled us to an airplane-type seat each. We arrived in Venice early this morning and have seen a good bit of the city today. Really love it here and can't wait to explore more tomorrow.
Love to you all, arrividerci xx

some words

Ive decided that posting photos is the lazy way out. As im not keeping any kind of diary while im travelling I really need to add some written documentation to aid my memory.
So..
At present we are on an island called Milos, staying in a sleepy port town called Adamas. Tourist season is over, so many services and shops are closed, but there are just enough locals and a wee smatterings of tourists to keep the town ticking over. One of the interesting observations we've had while staying here is the complete shift in the pace of life. The town seems to wake up around 6 or 7am, with the bakeries selling freshly baked breads, and the old men sitting outside the tavernas smoking and drinking coffee. Between the hours of about 1 and 4 or 5pm the town shuts down again with the locals going home to thier main meal of the day and a siesta to escape from the heat of the day. Then from 5 til 10 or 11pm the town wakes up again, with the tavernas filling with diners from about 8pm. We've mananged to adjust fairly well and now the thought of going home and eating lunch at 12.30 seems strange. Here we have lunch at 3ish and dinner at 8 or 9.

I've got a new understanding for the mentions in the bible of feet washing.. the dust gets everywhere here and the first thing you must do when arriving home, in order to feel civilized again, is to wash your feet. The wind has been fierce the last few days as well.

Today we have been exploring this hillside full of half dug up roman ruins and cute wee ancient whitewashed churches. We had intended on seeing the Catacombs where 5000 early christians are buried but they were closed for repairs. It was fantastic morning, we had the whole hillside to ourselves and coming across a really well preverved roman ampitheatre looking out over the sea and a small fishing villiage made it feel like we'd discovered it ourselves.

This island is volcanic and quite barren and kaikoura-esque with huge cliffs in parts. Its full of the white cubist architechure with blue windowsills and doors you see in postcards. A charming place really. We are off to Sifnos for a few nights tomorrow, before returning athens, then travelling overland to Patra where we hope to catch a boat up the Adriatic sea to Venice.

I dreamt about the children I nanny for last night, I think I miss them quite a lot. We are also missing our wee goddaughter and her mum.
Love to you all reading..adio

and some more...

Milos at dusk
Some old pillars somewhere...
Phil showing you where we are staying on the Island of Milos
The Med..

while we're in a fast internet cafe i might as well...

More Pics

My first experience with a real greek salad. soooo gooood!

see...mcdonalds can so be cultural!

The road to Phylokopi

A church

This is the third time ive tried to post these so if it doesn't work im giving up. Can only post the landscape pics, not the vertical ones unfortunatly cos ive got some good portraits... computer is real slow so may only be able to post a couple..we'll see.

its all Greek to me...(and Paris)

Man it is so hard to navigate around the blogger website when its in greek..I hope this works.
We arrived in Athens today, and im making the most of the free internet at the hostel we're staying at. In saying that, im insanely tired from sleeping - or trying to - at the airport last night so much of this may not make sense.
So..I've just spent the weekend in Paris with Soph. And what a weekend!
The number one highlight was spending time with mon bein amie Sophie, but other notable highlights were:
- The people watching....skinny french boys with perfect coifs, old ladies with that classic impecable french sense of style, neuilly boys, girls with loooong legs and gorgeous shoes, beautiful african people.. so much to look at!
-Witnessing the beginning of a dance craze which is taking the parisian youth by storm - Tecktoniks - look it up on youtube, its hilarious, think lanky white boys throwing thier limbs around interspersed with old 80's moves. And so much fun to do - ask me or Soph for a demonstration any time!
- The food - pastries, cheeses, bread, salads, gelato. and the phenomenon of eating dinner at 9pm was surprisingly satisfying.
- Partying at a 'select entry' club on the Champs which has only been open a week. Beautiful interior decorating and atmosphere. (not to mention trying out our Tecktoniks moves..)
And so so much more, but im afraid im in desparate need of a siesta. Hopefully photos to follow another day. Meanwhile we have 10days in Greece to look forward to now.
Au revior xxx

London

St Pauls

Cute Squirell

Celias bump trying on its new bodysuit

Ale

Having Lunch

Tower Bridge

We've had 3 full days in London now and feel like we've seen a bit of it. Im pretty tired so here's a quick overview of what we've been doing..


Day 1 (Tues) - arrived at Heathrow at 8am and tried to stay awake all day. Celia met us at the airport and escorted us on the tube/bus to thier flat. Went to Battersea park which was really nice, and saw squirrels for the first time.





Day 2 (Wed) - Navigated the London transport system and made our way to Oxford Street where I went nuts in all the shops. LOVED Top Shop, tried on heaps of fabulous stuff but didn't buy anything cos its pretty expensive. If we have $$ left when we come back ill def get some stuff though! picked up a few cheaps dresses (2 for 12 pounds) from a trashy shop. Walked around Soho, just generally taking in the atmosphere etc. Phil got a bit sick of all the shopping but when he found it unbearable I sent him off to Borders to read a National Geographic. Loved looking in the supermarkets, esp Marks & Spencers - every kind of pre-packaged meals/sammies/salads you could imagine.





Day 3 (Thurs - today) - Met up with Rob (my Uncle) and looked at heaps of sights. Walked along the Thames and saw the Parliament buildings, Tate Museum, London Eye etc, had lunch in a pub, fish n chips n mushy peas! Walked along the Tower Bridge, looked at the Tower of London. Went to St Pauls Cathedral which was BEAUTIFUL.





So all in all having a fantastic time! I'm off to Paris to see Sophie tomorrow, and Phil is staying here and going to lots of Museums.

We're arrived at the mother-land.

Well after 36 hours of travel we are finally safely here in London, at Tim and Celias flat. It nearly lunchtime and having had very little sleep in the last 2 days I'm finding the prospect of staying awake til nighttime quite difficult to manage, but im sure after a shower and some coffee it'll all be ok! (Phils in the shower right now). The trip went pretty well, no major troubles. I got pretty airsick during the first leg but was fine after that. It was awesome to arrive in London, and its a beautiful day here so the tube (well the above-ground bits) and the bus trip to the flat was really nice. Walked along the Thames a bit, and saw lots of cliche London things.
The next few days will be spent exploring London. More to follow....

Bye!

Oh my poor forgotten blog, I'm sorry!
As most of you will know, we are off on our adventure to see what all the fuss is about over in Europe. This time tomorrow we will be ON THE PLANE.
Our basic itinerary is as follows: London-Athens(Jenn via Paris)-Venice-Rome-Florence-Nice-Lauterbrunnen-Munich-Paris-London-Singapore-Home. The whole thing will take 2 months, and I'm proud to say I've got my pack weight down to just under 12kgs. All the more room for shopping I say!
I may try and use this as a travel blog but my general philosophy is I want to be out doing the stuff, not in an internet cafe blogging about it, so no apologies for infrequent updates. Its quite likely we might put lots of photos on facebook so check there as well.
Love from Me.

Gracie comes for the weekend

Port Hills

We live in a beautiful country! The other day I took my breakfast for a walk in the hills. This was just a short drive from my house, and a shortish walk. Magic!

Knocked Up

No, not me! The movie. We went to see it the other day, a real good laugh and great dialogue, almost seemed unscripted a lot of the time. Check it out!

Recent happenings in pictorial form

These first five pics are from homegroup camp at Hanmer, this is Phil and I after hoofing it up conical hill.

Formal dinner. Phil was the one who pushed the self timer button and didn't plan it very well (hidden behind Laura)

The homegroup baby (AKA Maggie Robinson) asleep after an exhausting "walk". Do these things
come in adult sizes??

Hamish holding a child. Such a rare sight it had to be captured. Note the worried look on Maggies face!

Jenn, Ness, Laura, Kathryn up Conical Hill

Looking back towards Lyttelton

The Dewars

We went to Diamond Harbour on the ferry when Phils parents came down from wellington. This is at the Godley Heads Cafe. Check out the flowers Phil grew outta his head!!

Pilates

Have started going to Pilates at the gym. Its so trippy cos afterwards you walk away feeling a few inches taller. Great workout but quite embarrassing when you're as bad at it as I am!
This is what I'll be able to do in just a few more weeks (hardy-ha-ha -its harder than it looks!)




In other news, Phils folks are coming to visit this weekend, and we plan to do some fun stuff like going on the gondola (we drew the line at the antartic centre - its a rip-off). Photos to follow im sure. Also coming up is homegroup camp next weekend. Then once those 2 events are out of the way it'll only be 7 weeks til we head overseas!

Hammy and Ness...

....have just been round to our place for tea. Ness chastised me for not updating my blog, so this post is dedicated to you. And this photo is for Hamish, so he can understand the domestic bliss that is a mother at home with her kids. (subliminal message = hamish - kids are cool, have a couple!)
The pic is of my Mummy, me and Frank. Ain't my mumma a hottie??

Queens Birthday Weekend

Phil with the gorgeous Maisie Mitchell

Me, the Bro and Nearly-Sister-in-Law

Stormy St Clair

this is how much of a geek ive become....ive got some photos from the weekend and I can't decide whether to put them on ringo, flickr, facebook, bebo or my blog. yes, this is what ive been reduced to folks. I seriously need another hobby (and preferably one that doesn't include hairdressers - ask me if you don't know my sorry story).

As you can see, the blog won out!

Happy birthday the queen - to celebrate we went down to dunners to catch up with all our 'couple friends' including my bro Frank who's just moved down there to be closer to his darling Emily. It was a good weekend overall. Was cool to see how much Re and Jase's wee girl Maisie had grown.. and her amazing talent for covering stuff in snot and spit. You didn't hear it from me but babies are so gross!!