Rain Stops Play

Bonjour !

It was only a short drive to the South of France - in total 4 hours ..... would have been quicker had it not been for the mad Milano drivers, infact the worse driving we have seen yet ( even by Adys standards ! ). Unfortunately, rain has stopped play....yes its pouring down ...I can feel my tan leaving my body as I write this blog !!!!

The place we are staying is by the coast, just outside Nice, so I am hoping I do get some use out of the beach while I am here !!! We have had to change our travel plans ( due to our house move not going to plan ) and coming back to the UK a little earlier, so I am going to sign off the blog, while I relax until our journey home next Monday.

I hope you have enjoyed reading the blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it, see you all soon

Gill & Ady x

Out of Africa

Well we head into Milan for a spot of retail therapy, lady luck is definitely now on our side, as thanks to "Adyano" we have got a free room upgrade !

We have got to grips with the underground system and firstly head to the " Duomo " which is where there is a huge cathedral that has fantastic spires and architecture . After climbing 300 steps, its certainly worth the view across Milan at the top of the cathedral ( although was slightly out of breath ! )

Now we have the tourist bit out of the way, yes, its retail therapy time !
I'm in my element !!.... After 6 hours, our feet give in ( well "Adyano's" does ), and we head back to the hotel.

To be honest we have both hit a brick wall when it comes to Italian food. I don't think either of us can face another Pizza or Pasta dish...we are done !

So we need to find some alternative...

So we look to our trusty friend " trip advisor ", lucky for us, the number 1 rated restaurant ..... Is not Italian !!!!! ( I told you our luck had changed ! )...it is in fact African !!!

So we head to Africa ... and it was fantastic !!! So if you are ever in Milan I would totally recommend " Ristorante Warsa ". Now its no ordinary restaurant, so you just have to go with it. Firstly there are no menu's, they have one dish !!! But the food is wonderful. You get presented with a large gigantic flat bread with a type of spicy beef dish in the centre, on the outside are all sorts of accompaniments such as cous cous, chickpeas etc etc. The second difference is you get no cutlery - you eat with your hands using extra pieces of this soft flat bread. You sit on low seating and the ambience is great. Once you have finished with the beef, they then bring out a chicken dish for the centre of your flat bread. After the huge meal ( yes don't forget Adyano is still on his diet !!! ), Adyano said he felt like he could audition for the film " Run, Fat Boy, Run " !!!!! ( To be honest there was no running to be had, as we had both rolled out of the restaurant. ! ), more shopping is required tomorrow to burn of the calories !!!!

Well its good bye pasta and hello Frogs Legs for our next blog. Yes tomorrow we will be in the South of France. Our last and final "Ciao Ciao"

Perfect Day

Despite being unable to sleep due to the church chimes at 7am; there is pleasant start to the day, when the smell of freshly baked croissants is wafting through the air and the sun is flickering off the calm waters of Lake Como.. A perfect start to a perfect day.

Today we are going to explore Lake Como, there is a ferry boat a short walk from our hotel, so an ideal way to get around. Its a lazy day today, and time to slow the pace somewhat from the mad sight seeing of the last week. In fact in this place, you can't help but slow down, it is instantly relaxing and the scenery all around breath taking.

We sit and have a cappuccino by the Ferry and watch the chaos of Italian organisation ! It is quite amusing.

We visited various places along the lake, all little villages, with small cobbled streets and all very charming.

From all the places we visited our favourite place was Bellagio which was very beautiful. You can visit Villa's that are open to the public that have fantastic gardens, or mountain walking, but we were just happy taking in the views.

The sun has been shining all day, the boat trips were great and just enjoyed exploring at a leisurely pace.... A perfect day of rest.

Tomorrow the heat is turned up a notch as we head to Milan.... ( for a little shopping trip !! )

Room with a View

Well Lake Como has not worked quite as planned !! ... What a surprise for the Jinx travellers !!!!

We arrived at our hotel to find it looked like a building site ( well next door did ). The room we were given could have been used as a site office it was that close to drills and hammers... I was only short of a hard hat and I could have got to work !! .. In fact I was thinking of making a profit on "Adyano's " plastering skills !!!

..... Needless to say we did a sharp exit !!!

So now homeless, and to top it off, it started to absolutely pour down and thunder.

We finally headed to another hotel ( in fact it was the only hotel with availability, so wasn't holding out much hope ! )

Well the hotel is nice, its not the Ritz, however, the setting is beautiful and the hotel is full of character - it dates back to the 14th century. We have a balcony over looking the lake in one of the prettiest areas, the view is to die for ( see below pictures from our balcony ). 

There is a pool and gardens leading up to the waters edge.  It's in a small quaint village in Varenna. It really is very tranquil. It has small cobbled streets, bars on the lake front, and small restaurants dotted throughout the village, it is centred by a "piazza" where we are staying with a beautiful church....what a gorgeous place, and belongs on an Italian postcard.

We have just enjoyed a nice chianti ( well maybe more than one ! ) on the waters edge, the rain may coming down, but it has not dampened our spirits !!! We have also found an amazing restaurant with a chef called Mario. There are only 5 tables, but the food is fantastic...... Mario, has promised the best pasta ever if I turn up tomorrow !!!

.... Now we could have gone to more bars, however, where did we end up ????? ....

In Church ( Rach, I know you probably can't believe it ! ).. There was the most fantastic music coming from the local church, so we joined the locals in listening to the band. I do feel like a fully fledged local and have joined their community spirit !! ... I love this place, its not touristy, or trying to being something its not, its natural and true Italian... And that's what we have been looking for ...
Everything must happen for a reason ! Ciao Ciao

Go to the matresses

.... Well the jinx continued into the evening. The great restaurant that was recommended by the Australian couple, was closed on a Thursday !! So after walking 1\4 mile there and 1\4 mile back to the hotel to find an alternative, we were starving.
 
.... Now I think I have got to the bottom of our bad luck ... It's " Adyano's " fault. As when we were in the Vatican he stood on the Popes grass when taking a photo, and apparently the Pope likes his grass. ( Although the grass looked more like clover, so perhaps he needs a new gardener ), so maybe that's causing our run of bad luck.
 
The gentleman on the desk at our hotel suggested the only other restaurant in walking distance was a Fish place, and said it was very good.
 
On arrival at the restaurant, early signs were positive, however, we were the only tourists in the place. Although, a place frequented by locals is usually a good indication of good food.
 
We were positioned in a corner, flanked on all sides by rather large Italian families, one of which suspiciously looked quite influential and was headed by an old guy. Now, I have never seen the film " The God Father ", but suddenly felt like I had a bit part in this film.
 
Our very friendly waiter kept bring food that people had ordered to show us the quality. Our first course or " appetiser " arrived. It was excellent. I told the very friendly waiter the food was very good. Immediately he approached the " God Father " to tell him I approved of the food. Now I don't know much Italian, but you just instinctively know when you are getting talked about. " The God Father " looked over in approval. The " primo " course then arrived - we had adventurously ordered spider crab pasta - thankfully the pasta wasn't alive and was very tasty. The same scenario repeated itself. For the main course ( yes Italians order 3 ) we had ordered seabass. The seabass arrived and to be honest was a bit dry, and was accompanied by something that looked like a yellow part of a brillo pad... Which think may have been potoato ( but to be honest did taste like a Brillo pad - not that I have eaten one recently ). 
 
The waiter came over to our plates and started pointing at our brillo pad and saying we should eat that...I was starting to get a little worried on the reporting of this incident to the " God Father ", we politely smiled and said how full were. Next arrived the biggest plate of tiramasu (which we hadn't ordered ) , we politely declined ... This was not ending well. The report went in. Now I don't know what the saying in the film " Go to the mattresses " means, but its the only saying I know from the film, and the fact that I may be sleeping with horses heads later. If I heard either, I was out of there like a shot, and probably would have broken Bolts world record for 100m. We sharply exited.
 
Plan B ....
 
Well we formulated a plan B, which has turned out to be a really good day. We decided to go to a place called "Lido De Jesolo", which is an Italian beach resort. The place is fantastic, lots of lively bars and restaurants, a great sandy beach, 
Lots of activities if you have children, great hotels. I am not sure if its in any holiday brochures in the UK, but I would recommend as an alternative to the usual suspects. It's great as you can get a boat from their direct into Venice, so you can have the holiday that has beach and city...perfect. So we have had a fabulous day catching some rays on the beach all day. 
 
Tomorrow we are driving to Lake Como, which is the last leg of our " pasta tour ". Ciao Ciao
 
 

Where there's blame there's a claim !!!

Well nothing seems to go to plan as far as we are concerned ! But I suppose that's half the fun !!! ....Although " Adyano " does keep muttering " jinx " under his breath ( I am still smiling ... honest ). We have hit a "slight" snag on our Venice trip. It seems that of all the days in the year, the buses, trains and boats decided to strike when I am in town !!! .... Typical. So all our plans are now ruined. We therefore have tried to do our tourist bit, on speed, as there is no way we can get into Venice tomorrow. Which is a shame as we had planned to go to a show tomorrow night, and take a romantic gondola ride ....yes you heard me correct " Adyano "getting romantic !!!!!

However, don't think " Adyano" is getting out of the romance just as easy as that !!! .... No I have brought the gondola trip forward !!! .... Today there is someone well and truely conspiring against me. You would have thought, with all my church visits, my guardian angel would be in tow, but it seems they may be on strike also !!! .... Because I must be on the only gondola in the whole of Venice to crash ... in fact, probably in the last 20 years !!! ... actually I would go as far as 900 AD as the old master piece paintings that I have seen ... there is not one gondola crash on them !!

 This is the total truth, I did ask " Adyano" to snap the moment for the blog, but was a little preoccupied with a silver blade heading towards my head and diving in front of me ... who said chivalry was dead !! However, once he realised I was ok and the blade was out of danger, he shouted " Where there's blame there's a claim " and took a picture of the offending boat for our " drivers" insurance purposes !!! Thankfully we all did laugh afterwards and it seems the saying " Where there's blame there's a claim " is universally understood !! A bit of a hairy moment to say the least. We have now headed back to the hotel before the stike starts in an hour, or we will be stranded. We have been tipped off by an Australian couple that there is a good restaurant local to our hotel that does fantastic food at great prices ... I am not sure if I dare go out this evening after the day I have had !!!

The offending boat above, with 4 German Tourist on board, the driver is still waving his hands.

We will be working on our plan B for tomorrow. Ciao Ciao

Malfuntion The Sequel !

Well we have now left Rome behind and drove 6 hours to Venice, the traffic wasn't great, we had the usual mad Italian drivers ....and then the sat nav decided to pack in ....great ! All that was left, was my fantastic map reading skills to kick in, .... well not quite,  I couldn't find any of the place names anywhere on the map !,  to tell you the truth I may as well have had a napkin than the map ! Rejuvinated Adyano ( who remained calm ) sniffed out the hotel with his path finder skills again ! ( He must have been rejuvinated by his strop in Rome ! - or didn't want to be named and shamed on the blog again !!! )

We are again staying just outside Venice, and there is a train station opposite the hotel that is a quick and easy way to get into the centre in about 15 - 20 minutes.

As soon as we arrived we couldn't wait to get to Venice, so hopped onto the first train. I don't know what I expected as I stepped out of the station, but I wasn't prepared for the hustle and bustle of the waterways right in front of my eyes.  I have not seen a place quite like this, it is certainly unique and has a romantic charm about it.

I have immediately fallen in love with the place. We navigated ourselves to St Marks square, as I couldn't wait to see it.  The atmosphere was wonderful, the classical music, the wonderful architecture it just gives you a warm tingly feeling ... and also a great place to people watch !

A number of you have been asking me about " Adyano " and his eating habits ! Well I am sorry to disappoint you all, but he is on a diet and has been eating only healthy food, and just to prove it here is a picture !

well did only have two scoops instead of 4 , so in " Adyano's " world, that is well and truely a diet !!! ... I do have to say the Italian ice cream is amazing !

As you can see from the photographs we now have the camera on the right setting .. our novice tourist skills are going pro !!! More on Venice later, Ciao Ciao for now.

PS Couldnt help but notice the fabulous shops !!!