An Abbreviated Travel Log

Hi All,

We have decided to do an abbreviated log of all the places that we have visited after leaving the French Riveria to get you up to speed on whats been happening. We started our Bus tour about 1 week ago and are currently in Vienna on our way to Budapest in Hungary tomorrow. So here goes.

19 May
We visited La Spezia on the Cinque Terre coast. Very beautiful.



20 May
Off to Pisa. Checked out the Leaning tower and had a nice lunch. Off to the Tuscan countryside for a week of rest!

21 May
Woke up looking out to the most beautiful place. Hills of Cortona. Very special place. We spent the week here and in that week headed into Florence for Nats cousins wedding (Karl & Gaye). This was a beautiful day and night with the most beautiful 7 course banquet dinner. Very nice. Cam cooked up a storm with the best fresh ingredients from the local supermarket. Gonna miss those tomatoes.




We went to a couple of sights in Florence including seeing the Michaelangelo statue of David.

27 May
Left the villa with a big smile and a tan. It was then off to Naples (Napoli). Not very impressed with the place, although we met a couple of nice people and had a beautiful pizza at the famous Sorbillo pizza.

28 May
Off to Capri. The island off the coast of Italy. A very special place. Great weather, views and people. Some verz special memories indeed. Spent a couple of days here but could of been a lot longer. Went to a beach that was rock and concrete! Did some cool bombies but!

29 May
Caught the night train from Naples to Palermo in Sicily. It wasnt a very nice ride, but an experience none the less! We had a smellz Italian fella in the carriage with us. They even transport you in the carriages on a ferry across the water. Very cool.

30 May
Spent a couple of days in Palermo. Went to a beautiful beach Mondello beach. Although lots of rubbish and durry butts was still beautiful. Met a great Canadian chick, who is also into photography, and even sells her pictures. We had 2 of our most memorable meals there at this little local restaraunt.

31 May
Off to the island of Lipari for Cams aquatic date with Nemo. It took about a day to get there but what a great island. We got off the boat to a guy holding a sign with cams name on it. Verry impressive since he didnt know what time we were arriving. Lovely apartments and cheap too and only 150m from the marina.

1 June
Although the clouds werent looking too good we had the dive booked. The diving was pretty good on the first but the second was meant to be the best but was pretty crap. We all headed out on a 16 feet rubber ducky, and after the first we dropped the girls back as it started to bucket down with rain. Spent the rest of the day watching the rain come down from our room :(

2 June
Headed back to the mainland, for our journey to Sorrento. First the ferry to Milazzo, then the bus to the train station, for an 8 hour journey into Naples. Then the light rail into our station near Sorrento, then a car ride to our place! Was pouring with rain,oh no.

3 June
Woke up to blue skies. Spent half a day to get to Positano on the Amalfi coast, but was worth it. Very nice. We met a nice American bloke yes they do exist.
Had a great lunch overlooking the coast. The bus ride to Amalfi was eventful! Chokkers bus narrow roads and heaps of traffic. It took 1 1\2 hours for 16 km! Ferry back to Sorrento was rough. Heaps of sick people on board. But was spoilt when we got into the port with great views.

4 June
Went to a private beach down the road. Pretty cool. Costed $6 for a swim! It was then time to get on the train again for our trip to Rome. Time to board the Kumuka bus of love! Arrived into Rome at our hotel with about 15 minutes to spare for our induction!

5 June
Off to the Vatican. Absolutely stunning. It was about 2 hour queue to get in but worth it. Recommend that you get there about 7:30 and do an early trip there! Had a bit more of a look and time to head home for a well earned rest.

6 June
We got on the bus to Pompeii for our first day trip with the group. 3 hours to get there. Amazing place and the guide was great. We left the place and sat down for lunch to see a massive rain shower. Almost like a monsoon rain!

7 June
A day on the bus for our date with Venice. We stopped a little town on the way called Orvieto for lunch. Very nice little town. Climbed the clock tower for amazing views.

8 June
Venice was amazing. Very busy with tourists, but funny to see life on the water! Did a gondala ride with a small group, pretty hairy! Felt like we were gonna fall out! A bit of shopping and a bottle of vino overlooking the Grand Canal.

9 June
Back on the bus to our way to Munich. We went through 3 countries that day! Had a lunch at this service stop, like a truck stop but with a restaraunt. Amazing views of the snow capped Alps! We then went to the castle that is in every German tourist brochure, Neuschwanstein castle. Crazy Ludwig 2nd built it. Cinderellas Disneyland castle was based on this one. Had a tour, the views were awesome. Then into Munich.

10 June
Staying 1 1\2 hours out of Munich, we were back on the bus into Town. Great place!! We did a bike tour (Mikes bike tours), about 4 hours around town. Stopped off at a beer garden for lunch and a stein, 1 litre no less. It was then time to try to get back on the bike for the rest of the journey. We headed back into town for some more beer and food at the famous Hofbraus beer house. Very cool. A World Cup crazy place with heaps of supporters and concerts and stuff..

11 June
Back on the bus for our trip to Vienna. Absolutely beautiful countryside, something we will never forget. Had of course a Wein (Vienna) Schnitzel for dinner!

12 June
Spent the day looking around the city. Pretty cruisey place. A very cleeeean city, no rubbish even the buildings look clean! Watched our awesome win in the World Cup at a local Aussie pub, the Billabong. Bloody great day. Go the green and gold! Saw the Di Vinci code later on, as it was in English.

So we are now up to date for the moment. We will try to expand these with pictures and stuff in the near future.

All the best guys and go Australia!

Cam & Nat