New Years Eve in Rome

Early start, for some, to beat the crowds. Inline early for tickets to the Roman Forum and Colosseum. Frost still on the grass and ice on the puddles. Nike 10km run around the Colosseum looked cool. Kathy doing it next year :) 6 euro for a coffee near the Colosseum. Coffee in town .80 cents. Crowds got bigger and bigger during the day, so headed out before it got even crazier. Mark got to ride on a tram see his excitement below.

They need to tidy up this town, some of it is in ruins. Met Chad's uncle. Stole an orange from Nero, but it tasted old.

Roma 19

The theme today was crowds and crowds of people. We jammed onto train, metro, metro & bus to go the market along with thousands of others. When we finally escaped out a side street we'd already walked about 2kms and it was still going up ahead of us. Headed for the roman forum and colosseum to find thousands there too. Decided to head there early tomorrow and made for the metro. Tried to change lines and decided to walk instead. Got to the Spanish steps and (thankfully) managed to arrive at the top - not the bottom with the hordes.

Roma

First lesson of Roman life, hit the machine to spit your train ticket out. Went to the Vatican and decided not to wait in the 1km queue. Subwayed it back because we can't figure out the buses. Evicted from a clothing store for taking photos. Retreated to a restaurant for lunch and found out what a large beer is. Joined in the most amount of people in a tiny bus competition. Not sure how we got home. Huge, huge crowds everywhere.

Venezia to Roma

Off to Rome this morning, on the bullet train again. This one had the speed on the big screen in the carriages. Elyne figured out that if you run down the aisle you are going an extra 12km/hr, so while everyone else was going 251 km/hr we could go 263 km/hr.
This place is starting to worry me, I have asked several whanau if they know Chad? So far none have owned up, either he was kicked out of the country or maybe he's not Italian? May need a Hui on this when I get home.
A lot warmer here in Roma than Venezia, where it was rather miserable weather wise. Reckon the shorts will come out again tomorrow, maybe even the jandals.

Last of Venice

Lots more wandering and getting lost. Plenty more dogs too. Found a shop that let you try masks on (a rarity). Elyne's fave was the cat steam punk one.
My favourite thing is watching the rubbish boats in the morning, guys running around with carts picking up rubbish and throwing into the barges.

Venice in the rain

Boxing Day in Venice - no sales, what to do what to do. Went to a museum so Mum could see their Canaletto paintings. They had 3 but one was in Paris, doh. Watched a rubbish boat going under a bridge at high tide, which was interesting. Found our way to the vaparetto (boat bus) and went to Murano where the glass blowers are. Saw a quick demo and then spent ages trying to find cheap glass. Got turfed out of one store cos we weren't buying. After a while the cold & rain won over the shopping and we headed for home.

Xmas in Venezia

A stack of gifts around a tree. The only thing in common with Christmas at home - didn't eat too much or go to sleep in the afternoon (my normal Xmas traditions). Morning walk to see a boy holding a frog and many people walking their dog. For those interested Elyne has started a separate file for my dog pictures. More churches etc. nearly all the shops closed so the suitcases stopped filling for a day.

Venice

Should be entitled retail 302. This place takes retail to a whole new level. How can so many shops selling the same thing all look so different. Love the windows which say. "No foto, please take foto of your cheap Chinese copy." Definite not a place for cars etc. The streets are sometimes only wide enough to walk single file (duck into a doorway if somebody comes in the other direction). The locals distinguish themselves by walking their dogs with them everywhere, one happy lab even thought Kathy was the pizza delivery service.

Travel to Venice

Catch a taxi at 6.30 am. Yes girls it does exist. Onto the 250 mph train at 8. Imagine my disgust to find they have no open windows, have to talk sweet to the waitress to open the door ;). I reckon average grass cover in France this time of year is about 1100, even the sheep are pugging the paddocks. Up and over the alps is most spectacular with a rugby pitch near the top. Snow on the ground right through to Milan, with wheat fields for miles and miles. During the quick stop in Milan the girls managed to get in some retail therapy (it was only a two hour stop). The skills being taught to my daughter sometimes quite scare me.

Last of Paris

Rain everywhere, but off to the antique markets early, luckily on the metro and it doesn't rain down there (unlike NY). That place is a real rabbit warren but none of Kathy's money got lost there (small miracles). Then more metro to scope out the rail station we leave from tomorrow. Then just poked around Montmatre so E could spend more (she definitely her mothers child).

Paris again

As the end of the world happens tomorrow you better read this quick! Back onto the metro heading to the arc de triumph. Didn't see a car crash but witnessed numerous near misses and sliding stops. Then a wander down the Main Street (élysées) to eat raw meat served at the price of cooked meat (tartare). Then purchased some dodgy cheese at the market before going to the loo. Saw some famous paintings and some Egyptian stuff. Maureen seemed to think the steps where there just to torture her (K & E went up some flights twice just to watch the results). We all managed to get on the same train home :(. Most disappointing.

More paris

Guide Rangi lost her cool this morning and had to wave the "stick" to get the travellers out of bed this morning. Eventually all made it to the metro for the beginning of the trip to Versailles. Carefully negotiation of the train system (go on Maureen jump over the barrier) got us there with minimal stress ;). The palace was amazing, thought Kathy was going to move in to some of the 'smaller' residences. Went for a look at the gardens and the 'farm', the sheep well under condition score three with little feed in front of them, NZ doesn't really have to much to worry about re animal welfare issues if this is the standard.

Paris

Onto the metro this morning. Maureen counting steps all the way. Trying to stay away from the gypsies and street pedlars, they think Elyne is cool :). In our introduction yesterday we got told to see Paris go up the Monteparnesse tower (the highest building in Paris. The best view in Paris, because you can't see the Monteparnesse). Walked back to Eiffel Tower after that. Part way along the Seine (apparently in the water you are in-seine). Walked part way up the Tower then all the way to lunch on a river boat.
The metro on the way home posed it's own trials. Two on the train two on the platform. Reunited at our destination. Won't tell who was too slow getting on the train.

Day 8 Paris

Good start to today. Our taxi to the airport was a limo. New York looks pretty different from a limo. Loooong wait at the airport and got here at 7.30am so missed a night's sleep. The place we're staying is lovely. Got the Eiffel Tower out our front window and the sacre coeur just above us. Wine is dirt cheap - $3.00 a bottle.

Day 7 New York

Off to the Empire State Building this morning. We had a look yesterday evening - 2.5hr wait. This morning you could just walk in. It seems nobody does anything in this place between 3am and 10am (perfect place for a teenager). Also reckon I have figured out why yanks drive automatic cars. They need the extra hand to beep the horn at every given chance.

Last night went to some ballet thing most interesting. Pretty sure even the guy sitting next to me was as bent as a second hand nail. (Let alone the poofters on stage). Saw Central Park and the horses but didn't get mugged or see any vagrants :(

As you can see all the culture has had no effect on the boy at all! Off to Paris tomorrow. Not sure they're ready for him. Kathy.