Picked up the car on the outskirts of Rome ( by the airport) and had a 10 minute tutorial by a guy who was clearly wanting to be somewhere else and got a wee tad grumpy with my questions ! Then off we go - wrong side of the car and wrong side of the road. Actually it wasn't so much that, as the turning into traffic at T intersections - that did my head in - esp when other cars pulled alongside me and were turning also ! A few minor hiccups as we got used to the GPS, my driving and Wendy's navigating. Nothing too serious, but will be funny stories to tell ( and embellished) over a beer. Motorways are fine in fact a lot of fun in a Peugeot 308 SW diesel (wonderful car) it's just the stress of changing roads/direction as you know that if you get it wrong there is no going back for quite some time!
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| Kate at the festival parade |
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| Grace and Wendy at the window of our apartment |
Wendy here - yes, thank The Lord we survived getting out of Rome and through to Montefalco yesterday and then on to Chanti Greve in Tuscany today. It is so nice to be out of the big cities and into some open space. Montefalco was a wonderful wee village and we were staying in a hotel right in the square. Fantastic views, hot weather and I managed to get a massage at the Hotels Spa - so I was very happy.
Chanti Greve is another small village. Everything is in walking distance or if we want bigger cities nothing is more than an hour away. Great apartment - and a warmish 36 degrees when we arrived. We have a pool, which makes the kids very happy. We have promised that we will not get back in the car for at least two days - another thing which made the kids happy. We are all looking forward to slowing down.
sounds awesome Wendy very pleased you are thanking the LORD:-). and yes stay put near the pool and hang in the village..sleep lots eat lots. Visiting another wee village looks like half an hour away but in fact due the roads and traffic and skinny streets designed for carts its takes three hours.I think thou we were pressured because of the internet for the girls and had to be somewhere at a certain time..good that technology has improved. Gaz enjoyed alot of beer and newspapers in Italy at the same time I was in a church or a gallery and the girls were in shops. Zach was continually on a lolly hunt. Its quite nice to stay til after tea in some of the villages you visit esp touristy ones as the tourists file out and the restaurants are more relaxed at night.And massage - score..good work!
ReplyDeleteLove that you got to be part of a festival how fantastic.Would have been beautiful. x
Hi Kat. Wendy here. We have had a lovely day today - lying around and reading, swimming and just chilling out - I even drunk wine at lunchtime!! We meet another couple staying in the apartments - and they had just arrived from Wellington. Made us laugh - to be in the middle of nowhere and meet fellow kiwis!! Have to say it was nice to be able to have a conversation where we could understand each other :). We are going to walk further than the village square tomorrow .... It's time to explore a little :). Lots of love xx - oops just wanted to say we had a Tai moment in the car yesterday - every time Andrew would comment on the scenery the girls would say "eyes on the road Andy". They never call him Andrew let alone Andy - it just made us think of you and Tai ..... Xxx
DeleteYou are so brave driving! We had a car in Spain and the motorways were perfect but it was a nightmare in cities with ridiculous streets! Anyway enjoy that pool and relax you definitely deserve it after your busy itinerary to date! Rainy Sunday here so in front of fire. All Blacks trounced a woeful Australian team last night! Have fun and try a coffee gelato my very fav! xxxx
ReplyDeleteCheers Gibbo - I'm in bed after having just watched the AB's highlight package on YouTube ! Bruising encounter and the scrums seem to be all over the place again. Loved Whitelock's yellow card at the end :). Yes, driving does take a bit to get used to but we're here safely, and getting better at it ! I laughed at your gelato and coffee comment as they are my highlights - love sitting there on the street relaxing and watching the world go by (in a different language!) with an espresso. Kat was telling me that Tai used to also attempt to read the local paper while having his morning coffee and the villagers would come up and start to chat - ha ! Hope you and Bruce are well.
DeleteSorry forgot to sign the last message. Gibby
ReplyDeleteLove love the photos ... :-)
ReplyDeleteDrive safe and enjoy chilling out ...
Hey Karen, fantastic to hear from you and so pleased that you like the photos - I'm having a lot of fun taking them but I think that the girls are completely over my ' this is a family photo' moment comment !!! I've been keeping up to date with the shakes via Stuff, and I hope that they becoming fewer and less intense - we're all thinking of you and our other Wellington friends over here.
DeleteBuono Sera! Ciao, Devlin Familia, mi piaci, we have had similar experiences driving n the "wrong" side of the road and one tip that has really helped is:"Loose on the LEFT, tight on the RIGHT!" and it helps keep you at least on the right side of the road, now you know how tourists in Godzone feel I guess. Caught up with Hayes blog as well so it feels wonderful to be keeping in touch with you all as you jaunt around Europe/UK and it is a highlight each day to hear and see what you have all been up to, enjoy! All our love, The Borths x (Tex sends a Woof! your way as well bless em' x)
ReplyDeleteCiao Borthie - Wendy here. Good tip for driving, and your right Andrew and I have commented a number of times how tourists to Gods own must find it a nightmare particularly as most of our major roads are just two lanes - not like the big motorways here. It's even reminding yourself which way to look when you walk across the road. A couple of times we have gone to cross and been looking the wrong way .... Makes for interesting walks :). We have caught up with the Hayes blog as well ... It's great seeing where they are at. Thanks for all your comments - we love hearing from you xxxx and a big hug for Tex, we miss Louie heaps. Calvin has sent us photos of him down on the farm and he looks very happy.
DeleteMike Devlin here:
ReplyDeleteHi Andrew, Wendy, Grace and Kate. I am checking your blog daily, and with all of the fantastic commentary and photos, it really is almost like being there - and without having to fly 28,000km. Your description of driving the rental car certainly brought back memories of driving on European roads - but without GPS in those days - and yes, I did identify with going around a roundabout 3 or 4 times whilst trying to decide which road to take - very stressful for the navigator !!! I keep thinking of Kate Skyping her class from the other side of the world, and what a fantastic illustration of modern technology that was for her class - the way of the future - I used to have to line up at a call box public phone with a pocket full of coins !!!!. It sounds as though provincial Italy is proving relaxing for you all - the architecture looks amazing - and again, great to have faces in all photos. Not much news from NZ - I see that you caught up with the Bledisloe result, and probably with our two hiccups in the America cup "LV" series. We are all hanging out for the Spring weather here - it is getting a bit warmer.
Keep safe, and best wishes for the remainder of your trip, Mike Devlin
Hey Mike, technology change is the norm now and I do wonder what Grace and Kate will have available in 20 years ! Grace is in contact with her friends almost daily ( when wifi allows) and Kate is flicking off a few emails to her friends also ! They can even log into their school home page and pick up work assignments that the teachers have set - they are 't so keen on that - but they are doing it. We're having s wonderfully relaxing time in Greve - nice to be able to spread out and cook ourselves and also have the ovcasional lunch tome wine when we want. Good to hear that everything is ok over there - chat again soon. Andrew
ReplyDeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY WENDY HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY.
ReplyDeleteThis is the second go as the first one disappeared must have pushed wrong button. Are you enjoying the villages after the big cities. all well here Love mum xxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Mum. Thanks for the birthday wishes. We are all enjoying being in a village. We haven't done anything more than walk around, swim and read - its been just what we needed. Had an amazing thunder and lighting storm last night - it lasted for over an hour and was so loud. It then rained for the rest of the night. Suppose to be 33 again today .... Xxxx
DeleteHappy bday aunt!! 50??? ;)
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great day xxx tash
Oh just when I was thinking of giving you that dress!!!! :).
DeleteHard not to have a great day in Tuscany .... Thanks for your birthday wishes. Xxx
Damn...I meant 30!!!! ; )
DeleteYeah, yeah :)
DeleteHappy Birthday Wendy. I hope that with the help of time zones, I manage to still to get this message to you on the correct day. I see from the itinerary that you are in Greve, Tuscany for a few more days, so you will be able to have a fantastic celebration. A birthday in Tuscany.
ReplyDeleteSunny day here today, and almost Spring - 12.1 degrees today.
Have a great birthday, and best wishes to all of you for the rest of your trip. Mike.
Hi Mike. Thanks for your kind wishes - yes this message got to me on my birthday. I'm pretty lucky to be having a birthday in Tuscany - I never thought I would be able to say that! :). We are here until Saturday, which is great. We were all ready to slow down for a bit. Thanks again xxxx
DeleteHappy birthday Wendy. Enjoy it in such a special place. Love the wilsonclan
ReplyDeleteThanks for your birthday wishes - pretty hard having one in Tuscany eh :). Hope all is well with you guys xx
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