2 Sept bus to Sydney
3 Sept fly Sydney to Milan
4 to 8 Sept Urbino
8 to 11 Sept Ravenna
11 to 15 Sept Mantua
15 to 22 Sept villa in NW cnr of Tuscany with relatives
22 to 26 Sept Rapallo
26 to 29 Sept Varenna
29 Sept to 2 Oct Milan
2 Oct fly Milan to Sydney
3 Oct arrive Sydney
4 Oct bus Sydney to home
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Wednesday 08 08 07
I have arrived home safely. I have just worked out that I have been awake, apart for 4 half hour dozes, for almost 23 hours. Sitting in planes, buses and airports is not particularly stressful though, if things go smoothly, which they did today – apart from 2 full planes which meant that there was no spare seat for a certain very large ‘infant’ i.e.under 2 years.
Last Saturday after breakfast we went into town to see the senior drumming contest. It was started by a performance by the winner of the junior competition. There were 4 senior teams. The announcer explained what they were doing ( it still did not help much) in each of the 2 sections. Firstly they were given a chant which they had to set to a beat and in the second part they had to make up a chant and set it to music. ( I think). Each team had 10 men. It was great.
We left a bit early, Isla had had enough and went to Trader Jack’s for lunch – apparently a Cook Island institution - overlooking the water.
On Sunday we had planned to go into town and go to church but decided that ‘doing nothing’ was a better option. The resort puts on a show at lunchtime on Sundays. In the programme it is listed as ‘St Mary’s choir’. The group consisted of about 5 mature age ladies singing, 5 youngish men and some younger people singing and dancing. Each of the songs was explained – all relating in some way to Christianity.
After Isla’s rest we took 2 kayaks out. A few days ago we took out 3 – Lach took Isla. This time I sat with Isla in the front of Lach’s. We had a few races, Lach working very hard with 2 passengers, against Wendy. The jury is still out on the winner. W and L had a special day- early wedding anniversary dinner. On some evenings the hotel puts on a 5 course dinner in a special part of the resort – right overlooking the water. They said it was excellent and enjoyed themselves. Isla and I had cheese sandwiches.
The highlight of Monday was the several hours I spent with Isla playing on the beach. Lach went to a tennis lesson and Wendy finished her holiday knitting project – a new beanie for Isla. Wendy was very pleased with it. She has not knitted since the schoolgirl scarf stage and wanted to relearn. It was an excellent opportunity for me to help her.
W and I went snorkeling in the afternoon. We saw the ( or a very similar) octopus again. He sort of ‘stood up’ on his tentacles then swam away – luckily away from us. He settled on a rock and we watched for a while from an appropriate distance. Apart from the myriad of brightly coloured reef fish we also saw some giant clams.
It was a very relaxing holiday and it was great to spend time with W,L and Isla.
Goodnight
Last Saturday after breakfast we went into town to see the senior drumming contest. It was started by a performance by the winner of the junior competition. There were 4 senior teams. The announcer explained what they were doing ( it still did not help much) in each of the 2 sections. Firstly they were given a chant which they had to set to a beat and in the second part they had to make up a chant and set it to music. ( I think). Each team had 10 men. It was great.
We left a bit early, Isla had had enough and went to Trader Jack’s for lunch – apparently a Cook Island institution - overlooking the water.
On Sunday we had planned to go into town and go to church but decided that ‘doing nothing’ was a better option. The resort puts on a show at lunchtime on Sundays. In the programme it is listed as ‘St Mary’s choir’. The group consisted of about 5 mature age ladies singing, 5 youngish men and some younger people singing and dancing. Each of the songs was explained – all relating in some way to Christianity.
After Isla’s rest we took 2 kayaks out. A few days ago we took out 3 – Lach took Isla. This time I sat with Isla in the front of Lach’s. We had a few races, Lach working very hard with 2 passengers, against Wendy. The jury is still out on the winner. W and L had a special day- early wedding anniversary dinner. On some evenings the hotel puts on a 5 course dinner in a special part of the resort – right overlooking the water. They said it was excellent and enjoyed themselves. Isla and I had cheese sandwiches.
The highlight of Monday was the several hours I spent with Isla playing on the beach. Lach went to a tennis lesson and Wendy finished her holiday knitting project – a new beanie for Isla. Wendy was very pleased with it. She has not knitted since the schoolgirl scarf stage and wanted to relearn. It was an excellent opportunity for me to help her.
W and I went snorkeling in the afternoon. We saw the ( or a very similar) octopus again. He sort of ‘stood up’ on his tentacles then swam away – luckily away from us. He settled on a rock and we watched for a while from an appropriate distance. Apart from the myriad of brightly coloured reef fish we also saw some giant clams.
It was a very relaxing holiday and it was great to spend time with W,L and Isla.
Goodnight
Friday, August 3, 2007
3.08.07 Friday evening
Yesterday we went on a ‘safari’ tour of the island. We spent the morning being driven to various sites around island and shown different things. Saw crops – main export pawpaw, next is noni and noni juice. Also saw arrowroot and taro growing as well more familiar crops. Told about their previous god and the arrival of Christianity. Had a bbq lunch. Tasted ike mara – the local version of the Polynesian marinated raw fish. Very nice.
In the evening we went into town to go to the dancing competition. We saw 6 of the performances. They were amazing – telling the story of the arrival of Christianity – this year‘s theme. There were between 40 and 60 dancers plus musicians in each act. In one in particular, the ‘warriors’ dancing with the very sinister sounding drum beats made the All Black’s hakka look positively tame. Isla was fascinated. Between each act she was heard to loudly say ‘More dancing’. Even at 9.30 , when she could hardly keep her eyes open, she was fascinated.
Today W, I and me caught the bus into town, primarily to take W and L’s suitcase to the upholsterer to be restitched. After dropping it off we went to the markets where there were stalls from the outer islands. There was more music and one or 2 dancers. I lined up for 25 minutes to get Isla a milkshake. We pottered around and then wandered back through town. We had a nice lunch and coffee again at The Café filling in time till the suitcase was finished. When W was walking back to the café were I was waiting while she collected the finished case, several people stopped and asked if she wanted a lift to the airport. Also, on the buses, several times I have been offered a seat on a full bus by a local male. It’s not just my apparent old age, I have seen other females, no longer young, being offered seats.
This afternoon W and I went snorkeling. I was a bit apprehensive – have not been snorklling for many years. It was terrific. Very many different coloured fish. Saw a seriously scary octopus. I thought at first that this large ‘eye’ opening and closing peering out at me from a stationary mass of brown was not really an’eye’ but a plant of some description. Then the mass started to move and I realized there were tentacles attached . I had Dr Who style visions of 2 m long tentacles whipping out and thought ‘ I’m not sure if I am more than 2m away’. I very shortly was 4m away!
Tonight is free drinkies so must away.
Ka kite
p.s. I think the internet access card I have bought expires tomorrow, so the next post maybe several days away.
In the evening we went into town to go to the dancing competition. We saw 6 of the performances. They were amazing – telling the story of the arrival of Christianity – this year‘s theme. There were between 40 and 60 dancers plus musicians in each act. In one in particular, the ‘warriors’ dancing with the very sinister sounding drum beats made the All Black’s hakka look positively tame. Isla was fascinated. Between each act she was heard to loudly say ‘More dancing’. Even at 9.30 , when she could hardly keep her eyes open, she was fascinated.
Today W, I and me caught the bus into town, primarily to take W and L’s suitcase to the upholsterer to be restitched. After dropping it off we went to the markets where there were stalls from the outer islands. There was more music and one or 2 dancers. I lined up for 25 minutes to get Isla a milkshake. We pottered around and then wandered back through town. We had a nice lunch and coffee again at The Café filling in time till the suitcase was finished. When W was walking back to the café were I was waiting while she collected the finished case, several people stopped and asked if she wanted a lift to the airport. Also, on the buses, several times I have been offered a seat on a full bus by a local male. It’s not just my apparent old age, I have seen other females, no longer young, being offered seats.
This afternoon W and I went snorkeling. I was a bit apprehensive – have not been snorklling for many years. It was terrific. Very many different coloured fish. Saw a seriously scary octopus. I thought at first that this large ‘eye’ opening and closing peering out at me from a stationary mass of brown was not really an’eye’ but a plant of some description. Then the mass started to move and I realized there were tentacles attached . I had Dr Who style visions of 2 m long tentacles whipping out and thought ‘ I’m not sure if I am more than 2m away’. I very shortly was 4m away!
Tonight is free drinkies so must away.
Ka kite
p.s. I think the internet access card I have bought expires tomorrow, so the next post maybe several days away.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
1.08.07 Wednesday afternoon
Yesterday we caught the bus into town to go on a boat ‘ Yellow Submarine’ tour. We had been recommended this, but it was disappointing. The boat had a ‘glass-bottom bottom and wall below surface’ area so that you could see coral ( mostly all dead) and fish ( too far away to see clearly). Both Wendy and I felt queasy . We were told some interesting info about Islands and tips on where to eat. This led to the highlight of the day - a very good value fish and chips meal. Most of the fish eaten here is game fish. We have had tuna, broadbill, swordfish and mai mai. The smaller reef fish mostly have a bacteria that make them dangerous for human consumption.
In the evening we went to the complimentary Managers Drinks. This consisted of either rum punch or non-alcoholic punch and a little spiel by the on-duty Manager. We had a buffet BBQ dinner and then watched a small ‘island dancing’ show then a display of fire stick twirling which was quite spectacular.
Today has been a relaxing day.
In the evening we went to the complimentary Managers Drinks. This consisted of either rum punch or non-alcoholic punch and a little spiel by the on-duty Manager. We had a buffet BBQ dinner and then watched a small ‘island dancing’ show then a display of fire stick twirling which was quite spectacular.
Today has been a relaxing day.
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