Italy

With our time in Italy coming close to an end, we spent the last week making the most of the beautiful city of Verona and its surrounds.

We were lucky enough to have our friends from Northside, Shane and Sara, come over for a visit from London.

Unlike our other London visitors, they brought great weather with them, perfect for taking in the sights, even the opera in the arena, and a trip to Lake Garda.

Of course no visit to Italy would be complete without trying out the local cuisine...

(Simon insists the wedges at McDonalds in Verona are the best in the world!)

We said goodbye to Shane and Sara, and goodbye to Verona, and are currently in Barcelona for 5 days. After that we'll be visiting France before heading home via London and HK again. More updates soon!

Last weekend we decided to take advantage of no trucks on the road and drive to Mantova, a nearby city. When we realised it only took 25 minutes to get there we were sorry not to have been there sooner!

It was a stifling hot day, with no wind, and most of our day was spent trying to find cool places to escape the heat! Luckily Mantova is full of amazing palaces and churches, beautiful and cool!

A local fishing competition was happening on the lake.

The Mantovans must love their food. We had two delicious meals of local specialties, including green gnocchi, ravioli with pumpkin, clam soup... We also spent a few hours in the afternoon chilling at a trendy bar looking over a park, until we felt intimidated by the super cool crowd and had to leave.

OK so I have started to feel really fat.

Sometimes I like the belly, sometimes it annoys me. It's started to get pretty hot here now, and I'm finding a day in the heat walking around really tires me out. We went to Bergamo the other day and I was unable to help Simon up this hill...

... ok it was steeper than it looks ... luckily this cute little old Italian man was walking down the hill, and when he saw us he turned around so he could help. He was panting at the top poor little thing, I thought he might keel over from a heart attack!

When we set out on the ferry for Bellagio, the sun was shining and we were thinking how lucky we were, after the terrible weather we'd had with Tara and Emma, to get a chance to see Lake Como in the sunshine.

After spending a couple of hours there, we hopped back on the ferry. Mid way through the trip, the rain came... then the hail! Hail was pelting into the car ferry, as we helplessly tried to get sheltered (unsuccessfully). As we arrived at Menaggio where our cars were, we made a mad bolt through the hail to some shelter. This was the result...

Nevertheless, as much as we hate the weather they inevitably bring, we do love having visitors. This time it was Simon's old mate Daniel, and his girlfriend Robyn and friend Ange. And Sayos came along for the ride as well.

We had a really enjoyable few days in Lake Lugano, picnics, walks on the lake, bike riding for some, and of course the usual shenanigans.

Sayos was up to his usual tricks...

As was Simon...

(what to do when you're stuck in a traffic jam)

Scenery was picturesque as always...

And on the way home we had a day in Bergamo, enjoying some fine food and another amazing church.

Back in Verona for a week now, catching up on veg-out time. Ah, la dolce vita.

A horse is a horse, of course, of course,
But no one can speak to a horse, of course,
That of course, because that horse,
Is the famous second course...

Rich Say came to visit recently, and as always with The Say things were interesting. First off we were really hungry.

In fact Rich was soooo hungry he could eat a horse. (This joke was used all week)

Now if there are any horse lovers out their this may offend, but let me tell you... As fun as they are to ride, to pat, or of course, of course to bet on, their true potential will only be realised once butchered, stewed and served up on a plate. The Veronese figured this out a while ago and now Cavallo Stew is the local speciality.

It was in fact very tasty, though I did feel a little odd about it at first, the taste soon won me over. Rich didn't need any convincing.

Afterwards Rich was almost as full as Clare's 21 week belly.

We also went clubbing at Verona's famous club, Alter Ego. It's a superb club hanging from the hillside above the city, with spectacular views and tunes.

We made some friends.

And we appreciated the cultural differences.

Whilst Rich was in town we were also privileged enough to meet his friend - Papa.

Clare went to bed and Papa and Rich and I stayed up late, drinking at the pizza shop downstairs.

It was fun but I couldn't play the next day. Sore head.

As always Verona is about the food.

But we did also see some sites.

(how amazing does this look?)

(it's just a building)

Clare and Rich did anyway - I was stuck downstairs.

Brilliantly they have put in a lift for the tower that is only up five steps?!

Next stop Lake Lugano with Daniel and Robyn...