A trip to DLP, France, Italy & Eastern Mediterranean

[shushh]

Love Jonahs Mickey shoes. They are fantastic. All of the kids look like try are having so much fun. Their smiles reach their eyes.

What I love in Italy is the food. So fresh and simple and filling and out of the main cities. Cheap. You almost feel like you are cheating them. We have passed through Bologna twice. It is on my list for our next Italy trip for sure.

The kids are having a ball. Their biggest fear is that its is time to go home! I definitely agree about the food. SO lovely to just have the natural flavours stand out

Awesome!

I love Bologna. We had friends living there and as a consequence, we spent a bit of time in that city. It was a great place to use as a hub to Florence and towards Venice.

Your pictures take me back and I'm glad to see that the food reputation seems to remain intact.

Lucky you! Bologna really has a different feel to the other Italian cities. We've loved our time there and we can now say that it has good Indian as well as good Italian

 

[Caroline NZ]

Wow, your Florence apartments look lovely. And your shoes look wonderful also, what a bargain

 

[PrincessInOz]

Nice angles, shushh.
Was the area under Bologna built by the Etruscans?


Your Florence apartment looks great. I hope the other family's kid is better. Looking forward to more of Florence but I love your shoes.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Great apartment (s) (and good owners/managers to let the other family stay as needed and still accommodate you -not everyone are so helpful), great shoes and I loved Jonah's Disney boots from the earlier post too. You will have to tell us what was the best moments of the trip when you return (which I think may be hard!)

 

[shushh]

First full day in Florence
http://deliriouslydemented.blogspot.it/2013/01/renaissance-florence.html

The next day
http://deliriouslydemented.blogspot.it/2013/01/a-full-family-day.html

 

[areweindisneyyet]

I love when something unexpected happens. What a Beautiful parade. I love traveling as an extended family. I laughed at the golden boy remark. That is what my husband is called. Our girls love it and if we plan on gong aloe have to really convince them it wll be OK without the grandparents.


Did you get to the food Mercato. By girls loved it in there.

 

[PrincessInOz]

What a fantastic time in Florence. Those pictures of the parade were great. And no photography allowed in the museum anymore?


If your DH is the Golden Boy.....does that make you a Golden Girl????

 

[WanderlustNZ]

That hot chocolate looks so yummy!

 

[shushh]

I love when something unexpected happens. What a Beautiful parade. I love traveling as an extended family. I laughed at the golden boy remark. That is what my husband is called. Our girls love it and if we plan on gong aloe have to really convince them it wll be OK without the grandparents.


Did you get to the food Mercato. By girls loved it in there.

We made it to the Mercato Centrale today. Blog post coming up

My family love DH more than me...He can do no wrong! I'm always getting told by my parents to take care of him better! As for his parents, they'd bend over backwards for him (and the rest of the family but especially for him!). I can understand why as DH has the most generous of hearts.

What a fantastic time in Florence. Those pictures of the parade were great. And no photography allowed in the museum anymore?


If your DH is the Golden Boy.....does that make you a Golden Girl????

Princess, I was devastated not to be able to take photos in some of the museums. It was about 50% so far of museums in Italy where photography is not allowed. I suppose in some ways, it was good as I was able to enjoy what I'm seeing a little more.

Sadly, as much I'd love to be a "Golden Girl" (they were hilarious)...I'm nowhere near being one!

That hot chocolate looks so yummy!

They were so good we bought some packets to bring home with us

 

[shushh]

Our next two days in Florence
http://deliriouslydemented.blogspot.it/2013/01/secrets.html
http://deliriouslydemented.blogspot.it/2013/01/uffizi-shopping.html

THank you to everyone who've followed along. Its been a LONG read! You'll be glad to know that there's probably not that much longer to go though. We have 1 more day in Florence and then a travel day, a day in Rome and then we're on the cruise. I'll probably be awol then for about 2 weeks...

 

[Andona]

I've just caught up again, just love the account of your time in Florence so far! I just wanted to ask if your favourite lunch spot was the Buffet Freddo in your pictures? I think you said it was near the Uffizi gallery? I'd like to keep notes

The Galileo museum looks absolutely fascinating and what a thrill to stumble on the Epiphany parade!

Andona

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[PrincessInOz]

Beautiful, shushh! Really loved reading about what you've been doing in Florence. That bag is just gorgeous!

I don't know about the rest, but I am definitely going to miss your updates when you go awol on your cruise. I so look forward to updates on your blog.

 

[Minniemum]

Another one who is going to miss your blog updates. Gorgeous photos of Florence. Your children are doing a great job keeping up. What a wonderful opportunity to be travelling with both sets of parents.

 

[austraveler]

This is the most wonderful blog. I feel privileged to get a chance to read and observe your special family adventures. Beautiful photos, happy family, superb organisation. Thank you for posting!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

That bag is beautiful. How nice that every time you use it, you will be reminded of this wonderful trip.

 

[shushh]

http://deliriouslydemented.blogspot.it/2013/01/lucca-montecarlo-and-montecantini.html

 

[shushh]

I've just caught up again, just love the account of your time in Florence so far! I just wanted to ask if your favourite lunch spot was the Buffet Freddo in your pictures? I think you said it was near the Uffizi gallery? I'd like to keep notes

The Galileo museum looks absolutely fascinating and what a thrill to stumble on the Epiphany parade!

Andona

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Yes it was the Buffet Freddo! We accidentally bumped into the cooks the other evening and they were so happy to see us, gesturing and talking in italian. It was so lovely. When I come home, I'll give you the exact address. REmind me if I forget

Beautiful, shushh! Really loved reading about what you've been doing in Florence. That bag is just gorgeous!

I don't know about the rest, but I am definitely going to miss your updates when you go awol on your cruise. I so look forward to updates on your blog.

Thank you PIO Thank you for following along and taking the time to comment

Another one who is going to miss your blog updates. Gorgeous photos of Florence. Your children are doing a great job keeping up. What a wonderful opportunity to be travelling with both sets of parents.

Thanks Minniemum! It is special for both the children and the grandparents, and the parents! With so many people wanting to be with the children, it has been easier for Malcolm and I to enjoy the sights and have some time to ourselves which is hard when travelling!

This is the most wonderful blog. I feel privileged to get a chance to read and observe your special family adventures. Beautiful photos, happy family, superb organisation. Thank you for posting!

THank you for your kind words. I appreciate everyone taking the time to follow along.

That bag is beautiful. How nice that every time you use it, you will be reminded of this wonderful trip.

Definitely!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Love the excursion out to Lucca, Montecarlo and Montecatini. I had work ties (from another life) to Montecatini; so it was nice to see a glimpse of it.

Lucca looks lovely. And yes, I would have broken out in song.

 

[gogo65]

Haven't been around the dis boards for a while, but have just managed to read your blog in two days
What a fantastic holiday, you have seen so much in a short period of time, I really feel like I have only scratched the surface of Paris and Florence after two visits, but you seemed to have seen it all.
Who are you cruising with? We did a royal Caribbean out of Rome in 2011 and loved it, after a busy holiday of touring prior to the cruise, the cruise was a fantastic way to end the holiday. We booked private tours for most of the ports after reading and getting recommendations from cruise critic, best thing we ever did look forward to keeping up to date now

 

[Aussie Wendy]

It looks like you have continued a wonderful trip in Florence. I love your new bag. So nice to be able to travel together as an extended family and great for the kids. So many fantastic sights etc and chancing on the Epiphany Parade looked lovely. Have a wonderful cruise and look forward to hearing about it on your return.