A trip to DLP, France, Italy & Eastern Mediterranean

[areweindisneyyet]

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.

Me too, I have loved traveling along with you. Enjoy the cruise.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

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

I love Lucca. Can't believe it's been nearly two months. It was so lovely to see your photos and the subtle differences in the trees. I love walking around the wall and the piazzas. We always seem to buy a lot when we visit Lucca too!

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Loving every minute of your fabulous trip. Amazing photos and descriptions of things.

I hope you are keeping lots of notes of places you stayed and ate for me .

Now I have 2 questions for you:-

1. How are you remembering all of those facts about the things in the photos from the year they were made to the finest details? I'm so very impressed with all the info.

2. Are you kids just the most amazing eaters in the world and will eat anything? I'm looking at some of the food pics thinking OMG, I hope these places sell nuggets and chips or pepperoni pizza or else DS will starve hahahaha.

 

[shushh]

I love Lucca. Can't believe it's been nearly two months. It was so lovely to see your photos and the subtle differences in the trees. I love walking around the wall and the piazzas. We always seem to buy a lot when we visit Lucca too!

Isn't Lucca just gorgeous? I just love Italy and every single place we've visited. I can't believe its time to leave!

Loving every minute of your fabulous trip. Amazing photos and descriptions of things.

I hope you are keeping lots of notes of places you stayed and ate for me .

Now I have 2 questions for you:-

1. How are you remembering all of those facts about the things in the photos from the year they were made to the finest details? I'm so very impressed with all the info.

2. Are you kids just the most amazing eaters in the world and will eat anything? I'm looking at some of the food pics thinking OMG, I hope these places sell nuggets and chips or pepperoni pizza or else DS will starve hahahaha.

Thanks for popping in! I hope you are well and truly over your cold.

With the info, we do some pre-reading before hand so we can give the children a run down before we visit. That helps a lot. But my memory is not that good! I take photos of plaques and signs that are everywhere which describe and give details on the particular attraction so I can reread the information! I also keep the pamphlets that you get given when you enter an attraction for my blog. Most museums here are awesome. In most rooms where there are artwork, they have laminated cardboard sheets available with the floor plan and the artworks numbered and then the name of the artwork, the artist, the year it was painted/discovered and a short description.

The kids are good with regard to eating and sleeping while away. They really do eat and will try most things. But don't worry, there are pizzas everywhere here! And chips too so DS won't starve

 

[shushh]

Travel to Rome - San Gimignano and Siena
http://deliriouslydemented.blogspot.it/2013/01/san-gimignano-siena-roma.html

Rome
http://deliriouslydemented.blogspot.it/2013/01/our-day-in-rome.html

And folks that may it for the next 2 weeks. We will going on the cruise today and I'm not sure how easy it will be to blog onboard or if the internet will be fast enough. We'll see...

Thanks again for following along and will catch up again when we get home to Sydney!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Shushh.....Those pictures in San Gimignano, Siena and Rome are just delightful. I am sitting here in absolute awe and utter envy. I LOVE that violin bag and would have bought me one; irrespective of what the price is!

Have a great cruise. Look forward to your amazing pictures there when you return. Safe travels to you and the entire family.

 

[WAMUMOF4]

your TR have been following along and to be honest have been wondering why my posts don't show only to realise I have been pushing preview post instead of submit reply

Anyway you will be happy to know you made me giggle again it had always been my fear that one of my kids would push or pull that emergency button thankfully there all old enough now that I don't need to worry.
The scenery is beautiful thanks for the updates.

 

[shushh]

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.

Wow, it must seem pretty random and strange to read about a town from a previous life. Montecatini isn't exactly a place that many people know about!

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

Thank you!
We are cruising with NCL and they seem to be one of the few that offer sailings in winter with itineraries that we liked or visited ports that we hadn't been to. No one in the family has ever been on NCL so will definitely keep you updated! We also usually do private tours as we seem always seem to have numbers on our side

 

[shushh]

Shushh.....Those pictures in San Gimignano, Siena and Rome are just delightful. I am sitting here in absolute awe and utter envy. I LOVE that violin bag and would have bought me one; irrespective of what the price is!

Have a great cruise. Look forward to your amazing pictures there when you return. Safe travels to you and the entire family.

You know PIO...I was kicking myself for not going back in! It was closed when I first walked past but I was so engrossed in eating and looking at other shops that I completely forgot about the violin bag...until I saw photo of it. Doh!

your TR have been following along and to be honest have been wondering why my posts don't show only to realise I have been pushing preview post instead of submit reply



Anyway you will be happy to know you made me giggle again it had always been my fear that one of my kids would push or pull that emergency button thankfully there all old enough now that I don't need to worry.
The scenery is beautiful thanks for the updates.

You know, I am ready to give Jonah away but not one will take him!!! Ms Shuttergirl if you're reading, my son makes awful noises as well which are very loud. This gets amplified when one is in a place like say a church...when the noise ECHOES like crazy! ARghh!!!

 

[Marlea98]

Now I'm definitely going to Italy (I've told DD to study Italian as an elective at high school so I can go along as the parent volunteer )!

Have a lovely cruise.

 

[Team Trystan]

Beautiful blog and great idea to blog as you go along, it feels like we are all on the trip with you! Can't wait to share this experience with my child one day!

 

[australiankaren]

just caught up...what a fantastic job on the blog...I may have to get you to come on my next trip and do my TR...and are you still using the iphone....and if you are..how are these awesome pics possible..the pics are great..I may need a dummies course.

feel like we are traveling with you.....keep going!

 

[Minniemum]

Have a wonderful cruise!

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Have a fantastic relaxing cruise. If your children really loved Italy the older ones may enjoy reading the Stravaganza series written by Mary Hoffman-modern day children find a talisman that takes them to an alternate world of medieval Italy where they are involved in various adventures. Each book features on a different city-the first is based in Venice, other include Siena, Padua, Florence, Ravenna. I love them as much as my DD and they appeal to boys as much as girls.

 

[shushh]

More updates are up if anyone is interested.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

Thanks Shussh. Loved San Gimignano too. It stands out, we love it. Loved The art tour by four yr old.

Looking forward to more of the cruise.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Love, love, loving your cruise updates.

Well done on the flag trivia. I get excited by quizzes such as this also. Although, I must admit, I have no idea what the flag of Madagascar looks like.

I've looked into those NCL suites and fell in love with the big glass showers. A shower with a view of the ocean - bliss. One day...

 

[Andona]

Shushh, I have to know...where exactly was that toilet in San Gimignano? I want to add it to my sightseeing list...

Siena looks amazing too, everything about Tuscany looks amazing! I read somewhere that the decorative floors in the Duomo there are covered up for most of the year to protect them, but from your photos I guess that's not true? We're you able to see all the floor?

I've been looking at reviews of hotels in Rome lately and remember reading about the IQ hotel but I can't remember what part of Rome it's in?

Sorry for all the questions , but between your blog and AWIDY's TR , my appetite for a visit to Italy is going nuts!

Hoping you have time for another post or two before your cruise, but if not, have a fabulous relaxing time

Andona

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[shushh]

We're home! And back to reality. The children have started their new schools and have settled it very well. We've survived week one. Yay!

So here is my attempt to resurrect my blog and finish the last few days of our trip. Its not in order unfortunately as I'm finishing the 'easy' posts first!

Andona, I'm working on the Italy section right now!

Shushh, I have to know...where exactly was that toilet in San Gimignano? I want to add it to my sightseeing list...

Siena looks amazing too, everything about Tuscany looks amazing! I read somewhere that the decorative floors in the Duomo there are covered up for most of the year to protect them, but from your photos I guess that's not true? We're you able to see all the floor?

The floors had roped off sections where the features were but they were open and you could see the floors clearly

I've been looking at reviews of hotels in Rome lately and remember reading about the IQ hotel but I can't remember what part of Rome it's in?

Its near the termini right next to the opera house. Quite convenient location wise. Reception very friendly. Breakfast not bad for 10 euros

Sorry for all the questions , but between your blog and AWIDY's TR , my appetite for a visit to Italy is going nuts!

Hoping you have time for another post or two before your cruise, but if not, have a fabulous relaxing time

Andona

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[shushh]

Crete, Greece
http://deliriouslydemented.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/iraklion-greece.html