This is very much a first world problem – how to pronounce the name of my favourite car maker. There must be so much confusion that the company itself has released a video covering this very subject. In usual Porsche … Continue reading
Blog Archives
Bella time
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This gallery contains 6 photos.
Our Bella is an outside dog – she loves getting outside whatever the weather. Her latest trick is to sit on one of the pillars beside the steps in the back yard and, well, just look around. She quite happy there … Continue reading
Advice for Italian travellers – Part 1
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This winter everyone seems to be travelling overseas for a holiday – everyone except us that is. We’re kiwi-bound this year as other priorities push ahead of la dolce vita. So it seems appropriate to offer some advice to those who are … Continue reading
Siena – our favourite Tuscan city
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This gallery contains 44 photos.
For the best part of a year Siena was our local town. We attended Italian language classes there, we were there at Palio time along with thousands of others, we learnt to navigate its many lanes and alleyways without getting lost … Continue reading
2015 – the year that was
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This gallery contains 45 photos.
As we do every January, here’s a quick look back at 2015. Some shots you may have seen and some new ones.
Some randomness
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This gallery contains 8 photos.
I have had a collection of random photos building up on my desktop for a while. Shots that I liked but which had no real story attached to them – other than they might be useful for a blog sometime in the future. Today … Continue reading
Something old and something new
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Last weekend I ended up with the 356 and 550 parked outside our place as I did those pre-winter car chores. It turned into an impromptu photo opportunity as the sun went down – at 5pm. One of these cars … Continue reading
Wellington weather
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Last week Wellington was a soggy place. On Thursday torrential rain caused flooding in some parts of the city and travel was badly disrupted. Thunder and lightning punctuated one of those late autumn days when the sky was only ever … Continue reading
Dinner at La Pergola
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This gallery contains 6 photos.
It’s not often that we make a restaurant reservation 4 months in advance. And it’s even less often that they come back and advise that, even with that much advance notice, they cannot confirm a table on the terrace – we … Continue reading
Pantheon memories
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As we wandered through Rome we passed the Pantheon. The last time we did this was 2011 when we had the girls with us. We recalled the challenge of walking them through the streets avoiding, not only the multitude of visitors, but … Continue reading
It’s always good to get to Rome
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When in Rome we always visit the Trevi Fountain and throw in a coin (right-handed over our left shoulders) to ensure our return to the city. But in true Italian fashion, this summer – over the peak tourist period – the … Continue reading
Under a Tuscan sun – surprisingly
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This gallery contains 14 photos.
According to the locals this summer in Tuscany was not good – lots of rain and wind, and not the usual warm temperatures. But we didn’t notice – for our two day stay the weather was glorious. It was a short stay but we … Continue reading
An evening in Noto
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This gallery contains 13 photos.
On Saturday we visited the historic hilltop village of Noto located about 45 minutes drive south west of Syracuse. It is a UNESCO world heritage site famous for its fine early 18th century buildings, considered among the main masterpieces in the Sicilian … Continue reading
A day on Ortygia
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This gallery contains 18 photos.
Ortygia is a small island separated from Syracuse by a narrow canal. It was the site of the original ancient Greek settlement which later became the bustling trading and fishing port of Syracuse. In fact the population of Syracuse around the … Continue reading
How not to park your Punto
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We arrived back at Sant’ Agostino after dinner one night earlier this week and discovered one of the guests had almost managed to park their Fiat Punto in the carpark. Now I’m no expert but given the height of the curb the … Continue reading
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