Here we go again ... 3rd card scammed!! Raj: Having accepted only last week the consequences (higher travel costs) of my credit card being scammed and cancelled with no replacement for 2 months, Vikki's card not working since her scammed card was replaced (no PIN), today I get home and find someone has scammed my debit card for $1500! Don't know what the hell is happening and I feel totally insecure with more than 3 months to go. I didn't expect this, so now I...

Raj: This blog picture is not very interesting; however I thought I'd show and mention the last episode of the day - Vikki's "water slide". Having rained (surprisingly) late afternoon the steps to our apartment got rather slippery, as Vikki found out when she slid from the top all the way to the bottom (some 20 steps). She's bruised and sore on one side but otherwise ok we think - the morning will probably bring out the worst with stiffness . I thought 6 mont...

Raj: Buongiorno! Yesterday we arrived in Italy. It was a long drive so we coughed up 40 Euros (about NZD75) to go on the toll road the whole way. I didn't enjoy driving - too many trucks and tunnels and very unclear signs of the speed, and I didn't trust the GPS. Vikki had warned me about Italian drivers and I did experience one altercation when a van simply pulled into my lane causing me to swerve away. Having only had 5 hours sleep the night before due to...

The Patel-Muxlow Factor: Well today is our last day in France, (other than dropping off the car in late September) and as we sit on the beach eating pizza and watching the sunset, we can reflect that we've had a pretty good time so far. Today though has been one of those days for all of us, a bit of a "factor" day all round. It started first thing this morning when an email from the bank advised Raj's credit card had been scammed - here we go again. So busy bus...

Raj: You'd think going on a 6 month trip around the world we'd feel lucky and privileged to be doing what we're doing. Every now and then I reflect on what we've been able to see and experience and I'm grateful we can all share this opportunity together. Yes we're bleeding Euros against a declining exchange rate and sometimes I'll be a bit tight with the wallet, preferring to self cater wherever possible as accommodation, tourist entrance fees and food are our...