Hallo from Vienna, Germany!

It seems so long since I have last emailed, so much has happened since we were in Nice!

While in Nice we went to Monaco to explore for a night. We went down to the harbour and walked along the water - it was so beautiful, all lit up with Christmas lights and lots of little Christmas markets to explore. We also discovered the Grand Casino in Monte Carlo which is very classy.

From Nice we went to Florence, via Pisa, which is where we spent Christmas Eve. Chrimas Eve dinner was lots of fun, it was in a restaurant called le Chateause on a hill near a monastery. It was a great night with lots of dancing, singing, eating and eating and a bit more eating and lemoncello (which is foul!).

Christmas Day was spent in 2 countries and 3 cities. Walking tour of Florence in the morning after our Christmas crackers at brekky and exchanging secret santa pressies. Then onto Rome where we had Christmas turkey for dinner at a lovely little restaurant which doubles as a theatre. After dinner we went to the Trevi Fountain to throw in our coins and eat gelato - magical and then was a surprise visit to the Vatican to see it lit up at night! Finished the night with a Christmas toast in the hotel lobby.

Exploring in Rome was a MASSIVE day! So much to see and do. We did a walking tour of the Collosseum and the ruins which was interesting - so much history in that place! We also did the Pantheon, the Mouth of Truth, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza di Navona, Spanish steps and Bone Church. We are saving the Vatican until we return after the tour.

The last two days have been spent in Venice - amazing! Yesterday was a big day of exploring with a trip to the island of Venice in a motoscaffo and then a lace demo and a glass demo. It is so awesome to watch the way they make the animals out of glass! We thengot ourselves lost in the beautiful city of Venice, exploring the stunning shops filled with glass and jewellery and designer stuff. We found the rialto bridge, st. marks church, bell tower and doges palace. In the afternoon we went on a gondola ride!! It was so much fun. Tamara, Nicole, Alice, Alison, Simone and I (Amy) went on a gondola together sipping red wine and ejoying a scenic float along the canals! We also went in the explore st. marks which was beautiful - the inside of the church is simply covered in gold mosaics!

We have just arrived in Vienna to a winter wonderland! We had a small frolick in the snow at our servo stop - much fun! Everything looks so pretty covered in snow, it is like walking through Narnia! We are hoping that it will continue to snow throughout Germany and Amsterdam as well.

There you go, pretty much up to date! Happy New Year because we probwill not have internet again for a while.

Love to you all!! Missing you lots!

Love Amy xox

P.S. Mum - we printed off our airline tickets, thanks to the help of our little Austrian friend. Also, where is Dhabi?