So our European adventure is coming to an end, as we are waiting for the aircraft to push back and start our first leg home - Venezia to Dubai. 6 hours. But since the last blog, there is much to remember and enjoy. We had planned to spend a few days up in the Dolomites with Raimondo and Sally but for a couple of reasons, that was not to be, which was just as well because at the time, the weather was all rain. But fortunately, we were all able to go the followin...

Back in Lozzo and life resumes a more respectable pace, lots of thinking about what to do, less time doing it and just generally slotting in to "la dolci vita". With nothing much else to do, it was out on the bikes and as it was Jean's first ride we rode out to Montagnana, a magnificent walled city. It was so good that we went into the hills up to Teolo, a gentle 60km ride, except for a small section of 3 kms up with 250 metres of climbing and as it turned out, ...

As we leave Portugal today, I can sense that with every step we are getting closer to Italy. First, the bus to the airport was a few minutes late. Then on arrival at check-in, we are told the flight has been delayed 1 hour. Next, comes the line at the gate. Fortunately we have "Speedy Boarding" an Easy Jet innovation to minimise exposure to the great European crush, although I must say, the lines in Portugal were pleasantly polite, with any queue jumpers given ...

So, here we are in Lisbon and one of the first jobs, after finding the hotel, is to find a supermarket. So off we set with directions from the hotel, up a little back street and there it is, the sort of place that as a tourist, you wouldn't normally be walking past.This is all relevant because as Jean was making monumental decisions about which chocolate to buy, I was standing out of the way leaning against a counter of dried cod when a voice said, " there's a f...

Well here we are in Porto, after a reasonably easy trip up from the south of the country. All train connections achieved and we face the final, but not infrequent of challenges. Up an enormous hill to our hotel, one which we will be forced to do on many occasions over the next few days. Consequently I am looking forward to the final trip down when we leave. Maybe we can just sit on the suitcases and roll all the way to the bottom. Porto is a bit of a paradox, mo...