Florence - a city surrounded by the Italian hills and with enough famous names, including Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci to keep art scholars, tourists and digital cameras busy for centuries. It's been through floods, fires, sieges, plagues, political dramas (aka The Medici family) German Occupation and is the home for incredible monuments, cathedrals, buildings, bridges and art works. Just saying you need longer than our few days here. Each day we ventu...

The problem with our style travelling - limited to 3 weeks due to finaces and the business - is that we can only taste a bit of everywhere. But the flavours are amazing so what to do? Left the Cinque Terre hotel with a degree of confidence. Taxi rank had been sussed out and train schedule checked. Got to the taxis - well where the taxis should be - and not one in sight. Waited for a while before I mustered up my Italian (that didnt take long, all of 2 words) an...

For the last decade Ive heard about the Cinque Terre. And the day has come when I get to explore my dream. It's not just me celebrating - sunshine is glorious, the skies blue and the sea the clearest deep teal green. Walking is the thing between the villages but I chose to do the ferry. (Yes, Joel and Julia I dont know how you did it! lol) The boat shuttles up and down the coast line - slipping in and out of the harbours. Watching the villages over the...

A train from Milan's central station, awesome structure of stone and mosaics started the journey to Cinque Terre. Ive always wanted to visit here. Ive read the blogs, googled the photos, trip advised it. Finally I am on my way! No longer will Cinque Terre be a painting bought home by Joel or stories from Julia - it will be my own memories! The train ride, once out of Milan's 'burbs is picturesque. It winds itself through long tunnels under mountains, slippin...

Travel day today. Passports and tickets and weight restrictions to fret about. We change planes in Casablanca - memories of Humphrey Bogart and "play it one more time" to a chap named Sam. Airlines that speak French remind me that I don't. Us Australians leaping up to gaze out the aircraft windows to admire the snow covered Pyrenees, the mountain range between Spain and France or the Swiss Alps stretching out under our flight. Sad leaving an amazing countr...