Hello Guys! Star??? Three bedrooms and TWO bathrooms! Is that the norm in Auz? I hope you get it. When I think how sad you were not long ago when your last employers laid you off....LOOK AT YOU NOW??
Paolo, oh I love the surrounding countryside of Florence. Tuscany is so beautiful in Autumn too. It's quite industrial around Livorno, and the south East too. But the Italians are sooo friendly. They really do love children too.On our last night in Italy, the manageress just cooed non stop over them and gave them each a huge doughnut (fresh home made ones) dribbled with chocolate, on the house! I'm like: "Oh no...no no no no oh go on then!!!" By the time she plonked the plates down, Manny was zonked out on his chair. Well that did it! They asked to take photographs and everything.
Every time we stopped anywhere, I would rush to the nearest café and order a cappuccino! Sometimes three at once. I'd declare loudly to all and sundry: "I LOVE Italian coffee!!!"
The majority speak English and even apologize that their English isn't perfect! I always interrupted with: "ERHEM! No, I AM sorry my Italian is so crapp!"
Here in Corsica most Corsicans won't speak in English...or French for that matter. But the young people do. They are sooo friendly. It never ceases to delight me when a group of teenagers approach and always nod and say hello, no matter what.
Greece was great, except almost every fisherman we came into contact with were openly hostile. In one port, a fisherman had tied up his two boats in the yacht yard, even though his boats were small enough for the shore and he repeatedly declared to all the big boats coming in to port: "The season's over! Go home!" in English, sitting there with arms crossed for hours, rambling on about his beloved bay. I sympathized with him; imagining how romantic and lovely it must have been in his youth. Now there aresprawling holiday villa's scarring the sides of the hills. But come evening,dog needed a sprinkle, (and bless 'im, he would not do it on deck even though there was a storm a blowing!!) I was fuming by the time I rowed the dinghy on shore. I refused to return to the bobbing boat till I'd wet me whistles with enough ouzo to put me in a calmer state, hahahaha! I won't elaborate on our little téte à tete as I finally got out onto dry land. We were quite rude and vulgar, but it made me feel better. The bars and restaurants weren't pleased as 7 yachts were stuck out in the bay and not many went ashore to eat. One had to be determined, as yours truly here certainly was....7 days & nights cooped up in a boat with pop-in-law??? Say no more!!
I would recommend seeing Pompei though. Out of season, mind! It was quite crowded when we went. You know, the clocks went back while we were in Pompei, but we didn't realize this for 2 whole days. I was moaning at the ticket woman: "It says you open at 9!! Look! It's 10 and you're still phaffing about!!" she didn't bother to reply. I stomped off and later discovered MY MISTAKE
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
AAAAND....she let the kid's in for free, saving us 30€!
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
I'll see if I can put a vid clip up of some of the ruins, myself included, ahahaha!
Sandy, I miss you very much. Give your parents my love and a hug too! I hope you have a very good time, as I bet you will. Keeping George in my thoughts and sending your man lots of love during your absence!
Take good care everyone, Love, Petra xxx
![You are cute :love](./images/smilies/icon_yourecute.gif)