Itinerary
Leave Vancouver Sept 3rd
Arrive Venice Sept 4th
Drive to Villa in Tuscany Sept 6th
Villa (Bibbiena) Sept 6 - 13th
Drive to Cinque Terre Sept 13th
Monterossa, Cinque Terre Sept 13th - 15h
Train to Milan Sept 15th
Fly to Mykonos Sept 16th
Mykonos Sept 16th -19th
Fly to Santorini Sept 19th
Santorini Sept 19th - 23rd
Fly to Crete Sept 23rd - 27th
Fly to Athens Sept 27th
Athens to Amsterdam Sept 27th
Fly Home Sept 28th
Venice
We had 2 nights and 1 full day in one of the most beautiful cities we have ever seen. We stayed in the Hilton (very luxurious) which was on an island all its own. The Bologna Family appear to be famous as we recieved VIP treatment.(complimentary food and drinks whenever we wanted it). We shopped and toured then ended the day with a romantic gondola ride.
Drive from Venice to Bibbiena
....2 cars.... 2 Teams....1 GPS....poor signage....Italian Beaches...beautiful countryside...crazy Italian driving...emotions heightened...windy roads...car sickness....
THE BOLOGNA FAMILY ARRIVE AT CASA CARDINALE
Giostra Del Saracino
Sunday September 7th -We attended a famous annual Festival in Arezzo at the Piazza Grande. (A jousting match).
Disaster Strikes Santorini!!!!!
Bologna Family survives worst rain storm in 25 years. Harrowing cliffside drive home by maniac driver, in white out fog conditions leaves some family members visiably shaken (soiled gaunch). Carol's birthday celebration reduced to pyjama party with pizza and wine and wine and also some wine.
Crete
Many of us may want to return to Crete... as we didn't see much of it. We were given 2 rental cars at the airport with very little gas. We drove to our hotel and relaxed the rest of the day. The next morning, after our beautful gourmet buffet breakfast, we set out in our cars to fill the tanks and tour the island. The first gas station we came to, the attendant did not speak english but motioned to us that he had no gas . Puzzled, we proceeded to the next gas station (only 10 kms away) to find out that there has been a gas strike for the last two days. We had enough gas to return to our hotel. Immediately, we phoned the rental car company and coincidentally, their english skills deteriorated. After many hours of anxiety and frustration, we cut our losses and enjoyed the remainder of our stay in the compounds of our lovely resort property. Oh well!
Un più sonno ( one more sleep)
26 comments:
Oohhhh.....pant pant! What a sexy-looking family! Will there be stories of seductions, incest...and all the other good stuff?
augurandogli tutto un viaggio meraviglioso..
if your italian is not up to par, what i said is ... wishing you all a wonderful trip..
looking forward to hearing your stories
Where's the monkey? Hope the 9 of you have a blast!!
Babs
Stay tuned and find out what lies ahead for this sexy family.....but we are a family of 8 not 9!!!!!There is no monkey ( a horse's head maybe but no monkey)!!!!
Looks like a new episode for
Dirty Sex Money on the way!
Keep us up to date.
May you all come back married and still friends!
Hasta Luego!
Ti amo mucho
Your Dominican Family..
Dearest Carol, Vic, Deb, Brian, Roberta, David, Carol and Mark
I sit here in my bedroom tonight and although I am wearing blue and brown, I know that my true colour at this very moment is green. Green with envy. Envious because of this huge and marvelous adventure that is about to unfold before you.
The opportunity for you to experience new cultures in new environments that are unique and exciting. To see firsthand how other people live and realize that although we are different in so many ways, we are the same in the ways that really count. I know that you will all have amazing stories to tell at the end of your time together but before you even set foot on European soil I know that the greatest tales of all will be about your strengthened friendships, the laughter you have shared and the love you have for each other.
How incredibly fortunate you are to share this experience with so many people you love. Not many of us get that kind of opportunity. Travel memories can be very poignant and often even a bit life altering. I hope that each and every one of you has a trip moment in time that is “just yours.” It could come in the form of a wonderful meal, a quiet walk through a vineyard or simply a certain time that you can call your very own. I am going to be waiting anxiouly to hear each one of you tell me what that time was for you and why. For you, Deb, I hope it has something to do with a 12 km. hike.
Loads of love and affection to you all.
Avere i viaggi sicuri e le memorie felici. Mangiare bene e non dimenticarci alla casa.
Con l'amore,
Leslie
Oh Monty is ready and waiting for departure! He is so.....excited!! And so am I!!! Here's to many great memories & laughs! To all of our family & friends we will miss you tons and love you all!!!
C yoh !!!
Carol
Sorry Roberta but this is going to be repeated the whole trip!!!
I'm getting a little nervous that my Italian is not up to par like my dear friends..Iris and Leslie...I am impressed! How am I going to COMMUNICATE...OMG!!!! No drinking for me on the plane...I'll be doing my homework...pen in hand...phrase book propped up on the tray!!
We will be thinking of you...
Love to my family and friends...XXOXOXOXOOXOXO
See Ya...Love Roberta....**spelt in Italian ....Ciao!
Roberta, just visit www.freetranslation.com and like me...you too can look like you know what you are saying. LOL
Enjoy, love, laugh, indulge and be safe!!
Love from the Rodriguez family
Where the hell are you all? We are waiting to get the scoop on Venice.
Leslie would have had a posting by now!!!!!
Eat, pray, love...not necessarily in that order! Hope you are all having a wonderful time, we're thinking of you and hoping it's so much fun you don't have time to blog! Can't wait to hear all about it and wish we could be there with you! Look forward to hearing about all your adventures...be safe! Love ya, CHOW, Sharon, Ian, Carly & Connor
But after a harrowing drive I bet there is nothing like a little Italian comfort food paired with a lot of Italian vino to get you all back on track and ready for the next adventure.
Hurray! You are alive and well in Tuscany!!!
Just how damn good is that Vino Nobile di Montepulciano? Fantastic.
Love to you all.
I think I am greener with envy than you Leslie! My birthday is on the 13th and look at all the shit these guys are doing! I will be wakeboarding and getting whiplash...how fun is that! Have some (lots of) beautiful red Italian wine for me please. I doubt you will need any arm twisting for that! I will be thinking of you.:)
I hope your fabulous adventure continues to be just that.
Arrivederci i miei amici. Piacere ogni minuto della sua vacanza meravigliosa.
Non vedendo l'ora di sentire delle sue avventure sul suo ritorno.
(thanks Leslie!)
Gilly Bean
Too bad about getting arrested. Not surprised though. Keep your pants on, for Pete's sake.
Hi Mom & Dad & gang!
Pictures look great, I'm sure you are up to no good & getting in lots of trouble. We expect no less from you. Just come home in one piece cuz Bailey is eagerly awaiting your return.. Hope all is going well and can't wait to hear all about it. Thinkin of ya & missing you! Lots of love,
Brooke & Devon & Bailey
ps- devon got a tattoo.
(sweet dreams!)
I heard Bailey got one too.
Hello you Italian Stalions...(ok..ponies) and hi to you Italian hot momma's. Carol..work is so busy...but hopefully you'll come back to clean desk. I'm off to NY next week..can't wait. Nothing too much happening here. Weather fantastic...still starving! Miss you at work.
Hey, great to hear from you guys again. I knew Brian swung both ways...
Happy Birthday dear Carol!!!! It's Book Club tonight at Susan's and I will make sure the girls know that there is new blog postings. We have been patiently waiting.
PS. Brooke got a tattoo. It's swwwweeeeeet!
I heard that Cam got married.
Hey from Graham. I heard on the news that the Bologna Family had some kind of altercation with the policia in Italy and now are in a Santorini holding cell awaiting trial....what's up with this?
I should be there.
Happy Belated Birthday Carol!! Wine, friends, pizza's and pyjamas sounds like the perfect way to spend a birthday. Hope Crete has some sun for you all. Fall has hit here now, so enjoy it while you can. Love to all and travel safe.
Love from The Rodriguez Family
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