Milan where the sky is normally foggy and overcast greeted us with clean air and sunshine. About 10 days a year you can see the alps that surround the north of Milan and today was one of those days.
 
The train trip from Venice to Milan was a little bit of fun. First the station staff refused to help get Beth on Board because we didn't give them 24 hours notice. So Lyndal had a little bit to say to them. According to Lyndal her language was appropriate. When the train inspector rang them to find out what happened they suggested that Lyndal told them to "go forth and do things" so they refused to help. Now I know Lyndal's Italian needs a lot of work and I don't think she even knows any Italian swear words.
 
So after lifting Beth and wheelchair up the three stairs into the train we eventually settled down for the ride. It was my birthday and I was given some Kit Kats so we shared them out. Unfortunately Beth's piece decided to go straight down and choked her. After much spluttering and back slapping all was well and we settled down for the journey. Jack fell asleep and about half an hour out of Milan woke up and loudly announced - I have no food!
 
So to Milan and back to our home The Hub Hotel. The kids and I went swimming whilst the others packed, repacked - worried about weight, repacked... The pool and spa were great and I figured we could pack tomorrow! In the lobby of the hotel was this English guy we met 2 weeks ago. His name is Jay and he is a manager with an oil company working on a project in Italy. 2 weeks ago he went to the doctor and ended up in hospital with pneumonia and only just got out. Tonight we were staying at the hotel and celebrating our last night with mocktails (and real ones) and my birthday with limoncello. Den Den, Illaria, Sylvia and Dario (from Atlha) and Jay joined us for dinner and drinks and a massive and very noisy game of spoons. It was a fun night for the last night before the big trip home.
 
Up early and off to the airport for that long haul. Watched 4 movies to Singapore and most slept from Singapore to Melbourne - sort of sleep anyway. Home sweet home - unfortunately Jack and I had these replica musket pistols seized by customs and we were very late coming out.
 
So another trip down and I'd like to say thank-you to my travelling family. It felt like our group was just that, a big family - everyone got on well (most of the time) and just joined in the spirit of whatever was happening. Not keen on the 3 wives though - one is more than enough! So to Campbell, Isaac, Ebony, Bethany, Katie, Jack, Alanna, Lyndal, Shelley and Kimberley thanks for making the trip a lot of fun and embracing the experience for what it is. Thanks to Bailey House - you were great travelling companions and thanks to Altha for the amazing hospitality and spoiling us for the trip.
 
Special mention to Katie whose commitment and hard work to recording and digitalising the trip was appreciated by so many people.
 
Til next time

 
Fred

Like a painting this city is truly beautiful. Off the train and straight to the Grand Canal. Isaac was speechless mostly because he has lost his voice but also because it meets all his expectations. A soundless Isaac is kind if nice!

So our hotel was right in San Marco so on to the ferry for the trip down the grand canal to find the hotel. Lunch and then some went up the tower, some to the Palace and others went shopping. After the tower Isaac, Eb, Alanna and I went exploring. We were trying to find the scariest and spooky lanes and tunnels in Venice. Ebony nearly fell into a canal - very funny - the path we were following just went down and into a canal - no steps and very slippery. We followed a rat as it went from one doorway - swam across the canal into another doorway - love rats!! We then took turns deciding which way to turn in the attempt to get lost. Success! We were lost.

Next morning - nice sleep in for most - then the Gondola ride - a highlight for many. Beth was a little annoyed we had to get off but we promised a boat ride later. To the ferries and to Murano for .......more shopping yay! We did see some glass blowing too so that was good. The wind had picked up so the ferry ride was fun for Beth. More food and then an epic game of spoons in the lobby of the hotel. Very raucous, laughing and shouts soon moved everyone else out of the area.

So to today we are on the train heading back to Milan ready to fly out tomorrow. Tried to kill Beth with a Kit Kat but she survived, and is watching Shrek for the 500 time.

Until domani

Fred

After the opportunity for a sleep in and a leisurely breakfast we hit the city to see the sights. Rain was spasmodic but looked OK. By 1.30pm we had moved a couple of blocks but we got to see a really cool church and to do lots of shopping - yay! Finally got to the Spanish steps then lunch and shortly after the Trevi Fountain. Then to the Coliseum where thanks to Bethany we all got in for the equal of 12 euros for 11 people. Wondered around - did a couple of laps, imagined the condemned running around naked as wild beasts hunted them down and ripped them apart. This would be followed by clowns and jugglers as they tidied up then the gladiators were to battle. All up a fun day was to be had by all. By then the excitement of the day was wearing so we headed off for dinner and to the hotel for sleep. 


Now we had a couple of extraordinary events today. 

The first was the discovery of Italian head lice, so pharmacia's were visited and we all treated ourselves - great fun!!! Shelley's nightmare!!

Second was watching this old bloke steal coins out of the Trevi fountain. He had this extendable magnet that he would whip out and collect the coins of the wishers. I pointed him out and we began staring at him. He realised we could see him and what he was doing and kept trying to hide in the crowd. Every so often he would look back and eventually I waved to him and Kimberley shook her finger at him. He was caught on film and the kids went to show the police - he realised and took off his hat ruffled his hair and disappeared into the crowd. The police were very gracious and thanked the kids but couldn't find him. 

Third was this waiter at dinner. He could help but continued to joke and have fun at our expense. Everybody had to order dinner in Italian, then when someone asked where the toilet was he  said at the station - laughing riotously at the pained expression while pointing out the door in the restaurant. Finally when bringing coffee he served three people then came towards me with a cup and pretended to slip and spill it. I had kittens and ducked behind Jack. The cup was empty but he had a good laugh.

So to tomorrow which brings more trains and Venice. 

Til then

Fred

We rocked Rome!
The Vatican, Piazza Novara, Parthenon,, Trevi Fountain, Repubblica, my favorite thing shopping, portraits from the street artists, lunch, dinner at 9, bed.

Nearly walked the legs of most of them, caught a metro bus and five enjoyed a tour of the Vatican where they were hearded around in packs but got to see some really cool stuff. I went with Bethany, Lyndal, Jack and Alanna. We- thanks to Bethany - went around all the queues straight in to the Basilica, free entrance to the museum and spent a great couple of hours wondering around. Highlights - St Peters middle finger in gold (Beth's favorite bit) some pope's skull, a gold plated sarcophagus of some other pope and Instruments of torture used on Christians.

Isaac wanted to know how much it's all worth...I held my tongue and spared him my political views so I just said priceless because it can never be replaced just like you - this confused him so I said if I sold you into slavery I could never give another one to your mum because you cannot be replaced. So he of the 10000 questions and a million strange facts kept going. Thankfully a local slave trader was passing - sold!

Unfortunately the Cupola was a  two hour wait so we skipped and went to lunch instead. Piazza Novara with the three fountains and full of artists enabled many to get their portrait done, watch a bit of breakdancing and....more shopping! Then to the Pantheon and it was raining so the myth was destroyed. It does get wet and there are drainage holes in the floor. A few had dried by then so they caught a cab back whilst the rest followed Lyndal directed us back to the hotel - don't let Lyndal lead you anywhere. It was a panoramic tour but we did find the Trevi Fountain and wondered through the Republica on our way back. Dinner & bed

Til tomorrow

Fred

Farewell Milan welcome Rome as we headed south on the train. Lyndal, Bethany & Eb were off early to catch a different train to visit relatives in Livorno on the way to Rome. So we made sure she got underway first - then chilled until it was time for us to taxi to the station. Two taxi's same trip - one 22 Euro's the other 33 Euro's ????

The train was sensational - comfortable and rocked along at 275km. And so to Rome, the eternal city. Check in at the hotel and then we hit the streets. Wondered down to the Colosseum & The Forum, visiting just about every shop on the way - god I love shopping - although we did find a great Vespa shop!!

Once we had just about died from over walking (Jules will understand how good my sense of direction is in Rome) we stopped and had dinner was outside near termini station as we had to meet Lyndal off the train at 10pm.

So Jack and I met the guys off the train and walked them to the hotel when Lyndal told me she had left her passports in the safe in Milan. Well the concierge in the hotel was having kittens and was saying no passports no room. Thank god were were near Termini station cause Lyndal, Beth & Eb could join the homeless who sleep under the portico's of the station. So once we got them settled with some good cardboard and squeezed in between a couple of snoring drunks I headed back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.

Til tomorrow



Fred


Just kidding - luckily the anally retentives of our group had a photocopy of their passports so after me suggesting that he couldn't throw this poor mother and her two bambini out on the street with nowhere to stay he accepted the photocopies and let them stay.

And so to today where an early start for the intrepid five who were doing the Vatican tour and a slower start for those who are heading to the Vatican by metro. We are meeting at the Ponte Sant' Angelo at 12.30. Unless I get lost!

Catch ya later


Fred

The day of farewell to Atlha, Bayley House and Milano. Also Bethany and Jack's birthday! Got to sleep in - Jack woke at 9am- surely a miracle given how excited he was - must have been the wine!!! Breakfast was several happy birthdays and a phone call home for Jack. Bethany chilled in bed and opened presses. Her sister brought her a statue of David - well just the middle bit of David actually. We brought her a calendar of pigs bottoms & a T-shirt. From mum she got a new bag and a bracelet, and from Bayley house she got a snow globe of the Duomo. Jack got a skeleton wallet from his family a tshirt, key ring and an Inter bracelet from Interchange and a Inter cap from Bayley House.

So we got everything ready - organized the gifts and headed off to the Cascina for lunch and a spectacolo.. Before that more birthday celebrations with cake - then to the shows.  First off we watched this amazing bubble show, then the choir and finally the orchestra. We jumped in for the last tune and played beautifully. Isaac on the drum got it right but Katie and I tinged the glock a little out of sync and just laughed. A standing ovation was received!!  Well deserved too.

Then was happy hour where we had - you guessed it - speeches and the formal farewell to MelMi 2013. The mothers of Atlha made us gifts and we received and gave gifts and speeches. Then we set off hot air balloons into the sky in a very zen type of farewell to MelMi. Looked great!!

Then the goodbyes. Tears, hugs went on for ever -  never been kissed by so many men! Tomorrow Bayley House are going to Venice for a day - leaving at 5am and we are heading for Rome for 3 days. So another MelMi exchange has been completed and planning begins for their visit to Australia next year.

Cheers

Fred

So up early - very reluctantly for some and off to Varese to visit Villa Panza and a display of remarkable modern art. We walked into the first room and we were laughing about the big canvases on the wall each painted in a single colour - green, red, blue, purple...etc the guide then told us they were works of art and a part of the collection. Not a good start. This gallery is all about light and colour. The guide invited us into a special world of light which consisted of white rooms with different fluorescent coloured lights. This was the art and Lyndal lost it and started laughing which set the other two amigos laughing. By this stage Lyndal was a little hysterical as we were invited into the blue room - yep white room blue lights. Well this continued for a couple of rooms before Lyndal got her act together. But alas the special surprise was waiting while we were standing in the hall way and the guide counted 3,2,1 and.....turned on a light switch which lit coloured lights. This time the Italians lost it as well and we all had to move on quickly. To be fair some of the rooms were pretty impressive but art???? We then got to make our own picture out of light which turned out pretty cool by using torches and coloured filters with time lapse photography.

Lunch was in the beautiful gardens and we all had a bit of a run around and relaxing on the grass. Then we were off to shop and then to the Cascina where we were cooking for the Italians. Shopping was a nightmare apparently but, for most we were just chilling outside with some Africans playing some footy in the car park.

Dinner promised to be a disaster but five cooks in a strange kitchen and BBQ pulled it together as we made them burgers, vegie fritters, potato salad, big chopped salad and lots of veggies with beer and wine. Finished with a pavlova with lots of fresh fruit and cream.

A clean up and the off to orchestra practice for our performance tomorrow night. This time it was Katie tinging her glockenspiel after we had stopped as toothpaste man was absent.

Til tomorrow

Fred

Chilled day - thank god as many are collapsing with ailments. Some went shopping. Others to lunch, a run and a swim and then off to a twitter festival!! Now apparently this twitter festival was held concurrently across several sites in Europe and included recorded streams, food and music. We had a couple of blues bands - one where the singer who used to speak English but had a head injury after a car accident and can now only sing English. Really weird to have a chat with someone who is singing to you to answer  in English. Had the best beer I have ever had at this festival. A double blonde malt from Belgium but made in Italy. Went down far too nicely! Lyndal is really funny after a few beers!!

So we danced and grooved the night away - took some photos of the bass player ( an Atlha volunteer ) Umberto who Shelley thinks is a bit nice and the female singer who Jack anointed as hot. We got a photo for him at the end of the night. The terrible threesome are like brothers and sisters ( Campbell Isaac and Ebony) and sort of roll over each other in this constant battle for supremacy. Alanna spent the evening with several of the Atlha volunteers just being 19 - 20 year olds with their beers. Bethany or Betanee as the Italians call her danced the night away and laughed and laughed.

Til domani

Fred

During my travels in Italy I spent some time with Jim Romagnesi who is an ex Interchange host and for many years a board member at Interchange. Some will remember his partner Lynette who worked with Balance. Anyway for 3 - 4 months of the year Jim lives in Italy in a apartment in the little town of Varsi from which he runs small tours for Australians. The town of Varsi is where Jim's dad was born and Jim spent time there as a child. While in Varsi he told me the story of his aunty who is remembered as a war hero. Loretta Romagnesi was a partisan working against the fascists throughout the war. She used to assist airman who were shot down, escaping pow's and disrupt the fascists by blowing up stuff. Towards the end of the war she used to feed the Australian troops who were hiding in the mountains around Varsi. The town was controlled by the Germans but the mountains were controlled by the allies. The Germans began to retreat from Varsi and as the town came out to celebrate a retreating soldier fired randomly towards the town. The bullet hit Loretta and she was killed in front of Jim's dad as they were celebrating. The town put up a plaque to commemorate their war hero and a street in the town was named after her. It was amazing to hear the story and then stand in the actual places that it happened with a family member. 


And so to today and we headed off for Orta on Lago Gada. As Isaac said this is what he was looking for. An alpine Italian lake with villas cascading down the hill to the waters edge - just beautiful!! So more shopping - Isaac and I took off and climbed the hill to get a better view - more eating Gelato & pizza - then back to base. Alanna decided to Skype home at 3.30am Melbourne time - morning Nadia & Vince - apparently she was to ring anytime!! Early night thank goodness as a big day tomorrow - off to Parma and a pasta factory.

Ciao


Fred

The day dawned at it was off to the Cascina for a bike ride, some lunch a meeting (Italians second favorite pastime!) and a chilled afternoon - in theory! The bike ride was probably more like roller derby as Beth and I ran around trying to get the bikes to crash. Nearly killed Katie as I thought she was Isaac sneaking up behind us. We caught a couple of them until the rain started and we retired to the sheds. We all had a play in the three wheelers - fun to slide out around corners in the wet - then more food.

We then had a meeting at which Shelley got in trouble and was forced to move away from Kimberley and we provided feedback on the visit so far. Back to the hotel for a bit of peace and quiet. Katie went off to write her blog. While the ladies went and had cocktails at the bar and I took the kids swimming and for a spa. We all met at the bar later where the youngsters had virgin cocktails.

Apparently it was time to eat again and we were off to Navigli - the nightlife area and the canal district of Milan.

The next day as we headed off Shelley waved to the street walker as we passed. Apparently it's only 25 euro for the ladies and 30 euro for the guys - how Den Den knows the prices we didn't find out. Then off to the city for shopping - what fun!!!

Dinner at this nice restaurant where we had a great meal and the I really lucked out as then we went bowling!! My two favorite activities all in the same day. Anyway it turned into a disco and we danced and bowled - well some of us - Lyndal escaped with Kimberley and Shelley to the bar.

Til tomorrow


Fred