Well here we are in France I didn't think we would make it but we have, we have booked with Siblu again and we are down in the Loire valley. Me, Dot, young Ralph, Georgia, Emily and Amber all going and taking the motorhome for that many, it saved taking two cars. Although we were staying in a Mobile Home on site.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2015
Friday, 4 March 2016
Holland, Amsterdam 2014
Well I had a Stroke, not too long after our last France trip, it wasn't too bad but it did stop me going on a trip to Amsterdam. Luckily DFDS let me change the date to this year and this day trip will be the only time that I will be abroad this year.
We had been to Amsterdam twice before so this was nothing new to us. Going from Newcastle, although it is closer to us, the time taken to get there and back is much longer, so the amount of time in Amsterdam is very poor.
We arrived early in Newcastle and went shopping in Royal Quays but got board and went to the pub for something to eat. Then it was on the boat ready to sail, we watched a film and then went to the bar.
Next morning we when to get off the boat Rolland there was a massive queue to get through customs, it was the biggest most time consuming I have ever seen. It took about a hour to get through just what you need on a day trip. Then it was on the bus into Amsterdam.
As we had been before so we did something different we wandered away from the centre along Rokin Dam. Well along Damrak Damm which turned into Rokin Dam, anyway we walked out. We did stop at Marks & Spencer for some sandwiches (which we had back at the boat).
The first place we stopped at was Rijksmuseum, and we had a quick look around but we couldn't stop long.
We stopped at the Hard Rock Cafe and had lunch downstairs in the bar, it was too much of a fart on the get a table in the restaurant. The beers we had we had already had before, Wieckse Witte, which was very nice. We had burgers and they were very nice.
From there we walked to the Ann Franck museum but as usual there were big queues to get in so we just walked on.
Pretty soon it was time to make it back to the boat, on the way back nether of us felt well and we didn't leave the room. Just watched films on the lap top.
We had been to Amsterdam twice before so this was nothing new to us. Going from Newcastle, although it is closer to us, the time taken to get there and back is much longer, so the amount of time in Amsterdam is very poor.
We arrived early in Newcastle and went shopping in Royal Quays but got board and went to the pub for something to eat. Then it was on the boat ready to sail, we watched a film and then went to the bar.
Next morning we when to get off the boat Rolland there was a massive queue to get through customs, it was the biggest most time consuming I have ever seen. It took about a hour to get through just what you need on a day trip. Then it was on the bus into Amsterdam.
As we had been before so we did something different we wandered away from the centre along Rokin Dam. Well along Damrak Damm which turned into Rokin Dam, anyway we walked out. We did stop at Marks & Spencer for some sandwiches (which we had back at the boat).
The first place we stopped at was Rijksmuseum, and we had a quick look around but we couldn't stop long.
We stopped at the Hard Rock Cafe and had lunch downstairs in the bar, it was too much of a fart on the get a table in the restaurant. The beers we had we had already had before, Wieckse Witte, which was very nice. We had burgers and they were very nice.
From there we walked to the Ann Franck museum but as usual there were big queues to get in so we just walked on.
Pretty soon it was time to make it back to the boat, on the way back nether of us felt well and we didn't leave the room. Just watched films on the lap top.
France Sep 2013
I am so far behind in my blogging. The pain caused by my sciatica is making it practically impossible to type or edit photos comfortably and when the drugs are working, I do not always have the inclination to do it anyway.
At the beginning of my France 2013 blog I mentioned that this year we were going in May instead of September, well it turns out we were doing both.
In fact this holiday was booked before we even set off for our three weeks in May, we got another Groupon offer, with Ralph and Amber again provisionally booked but yet again this was not possible. So I rang Mick and Bren to see if they wanted to split the price of the holiday and and have a week near Paris for just £175 and that included, accommodation, ferry and fuel, so of course they did. There was one problem though, they had a wedding to shoot on the first day of the holiday but very helpfully Al Fresco let us move the holiday back by one day
So we were booked into a three bedroom mobile home at La Croix Du Vieux Pont, we had been there twice previously and in 2010 did practically the same trip, dates and ferry but with Siblu.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France Sep 2013
At the beginning of my France 2013 blog I mentioned that this year we were going in May instead of September, well it turns out we were doing both.
In fact this holiday was booked before we even set off for our three weeks in May, we got another Groupon offer, with Ralph and Amber again provisionally booked but yet again this was not possible. So I rang Mick and Bren to see if they wanted to split the price of the holiday and and have a week near Paris for just £175 and that included, accommodation, ferry and fuel, so of course they did. There was one problem though, they had a wedding to shoot on the first day of the holiday but very helpfully Al Fresco let us move the holiday back by one day
So we were booked into a three bedroom mobile home at La Croix Du Vieux Pont, we had been there twice previously and in 2010 did practically the same trip, dates and ferry but with Siblu.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France Sep 2013
France May 2013
Several changes for this year's trip to France, we were going in May instead of September (as we had the last couple of years) and we were not going with Siblu.
We found an offer on Croupon for a week in a mobile home with Thompson Al Fresco, only £129 but the holiday had to be taken between the 15 April and the 17 May. We had been with with Thompson Al Fresco last May using a Tesco £50 voucher offer, but to Holland.
We bought the coupon and booked from the 11th to the 18th of May in Charente Maritime (close to where we were last year)and while I was booking I enquired about a second week paying with Tesco vouchers (as we had usually booked our holidays with Siblu). The second week would cost £225 or £75 of Tesco vouchers, we had enough Tesco vouchers, so we booked that week as well. All we needed to do next was book a ferry, the crossing we had used in September looked like the best bet but Thompson Al Fresco's quote seemed very expensive, a lot more than Siblu had got us crossings for last year. So we left it while we weighed up our options.
Then a week or two later, we found a Tesco £50 voucher offer, for another week with Thompson Al Fresco. I contacted Al Fresco and booked a week in Normandy, also after making more enquiries about ferries (including telling them that Siblu had much better offers that they did), we got the deal we needed.
So now the holiday was looking a lot like the one we had just had in September, ferries Portsmouth - Caen, a week in Normandy followed by two weeks in Charente Maritime. Total cost, around £435 for three weeks in a three bedroom mobile home, including the ferry and extras like equipment damage waver and linen packs.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2013
We found an offer on Croupon for a week in a mobile home with Thompson Al Fresco, only £129 but the holiday had to be taken between the 15 April and the 17 May. We had been with with Thompson Al Fresco last May using a Tesco £50 voucher offer, but to Holland.
We bought the coupon and booked from the 11th to the 18th of May in Charente Maritime (close to where we were last year)and while I was booking I enquired about a second week paying with Tesco vouchers (as we had usually booked our holidays with Siblu). The second week would cost £225 or £75 of Tesco vouchers, we had enough Tesco vouchers, so we booked that week as well. All we needed to do next was book a ferry, the crossing we had used in September looked like the best bet but Thompson Al Fresco's quote seemed very expensive, a lot more than Siblu had got us crossings for last year. So we left it while we weighed up our options.
Then a week or two later, we found a Tesco £50 voucher offer, for another week with Thompson Al Fresco. I contacted Al Fresco and booked a week in Normandy, also after making more enquiries about ferries (including telling them that Siblu had much better offers that they did), we got the deal we needed.
So now the holiday was looking a lot like the one we had just had in September, ferries Portsmouth - Caen, a week in Normandy followed by two weeks in Charente Maritime. Total cost, around £435 for three weeks in a three bedroom mobile home, including the ferry and extras like equipment damage waver and linen packs.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2013
Thursday, 3 March 2016
France 2012
This year's trip to France was as last year's, with Siblu holidays but unlike last year, we paid in full, instead of using Tesco vouchers. This holiday was in fact booked before last September's visit to France.
We would be be staying for three nights at Domaine de Litteau near St Lo in Normandy, eleven nights further south at Les Charmettes near Royan in Charente-Maritime then back up to Domaine de Litteau, for the last three nights. Last minute Mick and Bren decided they were free for the 18 days, so I added them to the holiday, free of charge, including the ferry.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2012
We would be be staying for three nights at Domaine de Litteau near St Lo in Normandy, eleven nights further south at Les Charmettes near Royan in Charente-Maritime then back up to Domaine de Litteau, for the last three nights. Last minute Mick and Bren decided they were free for the 18 days, so I added them to the holiday, free of charge, including the ferry.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2012
Holland, Wassenaar 2012
Why Holland and why a Mobile Home and not the Van?
We had already made the decision at the end of last year's September holiday in France, to book something very similar for 2012 and have booked with Siblu again for this year. Again we will be taking the car but we did not use Tesco vouchers this time as we got a very good deal anyway.
Then one day in Jan or Feb, I did something unusual, I opened an email from Tesco, I would usually just delete them but this one caught my eye. It said "latest clubcard deals", I opened it and found an offer for a one week holiday with Thompson Alfresco, in exchange for £50.00 in Tesco vouchers. I had £50.00 in Tesco vouchers, so we looked to see where we could go, the answer was, all over Europe but to keep the cost and driving down to a minimum, we chose Holland.
After some though and calculations we then chose the longer more expensive ferry crossing, from Hull to Rotterdam, all in all not much difference in total cost. Although with a 760 mile saving in driving, the overnight ferry is much better for me.
Next we added young Ralph and Amber to the booking for no extra cost but in the end, changes to plans and ferry bookings did add another £70 or so to the final bill.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
Holland, Wassenaar 2012
We had already made the decision at the end of last year's September holiday in France, to book something very similar for 2012 and have booked with Siblu again for this year. Again we will be taking the car but we did not use Tesco vouchers this time as we got a very good deal anyway.
Then one day in Jan or Feb, I did something unusual, I opened an email from Tesco, I would usually just delete them but this one caught my eye. It said "latest clubcard deals", I opened it and found an offer for a one week holiday with Thompson Alfresco, in exchange for £50.00 in Tesco vouchers. I had £50.00 in Tesco vouchers, so we looked to see where we could go, the answer was, all over Europe but to keep the cost and driving down to a minimum, we chose Holland.
After some though and calculations we then chose the longer more expensive ferry crossing, from Hull to Rotterdam, all in all not much difference in total cost. Although with a 760 mile saving in driving, the overnight ferry is much better for me.
Next we added young Ralph and Amber to the booking for no extra cost but in the end, changes to plans and ferry bookings did add another £70 or so to the final bill.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
Holland, Wassenaar 2012
France 2011
As we did last year, we booked a Mobile Home holiday with Siblu Holidays and as last year we use Tesco Supermarket holiday vouchers. We booked before the value of Tesco points was reduced, now you only get three times the face value instead of the four times you used to get. We also had a £100 voucher from Siblu, awarded as compensation for problems we had last year (see the blog for 2010 below). The vouchers together with a £9 return ferry crossing Dover Calais, made this a practically free holiday.
We booked eight days at Siblu's Domaine de Dugny at Onzain in the Loire valley and eight days at Siblu's Domaine de Litteau in Normandy.
We had been to Domaine de Dugny in 2009 with the van but Domaine de Litteau was new to us, although we had been to Normandy a few times before.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2011
We booked eight days at Siblu's Domaine de Dugny at Onzain in the Loire valley and eight days at Siblu's Domaine de Litteau in Normandy.
We had been to Domaine de Dugny in 2009 with the van but Domaine de Litteau was new to us, although we had been to Normandy a few times before.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2011
Spain, Salou 2011
Even though on many occasions in the past, we had been to the continent by bus and said we would never do it again. When an offer comes along for a weeks holiday in Spain for less than a week camping in England (if you include fuel charges), what can you do. We booked.
So for less than £150 each we were off to Salou in Spain for a week in an eight berth mobile home/chalet, along with Mick and Brenda.
The one reservation we all had was, what would the weather be like in Salou in April, all the indication were that it would be warm but we never expected it to be as hot as it turned out to be.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
Salou 2011
So for less than £150 each we were off to Salou in Spain for a week in an eight berth mobile home/chalet, along with Mick and Brenda.
The one reservation we all had was, what would the weather be like in Salou in April, all the indication were that it would be warm but we never expected it to be as hot as it turned out to be.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
Salou 2011
France Sep 2010
Usually around this time of year, when all the kids are back at school, we like to get away for a couple of weeks. Since we got the van it has been mainly in the UK, or a cheep flight to somewhere warm but this year, we did something we hadn't done. We had plenty of Tesco Supermarket holiday vouchers left, that could be used for campsites pitches with Siblu holidays (see previous write-ups) or, hire a Mobile Home from them and what with the price of diesel, using the car seemed like a good option. The vouchers, together with a £36 retune crossing to France with Norfolk Line (now DFDS), we booked our first Mobile Home holiday and all we would be paying for, would be fuel for the car.
We also had spare rooms in the Mobile Home so our friends Dave and Claire agree to meet us over there for the second week on the holiday. As it turned out, through circumstances, they where only with us for three days in the end.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France Sep 2010
We also had spare rooms in the Mobile Home so our friends Dave and Claire agree to meet us over there for the second week on the holiday. As it turned out, through circumstances, they where only with us for three days in the end.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France Sep 2010
France 2010
Once again we used our Tesco Supermarket vouchers to pay for campsites with Siblu holidays, we booked four campsites along France's Atlantic coast. A change to the usual ferry crossings though, not P&O Hull to Zeebrugge but Condor Ferries Poole to St Malo, longer drive in England but much shorter in France, about a 200 mile saving altogether. As it was going to be a long drive in England and as the ferry sailed at 13:30 we planned to set off the night before and camp near Oxford, to give us plenty of time the next day. We would be meeting up with Mick and Bren on our second day in France and travelling together for the rest of the trip. Also a change from the usual, to save money the plan was to not use toll roads in France, as the tolls had been very expensive the previous year.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2010
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2010
Spain / Mallorca, Cala d'Or 2009
Back to Majorca again, right at the end of season, it was a bit quiet and cool on the night but it was just what we were looking for. The hotel was more like apartments, very basic but for what we paid you can't complain. Although the couple of young girls next to us did complain and moved, I hope it cost them though.
Oct 9th
First day we just got settled in, had a beer at the hotel bar, wandered to the sea front and that evening and had a meal out.
Oct 10th
Next morning it pored down, was this the end of our holiday, no, it only rained for about half an hour and the rest of the week was good. In fact we just had a nice beach day.
The football that night was poor as England got beat by Ukraine 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier.
Oct 11th
Looked to other way and found a really nice beach, with some rather posh looking hotels.
We also found a bar for using on the afternoon, the nice place offered two for one from about 4 to 5 or it could have been 6. Of coarse we didn't know this until we had already been drinking in there all afternoon but there is tomorrow.
We found a nice place to eat tonight and they also had Erdinger to drink, not bad at all.
Oct 12th
Next day we wandered out for breakfast and found a very cheap place with very good food, not Spanish just a good old English breakfast. Something we never ever have at home and I think this was only a couple of Euro.
We then walked the opposite way to yesterday and found another very good place, with lots of bars and many big yachts in the marina.
That night we had food back where we were last night.
Oct 13th
After a late breakfast, we went for a walk and ended up sunbathing. We got to the bar in time for the two for one and latter after getting changed we went out for tea.
Oct 14th
We wandered round to Es Forti, a small fort on the far side of town. There wasn't much there but it was a long walk for us.
We got the little tractor train back in time for the, two for one though. The football was better tonight, England beat Belarus 3-0 and we had a good night out.
Oct 15th
Our last full day here, spent most of the time on the beach, sunbathing. Went for the happy hour, got changed and headed out for the night.
I wanted an early night as we were off in the morning but Dot was in a drinking mood and we even ended up in a pub we hadn't been to all week.
Oct 16th
Well we are off home today. Up and out very early (that's why I wanted an early night), Cala d'Or is a very nice part of Mallorca.
Oct 9th
First day we just got settled in, had a beer at the hotel bar, wandered to the sea front and that evening and had a meal out.
Oct 10th
Next morning it pored down, was this the end of our holiday, no, it only rained for about half an hour and the rest of the week was good. In fact we just had a nice beach day.
The football that night was poor as England got beat by Ukraine 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier.
Oct 11th
Looked to other way and found a really nice beach, with some rather posh looking hotels.
We also found a bar for using on the afternoon, the nice place offered two for one from about 4 to 5 or it could have been 6. Of coarse we didn't know this until we had already been drinking in there all afternoon but there is tomorrow.
We found a nice place to eat tonight and they also had Erdinger to drink, not bad at all.
Oct 12th
Next day we wandered out for breakfast and found a very cheap place with very good food, not Spanish just a good old English breakfast. Something we never ever have at home and I think this was only a couple of Euro.
We then walked the opposite way to yesterday and found another very good place, with lots of bars and many big yachts in the marina.
That night we had food back where we were last night.
Oct 13th
After a late breakfast, we went for a walk and ended up sunbathing. We got to the bar in time for the two for one and latter after getting changed we went out for tea.
Oct 14th
We wandered round to Es Forti, a small fort on the far side of town. There wasn't much there but it was a long walk for us.
We got the little tractor train back in time for the, two for one though. The football was better tonight, England beat Belarus 3-0 and we had a good night out.
Oct 15th
Our last full day here, spent most of the time on the beach, sunbathing. Went for the happy hour, got changed and headed out for the night.
I wanted an early night as we were off in the morning but Dot was in a drinking mood and we even ended up in a pub we hadn't been to all week.
Oct 16th
Well we are off home today. Up and out very early (that's why I wanted an early night), Cala d'Or is a very nice part of Mallorca.
Wednesday, 2 March 2016
France 2009
We will arrive at the site, Siblu's Donaine de Dugny, on the Sunday afternoon, with Ralph and Amber (late additions to the trip) arriving later that night, next to get there will be Mick and Bren on Monday afternoon, followed by Nicole, Tim, Georgia and Emily that evening.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2009
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2009
France 2008
This year we would be meeting up Nicole, Tim, the twins (Emily and Georgia) and Tim's Parents, Jim and Jean for a week in Houlgate and latter with Mick and Brenda in Fécamp for a few days.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2008
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2008
Germany / Belgium 2007
Nice easy drive to Hull for the 21:00 ferry to Rotterdam, stopped off for a couple of hours to visit Dot's brother and family in Leven, just outside Beverly. We had been having bother with the GPS on the laptop but had made adjustments and all appeared to be ok on the trip down. Arrived at the terminal about 18:00 and got straight on, we had an outside cabin, we had splashed out as the tickets were free.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
Germany / Belgium 2007
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
Germany / Belgium 2007
Greece / Corfu, St George South 2006
This holiday was at the end of the season, it was a bit quiet and cool on the night but just what we needed. It was our first visit to Corfu, we only went for a week but we were well out of the way.
I think the photo below is the first one I took on the holiday, we were happy to get there and made for the bar. The beer was extremely cold.
We went on a day out on a boat trip, we travelled to the next islands down, Paxos and the much smaller, Antipaxos. We stopped in Lakka on Paxos and had a walk around and an ice cream, we then moved on Gaios and had a beer in a nice cafe. From there we went round Antipaxos and back to Corfu.
Each night we tried to visit a different restaurant and had some very good food, although we chose one facing the sea, to use most often.
Our next day out was to Corfu town, it was a very nice and very strange place. It had castles, forts and many shops but it also had a Cricket Pitch??? We were in Greece and there was a Cricket Pitch, I have since seen it on the TV. Anyway we had a nice walk about and even had tea in a nice little place.
Next day we were off home.
I think the photo below is the first one I took on the holiday, we were happy to get there and made for the bar. The beer was extremely cold.
We went on a day out on a boat trip, we travelled to the next islands down, Paxos and the much smaller, Antipaxos. We stopped in Lakka on Paxos and had a walk around and an ice cream, we then moved on Gaios and had a beer in a nice cafe. From there we went round Antipaxos and back to Corfu.
Each night we tried to visit a different restaurant and had some very good food, although we chose one facing the sea, to use most often.
Our next day out was to Corfu town, it was a very nice and very strange place. It had castles, forts and many shops but it also had a Cricket Pitch??? We were in Greece and there was a Cricket Pitch, I have since seen it on the TV. Anyway we had a nice walk about and even had tea in a nice little place.
Next day we were off home.
France 2006
This year will only be a short visit (eleven nights), as we have been to Poole for a week with Nicole and family on the way. We had tickets from Dover to Dunkerque with Nolfolkline for £38 return, even though this did mean travelling through the night, something we said we would never do again but it suited us this time, as we got more time with the family at the holiday park in Poole. If we had not got a crossing for at this low a price, I don’t think we would have bothered going to France for such a short break.
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2006
The full story can be seen by clicking the link below.
France 2006
Italy, Rome 2005
We used the "hotel finder" web site to find the hotel, it was very a small hotel, run by a very old lady, I would not recommend it at all, we complained to the "hotel finder" web site when we got back. We arrived late but well before midnight, to find that our room had been given to someone else, the old lady that ran the place took us around the corner to another hotel for the first night.
After our dodgy first night in Rome we got checked into our booked room (maybe we should have just stayed where we were) and got out there to see it all. Always wanted to visit Rome and just wandered off looking at everything.
We wandered all over the centre, before we found out that, as it was a Sunday all of the major attractions were open and free to get in (apparently this happens on the last Sunday in each month).
The place we went in was the Castel Sant' Angelo, originally the tomb of the Roman emperor Hadrian and was erected on the right bank of the Tiber, between 135 and 139.
We even had a drink in there, that was a shock, it cost a fortune. There are very good views from the top though, we were up there quite a while.
From there we made our way back into the centre and found the place where Julius Caesar was killed, the Theatre of Pompey.
We did pop in one pub near here to check it the football was on TV but I can not remember if it was or not, I seem to remember it though. I think we had our evening meal near our hotel and it was not good, will not do that again.
Next day we did much the same, that is exploring the place, we ended up at the Colosseum but the queues of tickets were huge. We did however find that a ticket for the Colosseum and Forum could be bought together from the Forum were the queues were small. So that is what we did and would do the Forum today and the Colosseum later.
The Forum was a lot bigger than I thought it would be and it took an age to look around the place.
After looking round, we made our way back into the canter and ended up a the Trevi Fountain. It was very busy there, I do not know how I got this shot so that it looks like we are the only people there, it was incredibly crowded and was every time we passed it.
It was back to the pub on the night, I think we found the Hard Rock Cafe and had food in there.
So it was the Colosseum today, straight in with only a small queues to hold us up. Again the Colosseum was better than I expected and I wandered round in amazement.
From there we wandered round to the old Circo Massimo, the ancient Roman chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue. Its still there but all covered over and could look better.
The next thing we did was a tour bus trip around the sites and we got some ideas on where to go next. Off the bus we continued walking but with a new purpose and eventually found the Pantheon, I had no idea it was so old built in about 126AD.
We spotted a wedding at the Trevi Fountain as we headed towards the Hard Rock Cafe were we had some very good food.
Today we headed to Vatican City and walked across St. Peter's Square and into St Peter's Basilica. It is really big there is a marker on the floor showing how big other cathedrals are.
After looking around there, we went round the Vatican Museum another really big interesting place. The walk through the museum ended in the Sistine Chapel with its great ceiling paintings.
We had a good pizza from a shop just at the back of the Vatican, before continuing with our walk. That night we ended up back at the Hard Rock.
Next day we walked out away from the centre, to find the city walls. We found the walls on Corso D'Italia and walk to the left and followed the them. It was while walking here that a car stopped and we were asked directions, we spoke to the driver in English and he replied sorry to bother us. As it was we did know the directions he needed ans he was very pleases, saying that we were much more helpful than most Romans.
It was around here we crossed over the road and walked into the park there. Borghese Park (I believe) is big, we walked part way thorough and came out around Piazza del Popolo.
That evening it was back to the Hard Rock, not very adventurous, but cheep and we knew the place, we didn't have that much money either. We did use other places but it was also very close to our apartment.
On our last day we had another good wander around the place and we had lunch in one of the smartest McDonald's I have ever seen. But soon it was time to go.
Dot through coins into the Trevi Fountain and made a wish, hopefully that means we will be back.
After our dodgy first night in Rome we got checked into our booked room (maybe we should have just stayed where we were) and got out there to see it all. Always wanted to visit Rome and just wandered off looking at everything.
We wandered all over the centre, before we found out that, as it was a Sunday all of the major attractions were open and free to get in (apparently this happens on the last Sunday in each month).
The place we went in was the Castel Sant' Angelo, originally the tomb of the Roman emperor Hadrian and was erected on the right bank of the Tiber, between 135 and 139.
We even had a drink in there, that was a shock, it cost a fortune. There are very good views from the top though, we were up there quite a while.
From there we made our way back into the centre and found the place where Julius Caesar was killed, the Theatre of Pompey.
We did pop in one pub near here to check it the football was on TV but I can not remember if it was or not, I seem to remember it though. I think we had our evening meal near our hotel and it was not good, will not do that again.
Next day we did much the same, that is exploring the place, we ended up at the Colosseum but the queues of tickets were huge. We did however find that a ticket for the Colosseum and Forum could be bought together from the Forum were the queues were small. So that is what we did and would do the Forum today and the Colosseum later.
The Forum was a lot bigger than I thought it would be and it took an age to look around the place.
After looking round, we made our way back into the canter and ended up a the Trevi Fountain. It was very busy there, I do not know how I got this shot so that it looks like we are the only people there, it was incredibly crowded and was every time we passed it.
It was back to the pub on the night, I think we found the Hard Rock Cafe and had food in there.
So it was the Colosseum today, straight in with only a small queues to hold us up. Again the Colosseum was better than I expected and I wandered round in amazement.
From there we wandered round to the old Circo Massimo, the ancient Roman chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue. Its still there but all covered over and could look better.
The next thing we did was a tour bus trip around the sites and we got some ideas on where to go next. Off the bus we continued walking but with a new purpose and eventually found the Pantheon, I had no idea it was so old built in about 126AD.
We spotted a wedding at the Trevi Fountain as we headed towards the Hard Rock Cafe were we had some very good food.
Today we headed to Vatican City and walked across St. Peter's Square and into St Peter's Basilica. It is really big there is a marker on the floor showing how big other cathedrals are.
After looking around there, we went round the Vatican Museum another really big interesting place. The walk through the museum ended in the Sistine Chapel with its great ceiling paintings.
We had a good pizza from a shop just at the back of the Vatican, before continuing with our walk. That night we ended up back at the Hard Rock.
Next day we walked out away from the centre, to find the city walls. We found the walls on Corso D'Italia and walk to the left and followed the them. It was while walking here that a car stopped and we were asked directions, we spoke to the driver in English and he replied sorry to bother us. As it was we did know the directions he needed ans he was very pleases, saying that we were much more helpful than most Romans.
It was around here we crossed over the road and walked into the park there. Borghese Park (I believe) is big, we walked part way thorough and came out around Piazza del Popolo.
That evening it was back to the Hard Rock, not very adventurous, but cheep and we knew the place, we didn't have that much money either. We did use other places but it was also very close to our apartment.
On our last day we had another good wander around the place and we had lunch in one of the smartest McDonald's I have ever seen. But soon it was time to go.
Dot through coins into the Trevi Fountain and made a wish, hopefully that means we will be back.
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