Ah! The majesty of the Chateau de Versailles. The original built by Louis XIII, enlarged by Louis XIV and continuing to be embellished through the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI, vacated the day after the French revolution and so on…our heads are spinning from the action of those days, the sheer opulence and the pomp and ceremony; our [...]

Settled in, board the big red bus and take in an overview of Paris’s 20 Arrondissements and icons. Bearings for Dicky, a refresher for Fifi and Pixi, and foundations for the week’s plans. Feeling right at home in our light and airy little Pension on the Saint Germaine Boulevard surrounded by a myriad of little cafes, restaurants, book stores and [...]

Feels like we’ve ‘come home’… is this due to settling into one lovely apartment and spreading ourselves out for seven whole days? Do we put it down to familiarity for this is the third visit for Fifi, forth for Pixi? Or is it simply because this most beautiful of cities is again casting her spell? It’s been a long journey [...]

Nine in the eve…admiring Lake Lucerne as the last of the yachts make their way home and the many swans retire for the eve, admiring the snow tipped Swiss Alps in the distance turning a dusky shade of pink for it is almost sunset, sipping a red and thinking…what a contrast is this? Friendly people who chuckle at our attempts [...]

Twelve days can’t really do justice to the wealth of experiences Italy has to offer…but we’ve had a blast attempting to. Pisa, Florence, the Tuscany region; Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento and Positano, the Umbrian region, Venice, Lake Como…and just when we’ve grasped the basics of the language…enough to order our drinks, a rough smattering of platitudes, apologies and a healthy dose [...]

Having consumed half our body weight in the creamiest Risotto, lamb racks and fish followed by the smoothest Brûlée, a rich berry mousse, all washed down with a lovely white or two from the local region…thanks to the administrations of Fabrizio our waiter in a lovely little restaurant overlooking Lake Como…we think we’ve died and gone to heaven! Started the [...]

Sitting by the pool next to the lake at our latest lodgings in Lake Como, sipping bubbles…as you do…absorbing the steep majestic mountains edging the long yet narrow deep green lake resplendent with small Yachts, water-skiers and a cautious duck or two and enjoying the post rain shower fresh mountain air…so surreal we’re all pinching ourselves! Yet another contrast having [...]

Ducky’s desire to absorb the city’s history requires a cruise through the busy canals in a very sleek timber boat with Johnno our guide providing an overview of the most impressive buildings, Baroque architecture, how the city was born, initial primary business and such, peppering his dialog with interesting stats… Over 400 Gondolas jostling for supremacy, women just this year [...]

The sun sparkles brilliantly on the bay as our boat pilot deftly navigates the water streets through traffic moving people, food, crates of stuff, cars, cement mixers and such, on to the Murano factory where we observe glass blowers in action before subjecting ourselves to the hard sell…Ducky succumbs, his booty to be made to order and shipped. Finally escape [...]

In celebration of our Fifi’s milestone birthday, Ducky surprises her with a pre planned upgrade to the most exclusive suite in the delightful Hotel Pallazzo Giovanni. The Murano glass Chandeliers surprise and delight as we yet again gasp in awe at this our latest accommodation… Finding our way from the exterior carports lugging luggage onto water buses and off at [...]