Roma, Italia

Back on the sight seeing circuit. Four hour tour of the Vatican City, abit of a bore. Found a great resturant that serves gluten - free pasta. Yahoo. Luckily was losing faith in Italian resturants before we found Alex's Resturant. Last night in Europe off to Hong Kong tomorrow.

Colosseum

Centurion

Chris ponders the art?

Inside the colosseum

Ministry of Cultrual Heritage

Hercules (Bronze) Hadrian (Marble)

This is a mosiac- WOW

Us st. Peters square

Piazza venetia

Spanish steps

Food vendor

Swiss Guard - Vatican City

Trevi Fountain

Us, can you guess where?

Photos from Nammos and today by pool

Crystal clear water of Lia beach

Waterfront Mykonos

Mason diving

Sunset from our pool

Volleyball

Crazy in Mykonos

Siobhan and Colin

Us at Nammos waiting for 10.30 opening!!

Lunch In little venice Mykonos

Famous windmills

Thats why they call it Little Venice

Boys and Siobhan

Update from Mykonos

We on our last day at Mykonos....boohoo!!!! We have really had a great relaxing time on the island. Went to the amazing & famous Nammos restaurant on Psarous beach last night.  The restaurant is right on the beach in a little bay about 10 minutes out of Mykonos town. We took our little Jeep over with the Irish couple following on their Quad bike. The restaurant doesn't open until 10.30 pm!! so you are really dining late at this one!! Its all the rich and famous wannabes of Mykonos here... they even have a small speed boat that picks guests up from their private yachts in the bay. Theres a little Indian man who welcomes you to the toilets then turns on the taps and passes the paper towels to you then opens the bin for you.....I know what your thinking but no he doesn't do the other bit for you!! Apparently Gadaffis son dined here with some friends a few months ago and left with a 10 k bill!!! It was pretty pricey, bottles of water 7 euros and  complimentary but compulsory bread 6 euros per head before you start!!!!You get abit used to spending in Euros that feel like dollars after awhile so I tried not to think about the shock when I get the visa bill on a wet august day once home- and everything is doubled!!.
Anyway as abit of a foodie it was on the bucket list.

Us at Greek nite

Our hotel straight out of Mamma Mia

Kiki restaurant on remote side of island 

Colourful Church

Beach below Kikis

Driving round the island

Off to Rome tommorrow and we have a pretty full programme for 3 days with a tour of the Vatican booked ( sick of quering up so thats the only way you can get inside without 3-4 hour waits) and collisuem etc. Looking forward to seeing Rome again.

Mykonos

Its another brillant day in Mykonos. Staying at a great hotel www.hotel tagoo.com. Anna the host is very accomodating and helpful. we rented a car yesterday and went to a couple of gorgeous beaches with crystal clear water. Meet some great people from ireland and scotland so had alot of laughs. Wander down to Mykonos town for dinner in small tavernas about 9 pm when things are just starting to get going By the time we headn home at 12 the rest of the island are just getting started. Even though its party island its still very greek, quaint and peaceful in around the rest of the island.

Spectacular Santorini

Our View from our patio

Seen all the postcards and warehouse framed prints of this island but it really is something special when you see it with your own eyes. Narrow little pathways wind between the white washed plastered houses perched on the side of the cliffs. We have a really great studio apartment in Imerovigla village with a patio bathed in sunshine and with the most spectacular views of the Caldera.Therer are only 8 rooms in our hotel and  we have a nice pool .Santorini is an active underwater volcano & the villagers are built on the very edges of the crater lake ( Caldera) This morning we walked about 40 minutes to the main Village of Thira. Lots of people ( there are 3 cruise ships in port at the moment), shopping and restaurants.Smaller boats leave for trips out to islands in the Caldera. To access the boats you have to get a cable car or ride donkeys down the cliff.
Much to our surprise we are lovin the greek food, zuchini & tomatoes fritters, Tzakti, Souvalaki,fried cheese ( like haulomi) Baklavas and simply the best greek yoghurt I have ever eaten with honey. Chris likes the kid goat ( I joke you not ) and Mousaka.
Tonight we are going to the best restaurant on the island ( according to Alexandros frm our hotel and trip advisor )so are really lookin forward to that.

Our View

We chanced apon my big fat greek wedding last night

Walking to Thira

Looking back at Imerovigla & our hotel at top

Our Room

This is the life!!

The port

Tommorrow we are going by Catamaran to Mykonos Island where we have 5 nites to really chill out. Might be able to hang afew clothes and unpack the toilet bag which will be nice!!!

Melting Hot Athens

Its been super hot for our couple of days in Athens -40 dgs on the taxi dashboard yesterday!! We have wandered the Plaka - souvenir shops galore!! Eaten delicious Souvalaki , baklavas and more gelatos!! We went to see the Athens Symphony Orchestra play last night in the most magic setting of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus!! This open air ampitheatre was built in 161 AD. Sitting under the stars in the shadow of the Acropolis we sat on worn marble seats still sizzling hot from the days intense suns at 9 pm at night!!

Acropolis

Acropolis

Us in front of Acropolis

Temple of Zeus

Athens Symphony Orchestra

Odeon Of Herodes Atticus

Roman Agora

Street Shot by Cody

B & W by Cody

It was a very special experience. Today we headed up to the Acropolis ( Built 438 BC) and spent about an hour and half wandering around the amazing ruins then headed down the hill to see Hadrians Library, The temple of Olympian Zeus , Roman Agora and so on. Its  hard to really absorb just what you are looking at and the age of these ruins and after about 4 hours in the sun we were suffering from heat exhaustion and ancient ruin fatigue!! We went to the flea markets for cold drinks and abit of shoppin then headed back to our air conned room for a rest. We are headen out to a terrace top restaurant with views of the floodlit Acropolis tonight. Then winging our way to Santorini and Mykonos tomorrow.