The South of France

It sounds pretty cool - "When I was holidaying in the South of France". We drove across the border from Italy into France and the town of Menton - out home for the next week.

We stayed in the apartment of a friend of Judy. This was the view from the balcony to the coastal mountain range that towers over the Mediterranean.

We were greeted by beautiful weather with warm days, cool nights and brilliant sunshine. It was not too crowded either; we were just ahead of the busy summer tourist season. Here are a couple of views of the town.

We took a narrow, winding road up the mountain from Menton to the hill top town of Sainte Agnes.

A short drive around a couple of headlands and you find yourself in a new country - Monaco. Everywhere you went you could see wealth but it was also rather charming.

Two things Monaco is famous for are the Monte Carlo Casino and the Formula One Grand Prix. Here is the casino.

and a tribute to the racing car legend Fangio

We did spend some time at the beach but it was hard to get comfortable on the rocks. Judy braved the cold water but I only got up to my ankles. I have been spoilt by the tropical waters of Thailand! The final pictures show the town of Nice.

Cinque Terre

We spent our final days in Italy on the stunning coastline known as the Cinque Terre - the five villages.

The first of the villages below is Monterosso.

A difficult walk (for John) or a short train ride (for Judy) and you arrive at Vernazza.

We then both took the train to the next village of Manarola.

Our final village (for us it was the Cuatro Terre) was perched on one of the highest cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean. It is called Corniglia

Before leaving Italy and crossing the border into France we had the opportunity to spend a few hours in one of the most beautiful of the towns on the Italian Riviera, Portofino. You can see why it is a favourite amongst the rich and famous to moor their yachts for a while...

Tuscany

Our Italian adventure continued with another train journey to Florence, the biggest city in Tuscany. The heart of the city is the 'Duomo' - the Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore.

Construction of the Duomo began in 1296 and one of it's main features is Brunelleschi's Dome, with it's stunning artwork lining the inside.

It is 463 narrow, uneven stairs to the top of the dome but the view makes it all worthwhile...

The city of Florence is found on the Arno River and the oldest bridge is the Ponte Vecchio. The only surviving original bridge (the others destroyed in World War II), the shopped lined bridge was built in 1345.

In Florence we picked up a rental car and drove through a very wet Tuscany to the UNESCO World Architectural City of Heritage site of San Gimignano. This charming 10th Century fortress on a hill is dominated by a series of towers.

The narrow streets weave their way through the city and it is very charming and peaceful.

The location in the Tuscan countryside isn't bad either...

Our final stop before leaving Tuscany was Pisa. You just had to check out the famous leaning tower, which was surprisingly a lot smaller than expected but great to be able to see.

Venice

When you first see Venice it is hard to believe it is real. You feel like you have stepped into a fairytale. This is one of the classic Venice scenes, looking out from the Piazza San Marco across the bay.

Throughout our trip, Judy and I stayed in Monasteries, which on the whole were quite good and considerably cheaper than hotels. The Venice accommodation was one of the best; the photos below showing why - location, location, location.

We stepped off the Eurostar train from Rome and walked out onto the Grand Canal. This bustling waterway is the main artery of the city with a network of smaller canals branching off in no particular pattern making it an easy place to get lost.

The smaller canals are charming and the water was surprisingly clean. The famous gondolas are quite a sight, although bring your credit card if you want to take a ride!

One of Venice's main attractions is the beautiful Basilica San Marco. Consecrated in 832AD, the intricate facades overlook the Piazza, their detail quite stunning.

Venice was a great experience and definitely a place to visit if you get the chance, just ask Judy!

Rome

It is hard to describe the feeling of walking through the ancient streets of Rome and seeing some of the most famous historical sites in the world. My sister Judy and I were fortunate to experience this on out trip to Europe in June.

Our hotel was near one of the best of them all - the magnificent Colosseum.

From the Colosseum it is a short stroll to the Roman Forum. It is hard to believe that Caesar once walked here and addressed his people.

The Pantheon is tucked away amongst the back alleys.

Trevi Fountain and The Spanish Stairs are two more of Rome's landmarks

Rome is also home to The Vatican and the enormous Basilica of St. Peter. This first blog of our European adventure finishes with some pictures inside and outside St. Peter's.