Palau, Sardinia [10-15 October] After a short flight from Verona to Olbia in Sardinia, we are picked up by a driver who takes us up the long and winding road from Olbia airport to Palau, on Sardinia’s famed Costa Smerelda. First impressions are very positive – contrary to the weather Read more
Verona, Italy [6-10 October] Another comfortable train ride, complete with a minute complimentary coffee each, takes us to Verona Puerto Nuova railway station, then a taxi drops us at our apartment. Our room in the Lady Verona residence is like a large hotel room, with a small commmunal kitchen outside, Read more
Venice, Italy [2-6 October] Disembarking from the MSC Fantasia for the final time in Trieste sees us adding to the chaotic scenes in the ferry terminal. Buses, taxis and cars arrive, with little or no traffic control, and no queuing system. He or she who speaks Italian appears to get Read more
MSC Fantasia [27-30 September] As we sail into the vast and vibrant city of Istanbul in the morning, we are anticipating that the next two days will be tiring and full of hassles, but hopefully well worth the effort! Although I spent a few days here for work back in Read more
MSC Fantasia [24-26 September] One thing that has struck us on this longer cruise with its multiple stops is the weird feeling of being in Italy one day, Greece the next and Turkey the day after. We are “parachuted” into these amazing locations one after the other, equipped with a Read more
MSC Fantasia [21-23 September] After a slightly chaotic embarkation process, we get to our fab cabin and begin to orientate ourselves on the MSC Fantasia. We hadn’t quite appreciated the advantages that buying the Aurea package which we bought for the original cruise to South America, and retained through all Read more
Trieste, Italy [20-21 September] We (I really mean Fiona) habitually plan(s) our trips quite meticulously. We leave Edinburgh thinking that we will be visiting 6 countries in the course of our 7 week trip – Croatia (twice), Italy (three times), Greece (twice), Turkey (twice), France and Spain. So we are Read more
Rovinj, Croatia [12-20 September] Our four stage journey started at Seton Place at 07:15am, took us Ryanair to Brussels, then on to Pula, car transfer from Pula to Rovinj, and finally boat to the Island Hotel Katarina, where we arrive about 11:00pm. According to a large sign in the dining Read more
Trip Three’s Blog Zero happily isn’t peppered with major medical issues, or even cases of sublime stupidity on our part. We make do with two unexpected root canal treatments for me, which both have to be done twice and so require five visits to the dental surgery in the two Read more
Sol del Este, Menorca [9th – 23rd October 2019] And so, once more, to La Gardenia in Sol del Este – the first village in Spain to see the sun rise. Brian and Joanne kindly provided the reception committee to greet us, as they had in 2018, and we arrived Read more