A double lot....

Yes, I have taken while to load this blog.  Thankfully, I can blame it on technology understanding.  As I wanted to load some archived podcasts, it look me a while to locate the sites to link to in a useable format for potential listeners.  To make up for it, I have put in a double topic: Podcasts and an update on my creations.

(1)  PODCASTS

As I work and exercise, I also spend time listening.  Via the internet it is easy to get radio stations but by far my favourite thing to do, is to listen to podcasts.  Amongst my favourites are Melvyn Bragg's "In Our Time".  Ross and I loved these when we were living in Malaysia from 2000 until 2004 and are happy to report that he is still broadcasting and I have collected the best (according to me).

I would like to share two that I think link together very nicely.  If you are interested in the topics, be prepared for at least 40 minutes for each cast.  Personally, I loved them both and would recommend that you listen to them in the order that I have linked them.  For me, the best of the two is the one on "Plate Techtonics" - do not think for one minute that this is restricted to just earthquakes - it is a major enlightenment podcast and may put a lot of the earth's systems into perspective.  Freakily, you will note that they also successfully predicted an earthquake near Christchurch  (and this was in recorded in 2007).

Plate Tectonics

IOTS: The Origins of Life

For on-going interest here is the website link for all In Our Time Science Archives: CLICK HERE


(2)  UPDATE ON MY CREATIONS

As in the past, I have a list of things to make and have been making slow but sure progress:

I can't stand still - try hard and you will see my double layer circle skirt

I asked Mum to make this skirt for me - I chose the colours off  the  website www.yarn.com
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (dk) on special of course!

Here is my double layer cotton circle skirt that I asked for too!

Here I am modeling it in Rome

Mum's black top - she wore it all the time travelling.
It is a boring colour!

The same top in use

How to get a child to eat up all of her dinner - present chocolate eclairs dripping in chocolate icing and place in the line of sight!

Here I am making boiled Mayonaise - I am adding the vinegar and stirring until it is thick

Hmmm - the best thing to do after school - playing in the boat with Claudio!

Vatican City

If I had thought the week before Easter then I was sadly deluded. Clearly the week following Easter is one of the biggest weeks in Rome and we joined it.

On Tuesday we went out shopping. The shopping centre we went to was out of the centre and the biggest in Italy. It seems that shopping centers are not a big thing here as I am sure many of the malls in Doha and Kuala Lumpur would leave Euroma2 as a poor second cousin. That said the street shopping in Rome has been great and Ross has treated me to a lovely leather Italian designer handbag.

I was surprised at the museum featuring the secret documents from the Vatican archives. My expectations were of more of the boring museums that Ross seems to enjoy but no, this one was great. Teagan and I enjoyed the documents covering Henry VIII and his divorce and Pope Gregory's calendar change in 1582. Well worth seeing.

Today we decided to go and visit the Vatican museum and Sistene chapel but we found it was all closed for the morning as the Pope was there. Venturing off to another key sight we finished off by venturing back to St Peter's square and actually seeing the Pope. Following his blessing of the crowd (and you can only imagine Teagan!) we luckily found a great tour and joined the jostle and extreme crowding in the museum and chapel. This was an agreed highlight for the three of us. Hmmm, but I wonder if the further blessings that Teagan got were more of a highlight after she bought her very own prayer beads and charmed a Nun. Need I say more for those that know Teagan well!

Note: the Pope blesses the people on Wednesday's at 10.30 am when he is Rome...I should really read my guide book in more detail.

Now it is our last evening and we are content with our sightseeing in Rome and are ready to head back to Qatar. A fabulous City and a fabulous holiday.

Location:Via Catone,Rome,Italy

Back to Rome

Easter Sunday we discovered was an extremely quiet day to travel. I spent some time on FB in the morning sniggering at comments about chocolate and children and thanked my stars that Teagan had enjoyed a small hollow Easter egg no bigger than a Kinder surprise and it was promptly followed by a semi nutritious breakfast...no sugar highs in our room! But we don't need sugar highs; Teagan is generally on a permanent high..spinning, dancing, singing, running and generally using twice as much energy as needed. In fact, wandering Rome with her in a bright pink raincoat has been unnecessary for quick spotting as we can hear her from just about anywhere.
So back to our activities! Yesterday was uneventful as we moved from one great hotel (Hotel Plaza, Salerno) to our next great hotel (Excel Hotel St Peter, Rome). Due to the Easter observances we made our way down to the Jewish quarter and scored a good, if not very late, dinner. For the second day of observances, we made it to St Peter's square with the rest of the Catholic world and quickly moved on. In true Ross style we caught a bus that took us around a pile of ancient ruins...no not the group you are thinking of Mother (and I am sure those of you know who/ what I am referring to). In great kid style, Teagan got into the activity and thoroughly enjoyed walking along Via Appia Antica and visiting the St Sebastino catacombs and the Basilica on the side.
My biggest problem at the moment is avoiding churches with statues of Jesus...Grandad Ian, you should be on this trip escorting Teagan through Christian Rome!
Note: if you are wondering about the footprints photographed below, they are reported to be the footprints of Jesus as seen and moulded by either Peter or Paul (sorry for my lack of specificity in Biblical history, methinks I will have to brush up on it).

Location:Via Catone,Rome,Italy

A fortunate day in...

We woke up to a grizzling kid. Our plan for the day had been to go out to Paestum to explore, a superbly preserved group of ancient Greek temples just south of the Amalfi Coast and the second key reason we had come south of Rome. But it was not to be! I chose to stay back with Teagan who clearly needed a day of toys and cuddles with no exploring and Ross took off for a great day.
About two hours into the morning the rain came with all mighty power due at Easter. Teagan and I lay down listening to the buffeting thinking of Ross. Closing in on 4pm in he came. Everything was soaked; his jacket he discovered was no longer water proof and everything was soaked! Definitely a day for staying in. That said, Ross did get to see Paestum and I appreciated his description and photos from the warmth of our hotel room.
Notes:
Getting to Paestum from Salerno was dead easy. The train runs (in the first part of the morning) directly down to the site and took just over 30 minutes. There was a short walk but it was on a walkway and obvious.
(walk straight ahead out of the station).
There was plenty of food available and loads of cheap nick-nacks that you would be ashamed to purchase!

Location:Salerno

Kid friendly at Pompeii

Up in Ravello

Yesterday we meandered through Ravello and spent quite some time up in Villa Rufolo - effectively a preserved ruin used for concerts with gorgeous acoustics (as we had the pleasure of experiencing). Teagan was exhausted so I had the job of carrying her...she then managed to burst into tears at anything for the remainder of the day. That said, she has been (as usual) a treasure to travel with and I cannot blame her for having an off day!

Location:Ravello, Amalfi Coast

Positano

Here I am supposed to write about the beauty of Positano and what a wonderful day we had yesterday, but I won't. Yesterday had an even better bit! Teagan and I wandered all the way down the cliff in Praiano using the lanes and stairs and threw stones into the sea for about one hour. Both of us agreed that that was our highlight...we chatted, collected stones and are splashes - nothing could beat that.

Location:Amalfi Coast

I am not doing that again in a hurry!

Surviving the bus ride from Salerno to Praiano on the Amalfi Coast was somewhat in question. The first two thirds was survivable but the last twenty minutes had Teagan asleep on a step in the bus, me with a blistering headache, Ross in hysterics with incomprehensible amusement and an obvious tourist or seven thanking their lucky stars that the bus drivers know that they are imbeciles. If it wasn't for our condition, the drive would have been breath taking!

Quite frankly, this place is breath taking and right now we are in bed with our windows wide open in the dark with the sea far below us!

Location:Amalfi Coast, Italy

Off peak in Rome

Goodness, is this off peak! I could not even contemplate visiting this grand city in July or August. The crowds are unbelievable and the fear of loosing Teagan is quite real as people mass around. Thankfully we have had no problems with ticket entries as we purchased combined tickets from less popular attractions.

We spent a lovely day yesterday visiting a museum about Roman civilization followed by an afternoon in the Pincian Hill. It was supposed to be child friendly and yes, the toilets were child friendly but that was about all. Rome seems to be a bit battered around the edges compared with other great cities but boy does it flow well and look spectacular.

Note to anyone about Rome: public toilets are a super rare commodity and when you find one so has the rest of the crowd.




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