ITALY | Friday, 2 May 2014 | Views [160] | Scholarship Entry
My dream of living a month in Florence conjured scenes from “Under the Tuscan Sun”. Apart from my first day a Firenze, I was saturated in a month of perpetual rain. I was drowning in the language, the food, the wine, the smells, the noise, the sights, ... Read more >
Tags: 2014 Travel Writing Scholarship - Euro Roadtrip
ITALY | Friday, 2 May 2014 | Views [141]
It is now just under 4 months until we head back Europe and I'm getting super excited! We have booked an 11 night cruise (59% discount -yay) and are in the process of now arranging airfares. Sooooo looking forward to visiting Milano, beautiful San Sebastian ... Read more >
ITALY | Saturday, 25 May 2013 | Views [266]
I was so lucky to have only one day of rain while I was in Ireland...even though it was only for a week. I left Venice,Marco Polo airport amidst torrential rain and arrived to a coolish but sunny day in Dublin. I had no problem catching the ... Read more >
ITALY | Friday, 24 May 2013 | Views [269]
On my days off I have made sure that I visit places easily accessible by train to make the most of my time here. It also gives me a chance to practice my Italian in authentic situations. I'm happy that I don't seem to be having to repeat myself ... Read more >
ITALY | Tuesday, 30 Apr 2013 | Views [348]
It's hard to believe that I've been here for 3 weeks already with only 2 more until I leave Italy. I"ll be sad to leave la bella vita here but I have other plans to be completed. My Italian has improved immensely and I have been complimented twice recently ... Read more >
ITALY | Thursday, 11 Apr 2013 | Views [313]
Ciao from Italia! Today is my last day in Brische with my amazing famiglia. This afternoon Claudio is taking me to the station and I'm off to Padova ( Coli Euganee to be precise) to take up my "Mrs Doubtfire" job. Cecilia from Padova phoned me ... Read more >
ITALY | Tuesday, 2 Apr 2013 | Views [506]
I am so glad I chose to stay in Florence for Easter and see the explosion of the carriage ( La Scoppio del Carro). Even though I was denied an hour's sleep because of the change to daylight saving time, I was up bright and early and headed first to ... Read more >
ITALY | Wednesday, 27 Mar 2013 | Views [274]
The football game between Florentina and Genoa was fun despite the fact that 5 students under one umbrella doesn't offer heaps of protection from the rain. Good group bonding occurred! The final score was 2-2. After the game we went to a local Irish ... Read more >
ITALY | Friday, 15 Mar 2013 | Views [242] | Comments [1]
I am now in Florence living with a lovely older couple and attending language classes each day. My Italian in improving ( as they say... Poco, poco, piano, piano) and I was pleased to not be placed in the beginners class. Classes are small but I expect ... Read more >
ITALY | Thursday, 7 Mar 2013 | Views [286]
After arriving to perfect blue skies and sunshine the first few days, the rain seems to have set in for a while. But it's still around 17 degrees during the day.
tuesday night I went with a small group of other students for an orientation walk around ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Saturday, 2 Mar 2013 | Views [317]
Dubai was better than I expected! Dave met me at the airport after a long, delayed flight and immediately took more to the Burj Kalifar - the tallest tower in the world. We went to the observation deck 124 storeys high. Magnificent views! On the ground ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Saturday, 8 Sep 2012 | Views [364]
I am so looking forward to returning to Europe again. I am looking at possiblilities of meeting up with friends along teh way but really feel that I want to do most of my travel plans on my own so that I can do exactly what I want rather than having to ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Tuesday, 24 May 2011 | Views [365]
Hi Just a quick update. Portugal was HOT and nice but one week was enough. I actually found most of it too touristy for my liking.
We felt the 5.9 earthquake in Istanbul. We had just gone to bed. It was a bit scary but we are fine.
I ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 5 May 2011 | Views [333]
I've met up with Barbara (after initially having a hassle because I had her cell phone number incorrectly entered!) and on Tuesday night we went to see Jersey Boys in the West end. I loved it. Barb was a bit jet lagged so kept dropping off to sleep every ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Friday, 22 Apr 2011 | Views [298]
The TGV train was fun as we zoomed from Paris to Antibes in the south of France. I spent a lovely week in a small place called Roquefort les Pins and got proficient at using the local transport to visit places like Antibes, Cannes ( I spotted a cool ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 7 Apr 2011 | Views [332]
I went through some local markets and the smells of the fresh fruit and vegetables brought back memories of my job in a fruit store when I was a teenager. I cant get enough of the gorgeous, colourful and varied types of tulips everywhere. Today was 22 ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Tuesday, 5 Apr 2011 | Views [354]
I keep pinching myself to make sure Im not dreaming but yes I really am here again after 26 years!I have walked so much that I think I ll go back to New Zealand about 3cm shorter! So far some highlights have been the car showrooms along the ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Sunday, 27 Mar 2011 | Views [396]
I am loving Germany again. I have sampled lots of the typical german cuisine (especially different types of Wurste) and German beer. Its definitely Spring time are there are gorgeous spring flowers everywhere (especially daffodils) and the lovely almond ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Thursday, 24 Mar 2011 | Views [265]
I am now in Mannheim and trying to train my brain to think in German instead of Italian. I We had lunch at IKEA yesterday - its such a well known store in Europe but I had never heard of it in New Zealand. Yesterday afternoon we sat on the bank of the ... Read more >
NEW ZEALAND | Tuesday, 22 Mar 2011 | Views [334] | Comments [1]
Had a great time in Florence. Best thing I did was take a local bus ( Number 12 or 13) to Piazelle Michelangelo for 1.20 euro each way to catch beautiful panoramic views of this gorgeous city. Went with a friend and we bought food first and had a picnic ... Read more >
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