Itchy Feet

So, here I am in Sydney Airport. The predicted temperature is 39 C. Back in Toronto, they're being buried in snow.

This should prove interesting. Especially since I didn't pack my boots. Hmm.

Great holiday, btw. Caught up with the family, spoiled my nieces rotten and had a great send-off BBQ last night. Love you lot so much.

I looked at the calendar today and realised in exactly one week, I board a plane to go back to Australia for two weeks' visit.

That really snuck up on me. I have Things I need to do. Like get a hair cut.

So, I've booked my flights for my trip back to Australia next year and handed in my leave request. The itinerary is:

January 23, 2012, depart Toronto at 6:00 p.m.

Toronto-Vancouver-Sydney-Melbourne - 27 hours. Arrive January 25 at 1:35 p.m. (gives me time to catch the train back to Wodonga)

February 19, 2012, depart Melbourne at 9:00 a.m. (I'm probably going to need a place to crash the night before so I can get to the airport on time!)

Melbourne-Sydney-Vancouver-Toronto. Arrive February 19 at 4:20 p.m. February 20 should be Family Day and a day off, I hope!

I have just under 4 weeks in Australia, all of which will be paid leave. Good price on the tickets, even if I have to fly Air Canada (bleh) - $2,106.00. I'll organise visits to people closer to the date, obviously!

Next step - renew my passport, since it expires in December. I already have the paperwork, just need to get the photos and make the appointment. And pay for it. *sigh*

Here's the gallery here. I've labelled some, but right now I have to sleep so I'm awake for our bus tour through Rome tomorrow.

Still enjoying it. Blogging to follow when I have time to write!

Just a short note, since we've been wandering all over Venice and I am one tired little Aussie-living-in-Canada. We are all here, safe and sound. Venice is a dream come true and there is a toilet in my shower cubicle. Possibly to make room for the bidet.








(Prettier pictures when I'm not asleep on my feet)

I might have mentioned a while ago that my brother and his wife (and Little Miss Zoe), were going to Europe in July to see Eva's parents in Hungary, and while there, David and Eva were taking a trip to Italy while Zoe got some quality grandparent time. Well, at some point the suggestion was made that I join them there and after getting my severance pay from the DoJ, that actually became possible. Plane tickets were bought (with help from the lovely [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com], who let me use her credit card to book online since I had Issues with my Aussie one and the website) and leave arranged and then I pretty much put it away in my head as "happening later".

The other day at work, doing calendars and the rest as part of my usual tasks, I realised that "later" is in fact just over a week away. So I've spent the last few hours doing online research and booking things and getting OMG HOLY CRAP I'M GOING TO ITALY!!! excited.

Here's the itinerary, for you to covet and for me to have a memory jogger and for my parents to not worry. ;) :

Friday, July 9

Fly out of Toronto at 10 p.m., fly about eight hours and arrive at Venice's Marco Polo Airpot at midnight. Catch cab out to the Hotel Apogia Sirio Venice (note to self, email them about very late check-in done) and collapse.

Saturday, July 10 - Monday, July 12

Walk 900 metres to where the sibling and his lady wife are staying. Do touristy things. Marvel at amazing place. Eat great food.

Check out Monday and catch a train to Rome (about 3 and a half hours away). Check into the Hotel King in Rome with sibling and sister-in-law (same hotel, seperate rooms).

Monday, July 12- Wednesday, July 14

Hang around in Rome. Do the touristy thing. Be awed at very old stuff.Eat great food and drink red wine. ;)

Check out Wednesday and catch a train to Naples (around an hour and a half) and then a bus to Positano. Leave D&E to check into their hotel and go 800 metres down the road to check into mine (note, this does involve a scary hill. Oops.). Check into Pensione Casa Guadagno which looks not unlike the hotel in Mamma Mia (the movie). Hang out on balcony and admire sea view.


Thursday, July 15 - Saturday, July 17

Visit Pompei and climb Etna. Swim in the Mediterranean. Walk a lot.

Possibly eat my own weight in seafood.

Check out Sunday morning and go to Naples with D&E so they can catch their flight to Hungary and reclaim their offsping (no Zoe for me, alas!). Wave to plane and then spend afternoon wandering Naples before catching the 4:30 train to Rome and taking the bus out to Fiumicino, which is a seaside suburb near the airport. Check into Seccy, which is a bit of an extravagance, but a girl has to treat herself sometimes and after they past few months I've had, I deserve it. Take a long bath, relax, catch up on things.

Sunday, July 18

Check out and entertain self until it's time to go to the airport. Catch 3:00 p.m. flight to Toronto. Arrive at 10:00 p.m. same day.


And yes, most of the places I'm staying in have free wireless, although I'm not sure how much actual online time I'll have. I will, however, be taking notes and doing my usual travel blogging. As well as taking photos. Lots and lots and lots of photos.

Edit: Also, I don't seem to be getting comments emailed to me. I'm not ignoring replies, honest!