London

After landing at Heathrow we made our way to our hotel in Paddington left our bags and headed off for a walk around the sights.It was 9 degrees and all the warm clothes we had brought were hardly enough to keep us warm.I wondered how people could live in this weather if this was the nice time of the year.We walked through Hyde Park and saw sqirrels and Alan Border. We then went through some of Kensington gardenes and Joel climbed a cave looking tree.Walked passed Buckingham Palace but though the flag was flyning we didnt' see the queen. She must have had to duck out to the shops. We wen on to Westminster Abbey and Big Ben then had a spell at Maccas and onto the lions at trafalgar square. We went to the National Gallery then for a walk up to piccadilly circus and then on to the British Museum.We were trying to keep doing stuff to keep ourselves awake.We caught the double decker bus home and Joel hit the pillow and was asleep in 2 minutes at 4pm. the rest of us weren't far behind and our lights were out at 5pm.

Flights

We arrived at the Airport in Brisbane in time to see t heNikles, friends from China arrive and also Dolf a friend from Switzerland.We then checked in and Lyndie saw us off.Flight to bandasari then Dubai and then Heathrow saw Joel, Carlie and I struggle to get sleep in upright positions and Jim easily fall asleep when he planned to on the last leg. Temperature in Dubia was 39 degrees at midnight and then in London it was 9 degrees when we landed at 6am

Detailed Itinery
19th June Depart Brisbane and travel via Dubai to London Heathrow airport
20th JuneArrive London 6.35am catch train into london centre and sty overnight at Lindon House Hotel
21st June Depart on the Eurostar pm and arrive Paris around 6pm
22nd-25th June Paris-staying at Hotel Marignan
25th June pm Travel by train to Olten
25th -27th June Stay with Andi and Priska in Olten visiting our village of Egerkingen and going to church with them.
28th June Travel by train to Innsbruck.Pick up hire car and travel to Zell am See
28th -1st July staying at Landhaus Hotel, Zell am See. Austria day trips to grossglockner, fortress, toboggan ride
1st July Travel to Villach, drop off hire car and travel to Venice train/bus
1st -4th July Venice staying at Hotle al Ponte Mocegnigo
4th July pick up Hertz hire car and travel to Greve in Chianti,
4th -6th July Stay 2 nights at Podere Torre
6th July travel to Cortona
6th-9th July stay 3 nights at il sole de sodo, Chocolate factory perugia, ferrari museum
9th July drop off car at Perugia and travel by train to Rome
9th-11th July Rome-colosseum, spanish steps, trevi fountain, pantheon
11th July travel by bus to Sorrento
11th-15th July Sorrento staying at il nido hotel.Day to Capri,Bus ride along the Amalfi coast
15th July travel by plane to london
15th -17th July stay at Slough innkeepers lodge day to legoland/windsor castle
17th July Depart London by plane for our trip home via dubai
18th July Arrive Brisbane airport 8.45pm ish

Why Europe?

Why are we going europe? A few reasons.We want to go back to where we used to live .We spent 10mths living in Switzerland on a work exchange and it is now 10 years since we have been back. Our youngest who was 3 at the time doesn't remember much and we made some dear friends while we were there whom we will stay with. There are some places we didn't see in those 10 months that we would like to see, namely Austria and Amalfi coast. There are places that we want to visit again because they are soooooo wonderful ,namely Venice, Tuscany and Paris and there are places we wanted to see but will have to leave for another day : south of France.

Looking Forward to Tuscany

I am most excited by a little 'agriturismo' we have booked in Tuscany called 'Podere Torre'. It is Stone villa overlooking the Tuscan landscape where the owners grows antique roses.

Packing List

I am trying to use Rick Steves packing list for our trip.We want to pack light for ease of getting around. The following is an adaption of his list.

What to Pack

Shirts- five short-sleeved or long-sleeved shirts in a cotton/polyester blend.

Sweater or Lightweight Fleece- for warmth

Pants- two pairs: dark, lightweight non wrinkle .

Shorts.-one pair 2 for the boys

Swimsuit/boardies

Underwear and socks. Bring five sets (lighter dries quicker).

One pair of shoes.

Sandles

Scarf-to look a bit dressier

Money Belt- around waist type to tuck under clothes

Money. credit card, some euro for hotels that only take cash

Documents and photocopies. passport, plane ticket (or e-ticket printout), car-rental voucher, driver's license, hotels' confirmation emails, itinery

Daypack for carrying jumper, camera, guides, maps, and picnic stuff.

Camera. digital cameras and a high-capacity memory cards

Water bottle.

Watch/Mobile Phone. alarm is handy.

small First-aid kit.

Medicine and vitamins.

Eyeglasses and prescription.

Sunscreen and sunglasses.

Sealable plastic bags/containers. for leftover picnic food. A foldable cloth bag for carrying extra stuff we might buy.

Toiletries

Clothesline to dry your clothes. The handy twisted-rubber type needs no clothespins.

Small Towel a thin hand towel for the occasional need, quick-drying synthetic towel.

Sewing kit. Clothes age rapidly while traveling. Take along a few safety pins and extra buttons.

Travel Info from guidebooks and maps

Address list. write blogs and emails as we travel.

Netbook

Small notepad and pen.

Journal to be filled with the experiences of our trip

have I forgotten anything?

Our 4 week Europe Itinery

Week 1:Travel by plane Australia via Dubia to London
Travel by Eurostar to Paris- 4 days in Paris
Travel by train to Olten-spend weekend with Andi and Priska our swiss friends
Week 2: Travel by train to Austria. Hire a car and travel round Austria tirol area for 3 days
Travel by train to Venice- spend weekend in Venice.
Week 3: Hire car and drive to Tuscany -5 days in Tuscany at 2 different agritourismos (B&Bs)
Travel by train to Rome -weekend in Rome
Week 4:Travel by bus to Amalfi coast-spend 3 days with 1 day on Capri
Travel by plane Naples to London
One day to go to Legoland or Windsor Castle and then fly home to Australia