wrap up Rome

in a neat little bow and say Grazie Mille.

We've mingled with the locals and in some cases adopted the style.

We've noted the quirky yet functional.

The parking problems 

And the downright lustworthy.

The mural in our spacious hotel room was as good as

The view from our window.

We hit the Autostrada, but Paul failed to rise to the 130kph speed limit, much to Myles chagrin.

It was also necessary to re-discover the toll system in Italia.

We much preferred tootling along the less significant motorways.

Arriverderci Roma!

look to the sky again

It's said that when travelling one should always look behind and up.

In Rome, the splendour is all around and I tried my best to notice it all.

look to the sky

It's amazing what difference 16 hours can make.

Here's the view of the Burj Khalifa as we arrived into Dubai at 1500

And here it was at 0630 the next morning.

Everything is new and bright and shiny at the airport.

Slight issues with the departure boards

But we got there in the end.

catch you up on our trip so far

Paul, Myles and I left Brisbane early Wednesday morning to start our family holiday in Tuscany.

Three years of planning for the 4 families enjoying this event.

We may not look excited, but then we were at the airport 5 hours before departure.

Finally in our seats. We're trialling Emerates this time.

It's interesting seeing the safety demo in Arabic.

Singapore Changi airport is all about the orchids.

And in Dubai it was all about Ramadan

More adventures next time.

visit near Western Queensland

Some weeks ago I was required to travel to Chinchilla and Tara in close 

Western Qld for work.

It's a 1&1/2 hour drive to Toowoomba. We had morning tea here.

another hour to Dalby where we filled up with petrol..

And then another hour's drive to Chinchilla.   Cotton drifts along the roadside

from the cotton fields

Lunch in the main street of Chinchilla, a quick meeting a the hospital

Then a trip to the town's premier Saddlery.

I haven't seen this selection of boots since we visited Texas.

A fabulous choice of shirts for the cowgirls around town.

It was back in the car then for our final leg of the trip to Tara, just another hour down the road.

Dinner at the pub; we went with the steak.

Before retiring to the boudoir for the night. 

If you're ever in Tara, I can recommend the Tara Spa 

Motel Apartments.

They're pet friendly. You can even take your fish on holiday. Every amenity and they can make new friends. (The resident fish are in this giant bowl. Even fish food is provided)  

The main street was a little quiet the next morning at 9.00 am when we drove to our series of meetings at the School.