Things I've Learned

Sorry no photos this post as I can't use my lap top and am using the hotel internet.
We're in Florence and it's a totally different feel to Rome. We took the 48 hr bus trip around town when we arrived yesterday and even went out to a small town on the hilltop overlooking Florence. Today we're off to explore by foot and by bus if we tire.
I like to try new things, especially if a place is famous for it, such as drinking a Campari and soda in Italy. Well I tired it in Rome and it's not a drink for the faint hearted. I tired a Camparui Spritz ans should have realized it wasn't a gopopd cjoice by the look on the waitress' face. I found it to be very strong but thought maybe a Campari and soda was what I needed. I tried that too and still couldn;t drink it. I can drink straight Scotch but not Campari. I ended up having some in Lemonade. It can be up to 28% alcohol so that may be a clue there!
We also nearly took a French speaking tour in Rome but common sense and my sister, Glen prevailed. I did think it may be a good way to take a French refresher class but may be not.
I alsom learned that I don't want to be a tour guide in Rome. It's a hard job and like herding cats!! People just wander off to the bathroom and don't even tell the people they are traveling with so the guide anxiously searches for them until she has the right number of people again. On the Vatican tour we took 3 hours and it was still a bit rushed. The guide told us that groups from cruise ships take 500 people through in 1 and 1/2 hours and they literally run and try not to be left behind. I was grateful that we only had 25 people with us and paying for the Skip the Line ticket was woirth every bit of the money.
Off to explore again today and hopefully will have photos again soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Pompeii and the Vatican

Yesterday we took the train down to Pompeii via Naples and did our own tour of the ancient ruins of Pompeii. It was very hot at 33 degrees C. and we appreciated every bit of shade we could find. The train was an easy way to get there and much cheaper than taking a bus tour from Rome.
This morning we visited the Campo dei Fiori to see the morning market and the fruit and spices were very fresh and plentiful. We bought beautiful large peaches, bananas and grapes for our train trip tomorrow when we move on to Florence.
This afternoon we took a 3 hour tour of the Vatican Museums, the Sistene Chapel and St Peter's cathedral. The crowds were large and it it was hot and felt airless in parts of the museum but we enjoyed the tour and the guide was very knowledgeable. We were very happy to have spent extra money in booking the Skip the Line tour for both the Colosseum and the Vatican, as it meant we didn't have to queue up in the sun for the entrance to the Vatican.
Tonight we're going to walk down to Campo dei Fiori square again for our evening meal. We ate there two nights ago too and enjoyed the food and atmosphere, and it's close to our hotel. We've loved Rome and we're moving on to Florence tomorrow for 2 nights.
Bye for now, Jan Mac

When In Rome ...

You must be prepared to be out walking to see all the sights and enjoy all the history. The meals are fabulous and we had a lovely fish salad, with tuna and shrimp, for lunch and then we were serenaded by the maitre d'. The weather is hot but we're out sightseeing all day, even on the first day when we were still tired from the flight.
We found it easier to get our bearings once we walked from the hotel to the Vatican, up to Gianicolo Hill with a view of the city and then down to the Isola Tiberiana, then up to the Colosseum and on a On-Off bus trip around the city sights. Yesterday we did a walking tour of Ancient Rome and the Colosseum and then had a lovely meal in a piazza.
Today we're taking the train to Naples and Pompeii so will have many more photos and memeries to share.
Bye for now, Jan Mac

Almost In Italy

Another busy but productive day and I finished 2 more quilts (shown on my other blog) as well as another large crocheted blanket. The boxes are packed and ready to go and I've finally packed my suitcase.
I'm taking my knitting for when we are traveling on the train and plan to knit mini Christmas stockings for the needy. Janice from Needy Stitches supplies many organizations which work with the needy in Melbourne and they have asked for 5,000 stockings to be given out at Christmas time. They are filled with some lollies or some soap etc and may be the only gift many people will receive. The groups need them by Oct I think so I plan to work on them while I'm away.
If anyone wants to join in they are very quick to make and you can post them to:
Janice Bartlett, 71 Maple St, Seaford, Vic 3198

The pattern is:
Using 8 ply and no 8 needles, cast on 24 stitches.
(Knit 1, inc in next stitch) to end 36 sts.
Beg with purl row st st 7 rows
K14 (K2tog) 4 times K14 (32 sts)
Purl
K12 (K2tog) 4 times K12 (28 sts)
Purl
K10 (K2tog) 4 times K10 (24 sts)
Purl
Beg with knit row st st 12 rows
Garter stitch 5 rows
Cast off and sew up side and bottom seam

Have fun with them and lets see how many we can send to Janice. I am sure that if she receives more than 5,000 they will all be used by other organizations.
I'll try to check back when I next have internet access.
Hugs, Jan Mac

The Magic Cupboard

I've been overlocking around the edges of polar fleece that I had in my "magic cupboard" and making nice, warm fleecy blankets which will be given to a day for the homeless in Ipswich later this month. I have 3 more to finish as well as some more quilts before the truck is on its way to Brisbane again tomorrow night. I also used some polar fleece that had been donated and as there is such a big demand for blankets I know that they will be snapped up quickly.
I also received 3 more lovely beanies from Heather Coyne (Vic) and they will also be going to the people who are now homeless, due to the Qld floods, around the Ipswich area.
I also finished off more quilts as shown on my other blog, and they are also going to Qld with the delivery tomorrow.
Now have I finished packing yet?? No but there is another quilt pinned on the machine and ready to be quilted and with luck I'll get a few more finished tomorrow as well as packing for my trip and cleaning the house. I can rest on the plane!
Hugs, Jan Mac

Four More Sleeps

My sister recently had a special birthday and as our DHs don't want to travel overseas again we decided to celebrate with a trip. On Sunday we leave for a 4 week trip through Italy, Switzerland, Bavaria and Austria, finishing with a 2 night stop-over in Hong Kong. So only 4 more sleeps before we're off. I've been very busy checking schedules etc online as we're doing our own tour using Eurail and have planned it to include as much spectacular scenery of the Alps as possible. I will try to keep my blog updated but it will depend on our internet access.
In the meantime I've also been trying to get as many quilts finished as possible and I just have a few more boxes to pack and post before we leave. I did manage to deliver all the quilts for the kids' camp and now I just have some fleecy blankets and quilts to finish for Qld.
I also received some lovely QAYG blocks from M. Towler (NSW) and the bright colours will be great for more kid's quilts. Sophia Frankan (Vic) has once again been very busy knitting beanies for the needy and she has sent in 8 this time which will be very welcome in our cold weather. The last parcel came all the way from The Netherlands and was sent by Barbara Bourree and her group of quilting friends. They sent a large pile of string pieced blocks and they will make more beautiful quilts.
Many thanks to everyone for all their donations.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Comings and Goings Again

I posted off another two large boxes of quilts on Friday and these were the remainder of the quilts for the kids' camp as well as some extras for other organizations which help the needy. There were 14 quilts, some fleecy blankets, knitted jumpers, beanies and toys.
I also received two more boxes of fabric this week. The first one was from Jen and Yvette in Maitland (NSW) and the second was from Helen Wiltshire (NSW).
It's been a busy week with family staying during the week and our youngest DD coming home for the weekend and another 3 skirts being made. I was also visited by a lovely lady who brought quilts down from Canberra and they will be shown on my other blog.
I've also managed to pick up a chest infection too so I'm not talking when possible and trying to rest my throat. I forgot to say that I also managed to finish another hat and scarf set and the colder weather has made it a pleasure to be inside knitting.
Hopefully it will go very soon as I have a busy week planned this week.
More to come, Jan Mac