Month December 2018

To our wonderful family and friends, wherever in the world you are on this Christmas Day – from The Barossa to Bray, from Bundaberg to Bologna – we wish you love, laughter and happiness today and every day. Gayle and Greg

After Milan we decided to head up to Austria for a short pre-Christmas soggiorno in Innsbruck. The thought was that we’d base ourselves there and travel to a few nearby towns and villages. That’s not quite how it’s worked out;… Continue Reading →

One of the places we did travel to in Austria was Seefeld. This alpine town was once a small farming village; today it’s a major tourist destination especially popular with cross-country skiers. Seefeld has twice hosted the Winter Olympics’ Nordic… Continue Reading →

We’ve really enjoyed being back in Milan, especially at this time of year. By mid-December the Christmas lights are on, the little markets are bustling and there’s a definite wintry chill in the air. During this visit, as well as… Continue Reading →

People sometimes ask why we decided on Italy as our destination. As well as the obvious reasons such as culture and cuisine, we chose Italy because of its rich and diverse history. Technically this is a young country; it has… Continue Reading →

We almost missed Bergamo, despite the fact that the city is very close to Milan and the northern lakes. Then again there’s a lot to see in this part of Italy, which is probably why it took us so long… Continue Reading →

Visiting the doctor in Milan has meant basing ourselves in the city for a couple of weeks which, for us, is certainly no hardship – we love Milan. It’s also given us the opportunity to see a bit more of… Continue Reading →

During our time in Italy we’ve accessed the local health system a number of times. The list of ailments for which we’ve had to consult the professionals is, fortunately, short and also varied: chest infection, allergic reaction, broken crown and,… Continue Reading →