After another year of intense responsibilities, we thank God that we have been able to get away once again for a good break. We left Brisbane 31st July and flew to Sydney to change planes for Bangkok. Our Bangkok flight was to leave at 4:50pm. We arrived at Sydney International at around 3:30pm. I had some last minute calls to make re LVS business so we went to the Qantas Club to make the calls. Time got away as I tied up loose ends over the phone. Then Debbie pointed to the time - 4:20pm - so we headed for the gate.
At Sydney there are a lot of gates and when I get stressed dyslexia kicks in. We were looking for gate 36. I saw what I thought was a sign to gate 36 so we headed down a maze of corridors and escalators until at last I almost reached gate 63. Debbie was still about 150 meters behind. I checked the time - 4:35pm. I turned and headed back up the escalators and collected Debbie along the corridors. We back-traced our steps to the main concourse only to find that gate 36 was about the same distance in the opposite direction. With a pack on my back and a pull-along cabin bag I accelerated to a supersonic pace, leaving Debbie, who was still cruising at low altitude. I reached the gate to be greeted by two lovely girls who seemed to know my name. The time - 4:49pm. We are never late! We still had one minute up our sleeve. I ran back to help Debbie and everything from there on went perfectly well.
It was a great flight during which we both had a good sleep for several hours. We arrived at Bangkok at 11pm and were in our hotel by 11:30pm.
Novotel at the airport is huge. Debbie hit the sack and I went exploring. At midnight I passed the hotel restaurant and was lured in by the smell of lemongrass soup. I thought a bowl of hot soup might help me go to sleep so I asked for just a plain lemongrass broth with no noodles or meats. I noticed the waiters having a giggle as they brought out my soup. It was dynamite, laced with gunpowder or something like that! I had asked for hot soup but I didn’t mean that sort of hot. After half a bowl my lips felt like they had kissed a hot sandwich press and my throat was on fire. My face was dripping sweat and my stomach felt like I had swallowed a hot coal. Surprising though, I slept really well and have felt fantastic ever since. I have not even felt the slightest jet-lag.
Next morning we flew to Helsinki, arriving at 6pm. We stayed near the airport and we had planned to take a bus into the city for dinner. However it was very cold and we only had light summer clothes. (We travelled very light so that we were able to take our bags on board with us). So we ate at the hotel and went to bed. We got up at 5am to catch our next flight - to Milan, Italy.
We arrived there at 10am and caught a train to the city, then walked to our hotel. Over the next 24 hours we did lots of walking, eating, shopping and not much sleeping. Well Debbie had a nap, but I went to the Ferrari shop. We met some nice people at a restaurant. While I was making conversation a Sri Lank-an man kept trying to sell me a rose. I told him I didn’t want it but he just kept pushing. I told him to go away but he kept insisting that Debbie was the most beautiful woman he had seen in a long time and I should buy her the rose. I agreed with the first part but politely turned my back on him and continued my conversation with our new English friends. The guy then gave Debbie the rose as a personal gift from himself because she is so beautiful. Well this was a bit much. I didn’t know whether to punch him or pay him. I only had a few coins so I gave him what I had and told him to keep the rose. He took the money (approx $3) and refused to take back the rose. I suppose I should have given a few more dollars, but that’s how they work here in Europe. Lots of pressure. Everyone is trying to sell you something.
Next day we hired a car and drove right up into the Dolomite Mountains where we had pre-booked a room in an alpine village called Soprabolzano. What an amazing place! Skiing in winter, hiking in summer. We stayed there three nights. First day we hiked over 30 kms, climbing to an altitude of 2200 meters. Everything was green and beautiful. On the second day we took a cable funicular down to Bolzano where we visited the archaeological museum.
We saw the body of Otzi, the preserved ice-man who was found in the nearby mountains. He is 3300 years old. In the afternoon we went back up the funicular to attend the annual fireman’s festival. The had a fantastic symphony orchestra. The people were all so friendly - Mountain people!
That’s one place we would like to revisit some day.
Today we drove to Venice, dropped off the car and tried to walk to our hotel. After one hour of alley ways, bridges and dead ends, Debbie suggested we were lost. I wouldn’t quite put it that way, but when we reached the grand canal it seemed like a good idea to catch a water bus. I had been trying to save a few euros but it back fired. Sopping wet with sweat we found our hotel. We are overlooking a canal and a small bridge. I looked out the window to see a girl about to light up a cigarette. In a deep voice I proclaimed “Don’t smoke”. She looked all around but not up. Again I repeated the command. Baffled, she looked everywhere but in my direction. Looking as if she had been given an instruction from above she put her cigarette aside and walked off staring into the sky. Maybe one day she will tell a story about how she came to give up tobacco.
Well we are settling in for the night, ready for a big day tomorrow. We both feel great, but we are missing our wonderful family and friends. God bless you all!
Lots of love,
Gary and Debbie
