Paul & Lauren’s Travels

It seems like it was yesterday; it was September, our street was completely dug up and all the water pipes replaced. But that was last year, and this is now. I was willing to give the local water department credit for upgrading our local infrastructure last year, but as they’ve seen fit to completely repeat the exercise this year it’s time for a lampooning. Dunderheads! Over a month without hot water and note the the safety measures … that caution tape ought to keep Grandma and her pooch from tumbling into the abyss.

After a couple of days in Berlin we have now arrived home to Kiev. It may be chaotic and disfunctional here but at least we can enjoy a short break from the rigours of traveling before we start work on Monday. Maybe now the bank balance can stop taking a Euro beating as well!

You can view all the posts from our trip by clicking on the European Holiday category on the right hand side of this page.

The highlight of our late afternoon tour was to see The Vatican and the Basilica. It really was spectacular (seems to be quite a trend for this trip).

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What a better way to see Rome than to take the tour bus in the evening.  Equipped with the audio guide it was a great way to see Rome.  It was even less crowded and cooler at this time of the afternoon.  We could just sit back, relax and enjoy the sights.

Seeing the Colosseum was a great highlight for us.  After watching numerous history documentaries, the real thing did not disappoint.  It was amazing to see.   You could easily imagine what It must have been like as a spectator, a gladiator or a person condemned to death.  It was a spectacular place to be.

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When we traveled around Italy, people recomended us to try the steak in Florence.  It was truly and amazing experience.  The steak was dry aged.  At the restaurant they brought out a whole side of steak and placed it on a huge butchers wooden block.   They cut a piece off each end and asked us which we would like.  They then grilled the steak over hot coals.  The waiter cut the 900g steak and served Paul and I a piece each.  it was a sublime experience.

The town of Florence was beautiful by day and spectacular by night.  We enjoyed walking around the city.   Seeing churches, bridges and of course the statue of David.

Our favourite restaurant and dinner haunt for our time in Bologna.  Fab Pasta and amazing dishes.  A particualr highlight for us was the last night in Bologna.  We had Sea Bream (deboned by our faithful waiter Ivan and his brother John-Paul).  It was truly an enlightened experience.  It cured the seafood drought we have had for one year.  You might say that we were quite content.

One of the highlights of visiting the town of  Reggio - Emilia was to view and sample the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.  This cheese is specific to the region of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena and Bologna.  The cheese is made from raw milk.   It takes 600 liters of milk to make one wheel of cheese (which weighs about 37.5 kgs).  It is then aged from 18 to 30 months.  It is delicious.

Just by the fountain in Bologna, we discovered Italian men displaying their tradition of sharpening knives and scissors buy using pedal power to turn the grind stone.

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