Sydney

<Good flight, got some sleep but unable to take advantage of the wine list. Michael made up for that with his new friend bringing in supplies from 1st class! Nice.  Raining here. Not far from home.

Abu Dhabi

Here we ate in the BC lounge at Abu Dhabi again. Got in at 8 last night and upgraded for this leg. Grateful for that as I have a nice migrant coming on. Six Senses spa will help I hope. Toured the city with a driver last night;construction, hotels, shopping, roads out with the old, in with the new. I wonder where the soul of this place lives-perhaps closer to the desert. I can vouch that the sand is soft as it is still in my shoe after a look at the Grand Mosque. Spectacular. Seats 40,000 for prayers. Looking forward to being home.

Foggy Milano

We are whizzing along the motorway, traffic is stopped in the opposite direction for 30km at least. 2 degrees outside and thick thick fog. Hope the flight isn't delayed.

Arrivederci Italia

So sorry to be leaving. We have loved being here, speaking your language, eating your food and seeing your history, past and present.
We can't wait to come back with the kids.

Milano

Made it successfully through the rail and metro system intacta. The city and countryside is in foggy darkness and the cathedral is plain spooky. Park Hyatt Milano is everything you'd expect, particularly with the suite upgrade. Attempted a shopping excursion but I'd say that European women and Australian women are different shapes... dinner in a tourist trap but the risotto was nice and it was close. Our 14 hrs on the ground in Milan is whizzing by. It is very cold outside, probably 7 or 8 degrees.
Have spun three times on the bulls balls to ensure good luck. Judging by the hole in the floor I'm not the only one.

Ciao Firenze

A quick whirl through Chiesa Santa Croce to see the tombs of Michelangelo, Dante, Rossini and Galileo (a tribute or a tomb, our Italian couldn't tell us). Ciao to our Royal Suite, and sorry we didn't have time for a spa or sauna. Florence was such an elegant city, a grand old lady with great bone structure!
On the train for Milan via Bologna. Our last sleep in Italy.

Tuscany

The countryside , full of autumn colour and coordinated terracotta rooftop and stone city walls, is so beautiful that a photo can't do it justice.