We’re up early and on our way!  Geoff, me, Clarissa, Stella and Chloe – all (minimally) packed and off to Rome Termini to catch our train to Naples. 

We’re here and staying in a delightful little apartment belonging to Clarissa’s Mum, Patty’s, friend which is in a great location, near to their apartment in the centre of Rome.   A lovely reunion with Stella and Chloe from the school bus and a wonderful family dinner to signal the start of the last leg of our Italian holiday

We’re now on a little road trip heading towards Rome, to arrive on Thursday. Cristiano once again came to our aid and drove us back to the carpark with all our gear, and also his admiration for us travelling for months’ with so much luggage!

Less than a three hour drive from Milan the road to Bologna was empty and straight, and very easy….until we looked at the instructions from our Air BnB host and noticed that you are not allowed to drive your car into the centre of this medieval city! 

We’re off an adventure today – we’re taking the train up to Lake Como for the day.  A 40-minute ride and we were arrived in this lovely little lakeside town. 

We arrived at Milano Centrale, all baggage intact and into a taxi to head off to our Air BnB.  It is in a great location, one metro stop, or 20 minute walk, from the Piazza del Duomo.

Geoff suggested we stay in Villefranche for the night.  Situated in the bay around the corner from Nice, it is one of the most beautiful ports, with crystal clear waters and surrounded by colourful Provençal greenery

A few hours’ drive into the countryside and we arrived at the lovely home of Anne and Richard, friends of Geoff’s, who are kindly hosting us for a few days.  Their home is in Le Thoronet and is nestled amongst the vineyards, pine and olive trees

About an hour’s drive from Agay and we were in Saint -Tropez.  For a number of years we owned a house in the village of Gassin which is located just behind Saint-Tropez.

We arrived at Nice Ville station and there to meet us was my dear friend Sharon who coincidentally was in Nice for a few days on a business trip.  Unbelievable how much chatting two women can get through when there is a time limit.

We are en route to the French Riviera tomorrow which involves two more TGV’s, the first departing from Nantes. We thought we would at least give ourselves a half day here to have a look around before we travel south.

We arrived in Brest, and are staying in the city centre so it was an easy walk down to the port where there is plenty of action.

Another breakfast on the terrace before we checked out of Les Brises and made our way out of La Rochelle towards Brest.  Too much driving for one day so we decided to stop off for the night in Saint-Nazaire.

Located on the Atlantic on the south-west coast and protected from (most) storms by the barrier of the islands of Ré, Oléron and Aix, La Rochelle is a port complex and an ocean gateway due to the presence of its three ports – fishing, commercial and yachting.    

A quick breakfast in the Marché de San Quentin and we were off to Gare Austerlitz for our TGV to Gare Bordeaux-St Jean, the Train à Grande.

And we’re in Paris!!!!  The weather is amazing, everyone is strolling around and enjoying the Spring sunshine and long sunny nights and so are we! 

One day in Athens so we have to make the most of it.  Luckily both Geoff and I have been here numerous times so there was no pressure to tick off lots of sights in one day, we were able to make a more leisurely day of it, and that we did!

We disembarked the Viking Mars in Piraeus in Greece and headed straight around the other side of the port to get on the ferry taking us out to Poros, a small Greek island in the southern part of the Saronic Gulf. 

Another busy day, our first appointment was the Provisions Tour.  We were met by Alan, the Inventory Manager and taken down into Deck a which houses crews’ quarters, the officers’ mess and the provisions, and it is where food preparation is done.  14 days’ of stock is kept down there.