So, off we went across the English Channel on a Hovercraft to Calais, catching the first train to Paris and ending up in the Gar Du Nord. We found cheap accommodation from the Frommer book and stayed there for a couple of nights. While looking at some fruit on the roadside stall we were reminded by the stall holder “please do not touch ze fruit”. Bit of a wakeup call.
Next step was to catch the train south to Italy to Florence (Firenze) where we saw the Pont De Vecchio, Michealangelo’s ‘David’; to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower and then Rome for five days. All we wanted to do was to get to a sunny spot to enjoy the first sun in 6 months after months in England. While travelling I noticed that many travellers were wearing badges on their hats. I started collecting all these (German/Austrian badges and wearing them on my hat! (something that was “out there” for a travelling Kiwi).
Whilst at Pisa a gentleman came up to me and got close and said in a raised voice “Do you speak English” to which I replied, “Very well in fact” and that we were from NZ. He responded to say that he was also from NZ and of course we asked “where in NZ are you from?”
He responded that he was from a small town called Hawera. We said to him that my wife was from Hawera (small world). When he introduced himself with the surname of Crosby, I said that I had flown with a “John Crosby” in the RNZAF. He responded that that was his son!!! He also said “you are supposed to be travelling in Israel”. A very small world, no mobile phones then.
On with our adventure to Rome for five days where we visited the Coliseum (no waiting lines; the Sistine Chapel), no waiting there either and only about 50-60 people inside, so plenty of space to explore.
On to Brindisi on the east coast of Italy to catch the ferry to Corfu. We met a funny Brazillian named Eduardo. He was going to Corfu to go to the topless beach on the Island!!
Lovely sunny days. We spent five days exploring the island before catching the ferry back to Brindisi and on to Venice (Still on $10.00 per day).
While we were in Europe, we always ate a breakfast of coffee and a pastry in the morning and nothing during the day until late afternoon, when we enjoyed a lovely local dinner.
We went to Dachau in Germany, Munich and up the Rhine overnight to Amsterdam where we saw Anne Frank’s place. We also read in the book that we had to have a Reistaffel, an Indonesian dish in a section of Amsterdam inhabited by “Dutch East Indies migrants”. On the way walking, as we always did, we happened to pass through the “Red Light District”, wow that was an eye opener. Some of our Dutch friends from our Israel experience, were dismayed that we went anywhere near there from a safety perspective!! Ignorance is bliss ….!
Anyway, back to London and still cold, so we stayed three days and caught the next flight to LA enroute to NZ. Both of us had lost a lot of weight and enjoyed the “Adventure”.
James Davey
September 2023