Rome – 22 June 2011

Didn’t set off quite as early as planned and it was already very hot when we caught the Metro to the Colosseum.  Had to queue for about an hour to get in, but at least it was in the shade.  Went on to the Forum & Jane, Kay and Susan sat under a tree while Sian and Tony explored.  Got the metro back and had lunch in the flat provided by the shop across the road – Pizza, Stuffed Tomatoes and Pastries. All fell asleep, apart from Sian who went to explore the Piazza Populo and the Spanish Steps once more.

Ate in and had chicken salad and spent an Italian hour or two talking about the day’s events. At 10pm we decided to go down to the local bar to take in the ambience (and the wine).  Got home about midnight.  Very relaxing.

2000 year old building site.

Constantine's Arch

Site layout!

Signore Barnaby gives the Colosseum the thumbs up.

Southam - Countesthorpe 21 August 2011

Left Southam at 9.30 and arrived back in Countesthorpe at 10.15.
Home - after 16 weeks and 6 days.  We had a brilliant time (most of the time anyway).


We will be adding photos to the blog now we have equipment that works so if you are interested...........


Bye and thanks for following us.

Marlborough-Banbury-Southam - 20 August 2011

We left Marlborough at 9.00 and drove the 40 miles to Banbury.  Walked into town to the local Tourist Info who checked accommodation availability but only one B & B on their "approved" list had any rooms.  However when we arived there all the rooms were taken.  On the way out of Banbury we spotted a couple of other hotels but these were not on the approved list.

Drove on to Southam where a brusque but helpful lady in the local library directed us to the "Tarsus" a 15 minute walk away just outside the village.  This had once been a small Greek taverna but had been much extended over the 20 years the owners had been there and was now a decent sized and very nice hotel.  £75 for the night.  Had a respectable meal there in the evening, Tournedos Rossini for Jane and Beef Stifado for Tony.  £57 including wine.

Shaftesbury-Amesbury-Marlborough - 19 August 2011

We woke to a Lovely sunny morning and after a lightbreakfast we took a long-delayed walk around Shaftesbury.  We walked down Gold Hill, which was used in the famous Hovis advert with the baker's lad pushing a bike up it.  It's steeper than you think and very picturesque.

We drove on to Amesbury and after a swift walk around we decided the town was not large enough to keep out interest.  The only hotel we could see did not appeal and Amesbury seems to be a tea stop on the way to visit Stonehenge 3 miles away.

Marlborough was the next town on the road and a lovely market town it is too.  We booked a room at the Sun Inn for £60 and had lunch there (sandwiches and chips).  It was a lovely sunny day and there was a wedding at the Town Hall.  Nie to see people eating outside again!

In the evening both had steak pie in a pub, simple fare but welcome after the fuss of last night.

Bayeux-Cherbourg-Poole-Shaftesbury - 18 August 2011

Left Bayeux on what appeared to be opening out into a sunny morning; blue sky and sunshine at about 8.45.  The 60 miles to Cherbourg were covered in 45 minutes and when we arrived at the ferry port intending to book tickets for Friday morning, we discovered there was a ferry due to leave in an hour, so we got that one instead.  229€ though.  Weather worsened as we got closer to Poole and on arrival, although it had stopped raining it was obvious from the size of the puddles that there had been a torrential downpour.  Feels very cool and windy. Nearly turned round and went back to France!

We stopped in Shaftesbury and have found a bed for the night at the Fleur de Lys, a restaurant with rooms for £120.  The room is very well appointed and has a laptop for our use so we updated the blog.

Went looking for a restaurant in the evening but it started to rain again so we returned to the hotel to be fed.  The cooking was excellent if a little fussy and rich.  Both had lamb and with the wine the bill came to to £85. 
Two other couples in restaurant it was all a bit sedate and hushed after what we have been used to.

Bayeaux - 17 August 2011

Got up fairly early, had hotel breakfast and then went back to see the Tapestry again.  Arrived just as they were opening up at 9.00 so we were almost first there.  It really is brilliant and this time we went into the exhibition, which we missed yesterday, showing close-ups of the embroidery and models of Norman buildings (Tower of London, Winchester Cathedral).  There was also an exhibition of Japanese story-telling scrolls.  All very interesting.

There is a market here today so had a stroll around that.  Lunch at hotel today - not brilliant.

Took a trip out to Leclerc's supermarket to purchase more wine and were asked advice on wines by a young English couple.  Drink lots was advice given!

Ate at "La Fringale" this evening where we had a lovely meal for 48€.  An American family sat at the next table and the father had escargots and they tried everything on the menu more or less - bravo to them.

Tomorrow we go to Cherbourg to check out the ferries home with a view to catching one on Friday morning.  Part of us wants to come home but part of us wants to stay - strange feeling.

St. Lo to Bayeux - 16 August 2011

Today France re-awakes after its holidays.  Exited St. Lo on the wrong road but excellent navigation thereafter brought us to Bayeux.  Checked one or two hotels on the way to the Tourist Office - both very expensive.  From the Tourist Info list we went along to the Hotel Reine Mathilde (Mathilde was William the Conqueror's wife) which can accommodate us for two nights at 60€ per night.  Room here is small too with a sloping ceiling (ouch) and shower is also small but it's a pleasant room and 36€ cheaper than the last one.  The hotel is about a 5 minute walk from both the Bayeux Tapestry and the Cathedral so couldn't be in a better location.

Sorted ourselves out at hotel and went along to see the Tapestry.  There was a long queue made worse by having to wait for a guided tour group of Americans having priority access in front of us.  Tapestry was well worth the wait and the audio handsets with explanations was excellent.  May even go back again tomorrrow to see it all again.

Many tourists here with lots of them visiting the D Day Landing beaches which are very close by as are two War Cemeteries.  Bayeux has a busy narrrow main street and small lanes along the river, all very picturesque.  Fed up with eating baguettes we had lunch at a restaurant and sat outside as the weather is warm again.  Tony had a cheese and muchroom omelette and Jane had plat de jour of chicken with veg - very good.

After a rest went for a walk along the riverside where potential for a cricket pitch was spotted!

Then on to the Cathedral whose bells play a lovely tune on the hour.  We both know the tune but for life of us cannot think what it is.  How annoying!  The Cathedral was consecrated in 1077 by Bishop Odo, William the Conqueror's brother.

Ate at The Bellagio Italian restaurant where some a French lady at the next table was taking an interest in our bottle of Chianti.  Jane offered her a taste which was politely refused and they ended up ordering some rose wine anyway.  Food reasonable.

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Smug bastard in Bayeux