Memorable Moments 2007 Trip

• Eating at the stick restaurant in Kyoto
• A bullet train passes through our train station - The wind nearly knocked us over and the sound was awsome. Jo-Ann's eyes light up with excitement. Speed is her middle name.
• An American tourist at the Buddhist Temple
• Eating Sashimi - Oh yes raw fish has never tasted so good! Not to mention the Tempura Hmmm!
• Jo-Ann walking past a restaurant that sold Whale meat - yes it took all my energy to get her out of the street. Lucky for them she didn't have a weapon of flammable liquid on hand or they would have been toast.
• Arriving in Tokyo with no clothes - then walking for two days trying to find something to fit. A Japanese large is a medium or size 10.
• Sweet and Sour moment - told by air hostess that our luggage was missing - then telling us that to make us feel a bit better she was upgrading us to Business Class!!
• Missed connection to Tokyo - the flight from Paris delayed 1 hr, sat on tarmac another 20 mins, security in London 30 mins, re-ticketing BA 1 hr, Nippon Air refuse us - not enough meals!, have to go back through security at Heathrow again, miss JAL flight, had to stay overnight -AHH!
• Montmartre, Sacre Coeur - If you're sick of the pace of exploring Paris, this is the place to go to unwind, sit, sip a coffee and watch the Artists and the Tourist go by. Special moment for us.
• Notre Dame de Paris
• Arc de Triomphe
• The Louvre - There are museums and then there is the Louvre. It took us 6 hrs to see about half. And when I say 'see' I mean we passed by most exhibits. Missed an entire floor. Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and the coronation of Napoleon, are all memorable.
• Champs Elysees
• Eiffel Tower
• Dinner in Rue Mouffetard, Paris
• Visit to Versailles
• Tool Museum in Troyes
• Visiting Kayserberg
• QUIZ ANSWERS the first three; USCITA, AUSFAHRT and SORTIE all mean - b. exit. This is not easily understood when your travelling on an Autostrade (Autoroute or Autobarn), at 130 km/hr. AUFZUG is - c. elevator and TOUTES DIRECTIONS means - d. All directions.
• Getting booked for speeding (lead foot) - You can travel as fast as you like on European roads unless there is a sign that says you can't. Travelling back from Gruyere the fash went of on the side of the road as I passed at 100 km/hr in an 80 zone. Who knows how I'm going to pay this.
• The market pavilion in Dijon
• Beef Burgundy in Dijon
• Meeting Jack in Geneva
• Gruyere Cream and meringue fingers - Thick spoon it out cream (double thick), on meringue soft in the middle- yum, yum, yum!
• The Alien Museum at Gruyere
• Going through the Gotthard Tunnel
• Outlet shopping in Switzerland
• Boat trip on Lake Como
• Strolling in the open air market in Bologna
• Best Caffe Latte in Europe - in Bologna, the GALLERIA CAVOUR 1 BAR & WINERY. It was a make your own experience, coffee on the side, hot milk in a glass. Biscotti were free!
• Continental breakfasts
• Melt in the mouth lasagne - in Bologna the birth place of the Bolognaise Sauce!!!!!
• Lunch at Autogrill on A1 to Bologna
• Riding a mini bus in Florence
• Jo-Ann's Florentine cake
• Having a stand-up argument with a queue jumper
• Seeing the original Michelangelo’s David
• Dinner on the terrace overlooking Tuscany
• Coffee, biscotti and juice 'fresca' at Marcellas - Marcella (pronounced Marchella) is everyone's mother in San Gimignano. She deserved a Koala.
• Stephen does the washing Jo-Ann does her block - so everything shrunk a bit!
• Dinner over looking Tuscany
• Coconut and Chocolate scoops of Gelati - a great combination, as is mango and vanilla, as is cappuccino and yoghurt, as is ............
• Jo-Ann has her candle fix - lights 5 candles in Siena's Cathedral.
• All roads do not lead to the car park in Siena - took us 45 mins to find central car park, roads go in a curve not straight lines.
• Got lost in Foligno - who cares where it is just get out of it, signs in Italy not helpful. Found out "tutte le direzioni" means "all directions".
• Tour of Colosseum - Found out only 15 Christians killed, 1 eaten by lion.
• School's out in Spello - sitting in the square at 1 pm drinking coffee, we noticed many buses parked round about. Without warning hoards of children exit a building we would not have picked as a school and surrounded us. As yes kids are the same the world over.
• Espresso and biscotti - coffee at a table in crisp morning air, looking out over the Umbrian country side, bells from St Francis chiming in the background, pigeons cooing, smell of freshly baked bread filling cafe - FANTASTIC!
• Silencio in the Basilica - Guard with a PA in St Francis Basilica, announced "silencio" every 5 mins or so followed by a long "SHHHHHHHH", good grief!
• Bird poos on Jo-Ann in centre of Rome - 6 million tourists, what are the chances. That's luck!
• Walking Assisi streets by night
• Jo-Ann's mini at St Francis - Quote "a little bit down is better" ha ha!
• Driving up a oneway street in Assisi
• Drinking coffee on Pantheon Square
• Watching the tourist crush go bye and enjoying a pizza
• Drinking Chianti - How the memories come flooding back
• Walking the streets of Rome - Each turn revealed a new and exciting vista.
• The shower cubical in Assisi - Small does not describe it, getting the two concertina doors to meet was a challenge.
• Petrol Price in Rome - 95$AUS a tank AHHHH!
• Lunch with George and the Girls - Swanky Restaurant on Hong Kong Island
• Lunch at Victoria Peak – HK very nice after harrowing ride on Peak Tram at 45 degrees
• Shopping at Stanley Markets – HK Jo-Ann bought nice belts and pashminas, I bought a book. 
• Shopping at Shenzhen – China, Really cheap watches, clothing and leather goods
• Beggars at Shenzhen Station – China, Very disconcerting
• Huge Tiantan Budda - HK Lantau Island, Towering bronze statue on mountain top.
• Train Station Toilets – HK, Hole in the ground. Jo-Ann didn't know which way to face
• Getting our mobile phone to work! Thank you Judy Corser!!!! No thanks to Telstra!
• Peking Duck – Shenzhen, Complete with head hanging off plate, Jo-Ann's reaction was very memorable.
• Meeting George our new HK friend, Very generous and helpful friend
• Meeting Desley and Jodie friends from Australia, Great dinner together
• Janelle's comment ......... 8May07- Janelle Williams leaves us our first ever comment on our website, THANKYOU Janelle.