'Summer' in Scotland

A Day Out at the Beach, Ostia Rome.

A very very nice man... I think he has some sort of problem however.. he remained in this 'state' for over an hour.. even after donning underwear and shorts!!

A very playful man...

Perhaps a wee bit of sunblock is needed after all

Three woman trying to talk a man into a 'massage'....

If nothing else, it's a very clean beach.. all the pebbles, cigarette butts etc are all swept up. A 'shop' on the beach also sold condoms.. perhaps thats what he is cleaning up?

Tuscany Umbria Weekend.. Orvietto, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimagnano, Siena, Perugia and Assizi

Ross and Philippa in Assizi.. a very wet day!

Looking up the main street of Assizi which is absolutely beautiful and.. yep.. full of churches and monuments.

Award winning Gelato (ice cream) in San Gimagnano

Philippa, Betsy and me sitting on the wall in San Gimagnano looking over the Tuscan countryside

Yep, even here in Tuscany you must pick up that poo!

Four of us having a lovely glass of Chardonnay in Sienna.. the view was out towards Chianti but unfortunately you cant see it.. it was beautiful and so peaceful. Needless to say we didnt actually stay at this hotel.. our 'hostel' was a little more downmarket.

Philippa and I on the outskirts of Siena with the new town in the background through the Arch.

One of the 14 churches in Siena... with me on the statue.. sorry about the head

A 'statue/model' hiding behind the curtains... the emblem of the Caterpillar to the right.. one of the areas which compete in the annual horse racing event in the central Piazza

The tower in Orvietto.. we all walked up this.. and it wasnt an easy feat

I took a liking to the colourful plates in Orvietto

The ancient amfitheatre in Lucca

Me in front of one of the vintage cars in the central Piazza in Lucca on Saturday night

Ross patiently waiting in Lucca

The four of us at the top of the Bell Tower in Orvietto with a view of the city in the background.. amazing things cameras when you figure out the buttons

Me at the top of the Orvietto Tower.. cathedral spire in the background

still from the top of Orviettos tower... the cathedral in the background

Orviettos cathedral.. an enormous cathedral for such a small town.

And I bet you can't guess where this was taken?

A weekend in Abruzzo

Driving up to Scanno in the hills.. and then this lake appeared.. absolutely beautiful.. and you could see the snow on the mountains in the distance.. not much snow left... but some..

Michael, Philippa and me with the snow in the background..

The small market town of .... oops forgotten the name already...

Scanno in the background looking through the arch at the top of Largo San Francisco

Ross partaking in some fresh mountain water from a fountain advertising this particular town was the most beautiful in Italy!! Some sort of annual competition they had won.

Playing silly buggars on the chains.. which read 2000 apparently to commemorate the Millenium

View of the lake driving up to Scanno.. very windy roads but beautiful scenery

Michael, Ross and Betsy under the arch looking into the small market town..

If you can read the posters you will see an Australian Youth Choir is performing here.. yep they love us Colonials in Italy.

Another one of the same and I cant delete it!! Help.. technology aint good for Blondes!

A 'grumpy' woman in the typical dress of Scanno.. very particular to this part of Abruzzo.

Ross posing on the car... the first time he had driven on the 'wrong' side of the road .. and he did very well.. he did all the driving and I was a passenger.... very relaxing I might add.

Another hilltop town.. only this time it was full of decrepid buildings no longer used. All there was in the town, aside from a few people (a population of 92 I think was the word from Lonely Planet) was a beautiful castle, a restaurant and wonderful views of the valley and hills.

The convent building in the town of Capestrano where we stayed for two nights.

The view of the countryside, snow on the mountains and village from our deck (not balcony but DECK) .. with an E not an I as they insist I pronounce it.

Mmmm.. the menu in the restaurant in the village.. still not sure what Beer made with oil and beans tastes like.. no one was game to try.

another excerpt from the menu... and something edible at last?

Couldn't resist it.. I finally found my ideal car..

This sign was hanging outside one of the houses (yes houses) in the dilapidated castle town.. took my fancy..not sure what it was all about.. perhaps they are still playing Knights in Shining Armour in that neck of the woods?

The confused Pub. Is it Irish, Scottish or Italian. Oh yes.. the pink bag resurfaces...