Final Leg

Such a great nights sleep 10 whole hours and we're refreshed and ready to go again. We caught the bus to the Botanic Gardens a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was a flying visit and very hot. We had a quick walk through part of the healing garden and then onto the Orchid garden. There didn't seem to be many flowering orchids. It was so hot that a swim became more important.

A cool spot to stand

Tony on the march to head back to the pool

A huge lizard type creature in our path at the gardens

Huge swan sculptures at the gardens

A quick dip before we packed for our transfer to the airport.

Now waiting in the departure lounge to board for a 7.45pm departure.

This adventure has been one of our best ever......busy but interesting and all went to plan. 

Now it's time to think about comfort food and keeping up with the firewood.

Homeward Bound

Time to leave Rome behind and taxi to the airport for a 9am checkin. All went to plan and we were soon boarding and in the air by 12noon. It was difficult to know whether we should try and sleep or not however it didn't happen. After a good flight we landed safely in Singapore at 6am 12 hrs later and feeling like it was now time to go to bed. We were transferred to the Furama Riverfront Hotel and on checking in they said they would have our room ready by 10am and better still they upgraded us for no extra cost. We managed a 3 hour deep sleep that took us through the rest of the day. 

We had our Singapore stopover cards which gave us heaps of free things to do so we started with the hop on hop off bus which was a great way to keep the breeze cooling you.

At the end of the bus run was the Singapore Flyer a giant observation wheel that stands 165m above the ground and takes half an hour for one rotation. Seeing this was on our list of freebies we took advantage of it. We had amazing 360 deg views over Singapore with its famous landmarks and even Indonesia & Malaysia.

Departure

Tony set his phone again. We had this to ourselves.

View from our big capsule looking down over a soccer field built over the water. They know how to use their space well here.

A  visit to Chinatown

The locals were all joining in to the line dancing .....great music and some amazing old dancers with rhythm.

Then a taxi ride to Dempsey Hill where they have some beautiful shops with lovely furniture and loads of interesting restaurants. We stayed here for a  meal then back to our hotel for a good night sleep.

Rome

This morning we left Cassino by the fast train and arrived at our little hotel here in Rome around 1pm. Again another great location and in walking distance to the Roman ruins and the train terminal with lots of lovely little restaurants in the area.

Tony decided to have a tidy up and came away with no hair.

 We only had the afternoon for sightseeing so we walked down to the Coloseum and joined in on a tour that also included the Roman Forum. 

A panoramic of the Coloseum 

After our tour finished we took a walk around  the area then started our walk back admiring all the beautiful old buildings on the way and stopping for our final meal in Italy.

Dinner on the footpath in Rome.

Cassino

Before leaving NZ Tony had found a guide with excellent reviews to take us out for the day while we were here in Cassino. She collected us at our door at 8.30am and off we went on the search for the road into Hove Dump where Tony's father had driven ammunition trucks. It's quite well hidden in behind a small village but after asking a third Italian we were in luck. He didn't hesitate and next minute we found ourselves in his car and off we drove for 2 or 3 minutes on a gravel track and there was the Inferno track that the troops had used to carry truck loads of ammunition and other supplies into Hove Dump. 

The Italian man showing us the beginning of the track we were searching for.

They could only use this road at night using very small lights following close behind each other so as not to be seen. This narrow track zig zagged its way up and around the steep terrain and was so dangerous with cliffs to one side. Trucks were lost over the edge at times some deliberate through breakdown. 

The Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery. The bottom right corner is where the 500 New Zealand soldiers lie.

Approach to the rebuilt monastery after being bombed in 1944.

The church in the Monastery more like a cathedral to us. It was incredible and the acoustics were amazing. While we were down in the crypt we suddenly heard this beautiful singing. We found a group of tourists from Slovinia standing casually together up the front of the church filling the place with the sound of a full choir. 

An extra bonus to be let into this basement area  which was part of the original foundation from Roman times.

Our guide who obviously knew this man that worked here. 

It was our lucky day and we were in the right place at the right time. This man offered to show us into an area that was not open to the public. At this time of the day the 12 monks that live in this monstrosity would be having siesta so he quickly showed us a small fraction of the lower area and some of the little chapels the monks use. 

One of these chapels was where the famous Saint Benedict spent his time.

Our guide was quite excited to be seeing this forbidden area for the first time. 

Monastery view from the Polish Cemetery

After a quick visit to the Polish cemetery it was time to call it a day. Temperatures had been 36 deg since mid morning. No pool to return to here just a cold shower. Even the locals are saying that this heat doesn't normally arrive until later in the month. 

 

Bari to Cassino

We all farewelled our lovely little Trullis this morning and Chris & Lyn had us at Bari airport by 10am. Tony and I along with the Clements took the train into the main Bari railway station and organised ourselves for the next leg of the journey. We said our goodbyes to Martin & Pam who trained to Rome while Tony and I waited for the 4pm train to Cassino. We wandered about looking so obviously like tourists with our packs close to our chests. The girls warned us as we left and another man on the train also said to wear our packs on our fronts. It was such a contrast to the week in the country feeling safe and at home. Now it's back into the city on full alert.

Our 5 hour train ride to Cassino was great with plenty of interesting countryside, rolling hills, valleys then mountains. Once we arrivived into Cassino we started out walking to our hotel with our cases then stopped and asked a waitress, who had snuck onto the footpath for a cigarette, if we were going in the right direction. Next thing she has her friend out with his car to deliver us to our hotel.

 Another lovely little friendly family run hotel more like a B&B with only 5 breakfast tables. So far our experience here in Cassino has been great with very helpful friendly people. We came across a local from a bar that knew we were looking for food and immediately he led us through the streets to show us where to find something. Not really what we were looking for but we stayed and enjoyed a freshly made juice of ingredients we don't really know but it was tasty. I think we are the only tourists in town as everyone is so interested in where we are from.

 

View of the monastery from Casino one of the higher points.

We have since found out that most people come here on a day trip from Rome to visit the Monastery and cemetery's then leave again.

Castellana Grotte

Sadly all good things come to an end and this is our last full day with the girls here in Puglia. We drove east to the Adriatic Coast and stopped off in Polignana for about 3 hours. Known as the Pearl of the Adriatic and famous for its potatoes. We took a walk through the lovely old historic part of the town with amazing views of the coastline.

The beach we went to.

 We spent an hour or so on this beautiful but very small beach packed with locals....I think school holidays must have started this week.

Pam and I about to swim in the Adriatic waters.

Looking down on the swimmers.

Our next stop was Grotte Di Castellana. Incredible caves discovered in 1938 and 4kms long. Up until then it was thought of as hell because of the hole in the ground where the mist rose up and out and no one would go near it. Some of the Stalagmites were over 400,000 years old. Apparently the best in the world. Unfortunately no photos were allowed.

Going down into the lovely coolness of the caves with an English speaking guide.

After our nice cool hour in the caves we met Chris & Lyn who had a picnic lunch ready for us in the shade of the trees.

Then off back for swims, washing and packing.

Our final night at Chris & Lyns Trulli for pizza from their pizza oven. They use olive tree prunings that have been baled for their ovens.

Stuffed corgette flowers from their garden. They were delicious.

Lyn putting together all sorts of interesting pizzas.

Another great day and evening. 

What an incredible time we have had with the girls and the Spalluto family. A highlight never to be forgotten.

Martina Franca

We had a slightly later start to our morning and then drove in to visit Martina Franca which is the nearest village to our accommodation. The girls showed us through the centre visiting the Dukes Palace and interpreted all the artwork that was painted on the walls. They then let us loose with maps and we explored this lovely little boutique town. Being Sunday the  streets and main central square were filled with locals gathering together to socialise and attend church. We stood in the doorway of the main central church while there was a service on and listened to the choir then in another little square there was a temporary band rotunda that had a band/orchestra playing which you could hear down all the little streets.

 They have just finished their big celebrations of their patron saint in this area with decorations and lighting everywhere which would look amazing in the evening

After our walk through this great little place and another market we drove to the other side of Locorotondo for a picnic lunch with some of the Spalluto family. 

Pietro Spalluto with Chris & Lyn amongst his olive trees.

This is the family that own the Trulli accommodation we are in and have become great friends of Chris & Lyn over the years.

In the olive grove and under the fig tree for our picnic of about 5 courses with the group. Georgio one of their sons is far left in the picture.

Pietro and Beatrice Spalluto our lovely hosts for the day. Beatrice is a fantastic home cook. Dessert time.

In much need of a walk we took ourselves up through some wheat paddocks where Pietro showed us an old Trulli in need of restoring and looked much like Chris & Lyns before their restoration. 

In need of restoring. You see these broken down Trullis everywhere.

We haven't seen a fence in Puglia yet. Everywhere is fenced with beautifully built stone walls new and old.

The day finished with a cool off in the pool. Day temps have been around 33deg.

Then a delicious light evening meal.....fennel salad with mozzarella, so refreshing.