Ahh Roma

A foxy recollection...
The Anjour region in France - so ancient, peaceful and pretty. Chateaux built in 1500 and earlier. The superb local wine jollied many conversations around the meaning of life or stuff less serious. Lovely little creatures abound - squirrels, rabbits, woodpeckers, possibly a fox?
The bustle and enormity of Paris, made easy by joining my wonderful travelling companions, Cat, Panda and Woo and by helpful (and in some cases, foxy) locals.
The sharp, clean air breathed on the Eiffel tower's top level, a privilege shared by very few. The Louvre - so many delights but the Venus di Milo and Winged Victory amazed!
Geneva - not so ooh,la,la... like Canberra but with a truly spectacular lake that we cruised on a crisp, sunny day. Nice lived up to its name - it was nice! and neat and sweet. Monaco - pink is such a romantic colour...
and could they fit another yacht at Cannes?! A little bit of the Gold Coast so far away!
Firenze...the real David - hmmm, mixed thoughts there! Such a beautiful, liveable city. Venezia - la magnifica! Laneways, canals, bridges and palaces built on a splendid expanse of water.
But Roma - mama mia! Nothing compares. So vibrant, beautiful places, beautiful people, such art and history and pride. Saw a Presidential motorcade and marvelled at the Vatican treasures and Michaelangelo's uncanny eye for beauty.
For me, the Trevi Fountain is the crowning glory, a worthy represention of the romance of this city. Resisted the temptation to wade into the crystal waters....
Oggi é una bella giornata - today is a beautiful day. Sadly, my last day in Rome or on holiday at all. I am wandering the streets capturing unsuspecting Italian gods on my phone camera!! I am so reluctant to leave here.
Even McDonalds is special - a true Roman-class capuccino and crispy pastry, served by a breathtaking male angel. Not my normal venue of choice, but I'm footsore and looking for a 'no suprises' toilet.
Oh, yes, there are toilet stories...ancient cities have ancient plumbing!!
We travellers became very mindful of our Ps and Qs, in a country where you pay to pee (then queue)!

I set my rested feet on the cobblestones for a last wander around Rome as the clouds roll in and check I have enough coins to coax magic from the fountain of love!

Two more sleeps

Jools spent all night scrubbing the old lair, flinging herself into the fox-mobile with minutes to spare to catch the silver bird to cold and wet climes of gorgeous, charming Melbourne. Now the packing for Paris begins in earnest! "Where are my coats, my warm things and my data sticks?" she mused, sorting through her very large case, packed in a sleep-deprived state, and finding odd and useless treasures. Visions flashed of the little fox-mobile packed to the roof sitting smugly in Auntie's garage...full of warm and useful clothes. Oh, dear. Well that means more shopping...tres tragic! Jools shivered in the southern freeze and thought, well, there's always a silver lining. Bright and warm shopping centres beckoned!

of shoes and ships and sealing wax

"I've bought more shoes than a fox could wear in 9 lifetimes," Jools thought as she tried a different shoe on each foot to test their comfort level and padded to the kitchen.

Foxes, Jools knew, had 9 lives - like cats, of which she was very fond. Not to eat, of course, Jools quickly added to herself, in a smooth segue to thoughts of a snack...her never ending quest.

"Hmm, same colour..." she licked the chocolate cream off a Kingston biscuit, reflecting fondly on the smooth, dark skin of the lovely young doctor who tended her winky eye earlier that day. The winky eye was a bit of a worry - Jools didn't want some boy-fox in France thinking she was flirting! Or did she..?? Hmm, maybe there was a silver liner...er, lining.

I remember there was something I had to do about a liner... Jools mused. She often seemed muddle-headed, as her thoughts went round and round - a bit like a washing machine, someone once joked. Hmm...obviously the joker was unaware of the fox's sharp sense of self and propensity for bearing grudges, but Jools just swished her tail and bared her teeth.

Ah yes, that's right ... she was contemplating sending the foxy car southbound on the high sea. Cat and Woo had mentioned something about a pea-green boat, which sounded much more appealing than the steely-looking vessel Jools had spied at the wharves. But Jools, as always, had left her planning to the 11th hour and all pea-green boats were fully booked.

Then there was the mysterious disappearance of the modern equivalent of sealing-wax, broad strips of sticky tape, which Jools had hoarded for many years to secure her boxes of wordly treasures, bound for exciting new horizons....or a little burrow in Springwood, depending on the job market.

Either way, Jools would be happy because the Great Overseas Travel Adventure was due to start in just 14 more sleeps.

Packing!

Somewhat overwhelmed by the speed of organisation displayed by Cat, Panda and Woo, Jools is seaching the tops of dusty cupboards for a suitable fox case to carry her vital supplies on a jaunt around an exquisite village in France, climbing the well-known tower and visiting Jim Morrison's gravesite before setting off to romantic Italy...well, she HOPES it lives up to that name!