Awe moments...
Colosseum
This awe moment was very unexpected. We had just arrived in Rome, we were on our way from the airport to our motel. As we got closer to the city and the architecture began to really come to the forefront, the excitement grew, we were in Rome! We came round a corner, and there in front of us was the Colosseum. We gasped, we hadn't expected to see it until latter in the tour, and here it was smack in the middle of the city. Wow! Jet lagged or not this was an impressive sight. |
Trevi Fountain...Argh rather than Awe
Sometimes things don't go according to plan. We were so excited to see the Trevi Fountain and to toss our coins in. This is the sight that greeted us upon reaching the Trevi Fountain. It had been drained for restoration. "Que Sera, Sera" Determined to still toss our coins, we lined up in front of the perspex barricades and tossed away. After several attempts, we finally managed to get our coins over the barricades and into the empty fountain. Hopefully our wish will be granted, and we will return to Rome one day to see the Trevi fountain in all its glory.
Sometimes things don't go according to plan. We were so excited to see the Trevi Fountain and to toss our coins in. This is the sight that greeted us upon reaching the Trevi Fountain. It had been drained for restoration. "Que Sera, Sera" Determined to still toss our coins, we lined up in front of the perspex barricades and tossed away. After several attempts, we finally managed to get our coins over the barricades and into the empty fountain. Hopefully our wish will be granted, and we will return to Rome one day to see the Trevi fountain in all its glory.
Sistine Chapel
For obvious reasons we have no photos of the Sistine Chapel. But the whole experience is forever burned in my memory. The vivid blue of The Last Judgement, so bright and colorful. The chapel was smaller than I imagined, quite intimate in fact. Be prepared to be up close and personal with all the other tourists crowded into the chapel. Shoulder to shoulder you will stand gazing up at the ceiling. There are seats at the back of the chapel if you are fortunate enough to find a vacant one. But no photos can ever capture the smell, that is what I will remember. "Yes", it is combined with the smell of sweat, due to the large crowds. But it is the smell of history, it transports you back in time. You can almost feel Michelangelo's brush strokes. It sent shivers down my spine.
"The hills are alive with the sound of music..."
This would not be your typical awe moment. We were on the bus making our way from Italy to Austria, just gazing out the window at the changing landscape, and I saw it....the snow covered mountains of Austria. My favorite movie of all time is "The sound of Music". I tried to rally my family sitting nearby to sing with me. apparently I was embarrassing them. As I sat back in my seat, drinking in the sight, I heard it. The faint tinkling of birds coming from the buses speakers. I sat up in my seat straining my ears. I grabbed my husbands arm, saying "this is it". Startled and confused my husband replied"What is it?"The Sound of Music of course. He thought I was nuts.
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Then slowly building, the first strains of the Sound of Music came through the speakers. I was on my feet belting out the first few lines of the song. To my delight other people joined in with gusto. I had found some kindred spirits. It brought a tear to my eye. Awe moments come in many forms, sometimes it can be the simplest thing.
Gondola Ride and The Grand Canal
A gondola ride might seem like a really cheesy tourist thing to do, but it is truly the only way to really see Venice. We had so much fun, everyone in our group opted to go on a gondola ride. Families split up, kids split up, and off we headed in our gondolas. This was so much fun, as we all headed off in different directions. We kept crossing paths throughout the ride, catching glimpses of one another as we wove our way around the canals of Venice. The sight that greets you as you enter the grand canal is amazing. |
Swiss Alps
Mother nature at its best. Everywhere you look it takes your breath away. Picture postcard perfect. I wondered if you lived there would you ever get tired of the view. Would you ever become so complacent that you would not marvel at the wonders before your eyes. I hope not.
It was a magical experience for us, as it was the first time our kids has ever seen snow. Yes we are bad parents. We are fortunate enough to live in an area 25 minutes from the Ninety Mile Beach, and the gateway to the Gippsland Lakes, and only about 3 hours from the Mount Hotham snow fields. Yet somehow we have never managed to take the kids to the snow.
How many kids get to say they saw snow for the first time in the Swiss Alps?
The Rainey kids, that's who!
The Rainey kids, that's who!
Paris, France & the Eiffel Tower
The top of my bucket list was to make it to Paris, France and see the Eiffel Tower. My Great grandfather came to Australia from France, and I think that has always fueled my desire to get to France. So after a wonderful tour and seeing so many beautiful countries, to finish our tour in Paris was a dream come true.
The top of my bucket list was to make it to Paris, France and see the Eiffel Tower. My Great grandfather came to Australia from France, and I think that has always fueled my desire to get to France. So after a wonderful tour and seeing so many beautiful countries, to finish our tour in Paris was a dream come true.