Italy Guide: Episode 1 – Does Italy Exist?

“The name of Italy has magic in its very syllables.” Mary Shelly Let’s start with the obvious, Italy does not exist. Yes, yes, I know you can find it on a map, and I have a passport issued by the Repubblica Italiana and even the dictionary has a definition for it. The Collins dictionary states:

Marrakesh

A solo trip to Marrakesh.. James Bond, and a candelabra balanced on the head.

The Isle of Wight and the lost trousers

A catalogue of disasters on a simple weekend break and a symphony of “lost”….from lost trousers (while I was wearing them), lost reservations, lost the car, parking fines, lost camera battery, and obviously Maria got lost in Canary Wharf which is what kicked it all off….

St. Petersburg: the scale of magnifiscence

The sheer scale of the magnificence is mesmerising, and as in a long weekend, taking it all in is near impossible, with Russian efficiency, the tour guides have you jogging to keep up. We are still in recovery three years later.

St. Petersburg the treacherous preparation

Preparing to travel to St. Petersburg feels somewhat like a spy movie. A story of visas, passport control, sleek black cars and praying Maria would not be arrested.

Mauritius – the reunion

We join forces in leisure, cocktails, food, and kayaking. Maria almost kills me again and near piracy is averted.

Mauritius two routes to one destination

A trip of two halves…. and the long suffering boyfriend joins us. I assure you no more harm came to him than he was already accustomed to. I also confirm he is now out of therapy.

Foxhill Manor and then there were none

A retreat into utter escapism, dubious footwear and a near miss on unintentional nudism

The Cotswolds (A green escape from the city)

A cocktail of sheep, dry stone walls, “singing” and forests with trees. The magic of the Cotswolds (if you are able to pronounce it) awaits.

From Oman to London with a “sweet” dilemma

We leave Oman behind, plunge car first into a sweet shop (almost), get stuck between two borders and navigate Dubai with no map… What can go wrong?