More wedding photos

Whilst in Tigne we managed to get wedding photos from JoJo & Alex and from Neil so currently posting them to 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58792688@N06/sets/
as the flavors.me link is still not updating, (will try and fix today)


Here is one of our favourites (sorry Mum) x

Honeymoon Day 43 (Tignes)

Last day in Sardinia was one of those days; 


First we rented a boat and headed down the coast and find our own beach, it was quite choppy and the ride a little uncomfortable. We found a secluded beach and an anchored the boat.

There was a lot of rocks so we parked quite far from the beach and decided the swim to shore was too much like hard work and tried to sunbath on the boat. 
Spent an hour being bashed around by the waves and thoroughly unrelaxed decided we should set sail for the hour long trip back. Unfortunately we had thrown our anchor into a load of rocks and we were stuck. 
Having told the boat owner how experienced we are with boats, going back without the anchor was too embarrassing so we struggled for 30mins and finally got free, anchor still attached.
Then we packed up to leave Sardinia and stopped to get the car cleaned, the Esso garage snapped the rear wind screen wiper clean off and denied responsibility, after an argument they didn't even finish cleaning the car or offer our 8 Euro back. 

Needing cheering up we stopped on route the the Ferry port at Porto Cervo and had supper overlooking the billionaires on their yachts, one of them had a helicopter on board and so we chose it as the one we want.

Whilst parked someone opened a door into the front wing of our car, dented it and did a runner!!! The day was not going well.


Got on the ferry and looking forward to getting in our cabin to sleep the journey away. 40 mins from port the boat turned around and headed back to port as a pregnant lady went into labour. 
By this time we were numb to problems and took it in our stride. The rule of threes hopefully meant that was it and we got to sleep.


We where heading to Tignes and couldn't wait to arrive but it wasn't going to be that simple. Got through Italy no problem and into the mountains.

With only a hour of mountain drive to go we headed up the suggested sat nav route and thought, this is odd, not much of a road!!!! It got worse and having been driving for at least a mile with the wheels spinning over the dirt track and steep incline we realised this was not a road and we were essentially off roading in a classic Porsche! but couldn't turn around with cliffs on one side. 
Finally we got turned around and edged the car down at about 1mph, never off the brakes. 


Finding a new route we set back up the mountain to cross into the valley of Val Disere about 1hr at the top of a new mountain the second route was blocked off....... we sat there 10 minutes knowing the only thing was an hour back down the mountain and still with no route.
Deja vu from the stag trip!!!!


Eventually we found a road and called ahead to warn our waiting friends to order lunch without us. The route we found in the end was amazing (if a bit scary in moments) and parts of it was the ski runs we do in the winter, driving down a black run is not as much fun a skiing it!!!!

We had turned a 3 hr drive in to a 6 hr one but the eventual route was well worth it.

Arriving in Tignes we pulled up outside our friends restaurant and sat on the terrace was Neil (my brother) and some of his friends. Totally unbeknown to either of us he had gone there on a last minute whim for a spot of mountain biking and Neil only found out we were turning up when JoJo told him and they kept it as a surprise for our arrival and a celebratory glass of Champagne.

This was a lovely surprise and we all ate a great mountain dinner that night of fondue and raclette with meats. Having Neil out there meant a chance to do some downhill riding with ski lifts to do the uphill. 

Our time in Tignes came to an end and after a mornings riding and walking we set off down the mountain (the main 'normal' way this time) and on a 6hr drive across France to the Limousin region and to stay with Kate & Francis (sleeping in our first house of the trip) 

Time to relax and take it easy for a few days wind down.

 

Honeymoon day 42 (Sardinia)

We were looking for a few lazy days. The guide books say being a beach bum is the best thing in Sardinia and we have certainly been living it. 

The intentions were full of activities but just like in Croatia something has got in the way. This time it was the wind. Any chances of us sailing where literally blown out of the window, same for diving.

So the only thing to do was go with the weather and learn to kite surf! Not hit the water yet as learning to control the kite but tomorrow morning is wave time (if no wind then it's diving, either way the wetsuits come off the useless kit list, wooohoooo) 

The other thing the guide books say is to drive the coastal roads of Sardinia. This we did and found loads of hidden gems to while away the wind swept days.

Funniest Sardinian moment was Sarah's face as she came running out of the toilet in a state of half undress with a silent scream expression having realised she was sharing her cubical with a frog on the wall!!!!! Never a camera when most needed.

Catching an overnight ferry tomorrow night to Genoa and then driving back into the alps to Tignes to see Alex & Jojo.

Honeymoon Day 40 (Sardinia)

We said we would have a lazy day once arriving in Sardinia, Sarah assured this upon waking her Husband! at 4am to inform me that she hadn't got to sleep yet!
So we set about a lazy day and have little to report after having arrived late last night. We did get lucky to get into the campsite at 10pm and get a pizza before bed (the people here are lovely and had waited for us following a phone call to say we would be late) 

Despite a lazy day of great interest was that 'one' of the tool kits came off the useless items list...... thankfully not for the car, but a small power issue (all fixed).
Also the corkscrew got officially ranked as the hardest item to find all trip, but interestingly enough is right at the top of the most useful items list (only for it's normal purpose) second only to the previously empty credit card!

The most exciting moment of the day came when sarah set fire to a bin! Disposing of the burning insect repellent thing (we think we've camped on an ants nest!!). Someone else noticed before we did and we bravely sat back and watched them deal with it....they did a good job and all's well that ends well.

We popped to the beach on a very gusty afternoon and during a swim got dragged along the coast line 200meters by the rip tide, providing the second most exciting part of the day. Much more tiring than dealing with the fire though!

On what little we've seen of it, Sardinia is gorgeous. It's dramatic landscapes meets a beautiful coast for miles. Looking forward to a few days here planning to rent a boat, do some diving and top up Sarah's tan. If we achieve one of those things we'll be doing well.

   

Photos

For some reason the photos we upload are not updating on the flavors page and haven't since Croatia. The second link underneath the photos 'our photo' in small will direct you to the flickr site where all the photos are or go to 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58792688@N06/sets/ 
There are tons of great ones from the last week in Italy.


On the ferry to Sardinia currently and they have wifi, its slow but means we can keep up to date with the Murray match. Hoping he dispenses Lopez before we dock "come on Murray you've got 1.5hrs"

Honeymoon Day 37 & 38 (Roma parts 2 & 3)

Struggling to fit in Rome's sights and having missed the Sistine Chapel because it closes at 4pm (we arrived at 16:20) we decided to spend an extra night.


It's been baking hot which makes it hard work wondering the streets.

The main sights of the day included the Pantheon and the Vatican

Both were amazing to see and much larger than expected. We picked a good day as the queues were very small, can't imagine how it must be on a busy day though as it was still packed and full of load American tour groups being 'shhhhhh'd' by guards and the public.

Having missed the Sistine Chapel we decided to head back to the hotel and get ready for our Michelin stared dinner.

All dressed up we arrived to realise we must have made a mistake, this was not a michelin stared place, it was however a highly recommended place (i had called the 2nd choice by accident) Luckily Sarah was feeling overdressed and before we left the hotel changed into a slightly less formal outfit, this was a 'phew' moment.

The place we went to though was brilliant and the staff awesome, the owner assumed we were something to do with Baileys Irish Cream (this is not the first time this has happened on this trip) and we where fussed over hugely.

The food was good too and the bill certainly seemed like a Michelin stared price. Beyond tipsy we headed off for a limonchello before getting a taxi home.

On arrival back and past sensible thought process we could hear live music and decided to find it. It turned out to be a cool looking festival and so all sure of myself, said to Sarah "I'll get us in" and approached the backstage security. 20 Euros later and we where in! all happy and bragging of my abilities we found out that if we'd gone to the front entrance it would have only been 5 euros each. Still, we had fun and got loads of free drinks as we talked to the crew.

Woke up worst for ware and needed to lay in. We only had the sistine chapel to achieve and wrote off any other plans in favour of recovery.

The chapel is an amazing thing to see but you can't take it all in. It is filled with about 500 people and no seats, what you really want is no people and a bed in the middle to help you stare up. Like everyone else we stayed until our necks got sore. You are not allowed photos in the chapel so had to do the best sneaky ones possible.

 Totally shattered 

we headed off to return to recovery mode. The plan was a snack and them a film in the hotel but we didn't even manage to order the film.

Off to Sardina today and back to the tent and outdoor life. 

Honeymoon Day 36 (Roma part1)

Arrived at our hotel in Roma booked through lastminute for a great price. We are a drive from the centre but just like the campsite marketing they have a 'free' shuttle into the centre (this costs only 3euro each way). Anyway it is great to stay in a nice place for two nights in a row.


Excited we headed straight into the centre upon arrival. 

We walked the city for hours and are now knackered. The 'free' shuttle back was full so we got a taxi after an argument with a huge guy who was pushing to get on and crushing small children (English.....of course, I told him i was going to knock him into next week, which if he wasn't so concerned about making it on the bus may have back fired badly). 
Happily he didn't get on and we didn't offer to share our taxi and arrived back before everyone, in plenty of time to enjoy a couple of Aperol Spritz by the pool and download the photos from the day.
We where amazed at the sheer volume of roman sights and ruins, everywhere you turn theres another amazing building or archaeological site.

We slept for hours in air-conditioned double bed heaven and haven't left the hotel yet at midday. 

We are now sat by the pool again planning Sardinia and have also managed to get a booking at a Michelin stared restaurant tonight, so at least a chance to wear the wedding suit and Sarah's special dress/jimmy choos, that so far has remained on the list of useless items we brought. Not as bad as the snow boats but up there with 5 jumpers and the 20ltr water carrier (we gave this away as it was either enough water for a week or Sarah in the passenger seat).

Off to spend another afternoon in Rome with the Vatican among todays delights. It's very hot and so old churches will offer perfect comfort.