new blog started 21/7

we have started a new blog due to problems
www.morekieranandtristanross.blogspot.com

hope that you all continue enjoying our adventure

Grahame Lauren Kieran and Tristan XXXX

The Pompeii ruins and family

We have been so lucky to have Grahame's cousin steven ellis to show us his teams diggings and also guide us theough the Pompeii ruins that are open to the public . We have caught up with their childrn hugo oliver and henry and their lively mum stephsnie . We have had a wonderful stay in Pompeii !

18/7 Pompeii happy birthday Ellis twins

We had a lively dinner the might before with bridgette jeff & cameron at a restaurant near where we are staying . We drove from sorrento to Pompeii and met grahames cousin Steven Ellis his lovely wife Stephanie and there boys Hugo Oliver & Henry . we waited in town and we followed them to where Steven works at the Pompeii archeological site . He is an australian professor . We got a great look at what Stevens team does there . He looks at how the people of Pompeii lived . He looks into their life , their buildings and how the community was set up , rather than looking how they died . We got access only to areas that the archeologists are currently work in . We saw current digging and artifacts .we learnt how they date the area . The current floor date we walk on or ground is 79ad & the diggings go down under different layers of floors debris from the eruption of my Vesuvius , right back to 4th century BC They use measuring devices computers & cad systems to get pictures of there site as well as itemizing their finds . We Saw current trenches & was just overwhelmed by how lovely this team from various USA and world universities are . The team sang happy birthday to hugo and Oliver and we had birthday cake on site .

Bari to Salerno via amalfi cost road to sorrento Italy 15/7

So we had a lively breakfast this morning at the hotel president Giovinazzo , Bari - the boys said , although Tristan wanted Vegemite toast . The waiters were young guys who were friendly and we gave them some Vegemite to try . They ran straight to the water tap after trying a small bit on their fingers . Then they put a huge piece on bread and were going to tease housekeeping . A good laugh for all this morning . Kieran and Tristan enjoyed swimming in the pool there whilst we packed the car . The gps has us going to sorrento via Salerno . Can't believe all the olive trees on the sides of the road . Fields and fields everywhere . Eventually we spotted farming land and towns on top and down one sides of mountains . Last night we went to giovinazzo for a very late dinner . Like 1045 pm eating pizza . There were fireworks and a huge gathering in the town square and by the sea . We were amazed . So many people so many pizza shops !!!Bbc news have said that it's a heat wave at the moment in the southern meditterean and Adriatic and we can't believe the temperature is 40 deg c outside . Can't believe it's only 2.5 hours to cross Italy on the autostrada from Bari on the Adriatic sea to Naples on the meditterean sea . We continued on and follow the amalfi coast signs and wind our way along the skinny road . Really it's no wider than our own street at home . There are lots of mirrors on bends to see if cars or busses are coming . People riding the motorbikes are crazy . They beep you and overtake on blind corners . We did laugh - the sign says ' give way to overtaking traffic' the whole way along the amalfi coast road . The villages are packed with sun chairs and umbrellas. It's a beautiful day . the sea is a shade darker blue than the sky . Our temperature is reading 33 deg c . We found our way to sorrento which was 13 kms from positano . All these towns are so close to each other . We went to find a supermarket but it's Sunday . So we found a shop , stopped in a bus zone and got drinks etc . These Italian drivers either are idiots and no brains or just have no fear and good hospital insurance . Can't wait to go for a swim . Our accommodation in cabins at the camping place isn't what the photo showed that we booked . All clean just smaller abd no lounge . For 4 days this will do ! The boys met a boy Cameron from Scotland he is 10 . So they are going to play together ! Had no idea that sorrento is on cliffs overlooking the coast to Pompeii and Naples . It's very busy here - just plain crazy busy !!! Need a drink to stop the craziness !!! Oh year clicked over 8000 kms . Car still going well . No bumps or scratches . Great driving by Grahame today .

7896km in Dubrovnik and on the boat to Bari Italy 14/7/12

Goodbye Dubrovnik and Croatia!!! Wow after a big night out we woke up and straight to the port to get our tickets on the car ferry . We enjoyed another lovely breakfast at the bon appetit cafe and started the 10am boarding process . Our luck - one customs officer and policeman outside and quite a few cars and many busses . The boat sails at 12pm and arrives at 8pm in Bari . We have booked ahead so all was great getting our tickets today . The boat is lovely inside . We just have seats . I'm trying to get the boys to update their travel diaries . Can't believe the amount of busses that are on the boat . It's an interesting sight . The car ferry 'Dubrovnik' left late at 12.45 pm , we are sitting in air conditioning at a bar surrounded by a bus load of Italians who have been on a religious retreat or group tour . They don't speak English but smiled when we said sydney Australia .even got offered their cakes they are eating ! Tristan is sitting next to the lap top that is charging and he is also charging the iPhone . Kieran did alot of his work and walked the ferry to see what was happening . Got to love the cruise liners in port . Yesterday there two huge Cruise boats in . 7500 people in town - the taxi driver last night said . Today there are another two huge ones in . I presume we were late leaving as we waited for one to dock . Grahame is snoozing on the comfy lounge chairs . You know , the day after a big night out with Kevin from Manchester has caught up with him . I'm enjoying the uk magazine I bought this morning ! Life is good !! A Restful day !! time is flying by . Tristan has been sleeping for almost 2 hours . Infact the religious people's nun came to us and in Italian said that they were having a mass . We presumed that . So we sat with 40 people doing mass and prayers and singing . The nun came to us after 1 hour and said gracias or thank you and nodded her head . Kieran just sat there with Grahame and me watching this in front of us right next to the bar . . Their yellow caps say " commune di franciliina Sul Sunni ' There were two girls about 18 with them . They were watching the boys doing their travel diaries . they all have wooden crosses on leather necklaces and caps . Couldn't take a photo as I thought this to be not appropriate !! Our trip was not too long . We arrived at Bari at 730 pm . So only 7 hours ! It was a lovely sight to see Bari ahead of us . We watched the ropes being thrown and the boat lining up against the wharf . People walked offf the boat first via the car ramp , then The cars and busses moved out of the ship very quickly . Customs looked at our passports and waved us on . The sun was a red ball in the sky setting very fast . We found our accommodation finally . The address was strada statale 16 and the gps couldn't find that street . Dumb me .. Just put in ss16 and the gps found it . Boys are happy our hotels.com weekend special found us a pool and a 4 star place . We are all happy !! Back to spending Euro again !

Korcula - the old city 13/7/12 and back to Dubrovnik - Morley family from Manchester England

Korcula is the birthplace of Marco Polo . The Croatian trader who went to china and brought back rice and pasta to Italy . We walked up the stairs and through the old gate . There is a cathedral of st mark and other churches as well as many stairs and alley ways ,city walls and 8 towers . We had a lovely lunch with pa and sonia by the water then we boarded the car ferry back to the mainland and back to Dubrovnik ! Well we had a wonderful dinner out Friday night with our English friends we met on the day trip ro the 3 islands . Denise Kevin and Kate Morley from Manchester . Irish pub lots of beer say no more . We had a lovely dinner in the old town near the beautiful steps we call the Spanish steps !!! Mussels rissoto mixed grill veal mushrooms best pancakes with chocolate sauce and yet more drinks and again back to the Irish pub . So much fun . Such nice company . Thank you Morley familyxxxx

Korcula island drive 12/7/12

We left prigradica and headed to the opposite side of the island . We stopped at Blato and got some olive oil . Korcula is well renowned for the special qualities in its olive oil . We then drove to griscica a small hamlet and had a quick look from the car and headed to prizba a small hamlet on the coast road heading towards the Korcula town end of the island . Then we all had icecreams ! Then we followed the road to brna and continued on to smokvica . Then I'm my fathers daughter and guided us down a track to this beautiful beach that was at the bottom of the cave cliff we drove past , only to turn around and come back as the beach access was to difficult to get to and eventually we drive onto Lumbarda town and went past it , looking at the map on the gps ,to find where there are sandy beaches . It cost us 15 kn to park tge car . We had a lovely lunch and drinks at 'przina cafe' where we sat looking at the beach and relaxing in our chairs . A bit overcast today although the temperature has dropped to 33 and a bit of wind !! Actually really good drinking weather. You know when you sit down somewhere comfortable and the waiter asks you what you want and brings it to you!! The boys Grahame and dad(pa) had a swim at the beach . In fact, the boys really enjoyed the masks they bought at Cavtat and had lots of fun chasing the fish . dinner tonight is at the apartment . We are finally having a BBQ and meat we bought . It's only taken us 6 weeks to cook for ourselves . Anyway still no ironing so that's got to be a good thing !!! Took a while to get the boys out of the water . It got dark like rain coming , but it never happened .. Just a little cooler wind ! Really pleasant - relaxing wind !!