FAMILY REVIEW: Roma, Italy

The ETERNAL CITY!

10 THINGS TO KNOW: Tuscany, Italy

1. Tuscany is a large region! HIRE A CAR to get yourself around - it will be worth it! The main highway between Pisa and Florence is not a toll road (yay) but go off that highway onto the autostrade and expect tolls.

FAMILY REVIEW: Tuscany (including Pisa and Florence)

PISA (and Livorno)

LIVORNO

After checking into our accommodation in Montopoli (between Pisa and Florence), we tackled Livorno which is south of Pisa. We had planned to explore more around Tuscany while we had a car but we were exhausted so we settled for a close, smaller city to explore. 

It's not all roses...

Q: Would you recommend long-term travelling, like what you guys are doing? 

A: Yes to travel but long term? My answer would be "It depends". 

4 THINGS TO KNOW: Bologna, Italy

We didn't stay long but here are a few things to know we picked up.

1. Research before you get there if you want to go into the ZTL. Permits can be bought before driving through the no driving zone. We bought you permits at a specific supermarket but I'm sure there are some scattered around. They are €6 per day. They have a code to text to a certain Italian number with your car rego number. I'm not sure if you need an Italian number for this to work because we used our Italian SIM. If you have no need to go into the ZTL, no driving area, just don't. Parking is hard to find and it's not worth it. There are buses that go through the city that we saw.

FAMILY REVIEW: Bologna, Italy

VENICE (again)

We caught a ferry from Pula across the Adriatic Sea back to Venice. We didn't stop in Venice besides taking a bus to the Marco Polo Airport (paying full price... see rebellious trick from our Venice review).

FAMILY REVIEW: Venice, Italy

Our time in Verona came to an end and our next stop was Pula, Croatia. But with a quick one-night in Venice because... Venice!

10 THINGS TO KNOW: Venice, Italy

1. Venice City (the area you would want to visit) has only one road in and out as they are a cluster or islands just off the shore of the greater Venice area. 

6 THINGS TO KNOW: Lake Como, Lake Lugano, Lake Garda

1. The roads around Lake Como are narrow! The narrower the car, the better for your health!

FAMILY REVIEW: Lakes Como, Lugano and Garda

All three of these lakes are very different!

LAKE COMO

10 THINGS TO KNOW: Verona, Italy

1. They do not have Uber or Uber Eats.

FAMILY REVIEW: Verona, Italy

Verona is a beautiful city. There are a lot of historical things to see in Verona that are completely fascinating for adults but there may not be a lot for children within the city area.

Bear in mind that Hadrian is 10 years old. So not a baby, toddler or a newly started Primary school child. He is old enough to behave himself when he has to but young enough to tell us when he's had enough - without throwing a tantrum. He's old enough to walk longer distances but only if he's carrying nothing. There is so much a 10 year old can take of walking and old buildings and cobble roads and more poses in front of another old something.

Also bear in mind, we were in Verona for a month, so we were able to do things a little at a time and incorporate things in his study. But the following helpful tips and information can still help if you're not in our special situation!

EXPLORING BY PICS: Week One - Verona, Italy

Even Hadrian loves a good explore. Nevermind that he took photos of a Mercedes instead of the church behind it.......

	Their crossing guys are just like the traffic lights: red, yellow and green

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Week One - Verona, Italy

First Impressions

Highway driving vs city driving is different guys. Even if we're following the leader. On the highway, no one uses their indicators. In the cities, they still don't unless necessary and it's much more casual. At times it seems a little free-for-all.

Why Verona, Italy?

We get asked that often.

ARRIVAL: From Milano to Verona

After rushing through the Abu Dhabi Airport, we learned we needed to do things a little differently...