Let the sunshine in..

 We've been so lucky lately with the weather. It must be helping with the heating costs having such a mild spell. My next task is to load up with some free health and wellbeing.

Month 10 - Bite 23

In amongst that reading I was doing I decided to work through a small pile of magazines. One of which was detailing how sunlight affects wellbeing. I guess I already knew most of it - there's no harm in refreshing the memory though of just how much good fresh air and natural sunlight does for you.

It goes without saying that if you are feeling good and positive then the urge to look for ways of cheering yourself up by spending diminish. So, today's bite involves raising my melatonin levels and improving my mood (which, to be fair, isn't too bad anyway) for free.

I'm off to soak up a bit of sunshine without spending a penny... or paying for a holiday... or getting on a plane... I'm off for a walk..

Autumn Days

 It certainly feels like autumn just now! Although the weather hasn't really led to a need for the heating to go on much, which is good...

Firstly a bite that I really ought to take notice of myself...

Month 9 - Bite 16

I am constantly distracted by my emails! Many of them are fine and necessary, some are nuisances and others are offers I need to ignore. So, today's task is to double check my inboxes and begin to turn off the temptations that keep appearing. Not just general shopping (have you noticed that everyone always wants your email address 'to send your receipt' and then constantly bombards you with tempting offers?) Well, enough. I'm going to spend some time going through and blocking some of the more annoying ones to make sure they don't even get to me, unsubscribe from the reliable lists of companies and individuals that I know aren't scams and then try to get into the habit of deleting all of the others every day instead of keeping them 'just in case'.

Now I've got that off my chest it's time for some free and cheap pleasures...

Month 9 - Bite 17

Time for an autumn Treasure Hunt -well a walk anyway. This is one of those free activities that always lifts the spirits. While out and about I want to collect some treasures for use later - pine cones, leaves and so on .. just to see what I can find while I scrunch leaves underfoot and generally breathe in the nice fresh air.

Month 9 - Bite 18

Some of these were laying around so they are ready for drilling holes and attaching strings. Today's free activity is a conker competition followed by helicopter winged flights...

 

Month 9 - Bite 19

Very happy to have found a ready supply of these.. 

  

especially the ones with very pronounced shapes, edges and ridges.

The next free-ish activity for me is to produce some leaf prints ready to mount onto greetings cards to add to my collection all ready for whatever celebration comes along.

Month 9 - Bite 20

Now these need some time to dry out and open up. Today I'm going to check for any insect life that needs releasing and then lightly brush them. Next they can be placed on kitchen towels in the airing cupboard and saved for later - a decoration idea comes to mind, but this is one for another date.

                                             

Month 9 - Bite 21

Another find!

 

A new day, another preparation task. The Ferns I picked need to be dried and pressed - I'm using kitchen towel rather than blotting paper and heavy books instead of a flower press. I've got something in mind for another season, but like the pine cones they need time to dry before I can use them.

Quite a lot from one enjoyable walk...

In other words...

 

For the end of the holiday here's a couple of activities could start back in the library. One uses words from another language and the other the children's own words about their break.

Month 8 - Bite 29

Just to keep those thoughts of holidays and more exotic travel alive (even if you didn't venture abroad) how about learning some words or phrases from another language?

Our library has a selection of languages and methods to choose from - books, DVDs, online videos. Choose your medium and let everyone have a go. You're not looking to become word perfect or grammatically wonderful. The idea is for each of you to learn and remember a number of helpful phrases or interesting words.

Having started with the most basic 'hello' and goodbye', 'please' and thank you' see what they would like to be able to say. It might be that you did get away to a different land and found that there was something you wish you'd been able to say. Well, now you can try it out ready for another time.

Don't forget there are plenty of short video clips, online courses and ebooks that you could try too.

Who knows, it might lead to the whole family going even deeper into a foreign tongue and taking a course to learn more. Doing this together means you'll have plenty of people to practise your conversations with too.

Month 8 - Bite 30

Our library also has a lot of local interest pamphlets advertising some of the attractions and events around here. Have you noticed a rack like this in yours? or in the local tourist information office?

You could round off the holiday by providing the wherewithal for making brochures or scrapbooks about some of the places you've been or events you've attended or things you've done together over the break.

Pictures, writing, photos, downloaded information - they can all go into your family's very personal brochures of their holiday.

While you take the time to create these it will provide the opportunity to chat about everything you've done and to find out what the favourites were. It could be surprising to see what comes out on top. Was it the most expensive outing or the most creative day or just the longest time you had to laugh and have fun?

Photo Shoot

 Month 8 -Bite 19

Time for a walk again! And once more a camera will come in handy...

You can either just go for a walk to see what you can find to shoot and collect as many photos of your trip as possible - the more unusual the better. Try not just taking a picture of a tree for example, try and get a real close up of the bark. Or go window shopping with your phone/camera to see what's on display around you.

The other option is to choose a theme before you go out - rather like the other day's bug safari. Anything goes - you could even try to take some snaps that don't show the whole object so that the viewer has to guess what they are looking at...

If you can't go out or the weather isn't being co-operative you could complete your walk indoors finding things to snap around the house ...

Got plenty of images? Then it'll be on to ..

Month 8 - Bite 20

Now it's time to turn your photos into a story. Pick the photos that you want to use and then put them into an order that helps to tell your story. It could simple show the route you took, or be a 'what is this?' quiz if you took some close up or different angle shots. 

You might want to make up a story with the photos illustrating the narrative.

These could be linked together as a presentation to entertain the family or take into school to show what you've been up to. You could add music or a commentary and text. You could have plenty of fun together creating and directing your own piece of artwork!

Bug Safari

 Month 8 - Bite 15

Back outside again now.

Time to become a hunter - your prey will be small and your weapon will be a camera (phone) or paper and pencil.

Go for a walk to see how many bugs you can spot...

They might be decorations in others' gardens ..

                                             

Or the real thing in the park or your own patch...

Record what you find in some way and see if you know the name of the creature.

If you don't try looking it up online or try tomorrow's task for some help!

There are also regular surveys and counts that are advertised to help naturalists and other scientists to gauge the health of our bug (and other creature) populations. Earlier this month there was a butterfly count. It's worth looking out for them and many have their own apps or downloadable resources so that you can find out more about your hunted subject...

Of course you could also do a bug safari at home.. and I don't just mean counting spiders hiding around the place. See if you can track down images of mini-beasts on cans, covers and books as well as magazines, comics and toys. They really are everywhere.

Playing Outside

 Month 8 - Bite 8

Time to get outside - as long as the weather is on your side, although a little drizzle never hurt anyone... much.

Are there any local sports' facilities that are offering free taster sessions? Do a bit of research online to check it out. There will be some teams and organisations that are recruiting new members by throwing their doors open. See if there's anything your crew would like to try. Many of these will be advertised online or in the local press or down at the library so why not take a look?

Month 8 - Bite 9

When was the last time you visited your local park?

We're lucky round here. As well as the usual swings and grassy areas there are tennis courts, mini golf, a skateboard arena and an outdoor gym. Do you know what's on offer near you? Getting out in the fresh air is good for all of you, especially as (generally) whooping around and letting off steam is easier in open areas.

Phone round and see if one or two friends want to meet up and have a play together. Take some snacks and drinks with you and it shouldn't cost much at all.

Month 8 - Bite 10

In all that sorting out did you uncover a ball, racket, bat, or any such thing? You could all play a ball game together today. It could be a traditional game that you all know the rules for, or you could invent your own... With some improvised skittles (plastic milk cartons) or obstacles to go round or through (chair legs, rope laid on the ground) you can make up your own games and rules based on the number of players, time and space available and the skill set of those taking part!

Booking it in....

 Month 8 - Bite 4

So the holidays are underway... It's easy to lose track of what's going on, satisfy all the things that need to be done and remember every suggestion that each member of the family has made. So today is about getting the ideas booked in.

First either download or draw up a giant calendar for the month.

Now in pen write in all the appointments and bookings that are already made - birthdays, dentist, trips away that have already been booked, prior arrangements to meet friends/visit granny - all of those sorts of things.

Now begin to fill in the rest with suggestions, ideas and desires! At this stage you might want to make the entries in pencil so that they can be changed. Alongside make a mark in a different colour for each member of the household that suggested or wanted the activity. That way you can be sure there's a fair spread of who wants what.

There may be definite tasks that need to go down - a regular clean up and sort the home day, or a regular trip to the library.

The next job is to make some more bookings. If you haven't got all those essential appointments made then now's the time to start ringing, emailing, online booking, whatever. Dentists, hairdressers, shopping for new school shoes, next term's clothing and so on. Some of these will need to go at the end of the holiday as sure as eggs are eggs someone will have a growth spurt!

So much for the essentials, now for the fun - do friends and family need contacting to arrange time to get together? Do it now and get the dates firmed up. 

Slowly some of those pencilled in days will need to be written in pen and you'll be able to see what's left.

Of course, any of the ideas could change depending on who's available, what the weather's like and any new opportunities that come along. And don't forget to save this calendar once the holiday is over so you can refer to it again next time!

One for the Kids

 Okay, so we're on to Month 8!

Another playful, cuddly elephant for this month. I know I have been trying to make most of these ideas non-particular-month-specific, but as I write schools' out and thoughts of entertaining our younger family are at the forefront of the mind. Especially now my younger niece and her crew are due to arrive from Italy to swell the throng.

I've tried for this month to mix a range of free/cheap activities that we have tried in the past and are planning for now. The age range of our lot is quite wide and not all the activities will appeal to all of them. That's life! Still let's get on with the first batch...

Month 8 - Bite 1

This opening activity will seem a bit odd as we're beginning by thinking of the end of the holiday. No, it's not like in the shops, where as soon as term breaks up the advertising for 'Back to School' starts appearing. While we're all keen and excited we like to start to build a stock for the end of the holidays. Today sees a concerted effort to gather together the first components of the 'end of the Holiday Box'.

There's lots of bits and pieces around - craft stuff, colouring sheets, templates, that between all the family we're putting together. Books that were on sale go into the mix as do any puzzles, games and so on that we pick up in the first few days. The web needs searching for downloadables (you won't believe how much is out there) which are printed off and saved.

As other ideas crop up (along with any special bits and pieces that might get acquired from gift shops or outings) they get squirrelled away too.

All of these get put away ready for the end of the holiday when inspiration begins to wane, other tasks need to be accomplished ready for school or even the weather refuses to co-operate.

You'll thank me for this one later I promise.

Month 8 - Bite 2

Time to get out of the house and go for a walk. It doesn't matter where or for how long. It's time for a stretch and an explore of what's around locally. With all the to-ing and fro-ing that accompanies the frenzy of the end of the school year a  nice walk and chat is welcome. It provides the chance to talk over what's happened in the past few months, what might lie ahead and what they'd like to do during the break (don't forget to make a note of the ideas - they might surprise you with how simple the things they come up with are). It also creates an opportunity to revisit and remember those facilities and amenities that might exist close by.

Month 8 - Bite 3

An at home day today. A sorting out day! Release them into the wild that is their bedroom(s). 

How about emptying all their cupboards, wardrobes, shelves, bookcases, everything? Now they get to look at all the stuff around. Will they discover toys and games that have been forgotten? Decide there are clothes that no longer fit? Laugh at the thought of ever playing with some things again? See something their sibling wants to throw away that they'd like?

At the end of the voyage of discovery all the items they want to keep can be carefully replaced and stored and it should leave a pile of discards (especially with some encouragement).

What will you do with them.. well we'll get to that later.....

AAaarrgghhh... Just when I thought I was on top of it all...

 Oh well, the best laid plans and all that.

I was doing so well with little catch-ups and getting most of this blog rolling without too many gaps until - well, it had to happen really - the dreaded COVID got me! Luckily not too badly, but with enough brain fog to stop me writing too much...

So this month might be a bit truncated (handy for an elephant theme don't you think?). I'll get all the bite ideas in, but they may well be a bit crammed. Mind you, that's a bit how the summer feels for our family with so many birthdays, anniversaries and celebrations.

Okay, let's get started...

Month 7 - Bite 3

When you get to a certain point there's a problem in that you may well not need superfluous presents. I'd argue that you probably never need them - anyway there still has to be a way to mark and celebrate milestones and in the last few years we've had a few of those '0' birthdays - 30ths, 60th and so on. Actually next week sees my mum's 90th.

A while back we started clubbing together to get the number of presents to match a significant year. Some of them were 'present sized costs' while others were simple things that the recipient liked. My sister's 60th was a real planning episode with a spreadsheet and multiple messages as we all piled in with ideas and actual buying. The gifts ranged from her favourite orange chocolate and photo fridge magnets of the grandchildren to vouchers.

It was great fun (even if I had to witness it through video link because of the pandemic rules at the time!)

And there was a lot of love and thought put into it all.

Mind you, I don't now whether it took more planning or less than my niece's 30th previous to that which involved getting all 30 presents to Italy. Now that was a suitcase I was hoping they didn't want to open and examine as it was all wrapped and ready....

Month 7 - Bite 4

Of course, such present buying has to avoid descending into silliness and wasting money and time on stuff that isn't wanted or needed so the biggest factor with presents is to get what's wanted. The simplest way of doing this is to ask! 

I think I've mentioned before the trick of messaging each other exactly what any of us have our eyes on with links to where to get it, or sending photos of the desired items - especially with the children. We try to co-ordinate our efforts so that there aren't 'doubles' of any gifts too.

Month 7 - Bite 5

We also enjoy a good voucher. That doesn't have to be shop bought or specific either. Sometimes a handmade voucher to accompany the cash is rather nice. Thankfully the laptop and printer make that particularly easy. During the pandemic when getting to the shops or going out to choose was difficult there were vouchers promising sports gear or the like to be redeemed when the situation improved.

Month 7 - Bite 6

As well as voucher to buy things we've also enjoyed experience vouchers to be redeemed - that afternoon tea that I wrote about. Spending time together doing something we all enjoy and making memories are really precious.

Using pictures and screenshots helps to make the voucher more unique especially if there's some pictures of the intended destination or activity.

                                          

Sometimes it's a voucher promising meeting up for tea and cakes or lunch or even for a reflexology session or a manicure. It just depends on  the recipient... oh and the giver gets to go too!

Money, Money, Money...

 And Finally...

It's back to my notebook and cash records for the end of the holiday....

Month 6 - Bite 29

Having recorded all the spending as I go through the holiday it's time to total up where we spent what and how. 

The cash totals help me to work out what we'll need in terms of currency next time and the credit card purchases provide a guide as to how much all the other costs come to.

This time it had been so long since we'd travelled abroad that I took far too much! Mind you, I'm dithering about changing the spare back as a quick check online shows exactly how much worse off I'll be if I simply go and change it back into sterling. Patience is needed for this one as it may be that the conversion rates change, in which case I'll get my cash converted. However, if I think the hit is too much I'll keep my Euros for the next time or until I know someone who is going abroad and would like to buy them from me at a rate that's fair to both of us!

Month 6 - Bite 30

This is something I keep meaning to do and never have, so now's the time. Today's the day to research an easy access account with the best possible interest rate to open. This account I want to keep separate from my other finances and it will have a target too. The target is going to be the total cost of our holiday so that next time (even if I don't reach the full target) financing it will be easier on the day to day household budget.

So, that's this month all sewn up...

My favourite holiday saying though is a true money saver and helps the planet too.....

Take only photographs, leave only footprints...

Don't know who said it, but, boy, were they right!

Water, water everywhere..

 

Now I know it goes against the grain to pay for water at any time, but sometimes there's just nothing for it! So these next couple of bites look at minimising the costs...

Month 6 - Bite 27

The first problem starts with the airport. Because of security rules taking water through into Departures isn't allowed so that's a non-starter. We always take our own water bottles and empty them just before security. That means that we've got a container for filling on the other side.

Unfortunately the water quality and taste at the airport isn't always wonderful. When this is the case it's the inevitable trip to the shops in Duty Free to buy a bottle or two. It's always overpriced, but necessary and at least it gives us a spare bottle for the holiday. These spares we use if we need more than our more robust bottles for a day out. We also fill them for the return trip and ditch both the contents and the bottles before going through to the Departure Lounge coming home.

Month 6 - Bite 28

Once at our destination it's time to get some water for the duration of the holiday. A trip to the supermarket is in order to buy a large pack and fill our bottles on a daily basis. Of course, once out and about they may well need re-filling. Sometimes, as I mentioned, we take a second bottle. There are, thankfully, alternatives. In Rome for example there are drinking water points. We tried these the first time we went to tennis in Rome and the water tasted fine, so that's what we do now. There are also drinking water points around the city so that's a saving.

It doesn't just go for abroad either. Even here in my own neck of the woods there are free, public filling stations for everyone..a great addition to the local facilities.

When travelling within the UK we also tend to take a pack of bottled water when we're unsure about local facilities. Having some already bought at our local supermarket saves on the awful prices for small bottles while away - and our own bottles have now saved us far more than we spent on getting them originally!

Make your own lunch (but never stint on pastries)

 Month 6 - Bite 25 +  1

The last post sort of links straight into this one with the thought of bought snacks and supermarket visits.

We do like to experiment with meats and cheeses and breads so making our own lunch at times helps us to explore new ideas. This also tends to help on the financial front too! Some fresh bread filled with cold meats, cheeses and sliced tomatoes is always welcome.

As mentioned, the supermarket near to where we stay (opposite in fact) is great for this the local markets are brilliant too. When in Florence a stroll round the market there makes you want to groan about the fact that you don't have enough days in the holiday to work your way through all the different types of produce. One of the other bonuses is the way you can get invited to taste before you buy. SOmetimes a walk is needed to make space for the food you've bought for lunch!

However, pastries are not to be passed up on. Buying local versions of different cakes, pastries and bakes is one of the sheer delights of being away from home (all that walking around will make sure the waistline is safe).

                               

Month 6 - Bite 26

Eating like a local did come into it in the last post. There's more than one way to view it though. Breakfast is a real pleasure when it's taken at a pasticceria or coffee shop. (And that goes for other incarnations across the globe in their own localities). In Florence for example we popped acfross the road from where we were staying for breakfast in this way. The thing to remember is that there is often a different charge for your breakfast depending on where you eat it. We prefer to prop up the bar like the others in there rather than sit at the tables and voila, good chats with other customers and a cheaper price.

In fact with time on our hands at the end of one trip we decided to go to Caffe Gilli - the oldest cafe in Florence. We'd seen it on a TV programme and thought we'd take the plunge and accept the hit on the budget. How wrong were we - yes, it was great, yes it was a particularly good establishment, but budget breaking... the coffee at the bar was 1 Euro and the pastries just as cheap as elsewhere..... Always worth a try - you never know how pleasantly surprised you can be....

Living Locally

 Month 6 - Bite 23

Now my favourite part (well mostly) of any holiday is the food! One of the best bits of advice I wass ever given was to check where and what the locals eat. Whether that's a local cafe or hostaria or .. well you get the idea.

On our recent trip my niece's husband took us into the hills to his father's favourite eating place. The food was plentiful and cooked within sight of our table. It tasted wonderful and the place was full of lunchtime diners looking very satisfied. 

Not only was the meal great, but the prices were too. The children weren't charged for and the whole lot (including wine) came in at 20 Euros a head - oh and that included an extra course that we we're told about, saw delivered to someone else and then, when we'd drooled over it, was presented to us at no extra charge....

Month 6 - Bite 24

Eating and drinking like a local may mean stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new tastes and flavours, but you'll rarely regret it. I know we joke about the times that gravy browning and certain types of chocolate or spread have had to make it in our luggage, but generally sticking to food that is produced, cooked and served close to where you are staying makes sense.

Picking out an option from some too-bright photographic menus of variations on the Great British Breakfast have never been our way - although if that's what you crave.... Once you've been introduced to the favoured dishes in your country of choice you'll soon build up a list of recommendations to pass on to others.

By checking out some of these when we've returned from holidays has meant that our repertoire of home cooked food has grown and quite often it makes good financial sense. Cacio e pepe makes it on our menus virtually every week and it costs so much less than many other things, especially when I knuckle down and make the pasta. My niece's husband is always raving about how cheap 'proper' pasta is - and he's right... Give it a go!

Month 6 - Bite 25

Visit a supermarket... Not just the flashy delis - although they have plenty to offer. The supermarket opposite where we stay has a great range of quick and easy snacks - including freshly made pizzas, lasagnes and so on.

Quite often (and this is where renting an apartment scores over an hotel room) we get back too tired to eat out or pop back at lunchtime so eat in. It does mean either of us is tied to the kitchen as the supermarket supplies the food freshly cooked or we can put some super local meats together with fresh salad ingredients for quick, cheap and easy eating.

Seize the Opportunities

 Month 6 - Bite 21

Planning is important, however being flexible or spontaneous on holiday can bring huge benefits too. We had earmarked St. Peter's Basilica for a return trip along with the Vatican Museum. Our first visit was with a wonderful guide and it was worth every penny, but there was so much to see and take in that we felt the need of more time. We hadn't done anything about tickets as we didn't know how we'd feel around crowds on our first trip abroad after COVID so mentally moved that visit onto another holiday.

Imagine our surprise when we walked over to St. Peter's Square and saw that the normally long and tedious queue for the Basilica was moving quite speedily. Queuing gets you in for free, but can take an hour or so - hence our delight at the quick pace. Abandoning what we had planned for the rest of the day we joined the tail and within 15-20 minutes we were inside St. Peter's with plenty to explore, including the crypt that hadn't been open on our previous visit.

You just have to grab opportunities sometimes and this was one!

Month 6 - Bite 22

Sometimes being flexible includes things that don't make it onto the 'Top 10 Tourist List'. When we were last in Florence we fancied getting out of the city and took a bus into the town of Fiesole. Wandering around looking for the bus stop led us through a lovely market with craft stalls as well as vegetables. Well, you just have to take the chance to get something unusual when you can don't you...

Having arrived at Fiesole there was an Etruscan/Roman site to explore, unexpected and quite easy on the pocket. Now if we hadn't taken a punt on going somewhere different we'd never have seen it!

To help us extend our 'off the normal track' fun our apartment owner gave us a book as we left to begin to look at other ideas for visits...

                                                 

Some great new ideas to look forward to!

Free Site seeing

Month 6 - Bite 19

Many of the sites and venues featuring as essential viewing come at a cost, and that's fine - there is a price for the upkeep and maintenance of all such highlights. There are, however, many sites that don't cost a thing! It doesn't take much exploring or researching to find them and this trip we've discovered lots that we hadn't visited before.

Churches are one huge storehouse of interest and fascination. Whether that's marvelling at the work of  masters - like this statue of Moses by Michelangelo in St. Pietro in Vincoli....

or looking at the monuments to the long dead (and sometime seeing them too) or finding out more about the revered relics in their care. This time it was the chains that held St. Peter and a fragment of the manger. Whether you hold these in esteem or look at the effect they have had on the faithful over time they add new interest to a trip.

Churches aren't the only free sites.

Our walk along the Appian Way with its monuments and relaid original paving led us to the Villa di Massenzio with ruined buildings and a Circus worthy of any chariot race. Not only was it free, but we were virtually the only people there!

There are sites like these around in many countries (including our own) some appreciate donations or if there's a shop (most of the sites we went to this time didn't have a commercial outlet - just a warm welcome) then buying something will help swell the coffers, but most are there to celebrate and inform.

Month 6 - Bite 20

Many years ago I went to Greece as part of a tour and it was explained to our group that on Sunday we would be going on a boat trip out of Athens as this was the day that the sites were free and the tour operators tried to take their customers out to enable locals easier access to this. I'm not sure we totally believed that as the sites needed tourists to pay in order to keep going, but anyway the boat trip was great!

It is, however, still the practice in many countries to have a free day for visiting sites either weekly or monthly. It's worth finding out and then booking ahead if need be in order to make use of the offer.

Some places have cheaper entrance rates on different days or at varying times of the day - we found that when we rocked up early at the Pitti Palace in Florence one time and got in half price.

A little research goes a long way!

Getting Around

 When we first went to Rome we played it safe - I've already mentioned getting out accommodation and event tickets through an agent/third party as we weren't too sure about either. We did come up trumps in both cases, but subsequent visits have been much cheaper with our new knowledge and contacts.

Now it's time to consider getting around...

Month 6 - Bite 17

Again on our first trip we looked carefully at the maps and decided that our route to the tennis was a bit out of our comfort zone so took taxis. Then, when we visited my niece and her family she and her husband drove into Rome to pick us up - his journey back was awful and so we decided not to be so faint-hearted the next time and to explore public transport.

What an eye-opener! Our journey by metro and tram to the tennis was simple and soooo cheap. The tickets for a single trip (and on some combinations that means a total of 100 minutes travelled even when changing buses) was 1 Euro 50. Buying tickets was simple as you can just get a strip of them from the kiosks around town and date/time stamp them on board. They even covered our trip out into Labaro where picking us up was quick and fairly traffic free! This time we used the buses too to get out to the Appian Way - it couldn't have been much easier and again really cheap. It certainly beats paying around 10-15 times more by taxi...

Using the train from Sorrento to get to places like Pompeii was straightforward and far less expensive than any other way of getting there. It's an experience not to be missed...

Month 6 - Bite 18

Embolden by our experience (I know, others will have done Grand Tours, Gap Years and so on - we hadn't obviously) we looked at travel further afield. When we were in Sorrento it was ferries around the coast and from Florence the buses into Siena and beyond were really easy from the coach station and a fraction of the price of joining a tour or hiring a car.

The trips also had the advantage of us choosing our own time within the schedules (even if the 'last bus' from Vesuvius went rather earlier than advertised!) and giving us the chance to enjoy the scenery rather than consulting maps and concentrating on unfamiliar roads if we'd driven ourselves or searching for parking, etc.

Definitely to be recommended.

A Little Local Knowledge Goes a Long Way

 

Month 6 - Bite 15

Reading guide books, looking on line and so on are all free and helpful ways of deciding what to do, especially somewhere like Rome where the choice is vast.

The best information we've got, however, has always been from asking a local! The owner of the apartment where we stay in a mine of information. The first time she directed us to a church around the corner from where we were staying which had the most amazing archeological site beneath it. We were there for hours, exploring old Roman roads and houses and wondering at the state of preservation of it all. It also helps with the spending as you can be advised of the best routes to get there, any off peak viewing times or additional free entrances.

Another time she sent us off to Ostia Antica -wow - a mini Pompeii a short train reide away.

This time she sent us to a park with fountains, statues and a magic door that may even lead to the Underworld itself, along with a church we hadn't thought to visit before, but which had fabulous ceilings. 

You get the idea!

Month 6 - Bite 16

Of course there's nothing like walking a place to get your bearings and to see it at a variety of times of the day and night.

                                      

It's true for just about anywhere at home or away. There's always plenty to see and then to add to your list of 'must visit' locations for later in the holiday - or in our case there seems to be an overspill list for 'another time'!

By walking around we've discovered cut throughs and short cuts and so can duck from one overcrowded spot to another less busy corner changing our plans as we fancy. It also means that we can see whether we want to spend money in certain spots or if a place around the corner is a little cheaper for just as great an experience. Although it must be said that sometimes it's worth pushing the boat out - to take a drinks break in Piazza Navona perhaps. It's only spendthrift if you don't fully throw yourself into the experience!

Tap into Local Knowledge and Buy Tickets Wisely

 Month 6 - Bite 14

The first time we went to Rome and wanted to see the tennis there we researched all the sites and went for safety first. We bought our tickets in advance from a certified agency and, even though we were a bit concerned about them arriving before we left, had the re-assurance that we were okay for entrance and thoroughly enjoyed the holiday.

However, when talking to my niece's husband he was horrified at paying fees to an agency and suggested that next time we should go direct to the venue.

Humming and haa-ing about it we decided to give it a try the next year, and he was right, it was cheaper and quicker.

This year it was even better - the tickets were emailed within seconds of going onto the site. In fact soooo much quicker than the tickets we've got for tennis events in the UK which are digital, through an app, have to be transferred from the purchaser to the 'guest' and all in all took hours of sitting in online queues!

Read All About It

 Month 6 - Bite 13

A bit of an add on this one following the previous technology post.

We have in the past had a good read of guide books before going away, just to help with planning and so that we know what we want to see. Generally they are from the library or even as freebies on the e-reader.

This time there was an added attraction in using our phones. Taking a quick snap of the legend at points we wanted to remember, or read up on later, or to refresh our memories about (especially when trying to remember where a particular photo was taken) meant that we could do this at leisure or do some further reading back at the apartment.

Another big bonus was the QR codes on most of the explanations and at many of the sites. Some were straightforward reading and information while others provided free guided tours on-site - brilliant!!

The Joys of Technology!

 One of the biggest developments in more recent times has been technology. It's got its downsides I'll grant you, but they are far outweighed by what it now allows us all to do. 

Month 6 - Bite 11

Booking ahead means savings in time, money and effort. It certainly saves on the stress of knowing that you don't have to scramble for change, be concerned about running late at the car park and all sorts of issues of that ilk.

Generally booking airport parking ahead of time is a great money saver. I hadn't realised by just how much until we were driving in and I caught site of the information board with the list of costs - it was a huge saving having it all online - so that's this bite - pre-booking.

It applied to visiting places of interest too. From previous trips we know that certain venues get booked out long before we arrive so have had to get an online booking, they also have tended to work out cheaper too. This year, with the main pandemic measures in Italy only ending the day before we travelled it was even more essential. Most of the sites were online booking only and the opening times for a lot of places needed to be checked for changes. Thank goodness for mobile phones, internet connections - oh yes, and remembering to pack the chargers!

Month 6 - Bite 12 

In amongst our planning we also needed to check on local events and festa. Not just in case we wanted to go along and take part - it was pretty important to know that the Rome Cancer 5km run would close 'our' street on the Sunday and that the European Cup match would mean log jams in certain areas. That way we could plan to avoid the areas and enjoy other events!

Mind you, taking part in local festivities found online isn't to be missed either. That also applies at home - well how could you miss a Jubilee party with fun and live music?