The Modrich Blog

Homeward Bound

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 17:00:00 +0800

It’s that time… time to head for home.
Every journey has an end, and for us, that starts today.

We arranged a very late checkout with the hotel (3pm), which was amazing and allowed us to do much more today than we otherwise could have.

We started the morning pretty late—a good sleep for all—then headed down for breakfast before a swim. The kids have loved the pool, and this was their chance for one more swim before we go.

Singapore - Universal Studios

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0800

Today was a BIG day.

We visited Universal Studios in Singapore—just one stop on the Monorail from our hotel on Sentosa.

Initially, we were not sure if we would do it or not, given both H and I are not fans of big, fast rides (roller coasters, etc.).

But after a bit of research and discussion with the kids, we decided to go for it—and we are glad we did.

Arrivederci Italia

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0200

Today we leave Milan, and Italy.

We’ve packed up and headed to the train station to catch the MXP Express train out to the airport.

Unfortunately, the experience at the airport this time around was not as smooth as when we arrived.

The check-in process was great, but then security was chaotic. We must have hit peak hour.

We waited patiently in the barely moving line for what seemed like an hour, but eventually made it through.

Milan - San Siro and Duomo

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 20:00:00 +0200

Today we headed out to explore a bit more of Milan. First up was the San Siro soccer stadium.

We walked up to the M5 metro line and caught the underground train all the way to the stadium.

The automatic trains drive themselves, so it was fun for the kids (and us) to sit at the front and watch out the front window—it was almost like being on a ride. The kids loved it.

Florence to Milan

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 20:40:00 +0200

Today is a travel day.

We had an early breakfast to finish off the leftover pizza from last night, then headed out for a morning walk before the crowds and the heat arrived.

A quick walk over the Ponte Vecchio one last time—spectacular without the crowds. You can actually move and see the details of the bridge.

We then headed back toward the Duomo for one last look without the sea of people. It’s a truly amazing building.

Florence - Boboli Gardens and Ponte Vecchio Paint-and-Sip

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 20:40:00 +0200

Today we continued to explore Florence.

We headed out in the morning to avoid the heat (it’s been really hot and humid 🥵) and the crowds.

We walked across the Ponte Vecchio—lovely without the mass crowds—and up toward the Pitti Palace, purchased our tickets, and went inside to explore the Boboli Gardens.

The gardens were amazing and massive—a beautiful space to walk and wander, which is exactly what we did.

Florence

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 20:40:00 +0200

Today we had a slow morning—coffee on the balcony, watching the world pass by below.

We headed out around 9:30am toward the Duomo, hunting for more wine windows along the way.

The Duomo is truly amazing—intricate detail in every centimetre.

The Duomo doesn’t open until after 10am, yet the line to get in was already wrapping halfway around the building. Crazy.

Laura and I have been inside before and have climbed the dome. While it would be good for the kids to see the inside, we sensed they were a bit over it and certainly wouldn’t have the patience to wait in the line.

Rome to Florence

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 20:40:00 +0200

Today we moved on from Rome and headed to Florence.

Once again, we packed our bags and headed for the train station. This time, we caught the bus from just up the road from our apartment.

While it felt like we could have walked in the same time, at least we were off our feet—which was a good thing after the past few days.

We arrived at Roma Termini well ahead of when we needed to catch our train. Roma Termini has a fantastic food hall—Mercato Centrale. The place was clean and had heaps of very nice-looking food and drink options. It was actually surprisingly good and unlike what we remembered Roma Termini to be from our last visit.

Rome - Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese, Roman Forums - and 3-scoop Gelato

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 20:40:00 +0200

Wow… we thought the last few days were big, but today the kids broke their all-time step count PBs—28k+ steps each!

We didn’t plan for a big day—it just happened. We had a slowish morning as we looked into hop-on-hop-off buses, since the kids were keen to try one. After some research, we figured we would probably be best served just catching local buses as needed. Most of the stops on the hop-on-hop-off bus would take us to places we had already visited.

Rome - Colosseum, Vatican and St. Paul’s

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 20:40:00 +0200

Today was a big (and hot 🥵) day in Rome. We had a busy schedule with tickets to the Colosseum at 11:45am and then the Vatican at 4pm.

We had tried to get tickets as early as possible and had been looking for months. It seems they are both popular 🤷

So we took what we could get and had to roll with it—hoping the kids could battle on in the heat and the crowds. They did amazingly.

Monopoli to Rome

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 20:40:00 +0200

Today we packed our bags and left Monopoli – it’s been a great week.

While we had intended our week in Monopoli to be spent chilling out and not doing much, we actually did a lot and were quite busy.

We had an early start, leaving the apartment at about 7am so we could haul our ever-heavier packs to the station to catch the 7:45am express to Bari, where we would then connect with a fast train to Rome.

Monopoli - Walk, Swim, Gelato

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 16:40:00 +0200

Today is our last day in Monopoli. We leave tomorrow very early to catch a train to Bari, and then another from Bari up to Rome.

The weather is fantastic today—the sun is out, the wind has dropped, and the sea looks lovely.

The kids and I took a walk down the coast to check out Cala Diavolo (Devil Cove), named because of the two coves next to each other that resemble the shape of devil horns on the coastline.

More Monopoli

Sat, 31 May 2025 20:40:00 +0200

Today was about more exploring and trying new things.

We had a lovely, slow morning—I think we all needed it—and we headed out just before 10 a.m.

Walking past the big cathedral, we were just in time to see more of the local festa, with the procession of three more statues through the street, followed by a marching band and many locals.

Once the procession had passed, we ventured into the cathedral for a look. It was massive—lots of white and brown marble, frescoes, paintings, and relics.

Matera Day Trip

Fri, 30 May 2025 20:40:00 +0200

Today we drive!

We hired a car from a local rental company (GoRent) and drove to Matera for a day trip.

Driving in Italy is exciting! The cities and towns are the hard part. Once you’re on the Autostrada, it’s plain sailing.

The traffic signs are confusing. When it seems to say 50 km/h and you do this, others feel like they are passing you at warp speed.

🤌

Not keen on getting a speeding fine, I follow what the speed signs and the car GPS tell me—until it feels dangerous, and then I speed up to “local traffic speed” for a bit to avoid accidents.

Alberobello

Thu, 29 May 2025 16:45:00 +0200

Today we took a bus from Monopoli to Alberobello—home of the beautiful UNESCO Trulli stone houses.

After about an hour on the bus, driving through the Puglian countryside, we arrived in Alberobello. Now to find the Trulli.

Up this street, down that—we wound our way from the bus stop, which is on the outskirts of town, toward the centre. It’s here we found the amazing Trulli.

Memories came flooding back from our previous visit in 2015, when we stayed in town in Trulli for a few days.

Monopoli Day 2

Wed, 28 May 2025 20:45:00 +0200

Today was all about chilling out, unwinding, and recharging.

It was a wonderfully warm day in Monopoli—perfect for exploring a little and then hitting the beach.

We grabbed lunch at the other café at the end of our street—this one focused mainly on fried calamari and octopus paninis (what could be better?).

We ordered some calamari, fries, a few octopus paninis, and some drinks. An amazing lunch.

By the afternoon, a breeze had come up. Rain is expected tomorrow. We still wanted some beach time, however, and didn’t let the breeze stop us—although it did change the previously mirror-like sea into a bit more of a choppy affair.

Bari to Monopoli

Tue, 27 May 2025 20:45:00 +0200

After a quick overnight stay in Bari, we packed up our bags and walked to the train station.

Bari Centrale was about a 2 km walk, giving us a brief look at other areas of the city as we made our way through the streets.

It was a quick 45-minute train ride to Monopoli. The train left Bari and followed the coastline, providing some lovely views of both the water and the almost endless fields of vines and olive trees—something the region is known for.

Dubrovnik to Bari

Mon, 26 May 2025 10:45:00 +0200

Today we pack our bags and head back to Italy 🇮🇹.

Croatia 🇭🇷 has been absolutely amazing—we’ve loved it and wish we had more time here. But all good things come to an end, and we must move on.

We have a day sailing out of Dubrovnik, which will get us in at around 7 p.m. this evening to Bari, where we will check into our next Airbnb apartment.

The day sailing will be an interesting change—more like a cruise. The ship seems to be very well appointed, with lots of options for the kids to keep themselves entertained and amused.

Dubrovnik - Cable Car and Swimming

Sun, 25 May 2025 20:25:00 +0200

Today we had a slower morning with no real rush to be anywhere.

We headed out mid-morning for a coffee and then to the cable car on the back side of Dubrovnik’s old town.

The cable car was going to be a challenge—some of us are not fond of heights.

We elected to get one adult and one child return ticket, but for the other adult and child we opted for one-way tickets, allowing a walk-back option if the cable car was too much.

Dubrovnik - Walls and All

Sat, 24 May 2025 20:25:00 +0200

Today was a big day out in Dubrovnik old town.

We headed out early to get ahead of the crowds—and this paid off. Compared to last night in the old town, this morning it was quiet and peaceful.

We grabbed a coffee and then walked the walls. We climbed the steep and seemingly endless stairs to get up onto the walls. Once up there, the view was amazing, providing vistas of the old town, the rugged coastline, and the surrounding areas.

Korčula to Dubrovnik by Ferry

Fri, 23 May 2025 20:25:00 +0200

Today we said farewell to Korčula. It’s been an amazing few days, and we have really loved our time on the island. Our apartment and hosts were wonderful, but all good things must come to an end.

Our ferry didn’t arrive until 12:20 pm, so we had more time to explore. However, we had to check out by 10 am, so we carried our full packs with us.

We set out to find one last coffee and soak in the old town. Most places in the old town were closed, so we just wandered the streets and took in the sights.

Korčula - Walking and Wine

Thu, 22 May 2025 20:25:00 +0200

Today we planned to visit some of the local wineries; however, as most are not open until the early afternoon, we needed something to do this morning.

We decided to take a walk to see the Church of St. Antun (Anthony of Padova), which is about a 6 km round trip (we didn’t tell the kids how far it was).

We packed our trusty daypack and set off. The walking route took us through a lot of unexplored territory, which meant we got to see much more of the island than just the old town and surrounding village.

Korčula

Wed, 21 May 2025 21:25:00 +0200

Today was about exploring Korčula further. We ventured out into the old town again, this time first walking around the outside of the walls before entering.

It was an overcast and windy day, with rain looming. Many locals had suggested it would be a wet day, and the low clouds hanging over the nearby islands suggested the same.

We headed into the centre of town and climbed up the St. Mark’s Cathedral bell tower—which had its challenges, given I’m not a fan of heights and the winds were only getting stronger as we climbed.

A Ferry (or two 🫣) to Korčula

Tue, 20 May 2025 21:25:00 +0200

Today we moved on from Split and sailed by fast ferry to Korčula (about 3 hours).

But not before we wished Laura a happy birthday! We all sat around the kitchen table to sing Happy Birthday and share some little treats and coffee.

We packed up and checked out of our apartment (which was amazing and only a minute or two walk from the old town).

Packs on backs again, we walked through the old town down to the ferry terminal and boarded our ferry to Korčula.

Our Last Day in Split

Mon, 19 May 2025 21:25:00 +0200

Today is our last day in Split—we leave bright and early tomorrow on a ferry for the island of Korčula.

Today we slowed the pace. We needed a bit of a recharge after the past few days. Sleep-ins (7:30 am) and just chilling at the apartment before heading out to “get lost” in the old city.

First stop—coffee.
We found a nice place about a 2-minute walk from our apartment that roasts their own coffee. It was great. Laura and I had coffees and the kids had a second breakfast—sharing Nutella toast (inch-thick bread, thick Nutella, banana, and berries).

Krka National Park

Sun, 18 May 2025 21:25:00 +0200

Today we headed out early, as we had booked a tour through Booker Tours to see Krka National Park, which is roughly a one-hour bus ride from Split.

We met the tour group in the old city and then walked to our bus. Our tour guide was great and provided plenty of information about Split and the history of the region as we drove to the small village of Skradin to catch a ferry up the Krka River to the national park.

Varenna to Ancona by Train and a Ferry to Split

Fri, 16 May 2025 21:25:00 +0200

Today is a travel day. We say farewell to Varenna and Lake Como. It’s been a fantastic and busy few days—we’ve loved it.

This morning, we caught a regional train from Varenna back to Milan, and from Milan we took a fast train (Frecciarossa) to Ancona, where we would board an overnight ferry to Split.

We checked out of the apartment in Varenna, backpacks on, and headed for the station.

Varenna, Castello Di Vezio and Managgio

Thu, 15 May 2025 21:25:00 +0200

Today was a big day – it’s H’s birthday! As we woke up, we drew back the blinds to reveal a picture-perfect sunny day on Lake Como. Today looked like it would be the best weather yet. The low cloud that had hung over the nearby mountains had cleared, and we could now see their snow-capped peaks. The view was truly stunning.

We had a light breakfast and set out early to avoid the crowds.

Varenna and Bellagio

Wed, 14 May 2025 21:25:00 +0200

After a very long day yesterday, we all went to bed pretty early—but this also meant we were all awake early.

The kids did well and slept from 7 pm through to just after 4 am, and stayed in bed until about 5 am when restlessness got the better of them (as it does).

So it was time to get up and have a chilled, slow morning—leftover pizza from last night’s dinner and a coffee or two while taking in the views. What’s not to love!

Milan to Varenna (Lake Como)

Tue, 13 May 2025 10:00:00 +0200

After a reasonably long (12-hour) onward flight from Singapore—which included a lot of bumps thanks to thunderstorms—we landed safely at Milano Airport this morning at about 6:30 am local time (GMT +2).

A grey and drizzly day welcomed us in Milan, but at least it wasn’t cold (and lugging 15 kg backpacks certainly helps to keep you warm).

We cleared baggage collection and immigration impossibly quickly—it really was fast. Having two kids in tow appears to have helped, as we were directed through the special “tired parents with tired kids express line.” They clearly took pity on the handful of parents traveling with their kids.

Italy, Croatia & Singapore

Mon, 12 May 2025 07:00:00 +1000

Today is the day!

Today we fly!

After roughly six months of planning, it’s time to head off on our family’s next big adventure—travelling through Italy, Croatia, and Singapore.

We have a long day ahead of us. First up is a four-hour drive to the airport. Then we fly to Milan with a brief stopover in Singapore to stretch our legs and change planes before continuing the flight.

Milan is not our ultimate destination, though. Once we arrive and collect our bags (yes—they will make it 🤞🤞), we will catch a train up to Varenna on Lake Como, which will be our base for the first few days.

Another new home

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 17:00:00 +1000

So… we have moved… again… Hopefully this will be for the last time.

I found I was not getting value from paid commercial site hosting services - so have decided to migrate my entire blog out to GitHub with GitHub Actions pushing my statically generated site to CloudFlare Pages for hosting - which is free and simple to manage.

Migration to the new environment has been a slow process with a lot of learning along the way. Everything has come together now and I am pretty happy with the outcome.

A new look and a new home

Mon, 16 Oct 2017 17:23:23 +1100

We have finished renovating our old home here at Wordpress.com, and have now moved back in. The old place at SquareSpace is still lingering, but will soon disappear for good.

Over the course of the past few weeks (or weekends rather) there has been a lot of work happening in the background to make the transition back into our old home as painless as possible… I expect there will be some pain at some point, but for the moment I think I have nailed most things down.

Working in Durban (RSA)

Tue, 09 Aug 2016 17:42:00 +1000

So I have been in Durban for a few days now. Mostly work meetings with clients and not much down time to get out and see the place (im not hear for leisure!).

We have ventured out and visited a number of the local cafes to grab a meal here and there and to get out of the hotel - but for the most nothing beyond the walls of the compound we are staying in or the offices of our clients.

Headed to South Africa (for Work)

Sat, 06 Aug 2016 13:39:24 +1000

Tonight I boarded a flight from Melbourne destined for Durban, South Africa - via Perth (on Virgin Australia) and Johannesburg (on South African Airlines).

This will be my first time on the African continent (only Antarctica left now!!) - and im not really sure what to expect. So many stories, some good and some bad.

This is a work trip however, and I am not anticipating much time for rest and relaxation or sight-seeing - but will endeavour to find some time to take a brief look around Durban one there, and possibly pick up a few gifts for the family back home.

The City of Angels

Tue, 25 Aug 2015 06:04:35 +1000

Earlier in the week (Monday 17th Aug) we left New York behind us (sad to leave but we have to move on), and flew across the country to Los Angeles.

We weren’t actually staying in L.A. but just south in Anaheim as we planed to take Archie to Disneyland.

We arrived into our hotel in the early evening and checked in. We had a large suite on the top floor which was quite big compared to all the places we had stayed at on the trip - the only downside was, while being two rooms, it was actually only a single bed room with two queen sized beds - we got over that pretty quickly though.

New York, New York

Sun, 16 Aug 2015 21:12:00 +1000

Updated 24-Aug-2015: As promised, more pictures have now been added to this post.

Sorry for the delay in getting this next blog post published. There was so much to see and do in New York and we were constantly on the go so by the time we got home to our apartment each night we were buggered - and the last thing I felt like doing was sitting down in front of the computer - so I have saved it all up and have put it together as one big blog post.

London Gin Club in Soho

Sun, 09 Aug 2015 11:09:27 +1000

Last night was our final night in London. Laura and I left Archie with Mum and Jo and then headed out to Soho to find the London Gin Club - something Laura had kindly tracked down for me and thought it would be a great way to spend our last night in London.

The club is in an old small pub - pretty casual and unpretentious - which was exactly what we were looking for.

London and Bath

Sat, 08 Aug 2015 17:32:57 +1000

So we arrived into London on Thursday afternoon (6th August) from Paris after catching the EuroStar train across the channel.

We were expecting a little more from the EuroStar – the name builds up a certain expectation – and we were left wanting. It probably didn’t help that the air conditioning in our carriage was on the blink either – making for quite a warm journey indeed. Thankfully one of the staff members was extremely helpful and did everything he could to make our journey more comfortable. He initially started handing out bottles of water, but seeing the sweat pumping out of Archie he decided to try and move us. After a little exercise in seat logistics he eventually found us two sets of two seats – we wouldn’t all be sitting together, but at least we would all be a little more comfortable in an better air conditioned carriage. The journey would have been horrible without this – as Archie was really getting quite irritable in the heat.

Exploring more of Paris

Wed, 05 Aug 2015 19:26:53 +1000

Today has been much hotter than yesterday - about 34c - and after the big day we had yesterday we decided to take it a little easier and just hit a few of the sights - with the Eiffel Tower the first on the list.

We headed off reasonably early from the apartment (while it was still cool) and headed across the river, past Notre Dame, and then onto the train station we thought would take us straight to the Eiffel Tower - unfortunately that part of the line (and the station) are closed for works… there go those plans and our early start.

A big day in Paris

Tue, 04 Aug 2015 17:59:07 +1000

Today has been a very BIG day or us in and around Paris - and we are all knackered.

I’m sitting at the small kitchen table in our apartment - my back to the open window to catch the breeze. Today has been substantially cooler than any day we have encountered on our trip so far - about 28c max with most of the morning and afternoon around 18-25c - which made it actually quite pleasant for the amount of walking we ended up doing. It just wouldn’t have been possible on a hotter day.

On to Paris

Mon, 03 Aug 2015 19:37:59 +1000

This morning we were up early - but not as early as previous travel days - 6:30am is manageable.

We have taxis booked to take us to the TGV train station so we can catch the TGV fast train to Paris - 1st class.

Aix-en-Provence has been great, and the 3 nights we have had here have been really relaxing - even Archie let us sleep in until 8am on on occasion, which was a welcome treat.

In and around Aix-en-Provence

Sun, 02 Aug 2015 07:56:57 +1000

It’s been good to be back in one place for a few days. It’s still warm, but a lot cooler than where we have been in Italy - which makes getting out during the day a lot more manageable - especially for Archie our 18-month-old.

Aix-en-Provence is a beautiful old city - two main grand carriage ways (streets) with many, many cobble stone lined streets leading off them in all directions. It’s very easy to get tangled - but also easy to get your way back to the main streets if you need to.

Rome to Aix-en-Provence via Genoa (by train)

Thu, 30 Jul 2015 14:02:00 +1000

Back in Rome

We arrived back into Rome on Wednesday evening (29th July) in reasonable time after having left San Lupo in the early afternoon - immediately after the main mass and precession of the statue of San Lupo through the streets.

It was good to have made it back to San Lupo again, although not a lot looks to have changed since our last visit in 2008 - but its beautiful during the festival with all the lights lining the streets at night.

Alberobello

Sat, 25 Jul 2015 19:52:00 +1000

Saturday we packed up and checked out of the villa. It was sad to leave as its been an absolutely great time and very relaxing, but everything must come to an end and we must move on to our next destination - Alberobello.

Alberobello is in the south east of Italy, not far from Bari - but it’s roughly 750km from where we currently are in Siena, which will make for a long days driving. Furthermore we need to swing by Rome airport to pickup Maddie (Laura’s sister) who will be joining the travelling group for a few weeks.

San Gimignano

Thu, 23 Jul 2015 19:52:00 +1000

On Friday (24th July) we set out early and took a road trip to San Gimignano - about an hour or so away from where we were staying at the villa.

San Gimignano is a medieval hill top fortified city and is renowned for its many towers - everywhere you look there are more.

While San Gimignano is one of the smaller towns we have visited, it is by far one of the more beautiful. The medieval architecture combined with towers in every direction makes for post-card photos everywhere you look.

Vino e Pizza

Wed, 22 Jul 2015 19:51:00 +1000

So… We have been without Internet access for a few days, and the blog posts have been limited as a result of this. I have a lot to catch up on and as Internet access becomes available - and I have time - new blog posts will begin to show up.

Today (Thursday 23rd July) was a bit of a lay-day - we hung out at the villa and swam to keep cool. After lunch (and siesta) we decided to check out a local winery, Tenuta di Trecciano, which is about 5km down the road for some tastings.

A day trip to Assisi

Tue, 21 Jul 2015 16:19:00 +1000

Today we jumped in the cars and ventured out to Assisi for a day trip - roughly 120km from where we are staying.

Assisi is the home of many Saints, but probably most prominent was Saint Francis, the founder of the Franciscan order and was named as one of the two patron Saints of Italy (along with Saint Catherine of Siena).

We decided to head out early to try and avoid as much of the heat of the day as we could. The drive to Assisi was reasonably straightforward - at least compared to some of our recent outings and the routes selected by our TomTom.

A Tuscan Feast

Tue, 21 Jul 2015 07:56:00 +1000

We arranged with Franco, the owner of the villa, to prepare us a traditional Tuscan feast (an option available to anyone staying at the villa) on Tuesday evening.

We all wanted to celebrate arriving in Tuscany and to mark the start of our holiday, but Tuesday was also Mum’s birthday - and what better excuse to kick back, relax and enjoy some awesome Tuscan food and wine together.

In the early afternoon the chefs and other staff arrived to start preparing the evening meal. The long table on the lawn was set, along with a large accompanying table which would hold all the food for the evening meal.

An evening in Siena

Mon, 20 Jul 2015 13:48:00 +1000

Today we decided to venture out to nearby Siena for the evening - its too hot (38-40c) to be out and about with the kids during the heat of the day, and for us the time is much better spent cooling off and relaxing by the pool.

From our villa, Siena is roughly a 20km drive - initially through scenic hills which make for some exciting driving with blind hair-pin corners, narrow stone wall lined roads and stretches of tree lined avenues. Winding down from the hills takes us through a number of small townships and into a valley with paddocks full of sunflowers and others with freshly cut hay.

Villa Podere Incrociati

Sun, 19 Jul 2015 13:46:54 +1000

So after a long few days of travel, we arrived yesterday evening at what will become our home for the next week - villa Podere Incronciati - a traditional Tuscan villa built in 1840 about 20km outside of Siena.

We were welcomed by the owner and offered complimentary wine, cheese, olives, fruit and other nibbles - which was much appreciated after the drive from Rome.

After settling on rooms, we unpacked before hitting the pool to cool down and relax for a bit - which was great in the 38c heat.

The Family Vacation - Let's Begin

Sun, 19 Jul 2015 08:20:25 +1000

So… The last few day have been hectic and somewhat full-on to say the least.

I was wanting to sit down at the end of each day, with a beer or a glass of wine, and take some time out to update the blog - however given the events of the past few days, this was not possible.

I now find myself sitting in a villa in Tuscany on morning one, a cup of tea and a piece of toast at my side, looking out across an open field towards some bushland, writing about the events leading to this point.

Only days away

Sat, 11 Jul 2015 03:19:25 +1000

After almost 18 months of planning, we are now quickly approaching our departure date. Our bags are packed (well mostly), and we are ready to go.

In the past Laura and I have either travelled solo or more typically together as a couple - not this time however…

Since we last had the opportunity to travel abroad, a few things have changed… mainly the arrival of our son (now 18 months old) who will be heading off with us to experience the wonders of the big wide world.

The Modrich Travel Blog Relaunch

Thu, 09 Jul 2015 10:29:53 +1000

Welcome to the new Modrich Travel Blog site.

Over the course of the past week there has been a lot of work happening in the background to make the transition to the new site as painless as possible.

BUT… It wouldn’t be a web site relaunch without a few technical glitches here and there. We believe all of the loose ends have been wrapped up and the new site is now read to take us into our next adventure - so stay tuned.

On the move again...

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 08:54:45 +1000

Its been a little while since our last blog post… but good news! We will soon be on the move again - and that means lots of new content over the next month and a half…

Also, we are moving home… well not us, but this Blog. While our current home has served us incredibly well over the past few years, we thought it was time for a change.

Don’t worry - there is nothing you need to do. You will still be able to find us here at modrich.com - that won’t change. Just next time you visit, things might look… well… a bit different (but hopefully for the better).

(Almost) Fathers Day

Sun, 01 Sep 2013 20:05:36 +1000

So to day was Fathers Day.

Apparently I qualify in the “soon to be category” (lets call it almost fathers day) and was able to bask in the moment for a while..

While we didn’t do anything quite as exciting as visiting Tropical Fruit world today we did hit Bris-Vagas…

Couldn’t have been a better day. The weather was perfectly warm. Roaming the south bank region of Brisy is amazing on days like this - even more so when you find a bar with Matilda Bay beer dominating the taps of the week - and pints for $8.50.

Just wandering around

Sat, 31 Aug 2013 17:20:37 +1000

Today’s plans evolved organically with more of a “why not” attitude rather than specific planning.

We headed down to Byron Bay early this morning - apparently we took the scenic route. Getting lost is sometime where you find the best hidden local secrets - we turned up an old sewage treatment plant that was now reclaimed land and a hangout for bird watchers… Not exactly the jackpot.

Eventually we put our trust in the GPS and made it into Byron. With nothing really we wanted to do or see, we simply relaxed and walked the streets. We dropped into one of the local cafes for a caffeine hit - street buskers outside playing some great mellow surfy tunes to reinforce the towns mellow vibe.

Chill out in Kingscliff ("The Babymoon")

Fri, 30 Aug 2013 15:36:43 +1000

It’s a cold, wet and windy Melbourne morning… 3am, and the alarm goes off.

Rather than the normal roll over and press snooze reaction, I find myself rising quickly and competing with Laura to be first in line for the shower. I’m not quick enough out of the blocks though and find myself beaten.

This is no normal Friday morning… This is the start of our loooong weekend together… Some would call it our “Babymoon” on the account its likely to be our last getaway together before Laura is due early next year.

Homeward bound

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 08:21:00 +1100

This morning I find myself at Raleigh Airport (RDU) waiting to board a plane - a few days ahead of my original return schedule.

Due to some family medical issues back home, I have decided to cut my trip short and head home early.

Most of last night was spent rearranging flights. I’m now flying home via Detroit and LA back into Melbourne. It’s going to be a long haul, but with only about 4 hours sleep last night, I’m hoping to sleep well during the flights.

The Flying Saucer

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 18:30:26 +1100

So it’s a Sunday afternoon in Raleigh, North Carolina. I find myself downtown with not much to do - as most places are closed.

On a cool afternoon, I now find myself at The Flying Saucer - possibly the best bar I have been to in the Northern Hemisphere (and defiantly the US!)

With over 200 beers available, made up from both local brew craft and imported, where else should I be for a belated solo Australian day party? These guys know how to do beer. Every option is covered - even direct from the cask.

Only in America #2

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 11:24:16 +1100

So it appears they are coming thick and fast…

In my second “Only in America” post, I want to cover what appears to be an emerging “extreme sport” in the local area - The Krispy Kreme Challenge.

So, what exactly is the Krispy Kreme Challenge? I think they describe the challenge best on their own web site:

2400 calories, 12 doughnuts, 5 miles, 1 hour. The mantra of the Krispy Kreme Challenge epitomizes the test of physical fitness and gastrointestinal fortitude.

Only in America #1

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 11:03:26 +1100

To kick off my “Only in America” series of posts (I am assuming there will be more than one), I bring to you some pictures of a locally “pimped ride” I came across in the car park of a local mall on my morning walk.

I can only assume, that, much like the unique creatures that evolve in places such as Easter Island, this vehicle has similarly been forced to evolve and adapt to survive in local conditions. I believe this one is particularly adapted to the snowy and icy conditions that are being experienced in the local area.

Touchdown - USA

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 20:33:54 +1100

So its now late evening in Raleigh, North Carolina, and I have checked into my hotel after some 26 hours of travel.

The fleeting moments that I saw of both Los Angeles (airport) and Atlanta (airport) have not really left much of a lasting impression. LA was busy, and the queues started from the moment you left your seat on the plane. Atlanta was somewhat more organised and low key - however it was later in the day. Raleigh was almost closed.

America - the business trip

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:11:17 +1100

Tonight, I find my self making final rushed preparations for a business trip to America (well lets be honest here… the fact that they are my “final preparations” does not also mean that they are not my first round of preparations either!).

So tomorrow morning I will find myself sitting on a Virgin Australia flight for the best part of 14 hours. This constitutes leg one of my outward journey, and will take me from Melbourne to Los Angeles. A few short hours after that, I will find myself on the second leg of my journey on board a Delta Airlines domestic flight out of Los Angeles headed for Atlanta. Finally, the third leg of my journey will get me from Atlanta to my destination, Raleigh, North Carolina (Where? did I hear you say…).

Day Dreaming - Day 3

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 18:46:31 +1100

So day three of our stay on Day Dream Island has come, and now almost past.

Today was made up of not a lot, but all of which was thoroughly relaxing.

After a late breakfast, we headed over to “Lovers Cove” for some more snorkelling. It was a clear morning so the visibility was incredible.

After our snorkelling, we lounged on the deck at Lovers Cove looking out over the ocean gathering a few rays of sun, before heading back pool-side once the bar had opened.

5 things I would take to a desert island

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:47:29 +1100

So my last post got me thinking… What are the 5 things I would take to a desert island.

Having now been “stranded” (a term I use extremely loosely) on Day Dream island for two days, I feel I have had enough experience to make a fully qualified answer to the question I pose.

The 5 things I would bring to a desert island are (and bare with me…):

Resort style facilities
Resort staff
Enough food to last a lifetime
Enough grog to last a life time… I’m talking top shelf also. If your stranded you don’t want to go without ;-)
My best friends (this includes my beautiful wife Laura!). Why should I suffer like this alone ;-)

So let me hear your comments.. What would you take?
Serious, or not… Lets hear it.

Day Dreaming - Day 2

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:23:46 +1100

Another sun filled day in paradise… well on Day Dream Island at least.

After a slightly cloudy and overcast morning, the day had turned out superbly.

Laura did here obligatory site inspection (as a travel agent, it’s part of the deal). Meanwhile I walked to the other end of the island in search of water and water holding appliances - of which we are now owners of.

Today was our swimming/snorkelling day. We hired our equipment, and living on the edge as we do, we went without the recommended stinger suits. While it is currently stinger season, I suspected its more of “would you like fries with that…” season.

Day Dreaming - Day 1

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 07:20:32 +1100

So we hit the ground running in our first day on Day Dream Island, and went straight into relaxation overdrive.

The day pretty much rolled on as follows:

leisurely stroll around the island
lunch
cocktails by the pool
cocktails in the pool
cocktails by the beach
cocktails in the lounge
relaxation hydrotherapy session
dinner right at the beach front, with an amazing view out across the water
open air cinema with some popcorn as a few beers

After a 4am start, we quickly discovered ourselves succumbing to the effects of the early start and the relaxing effects of the day - both of us were out like a light at the open air cinema, 5min into the move ;-)

The Day Dream Begins

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 10:04:56 +1100

So the Day Dream begins…

Waking up at 4am this morning, making the chilly journey out to the airport, we have flown north to Hamilton Island, and are now sitting on the upper deck of the ferry that will take us to Day Dream Island.

While the weather is somewhat overcast, with the very odd dot of rain here and there, it is still very warm, and quite hot when the sun breaks through. The first challenge will be to not get sunburnt on our transfer across to Day Dream.

Turkey - The Wrap Up

Sun, 27 May 2012 16:41:51 +1000

We still have a day and a half left in Istanbul. Other than our last minute shopping and revisiting the Bazaar’s we are winding down and getting ready to come home.

We thought this was a good time to reflect on what we have done, and wanted to provide a brief wrap up of everything we have done while in Turkey.

Gallipoli
Gallipoli was probably on top of our list. It was absolutely beautiful, and the historical significance almost meant it was a must do for us - and we weren’t disappointed.

Princes Island Ferry

Sun, 27 May 2012 00:00:00 +1000

Today we find ourselves jumping on the tram in Sultanahmet and heading down to the ports to grab a ferry out to the Princes Island.

By now we are used to the tram system - buy your token and ride. The port is at the end of the line which makes things even simpler.

Getting off at the port we are confronted by a wall of people - apparently everyone else has the same idea… After all it is the weekend.

Random Turkey Photos

Sat, 26 May 2012 00:26:14 +1000

The Grand Bazaar

Fri, 25 May 2012 23:20:58 +1000

So after getting in pretty late last night from our two day tour down to Gallipoli and Troy, we had a pretty slow morning all tolled.

After eventually getting up and going we had out sights set on one thing, and one thing only - the Grand Bazaar.

Weaving our way through the streets of Sultanahmet, we headed in the general direction of the Bazaar… It’s almost as if the traders can sense your approach - must be the smell of fresh wallets in the air. The lead up to the Bazaar itself is surrounded but other smaller traders and stalls, a micro bazaar units own right.

Mythical Troy

Thu, 24 May 2012 23:45:33 +1000

So after out day in Gallipoli, our tour takes us across the narrows of the Dardanelles to Canakkale which is in the Asian side of Turkey, an where we spend the night before heading of to nearby Troy (Troya) in the morning.

Troy is about a 30 minute bus ride out of Canakkle. We arrive to an overcast drizzling morning - its about now we wished we had packed our rain coats!

Gallipoli

Wed, 23 May 2012 20:35:02 +1000

Today we are on an overnight tour that will take us down to Gallipoli (Gelibolu) and then overnight in Canakkale (on the Asian side of Turkey), and the a tour through historic Troy before heading back to Istanbul later in the evening of the second day.

The trip from Istanbul down to Gallipoli took almost 5 hours on our small private tour bus - 11 people in group all up.

Istanbul Day 2 - Blue Mosque, Aya Sophia, Spice Bazaar, Taksim Square and Kebabs

Tue, 22 May 2012 17:10:54 +1000

So our second full day in beautiful Istanbul has been packed with sight seeing - all the usual touristy places: The Blue Mosque, Aya Sophia, The Spice Bazaar, and Taksim Square (notably we are leaving the Grand Bazaar for a later day).

Up and out reasonably early this morning our hotel is well positioned only a short walk to both the Blue Mosque and Aya Sophia. Up the hill and to the Blue Mosque first.

Istanbul awakes

Tue, 22 May 2012 07:10:50 +1000

So after our first day in Istanbul I can confess it has well and truly won me over. There is something about Istanbul… Something I can’t quite put my finger on… something that has defiantly drawn me in.

This morning I find myself waking early - possibly due to jet lag, possibly due to the prayer calls - but I’m not complaining in the least. I headed up to the roof top terrace of our hotel to sit and watch as Istanbul slowly comes to life as the sun rises.

We're in Istanbul, not Constantinople...

Mon, 21 May 2012 17:20:45 +1000

Wow, long flight overnight again. Seems like forever ago that we were checking in to our flight in KL airport. Anyway the flight was reasonably uneventful again (which in the case of air travel is actually a positive attribute).

We landed in at Ataturk airport in Istanbul at about 6am this morning. Apparently the Visa fee’s have increased… Last time Laura was here the Visa cost $20 USD, they now weigh in at a more hefty $60 USD (or $45 Euro). I guess when it comes time to find more money from taxes it’s easier to get it from the visitors than upset the locals.

Two days in Kuala Lumpur

Sun, 20 May 2012 19:24:22 +1000

Day 1

So we arrived in Kuala Lumpur bright and early after a reasonably uneventful overnight flight from Melbourne.

After navigating the necessary immigration and customs desks, we collected our bags and headed for KL city.

The express train to Kuala Lumpur central station was an easy 30 minute trip.

Getting ripped off by our taxi driver at the station was also “easy”. Who would have thought two sleep deprived foreign tourists who had no idea how much things should cost would have been easy targets… Must have been the sleep glazed look in our eyes.

Top 10 visited, and bucket list destinations

Sat, 12 May 2012 10:41:19 +1000

So I have started to put some more thought into the content of my blog - trying to refocus back on why I originally started it - travel, stories and experiences.

To that end, I have started to go back over our travels, and reminisce about the stories and experiences we have had. This has lead me to start thinking about the destinations I enjoyed the most - my Top 10, as well as putting together the wish list - my travel destination bucket list… the places I would love to see next.

Preparing the Turkey - The lead up to our Istanbul trip

Sun, 06 May 2012 15:44:04 +1000

So Laura and I will be heading off to Turkey in a few weeks. While Laura has been to Turkey twice previously, this will put a tick in the “done” column on my travel bucket list.

The more people we talk to about Turkey, the better it sounds - I haven’t met anyone yet with a bad story, and actually all the stories I have heard sound fantastic.

It will be a reasonably whirlwind trip this time, about 11 days in total made up of 2 days in Kuala Lumpur on the way over, then the rest of our time in Turkey being mainly concentrated in Istanbul with an overnight trip to Gallipoli (to see the ANZAC war memorials and battle fields) and historic Troy.

South Pacific Cruise Wrap Up

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 10:47:01 +1100

So we are back on dry land after 7 nights aboard the the Pacific Dawn - why are we still rocking?

Sailing out of Brisbane about a week ago, all seemed fine… the sun was out, the Brisbane river was calm, as were the waters off the Queensland coast line. Time for the group to start relaxing with a few refreshing beverages (long island ice tea’s became a favourite) up on the pool deck - what a life…

South Pacific Cruise

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 09:01:48 +1100

By this time next week we will be cruising in the middle of the South Pacific - sun, sea breeze, and the obligatory beer/cocktail.

The cruise will take us on a whirlwind 7 nights through the South Pacific visiting Vanuatu, Noumea and the Isle of Pines on the way. Cruising is a completely new experience for us and can’t wait to leave dock next Saturday.

No doubt we will have some great photos to share from the cruise, so I will post them once we return.

Long weekend camping @ Paradise Valley

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:54:36 +1100

Well the long weekend is over, and we survived the weather…

Paradise Valley was great. What better way to relax than sitting by the camp fire, drinking a few cold ones with mates.

Can’t wait until the next long weekend.

Home time

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:31:06 +1000

We made it back to Bangkok from Phuket, and are ready to board our flight back home to Australia!It’s hard to believe that after 4 months it’s finlay home time… It had to happen, and we are both ready for it.

I think our flight is about 8 or 9 hours to Sydney, where we get a domestic back to Melbourne - and onto the final stage of our trip, Bairnsdale.

Time out in Thailand

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:24:06 +1000

After a long flight (11 hours) from London, we touched down in Bangkok, collected our bags, and exited the airport to our awaiting hotel transfer.

On exiting the airport, you immediately notice the humidity (it’s not as if its hiding!) - this place is hot and humid, luckily the south of Italy at this time of the year is also pretty humid and hot at times, so we have been fairly well acclimatised over the past weeks.

Heathrow, Terminal 4, BA Lounge

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 07:26:41 +1000

Let me start by saying - This place is ace!

We landed into Gatwick from Naples, almost a 3 hour flight, and had to make our way to Heathrow Terminal 4 - which nothing seems to go to directly!

We converted our left over Euro’s into Pounds which was almost exactly enough to buy our bus ticket from Gatwick to Heathrow - luckily its a free ride for BA travellers from Terminal 5 to Terminal 4 on the bus.

San Lupo

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:37:19 +1000

We arrived into Benevento by train from Naples, and were greeted warmly by Laura’s relations Sandra and Lorenzo Ciaglia. We then drove for about 30min up into the hills to our destination, the small town of San Lupo.

We arrived right at the beginning of the three day festa, where the town honors its patron saint - San Lupo.

During the festa the town comes alive, and is dressed up with lights all up and down the main street and through the main piazza in front of the church.

Napoli, Sorrento and beyond

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 03:37:42 +1000

After our adventures in Rome, our next stop was Napoli.

We headed to the Termini train station to reserve our seats - two seat reservations in 1st class came to 10 Euro.

In recent times, having traveled a fair amount on the trains in Italy, we had noticed that the train conductors were not overly concerned with our Eurail pass - it was always the reservation (which looks almost exactly like a regular ticket), that they were interested in.

When in Rome...

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:11:00 +1000

We made it to Rome after a pleasant few days in the Cinque Terre. Almost immediately we noticed that it was a little warmer here in Rome, away from the cooler comfort of the coast that Cinque Terre offered.

We are staying in a simple B&B - its not quite what you would classify as a B&B in Australia, but I guess it meets the necessities, we get a bed, and we get breakfast. To be honest, its actually quite nice. The room is huge, and while there are no cooking facilities we do have access to a fridge.

The Cinque Terre

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:54:00 +1000

We arrived in Riomaggiore, the southern most town in the group of 5 towns that make up the ‘Cinque Terre’, and were immediately amazed by the bella vista that was in front of us.

We walked through the center of town to find the accommodation office. After a short discussion with the office lady we were off - winding our way through tiny streets and up stairs, to reach our apartment some 300m away and 120 steps up the hill side.

Pisa - in and out

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:47:45 +1000

On our way from Certaldo to Cinque Terre we made a very brisk stop over in Pisa for the obligatory photos…

To be honest, we’re not sure what else, besides the leaning tower, that this town has to offer. Many others we have met suggested it wasn’t worth saying here, and that you could see all you needed to in an hour or two - we took their advice, and were in an out of Pisa in about an hour and a half, having satisfied our curiosity.

Under the Tuscan Sun

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:30:55 +1000

The transport strike has finished, and so has our forced day of relaxation in Bologna (yes… we did absolutely nothing, and loved it!) - we grabbed the early train out of town and headed for Certaldo in Tuscany.

Certaldo is a cute little town south west of Florence (Firenze), and north of Siena. We are staying in a beautiful agriturismo B&B, come self contained shared apartment - it has everything, free mountain bikes, kitchen & fridge, internet, etc, and is immaculate.

Italian transport strike

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:05:32 +1000

Despite all efforts to plan and schedule the Italian leg of our trip, there is nothing we can do about a public transport strike.

The strike incorporates buses, trains, and planes - so we aren’t going anywhere! We were meant to leave Bologna today for San Gimiamo, but this will have to wait until tomorrow.

So today is a forced day of relaxation in the Bolognese country side - we can’t even get into town as we rely on the local bus service.

The Bologna Country Side

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:38:06 +1000

We arrived in Bologna yesterday afternoon, after a short train trip from Venice (2 hours). We managed to navigate the local bus system with the help of a local and shortly after arrived at our B&B which is located in the country side hills overlooking farmland and the city - about 15 minutes drive out of town.

Its absolutely beautiful here. The relaxing surroundings, the peacefulness of the Italian country side… Its just what we needed - a change from staying in city’s.

Viva Italia

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:17:54 +1000

We are finally on the last leg of our trip (in Europe anyway!) - we hit Italy three days ago (1st July), having caught a rather scenic train from Salzburg. The scenery was absolutely amazing - travelling by train through the Austrian and Italian Alps is highly recommended. There are a few rather long tunnels at times, but the scenery, especially prior to leaving Austria was unbelievable.

Once again we used our Eurail ticket to facilitate the 6 hour trip (with 1 change over) from Salzburg to Venice. We raced to get on the train in Salzburg - in amongst heaps of school kids who obviously use the intercity service instead of the suburban service for its comfort to get to and from school.

The Sound of Salzburg

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:00:34 +1000

We pick-up here were our last post left off. We have arrived in Salzburg – and its the night of the Euro Cup 2008 final, Germany -v- Spain. With Austria being the hosts, we were in for a big night (it had already been a long day… whats a few more hours).

We headed out to the old city, about a 15min walk from where we were staying. A large Fan Zone had been set up in the city’s main square with two huge screens, a stage, and of course heaps of beer tents.

Munich...Beer halls, beer halls, beer halls... Oh and tripod!

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:00:00 +1000

So we left Prague, and the Czech Republic behind us (and the train made it this time!) for the spoils of Munich (passing back through Dresden, to minimize our ticket cost, and maximize our use of the Eurail pass).

Straight out, Munich is a lovely city – beer halls, parks & gardens, old buildings, and lovely people (well almost all of them – we will get to this later).

Our first night in Munich consisted of us checking into our accommodation, about 5 min walk from the station, then heading out for a bite to eat and something to drink. Walking the streets for the first time, not knowing were we were going it wasn’t long, literally 2 minutes, before we stumbled on our first Munich beer hall… We need look no further.

A touch of Prague

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:20:00 +1000

Having arrived in Prague and settled in (after out exciting train ride) we decided to take a tour of Prague city – old, and new.

The tour started in the new Prague and worked its way through the streets to cross over into the old town. The old town is absolutely lovely – cobble stone streets that are easy to get lost in, and medieval buildings everywhere you look.

The tour was a mainly walking tour, although it also included a short boat ride up and down the river – giving a different perspective of the city.

Dresden to Prague by train - the experience

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:41:10 +1000

We laid awake this morning at about 4.50 am listening to the pouring rain, and claps of thunder didn’t put a positive spin on the day to come. After drifting back to sleep, we eventually go up and began to get ready for the day at about 6am - we had an early train to catch to Prague, at least the rain had stopped.

We got ourselves to the train station with plenty of time to spare for our 9am departure. As is our general experience with German public transport, the train pulled in exactly on time. We boarded and headed for our seats - we were in a 6 seater booth with only two other passengers.

Dresden - The old and the new

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:37:24 +1000

We arrived into Dresden on the ICE train from Berlin and immediately fell in love with the city - despite it being a Sunday, and (almost) everything being shut.

If we had realised how cute Dresden was we would defiantly penciled it in for a few more nights than just one - it defiantly deserves more!

Our hostel was about a 20 minute walk from the old town, but was situated in a new funky part of town with bars, cafe’s and restaurants.

Berlin, Berlin

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:30:11 +1000

Today is our last day in Berlin – we are currently in the train station having breakfast and a coffee waiting for our train to Dresden.

Berlin has been an experience! It’s not quite what i expected as a city, but everything and more than I expected as an experience. The history here is so immense – and its not all to do with Nazi’s and the Third Reich either – Berlin is so much more.

Guten tag! Willkommen in Deuchland

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:23:05 +1000

So we are in Germany now – having arrived from Tampere, Finland into Bremen the other day. We have been in Bremen for the last few days, staying with friends (Suzanne & Richard) in their lovely apartment which is just a short ride from the heart of Bremen.

We quickly realised that the Euro 2008 Cup (soccer) is in progress – and on the night we arrived Germany were facing off with Austria (the hosts), and it was a must win type of situation for Germany to allow them to progress through.

Finland here we come - for a night!

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:33:57 +1000

We jetted out of Athens this afternoon with our friends FinAir. The flight started out fine - a nice new plane and decent food - then the announcement came over the loud speaker “… the movie that will be shown today is The Bucket List” (great! we’ve only seen it 3 times already), “and it will be shown without audio, and with Finnish subtitles.”

Needless to say it didn’t take too long for the iPod to make an appearance. Then the loud speaker crackled a second blow - “drinks will be served shortly. Beer will be 4 Euros, Spirits 7 Euros…” - thats right, no free grog! We might as well have been flying with RyanAir, at least you expect it.

Our last day in Greece

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 04:08:19 +1000

Today is our last full day in Greece, as we fly out tomorrow at lunch time - meaning an early start to make sure we get to the airport on time.

Today was another reasonably relaxed and laid back day - we visited the National History Museum, and ate out for lunch in a lovely street side cafe adorned by fans and misting water to keep us cool.

Lunch started with a traditional glass of Ozzo (for me at least, Laura wasn’t too keen). We followed this with a seafood plater and a lamb souvlaki to share, both were fantastic.

A slow boat on the Aegean

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 07:52:18 +1000

Today we headed out early to catch a cruise around three of the Greek islands closest to Athens.

Leaving port this morning at about 8.30am, the sun was up and had a fair sting in it - needless to say we took the opportunity to sit on the outer deck and soak up some of the fine rays.

The first thing that stuck us, once we had left the docks and headed out to sea, was the brilliant blue colour of the water - it was absolutely amazing. People have told us about the water over here, but its something you don’t really appreciate until you see it (and later swim in it :) .

A slow day in Athens

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:34:59 +1000

We got into Athens yesterday afternoon - great weather, we managed to escape the bad weather that has been forecast for the UK!

Yesterday basically involved getting from the airport to the hotel and checking in.

Today we decided to take an easy day - we have been on the go for so long you just need to recharge the batteries every now and then.

So a slow day involved heading into the Acropolis and seeing a number of the other sites that surround it. We then had a bite of lunch at a local cafe before heading back to the hotel for the afternoon - where we hav spent hours attempting to plan how to get from Finland to Germany without it costing a fortune. Unfortunately this is just not possible, so we booked the first flight out (which was the cheapest by far, but still relatively expensive :( ).

London and Liverpool

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:51:49 +1000

London - Our initial taste

While we were briefly in London before departing to Ireland for a week, we managed to squeeze in some sight seeing - jumping on a ‘Fat Tire’ bike tour. This was a leisurely 4 hour bike ride around central London, and was a great way of getting oriented.

While we didn’t go into any of the sights on the tour, we were given a pretty good commentary on each sight and its history. This gave us a pretty good idea of what we should come back and see.

All aboard the Paddy Wagon

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:31:36 +1000

Sorry it’s been a while since out last update, but it can be hectic on the road - never knowing when and where you will get a chance to have 5 minutes free to post a message or two (and I have to say touring in Ireland, with its many pubs does create a pretty big distraction :) ).

Anyway - to start with, no one will believe us when we say that the weather in Ireland at the moment is bloody great - its actually sunny and hot - none of us expected to get sun burnt on the north coast of Ireland, but most of us did - it must have been at least 25-28c here - its been bloody great.

London calling

Wed, 28 May 2008 19:30:49 +1000

We have now left the Spanish speaking countries behind us after about 7 weeks of traveling. We find it hard to stop saying ‘Gracias’ to people - but I’m sure we will get over it.

Our flight out of Barcelona was delayed by about 30min, but we managed to touch down on British soil fine. We were dreading hitting Heathrow a little - you never seem to hear a good story about that place - but we were very surprised when we only queued for about 5min in immigration and waled straight through customs. Literally took us about 10min! We spent longer in the duty free grog shop buying gifts for our hosts here in London.

Madrid to Barcelona

Tue, 27 May 2008 02:54:40 +1000

So after a reasonably restful sleep overnight we got into exploring Madrid early – eager to use the remainder of the time available on our 24hr Madrid Vision card (we had until about 2pm) – first on the list was a coffee at one of the many local cafe’s, then onto the Royal Palace for a tour.

The Royal Palace was spectacular. We we allowed access to about 50 of the 2,800 rooms in the palace. We started in the royal armory where armor that had been worn by or gifted to the kings of Spain was housed. This was a very interesting exhibition – you could even see how some of the kings had grown around the waist over time by the re-sizing of their armor ;).

Madrid - Spain

Sat, 24 May 2008 09:13:20 +1000

We have now left South America behind us, and moved onto the European leg of our trip.

Our flight from Buenos Aires to Madrid was with the Spanish Iberia airline - an 11 hour flight that was probably our worst yet… lucky us to get the worst one on a long flight.

Based on our experience I would try to avoid flying with them again. The entertainment system was communal, no personal entertainment system that you seem to get on most other flights these days. The hostesses were not really interested, and the air conditioning was set to about 35c… even Laura was hot!

On to Argentina

Fri, 23 May 2008 10:37:59 +1000

We have left Peru behind after a month of travel through the country – along the way making some great friendships. So onto Argentina it is.

Day 1 – Meeting the Argentinean Pruscino’s

We arrived in Buenos Aires, after what was definitely the best flight we have had yet – lots of room, a nice new plane, and not many passengers – to be greeted warmly by the Argentinian Pruscino’s (Laura’s distant relatives).

Peru in review

Fri, 23 May 2008 08:42:01 +1000

Our time in Peru has come to an end - we are moving on and leaving behind some awesome memories and great new friends.

I thought it would be good to try and review and reflect on our time here in Peru, and ponder some of the highlights, and the lowlights of what we have seen (in some cases the highlights and lowlights run together).

Initially landing in Lima we were a little concerned about what we had got ourselves into - the airport, as with many big cities is surrounded by poorer districts. So our first impression of Peru was a wild taxi ride through the slum areas of Lima. We both looked at each other and said - ¨This is what we wanted!¨.

Welcome to the Jungle

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:27:35 +1000

From the comfort of Cuzco, we headed our on an AreoCondor flight to Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon Jungle.

While being back close to sea level was a relief, the temperature had also increased considerably along with the humidity, and the number of mosquitoes - although, none of these were quite as bad as we had expected.

After leaving the airport at Puerto Maldonado we were picked up by our Jungle Lodge transfer service - a Mercedes Benz bus without windows, and wooden seats with Jungle themes painted down the sides. The bus took us into Puerto Maldonado - a bit of a slum really, with not much there, and very dirty. Apparently the main mode of transport is the motorbike, with hundreds of these packing the dirty streets. While helmets did appear to be quite common, this was only the case for the drivers, with the passengers (often another 2 or 3 people) never seen to be wearing them.

Machu Picchu

Sun, 11 May 2008 14:24:20 +1000

We got off to a very early start this morning - 4.30am, breakfast at 5, and on the bus up to Machu Picchu at 5.30.

The bus departs from the bus station in Aquas Calientes and heads down a narrow road into the jungle before crossing the river to begin the step and windy assent up the Machu Picchu mountain. Both Laura and I are not the best with heights, and buses driving along shear cliff faces is one thing we both battle for the isle seat on. Laura scored the window seat on the way up - were not certain if the partial daylight made the trip better or worse, but we made it to the top in one piece, although a there were a few nifty manuevers on the way up as two buses passed each other on the often very narrow track.

On the road to Machu Picchu

Sat, 10 May 2008 09:27:17 +1000

So we left Cuzco yesterday afternoon headed for Ollantaytambo, a small rural town which is part of Cuzco province, and a couple of hours out of Cuzco city.

On the way we passed through the sacred valley and visited the large markets in Pisac - again buying a few souvenirs. We then continued on to another small rural town where we had some local interaction. We were met at the local petrol station by a local (guide) on a push bike. We followed him through a number of back streets in our bus and eventually arrived at a local pottery factory.

Cuzco here we come

Tue, 06 May 2008 23:32:29 +1000

So after another long bus ride across the Andean country side we arrived in Cuzco yesterday afternoon - and what a relief this was. The 7 hour bus ride across Peruvian highways that at times were as smooth as a bad gravel road was wearing thin - plus our butts were sore from sitting for so long ;).

Cuzco really is the oasis we have been waiting for - its downtown region is really old and beautiful with a definite European feel. The icing on the cake for us is that we are sort of starting to feel better!

Lake Titicaca home stay

Mon, 05 May 2008 10:29:30 +1000

So we are back in Puno now (which is located on the shores of lake Titicaca) after leaving yesterday morning for our home-stay. We are both felling 100% on what we have been and hopefully the worst is behind us. We still need to be a little careful with our stomachs as they are still a little tender, but generally much better than they have been over the past 3-4 days.

Colca Canyon and Home Stay

Sat, 03 May 2008 12:53:29 +1000

From Arequipa we headed to the Colca Canyon - passing through altitudes of almost 5,000m on the way.

When you get off the bus at these altitudes, you have to take it very slowly! Even very slow walking causes your head to spin and heart to thump. I thought it was convenient that they had roadside markets in places like this. Unknowing tourists such as ourselves jump off the bus in the high altitude, dizzy due to lack of oxygen, and purchase anything that is going before making it back to the bus to recover.

We made it to Arequipa

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:09:30 +1000

So we caught the overnight bus from Nazca last night. We were not expecting too much, but we were pretty surprised when we boarded the bus to find it was equipped with recliner seats - i’m not just talking about being able to recline the back of the seat, but a leg rest as well. It was pretty well equipped - not that is really any exchange for a real bed and pillow. While we did sleep, I was pretty restless but probably the best you could expect on a bus.

Peru here we come

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:58:53 +1000

It’s been a few days since we have had a chance to grab a seat in front of a computer (probably a good thing), so I will try to fill you all in on what we have been up to in the last few days.

We started our Intrepid tour of Peru on Friday. We all met in a small hotel in Miraflores (a suburb of Lima). There are 13 of us in the group, and we all get along really well. The group is a really well balanced mix of people and ages - mostly Australians, and some Poms.

Peruvian Highlights Tour Begins

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:31:01 +1000

We meet up with our tour group last night in Miraflores (just out of Lima) in the hotel we were staying in for the night.

Our tour group is pretty good - a mix of both young and older people, but all lovely.

We left Lima this afternoon and after a 3-4 hour bus ride we have arrived in Pisco - the city where the national drink gets its name from.

Rum Night (Is there a theme forming?)

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:22:01 +1000

Today we jumped onto a tour bus (Mira Tours) that took us for a 3 hour tour through Lima city and to the San Fransisco church and catacombs. This was a pretty cool tour. We got to see or first real glimpses of Lima city and the catacombs at the San Francisco church were pretty cool.

Getting back to the hostel tonight a lot of new people have checked in. In honor of their first night we have decided to have a few drinks to get to know each other. As we had a Pisco night the other night - and currently don’t have any expert Pisco Sour makers, or at least no one who could be bothered making it - we have decided to have a Rum & Coke night.

Pisco night

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:30:14 +1000

After the first good sleep we have had in the last week or so - I think the jet lag has finally left us - we got out and explored the local area a bit.

first off we caught one of the local buses into a neighbouring area called Mirafloures. This is almost like a small city in itself, with markets and shopping centers and parks.

Touchdown in Lima

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:45:02 +1000

So we flew out of Santiago this morning (bright and early) into Lima, Peru.

I probably should have mentioned it earlier, but was only reminded about the fantastic view from the airplane window as you approach Santiago - floating through the clouds between the various snow capped mountains. It was an awesome experience. However, coming into Lima today topped it.

There was a lot of low clouds around Lima today and this made for a fantastic approach in the airplane, with the peaks of mountains breaking though into the clear air above the cloud. It was like a sea of white with little islands scattered around.

Our last day in Santiago

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:57:33 +1000

So today is our last day in Santiago. We started out by heading to the post office to send off a few post cards to family back home. Right next to the post office in the Plaza de Armas is a huge old church where we went to mass.

From there we went onto the Marceto Centro (the central market) which is basically a cut down version of the Victoria Market in Melbourne.

In and around Santiago

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:39:35 +0000

So we have settled our selves in and found our feet here in Santiago. We have managed to explore most of what the city has to offer (we think).

We have visited many of the beautiful old buildings (Churches, etc), as well as the various parks and gardens that are around the city.

For us, the big let down of Santiago is the smog! Its bad. No doubt there is worse, but it blocks what is one of Santiago’s best assets - the mountains. Santiago is surrounded by mountains. On one side the Andes, and on the other the costal mountain range. But unfortunately, you can barely make them out through the smog, and there is no hope for a good photo :(.

Santiago pictures

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:49:03 +0000

I have managed to post some of our pictures from around the neighbourhood where we are staying. There are not too many up there yet, but I hope to be able to get more up soon. Its difficult due to the size of my image files, and not being able to resize them easily in internet cafe’s… oh well.

Hola! The trip begins..

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:47:24 +0000

Hi all,

After a reasonable, but long flight we touched down in Santiago yesterday afternoon (14th). After some sleep, we had our first dinner here, which consisted of a packet of Corn chips & a bottle of local red wine called ´Carmen´ - made the choice easy.

After some more sleep last night we had a light breakfast where we are staying, and have headed out to try and get a feel for the place. Hope to do some tours during the week to see the sights, etc.

The Modrich Blog - Travel, Stories, Experiences...

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:10:34 +0000

Welcome to The Modrich Blog!

Here, we share our adventures, stories, and experiences with fellow travelers and curious minds. 🌎

We created this space primarily to keep our family updated as we embark on an exciting 3-month journey through South America and Europe. Join us as we document what promises to be the adventure of a lifetime!

Stay tuned for updates, photos, and stories from our travels across two continents.

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Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

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