Italy: A Successful Holiday

So, we've just experienced an unforgettable family escapade in Italy, marking our first European adventure and our farthest journey from home yet.

Why February instead of our usual December getaway? Well, Nigel recently completed his NS in January, so we decided to wait for him. The last time we went on holiday, we had to leave him behind (actually he was also overseas on training). Shannon and Amber are currently enjoying their break before diving into University and Polytechnic respectively, which don't commence until later in the year. It all pointed towards an off-peak opportunity, one we could stretch and savour. And considering the significance of Nigel's ORD (Operationally Ready Date), Shannon's IB, and Amber's O levels, we felt it was the perfect occasion to indulge and celebrate.

We started out in Milan, drove down to Venice, Florence, and ended up in Rome. Along the way, we made sure to visit some of the most iconic landmarks, such as the Duomo di Milano, St. Mark's Square, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Colosseum, and Vatican City. Despite the challenge of keeping the younger ones engaged, we successfully explored numerous museums and churches, which felt like quite an accomplishment considering their initial lack of enthusiasm for these cultural treasures.

Overall, it was a delightful three weeks with the family - strolling along cobbled streets, navigating the roads on the opposite side, and capturing countless random selfies (to their constant annoyance). However, it was truly awe-inspiring to finally witness such places in person, which had previously only existed in movies and other people's photographs.