Asia to Europe

Bon Jour! We arrived in Italy nine days ago from Bangkok after our all night flight and we arrived here in Paris yesterday after our 24 hour train ride from southern Italy. Sleeping in comfy beds on the train is always cool but it was a long trip!
Loved Rome. They have kept all the classic old buildings and havn't built any really modern ones so it has retained its charm. You can feel the history. We happened to be in St Peters square when the Pope gave his spiel and of course we were blown away by the Cistine chapel and the main Basilica and more.
I didn't realize that there were huge fights with the gladiators and slaves, criminals, Christians, animals etc. almost every evening in the Rome colliseum for hundreds of years. Its not quite as exciting now but there is a growing music and modern cultural scene that is flourishing. Could have stayed allot longer. Always fun to see the city with a beautiful young and bright girl on my arm too!
From Rome we took the train down to the little town of Alberabello in southern Italy to see its beauty and hang out with my friend Donato's relatives. They were really kind, introducing us to all the townspeople and all the great food and wine the place had to offer. Fun eating at their house, at their friends restaurants and bars and by the ocean. Delicious seafood and other Italian dishes. Fun seeing how the folks still live in this ancient villiage. Family, food, drink and taking life in one moment at a time.
Fortuneately April's Italian is decent, otherwise it wouldn't have been near as fun. Also they spoke a bit of Spanish and English so we all could communicate the basics. Bella bella!
After an emmotional farewell with Mino, Maria, Tina, Gino etc. we got on the long train ride up here to gay Parieee!
April was able to hook up with some of her college chums who are studying here for the semester and I made contact with a buddy that Henry and I traveled through Tibet and Nepal with last year so we will be hanging out with them for the next five days before heading to London. So far we are loving Paris. Heading out to see all the sights in a few.
Hope you are all doing well and looking forward to seeing you soon.
Aloha, Rob and April