Amsterdam

In Holland having a fab time. I have put some photos on Facebook so have a look. If you don't have a Facebook account get your daughter,sister or grandad to show you. My Opa has a Facebook account why dont you?
:)
all the best
lots of love
Acushla
I hope to write more soon.
xoxoxo

David, Venice and Madonna

Hi all,
I'm now in Florence in Tuscany and it is beautiful! Today some girls and I all got up late and took the bus to San Germano a medieval town perched on top of a hill. It has all these towers that look like sky scrapers so the place from afar looks a bit like Manhattan.
It was a nice little town to walk around and we ate great gelati. But the best bit was when we went on a walk through the country side. Tuscany is just so beautiful! And as it is Autumn all the leaves are changing colour and it is just lovely. Such a great day just soaking in beauty.

I went to the Ufizzi Gallery the other day which is the top museum for Renaissance art. There are so many great works of art there, my favourite being 'Spring' by Botticelli ,it is so beautiful and the 'Birth of Venus' was inspiring too. I spent the whole morning there then just wandered around, painting the Ponte Vecchio, a lovely old bridge that crosses the main river. We went out to San Givno today because it is Monday and the museums are not open. Tomorrow I am going to get up early and join the line to see Michelangelo's 'David'.

Last week I was in Sorrento which was really beautiful. From there I went to Pompeii and Herculaneum which was just fantastic. I was just awe struck at how intact it was. It was amazing to just walk around a ancient Roman town. Just so so amazing.
I'm now off to hang out in the Cinque Terra for a few days on Thursday. Then off to Holland and England.
Love you lots
Acushla

N.A.B.R. (Not Another Bloody Ruin)

This is what my family used to say when we were driving around Central Australia and we would stop every ten minutes to get out of the car and walk around a deserted village. No offence to Australia but Roman ruins are the best. They are great: I love to walk around and try to imagine how life was like over 2,000 years ago! I went to the Colosseum , Palatine Hill (where the emperors lived and Rome was founded)and the Forums. I also went to a church underneath which is a 4th Century Basilica and then underneath THAT there is a Roman house with a temple inside it. The Roman temple is nearly 12 meters below street level, so 2,000 years ago that was the level of the Roman street. Really cool.
The Colosseum was good but the Forum topped my day. So great to walk around and imagine things the way they were. I saw the Roman city, Jerash, in Jordan & it is far more intact, but this was THE Roman Forum where Julius Caesar and Pliny the Elder walked. Really cool and really nerdy! :)
I should go and let someone else use the computer.
Love you all
Acushla

p.s.
10th of October
I spent today climbing to the top of St Peters Basilica, ringing home, and hanging out in parks. It was great!! I also threw a coin into the Trivoli Fountain so I will be coming back to Rome someday. Tomorrow I am off to Ostia (it used to be a Roman sea port... very excited!!! )
I love you all lots and can't wait to see you in December!!!!!!
xoxoxo

When in Rome...

Hi all, so sorry that it has been so long since I have written,(not for a WHOLE week my Opa tells me). I have been so busy and had next to no time on the internet over the last couple of weeks.
But I am well and happy and in Rome of all places! Which is great.
It is lovely here and I am having a ball running around ruins and visiting the Pope. Yes that's right Acushla, and a couple of hundred other people, actually saw the Pope in St Peter's Square and yes he is indeed a rock star. He was meeting the pilgrims and he would say something along the lines of 'to the pilgrims of France' and every one from France would go wild cheering and stuff. Way cool!
The Vatican was the most amazing thing ever. Full stop. The art in there is fabulous and the Sistine Chapel awesome, just hands down the greatest painting and from an artist that wasn't even a painter and who finished it in record time. Stunning!!!!
The same goes for the Basilica of St Peter, just an amazing building.
But my favourite building in Rome is the Pantheon, it is just so perfect. The dimensions make it so visually pleasing as a whole. Beautiful. So many things to write about but sadly not a lot of time, as I am hogging the computer and there are others who want a turn. So I will have to say good bye...and thanks for all the fish.... - Rob at least will get it.
I love you all
I hope you are well and looking after one another.
All the best,
Acushla

Ein prosit!!!

What a fabulous afternoon I had at Oktoberfest yesterday in Munich. We got to a Beer Hall and had no idea what we we were meant to do. So I asked one of the tables if we could sit with them, they said that would be alright, but, that they had friends coming and we might have to move.
So we sat down and ordered liters of beer and pork knuckles (massive chunks of meat on a bone). Most of the people on the table were so lovely and friendly, and when more of their friends arrived and the family with the child left, we had the best time. Singing songs, cheer'sing every ten seconds. The fun thing was that everyone was standing on the benches and tables by the end of the night. Not anyone on a seat.
g2g (got to go) sorry all my love cush