7:00pm, Thu 15 Jan 2009 :  Vatican and first day in Rome
Vatican City
With an excellent nights sleep accounted during the flight from Bangkok (see previous story), it was wonderful to be met at the customs exit by Emanuela, who had sailed with me Christmas 2007. This tall classically featured Italian lass had made a top effort to arrive at Rome airport at 6am to collect me.

Shortly we were off toward the heart of Rome, naturally for a coffee to start my Italian adventure. To watch Italians driving is marvelous. Emanuela is no exception, and the continuous fade across lanes for a more favourable position on the left or right. "I need glasses", states Emanuela after enquiry about here skills in traffic…. "but I would not like wearing them … so I have not bothered." This made more sense, as the Mr McGoo experience continued all the way to town. I slumped into my chair a little and wondered how many more of the driving public had made a stand against spectacles….

My first day in Rome continued in much the same way. Be delighted at the wonders of this city founded so long ago, only to be close to head shaking at some of the seemingly chaotic behaviours of the locals.

To stand in front of grand scene St Peters basilica and the forecourt, currently empty but for the security detail and the barricades. The fast entry to the Vatican museum and the hall containing the old maps, the ancient globes, none of which featuring Australia in detail… and the rush of foreign tourists moving forward as a wave toward the Sistine Chapel.

In the afternoon, we had lunch at Em's place, naturally pasta and bread. The discussion turned to the "best job in the world competition" that I was only starting to be informed about, but which Em wanted to enter. Make a video, we must, perhaps two - I for each of us.

In the evening, she dropped me to my first couch guest experience, Claudia and Veronica welcomed me with open arms, pajamas and two cats. They proved very nice… another feed of pasta and get to know them. Lovely girls both.




















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Quote from Ghandi
I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the culture of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible.

Pretty much my life... and I love it.




John's world trip
Where did I go on my recent round the world trip. Click below to see it on a world map.
  Check the stop overs

The Dot Com Story

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Netcomm N3G002W

Netcomm N3G002W providing Hot spot internet via 3g / Next G

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Next G Coverage
Telstra Next G coverage continues to impress. Using my Tu500 handset, I have been able to get on the net at high speed at various places. The latency of the network also seems very low when I get on. Very nice.

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Weather Summaries

Moreton Bay
Hervey Bay
Bundaberg
Gladstone
Keppel Island
Percy Islands
Mackay

Come stay on my cat using Couchsurfing.com
Couch surfing is a world wide network of free beds and a great way to meet people and emerse yourself in the local culture. I offer accommodation on my sailing catamaran through this great web site:

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John speaks about Telstra Next G

Says it all : "Sailing" by Christopher Cross
It's not far down to paradise
At least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away
And find tranquility
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

It's not far to never never land
No reason to pretend
And if the wind is right you can find the joy
Of innocence again
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

Sailing
Takes me away
To where I've always heard it could be
Just a dream and the wind to carry me
And soon I will be free

Fantasy
It gets the best of me
When I'm sailing
All caught up in the reverie
Every word is a symphony
Won't you believe me

It's not far back to sanity
At least it's not for me
And when the wind is right you can sail away
And find serenity
The canvas can do miracles
Just you wait and see
Believe me

Whitsunday Guide
Visit the Cumberland Charter Yachts Site for the most comprehensive online area and anchorage guide. Second only to "100 Magic Miles".

  www.ccy.com.au/area


Sony HDR-SR1

My camera of choice, with some great customisation for even more flexibility.

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John Nayler
PO Box 1039
Airlie Beach Q 4802

P: 0407 15 13 11
www.nayler.com













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