What a lovely last few weeks in bella italia! Feeling very sad to leave and to farewell friends & our wonderful family. We'll be back! The pouring rain and cold weather have hit in the last few days & that's making a little easier to leave. We even saw the fresh snow on the mountains from last night. We have "scored" an extra 7 hours at the Florence airport thanks to a strike. I was wishing for more time in Italy, but this wan't quite what I had in mind! Must be careful what I wish for! The silver lining though was extra time with Andrea & Gianni. In 3 flights & 22hours time we'll hopefully be in Arusha. Not that we have found a house yet! Oh well, looks like hotels for a little longer. We're all keen to settle after moving so much the last month.

Before seeing the town mum was born in which was very special, we got to see the beautiful little white conical trulli & were amazed by the sassi caves of Matera. It is a town where right up till the 1950s, people lived in caves with their live stock & without electricity or running water. We even got to stay in a cave, but now with all the comforts. Saw one in its traditional state with very ingenious under cave water cavern.

Well, our flight is boarding!

Ciao italia!