Before leaving home...

Not long before our 5 1/2 week trip, so I thought it was time to work out what we need to take.

Jo's Clothes
I laid out on the bed all that I thought I would need, coordinated it. Decided what must go and returned half of it to the drawer. Now I have room for shopping and my suitcase is nice and light.
Husband and Kids Clothes
Not much, as long as it washes and dries quickly
Essentials
Passports and tickets, Camera, Laptop, iPad, Phone, chargers, lots of money, EFTPOS or CC, Hard copies of all our tickets, bookings.
Spare passport size photos for train, bus passes.
1st aid kit, pen and notebook/journal, USB, extra SD card for camera

Now to our Itinerary

Our Itinerary
This trip has been twelve months in the making, and I know it will be amazing, but one can't help but think, "Could I have done more?" The answer is , hopefully we have our whole life of travels to get it right.

London U.K: 7 days staying in an apartment in South Kensington close to both Gloucester Rd and Sth Kensington Tube Stations.

 http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/englandb/E4784.htm
Eurostar to Paris: 5 days in Saint Germaine Du Pre, Rue du Savoie, 6th arr in a 16th C apartment, high on the 4th floor, once home to Picasso's lover
http://www.waytostay.com/paris-apartments/savoie-stmichel-0455/
Fly to Venice, Italy: 3 nights at Hotel Violino d'Oro in a canal view suite, kids out the back in a triple http:www.hotelviolinodoro.com
Collect Hire car in Venice
Castellina in Chianti: 5 nights at Hotel Il Colombaio, a small rustic converted farmhouse at the edge of the beautiful village of Castellina
http:www.albergoilcolombaio.it
Rome: 3 Nights at the boutique hotel I Tre Moschettieri right in the centre of Rome in two rooms
http:www.hotelitremoschettieri.com
Fly to Athens and travel north to the Port of Agios Konstantinos
Sporades Islands Greece: Board the MV Anatolie, a 70ft wooden yacht for a 7 day cruise around Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos
http:www.voiliergrece.com
Return for day trip to Athens City Centre then fly to Munich
Munich: 4 nights at the Arthotel Munich which is close to main train station. Basic but modern hotel 
http:www.arthotel.com

Fly home via Helsinki (thanks Qantas, now flying with partner airline Finnair to Singapore) and then Singapore to Adelaide SA
                                                                                                 

From left, Matthew 7, Chris 14 and Jackson 12

The boys are getting restless and Jackson tells me.
"Mum I can't survive this" and I say "what are you
talking about?" He says "the wait, I just am so excited!"
At least Christopher is way too busy to be worried
about waiting 11 more days. He is on camp and won't be back until two days before our departure.