Well the tan may be fading – let’s face it what hope does a ginger have getting a true tan anyways – but the looking back at the pics makes me still feel like I am still there – handy given the shitty summer weather. Below are some of the top memories and great pictures.

Trip details – Landed in Dubrovnik Croatia on 28 July and travelled north up the Adriatic Coast through Split, Hvar Island, Zadar, Rab Island and Opatija, before getting a ferry to Venice, Italy. From Venice we travelled by train to Cinque Terre and down to Monaco where I celebrated my birthday. We reluctantly flew out of Nice on 13 July.

Top Spot – Opatija – the perfect combination of sun, sea, a 5 metre springboard and beers delivered to your very own sun-lounge did it for me.

Most extravagant spot – The Monaco Casino where in one night I saw in excess of ten Ferraris, countless Bentleys, about four Rolls Royce Phantoms and a Bugati Veyron 16.4. That is not even mentioning the yachts – see the pics below.

Most memorable comment of the trip – Laura recalling how the first time she swore at her father (a vet) was when he was putting stitches into her arm – “Be more careful dad, I’m not a fucking animal!”

Most Picturesque spot – All of Croatia’s water – simply stunning

Beer that was drank – Ožujsko

Car driven in Croatia – Opel Zafira (thinks ours was the model before)

Best bargain – Ice cream in the cone in Croatia only costs 50p per scoop! Bargain

Thing I wrote home about – The fact Elizabeth bought me a lap of the Monaco GP course in a Ferrari F430!

Most active pursuit – Walking the coastal route that links the five fishing villages of Cinque Terre – nothing to crack a sweat over when you have done hikes in Sth America!

Enjoy the pics – mostly Elizabeth’s – I think she is a good photographer, but I think I am biased.

Dubrovnik old town

Walking the walls of Dubrovnik

How good is that water

Hvar Island Harbour

Krka National Park

Overlooking the old town in the Island of Rab

Me in front of the Bridge of Sighs in Venice

Gondola shot

Elizabeth reenacting a photo taken of her ten years ago at the same spot – minus the daggy check shorts…

Venazza – the village we stayed in whilst visiting Cinque Terre

Setting off on the lap of the Monaco GP course