Well, it's only just over a fortnight before we fly out to Italy - have had a great time researching and planning our trip - a bit of an outline follows - have obviously "lifted" a few photos for description purposes - Ta to all those photographers.
Our flight arrives in Rome quite late, so will stay at a hotel at the Airport - same one as Ails and Rod did last year. The following morning we leave for Sorrento, just south of Naples, however, en route we will spend time in the lovely gardens at Palace of Caserta (they call it the Versailles of Italy) and fortunately for us its full restoration has just been completed. Wonderful groups of statues and waterfalls to be seen
Then on to Herculaneum (Roman) which the volcano Mt. Vesuvius wiped out in 79 AD., same time as Pompei - map below shows an outline of Mt. Vesuvius's wrath.
We decided on visiting Herculaneum instead of Pompei, apparently the surviving buildings are different, but in better condition, the site is a lot smaller - and the "touristers" are not there en "mass". Then we travel onto our first port of call for 3 nights - Sorrento
A great photo below of Mt.Vesuvius as a backdrop to part of Sorrento's harbour
We shall shed off our jet lag whilst wandering around the stores
and historic sites 
We are planning to spend one day on Ischia, an Island south of Napoli - it looks wonderful, we will reach it by Hydrofoil, then bus the southern half of it, checking out some great sites and views.
and have the name of a great simple restaurant at Ischia Porte to have lunch before taking a walk to, and up "Castello Arogonese" prior to our hydrofoil back to Sorrento.
Ischia has been the site of quite a few movies, the ones that I know of is Liz and Richard's CLEOPATRA in 1963, the Jack Lemon's AVANTI in 1972, and some parts of "A TALENTED MR RIPLEY" in 1999.
Then we travel the outrageously pictureseque but hair raising Amalfi Coast Road,
till we reach the town of Amalfi - and here we relax for 8 nights -well maybe!!
We are booked onto a 1 day Cooking class up in the mountains (Ravello)overlooking the coast.
Mama emailed us with guidelines - "please don't eat breakfast, or plan on dining in the evening", as Mama and Papa (he produces the vino) will make sure we will be well endowed with knowledge, food and wine - a 3 hour afternoon feast after our class on their balcony - venue below.
We hope to do a small boat trip up the coast and out to Capri (weather dependant) and also head down to Salerno and Paestum while we are in Amalfi, plus visit the other surrounding towns by the local bus of Positano, Praiano, Ravello, Atrani Minori and so on There will be religious Easter Pageants, which should be really interesting, then of course our 35th Anniversary is on Easter Sunday.
Back to Rome
I have booked a funny little B and B for 2 nights just near the Trevi Fountain, so we can walk to most of the sites rather than take metros. After these 2 nights we transfer to another hotel, organised by the Group Tour we are joining on 29th April. We do different things in Rome with them, Vatican, Colosseum, Forum - however, we will already have walked our feet off to many other sites, some at sunset- prior to joining the Tour. After Rome we head up to Tuscany for 2 nights.
We are staying in a lodge just outside of Monterrigione above
Whilst there - we do Florence and Siena, and in our free afternoon I am hoping to organise for us to spend the afternoon and early evening in San Gimignano - just checking out the transport situation - there is a local bus from Siena to S.G. 
From Tuscany we head to the Cinque Terre for one night,
Then onto Baveno, Lake Maggiore for 2 nights
Here we have the whole day free, or of course go on one of the "optional" - yet to be paid tours. Have done a fair amount of research and this day we will again do our own thing - ferry across to Santa Caterina,
after a gondola up to their alpine gardens for a wander - should be stunning in spring then a ferry out to Isola Pescatore (Isle of Fisherman) for lunch at another recommended trattoria. Followed by another ferry to Isola Bella (below), and a delightful walk around the Palace and gardens, then a ferry back to Stresa for a wander, before, yes another ferry back to our hotel at Baveno.
The next day we head up to the Dolomites - again really looking forward to this area.
We spend 2 nights in Cortina d'Ampezza (below)
Another free day here, or of course the "optional tour", again have done some research through Sabena at the Cortina Tourist Information, and she has given me all kinds of ideas to follow - and sent me the following photo, saying that the crocus's could be in full bloom if we are lucky - and what other towns and, mountains we can visit or see that day.
Venice - 2 nights.
Next stop - Venice, via a long stop in Verona - yes Romeo and Juliet!. Once we get to Venice, we do the Gondola ride, St. Marks, glass blowing and some other organised things. The next day we have free again, with the "option" of another guided tour. Again we will do our own thing, and spend some time walking around the academic area of Venice, and then across to Burano Island - good walk and hopefully a great lunch at another recommended Trattoria.
The Optional Tours are not exactly inexpensive, plus you are with the same large crowd, and from my research it looks like doing our own thing will not only be more free and fun, but also less expensive 'specially as we can eat where we want. After the 2 nights in Venice, we are now back on our own.
Our first stop for 2 nights will be Lake Garda - Italy's largest lake. - we will stay in Sirmione below - have found a little hotel right inside these walls on the edge of the lake.
We then head down to Lucca for 2 nights - plenty to see in this area, Pisa, Vinci, the Tuscany Coast etc.
And of course Lucca, will enjoy a long walk around its "town walls" below.
Our last 3 nights are spent in Pienza - not far from the Umbrian border.
Again so much to see here - Assisi, Cortona, Montelpulciano, Orvieto and so on 
Ails and Rod who stayed in Pienza last year, advised us to go to the following restaurant 
apparently their "suckling pig" is outstanding.*****
It will be our last italian feast before we get to Rome to catch our late flight back home to Brisbane - of course we have been on a rather "on and off" diet in preparation for this italian fare, the "on" needs to take priority for the next fortnight!!
******
I have put a pile of work into this trip - with the help of some "now" mates on Tripadvisor - they really are great "advisers". If it is as much fun and challenging - as the planning has been - then the Brig and I will be molta felice!!!
Daniel's cake looks just like Ethan James's first Birthday cake celebrated over 4 years ago at Titirangi, the cake and candle caught his attention too, we remember that day, and the demolition of that cake!.
Daniel and his Pirate siblings, Imogen and Ethan, at his party 
Ethan has just purchased a guitar with his pocket money - he really is showing a strong interest in music. He also came 1st and 2nd in two running races at school this week. he told his Grandpa that some of the race runners he beat were a year or so older than he - sounded very proud - so a top few days for him. 
The Kiwi crew will be spending quite a bit of time in Bristol and the kids in Northern Island with their Irish grand folks and cousins this June and July (Northern Hemisphere summer).
