On 30th. November, I went on a holiday with my wife Sheila to Riva Del Garda for a week and what a beautiful time we had at Hotel Liberty in the centre of town. Above are two photgoraphs from one town that was not on the tour but should have been Torento about an hours bus ride north of Riva. They know how to celebrate Christmas there in style. Leaving Riva there is a lovely walk along the prom and here is a photograph taken along that walk. Below is a policeman in water when a little on the high side in Venice. Scroll down to see complete selection.

Above are more photographs from the trip including some of Venice and you see St. Mark's Church and whilst on one of the canal bridges, this fellow heard me talking in the cafe and came up and asked was I from Kilkenny. His name is Ian Maher from Crettyard and his wife Bernie who were on honeymoon in Venice. Ian work's as a lecturer in TCD and instead of civil engineering should be into accents instead!!. Above also is the Church of Santa Barbara on the mountain over Riva Del Garda, 600 meters overhead and a two hour climb but so well worth it for the peace up there but one thing missing was the sound and sight of birds. This Church was built in 1935 by the local miners and is clearly visible from the surrounding countryside for miles. A sheer drop as you can see down to the lake but I had someone invisible helping me in a way to climb that mountain. There was a brilliant crowd on this tour and our courier John was such an knowledgeable individual and had some great Irish jokes to keep us awake when the going got tough. For example he showed me the old court house in Verona as old as the first century when the money lenders ruled. Well if you were unable to pay them the full amount due and you did not want the neighbours to know how badly off you were you could drop a few coppers into a hole left for the purpose beside the courthouse. You clearly can see it below. A solicitors secretary from Waterford Ann thought it a great idea and was thinking of setting up a debt collecting service in the Courthouse, Catherine Street, Waterford with John the courier. The seemed delighted in the business plan below. I also met another character from up the west, a lay back type of person who liked the finer things of life like cigars and Chivas Regal whiskey, kept going on about an old dance hall in Westport called the pavilion and how happy one night he was heading home to Louisburgh passing Bertra and old Head on the bike after meeting someone special there. Finally there was this apprentice leader of a political party in the group...anyone spot him? Well I will let you into a secret...like all TD's her wears his coat half on and half off and I got the real photograph of him in Cafe de Opera in Verona..Watch out for Ken he is heading for the Dail.. has all the makings of a successful career up there and a great character to liven things up a bit. Even got the beer boat in Venice to come over his way!!! Click here and do add a comment on my guestbook, I would love to hear from you and how you think this site could be improved.

Please note that these photographs were taken on digital camera; images are compressed to aid speedy downloading and do not reflect the quality of final photographic prints.