The Most Amazing Trip

Have you ever flown First Class?  Me neither! The luxury of Business class has been a highlight of more recent trips into Asia, but First Class on any long haul flights has never even been a "maybe" - unless that ever elusive Lotto win came my way.  

Well, is this what it feels like to win Lotto ? getting to fly to London up the pointy end.  
Just being in the right place at the right time has meant me and the CFO are about to fly First Class thanks to Etihad and a chance visit to Flight Centre's annual Travel Expo in Darling Harbour.  
But when we get to London, what then?  once we come back down to earth, quite literally, is that it?  all over red rover, we're destined to stay in the pensions and backpackers for the entire four weeks?   
The Etihad complimentary limo whisks us to Bemondsey Square - our hotel for the next couple of days in London.  We'll do a spot of shopping, but mostly dining - in fact I suspect most of this blog will contain detailed descriptions of the meals we eat.  
The highlight for us in London will be to catch up with very special friends we haven't seen for what seems like forever.  The coincidence of them visiting London at the same time amazing in itself.
Next stop is Rome (for 3 days) then we plan to hop on a train to the port of Civitavecchia.  This is where we'll board the ms Noordam and sail away on a 10 day Roman Empire cruise - my first ever time on a ship. 
The first port is Dubrovnik, then a sweet, sweet taste of the Greek islands Corfu, Katakolon and Santorini before being greeted by the Turks selling their wares at Kusadasi.  
A brief stop at Piraeus and Messina bring us to the end of the second leg of our amazing trail. 
But wait, there's more !
Where does everyone head when they're in Italy?  Tuscany of course !

We've chosen the middle ages town of San Gimignano as a base.  If there's any room left on our belts after the indulgence of shipboard catering,  we intend to spoil our sensory palates with fresh pasta, local wines and fresh cheeses gazing at those jaw dropping vistas that are so distinguishable as Tuscany.

And then finally, as the very last leg of this most Amazing of journeys, we've chosen to balance this overload of gluttony and indulgence with a week in the south of England, where we'll tipple the local brews and graze on the local ploughman's lunches, stroll through quaint villages and pretend we're in a Midsummer Murder Mysteries series (without the murders of course !)

The doggies are booked into their favourite second home and the cases are standing by ready to pack.  Now it's just a matter of time until that limo pulls up outside our house and the C F O and I pretend we've joined the rich and famous for just a few luxurious hours in the sky.  Oh, did I mention the complimentary massage when we refuel in Abu Dhabi?