Yo, this is Boomsy just back to Shanghai after 3 days in Dubai and more than 2 weeks in Italy!
Dubai, home of one quarter of the world's construction cranes! And you can see it by looking on the map: half the places are listed as 'u/c'--under construction. Dubai is in the UAE, United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East. It is bursting at the seams with construction and development, and money is no object. Dubai has not only many 5-star hotels, but also a couple of 6-star and the world's only 7-STAR HOTEL, which is shaped like a giant sail and is really quite remarkable. In Dubai, you can go snow-skiing inside a giant mall! I went on a desert safari in a dune buggy--they let half the air out of the tires and slide all over the place in the sand--an exhilarating ride! I also went on a day trip on a boat which sailed into the waters of Oman, another Arabian Gulf country. We snorkeled and swam and enjoyed the sea and sun and mountain scenery. Dubai is the new emerging economic boom zone of the world--hope you can visit there someday!
Then I went to sunny Italy, where my sister rented a villa in the beautiful province of Tuscany, in central Italy. First, I flew to Rome and spent a day on open-topped double decker buses touring the amazing tourist and historical sites. Rome is like a living museum with amazing old and grand buildings and ruins. You can get on and off the bus all day and visit all the sites, like the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi fountain, and the Vatican and Sistine Chapel.
Then I took a train to the 12th-century city of Perugia in Umbria, central Italy. Incredibly steep hills and ancient buildings and narrow roads, which tiny little cars motor up and down. In Italy, a Smart car is a mid-size! I loved Perugia, and stayed in a hostel with a jaw-dropping beautiful view of the surrounding hills and towns. I also visited Assisi, the home of the Christian Saint Francis. Assisi is also a breathtakingly lovely town which is not to be missed!
Finally, I joined my parents, sister and many of her friends for a week at a luxury villa in Tuscany. In an old farmhouse in the countryside. It had a beautiful pool, and most days we took short trips to nearby scenic spots for winery tours or historical sightseeing, or (for the ladies) SHOPPING. For everyone, the food in Italy was a main attraction. Irresistible pastas and pizzas and the best gelato (ice cream) in the world! I tried to have it twice a day at least!
.
So that's my mini-tour of Italy. I really hope you get the chance to visit there in your lifetimes--you won't regret it!
Boomsy signing out