Shared Memories Florence
17-05-2011 to 27-05-2011
Day 1
17th May
Aubrey has been asked to represent the 28th Maori Battalion at a Shared Memories Agreement for the liberation of Florence in Italy during WWII.
At 90 years old we decided he should travel business class and we would accompany him.
Aubrey taking a pre-dinner siesta.
One of the dinner courses.
Sunset on the first day.
Rome
18th May
These are all Aubrey's photos.
The reception at the Rom Antica Bed & Breakfast. Aubrey waiting for his room.
The street outside the B&B.
Later, in the afternoon we went for a walk and spent some time if the grounds of the National Museum.
Rome
19th May
Today we are doing a Hop on Hop Off bus tour of Rome.
This is one of the ruins in the city.
(Photographer Aubrey.)
The Flavian Amphitheatre.
More commomly known as the Colosseum
(Photographer Aubrey.)
Victor Emmanuel II Monument.
It honour the first King of a unified Italy. Aka The Typewriter.
The view of St. Peter's Basilica from the top of the Hop on Hop off bus.
St. Peter's Basilica and Square.
The river Tiber and Castel Sant' Angelo.
Quirinal palace.
The official residence of the Italian head of state. It is on the Quirinal Hill one of the seven hills of Rome.
One of the streets on our way to the Trevi Fountain.
The Trevi Fountain.
Caprile
20th May
(Photographer Aubrey.)
Left to right.---Awatere,-----------> Roma,------> Regan,------------>Kay,------------>Colleen.
We have come down by train to the station at Roccasecca.
There we were picked up by Kay, (back centre) an artist friend of Regan's, and brought to her B&B in the village of Caprile where we are staying.
Aubey talking to Kay in the B&B garden at lunch time.
The Bed and Breakfast where we stayed.
Some photos taken of Capriel.
Cassino
21st May
The view across the Liri valley from the B&B.
(Photographer Aubrey.)
Colleen preparing lunch. Bread and tomatoes.
Cassino from the viewing area on the way up to the Abbey.
The travellers.
From the left. Regan (Grand niece) Awatere (Aubrey's brother's niece), Roma (niece), Colleen, Aubrey, Neil.
Kay and Aubrey.
(Photographer Aubrey.)
(Photographer Aubrey.)
The Abbey.
One of the rooms in the crypt.
The stairs leading up from the crypt.
The ceiling of the Abbey.
Looking towards the alter.
The Polish cemetery from the Abbey.
(Photographer Aubrey.)
(Photographer Aubrey.)
The Abbey overlooking the Cassino Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery.
Ceprano
21st May
In the evening we were invited to the WWII Commemoration in Ceprano.
(Photographer Aubrey.)
Aubrey being photographed with some of the participants of the commemoration.
(Photographer Aubrey.)
Ceprano band at the speeches.
(Photographer Aubrey.)
(Photographer Aubrey.)
Wreath laying at the cenotaph.
(Photographer Aubrey.)
Meeting the locals.
Aubrey examining one of the exhibits in the Ceprano museum.
Regan and Aubrey enjoying a joke.
(Photographer Aubrey.)
(Photographer Aubrey.)
(Photographer Aubrey.)
Enjoying an evening meal provided by our hosts.
Aubrey being presented with a commemoration T-shirt.
Sangro
22nd May
Today we are going to the Sangro River War Cemetery to visit Oswald Balzer's grave. He is Aubrey's younger brother.
On the way we had a break to see the Sora river and valley.
At the entrance to the cemetery checking for the location of Ossie's grave.
Sangro River War Cemetery.
Karakia at Ossie's grave by Awatere.
Ossie's grave.
The view from the grave.
Roma (in white) sitting by Ossie's grave.
In the shade of the entrance before heading back to Capreil.
Our room in the B&B.
Studying the menu at the Il Caveau restaurant. Just a short walk from the B&B.
While we were waiting for the food there was a firework display in the valley.
The food.
Tiramisu.
Time to head back after a wonderful meal at the end of a long day.
Cassino/Sant'Angelo
23rd May
This is the opening of Regan's exhibition of art from Aubrey's war memories in Cassino.
Colleen bought this quilt.
The Maori Battalion was split up along tribal lines. Aubery was in "B" company. They were nicknamed "Penny Divers" after the children who waited in hot pools to dive for pennies thrown by tourists at Whakarewarewa.
Aubrey giving a talk at the exhibition.
Regan talking about her art.
After the exhibition we went for lunch.
Antipasto.
Pasta course.
Il Dolce, Tiramisu.
Aubrey singing for his lunch.
And with the owner who opened his restaurant and prepared the lunch especially for us.
After lunch we went to Sant'Angelo in Theodice.
The Bell of Peace honours those who died in the four battles of Monte Cassino.
The bell rings everyday at noon.
The view from the Axis position over the Gari river to the plain below.
On our way back we stopped to see the village where we were staying from the valley.
(Photographer Aubrey.)
Back at the B&B there was an impromptu singing welcome.
In the evening three of us decided to walk to the chaple in a cave.
Looking back over the village into the valley.
The chaple.