Couriers J and G collected pets in the Rome area and the port of Ancona, while couriers M and S docked at Brindisi, following their crossing from Greece.
Couriers J and G stayed at a delightful hotel less than an hour from Rome called I Due Laghi. It’s a combined farm and equestrian centre that also produces delicious organic milk and cheese. A peaceful interlude for us before tackling the roads around Rome!
Wonderful green and leafy gardens
Some parts of the garden are laid out in a formal style
Chiara
We met up with very pretty cat Chiara, who belongs to Simona. Simona has relocated to Northampton for work, and Chiara is travelling with us to join her.
Simona’s brother-in-law brought Chiara to us ready for her journey
Nouri and Sinbad
During her time in Oman, Michelle adopted two dogs, Nouri and Sinbad, and is now bringing this elegant pair to live with her in the Bristol area. She flew back via Rome, where the dogs had a short stay in kennels until we could collect them for the last leg of their journey to the UK. Michelle has gone on ahead to get everything ready for her dogs’ arrival.
Nouri and Sinbad
Having only recently flown in from Muscat, the dogs needed an internal parasite treatment before entering the UK. Here’s Sinbad at the vet’s, being a good boy about taking his worming pill.
And Nouri also taking the pill without a fuss
Samson and Matilda
A local vet has been caring for cuddly twosome Samson and Matilda, and preparing them for their journey to their new home in Worthing.
Super fluffy Matilda
Hunky Samson
Double-decker kitties!
Arrival at Brindisi
Side winds at Brindisi meant that disembarking was slightly delayed. To help manoeuvre the large ferry and get the ramps down, little tug boats came out to steady the ferry. Once on dry land, all the dogs were glad to stretch their legs.
One of the helpful tugs
Courier M ready to offer the captain some advice
View of the castle in Brindisi harbour
Cookie enjoys the refreshing breeze on her face
Lochy loves exploring
Ermioni shows us her model profile
Gibbs is full of character and has an opinion about everything…
…including where he likes his blanket — here he is helping courier S with the housework
Springer Spaik loves the wind blowing her ears
Rosie — who remind courier S of her own dog — loves rushing around on her walks
Lila loves checking what’s going on
Soft and gentle Bonnie
Mandy keeps her nose to the ground
Zizel has a great smile
Lilo enjoys his outing
Chantelle is very chilled out
Eric is… idle!
Pizza, along with an Italian take on chip butties!
Spending the night in Bologna
The two Animalcouriers vans met up in Bologna where the temperatures were very high. So we got up bright and breezy in the morning to walk all our doggy charges.
Up and about well before 7.00am
Elvis and Evie
Couriers S and G headed across the border to Switzerland to meet up with Elvis and Evie, a glamorous pair of Persians who belong to William and Helena. They’re travelling to their new home in Sussex, via a short stay at Burntwood Kennels, a partnership kennels and cattery near our Surrey office.
Handsome Elvis is an impressive 17 years young and a little shy
Fortunately he has kindly Evie to take care of him and keep him company
Waving at cable car passengers enjoying their summer holidays in the mountains
Having crossed the Alps, and with Switzerland behind us, we spent the night at a lovely rural hotel between Dijon and Reims, with super woodland walks.
Cookie walking in the cool morning air
A friendly goat at the hotel
An equally friendly kid, showing off what looks like luxurious goat accommodation
We ate breakfast sitting on bar stools made out of tractor seats!
Suki and Izzy
Still in Italy, couriers J and M collected Suki and Izzy, who belong to Monique and Maria. The cats are on their way with us from La Spezia to London. They’re quite used to travelling, as Monique and Maria — and Suki and Izzy — split their time between Italy and the UK.
A view over the Matterhorn as we head towards La Spezia
Maria and her father meet us with the cats
Dainty Izzy (named for Isadora Duncan)
Gorgeous jet-black Suki
The view Suki and Izzy are leaving behind (for now)
A night in Roppolo
We stopped for the night at Roppolo in the Piedmont region in the north-east corner of Italy, with a view over the Alps. There’s great dog-walking in the grounds of the hotel, Tenuta Variselle, where fruit trees and berry bushes abound. Courier J was spotted scrumping! Spending time in calm, relaxing environments like this, with friendly and welcoming hosts, more than compensates for hours spent on the motorway, and gives us the opportunity to recharge our batteries.
The hotel overlooks a lake — what a sunset!
This was our view down the hill during our al fresco breakfast.
Resident Golden Retriever Candy stopped by at breakfast time…
…as did hotel cat Fiocco
You see some nice knockers in Italy
We couldn’t leave the Carnaroli area without buying some of the delicious local rice, which is especially good for risottos
Somewhat surreal — drinking coffee today in 34C and gazing at the glaciers on Mont Blanc
And finally… pudding!
A profiterole swan, floating on a lake of chocolate sauce
wow that was a super tour with you :o) I love the tractor seats and the garden is just wonderful… do you think Nouri has some weimaraner genes with her grey fur?
We did take you on a long tour this time! The tractor seats tickled courier S too but we’re not sure how long you’d really want to sit on them 😉 Nouri could certainly have some Weimaraner in her, she’s got your build too.
Nouri is a boy, a saluki, he comes from Qatar, his coulour is the colour of the rock desert…
Oops, sorry! Editor’s mistake. Thanks for letting us know that he’s a Saluki and explaining his colour.
That looks a lovely place to stay! I bet most people want to share with Candy – who could resist that face! You have some delightful passengers again.
We are very lucky to stay in some rather fine places! Dangerous to be as beguiling as Candy — she’ll have to watch her waist 😀
That is quite a load of passengers. Dog days and cats of summer.
We do have a large contingent of passengers! Busiest we’ve ever been.
Fabulous pictures of everything! What an amazing journey for animal couriers and animals. So jealous and wish I could have been there, even in a big carrier!!
Glad you enjoyed the pictures! Suspect you might have been a little bent over if you’d travelled in the back 😉
I’m not sure which I enjoy more: your passengers, your scenery, or your fabulous couriers. All are wonderful. Thank you for sharing! 😉 xoxoM
It is very much our pleasure to share 😀
Your passengers must have some good tails (couldn’t resist) to tell of their travels! If only they could talk. But then maybe not. The cats would complain. 🙂
You’re so right about the cats complaining – such a chatty lot 😀
Hello- what time should i expect Chiara tonight? Thank you
Hi Simona, we’ll all be back in the UK later this evening. Courier Dave will bring Chiara tonight and will be in touch to arrange a time. Not long now!
Everyone a beauty and some delicious food.
You have too much fun and good food on your jobs!! What delightful and lovely cargo you had on this trip.And Mont Blanc, just stunning
Spectacular scenery and gorgeous passengers and on top of that organic cheese. Wonderful.
Fantastic scenery, beautiful passengers, and what a handsome dessert to end the series of photos!
Love the double decker kitties. They look quite proud of themselves. Little Fiocco is so sweet, as is Candy.
OMC what a fantastic trip that was, with all the lovely doggies and kitties and what beautiful surroundings. Rome is like heaven…but all the other places are the stars in heaven. Granny says she wished she was a courier travelling all around the world, with all the cute passengers…but then she looks at me and shakes her head. 😉 Enjoy the swan 😀 Pawkisses for a Happy Meal…Day and safe travels 🙂 <3 <3
OMG what journeys the couriers have – breathtaking vistas on this one!
As you would predict, Rosie would be whisked across the pond to Casa de Canterbury if we had our way! 🙂
Lovely to see the nice knockers in Italy.