The Travelling Monkeys head to Venice, a city in North East Italy sited on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges.  The only way to get anywhere is by boat.

Taking a speedboat to and from the hotel, we all feel like James Bond.

We visit the sites including, St Mark’s Square and Cathedral, the Rialto Bridge and Doge’s Palace.  We go right to the top of the Campanile Tower and look across the islands.

One of the best things we do is take a gondola ride, which allows us to see Venice in the best possible way.  Willy even has a go at being a gondolier.

Willy, Rudi, Upsi & Uti spend another fabulous few days under the Italian sun.  Italy won the World Cup this year so everyone is even more buoyant.  Willy and Rudi pose with the Cup (in their own ways!).

Rudi has many reasons for liking Italy – not just the fabulous weather and fine food.

Whilst there, we rescue a gorilla called Tumba from a shop where he was being made to wear shoes that were too heavy for him, resulting in a badly torn foot.  One quick operation later and he is back on his feet, enjoying life with his new friends.

There is nothing quite as sweet for a monkey as a little banana. They are called bananitos. Yummy!

Extra special fun in the pool this time because we took Olly, our special octopus lilo.

Plus, we get banana splits and doughnuts.

The Monkeys travel to Dublin in Ireland.  We visit Kilmainham gaol and promptly try to escape by climbing through holes and up walls.

After meeting Molly Malone, we enjoy Ireland’s best known beverage, Guinness, before heading off to Dublin Zoo. Willy loves seeing all the animals. Rudi and Uti meet close cousins.

Rudi is his usual naughty self.

On our last day, we take a boat tour on the Liffey, the river that runs through Dublin, and see the sights before one last slap up meal. The food in Ireland is delicious!

The Travelling Monkeys travel to Orlando, Florida, USA.  There, we visit some of Florida’s best loved amusement parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure, Seaworld and Kennedy Space Center.  It is fantastic to see all the wildlife at Animal Kingdom.

We have fun watching the spectacular shows, meeting lots of colourful characters and enjoying the thrills of the rides.

We are even lucky enough to spend a day at Discovery Cove and meet some of the animals backstage including a cheeky anteater named Willow.  We have an experience that is unforgettable as we spend time with dolphins.  See more for yourself at www.discoverycove.com

Willy visits the Monkey Forest at Trentham in Staffordshire to see the Barbary macaques up close.  These are a group of about 140 monkeys living in total freedom. Check out their website: www.trentham-monkey-forest.com

It is here that Willy first meets Rudi the orangutan. Rudi is sitting surrounded by truffles on a high shelf behind the counter in a little shop.  When he sees Willy, he pushes the teddy bear sitting next to him off the shelf to draw attention.  He starts how he means to go on.

Willy travels to Italy again, this time with Uti, who ventures underwater in his special waterproof container.  Then… pizza!

Willy and Uti take a trip to the capital to do some Christmas shopping.