AMAZING AMALFI

We have done the Great Ocean Road and the Cinque Terra but the drive along the Amalfi coast is something else again! Not only do you get an amazing snake like drive at dizzy heights but you get some stunning towns along the way - the three we visited today were; firstly Positano, possibly the most famous of all, secondly Amalfi, a world heritage site and lastly a slow climb up to Ravello, famous for it's music and arts community. The pictures tell the story.

Positano from on high

The beach in Positano

The Cathedral in Amalfi

Stunning inside - here's the crypt

Mosaic tiled church along the way

Ravello heights!

Rufolo gardens in Ravello

An amazing day, fantastic sights and home exhilarated but tired. Dinner in with a tasty spaghetti a la Anne washed down with another fine Chianti!

ARRIVEDERCI ROMA

What a day! We started out full of confidence, train tickets in hand and the expectation of a 1st class rail service to Naples and on to Sorrento. Well, the first bit was OK - a slight delay at the Rome station validating our Eurail tickets, some confusion over platforms and a rude shock when an apparently helpful station attendant turned out to be a 1st class hustler, oh well you learn fast!

A happy camper

The trip went well, comfortable seats, and a rapidly passing countryside with a complimentary drink (soft)! On arrival in Napoli we had to de train and get a ticket and catch a local train to Sorrento. God! Much confusion with the ticket purchase - long queues, a different platform area, but the ticket cost should have been a warning of what was to come! For 4 euros we couldn't possibly have expected much, and guess what, we didn't get much! The train was similar to those you see rotting in the back blocks of Redfern - graffiti adorned rust buckets, talk about cattle class!!

Cattle class!!

35 suburban stations, no seats for 1/2 the trip, and a serious lack of airconditioning and personal hygiene around us. It seemed to take forever, but some time later we rattled into beautiful Sorrento. The only highlight being the awesome might of Mt Vesuvius in the distance.

Mt Vesuvius

Were we glad to get to Sorrento or what? A rattle through the towns cobble stoned streets with our luggage in tow to our apartment and a well deserved beer and lunch. The apartment is great, a loft bedroom and living area below right in the middle of town and handy to the harbour front, even if it's some distance below us. 

Sorrento harbour

We're planning our tours from here, Capri, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello over the next four days. Oh, and there's some washing to be done too!

LEAVING ROME IN RUINS

There are just so many ruins you can do in 2 days! It took a little while to get into the groove but we have seen everything and worn out our shoes and what was in them! We spent the afternoon at the Colosseum and the nearby Roman Forum ruins.

Inside the Colosseum

The Colosseum

The temple of Vespasian (L) and Castor and Pollux erected in 44 AD

A well deserved beer and wine and dinner on the way home. Two terrific pastas then a refreshing icecream in front of the Trevi fountain before we found solace in our hotel room.


Up early and off on our first train journey to Sorrento via Naples. 

STILL ROMAN

I was a bit apprehensive of Rome, we heard so many awful stories of muggings, aggressive "touting" etc. However, though extremely busy, it doesn't seem any more scary than any other very large city. I have been to many of the world's cities, but Rome is something else again. I can't quite get over the fact that wherever, and I mean wherever, you look - there is something mindboggling to look at - poor Rog (who has been here before) - I think he wants to put me on a leash, I keep stopping and looking. It is all so beautiful and OLD. It is also, one must say, a bit dirty and chaotic! I think also, that we have been extremely lucky in our hotels situation - it makes such a difference when you are so close to a lot of the things you want to see.


Will post some of the pics Rog took last night:

Spanish steps

Trevi fountain

This morning we caught a bus over to the Vatican City and saw all that there is to see at this amazing site. 

St Peter's

Half way up ... 200 steps to go!

Closer to God?

Michelangelo's Pieta

Castel Sant'Angelo

Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take any photos in the Sistine Chapel.


Just resting our sore feet before we walk out to see the Colosseum later this afternoon - we're loving the European very long days - it is still quite light at 9pm, so a nice rest in the heat of the afternoon, and a later sortie, followed by a drink and dinner seems to suit us perfectly.


One other quick observation I have about this trip so far - Europeans who come to Australia must look around and wonder where everyone EATS! Istanbul, Athens, Dubrovnik and now Rome - there are cafes, ice-cream (yummy) parlours, restaurants, and food stalls EVERYWHERE - you simply cannot go hungry!

ROAM'N IN ROME

We had our last night in Dubrovnik last night, with a beautiful dinner looking back at the old town very near the spot of Anne's painting. We were both sad to say goodbye to a town and country that we absolutely loved.

Dinner

Bon nuit

Up early and a farewell to some great friends on our boat - we had lots of laughs! Ilija picked us up with our other bag and drove us to the airport... and then we were off to Rome. Uneventfull trip but landed to what we imagine is a pretty typical Italian bustle at the airport. Anyway, some time wasted but finally in our hotel situated right in the heart of town. Couldn't wait to start our explorations - everything seemed to be so close and just incredible that we are actually here, in ROME! Some pics to get you started. 

Monument for Victor Emanuele II

Marcus Aurelius

Piazza Navona

Trajan's column

We walked too far in very hot weather, so came back and rested, watching the Diamond Jubilee in London. Now our feet have recovered, we are walking to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps, then to have some Roman refreshments.

CROTIA COMPLETED

Our last sunset in Croatia

  

We’re back in Dubrovnik, cruise completed and very happy with all aspects of the trip. Some great places visited, some better than others but on the whole very enjoyable. The cruise was good, great cabin, plenty of food and a very happy and congenial lot aboard.

The end of cruising!

Dubrovnik harbour

We head to Rome tomorrow with some trepidation, there have been many stories of pickpocketing and theft, so we will be “on guard”. We stay on board tonight and get picked up at 7.00am for our Croatian Airlines flight to Rome. We were impressed with the flight here from Athens so we are expecting another tomorrow.

That’s it from here, another memorable chapter in this ongoing saga!

SLEEPY SIPAN

Sadly our cruise is almost over. We have visited some amazing islands and had perfect sunny weather throughout. One late afternoon thunderstorm didn't worry our schedule. We had another pleasant sail today, through islands closer to Dubrovik and are now in Sipan, a very small port with little to recommend it other than its fading glory and what seems to be an attempt to get it "restorated".
(A term we continue to laugh at as our wonderful guide in Turkey managed to master (?) english).


Last nights dinner was fun, our english mates - Barbara and Richard asked us to join them and we laughed through a very memorable meal. Great food, including a black (squid ink) risotto, prawns and a young goat cheese salad.

Sunset as we ate

Sipan harbour today

The names here in Croatia all have some form of "squiggle" over them, impossible to replicate on our computer... but it looks so much more romantic!

Tomorrow we head back to Dubrovnik, a day there and off early Sat to Rome and more adventure.