Well, here it is…our last full day in Italy. It is shocking how quickly the time has passed, but isn’t that the lesson of our lives – cherish each and every minute, hour and day because they are fleeting and pass without warning?

Katrina is taking a final italian siesta but I’m pretty sure I speak for her as well when I say that I want to thank our families and friends for the huge support over these last few months. We couldn’t have done it without you and this trip’s success is in large part due to the great support you all have given. I have tried to post regularly so that all of you could participate vicariously in our adventures. From the bottom of my heart I can say “Wish you were here!”

Katrina with the gals from one of our restaurants, and with a couple of old timers who hang out at the museum.

One last gathering before everyone began to go their separate ways at our fav coffee place, Caffe Mario. One euro for cappuccino!

And lastly, some final pictures from around Florence these last few days…

Ciao! see you all on the other side of the world!

Vikki and Katrina

Thursday, May 19th…go to the train station, meet at the usual place then board EuroStar for Rome at 5 pm!

Thursday evening…meet host Alfredo at the Roma Termini and commence seeing the splendors of Rome.

  Friday, May 20th…depart at 10 am for Vatican City to see the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica…bring patience and walking shoes!

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Climb to the top of St. Peter’s while trying NOT to feel claustrophobic!

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The first day we arrived at the train station in northern Venice and headed to Lido, a smaller island where we stayed. First impressions…

Lido:Island of peace and calm…

oh,  and beach…

Venice: city of canals, boats, antiquity and tourists…

Katrina and I spent three days in Corniglia, Cinque Terre this weekend. We lucked out with great weather despite gloomy forecasts, with only one brief spring shower.

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We stayed in a great little place run by Cristiana R. and her husband, pictured here. In addition to lodging, they run Pan e Vin, a sweet cafe serving delicious pastries and caffe.

Along an ancient corridor, then down steep worn stairs….

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The first day we hiked from Corniglia to Vernazza, explored the town to our heart’s content, and then did the hike from Vernazza to Monterosso. We were overly optimistic in our energy reserves when starting out on the second hike, with Katrina developing blisters and me with achy knees – but the sunlight was sublime and the countryside beyond description beautiful, so totally worthe the aches and pains!

We hope everyone enjoyed time with family to celebrate Easter, or just to celebrate being together. We’ve added to the Mt. Vesuvius post so please take a look at the new pictures of our crater adventure. Today, Monday the 25th, is known as Pasquetta and Liberation day here in Florence. We hopped aboard a local bus to the Tuscan Horticulture Society’s Plant and Flower sale where we enjoyed several hours of sunshine and gorgeous blossoms of every kind. We took lots of pictures and then did something we have been wanting to do since arriving in Italy. We got back on the bus and rode it as far as it went, which turns out was into the picturesque Tuscan suburbs of Florence with postcard views at every turn. It was the best 1.20 euro we have spent!

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On the last day of our Sorrento trip, Sunday April 16th , we awoke to a glorious sunrise. We checked out of our hotel at 7:45 am to were soon enroute to Pompeii.  .

We met our guide who quickly began to share the history and stories of that fateful day in 79 AD. First is the guide and Katrina and they are standing on raised stones that allowed citizens to stay out of the mud but were spaced so that chariot wheels could pass through. The middle picture is of Mt. Vesuvius rising about the ruins, and the right is the theater arena.

Pompeii was buried deep beneath volcanic ash which preserved much of the city. It is 75% excavated. Much of what has been uncovered is in museums, but the skeleton of the city remains. Below left is what remains of the Gladiator’s Barracks, then the Temple of Jove, and me standing in the Forum.

After the standard time to shop and eat lunch, we were on the road to Mt. Vesuvius. After a hair raising, gut wrenching drive up the mountain, we one again marveled at how the locals handle the overwhelming tourist traffic!

After a strenuous 25 minute walk from the parking lot, we reached the observation trail. Rather than take the tame, level, fenced trail, our guide had different ideas about the experience we should have and headed off up this goat trail. You will have to to look  closely to see the person disappearing over the left hand side of the rocks. The next two pictures show the outer edge of the crater, including the ridge that we climbed. It was steep, narrow and treacherous with loose rock underneath. The public would NEVER be allowed in such a dangerous area in the US. It was a sharp contrast in cultures. Our guide was not at all concerned about us and in fact seemed surprised when some of our group fell back out of fear and had to be reassured/bullied into continuing on, as retracing our steps was not an option.

Once we reached the highest point along the crater’s edge, we descended into the crater itself, steam vents and all.  It was warm and moist!

Then it was time to head down and rejoin the ‘regular’ tourist masses.

Italy is prepared to offer visitors ample lodging. I’d like to check out the “Bed and Lemons” place myself! Next, in order to set the tone for the roads on the Amalfi Coast, we must say a prayer for our safety. And finally, our adventure begins…

These are views above the town of Positano. It was cloudy and cool thus you see no one at the beach. I can picture it at the peak of summer season with a solid line of bodies baking in the sun. ahhhh….

The bus drivers turn on their GPS devices when on the winding roads. It pretty much says it all in regards to the curves ahead. The road passes through the heart of many small towns along the way. Many times it seemed impossible to pass!

Finally after about an hour of fantastic views and roiling stomachs, we arrived in the town of Amalfi. Buses pay 50 euro per hour for parking, so its critical to be back at the meeting place on time. The theme of the weekend, in addition to singing the praises of anti-motion sickness pills, was never enough time to explore.

The next day our travels took us to the island of Capri, pronounced CAP-ri. We took a ferry from Sorrento the Marina Grand on Capri, then boarded small buses to take us to the town of Anacapri, where we hopped on a chair lift to go to the uppermost point on the island. After was a return to Capri town for lunch and shopping. Beautiful!

Truly a beautiful place, right! And amazing what a little sunshine does to the colors. That’s all for now. Next, we travel to Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius.

Ciao!

When staying in an italian hotel, upon entering your room – place your key card into the slot on the wall. Otherwise you will not have electricity in the room! What a green concept! However – it led to much laughter before we called down to reception to learn this. We were pushing buttons all over the room but nothing happened. Whew…

Ive been busy posting pictures which is  a time consuming project as internet is kind of slow. So I decided to just talk for awhile. We are packing for the weekend in Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. Three nights and four days with roughly 40 student and staff from the study abroad program. We will have tours by local guides to the island of Capri as well as Mt. Vesuvious and Pompeii.The weather forecast is iffy which is a bummer since it has been warm and sunny everyday since we arrived except one! We thought the run of good weather might be a fluke as we had heard about all the rain right before our arrival, but were told once spring starts it can go months with only a few days rain.

It is week three of our adventure and time is starting to pass quickly. Cultural differences that were glaring the first week are now the norm. Here are a few. Italian eateries are divided into: bars (coffee, not alchohol), sandwich shops, pizzerias, enotecas (wine bars), trattorias (informal family run restuarants), osteria (simple restaurants) and what we would call a regular restaurant. The cultural norm is to pay a fee to sit at a table, tavolo. This has been quite an adjustment in our thinking to accept the fee as a part of eating out. In all but the “traditional” restuarants,  fee free standing-at-the-bar service is offered. In fact, most italians have their morning caffe and croissant standing around the coffee bar. While the dining experience is stereotyped to be long extravagant affairs, morning and lunch time are in and out affairs. True to stereotypes- dinner out is an extended affair of taking one’s time, that starts quite late by American standards, beginning around 9 pm. It is not unusual to see italians enjoying their meal around 11 or midnight.

Wait! I have not included gelattorias and pastry shops. Food comes in all shapes and sizes here!

In addition to the table charge, the tip is sometimes included in the total, or in the price of the food. In any case, tipping as we know it in the US is not done.

Another hard to adjust to lesson is that one is never served water for free! One must pay for either normal bottled water or fizzy bottled water. It is a rare establishment that will bring you a glass of tap water. I ask, as I was advised to go ahead and try, and in three weeks only one place complied.

Time to head for the train station!

Ciao!

Vikki