Jun 25, 2012 - Rome - Michelangelo

The first time I was in Rome was about thirty years ago. I was appalled by St Peter's - all that ostentatious wealth and the aggressive way it asserted its power. I was a narrow minded young man, a bit puritanical in some ways, though I would have been appalled if anyone had said so. I was delighted by Michelangelo's Pieta, though - it was like a quiet little joke - such delicacy, restraint and human sympathy amid all that crass and brutal show, as I saw it then (but not now - oh, no). In those days it was just along the side, with other...

Jun 24, 2012 - Rome, Italy and the Pantheon

I left the hotel at 10:30am and returned at 5:30pm. Located (walked) to the Piazza Novana, St. Ignatius Church (where St. Christopher is buried), and the Pantheon today. Found hair gel, sunscreen (not easy in Italian), and bought Truffle paste and little round cracker things. Had another Italian pizza for lunch (peperoni means sweet peppers not Pepperoni the meat). They gave me two discount tickets for happy hour so rested my feet on the return trip by ordering two Mojitos. The Pantheon is (ANOTHER) one of the most famous buildings in Rome...

Jun 23, 2012 - Rome, Again, Visiting the Vatican

My current lodging is very different from what I'm used to and I had a real bad solo traveler's moment yesterday when I checked in. I had been staying at a nice hotel on the other end of Rome before my tour. Wanted someplace closer to the Vatican for this last part, so moved to the Hotel Florida. Wow. Must be a minus 2 star place. Have to take an antique elevator to the top. Had to get help to unlock the door to the third floor hall before unlocking my room. The hallway is dark. The safe didn't work. Couldn't find my way out to the street...

Jun 22, 2012 - Rome

7.45am brekkie. Off on our Vatican tour (more walking) First step was to catch the bus to St Peters. First problem was the transport strike. Mussolini would not have put up with it but we had to. We got lucky as there were a few busses running before the strike kicked in. We were able to get to the Vatican. St Peters square is huge and is surrounded by massive buildings fronted by the incredible St Peters basilica. We walked the perimeter of the Vatican till we found where our tour started outside the Vatican museum. They lost me (Norm)...

Jun 21, 2012 - Rome

8am breakfast in room. 8.45am meet Kathy and Brian to walk to the Colosseum for our 3 hour walking tour. Loved the Colosseum. Such an interesting place. Lots of people and animals killed there. Our guide was very knowledgeable. After our tour we walked to the Trevi Fountain and threw in 3 coins then walked back to our hotel. It is 32 degrees. we had to stop for an icecream to have a break. all this walking sure is tiring. Peeled our clothes off and jumped in the shower. then I had to wash out our clothes. will get Norm to check this before...

Jun 21, 2012 - Italy - Rome

12th June - 14th June 2012 – (Bed 46) We really haven’t mentioned many of our hotel stays in our blog, but the place in Rome was very special. We stayed in a hotel that was run by nuns. Yes, nun’s! It was a very peaceful and serine place surrounded by gardens and nuns wondering the paths (on their mobile phones or knitting). They could barely speak English but we managed to strike up a conversation each day. They could not do enough for us and were so pleased that Australians were staying with them. Rome is one of those places where we had...

Jun 20, 2012 - Roma. 20/6/12

Hello again everyone, Just arrived in Rome. I drove. I drove through the middle of Rome. And I lived..........just. Finding the hotel was slow, scary but we got there. Then you have to find a car park. You don't. We've parked the car on the other side of the metro rail station......somewhere. We will go and try and find it later. Winding down in the hotel Marc Antonio. Fifth floor. Dodgy as hell. The lift is from the 1900s. You can see all the workings and you can get 2 people in it. But the hotel has all the amenities. Bed, toilet,...

Jun 19, 2012 - Rome - Pisa - Lucca Montecatini Terme

Bye Rome. 4 hour drive today. A lot of countryside and vineyards and farmland. We stopped in Pisa where we went inside this big wall and saw Pisa’s Cathedral square which consisted of the Leaning Tower, Baptistery, Cathedral, and Camposanto. Took some pictures where I am holding up the tower with my finger and hand. This was another extremely hot hot day. We ducked in the shade whenever we could. Then we headed to the quaint little town of Lucca. Lucca is a small little city where most of the transportation is by bicycle. Only a few cars...

Jun 18, 2012 - Toulouse to Italy

9th May 2012: Wednesday Wayne & Kev do the usual shopping trip to stock the cupboards and I keep the washing going. My headache is much better today. Nadine joins us for a long lunch at 1:30 pm. The weather is fine so Wayne & I take a walk along the canal and are fortunate enough to see a couple negotiate their way through the lock. This takes over 30 minutes as the water levels fill to allow the boat to proceed to the next section of the canal. Dinner is a self serve affair as we are all still feeling the effects of our long lunch. 10th...

Jun 18, 2012 - Rome - The Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel

The paintings, sculptures, and tapestry at the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel were absolutely incredible and beautiful. It was very hot again today too. Went from one building to the next. Then we went into the St. Peters Basilica. So much beauty in there. You could not tell by liking, but the letters towards the top were 7 feet tall, the ledge at the top could hold a city bus, and the domes in the center were 4 stories high. Incredible. At noon we attended a mass in Italian and we sang 4 songs. It was kind of weird knowing the mass...

Jun 17, 2012 - Rome - Coliseum

Streets here are very, very narrow. Today on the way to the Coliseum, the bus could not get through a skinny driveway. They can park their cars pretty much up to and past the curb, and I even saw cars on the curb. I even saw some areas where they double parked. So some of the workers from the hotel came and bounced and moved a parked car almost tight up against the fence. Then the bus could make it through. Most of the cars here are very small. I did not see Motorcycles in Rome like I did in Napoli. Gas stations in Rome are not on the...

Jun 17, 2012 - A Day at the Colosseum

Today was another very hot day in Rome. My advice is to try to avoid sightseeing on a Sunday in Rome. I had to wait in the hot sun for the 4the bus to take me to the Colosseum. To avoid the crowds (they see about 20,00 a day) pay the extra for a tour guide. They get to walk their groups right past the long lines. And I learned that the price includes tours of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. That was my big mistake yesterday. I guess they expect everyone to start at the Colosseum. I could move here just for the gelato. Still haven't...