Our European Holiday - Italy

Day 14 - Roma
Today started off well, we stuck to a strict timetable. Te bus to the airport took a little longer (2 extra stops than anticipated). But when we got to the departure lounge, Quantas was nowhere to be found. Even after looking at the itinerary and finding we were flying with AirOne we wasted prescious minutes looking for the check-in counter. Once there we would the flight was actually for 8:25 am (about to close) and we weren't even on the list!!! After checking in our 2 bags (count them 1, 2) we had to wait in a queue for the security check before boarding, surprisingly we were not the last customers to board! In turin we were supposed to pick up our 2 bags and check them in for the flight onto Rome but only 1 made it to Turin (the other was still in Paris and not due in now until 9pm). We lodged our claim with lost baggage (will drop it over to our motel in Rome) and went on and actally were put on a delayed but earlier flight. The Security check in Turin was mad. Big lines, only 2 points working and a lot of irritated Italians. Very uncomfortable and nerve racking. We finally made it through (in the wrong queue, we were told) and on to Roma. In Roma, no worries, 1 false start then transfer via car to the motel (it was an uncomfortable drive, the silence was defening). We checked in but after a beer and an expresso we were escorted by Fabio (very friendly gentleman at the front desk) to the Motel next door (repairs at the first motel, Principe Di Piemonte, meant there was not a room available for us). After settling in we went for a walk around the neighbourhood (scary part, had some pizza then good part, had some pizza). Back for a rest (Matt slept, Chris wrote), shower, tea (local restaurant - very good) telly and then sleep.

Day 15 - Roma
We got up around 8:30am. Showered, dressed and moved back to the first Motel - Principe Di Piemonte. We bought tickets for a local Hop-on-hop-off bus and headed off to the train station to join it. It was a little hard to find so we missed the 10am bus we were aiming for and had to wait for the 11am. We were trying to see some sites and make it over to the vatican museum before it closed at 12:20. By the time we made it thee the Vatican city was so busy the queue for the museum was a block long. We decided to come back early Monday. So we weht for a wander around had some pizza for lunch while soaking up some sun. We joined the queue to see the Cystine chapel but again it was very long so we joined the queue to vist the tombs of the popes instead. It was very eerie, we paid our respects, saw John Paul II's tomb and went to catch the bus. We bought some postcards (20 for 2 Euro - very good). We caught the bus to finish off our tour and get back to the Motel in time to watch Australia beat Italy in the Rugby. After a bit more telly, a bottle of wine we showered and headed off for tea in a local ristorante "Il Padellaccio 2". A slow start (we were fairly early - 7:10pm) but after a pizza each, another half a bottle of wine and a few more patrons arriving it was a good atmosphere and good food. With a seafood risotto and an expresso for chris we were done. The owner bid us well and that we would come back tomorrow as we headed back to the motel for a Whisky (Matt) some telly and then sleep.

Day 16 - Roma
Raining today so we had a good sleep in. After getting up Matt went down to see if our other suitcase had arrived, yay it had! We got dressed and headed to the train station for some brunch. We wantered around the shops there for a bit and then back to pick up the iPod and train pass before going back to the train station again to sort out our trip to Florence tomorrow. It took us a while to figure out so we are glad we checked it all out today. After that we went to the internet point for an hour to book some accomodation, check World Cup Challenge, lookup some addresses and postcodes, update our blog etc. Chris wrote some post cards while there then went next door to a bar (La Divina Pub) for a couple of expressos for chris, a few pints for Matt and watched some italian soccer, quite good. Chris wrote a few more post cards and then back to the motel to freshen up before tea in the restaurant of the pub at 7:30pm. Had a lovely meal, at way too much then back to the room to pack and a good nights sleep.

Day 17 - Firenze
Up early for Breakfast, checkout and then back to Vatican City to try and see the Cystine Chapel. We caught the tram but went the wrong way! Almost an hour later we had made it but the queue by then was twice as long as it was on Saturday!!! Very disappointing. We joined the queue to see inside the church at least. We didn't have time to get back and then over to see the coluseum so we headed back to the motel, collected our bags and then off to the train station to catch our train to Firenze (Florence). Matt did suduko puzzles while Chris read and occassionally looked up to take in the Tuscan landscape. Once we had arrived in Firenze we headed for the Motel to check in and freshen up. Once we had settled in (One of our bags had blown out a wheel) we set off for a stroll around the local area and square. Both Matt and I agreed that Firenze was the nicest Italian, if not THE nicest city we had visited so far. A little smaller, cleaner, lovely shops and wonderful atmosphere. We went to the restaurant recommended by the Motel Reception (Matt and I nicknamed it the Two Brothers as it was run by two brothers). We had a lovely meal, a lovely bottle of wine and a lovely chat with an Australian family next to us - all good.

Day 18 - Firenze
Today we were on the ball, we got up at a good time (around 7am) got our act together and headed down for some brekkie and then off to the Academia of Art to see Michealangelo's David. Magnificant (although Matt was surprised by David's small package). On the way in we had a lovely chat to an American couple from Maddison County. After we had our fill of Italian Art we decided to take a trip to Pisa to see the leaning tower of Pisa. Once there we stopped at a seedy little cafe for lunch then over to the tower and associated church, intreging. We did a little souvenir shopping and then back to Firenze for an afternoon nap. On the way back to the motel we bought another (huge) suitecase to replace the one with the busted wheel. After our nap we freshened up, had some wine and then off to the square (didn't want to stray too far, bit tippsy). The meal was the most disappointing but the ice-cream cone afterwards more than made u for it. Back to the motel for a good nigh's sleep.

Day 19 - Venezia
We got up, had some brekkie, checked out and headed down to do the washing. After our washing was done we jumpled on the train and headed for Venice (Eurostar (quicker than regionale) this time). The trip was good, listened to the iPods, read, suduko, slept. Once in Venice we lugged our heavy, clumsy bags up and over the bridge to the other side of the grand canal. After checking in we went for a wander around to find a place for tea and an internet cafe (Chris also found somewhere for buying Christmas decorations and postcards). We grabbed a bottle of wine and headed back to the room for a freshen up and a drink before tea. We headed in the opposite direction to the most expensive internet cafe yet (we think it was the only one in Venice) and then off to Tea, Gnocchi and Lasgne, then back to the motel to bed. We had a room over the canal, great views but quite noisy.

Day 20 - Venezia
We got up, dressed and went down for brekkie. We caught the ferry down to the Rialto Bridge (first bridge built over the Grand Canal) and wandered around the markets nearby. Fresh fish (some still moving!), fruit & veg, souvenirs' wonderful. We then caught the ferry over to Saint Marco's square. The square was huge, we wandered around, Matt bought some birdseed and was mauled by the pigeons (flying rats - mad!!). We wandered up along the peir a fair way then came back (buying souvenirs on the way) for some lunch and the ferry back to the Motel. We went back to the room, ducked out quickly to buy some post cards and Christmas decorations and noticed that it was starting to spit, ruining our plan to go for a Gondola ride tonight. Back to the room to finish off our wine. We then decided to go down stairs for some pre-dinner drinks and ended up staying for tea in the Casonova Restaurant. Delicious! A wonderful meal! Breschetta, followed by Tagelette with back and veggies for Chris, Steak with red wine sauce and veggies for Matt. For dessert fruit tart and crème caramel! The best meal yet. After that we had a few more drinks and then off to bed.

Day 21 - Roma
Chris didn't have a very good nigh sleep, too awake, too noisy. We got up early, had brekkie and headed for the Rialto in search of a Gondole ride. The ones near the Motel didn't start until 10am (but the train back to Roma was leaving at 10:25am). The Gondoliers at the Rialto started at 9am and we were one of the first cabs of the rank - wonderful. The Gondolier gave us a brief history of Venice (112 islands, ~147 churches - 1 Greek Orthodox, 3 Synagogs and the rest Catholic). We went past Marco Polo's and Cassonova's Palaces, the tax office, jail and royal post. A wonderful 30 mins going under the oldest (Rialto) and lowest bridges in Venice in canals ranging in depth from 1-3m (side alleys), 5-7 (in the Grand Canal, where we were yesterday at St Marco square is the deepest, 23-25m). After our ride we caught the ferry back to the Motel, checked out, lugged our enormous bags over the Grand Canal to the Train Station and jumped on the Eurostar train to Roma.
The Train trip was very interesting, chatting (mostly Matt) with people arould us (Luigi, sitting next to Matt and Mario sitting nect to Chris and a few others across the aisle) about our travels, food, fishing, soccer, Pope Benedict - anything and everything really. Once in Roma we did the long haul back to our Motel, the new bag buckled under the pressure. After we finally made it, we checked in, had a beer and decided to leave the colosseum uintil tomorrow.
After our beers we freshened up and went out to do some recon on where EXACTLY we should catch the tram in the right direction tomorrow morning. We were glad we did, it took us a while. We then went to the Crazy Sheep again for tea (good but not as good as last time), then back for sleep, early day tomorrow.

Day 22 - Roma
We got up early (6:30am) to catch the tram to the Vatican Museum. The tabacoo shop to buy the tickets from was still closed and we didn't have the right change for the on board ticket so God forgive us, we travelled without a ticket. We were in the queue for the Vatican Museum by 7:30am for the 9am opening (No way we were going to miss seeing the sistine chapel again!).While waiting, we had brekkie (Ham, cheese baggetts and a cofee for Chris). Chris wrote in our travel diary while Matt read our Italian phrase book and abused a couple of french guys that were trying to push in. Once inside (the french guys managed to push in a few couples behind us and after coping some more abuse from the English couple behind us) we headed straight for our No. 1 priority (rushing past 2 other wings of art work and religious objects), the Sistine Chapel. Beautiful!. We went a little slower through the following exhibitions (not allowed to double back and start at the beginning, wish we knew that first) and then went around again to see the things we had rushed past at the beginning. The number of people going through at that point was 10 fold! Wall to wall with tour groups, tourists and security guards! After that we caught a bus over the the Colosseum and associated ruins - amazing!! Not quite as may people thank goodness. From there we caught a Taxi bac to the Motel, picked up our bags and then off to the station for lunch and the train to Naples. On arrival in Naples we headed of the station and around the square (a local(?) having a coffee in a cafe we walked past helped by pointed us in the right direction) to our Motel. The wheels of the new bag finally gave out, Matt had to drag it Wheeless half the way there. The fresh decor of the motel and spacious room was a welcomed sight. After freshening up we headed up to the Restaurant/Bar for a drink on the roof - wonderful views. After booking our tour to Pompeii and Vesuvious for tomorrow we had tea. Delicious, the best yet!! Seafood rissotto, pasta, lamb shops and swordfish.

Day 23 - Napoli
Up early again (6:30am). Dressed and off to brekkie by 7am - good. Quick walk around the local area and then waited for your tour to start. After picking up a few more people, listening to 4 yanks having to get up early, catching a taxi to the bus and then being taken around to all the motels (including theirs!) we headed for Pompeii. Awesome!! Hard to believe. We then had lunch (Pasta marina, calamari, prawns & salad and ice cream - nice). We then went on to Mt Vesuvius. Walking 300m to the peak (very hard work, tiring). A guide gave us some info - last eruption was in 1944, the mountain was 1800m higher at that stage, the magma chamber was 9km below the point where we were standing, the current Mt along with it's neighbour made up only half of the mountain that destroyed Pompeii, currently 800 000 people lie in the Red zone and most likely the next eruption will be as violent as Pompeii (build up of dedbris and gas from the last explosion) which hopefully will not be for a long time to come. After our trek (as the clouds rolled in, it was quite cool on the peak after the initial climb), we heded back to the motel. We were amazed by the huge piles of rubbish in the streets on the way back - it was unbelievable. Once back at the motel we had a bath, freshened up and then went in search of a meal. This was quite difficult since it was a Sunday and we didn't know the area very well (plus you really didn't want to be walking around with so much rubbish in the streets and so many strange people wandering around). In the end we went to a restaurant (right next door to the one the receptionist suggested - didn't see it) in the same square as the motel, got a couple of pizzas and hurried back to the room for some tea, telly and sleep.

Day 24 - Napoli
Went down for Brekkie and then for a walk looking for a trolley to mount the broken suitecase on. After pricing them and discussing for a bit (while it pored down) we decided not to bother. We did however by an umbrella. Went back to the room and waited for the rail to stop (very frustrating). Once the rain had stopped we ha trouble deciding what to do so we ended up going for a walk to the Marina and Port. On the way back (with quite a few hours left in the day) we decided we might as well go the the Amalfi Coast. We discovered however that you could only get there by train and it would be a 3hr round trip for probably only an hour or so looking around (probably in the dark). So we headed back to the motel bored and frustrated. We ended up playing cards until tea time. We had a fantastic meal again. After eating way too much (again) we headed back to pack and get some sleep.

Day 25 - Catania
Up early for our flight to Catania. As of today we are back on itinerary. The flight was fairly non-eventful. When we arrived in Catania it was a lot cooler. We caught a taxi to the Motel and then headed off to explore. Chris was feeling a little jet lagged (for some reason - probably lack of sleep). We walked from the Motel down the main drag, through the Berlini gardens to get some brekkie at Macca's (wasn't quite open when we got there so Chris had a coffee while we waited). After brekkie we headed on to the the town's main square. We walked around for a bit, taking photos and then caught one of those motorised tourist trains that took us for a tour around the city. We then looked into going up to Mt Etna tomorrow but there was only one bus up and one bus back which wouldn't get back in time for our flight. We tried to get onto a tour also but had no luck at such short notice. We went to the Motel's Restaurant. It was very much aimed at Businessman and the first waiter that tried to serve us brushed us because he couldn't speak English and we couldn't speak Italian. We tried but he just didn't understand our questions. The meal was lovely enough, just a touch uncomfortable after our run in with the waiter and being the only couple in the room.

Day 26 - Catania
Today was a pretty miserable day. We were woken up a number of times during the night and early morning from the heat and mossies (the size of Elephants). The weather was not that great either. We went for a walk back down the main drag did a bit of window shopping. Matt really didn't want to do anything since it was raining and Chris really didn't want to waste the day. So we grabbed our umbrella and raincoat and headed towards the coast for a walk. We stopped and had an ice cream while the rain stared again and then headed back to the Motel.