Sorry this took so long to update, but here you go, at least a week to read…….
May 14 – Sunday – we got to sleep in a bit.
We didn’t have to have the bags out unitl 7:30, and the coach left at 8:30.
We went to Sienna for a bit of a walking tour, and more shopping. We wandered through to the town square, were they have the famous
horse races in July and August.
Big place, built on a slope. Another church, but we didn’t go in. Wandered the square,
then had a sandwich and more ice cream, and of course used the toilet – it is free.
Back on the coach and out of the city before 12:30 when they
block off all the streets because of some big soccer match, and on to Rome.
The road into Rome is lined with street walkers. When we were passing one, she flipped her skirt up for the guys on the coach – no panties.
We got to our hotel around 16:00. Time for a short siesta and then out for supper – somewhere. Montgrovia Resturant.
Another Italian meal, 4 courses – no cheese course this time. we sat with Ossi and Olga. I got a kiss from the waiter, and he pinched
my bum, and I pinched him back later. We were serenaded by a guy playing a flute, and a guitar player. They were really good.
All the ladies got white roses. On the coach and a tour of the city lights, not as grand as Paris, because none of the buildings in Rome
can be higher than St. Peters. We stopped to through coins in the Trevi Fountain.
Back to the hotel and more washing.
May 15 – Monday – Big day ahead of us
We are up early, and out the door by 07:15, and in line a the Vatican by 07:45 and in the door at 08:15. In the short line for groups, only about 1000 people ahead of us.
I wonder what time they got up. We were pushed through the Vatican Museum in military style, I have never seen this many people in one spot
in all my life, you really couldn’t move without touching someone else.
We didn’t really enjoy the tour through the museum or the Sistine
Chapel, because of the people, and we had to keep moving.
You couldn’t see anything lower than about 5 ft from the floor because of the people.
But I suppose in this chapel. it’s really the ceiling you want to see.
We finally had some room in St. Peters – now that is a big place. The biggest free standing building in the world. There were about 1000
people inside, but the place is so large, they were insignificant.
Then out into the square.
I waved at the Pope’s window, it was open, but he didn’t appear, after I waved they closed the window ! We walked around the square a bit,
then off to get on the bus (we have a bus today), and on to the train station for something to eat, and drink – water I need water, and
a coke.
It is about 25 today, and no clouds. After eating and then finding a bathroom (free!) we are off to see the Forum and the Colosseum.
We walked over the old road where the chariots used to go, you could see the marks in the stone made by the wheels. Our guide Gino,
said you could tell that Rome was becoming decadent at that time, because of the decay.
Over to the Colosseum and up to the first level.
Wow that place was big. I tested out how good Nikon makes cameras, by tripping on the top step and bouncing it off really old stones.
We wandered around the place and listened to Gino describe the decline of the Roman Empire. He compared it to the Americans of now.
We all made like Romans, put out our hand, looked the driver in the eye, and walked out into traffic, and hoped no one would
hit us. The cars, and scooters are driving every which way, and it’s a wonder there aren’t accidents everywhere. Back to the hotel, with a
trip to the internet cafe around the corner to send an email or 2. Then up to the room, to do more washing, and get ready for an early
supper. When we came out of the hotel there were police every where, a helicopter over head. The stret was blocked off at either end.
I guess they had just elected an new President, so they were having the swearing in ceremony down the street and around the corner.
So we had to hoof it up the street to our bus, and make like Romans again, and cross wander across a circle clogged with traffic – we’
all servived.
Out to Papa Rex for supper. We were met at the door by a Roman Centurian. Another Italian meal. 4 courses, and coffee (taste like burnt rope).
Tonight we had Italian opera singer to serenade us while we ate. Vicki was happy, she got some good pasta.
Back to the hotel, and to bed early. We are up really early tomorow for our trip down to Pompeii.
May 16 – Tuesday – why should I pay 50 cents for the toilet, if there is no toilet paper ?
Up before the sunrise, and on the road by 5:45. 2 hours down to Napels. Stopped for a pee break and Brian bought us all tea and a toasted ham sandwich.
Then on to Pompeii. We had another pee break at the Victoria Hotel just before going into Pompeii. The hotel lets the tours use the hotel toilets, and charges .50 cents
for each person – no toilet paper. On to Pompeii. We met up with our local guide Sabrina, and onward into the ruins.
8 acres have been uncovered. We wandered the place for about 1.5 hr.
Then 10 minutes to go to the bathroom (for 50 cents), and get any junk from the from the many vendors. We got ice lemonaid – wow
very refreshing, and finally a cold drink. On to Napels and the fast boat to Capri. Once in Capri, we boarded a smaller craft, and went on the white tour
half way around the island. Saw a couple of grottos, but not the famous Blue Grotto.
Back on land we took the tram to the top, and once there we walked over to the
other side and could see where we were with the boat tour. Back over and down to sit on the pier and people watch.
Had an ice cream and coke each, and of course a free toilet – still no toilet paper (good thing we carry our own).
Then on the fast boat and back to Napels, and onward back to the hotel in Rome.
Went out for a real roman meal with Dennis after we got back. To McDonalds,
then back to the hotel and rest.
May 17 – Wednesday – ya – we get to sleep in.
Down for breakfast about 8, and then over to see if the internet cafe was open yet – nope. Back to the room to pack up and get ready to leave for Assi.
We took our lives in our own hands once again, and crossed the busy street – we would never do that back home, because we would be dead.
And we are on the coach and leaving before 10:00. We stopped for a break about 11, then off through Umbria. The country side
is so green, and the cultivated fields are small, but numerous. The houses look small and many of the towns are built on hills, because in the
past it was protection against their neighbors. They have even planted olive trees on the steep slopes, actually where ever they could get to,
they planted. This part of Italy is covered with trees and bushes, and they are all in bloom. Everything is so green.
We stopped at Spoleto for a wander, Brians says he has never been here before. We got maps from the tourist center, and everyone wandered off
on their own to find what they could.
We took off for about 2 hrs, wandering the back streets, and lo and behold we found, a church or two.
One was under restoration and closed and one was closed for lunch, so we found an ice cream shop that was open instead.
We needed it. Back to the coach and on the road again to Assi.
In Assi, we stopped at the the lower part to visit the lower church that was built around and over top of the original church that St. Francis
used. Another church and more prayers for everyone. We saw the rose bush that lost it’s thorns and the statue of St. Francis that always has
doves on or around him. There was a dove sitting on his hands.
Back in the coach and up the hill to our hotel. We had to walk the last bit,
because they don’t allow coachs up the road. After walking up and around the corner – no wonder, the streets are only a car width wide.
Another cobble stone street, into the hotel, and I crossed my fingers for a good room. So far our rooms have overlooked either the back
alley or the unused inner court yard full of rubbish. Our room is fantastic. Small, traditional, the toilet tank is high up the wall.
The room is just a bit bigger than 2 single beds and a dresser, but the view – we have a balcony big enough for a table and chairs, overlooking
the plain below. Brian was saying on the trip up, that the view was great, but WOW! it is fantastic.
And sure enough everybody runs to their windows
and opens them to see who is where, so we are all talking out our windows at one another. Then off we go for a tour of the churchs up here.
There is an upper and a lower church. 2 more churches and 2 more prayers We went with a local guide, and wore headsets again.
Bunch of bloody tourists (not us) were there making
a lot of noise, and the Fransiscan monks kept telling them to be quiet. Luckily we are travellers, not tourists. We are only noisy when we
are all together out eating and drinking. Like tonight. We had dinner at the hotel, and then sat around for 3 hours drinking and talking. Some
were watching a “football” game. Barcelona and Arsenal – whoever they are – wasn’t the oilers, so I didn’t pay any attention.
There is another Insight tour group here, and they are mostly from the states, and they are grumbling about the hotel – saying the beds are too
small, and lumpy, and the rooms are crap – well this isn’t home, so get use to it. Our group think this is the best hotel so far.
There is so much character here, the hotel people are friendly, the view is the best I have seen so far.
May 18 – Thursday – one day runs into the other – where am I – what day is it – how did I get here – when do I leave and why am I leaving
up around 6:30 and out on the balcony to look at the view and download photos – man o man, why are we leaving here so soon?
This was the best hotel yet – as said before view is magnificant – sitting on the terrace in the early morning light – the birds flying
all over the place, and the sun just coming up on the horizon. Of course the drink of champions – coke. I look up all innocent and
ask Vicki, “I wonder the poor prople ar doing today?” O well off to breakfast, not the best, but o well.
We took and apple and a pear, we had to hide it or we would have had to put it back – no one stopped us – signed out and walked out to the
coach about 8:55
Well I now know why we are leaving so soon.
About a quarter of the people now have the european two trot. Some say it started around 3 this morning.
I don’t feel the effects – yet!. It must have been the meal last night. Sonjia is in a bad way – probably the worst of any of us, but she
can still joke. We took some precautions jsut in case. Made an early stop because of the problem. Sonjia first off the coach and running.
Then off again – then off again – luckily we are going the right way becasue the traffice on the other side adn the other road,
are backed up for miles. People were even using the loo on the coach, until Nicki said the water wasn’t working, this is not the’
day for that to happen. We are falling one at a time, Pam is down and now David is down. Everybosy was just settling down,
when as we were passing a truck, the truck decided to pass another truck ans moved over into us. Bernard’s fast reaction –
slammed on the brake – laid on the horn – and moved over as far as he could, which wasn’t far. There must have been about 1 inch between
us and the truck, and our side. Sonjia who is the sickest said that she almost S**T herself – even the ones that weren’t sick almost
did the same. We fianlly came to a resturant stop, and guess what – ABC – another bloody church (Aussis say that not me)
– Basilica Di S. Apollmare in Classe near Ravenna, another little Italian town.
It cost us 2E to see more scaffolding. Sonjia was the first off the coach and to the bathroom, she can’t have much left in her.
Then after we wandered into the church, I didn’t stay very long, because I had to beat a fast path to
the resturant. Ice cream, and a sit down in the shade for about a half an hour, and I feel much better. Back on the coach and away we go.
One quick stop for the bathroom again in about an hour – I got some photos of the red poppies that are everywhere, and away we go again.
Got into Chioggia, a little town on the south side of the lagoon about 15:00. We turned onto the street the hotel said we should go, and
we are on the wharf – narrow with cars parked on the side – we made it to almost the end because of Bernard’s fantastic driving skills, only
to find that coach couldn’t turn the corner – so we had to get of and walk the rest of the way to the hotel. Looks good from the outside,
but when we got to the room, the lights wouldn’t work and there wasn’t any water. Down to the desk only to be told to go back up and someone
would be there in about 10 minutes, after about a half an hour, Vicki got tough with the card, and started the bang it around, and shoved it in
the socket and routed it around, and finally got the conection.
Then out and about – this is great, Brian says it is like what Venice was about 20 years ago. No tourists, just us travellers. Wandered the street
down to the grocery store to pick up some crackers and maybe some fruit. Walked across a bridge and back up the other side of the canal and across
a bridge back to the hotel. Time to wash clothes and get ready for supper – if anyone wants to eat.
Supper was very good, only 3 courses this time, and only 3 people missing.
We even got a salad to start, I thought everyone was going to hug the waiters when they brought
in the greens. Then Vicki go ther spagetti, and finally fries & thin slices of pork. And of course desert. No tea for the aussis, just very
small cups of coffee. Well after that we needed to take a walk. So we wandered the streets. All of the shops and most of the resturants,
except for a few small cafes were already closed. It’s only 9, so this is definetly not a tourist town. This is great.
May 19 – Friday – on boats today
Watched the sunrise over the lagoon, with the fishing boats going out.
Went for breakie, the ones that were sick yesterday are getting better,
but some others are feeling a little under the weather. Lyn and vicki decided that the young ones are the sickest because they haven’t
eaeten enough dirt when they were young.
Off on our private launch to Venice, it took about 45 minutes.
Wandered around St. Marks square, then went to see a demo about glass blowing.
Vicki bought a necklace and bracelet at the factory – so it is true Venitian glass. Then we went for a walkabout on the streets. Brian said
to use the big bell tower of the church – yes another church – as a land mark, the trouble was as soon as you were a block off the square
you couldn’t see it – the streets are pedestarian only, and about 20 feet wide and 4 stories. We sat on the steps of the church and ate
a sandwich, then wandered around the square looking at all the expensive jewelry. There were thousands of pigeons on the square,
and you could buy food to feed them. People were taking photos of all the birds, they would land on you and eat from your hand.
Got a photo of pigeons on Dennis. One of then scratched his thumb. He was doctored up so fast he didn’t have time to move.
We gathered together again for our gondola ride.
Then back over to catch another private cruiser to take us to the island of Barano for lunch. Took about 40 minutes
to get there, had a little walk about, then lunch. Vicki was happy -spagetti – it was very good – there was fish too, but I got chicken.
Then we wandered about and I got some great photos, I think
Then back on another private launch and back over to St. Marks to pick
up 4 of our people how stayed there for the afternoon, then over to the main port to get off the launch and on the coach for the ride
back to Chioggia. Again Bernard couldn’t get the coach to the hotel, because the street is full of fire trucks. So we walked down the
main drag back to the hotel.
There are people everywhere – though not as many as Rome or St. Marks. It looks like the people from the town are gathering for their
daily walk about and chat with their friends and neighbours. We wandered back to the hotel, and organized oursleves, then went out for
a little walk.
When we got back to the hotel, we sat around at the little outside cafe for about a half an hour or so, and Vicki
had the group laughing with tales of our past explots through the Southwest United States.
The people of the town gathered at the sqaure after we wandered off to bed. The place was alive with people until way after midnight.
May 20 – Saturday – another driving day
Up early and on the coach and through the Dolimtes – Mountain range into Austria. Brian has warned us, that we are leaving the unorganized
chaos of the latin countries and into the well organized machine of the germanic countries. The rest stop of the afternoon – cool fresh mountain
air – was that ever great, after 2 weeks of hot humid weather, and not as many people, being elegant by using every bit of space.
Into Vienna around 4 pm, and into the Hilton Plaza. I immediately connect the laptop, and find I can get anything incoming, but can’t do
anything outgoing….. drats – o well it’s time for supper. Off to the Marchfelderhof for supper.
It looks like a gigantic second hand store.
Crap hanging everywhere, but it’s the in place to be. We might see someone famous here. We had Wiener schnitzel for supper – it was huge –
but very good. We sang old songs on the way back to the hotel, oohing and awing at the sites that Brian was pointing out, he soon gave up
because we were being sarcastic.
May 21 – Sunday – a city tour for the morning
Up early and mixing with a couple of other tours in the breakfast room. Off to the Schonbrunner Place to see how the Hapsburg’s lived.
We only saw about 10 of the 1441 rooms in the place, and wandered the gardens a bit. It’s a bit cooler today, all the aussi’s have jackets on.
We took a ride around the ringstrausen (ring road) around the old town of Vienna. Then back to the hotel for a rest and to get away from people.
Tonight we are going out for some culture, more wienerschnitzel -ya- and a concert. The food was ok, because they didn’t make it there,
it was made somewhere else and brought in. But the music was fantastic. 3 voilins, 1 cello, 1 bass, 1 clarinet and 1 flute.
The acoustics in
the room were phenomenal.They played some Mozart, and Strauss. Back to the hotel by about 10.