Buonasera to all, nearly- Merry Christmas to all,
We have left Sicily, and we arrive back at GIZZERIA to Hangloose Bay, we return Kym’s book and say hello to all the dogs, the puppies have grown so much in the 3 weeks and we catch up with Marcia, Pete and their dog LuLu ( we met in Sicily).
They are from Newlyn/Penzance in England. We are both heading in the same direction so we team up, so after a couple of days R & R (ha,ha!) we head of to a quaint town DIAMANTE/CIRELLA. Another great location on the beach.
It’s getting colder now and with the sun setting around 4.25pm it was decided that a good old fashioned fire would be just what we need and the two boy scouts would be able to reinvent themselves. Next day Marcia, LuLu and I come across an abandoned, rusted, 3 legged B.B.Q, and it’s able to stand unassisted (what a little beauty!!) firewood was next, back down the beach we go gathering driftwood, kindling and some old fence palings, so with an old supermarket brochure shoved underneath, and this goo/gloop that Pete had (non explosive) to kick start us, and Magic!!!!!,
What a lovely sight FIRE!!!! So out come the chairs and our warming liquids, wonderful. This little rusted thing kept us warm and amused for 2 nights. We even found our little b.b.q. in the bowels of H.H. and we went to the local markets and Pete bought fish (sprats). We even cooked chips. The stray cats loved us the next day, we kept the tails and inards for them. As usual the sunsets were brilliant.
Time to move on again, we are heading to POMPEI and the Zeus Camping Site. The ruins are an incredible site. This city was completely lost, covered in deadly ash and lava around 79 A.D. Everything that was alive perished. Pompei was non existent, but after its resurrection/excavation, the archaeologists have uncovered the most extraordinary, well advanced civilisation. This has been a tourist attraction for the last 250 years. Mt Vesuvius is classified as the most dangerous in the world i.e. proximity to Napoli = Yikes !!!!!!!
Next day we are on the train 35 mins to SORRENTO and then a bus to POSITANO 55 mins. The AMALFI Coastline is stunning, the roads frightening, especially on a bus.
O.M.G. with only centimetres to spare, passing other traffic is horrifying - if you have been here - no need to explain.
We could go no further down the coast than Positano as there had been a huge landslide.
Motorhomes are not allowed on this road (thank god!!!) The return trip was just as hair raising …. T. Lee thinks he should be able to do just about anything after watching the bus driver ( we are in the seat behind him). We wandered around the town of Sorrento before catching the train, its beautiful also. They had their Christmas decorations and lights up ready to twinkle away.
Next day on the road again from Pompei to ROMA 228klms away, we again arrive in our little convoy in a camping site on the outskirts of ROME…..Next day walk to the tram station, then on the bus and what a sight, ruins, ruins, ruins, everywhere. Terry and I head off to the VATICAN SQUARE. It costs 46 euro each to get a fast track queue into the SISTINE CHAPEL - we declined this and watched the ever increasing queue get longer.
The square has lots of outdoor speakers, large T.V. screens, cameras and amazing statues that I can’t stop looking at, I’m trying to absorb all this. Walking back we cross over the The Tiber River on the Ponti Mazzini bridge and were stopped by an old man, in an old car trying to scam some money with a handbag for me and a watch for Terry.
It was clever but tragic acting, we gave him back his goods and wandered off. We left him revving up his car, crunching gears and muttering and cursing as he drove off looking for his next victims. The street Police keep the beggars running for the next alley way with their whistles blowing and there are lots of pick pockets, same the world over.
Next stop the PANTHEON - 2000 yrs old with the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world, built 27 BC, rebuilt 126 A.D.
The TREVI FOUNTAIN - was shrouded in scaffolding doing major renovation work, They had erected a walkway over part of the fountain, so not all was lost, and tourism was saved a mighty blow and complaints!!!Ppeople were asked NOT to throw coins into the dry fountain area (but they did). We had a Chinese lunch in Rome (sacrilege,) but a nice change (In keeping with tradition the noodles were spaghetti). We then walked over to the TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, a massive area with 2 Military guards at the top of the stairs, 24 hours a day. The bronze statues way up high of man and horse were incredible.
The COLOSSEUM is aptly known as the “Host” in the Capital, this Travertine structure is very impressive, it could seat 50 thousand spectators - I think we all know what went on here!!!!! As far as entertainment goes, not nice!!!!!
The history surrounding Rome is never ending, amazing to the eye. These colossal structures and buildings are incredible to see and of course lots to comprehend . ROME was founded in 753 BC - not looking too bad for her age, but the cobble stones are a killer, definitely not stiletto territory (sensible shoes required).
BEWARE!!!!!! All relatives & friends…. Terry is now into “Selfies”. He is now an owner of this stick thing (extendable rod). Your phone is encased in the end of it and it also comes with (extra of course) a blue tooth remote controller ( Joe the Gadget Man is at it again) he’s done some doozies already - coming to our blog/your screen soon.
Time has come to leave Roma - we’ll keep you updated, onto Tuscany & Pisa next - Love to all Susie, Terry = H.H. (he’s had some well deserved rests). X X
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