Sorrento...final destination

We leave Pompeii and drive to Sorrento.

Nice small town overlooking the Bay of Naples.  Busier than I thought it would be.  So many tourists and Vespas!  Mama Mia!  Crossing the street can be life and death!

Mount Vesuvius in the background.

The main square.

Great art.  Represents the taking down of the Berlin Wall.

The old part of town.  Endless shops.

And at the end of the day there's the pool back at our hotel.  Great hotel...great location.
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

Leaving Rome, heading south

This morning we leave Rome and head south to Sorrento.  On our way we stop in Pompeii.

This man is working on creating a cameo which is an important trade in this area.  Very detailed work.

As we enter Pompeii we come across a coliseum.  Pompeii is quite large.  We only see a portion.  It would take two full days to view the while city.

Amazing that after 2000 years the colours of paintings on the walls are still vibrant.

This was the house of someone quite wealthy and important.

Even the mosaic tile floors are intact.

The town was buried in more than 20 meters of volcanic ash.  That is why things were so well preserved.  People died from the heat and toxic fumes.

So many articles still being discovered.

We continue our journey to Sorrento.  A much smaller town than Rome but still very busy.
 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

Second day in Rome

Today we are up early as we are headed to the Vatican museum and the Sistine Chapel.  The crowds are overwelming.  Long lines but our tour guide is so organized and moves us smoothly through the crowds.

Chaos in the line!  Yikes!

The inner courtyard of the Vatican museum.

The ceiling is beautiful.

Treasures of the museum 

The ceiling is beautiful.

Outside the Vatican...lots of room for people when the pope presents.

The Basilica is beautiful.

 

The jet stream was coloured in honour of National Liberation Day.

The Spanish Steps.

On our way to Trevi Fountain we stopped for a little sustenance....

The Trevi Fountain looks cool and refreshing....there were a zillion people there.

After we returned to the hotel Lou and Peter Donovan came over for a visit.  They were in Rome on their way back to Boston so we met and had a visit.  Walking around we spotted this colourful flower shop.

Peter showed us a couple of his favourite places from when he lived in Rome.  There was a beautiful view from a park above the city.

Then that evening Gate 1 arranged for a dinner at the Opera for everyone.  It was really good.  Front row seats.  

The performers were good.  What a full day!  Exhausted but happy.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Touring Rome

This morning after breakfast at the hotel we head out for our tour of the Roman Forum and the Coliseum.  Our guide is Paulo and he is good.  Great sense of humour. We walk from the hotel as it is so close.  They are getting ready for a parade on the street of our hotel.  It is a national holiday and it marks the anniversary of 150 years since Italy became unified.

Place where Caesar was cremated.

The Coliseum.

After the tour Sue and I have a wonderful lunch just a short distance from our hotel.

Of course complete with a couple of cold beers to help wash down the dust from the heat of the day.

Happy campers.  Back to discovering Rome tomorrow.