Rome June 8, 2010

The streets and sidewalks are very narrow

Gene, Trish & Bonnie

There are a lot of Church’s around Rome

And statues

The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre, is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering

The very popular Trevi Fountain. It is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world.

The Arch of Constantine, it is the latest of the existing triumphal arches in Rome

Another fountain in Rome

Bonnie & Gene checking out the walking map to determine where we will head next.

The water is very good from the fountain. We would fill our water bottles after taking a long cool drink.

Piazza Navona, built in 1st century AD

Even the priest enjoy a gelato on a hot day in the Piazza

Next stop: Vatican City

A painting

A nun taking the walking tour (Gene on the left taking a picture of the ceiling)

The ceiling

Another painting

Stairs to the Sistine Chapel. We made it there, but you weren’t allowed to take pictures. It was smaller than I imagined. However, the paintings by Michelangelo were unbelievable.

The staircase back down was awesome

Here is Gene and I outside the Vatican. The Pope gave a sermon there earlier in the day.

Gene having a beer outside the Vatican

A fountain in another Piazza

August 21, 2011

This post is for the best dental hygienist in Snohomish County, Bridgette! I went in  for my teeth cleaning and the first words out her mouth was “I keep checking your blog and there hasn’t been anything new.” I apologize for being remiss.

Naples, Italy June 7, 2010

We were told by many people on the cruise ship to skip Naples and see some other sites.  So we took them up on it and visited Capri and Sorrento by hydrofoil.

Here is looking out from the Port of Naples

It’s always amazing to see a castle in the middle of the city!

Capri

We decided to take the Hydrofoil to the small island of Capri.

The island is small – just four miles by two miles.

A white wash church

Yes, the lemons are huge in Italy! From the guidebook: the gigantic, bumpy lemons are actually citrons, called cedri, and are more for show. They’re pulpier than they are juicy, and make a good marmalade.

A view from the top of the island

We took the funicular back down to the marina to catch the hydrofoil to Sorrento.

Here is a sign warning everyone about the dangers of falling in the sea.

Gene, Bonnie, and Trish staying far away from the water as they await the hydrofoil.

Sorrento

Arriving in Sorrento. From the guidebook: Sorrento is wedged on a ledge under the mountains and over the Mediterranean. Population 20,000

A closer look at the hotels that just seem to hang from the cliff.

Bonnie & Trish sampling limoncello, a liquer.

Looking for the ice cream (gelato) shop

Gene and Trish. Stopping for lunch

Gene’s pizza

Bonnie asking for directions to the train station. I love the way the Italians talk with their hands. Bonnie was doing a pretty good job of it too!

The quickest way back to Naples, and the ship, was by train.