Mykonos and on to Santorini

August, 15 Santorini, Greece

Today I rented scooter and went to a beach that has huge cliffs.  You can see the layers of different 'stuff'.  Not sure what to call it!  Not lava as not hard.  Most is like ash with rocks mixed in.  But there are different colours.  White, sandy and some black as well.  Surprised not more black as the beach is mostly black.  There are a lot of pumice stones around.  I should have collected and set up a stall.  I see they go for 1 euro each!

The scooter was a bit shaky at first, as it has been a while since I have ridden a motorbike!  But did come back.  These things do not handle quite like a motor bike but close.  You do not have to change gears at all.  Cruised along at about 50 kph when no other traffic.  The only bad traffic was right after getting the bike and getting out of town.  The rest was pretty quiet!

Stopped at small restaurant on way into Fira.  Had another great Greek Salad, with loads of feta cheese and then chicken souvlaki!  Very good!

August, 14 Santorini, Greece

Spent the day wandering around the old city!  Tried to find some of the nice place I saw at night!  Found most!

Went to an exhibition (that means not a museum) of wall paintings that were found in the old city.  Buried under lava and ash.  Amazing at the great shape they are in!

Stopped and had a drink at one of the restaurants high up on the hill!  Beautiful view. 

Then headed towards the old port.  I walked down the donkey path!  Bit worried about walking behind them, for a couple of reasons, one of them being that if they kicked....

They did not move.  It was a longer walk than I expected, especially when so hot.  Expected to go for swim, but no swimming there!

I had booked a ticket on a sunset cruise, which included a walk on the volcano Island of Nea Kameni.  Many craters with that latest in the 1950s.  There is still some gas coming out of one!

Then for a swim in the hot springs on Palea Kameni.  Turned out we had to jump of boat and swim to a little inlet where the hot water seeped up into the sea!  Was warm but not hot, but the water was very red!  The iron I am guessing.  The 'guided' tour was not really guided, more of go here!  This red stuff stained all the swim suits!  Still nice

Then had dinner on board.  Was pretty good meal and included free wine!  That was pretty good as well.

Then off to the Oia point to watch the sun set.  

They actually put up the sails.  All on furlers, and set close hauled no matter which direction they went.  It was really for show, as motors kept running!  Did look good if you were not a sailor! 

Sunset was amazing! The pictures just do not do it justice!

Rode the cable car back up, I was not game to ride a donkey up the steps!

August, 13 Santorini, Greece

Today headed off to a black sand beach!  Beautiful place.  Told it was about 40 degree today!  Catch is the sand got so hot you could not walk on it without your shoes!  And the tempurature on beach, even with a breeze was baking!  I did not last too long!

Have decided that I am old!  I am the one heading back to hotel at 11 pm and the young ones are just heading out.  Then I am up in morning, and they are just getting home!  Serious, this has happened a few times!

August, 12 Santorini, Greece

Checked out of hotel and then spent the morning napping by the pool!  Oh it is a tough life!

Then off to catch a fast ferry to Santorini!  Huge, my guess had about 350 passengers on board!  Total chaos in boarding, no wonder late!  Could use a lot of easy fixes!

But 2 1/2 hours later in Santorini.  Caught the bus to Fira, the main town and called the hotel.  He picked me up within 5 minutes!  Great stuff.

I ended up in a private place as the hotel was full, but that is ok.

Headed into the old part of town and spent time just wandering around.  Another amazing place.  The town is high up on a cliff with all the houses, restaurants, and hotels built along the side of the hill leading to the cliff!  Needless to say got my exercise walking stairs for a couple of hours, and then headed back to hotel!  At least that is down hill!

And it has been awhile but found another 'pink' one!

August, 11 Mykonos, Greece

Did nothing!

Went out for dinner and for the 2nd night in a row a Pelican was leading a persession of people down the sideway along the water front!  Hilarious!

August, 10 Mykonos, Greece

Went to beach today.

Nice and relaxing.

This is an interesting island.  All the white houses with the colourful doors and window against the very dry desert like countryside.  Not much for vegetation but there is a lot of rock!  They build the fences and houses out of the rock, and of course pave the streets with it as well!

Saw some critters today.  Pelican in a square on way to bus, domestic duck swam by while I was having coffee at a sea side cafe, donkeys, goats and a couple of cows on way to beach.  And at the beach saw a lizard of some sort.  The person next to me said it was a gecko.  That is the most crittersI have seen anywhere.

Athens and Mykonos

August, 9 Mykonos, Greece

Went to beach today.  This time to different beach.  I had to first catch a bus to a small village and then catch a boat.  There are roads but the buses do not go there.  Nice beach, but more small pebbles than sand and very busy.  Lots of nice hotels and house up the hill.  

And then usual food hunt!  Been having some great Greek Salads!  Lots of feta and olives!

Very hot so after the walk up the hill to hotel, went for a swim.  Ended up talking to the only other person there.  He is from Portugal, in the army with special forces as a paratrooper.

Interesting.  His English is very good and he has lots of relatives living in Canada.  He said is leaving the army after 10 years in October, but not really sure what he is going to do.

He seemed to be working on finishing the bottle of rum he had!

August 8, Mykonos, Greece

Went to beach today.

Later into town to find some food.

Walked by a couple of the clubs later in the night!  They are side by side, and seemed to be a competition which could have the loudest music!  Hilarious as you could not really hear either one!

Turns out there are other places just like that.   But then it is the party island!!!!!!!

August 7,  Mykonos, Greece

Went to beach today, so nice to be on a sand beach.  The water is amazing!

Did more wandering around the town.  Figured out that all you need to do is really just have a general direction that you want to head and you will get there!

An area called Little Venice is really quite nice.  A line of restaurants with tables right along the water!  Looks nice, but not sure if I would eat there as there is a steady stream of people walking by as it is part of the sidewalk, and it is really not that wide!

August 6, To Mykonos, Greece

Up very early to catch the 7.45 am ferry to Mykonos, and it took almost 1.5 hours to get there as part of the metro line to port is shut down!  But arrived in time to have the first coffee!

The trip took about 4 hours and very nice, passing through many of the islands and stopping at Syros, Tinos and then Mykonos.

Shared a taxi with a woman from Argentina that is only here for 1 day, never did figure out where she was going!

So tired that I just spent the afternoon by the pool!  Was great, and then had a nap.

Headed out to wander around the town in evening!  It is beautiful!  Everything is whitewashed and some of the street are so narrow tough walking and meeting another person.  Other streets are a hazard to your life and 2 cars can barely meet, and yet there are scooters and quads parked on both sides of street and then you have the pedestrians!  Just another challenge, not to get hit by a mirror.

The streets in the town are are stone with the grouting painted white.  Very nice.  Lots of very expensive shops and souvenir places.  Oh yes and I forgot about the streets of restaurants!

I have a map of the town but it is useless as none of the streets seem to be named, on the streets anyway, on the map they are.

But just wandered around, not that big as saw the same place about 3 times!

August 5,  Athens, Greece

Met up with the UAE guy today and we went to 3 museums.  Talk about over dose on that!  Funny as I was his personal photographer.  He is in about 80% of pictures he took and he took a lot!

He followed me around like a puppy!  So much so that if I stopped to quickly, he would bump into me.  Nice guy though, I think he was just lonely.

Went to the National Archeological museum, the Acropolis Museum and the Benaki Museum.  The Acropolis museum opened in 2009 and very impressive with the glass entry way and the glass walkway up to the first floor.  Also on the top floor they have reproduced the various sculptures that are around the outside of the Pathenon.

The Benaki Museum was actually a private collection donated to  Greece for public display.  Amazing the amount of stuff he had collected.  4 floors of a large house.

Beat, so had ice cream and headed back to hotel.

Talked to the guy that has been at front desk every time I have left or returned.  Turns out he owns the hotel with his brother.  Very interesting as they bought the hotel in May 2010.  He said they need 12 of the 18 rooms full on average.  They rent the building.  In Greece the price of hotels is similar to that of 10 years ago!  Price of food has dropped a little, but wages have not.  The waitress did say that the price of a beer has dropped to half of what it used to be.  Taxes, 11% on hotel rooms, 23% on food, plus another 5% municipal tax.  

Good thing I told him that all the staff had been great!  He owns, and wife has been serving breakfast each morning!

August 4,  Athens, Greece

Today a slow start.  Did a lot yesterday. 

Headed towards the Temple of Olympian Zeus.  This place is another amazing place.  I saw it from the top yesterday.  Wandered around here for a bit.  A guy asked if I would take his picture in front of the temple.  Ended up taking several and then he stuck with me for the rest of the day.  Nice young guy, 25, from UAE.  So we went to the Panathenaic STadium.  Originally built in 120 AD and completely restored in 1895, this was the site of the first modern Olympics and also the site for the 2004 track events.  Amazing.  All marble and seats 70,000.

Wandered through the parks close by and then had lunch.  Was a restaurant, but really turned out to be fast food, Greek style!  Not 2 minutes after ordering we had our food.

He had heard that there were some nice restaurants along the beaches area south of the city so we caught the tram and headed off.

Beach was quite nice.  Sand on the beach part but the water part was rocks, many very slippery.

Went for a swim and then went to restaurant for a beer to watch sun set.  The place was much to expensive to eat.  Left and caught tram back.  Was close to 10 by the time got back to hotel.  Starving so had a very good dinner of cookies bought at an all night stand just outside the Metro station.  Walking back to hotel was interesting as all the seemed to be out were the hookers!

August 3, Athens, Greece

Up fairly early and up to roof top terrace for breakfast.  Very nice place but is fairly noisy with the traffic down below.

On to the Metro and to the Acropolis area.  This place is huge, and built on top of a huge rock!  Did not realize but it is actually a group of temples.  

The first place was the Theatre of Dionysos, small but very neat.  Then came to the restored Odeon of Herodes Atticus.  This place actually has live performances, but they are done, so missed out.  Would have been something to see here.

Continued up the hill.  Yes had to walk up the mountain.  The Temple of Athena Nike was something else.  This is really the entrance to the top of the Acropolis.  What amazes me is all the marble!  Everywhere!  Beautiful.  On the very top you have the Parthenon, which is the structure you usually see in pictures.  Very impressive.  Then there is the Erechtheion.  This is very impressive as well and the sculptures along the top are so detailed.

Made my way down towards the Ancient Agora, which is the old town centre.  Shops and administration.  Huge actually.  The Temple of Hephaestus was really something.  I am running out of words to describe.  Considering most of these were build in the 4 and 5 century BC, quite the wonder.

Off wandering around and ended up in the Keramokos.  Which is another town, but this is more of a cemetery.  Here the dead were buried, some which huge monuments.

Also a museum here and I read one comment that said most of the dead were buried with their heads facing north.  I asked why, and ended up with about 6 different people trying to figure it out.  In the end, no one knew.  They did suggest that I come back the next day as they will ask the archeologist.  

Wandering again, and this time ended up in the Athens flea market.  Well this is the most up market place I have seen.  Permanent shops with flashy lights and music.  More like a shopping mall!  Still very interesting as you can buy anything you could want here.  Not sure what impression I am giving but go hit up a couple of times that I should have a closer look at the shisha pipes!  

Walked by Hadrian's Library but did not go in.  Need to save ticket for Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Museum.  Here you buy 1 ticket, 12 euros and is admission to 6 different sites.  The best deal I have run into.

Went into the Temple of the winds.  Part of the Roman Agora, built in 1 and 2 century BC.  This was interesting as the Temple of Winds is actually an octagon!  The construction of these sites just amazes me given the times!  And they were built to last.........

The weather is very hot and a waiter was telling me that so few around as too hot!  36 or 37 but humidity is fairly high.

Headed back to hotel without incident on way either.  Went up to terrace and had a beer.  The Russian girl that is a waitress told me that I looked like and tourist and that I should be taking a taxi everywhere!  But have heard they are the ones to watch out for as they will rip you off in an second!  Just like everywhere!

Croatia 2010

I guess it has been a while, but only had internet in cafes

August 2, To Athens, Greece

Not much sleep last night as the guy next door watched tv on full volume, I swear, most of the night!  It actually woke me up, so must have been loud.

Another great breakfast and off to the airport.

Again what a great city!  At the entrance to the airport is another huge park!  So nice to see rather than, cars, buses, traffic and noise!

August 1, Zagreb, Croatia

Hotel had a great breakfast, and got more Turkish coffee, good but not as good as in Dubrovnik!  Head out to see the city.  Very impressed with this place.  The city is spotless, with many parks.  After all, it has to be nice when you walk out of the train station and in front is a huge bronze statue and a big park!

Caught the tram to the old part of the city.  Saw the Cathedral and then headed off to ride the funicular tram.  A very short ride but took to Upper Zagreb and the Stone gate.  Here there was the changing of the guards.  The traditional dress is quite nice.  In one of the squares there were also some people in traditional dress singing.

The city is very quiet today.  Was told that most are at home having their 'beauty' rest or at the coast.  

The city itself is very nice.  Many museums, but did not go in any.  Was going to catch the Coffee exhibition in one but the museum was closed.  Funny as I noticed that there was the "Bodies Revealed" exhibit, the one with the cut up bodies.  I debated where I could cope or not, but turns out I missed it!

July 31, Zagreb, Croatia

Caught the train to Zagreb, a 6 hour journey.  The ride was very nice.  Passed through some great country side.  Interesting as the train took a very high route, and ended up in the clouds.  The forest here was almost rain forest.  The valleys were very green!

No one to meet at train station with accommodation, so the information desk gave me a hotel.  Very nice but 49 euros.  The best part is that it is right on the tram lines and turns out the tram lines are free!  Was a bit worried as information told me where to get off, but everyone I asked had no idea where this hotel was.  I even asked a couple of old guys sitting in a bar, but they did not know.  Well the hotel was right across the street!  Too funny!  Maybe something in their beers!

July 30, Split, Croatia

Up early and made coffee!  Very nice and relaxing.  I have to admit the view is very nice, overlooking the bay and the city behind the large hill!

4 Belgian kids were staying as well and they headed off right away.  But I caught up with them at the bus stop.  All very well educated.  2 masters in engineering with one going on to Phd, one medical doctor doing her internship and the other a teacher.  The bus wait turned out to be an hour for me, and the ride into the city almost 30 minutes!  The traffic is very slow going.

Wandered around the old city.  Very nice, but not as well kept as Dubrovnik or Korcula.  Still many shops, but at least they have hot spots for free internet!

Took a long walk along the shoreline!  Beaches similar except here they have more smaller rock type beaches.

I got back to the house just in time.  There was a very loud thunder and huge lightning storm!  Then poured rain.  The storm passed right over head!  The best I have seen in ages!

July 29, Split, Croatia

I had planned to try and get in on a dune buggy tour of the olive groves and vineyards, with some snorkeling included, but had to meet early, but I slept in.

So instead I had breakfast and bought a ferry ticket to Split.  Ferry left at 1.30 and arrived at 6.30 pm.   A very nice trip along the coast line.  The coast is all rock and very rugged.  Most of the hill tops do not have much for trees or bushes.

Arrived in Split and was met by guy with accommodation.  Turns out he lied, and not just me, everyone that was at the house.  He said it was a 8 to 10 minute bus ride, and forgot to mention that was by plane!  Turns out it is about 9 km out of the city, and up a very steep hill to the top!  There is a TV but he does not know how to turn on.

  Very interesting is all I can say.

Got settled and headed off to a 'near by' restaurant'.  "Near by" is about a 20 minute walk!  But the food was excellent.  Problem was I miss read the prices and did not have enough money to pay!  Embarrassing, but the waiter was great, and told me where the nearest bank machine was!

July 28, Korcula Island, Croatia

Caught the bus to Korcula, and arrived about 12.00 after 3 hours, including a short ferry ride.

Found the house that the hosts in Dubrovnik had made reservations for me.  Turns out only have 1 night, not 2.  But the room has the best view.  Right on the water with a view of the dock and the old city.  Quite the change after 3 nights in the kitchen!  Then headed off to eat!  Found a bakery.  Got burek again.  This is the name of the layers of dough with fillings of either meat or cheese.  They are very good.

Then off to wander around the city.  This city is similar to Dubrovnik, but not as commercial.  Not as big, but still all narrow pedestrian streets.  There are many shops and restaurants but not as many souvenir shops.  Many handcrafted items, paintings, and jewelery.  

Interesting in that they believe that Marco Polo was born here and that he spent some time in jail here as well.  Did a tour of his house.  Also this is the town for the merishka, the sword dancing, but the next one is on Monday, so will have to miss that.

Ran into the Australians and we made plans to meet for dinner.  Caught up with them and went first for a drink and then to dinner.  Lots of wine before and with dinner.  Then on way back a bar had taken over the street.  Tough getting through the crowd so just ended up have a few drinks!  Drank way to much but was great fun.  Late by time I got home.

July 27, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Did not do much other than buy my bus ticket for tomorrow, and then headed off to Lokrum Island.  Spent the afternoon on the beach.  No sand, as seems to be the standard, just try to find a flat rock.  Went out for dinner at a restaurant down the street a bit.  Was very good, pork on skewers with grilled vegetables.  Plenty of garlic and olive oil on the vegetables, but were very good.

July 26, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Up and off to get coffee at the local internet cafe.

I went to go up the gondola.  Turns out it is only 14 days old.  The old one had been destroyed in the war as the top of the mountain was one of the first places to be bombed and occupied.  

The views from the top are great, of the city, the old city, and nice to be able to see the mountain range in the other direction.

Then went to the war museum.  They had many pictures of the destruction and the people involved with the resistance.  They were also showing a video that I found quite disturbing.  Showing the bombing and the cheering that was going on when a bomb hit a building.  Probably disturbing as I had talked to the host in the morning about how it had impacted them.  

The woman had taken their kids and left the city, but the husband had stayed behind.  Their house only suffered some damage, broken window and chips in the walls, but there were houses around them that were hit and burned as a result.  The woman's sister's flat, not too far away was also hit.  A bomb actually went through the window and destroyed the flat.  The sister was not there.  I can not wrap my head around the hatred or being that close to a war.  So lucky to not have been close to anything similar.

I then headed off to Lokrum Island.  Caught the ferry and spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the monastery, botanical gardens and the various paths on the island.  The island is all a park.  Half the park is shut due to a high fire hazard.  The beaches are actually flat rocks along the water.  There are ladders off the rocks into the water.  Actually very nice, even if the rocks are very hard!

Went out for dinner and the local cheap place recommended by the host.  I had the best lasagna I have ever had.  Was made with a cream sauce but had chicken, ham and mushrooms.

Relaxed for what little was left of the evening.  Went to bed but got woke up by the others at about 1 am to join them for a glass of wine, or 2!  Was about 2.30 by the time we went to bed again.  Fun to sit and laugh and tease, country against country!

July 25, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Had a great sleep, on a real bed!  Turns out I slept great but the NZer did not, I snored, very loud.  Not sure if I should believe her as I never heard a sound!

Had to head out in the search for coffee, but it is Sunday and the only place I could find opened at 8!  So had to wait a bit!

Got my coffee, and was very good, and then back to get cleaned up.  Lounged around for a bit and then headed off to make travel arrangements to get to Greece!  Ended up with a flight from Zegreb to Athens, nothing else out of Croatia unless I went back to Rome first.

Then headed off to walk the wall around the old city!  The views were beautiful, and the colour of the water is almost blue.  I am sure the pictures will just not do it justice.  Great to have a view of the city from above, looking at the houses, the streets and all the red tiled roofs.

After that wandered around a bit waiting to do the kayak trip.

The kayak trip was a paddle along the old city wall, past the neat bar, and across the old harbour.  Stopped in an inlet only accessible by boat, and went for a swim and snorkel.  Water felt great, but not much for fish.  Just a few small ones but not really that colourful, but then I did not have my glasses on.  They feed us a sandwich that seemed like 3/4 of a loaf of bread, with some ham and cheese.  Good, but huge!  The paddling was good but we seemed to be heading left all the time, so I think we paddled twice as far as anyone else.

Then headed off across the harbour again to Lokrum Island.  Paddled around it, into a cave area.  I should also mention that the island is a rock, not sand, so is a rocky beach, but also many were  nude!  A bit of a surprise.  The water is very clear!  Then headed back the the starting point.  Lots of gusty wind and some very tired arms, it seemed like we would never get back.  But made it.  

Went for a glass of wine, just so we could use the toilet.  Then off the catch a walking tour of 'Dubrovnik at war'  Very interesting.  The guide had a sarcastic point of view.  He went back about a 1000 years, before he got to the war in 1991 when the Serbians, Yugoslavians and Montenegrians attacked Croatia.  Apparently they want their country to have access to the sea.  The Croatians and the Serbs had been living together for many many years without any trouble.  I will have to do some more research.  The war lasted about 8 months.  The tour showed where there was some damage from the bombing, some that remains and some that has been repaired.  The remaning evidence is different cobble stones on the streets, pits in some of the walls, and some door frames that are very white (limestone goes white when exposed to extreme heat)  The residents felt that they would be safe in the old city as a World Heritage site, but the city was bombed heavily.  

Got back to house and 3 Australians had moved in next door.  Chatted for a bit and went to bed.  I ended up on a cot in the kitchen, but was my choice as then I could have coffee in morning.

July 24, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Had a good night, and talked to a few people.  An Australian  that is going to university in Sevilla, and met a Vancouver woman, traveling with her 7 year old son  .  Interesting as ran into them again on the search for food and ended up having lunch and gelato with them.  Very nice to met other Canadians, and great to talk to them.  And we did do a lot of talking!  Dubrovnik is a fairly small city so I am sure we will meet again.

Ended up in a private house, which is the most common here.  The couple were not sure if another couple were going to leave so I may not have a room.  Turned out the other couple did leave.  So private room for 30 euros!  They had also convinced a New Zealand woman ( to stay as well.  After much room swapping then room sharing and then not, ended up sharing a room with the New Zealander, and 4 Brazilians moved into the other room.  Very confusing, but the couple are very nice and accommodating.   Such a great change!  The house is about a 40 minute walk to the old city, or a 10 minute bus ride.

The city is beautiful.  So nice to walk down the street and not have horns blaring and constant traffic.  The old city is completely walled, so spent the afternoon having lunch with the Vancouverites and then walked around the city.  The main streets are really just a bunch of tourist shops, but the many small side streets and the buildings are great.  Found a neat little bar, that is between the wall and the Adriatic Sea.  They have poured concrete to flatten out spots for tables amongst the rocks!  The tables are the the edge of the rocks, without rails.  I can not imagine having the combination of booze, rock band and cliffs anywhere else!  But the crowd was just getting into the 'rock band on the rock'.

Went for a swim and cleaned up and the New Zealander and I went back to the old city for dinner.  I had a great sea food platter!  The competition is very stiff with so many restaurants, that we were enticed with a free glass of wine!  Work for both of us, not just me!  We then went for a stroll around the city.  Ended up back at the same rock place, and they had a live band and lighting on the stairs.  Beautiful view of the sea with the boats lit up and the lights on the rocks.  Had a drink and then to bed.  Very tired.

Italy 2010

July 23, Palermo, Sicily

Today, I fly to Rome and then the Bari, on the east coast where I  caught a ferry to Dubrovnik, Croatia.  The ferry left a 10 pm, another overnight one!  And this one does not have seats, it is just the open deck, meaning that it is find a plastic chair or deck space.  The night was warm and the breeze was very nice.  The moon on the water was great.  The ferry arrived in Dubrovnik at about 7 am.  The sunrise over the Croatian coast was also great.  I actually probably got about 4 hours sleep.

July 22, Palermo, Sicily

Off this morning to go to Santa Cita.  This church has one chapel that is completely done in marble inlays.  Black, red and white!  The detail is unbelievable.  Next door is the Oratorio del Rosario, which from what I can work out is still part of the Santa Cita church.  This building has a chapel in it, with a garden.  But the chapel has every wall completely covered in sculptures of angels!  Again the detail is really something.

In the afternoon, head out to the Catacombs.  These are under a monastery, but really not completely underground.  Not sure how the 'near the quarry' meaning works for this.  Here there are actually the mummified remains of 8000 people, apparently from the mid 1800s.  A bit creepy at the start, but then the interesting part is that many are dressed in their appropriate occupation dress.  There is also 1 young girl who is in near perfect condition, considering her remains are almost 200 years old.  I was told that no one has figured out just how she has stayed in such good condition.

The traffic in this city is just crazy, even worse than Rome.  There are no lanes on the streets and I could not figure out just how anyone  gets anywhere!  And of course there is the constant blaring of the the horns!  Either to say get out of the way, hurry up or a few times just a warning that they are moving into that very small empty space.  I do have to say the drivers are amazing parallel parkers!  They can fit a car into a spot that seems to have only about 4 inches clearance, all together, not in the front and back!  All of this did make for a challenge to get across the street as there are not many street lights.  I usually waited for someone with a small child, my thinking that they would not hit a kid!  Seems to work, still here and did not get run over.  But a few times I did wonder!

July 21, Palermo, Sicily

Piazza Bellini, and the fountain Pretoria!  Very nice sculpture, no water and fenced off, but the detail in the statues of the people and the many animals is very nice.  Also walked by the Cathedral, which is a mixture of Gothic, Norman and Arab influences.  Actually does not look to bad.  Just a little bit more up the street is the Porta Nuova.  Traffic actually goes through the gate, but there are no stidewalks!  Was a challenge as it is really wide enough for 1 car, but usually 2 cars and a scooter go through!  Then you have to get past!  Just wait for the smallest break in the traffic to sneak around the corner.  

Also walked by the  Quattro Canti, a corner of 2 main streets where there are fountains (with water) on all 4 corners of the street.  The sculptures are about 2 stories high.  Very impressive.

July 20, Palermo, Sicily

Up early, even with an 11 am flight!  Not sure how long it is going to take and how much of a wait I will have for the train to the airport.

Turns out I had to wait for the clerk to come to work in order to check out, but in no time caught the tram to the main rail station and then walked right on the train to the airport!  Must of got some of the US ladies karma, as with them there was no waiting for the bus, or the trains.

Arrived no problem and was able to get to the city centre!  Found a restaurant just off the main square, and it turns out it was a buffalo place, so for the first time had a buffalo burger.  Not to bad.  

Spend the afternoon wandering around part of the city.  Walked by many very nice looking churches and fountains.  Many of the fountains did not have water!

Interesting place.  There seems to be a lot of garbage on the streets, but if you can see past that, then a fairly nice city!  The waterfront close to the city is concrete blocks with a park area.  Not much shade, but then no where near as hot as Rome!  Good thing, but still has to be near 35.

July 19, Rome

Up and on the tram by 9 am!  Heading to the Catacombs of San Sebatian and need to catch the Metro and then a bus!

Met 3 US women on the bus heading to the same way.  Was great to talk to them.  One was visiting, and 2 were working for the government in the northern part of Italy and were just touring for an extended weekend.

The catacombs were amazing!  7 miles of tunnels on 3 levels, as deep as 70 feet.  Dug out of a soft volcanic rock in the 3 to 5th centuries.  1000s of bodies entombed here, but they have all been moved to the 3rd level, so did not see any bones.  The tunnels are just a maze!  They are also outside of the city walls!  Interesting as they tombs are Christian, but there one of the first was a pagan mausoleum.  And the mausoleum now has the Basilica San Sebatian above it.  

Catacombs, really means 'near the quarry'.

Headed back to the Roman Forum where I spent almost 3 hours wandering around the ruins.  The size, the complexity and the detail of the buildings is very difficult to describe.  But even though it was humid and above 40 degrees it was still very interesting.

I ended up walking back to the train station, only about 20 minutes, but the route took me through a park and then through some of the residential area.  Headed back to the hotel, and had a shower and nap, with the intention of heading to a restaurant that had been recommended.  But ran out of energy and ended up just going to the local shopping area for a glass of wine and pasta.  Ok, was expecting real pasta, but I think it was microwaved!  Memories of my cooking, so not that great!

July 18, Rome

Lazy start to the day.  Spent some time talking to a guy that is from Warman Saskatchewan this morning at breakfast.  He is now working in London.

To get to the main Rail terminal, I have to catch this very very very old tram line!  Today it was rattling so much I thought for sure it was going to fall apart!  Guys on the trams said yesterday that it does break down a lot.  I do see that in the neighbourhood they are working on another, 3rd, metro line.  That will be great!  This one gets so busy that not everyone can get on!

Today went back to the coliseum area, and then wandered around the streets in the area.  Went to Basillica di San Giovanni in Laterano.  Does not look like much from the outside but the inside is impressive!  Again, huge ceilings, this time with gold trim, lots of it.  And more frescos around the whole building.  The floors were done in the usual marble, all with some pattern of various colours!  This building was consecrated in 324 AD, and was the original home for the Pope.

Did not do much else.  Went to the grocery store and wandered back to the hotel.

Went out later for Italian ice cream.  This has become a nightly must!  What am I going to do when I leave Italy.

July 17, Rome

Today off to the Vatican.  Don't think it counts as another Cathedral, although there is St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.

Today I paid extra to get a tour!  This allowed the group to go in fast and not have to stand in line.  They said it was a 2 hour wait, but I think it was really longer than that, it was huge!  Even still the people inside was unbelievable.  It was so busy, that it was wall to wall people!  Everywhere in the museum, the Sistine Chapel and even the square!  The guide said that the most they have put through is 27,000 in one day!  At 15 euros each!  Not bad!  The museum has many priceless items.  Nero's marble bath with is red marble and about 10 feet in diameter.  And of course lots of sculptures.  The highlight was the Sistine Chapel with the fresco done by Michelangelo in mid 1500s.  Very impressive.  The long hall that has maps was also very interesting.  Surprisingly they are about 85% accurate even though done about 500 years ago.

I also went in to the area where all the previous Pope's tombs are.

Also went to the top of the dome of St Peter's.  This was a new 'twist' on small narrow spiral staircases.  The walls in part were slanted in, in the shape of the dome!  Made the useable part of the steps even smaller!  Also made for uneasy balance.  But made it to the top and down again no problems.

There is also 2 spots in the square where the columns that go around most of the area actually disappear behind the front one.  Again the it is always surprising of the things they thought of when they built the square, and then be able to pull it off using such heavy marbel columns.

Then off to visit some of the other highlights of Rome - Trevi Fountain (again hordes of people), and the Spanish Steps.

Since it was 42 degrees, I was done in.  And then you have to count the humidity.  Glad I have air-conditioning in my room.

July 16, Rome

Got to the train station and there were the Kelowna people!  

Train ride was uneventful, and took about 4 hours.

Arrived in Rome early afternoon.  We decided that we would check into hotels and then meet at the Coliseum.  With the Roma pass, able to use all the city transport system and get into 2 places for free!  Magic words!  But the best was that we were able to go into a special gate with the pass, by passing the whole line up!  That was worth the money right there!

The place is amazing, huge!  Seating is steep but the sides, all the way around.  Also the technology used to move the animals and gladiators up from the 2 basement floors was really something.

Spent about 2 hours wandering around.  Was great to spend time with the couple from Kelowna.

Then we went for dinner not too far from the Coliseum.  Great Italian food and wine and of course the company.