Mar 2007

Arrived at the hostel, and checked in, just had a pizza near the train station, where everyone told me to be careful. To be honest, Rome felt like a walk in the park after Naples. Woke early the next morning and headed out to the city with Nick, New Zealand guy i had met the night before.

We decided to use the hop on hop off buses to get across the city, there was one waiting at the trian station, We headed for the Vatican. St Peters square is amazing but smaller then i thought it was going to be, As we walked into the square we realilised there was lots of people standing around with banners. All of a sudden, there was a voice coming out of a loud speaker, so we looked around and couldnt see who was talking, by now we were really confused. Then Nick noticed some guy standing at an open window, and we put 2 and 2 togather. Sunday 12 midday lots of nuns standing around could this be the pope, what convinced us was when everyone starting praying. Even then we discussed whether or not it was really the pope or not. After about half an hour the pope went back indoors, and we left for the second part of our trip. We ended going to the catacombs even though i had been told that they were not worth seeing. I really should listen sometimes. Then we headed back to the hostel.

The following day, i got up really early and Aldo (Honduran) guy i met at the hostel and I headed out for the vatican museum. We had to wait over an hour to get in. It felt weird watching all these people handing over there money, and we wondered how much the vatican makes from tourists each year, and why the churches still have to ask there local people for cash ! Sistine chapel was beautiful, we werent allowed to take any pictures unfortuantly. But I feel like im pleased to have seen it. You also get to walk through the papel appartments, and various museums. It all takes about 2 half hrs. I had lost aldo by this time, so left the vatican and went to St peters church, which is awsome, and leaves you feeling quite speechless and full of emotions. I then walked very slowly back to my hostel, just sticking my head into churches, window shopping, and took in the spanish steps, Ran into a newly wedded couple at the spanish steps and the bride throw her bouquet into the crowd. Everyone was cheering and clapping. Then went to the Triva fountain and Patheon and lots of other things. Got back to the hostel had dinner then went for a midnight stroll through the city with nick, tried to learn how best to use my camera at night.

Got home about 1am. I was completely exhusted.

The next day i was tired and my legs felt like they were gona fall off. After getting up very late I went to the Colosseum and Palatine hill. Spent a very happy day just wandering around. The sites are so massive, and close togather you get a really sense in rome of what it could have been like back in the day. Its weird to hear stories about Julius Ceaser etc and realise that you are standing in the spot where he was creamated.

I was really pleased to have seen Palatine Hill. After walking around I went back to the hostel and went to catch up on my blog then after a lovely local supper went to bed.

I have to say, Naples is scary they say you either love it or you hate it, and whilst i tried my hardest to like it despite the rain, i found after three days i could not wait to leave. You are on constant alert for bag snatches, and i found it quite tiring. Saw someones bag get taken and met a couple of people who had there walets lifted. Its a shame becuase i think Naples could have a lot of potential.

But first, after i checked into the hostel, i was told that no bed would be available until 12 midday. It was about 7.30 in the morning, so i took myself off for a walk, around the shops. Walking slowly towards the castle. Once i reached the castle which was interesting and also free always a bonus, i got caught in a thunderstorm and ended up taking shelter, under one of the arches inside the castle, which wasnt very well protected for about half an hour, then decided i was from england, and what was a bit of rain to me, so took off towards the center of town, once i'd crossed the drawbridge i was sodden. I continued on towards the other castle which was not free and they keeped telling me to go to the top to see the fantastic views. Didnt they think i was wet enough already?

Whilst there i met an american called Amy who had taken the boat in from Sorrento for the day. We decided to hang out, and went to get some lunch. We then made our way slowly towards the Archiology museum, but it started to rain again and as i passed my hostel i was totally wet through, cold and misarible, I begged off and went to claim my bed. I never saw the museum which is shame as i heard its excellent. Ended up after a lovely long shower watching some oz movie which was so bad all you could do was laugh. Then i chatted with some room mates and went to sleep. Felt strange to be in hostel after being in a hotel room for long.

Woke the next day and the sun was shinning. Met up with danielle and we went off to Pompeii. Bus took about 30 minutes and there we were, the city is huge, it took us about 5 hours to walk round and we still missed stuff. I loved it, you get a real sense of the damage that was caused, and a look at what life was like. Strangly the brothel seemed to be the most complete biulding there, pictures and all !! Well worth the visit, its hard to describe it on here, but enough to say that i left with a really idea of how the pompeiins had lived there lives.

After getting a local bus back to Naples, 2 hrs uhhhh we went out to dinner Naples Pizza is lovely, met up with a couple of irish lads and went out drinking, got back about 2am.

Next day after ordering mine and danielles lunch in Itallian from deli, We went off to the lovely island of Capri, ferry took about an hr to reach the island, and as soon as we arrived, we went on a boat ride around the island we saw lots of inlets and rich peoples houses, the sea was too rough for us to go to the blue grotto, which on the postcards looks stunning. After arriving back on the island we took the bus up into town and just wondered around these narrow little alleyways, whcih offered fantastic views and the odd glance into peoples gardens. We then watched the sunset from the top of the piazza.

The end to a lovely day.

Next day we left our luggage at the station and took the train to Eurcolana. Were we took the bus up to Mt Vursovios. We were let off to walk the last km. My god was it cold, it was cloudy with icy rain and extremely windy. I forgot to bring a coat. After a very steep climb we made it to the top, where we celebrated with hot chocolate and coffees. I had a ciggy and asked the mountain for a light and some tourist said i dont think thats very funny do u ?. I thought she needed a sense of humour transplant.

After climbing back down we took the bus to the ruins. They are a lot smaller then Pompeii only take about 1 hr to get round. We couldnt find anyone that spoke english or a guide book in english so we were left to figure it all out for ourselves. It looked to us like they were trying to reconstruct the site to how it must have looked before the mud slids. If this is what they are trying to achieve then It could be well worth a visit again in 10 years or more.

We then went back to Naples and took the train to Roma. Arriving about 8 pm. Danielle left me to continue on her way to Nice.

Hiya

Well back in Palermo, for a night, met up with my god mothers sister who took me for a quick tour of the city, in her car, and then we had a delicious lunch in her faviote cafe. After I spent the evening walking around the city and sorting out my blog.

Next morning, I had breakfast brought to me in bed by a very cute Italian staff member of the hotel, Lovely way to wake up I must say. I then set off to see the Palace, and then tried to get money out of the bank machine which proved to be difficult. I then had lunch and met an english guy and his Russian wife. The cafe was run by a lovely Italian family who were wonderfully friendly and the food was great.

I then boarded the ferry to Naples, I only ended up sharing my 4 bed shared cabin with one other girl from Canada, her name is Danielle and we ended up hanging out for the entire time in Naples and plan to met up in Nice. Well the trip to Naples was eventful to say the least, We decided to Buy a bottle of wine which as we both smoke we sat on the deck and chatted loads drinking wine, smoking and watching Palermo shrink into the distance. We then went on a search for food, and discovered due to it being off season, there was no cafe or resturant open so I found the chef, A little bit of flirting and soon we had chicken sandwiches and a free bottle wine for out troubles, dont ever try and seperate me from food I get deadly. We then started talking to 2 Italians and practicing my Italian. Not sure how well I did but they laughed loads, until i started to teach them english. Went to bed at 2am. Got woken at 5.30 as we arrived in Naples. On a cold wet day.

After spending a couple of days in Taormina I moved onto siracuse on the east coast. I treates myself to a lovely hotel, set next to the harbour wall with views of the town. The best thing was the Fruit salad for breakfast, and tea with milk. The island of otigiva is situated on the southern tip of the town and takes about 1 hour to walk around. Its kinda of like a mini Venice without the canals. Every street is like a little wonderland of beautiful architecture. I thought a lot of the two Julies while i was hear i think you would both love it. After my first night i went into the town and went to the greek and roman ruins also saw the most amazing quarry where the stone came from, with strange caves left behind. Spent the evening walking along the pier and watching the sunset, sunday night and sunset seem to be big deals in Italy as there were loads of people about.

Morning all

Well I arrived safe and sound in Palermo last night, if not a little drunk, met two girls from manchester on the plane, and we all decided that due to the flight being bumpy we could settle our nerves with a few vodka and cokes. Arrived at my hotel in the dark so this morning woke up to the most amazing views of palermo. I can see across to the mountains and over to the harbour. Took pictures which i will post as soon as i can. Found this place for free internet for an hour. Not bad for someone that can speak no italian, im sitting in a beautiful old biulding, with marble staircases and painted ceilings. Im now off to explore the old town. Its warm, its sunny, and im feeling good.

Well its been a week since i posted, Spent a happy day walking around palermo, many of the places i wanted to see were shut infortunatly. But i was happy to look at things from the outside, found a german tour group and followed them for awhile so that i could get my bearings and didnt have to keep getting out my map. Walked till my legs felt like they were gona fall off and returned to my hotel late after enjoying a pizza, and slepted really well. The hotel room was no bigger then a store cupboard but the views were increadible.

Left the next day for Catina, which i didnt really like so moved on to Taormina, which was outstanding, its the rich and glitz resort for Sicily. Met some sweet old lady who offered me a room for the night, which i accepted, and she went and got oranges of her tree in her back garden for me to eat. Spent the evening walking around the town and enjoying the views of mount etna. Spent time in a local cafe and met Stuart and Debs from England and we had an interesting chat, she worked for a subsiduary of EMI so you can guess how long it took me to steer the conversation onto Mr R Williams. Haha. The room i rented was very damp so i went looking for a different room, met a italian called christomas,? who i think ended up trying to sell me his house so i moved on to enough hotel. The next day I spent the entire day hoping not to run into him and the sweet old lady. The biuldings, squares and friendliness of sicily and the sicilians has made me feel incredibly welcome and there has always been someone to help me when my Italian failed me.