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Click on a picture to see a larger image
Italy - the
great adventure
Other than Aruba (and
not counting Canada for the moment) we really haven't traveled outside the US.
We had been discussing a lengthy trip to Australia and New Zealand and had even
purchased a few travel books. Finally, we decided we needed to start smaller or
closer. Spain was considered since Debbi has been studying Spanish for a few
semesters, but ultimately we selected Italy. The original plan was to trade
timeshare units but that plan went down the tubes quickly since there is little
availability. We switched our plans to use some of our million Marriott
(frequent sleeper) points and stay in hotels. Bill spent some time with "Italy
for Dummies" then, in concert with our Marriott travel advisor, we selected
Venice, Rome, and Naples for a week each. That would be Venezia, Roma, and
Napoli in our fledgling Italian.
Last December, shortly
after booking the hotels and planes, we saw a story on the news about the
garbage crisis in Naples. Seems there are ongoing disputes regarding trash
pick-up and disposal that have been raging for many years. There was no real
"plan b", so we just had to hope the situation was improved before we arrived.
...more stories to
come...
You can check out the
snapshots (click on the small picture to see a larger version) or watch this
movie (turn on your speakers)
| Venice |
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| The alps from the plane |
First class sleeping units
- really comfortable compared to Coach, especially if you like to sleep
on a slant |
bridges everywhere |
glass factory c 1400 |
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| lovely...$200 per stem!
No, we didn't buy any. |
antique enclosed gondola |
Grand canal |
plenty of decay |
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| gondola ride for you and your most
intimate 30 friends. Gondoliers don't serenade anymore, either. |
St Mark's... |
is under water |
Low bridge - quick DUCK! |
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| Interior of Palazzo Ducale |
Interior courtyard |
"Holy excess, Batman" |
dungeon |
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| Murano, home of glassblowing |
Burano, famous for lace |
Lots of churches |
A few synagogues |
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| Canal at night |
Our hotel - not very
"old world" - and not that close to the city either |
Eurostar train to Rome |
Our private compartment |
| Rome |
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| View from the train (going
about 300 mph) |
Old stuff everywhere |
Coliseum |
Circus Maximus |
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| Spanish Steps |
Tiber River |
Vatican |
Arch (Hadrian's?) near Coliseum |
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| Part of original aqueduct, still carries
water down from the mountains |
Roman Forum |
Newly excavated temple |
Emperor Domitian's (AD 86-91)palace
(Palatine is one of the 7 hills of Rome). With indoor plumbing and
heated floors. |
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| The last judgment |
Hercules |
Sistine chapel ceiling |
St Peter's (one tiny corner) |
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| Best eating in Italy - gelato! |
Inside Coliseum |
Mosaic floor c. 200 AD |
Public water supply - no shutoff
valve, dripping water for centuries |
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| Real Italian Ravioli, note
the watery sauce with no spices. And of course "al dente" macaroni. In
our house we just call it not quite cooked. |
Who else? Chef Boy-R-Dee.
And you thought they made him up. |
Pantheon, oldest building.
Well preserved as a parish church. |
Inside the Pantheon. |
Trevi Fountain. Talk about huge, it is the entire length of this
building. There is no place far enough back to get it all in one frame
due to other buildings. |
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Buskers (street performers) entertained us while we had
our "sausage (cocktail wieners), mushrooms (canned), & pepperoni (one
green olive) pizza". This is an avi video file, so turn on your speakers
before clicking on it. |
Swiss Guards, protecting Vatican City and the Pope for centuries...and
still wearing outfits designed by Michaelangelo |
Talk about appropriate naming. This place is on the same
street with Dior, YSL, and Gucci! We didn't even go inside. |
| Naples |
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| View of harbor from hotel |
Big Dig, Neapolitan style.
We used buses and trains in Naples but they do have 2 subways. None
going where we needed to be. |
But officer, it didn't fit the other
way... We have several other examples - these people will park ANYWHERE! |
"famous" souvenirs, made here (really).
If we hadn't seen them being made we would have guessed someplace in
Asia. |
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| Naples street: cars,
shops, al fresco dining, and all uphill (or downhill if you prefer) |
Street vendors: designer
purses anyone? |
Old Fiat 400 -
smaller than "Smart for 2" |
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| Pompeii: interior wall |
Street of shops |
artifacts |
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Mt Vesuvius, the only day it was
clear. Note that the traditional mountain peak is missing, evidently it
literally "blew it's top" (c 79 AD) |
| grinder |
Cart ruts & stepping
stones |
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| Herculaneum |
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