Good Morning Everyone!
We made it home safe and sound last night about 6PM Houston time. Good flight home, caught up on a lot of movies one that Debbie really enjoyed was Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. Was cool seeing the sites in the film that we had just seen.
Quick connection in Newark with a very tightly timed connection, clear customs forward your baggage and then clear security. Only one hitch BOTH Debbie and Marla had Lemoncello in their carry on baggage so hopefully the folks at TSA had a good drink on us last night. In spite of that we did make our connection with 11 minutes until the door closed. We were all quite surprised when our baggage made it to Houston along with us.
Dustin and Blake picked us all up at the airport as Marla's vehicle was parked at our place. It was a quick goodbye to everyone and again Linda thank you so much for planning all this it was a fantastic trip.
Went out with the boys for a quick burger at Beck's Prime damn it was tasty and great visiting with the boys :) Got home and hit the sack about 10:30 so we had been up for 22 hours straight with no sleep other than a short nap on the plane.
Got up this morning feeling like a million bucks it was fun to go but it was great to wake up in our own place!
We will be talking to you soon!!
D&D
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
Arriverderci Roma!
Pictures from the botanical garden
This guy was singing and playing the accordion for us in Enrice
The ruins in Sigesta
Well its the final night of a very memorable trip. As I mentioned earlier everyone took off for the Vatican and then we all met up at Piazza Navona. One of the many obelisks that Rome took from the Egyptians is there the largest of all the obelisks in Rome is in St. Peters square. I believe I have read that there are more obelisks in Rome than there are left in Egypt.
Truly a great trip. A special thanks to Linda for planning all this I know she put a lot of work and research into it and it showed with all the places we got to go and visit.
Deb and I leave for a cruise through the Panama Canal with my Mom, Dad, Gary and Philine on November 6 so that will be the next series of blogs.
Below are the remaining pictures and thank you all for looking over my venting and rambling.
Take care,
D&D
Palermo pictures
This guy was singing and playing the accordion for us in Enrice
The ruins in Sigesta
Palermo, Italy
Good morning all. We are in Rome this morning Deb, Lary, Linda and Marla are out at the Vatican this morning so I am taking the opportunity to update the blog, pictures will be posted later as Deb has all the photos with her on her phone. I had seen the Vatican before and be to be truthful I was going to go in and holler "I believe" but didn't like the idea of spending time explaining myself to the Polizia. :)
So Gretchen our Garmin direction frauline routed us to our hotel in Palermo the Hotel Garibaldi which is right on the main square in downtown Palermo. Now this was the only hotel I had booked as Linda had done a great job on all the others but I took responsibility for this one. SO Gretchen was pissed off at us or something because she took us off the autostrada through some of the most desolate slums we had seen so far. Narrow streets unbelievable nasty garbage laying all over nastier looking people damn near had to fold the mirrors in to make it down some of the streets and avoiding sideswiping parked cars and Vespa's. Now I am starting to get nervous as I am sure everyone one else was about what kind of place I had booked us into.
We get close to the hotel and there are all manner of Polizia out and they are parked in front of the entrance to our hotel (which turned out to be quite nice and roomy). Out on the main piazza there appeared to be a demonstration, phoned the front desk and they told us exactly where to pull in with the car and when he had returned the police vehicles had been moved. When asked about the demonstration the desk clerk goes "no... no demonstration... is just Friday in the Piazza!! Oh well Viva Italia!
Saturday we got up and toured Palermo on a double decker bus called an off/bus, you pay 20 Euros each and it stops at about 16 different location around the city while you listen on audio earbuds about what you are looking at the time. When something interests you you get off go meander around and then get back on the next bus that comes along about every 30 minutes. The influences in Sicily start with the Greeks, Carthaginians,Romans, Moors, Normans (who came down during the crusades) back to the Italians until Montgomery and Patton landed during WWII. They REALLY don't talk much about that here unless to mention how Palermo was the most bombed city other than Rome during WWII.
You see churches that were once mosques converted back to cathedrals Eastern Orthodox converted to Roman Catholic. A huge cross culture but the two most prevalent are the Greek and Arabic influence in architecture and culture.
One of the stops that Deb and I took off the bus was the botanical gardens. Deb took me in there with me tripping over my lip pouting (you all KNOW how much I adore horticulture), but it was truly interesting, all the fruits such as lemons and oranges, then olives all were brought in from Africa by the Moors.
Had a great evening that night went to an outside cafe for some libations where there was a piano player then on to a nice restaurant around the corner where I had a pork loin that was very moist and done in a masala sauce. It was a nice change from pizza and pasta :)
The other thing that happened on Saturday was that Mt. Etna blew its top for a while first thing in the morning, ash and lava spewed out the airport in southern Sicily was closed for a few hours but no excavations. We just missed seeing it all by one day.
Sunday morning we took off to western Sicily to a town called Erice the place is about 3000 years old founded by the Phoenicians, on top of yep another mountain gawdamn these guys liked to see their enemies coming at them from a long ways away. I figured out that by the time any attacking armies could make it up the cliffs they were too worn out to fight. To get to the town the last 5 kms of road took us over half an hour all switchbacks and steep grades. We did enjoy touring the town but it was uphill all the way around town until we headed back to our car. It is going to be good to get back home and have a meal where the table doesn't have a 5 degree tilt to it when we are sitting at it. Here is the link for the town site quite interesting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erice
Then on the way back we stopped at the most complete set of temple ruins in the world at a town called Sigesta now I know I have been bitching about all the hills but I finally had an epiphany as I walked up the hill to this one. There must be some truth to Atlantis really sinking into the sea because ever since then every damn temple, auditorium and town has been built on the highest damn point they could. :)
Check out the website what was really neat about this one is that it was never completed so you can see how they laid the stonework and interlocked it all and placed the columns I enjoyed looking at it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segesta
Yesterday was our travel day to Rome. Now we had some fun with returning the car, we get to the airport and there is no fuel station within 15 kms of the airport to top off the tanks so Gretchen guided us to an Esso station which on Sundays only has self service. No english translation on the pumps and the laziest most useless gas station manager I have ever seen in my life. I pulled in and he is sitting slumped in his chair and just glares at us as I get out of the vehicle. We struggle with the pumps and the card reader finally this fellow from Bangladesh comes around and assists us. He wasn't an employee he just worked for tips but that useless prick just sat there the whole time and just glared at me. I mean he never even got up out of his chair just slouched there the whole time. I figure his Uncle Vito made him work there Sunday morning and he wasn't too pleased about it.
Then we go to return the car... now when we did get the car I had not only bought extra insurance online to cover any deductible but when the agent had us get a policy that would cover "everything no problem no deductible" uh huh. The car had extensive damage on it when we picked it up... bottom of the panels under the sliding door and pretty well every corner had some type of road rash to it. But No problem sir its all covered. The lady looks at the car and basically says all damage from the door handles on down is not covered. OK what about the complete insurance I bought. Only from top of the tires up everything below is on you. After we politely explained that the damage was already there, she goes .. no is not recorded on your slip... ok check your database sweetheart... which she did and thankfully it was recorded in the central database. Dodged the bullet on that one.
So landed in Rome last evening and after collecting our bags we see a shuttle service that will take us to our hotel for about the same price that it will cost us for two taxis. Now this was fun. Seriously. Our driver Mauricio leads out to his vehicle a loaded Mercedes Van plush seats just loaded luggage all fits in great and I get the swampers seat with everyone else in the two rows behind us.
Got it ... Ive got the view.. the first one at the scene of the accident when its going to happen. This guy was one of the most gracious people I have met didn't understand english well but told me if I spoke SLOOOOOWLY he could understand. Hard to speak slowly when this guy is cutting in and out of traffic we make a left hand turn where there is only one lane but two have already formed and he makes a third lane totally going around all lanes that are there. Turns out the guy drove transport trucks all over Europe for 17 years and this car service in Rome for the past 4. Great driver truly he was but the sensor alarms for when your car is too close to others was constantly going off. And all the way he is singing along with the radio that is tuned to American pop tunes. It was a lot of fun... didnt think we were going to make it without bumping into something but the guy did a great job.
Got checked into our hotel then went for dinner at a restaurant near the spanish steps.. visited the Trevi fountain, threw our coins in and made our wishes. Saw a lot of monuments last night very awesome.
OK This was a lengthy one will try and update before we leave room and upload a bunch of the remaining pictures.
Ciao
D&D
Good morning all. We are in Rome this morning Deb, Lary, Linda and Marla are out at the Vatican this morning so I am taking the opportunity to update the blog, pictures will be posted later as Deb has all the photos with her on her phone. I had seen the Vatican before and be to be truthful I was going to go in and holler "I believe" but didn't like the idea of spending time explaining myself to the Polizia. :)
So Gretchen our Garmin direction frauline routed us to our hotel in Palermo the Hotel Garibaldi which is right on the main square in downtown Palermo. Now this was the only hotel I had booked as Linda had done a great job on all the others but I took responsibility for this one. SO Gretchen was pissed off at us or something because she took us off the autostrada through some of the most desolate slums we had seen so far. Narrow streets unbelievable nasty garbage laying all over nastier looking people damn near had to fold the mirrors in to make it down some of the streets and avoiding sideswiping parked cars and Vespa's. Now I am starting to get nervous as I am sure everyone one else was about what kind of place I had booked us into.
We get close to the hotel and there are all manner of Polizia out and they are parked in front of the entrance to our hotel (which turned out to be quite nice and roomy). Out on the main piazza there appeared to be a demonstration, phoned the front desk and they told us exactly where to pull in with the car and when he had returned the police vehicles had been moved. When asked about the demonstration the desk clerk goes "no... no demonstration... is just Friday in the Piazza!! Oh well Viva Italia!
Saturday we got up and toured Palermo on a double decker bus called an off/bus, you pay 20 Euros each and it stops at about 16 different location around the city while you listen on audio earbuds about what you are looking at the time. When something interests you you get off go meander around and then get back on the next bus that comes along about every 30 minutes. The influences in Sicily start with the Greeks, Carthaginians,Romans, Moors, Normans (who came down during the crusades) back to the Italians until Montgomery and Patton landed during WWII. They REALLY don't talk much about that here unless to mention how Palermo was the most bombed city other than Rome during WWII.
You see churches that were once mosques converted back to cathedrals Eastern Orthodox converted to Roman Catholic. A huge cross culture but the two most prevalent are the Greek and Arabic influence in architecture and culture.
One of the stops that Deb and I took off the bus was the botanical gardens. Deb took me in there with me tripping over my lip pouting (you all KNOW how much I adore horticulture), but it was truly interesting, all the fruits such as lemons and oranges, then olives all were brought in from Africa by the Moors.
Had a great evening that night went to an outside cafe for some libations where there was a piano player then on to a nice restaurant around the corner where I had a pork loin that was very moist and done in a masala sauce. It was a nice change from pizza and pasta :)
The other thing that happened on Saturday was that Mt. Etna blew its top for a while first thing in the morning, ash and lava spewed out the airport in southern Sicily was closed for a few hours but no excavations. We just missed seeing it all by one day.
Sunday morning we took off to western Sicily to a town called Erice the place is about 3000 years old founded by the Phoenicians, on top of yep another mountain gawdamn these guys liked to see their enemies coming at them from a long ways away. I figured out that by the time any attacking armies could make it up the cliffs they were too worn out to fight. To get to the town the last 5 kms of road took us over half an hour all switchbacks and steep grades. We did enjoy touring the town but it was uphill all the way around town until we headed back to our car. It is going to be good to get back home and have a meal where the table doesn't have a 5 degree tilt to it when we are sitting at it. Here is the link for the town site quite interesting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erice
Then on the way back we stopped at the most complete set of temple ruins in the world at a town called Sigesta now I know I have been bitching about all the hills but I finally had an epiphany as I walked up the hill to this one. There must be some truth to Atlantis really sinking into the sea because ever since then every damn temple, auditorium and town has been built on the highest damn point they could. :)
Check out the website what was really neat about this one is that it was never completed so you can see how they laid the stonework and interlocked it all and placed the columns I enjoyed looking at it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segesta
Yesterday was our travel day to Rome. Now we had some fun with returning the car, we get to the airport and there is no fuel station within 15 kms of the airport to top off the tanks so Gretchen guided us to an Esso station which on Sundays only has self service. No english translation on the pumps and the laziest most useless gas station manager I have ever seen in my life. I pulled in and he is sitting slumped in his chair and just glares at us as I get out of the vehicle. We struggle with the pumps and the card reader finally this fellow from Bangladesh comes around and assists us. He wasn't an employee he just worked for tips but that useless prick just sat there the whole time and just glared at me. I mean he never even got up out of his chair just slouched there the whole time. I figure his Uncle Vito made him work there Sunday morning and he wasn't too pleased about it.
Then we go to return the car... now when we did get the car I had not only bought extra insurance online to cover any deductible but when the agent had us get a policy that would cover "everything no problem no deductible" uh huh. The car had extensive damage on it when we picked it up... bottom of the panels under the sliding door and pretty well every corner had some type of road rash to it. But No problem sir its all covered. The lady looks at the car and basically says all damage from the door handles on down is not covered. OK what about the complete insurance I bought. Only from top of the tires up everything below is on you. After we politely explained that the damage was already there, she goes .. no is not recorded on your slip... ok check your database sweetheart... which she did and thankfully it was recorded in the central database. Dodged the bullet on that one.
So landed in Rome last evening and after collecting our bags we see a shuttle service that will take us to our hotel for about the same price that it will cost us for two taxis. Now this was fun. Seriously. Our driver Mauricio leads out to his vehicle a loaded Mercedes Van plush seats just loaded luggage all fits in great and I get the swampers seat with everyone else in the two rows behind us.
Got it ... Ive got the view.. the first one at the scene of the accident when its going to happen. This guy was one of the most gracious people I have met didn't understand english well but told me if I spoke SLOOOOOWLY he could understand. Hard to speak slowly when this guy is cutting in and out of traffic we make a left hand turn where there is only one lane but two have already formed and he makes a third lane totally going around all lanes that are there. Turns out the guy drove transport trucks all over Europe for 17 years and this car service in Rome for the past 4. Great driver truly he was but the sensor alarms for when your car is too close to others was constantly going off. And all the way he is singing along with the radio that is tuned to American pop tunes. It was a lot of fun... didnt think we were going to make it without bumping into something but the guy did a great job.
Got checked into our hotel then went for dinner at a restaurant near the spanish steps.. visited the Trevi fountain, threw our coins in and made our wishes. Saw a lot of monuments last night very awesome.
OK This was a lengthy one will try and update before we leave room and upload a bunch of the remaining pictures.
Ciao
D&D
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Hi everyone, sorry for the delay but its been a busy week.
We started out from Sorrento driving south to stay at Tropea, Italy a distance of about 400 kms or 5 hours. Here you do travel in hours not kilometers. Anyway the previous night at dinner Debbie had a bottle of wine from the Ferrari vineyards in Trento, Italy.
Soooo.. we look up the Ferrari vineyards on wikipedia and low and behold they had it spelled as Trenta and guess what Dale we will be driving within 20 kms of it on the way can't we PLEASE stop and visit the winery (whinery in my books). OK hon no problem its only 20 k no biggie. We get off the autostrada and start heading into the hills and small villages. I turn to Lary and go there is NO way there is a winery here that is producing 10,000 bottles of spumante... there isnt a building here that could hold more than 5 people in it. After an hour of twisting and winding and going up and down hills I can't stands it no more and pull over and check out the Ferrari vineyards website. SHIT they're in Trenta up by Milan in the northern part of Italy oh well it was a beautiful drive.And this was NOT Debs fault I looked at it as well and had the same short circuit in my brain as to the spelling.
Tropea, Italy
Drove into town a village on the sea with nothing but narrow one way roads to try and get to our hotel. Thank gawd for Gretchen (thats the nickname I gave our GPS guide). Got to the hotel and had to park between two huge flower pots and trust me when I maneuvered the van into the sport there wasnt 2 inches between the pots and either front or rear bumper.
Fountain in the Piazza
Sapphire blue waters of the Mediterrainian
The beach
Monastary under reconstruction
Sunset over the sea
Our hotel at night
Taormina, Sicily
So we head out the next day and put the coordinates into Gretchen for Taormina. NOW you find out why I named her after a hard headed German. She starts leading us out of town on switchbacks that haven't seen traffic in ages. Dead end roads etc., so to hell with this noise I am going to follow the signs, (the ones they have sporadically). It was an interesting drive down to the ferry to cross the strait of Messina onto Sicily. Neat little 35 minute ferry ride not unlike a large version of the Bolivar ferry out of Galveston.
Again... on top of a mountain... switchbacks, narrow roads. Get to the hotel ok and start the tour.... UP the hill.. went for a nice snack and drink then headed FURTHER up the hill to go to the Greek ruins and amphitheater. Got there at 5 just in time for closing. As my uncle Bobby says ooooh well.
Beautiful view during dinner got up the next morning saw Mt. Etna smoking from the volcano (more to come on that later). Walked back UP the hill again to see the amphitheater and the greek ruins.
Now this is a roomy street
The hotel we stayed at was a stop for the Canadian Pacific steamship cruise lines!
Did I mention they were steep?
Greek ruins (I started calling them piles of rocks).
Palermo, Sicily
Drove down to Catania from Taormina then north and west to Palermo. We circumvented Mt. Etna and drove through mile of orchards and olive groves it reminded me a lot of the Okanogan valley. Then as it got more desolate a LOT like Wyoming. You can start to understand why they filmed a lot of the westerns by Sergio Leone here.
Stopped in a town called Chefalu which is a resort town for the Sicilians with a large beach. The old town again as per usual narrow streets took us half an hour just to find a parking spot. Jumped on a golf cart tour that took us around the old city.
OK Have to pack as we are leaving for Rome but will update you on the three days in Palermo next blog.
Ciao!
D&D
We started out from Sorrento driving south to stay at Tropea, Italy a distance of about 400 kms or 5 hours. Here you do travel in hours not kilometers. Anyway the previous night at dinner Debbie had a bottle of wine from the Ferrari vineyards in Trento, Italy.
Soooo.. we look up the Ferrari vineyards on wikipedia and low and behold they had it spelled as Trenta and guess what Dale we will be driving within 20 kms of it on the way can't we PLEASE stop and visit the winery (whinery in my books). OK hon no problem its only 20 k no biggie. We get off the autostrada and start heading into the hills and small villages. I turn to Lary and go there is NO way there is a winery here that is producing 10,000 bottles of spumante... there isnt a building here that could hold more than 5 people in it. After an hour of twisting and winding and going up and down hills I can't stands it no more and pull over and check out the Ferrari vineyards website. SHIT they're in Trenta up by Milan in the northern part of Italy oh well it was a beautiful drive.And this was NOT Debs fault I looked at it as well and had the same short circuit in my brain as to the spelling.
Tropea, Italy
Drove into town a village on the sea with nothing but narrow one way roads to try and get to our hotel. Thank gawd for Gretchen (thats the nickname I gave our GPS guide). Got to the hotel and had to park between two huge flower pots and trust me when I maneuvered the van into the sport there wasnt 2 inches between the pots and either front or rear bumper.
Fountain in the Piazza
Sapphire blue waters of the Mediterrainian
Monastary under reconstruction
Sunset over the sea
Our hotel at night
Taormina, Sicily
So we head out the next day and put the coordinates into Gretchen for Taormina. NOW you find out why I named her after a hard headed German. She starts leading us out of town on switchbacks that haven't seen traffic in ages. Dead end roads etc., so to hell with this noise I am going to follow the signs, (the ones they have sporadically). It was an interesting drive down to the ferry to cross the strait of Messina onto Sicily. Neat little 35 minute ferry ride not unlike a large version of the Bolivar ferry out of Galveston.
Again... on top of a mountain... switchbacks, narrow roads. Get to the hotel ok and start the tour.... UP the hill.. went for a nice snack and drink then headed FURTHER up the hill to go to the Greek ruins and amphitheater. Got there at 5 just in time for closing. As my uncle Bobby says ooooh well.
Beautiful view during dinner got up the next morning saw Mt. Etna smoking from the volcano (more to come on that later). Walked back UP the hill again to see the amphitheater and the greek ruins.
Now this is a roomy street
Did I mention they were steep?
Greek ruins (I started calling them piles of rocks).
Palermo, Sicily
Drove down to Catania from Taormina then north and west to Palermo. We circumvented Mt. Etna and drove through mile of orchards and olive groves it reminded me a lot of the Okanogan valley. Then as it got more desolate a LOT like Wyoming. You can start to understand why they filmed a lot of the westerns by Sergio Leone here.
Stopped in a town called Chefalu which is a resort town for the Sicilians with a large beach. The old town again as per usual narrow streets took us half an hour just to find a parking spot. Jumped on a golf cart tour that took us around the old city.
OK Have to pack as we are leaving for Rome but will update you on the three days in Palermo next blog.
Ciao!
D&D
Monday, October 21, 2013
October 21, 2013
Amalfi Coast
Started out the day with a plan to have a guided tour of the Amalfi coast however after the driver and vehicle decided that we were booked tomorrow instead of today we took off on our own.
The drive from our hotel down the coast to a town called Ravelo. 57 kms (33 miles) 1.5 hours of driving time one way. Some of the narrowest winding road I have traveled including pipeline right of ways and lease roads. One way traffic in places blind corners and I am happy to report only one road rash on the front passengers fairing and the passengers mirror both from passing buses.
Dropped Robbie and Krista off at their hotel in Amalfi before they head to Nice and Barcelona for the rest of the week. It was really nice traveling with them and really enjoyed visiting with them.
Below are some pictures from today again with my commentary :)
Positano
Lary is VERY happy said it was the best Lemoncello yet!
Ancient wall in Ravolo
Main cathedral in Amalfi
Debbie's choices for aprons
Amalfi Coast
Started out the day with a plan to have a guided tour of the Amalfi coast however after the driver and vehicle decided that we were booked tomorrow instead of today we took off on our own.
The drive from our hotel down the coast to a town called Ravelo. 57 kms (33 miles) 1.5 hours of driving time one way. Some of the narrowest winding road I have traveled including pipeline right of ways and lease roads. One way traffic in places blind corners and I am happy to report only one road rash on the front passengers fairing and the passengers mirror both from passing buses.
Dropped Robbie and Krista off at their hotel in Amalfi before they head to Nice and Barcelona for the rest of the week. It was really nice traveling with them and really enjoyed visiting with them.
Below are some pictures from today again with my commentary :)
Positano
Lary is VERY happy said it was the best Lemoncello yet!
Ancient wall in Ravolo
Main cathedral in Amalfi
Debbie's choices for aprons
OK off to our final dinner in Sorrento and start driving down the coast to Sicily tomorrow.
Gnite all
D&D
Sunday, October 20, 2013
October 20, 2013
Sorrento
Good morning everyone,
Had a great meal as usual last night here at the hotel linguini with clams & mussels in olive oil and garlic it was tasty they tend to cook the pasta a little on the underdone side (al Dente). The seafood was fresh arrived that day.
Not anything new to report enjoying a down day just hanging at the hotel Robbie and Krista will be arriving this afternoon. Might go into town in a little while and roam around, in the meantime I thought I would take the opportunity and download some of Deb's photos with a bit of commentary thrown in.
Tiles on the floor of the baths in Herculaneum
Fresco's on the wall of a home in Herculaneum
Cooking urns that were heated with rocks. They would cook food like beans, fish stew etc. The original McDonalds ok here it would've been macdonuldus maximus
One of the streets in Pompeii
Statue of Greek God Apollo depicted drawing a bow at the Pompeii ruins. This area was originally inhabited by Greece.
A plaster cast of one of the bodies found at Pompeii. While they were excavating they came to realize that when they hit a hollow area there was always skeleton in the hollow area.
They then started using rods to feel for when they would find a cavity in the ash while excavation. Once found they would pour plaster into the vacant area that had been left by the body decomposing over the ages. After the plaster had hardened they would then resume excavation. The detail in the plaster shows facial expressions, folding in clothes quite detailed.
This is now at the farm we went to on Friday night, an olive oil holding tank when the olives used to be pressed and filtered then the oil and water would be accumulated here. the oil skimmed off the top and the water drained into a cistern to be used later in irrigating the fields.
The stone pushed by hand to crush the olives prior to pressing to extract the oil
Oil and wine jugs
Lary Linda and I enjoying the home made pizza at the farm.
Debbie and Marla making pizzas hubba hubba :)
The Verde (green) grotto at the Isle of Capri
Cave erosion on the cliffs of Capri, the one on the left looks like a Venetian carnival mask to me.
Narrow streets in Capri quite common in all of these towns.
Picture of Capri as we are leaving on the ferry to Sorrento. A little dark as it was the end of the day
OK everyone have a great day. Off tomorrow to tour Posatano and the Amalfi coast. Have a great Sunday.
D&D
Sorrento
Good morning everyone,
Had a great meal as usual last night here at the hotel linguini with clams & mussels in olive oil and garlic it was tasty they tend to cook the pasta a little on the underdone side (al Dente). The seafood was fresh arrived that day.
Not anything new to report enjoying a down day just hanging at the hotel Robbie and Krista will be arriving this afternoon. Might go into town in a little while and roam around, in the meantime I thought I would take the opportunity and download some of Deb's photos with a bit of commentary thrown in.
Tiles on the floor of the baths in Herculaneum
Fresco's on the wall of a home in Herculaneum
Cooking urns that were heated with rocks. They would cook food like beans, fish stew etc. The original McDonalds ok here it would've been macdonuldus maximus
One of the streets in Pompeii
They then started using rods to feel for when they would find a cavity in the ash while excavation. Once found they would pour plaster into the vacant area that had been left by the body decomposing over the ages. After the plaster had hardened they would then resume excavation. The detail in the plaster shows facial expressions, folding in clothes quite detailed.
This is now at the farm we went to on Friday night, an olive oil holding tank when the olives used to be pressed and filtered then the oil and water would be accumulated here. the oil skimmed off the top and the water drained into a cistern to be used later in irrigating the fields.
The stone pushed by hand to crush the olives prior to pressing to extract the oil
Oil and wine jugs
Lary Linda and I enjoying the home made pizza at the farm.
Debbie and Marla making pizzas hubba hubba :)
The Verde (green) grotto at the Isle of Capri
Cave erosion on the cliffs of Capri, the one on the left looks like a Venetian carnival mask to me.
Picture of Capri as we are leaving on the ferry to Sorrento. A little dark as it was the end of the day
OK everyone have a great day. Off tomorrow to tour Posatano and the Amalfi coast. Have a great Sunday.
D&D
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