Can't keep the boy off the farm

Bon Giorno,

Headed out of Assisi first thing in the morning and began our trip to Sorrento.  Going further south we began to leave Umbria and Tuscany.  The larger farms gave way to smaller plots of land and mostly orchards.  However as we neared Rome we found the urban decay had spread to the countryside with a lot of trash in certain locals and veirtually no upkeep to the homes.  Naples was even worse.  It wasn't everywhere but it was a shame to see that.

Stopped in a small town south of Rome called Cassino.  During the second world war a 4 month long battle was waged here where the Germans had dug in their defenses. Look up the Battle of Monte Cassino on the internet. Visited a cemetery where soldiers of the commonwealth are buried. Soldiers from Canada, Austraila, New Zealand, Great Britain, South Africa and India are laid to rest there.  It is beautifully maintained Mom your Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund's are doing great work here.  I also never realized that personnel from South Africa and India served during the war.

From there it was on to Pompeii. I had read about it as a kid but never dreamed that I would be walking among the ruins.  You can see the wheel ruts in the stones of the streets from the wagons, the shops, houses bakeries and brothels.  I hope Sean can post the picture i sent of the columns with the beams on top of stone.  Take a look at how they use an invertedd system to lock in the beams using short peices instead of having to try and hoist long beams up.

Another ingenious technique was used by the excavators on site.  When they were digging through the ash in the late 1800's (over 18' had fallen and it became as hard as rock) as they came upon a hollow sounding level they would cease digging. What they were encountering were places where people had died on site and the body had decayed but the skeletons were still there intact. They would then drill a hole into the hollow and fill it with plaster and let it harden.  Then they would dig out a full plaster mould of the body. The two most famous moulds are one of a dog that was still chained to its post another of a pregnant lady with her arms wrapped around her tummy.

From there it was on to Sorrento. A lot of Rome and Europe come down this beautifull part of the coast. Beaches are a little rocky but the cliffs and scenery are breathtaking.  Water is very clear.  Our hotel is perched up on one of the cliffs and has stunning views.

For dinner we went to a farm that has buildings dating back to the mid 17th century. They make their own mozzarella and ricotta cheese (I STILL think thats a fancy name for cottage cheese), but on 4 acres they grew olives, lemons, cherries and oranges.  Here are some pictures of the cows and the cheese making.

I have to say we had more fun at that farm than any 5 star restaraunt we have been to on this trip!

Off to the Isle of Capri this morning, will chat later.

Ciao,

D&D