Day 14

A smart car that you see all over Italy.

© A Product of Silence

Today we say good bye to Italy. We left our hotel for Rome airport at 8.30am ready for a 12.30 flight. As we travelled on the coach we were all silence, our eyes trained out the window, getting our last look. When we arrived at the airport we found out our flight had been delayed by an hour and we also had an unscheduled stopover in Milan. This meant getting off the plane one more time and taking all our carry on luggage with us. 

We were in Milan for a couple of hours, where some of did some last minute shopping, and then we reboarded the plane and continued our trip home. We had another stop at Dubai and again at Singapore, both times just involved getting off at one gate and getting on at another, but each time you have to go back through security. I lost count of how many bottles of water I had to throw out during this process. Finally we touched down in Melbourne at 2.00 am and after clearing customs I walked out to meet my family at three in the morning. It was wonderful to see everyone, I had missed them more than I thought posssible. And as good as Italy was, I was glad to be home. It was the end of a fantastic trip.

Living La Dolce Vita

Day 13

Today we left Sorento, heading back to Rome. Our first stop was Pompeii. This decimated city left me in awe, such an amazing place full of so much history. I have trouble believing I actually saw it first-hand. Even though much of the marble has been stripped from the ancient city it is still incredible and been able to experience the places people lived so many years ago is indescribable. 

Pompeii

© A Product of Silence

After leaving Pompei we had a brief stopover in Naples where we had lunch. I would have enjoyed Naples much more had our tour guides not scared the life out of us with stories of muggings etc. As it was there was there was a protest happening by out of work men in the centre square. 

However lunch was incredible. We found a little pasta restaurant out of the way, up a tiny alley way and we had one of the best meals we'd had in Italy. This was mostly because of the entertainment which consisted of a man playing a piano accordion who serenaded us while we ate. If I didn't look up I could imagine it was Dean Martin singing 'That's Amore' amongst other songs that you associate with Italy from years gone by. It was a magical time. 

Bay of Naples

© A Product of Silence

We arrived back at our hotel in Rome at 6.15 and spent the evening doing some last minute shopping and packing up ready for our departure tomorrow. It's hard to believe my stay in Italy is nearly over. We have seen so much in our short time here. I'll be sad to leave, but I'm looking forward to seeing my family.

Living La Dolce Vita

Amalfi Coast

© A Product of Silence

Day 12 of our tour of Italy involved a trip from Rome to Sorento for a one night stay. The scenery as we wound our way along the Amalfi coast was absolutely breathtaking. Just before lunch we stopped at the picturesque hillside village of Positano. Our coach was unable to navigate the narrow winding streets so we were transported to the centre of the sleepy little village by minibus. 

Positano

© A Product of Silence

Searching the streets for a place to eat we were having no luck until we met a local who spoke some english. He lead us down to where Positano meets the sea where we found a beautiful little beach and sitting nearly right on the sand an idyllic open air restaurant. The food was amazing and it was a lovely sunny afternoon in the most beautiful setting. It was like something out of a movie. I don't think I'll ever forget that lunch in Positano. Afterwards we did some shopping in the little stores on the climb back up to the bus. 

Le Tre Sorelle, Positano

© A Product of Silence

Continuing our trip, we arrived in Sorento at 6pm. The traffic on our way into town was horrendous as was the garbage lining the streets. That part of Italy was in the middle of a major garbage strike that had been going on for some time. When we finally reached the hotel we found it was probably the worst of the trip but we were so tired by then it didn't matter much. After tea we walked into the centre of Sorento for a look around and a little more shopping. 

Living La Dolce Vita

Day 11

Today we explored Rome by train, an interesting experience to say the least. There are some very unsavoury types that travel around looking for easy targets and use any means possible, even faking being pregnant to achieve their purpose. 

Spanish Steps

© A Product of Silenc

Pantheon

© A Product of Silence

 Once off the train we moved around on foot, visiting the Spanish steps and then the Pantheon, where strangely across the square from this lovely old building, is McDonalds. I have to say that is the thing that struck me the most about Rome, that in amongst modern buildings are ancient stone walls and ruins of buildings. It is a truly surprising spectacle so see these different elements side by side. 

Pantheon Dome

© A product of Silence

Trevi Fountain

© A Product of Silence

After lunch outside the Pantheon, the dome of which, almost two thousand years after it was built is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome, we visited the famous Trevi fountain. Another sight I had very much wanted to see, simply stunning, even in the rain. We also visited the iconic Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

  Later that night we attended a soccer match and cheered for the local team Lazio. Unfortunately the visiting team won the match but it was an incredible experience not least because we got to witness how the supporters of the two teams are kept segregated. The two groups are completely separated in the stands with security guards and fences surrounding the visiting supporters. Then when the game is over the locals are stopped from leaving the stadium until the visitors are on their buses and clear of the immediate vicinity. Unbelievable, but safer than the alternative I'm guessing.

© A Product of Silence

Living La Dolce Vita

Day 10

The grounds of the Vatican

© A Product of Silence

Today we toured the Vatican museum and St. Peters Basilica. Talk about ornate. There was no expense spared on the decoration in these buildings. Every conceivable surface was covered in frescos or paintings or mosaics and then there were the statues, unbelievable. It is all incredibly beautiful, even the grounds are a sight to see in their own right. 

Vatican Museum

© A Product of Silence

The highlight of the tour was the Sistine Chapel. This was a truly awe inspiring sight and because we were there in the off season we able to view it all at our leisure. We were told that in the summer everyone just files through in a continuous stream and you have to try and see it all on the way through. We stayed in there for ages, just taking it all in. Amazing is the only word I can think of to describe it. I will never forget the feeling of standing there surrounded by such beauty and history. 

Vatican Museum

© A Product of Silence

Leaving the Vatican we got on our coach for a tour of Rome, stopping at the Colosseum, yet another sight that left me speechless. We also saw the Arch of Constantine and the Roman forum. 

 After a day immersed in the past we were brought back to the present with a shopping spree in some lovely shops close to the hotel.

Living La Dolce Vita

Day 9

This morning we set out early for Rome with a stop at Pisa on the way.

Pisa

© A product of Silence

Pisa

© A Product of Silence

Although it was really wet this did not diminish the excitement of visiting such a well known attraction. Pisa a very interesting place. The tower is set in a walled square with several other buildings made of Marble. They are stunning to look at and the lean on the tower is really something to see. It is however was not as big as I expected it to be. I decided not to climb to the top.  After our claustrophobic climb up the Nave wall yesterday I’d seen enough of the inside of such a confined space for a while.

We ate lunch at Pisa while we perused the many stalls selling souvenirs and arrived at our hotel in Rome at 5.30. The hotel Domus Sessoriana, lies inside an Archaeological complex, consisting of the Basilica of Holy Cross in Jerusalem and the ruins of the last roman Emperors residence.  The Basilica houses a piece of the Holy cross and it and the hotel are incredibly beautiful to look at both inside and out and afforded us a very comfortable stay. The hotel boasted its own restaurant which is where we had our meals in Rome and a roof terrace offering a magnificent view of the city.

Domus Sessoriana Rome

© A Pruduct of Silence

Seeing the ancient ruins and parts of old stone walls scattered amongst very modern buildings was a constant source of wonder as we moved around Rome.