Capri – ah maybe not.

Sorrento, Italy – October 15th, 2009.

The guys in the dorm room are hiring a boat to head out to Capri today. So I’m gonna tag along and go with them. Another traveller is coming too. Daniel and I make our way to the main town of Sorrento and go to meet the others (who came in to get supplies).

We wait for them at the Harbour and they come bearing bad news. They actually wouldn’t let us hire the boat as conditions are too rough. So we go to get the ferry across – but thats fairly expensive and it’d be a waste as its already 11am and the next one is 1pm.

So we head off and go to the place to book a tour of the place. As its gonna be the same tomorrow. So for 35 euros we get a guided tour. Sweet. So we head back to the hostel and grab some pizza for lunch. And spend the day playing wii. Its a tough life.

Chicken is on the cards again tonight and it goes down an absolute treat. Before heading to the little upstairs seating area and drinking some cheap beer.

Its gonna blow….volcano.

Mt Vesuvius, Italy – October 14th, 2009.

Its another late start to the day. I cram as many croissants in at breakfast, and grab some rays on the rooftop before heading out to do a spot of hiking.

Getting off at Ercolano, the guidebook states that buses run up most of the Volcano – there is only one and well it doesn’t go til after 1ish. So I go and explore what is Ercolano. Which isn’t a great deal to be honest. I make refuge in a pizzeria and munch down on a margherita and a birra moretti before getting the bus up.

The bus ride up is very rough and pretty dangerous. Well the bus driver is fanging it around blind side corners and close to edges of the road. We make it to the parking station in one piece and get given our entrance tickets.

The climb up isn’t tough. It’s fairly step and rocky and its not long til I’m met withe the crater of the active volcano – but it hasn’t erupted for a long time. Its not what I expected – but again its not erupting. There’s a few plumes of smoke but that is all.

There is a walk around most of the volcano – you used to be able to get up to the ledge before some stupid person actually fell to their death. So now guardrails are in place (they aren’t exactly hard to get through though. I get to one spot where I can sit and watch the volcano from the edge and its a good drop to the bottom. But the view is amazing.

Not only are the views of the Volcano awesome – but so are the views of the bay of naples where you have Sorrento to the left and Naples to the right. You can see Ischia and Capri out there too.

Heading back down is a lot easier, and the bus trip isn’t bad. I catch the train, get a few zzzzzzzz’s and head back to the hostel.

Dinner is the staple of chicken and chips to go at the shop. And a few beers back at the hostel. Its a bit of a quiet night as some of the guys are keen to hit the Karaoke bar and seeing as I’m running low on funds I skip it and stay in and watch a few movies and play the wii.

A lot of rubble

Pompeii – October 13th, 2009.

A scoff down of the free breakky and a shower and I wait around for the Rorsta to turn up so we can devour some chickeny goodness. He turns up at about 12ish – and collects his mail and we divert straight to the chicken shop. Sadly they aren’t open – we figure its just siesta time or something and head off.

We get off at the Pompeii train station and grab a bite to eat before heading in. Rory was about to come in, but bails at the last moment. And I go buy my ticket and grab a map of the place.

So for those hiding under a rock, Pompeii is the best known archaelogical site in the region. It showcases the desctruction of one village when Mt Vesuvious erupted an eternity ago. Because the ash buried the town the town itself is very well preserved.

Heading in its qutie amazing to see the buildings still in pretty much in tact. Not to mention the amount of dogs that are around. Its like canine city here. But its quite enjoyable – its not really well signposted so it may be good to take a tour or get an audio guide. I had a guidebook that had a tour in it so I followed that.

The one place that everyone pretty much goes to is to the Brothel. Its quite small and cramped. The beds are slabs of rock and the walls are highlighted by paintings of couples going at it. There was a massive line to get in.

The other place that is quite amazing is the towns very own Gladiator arena at the far end. Its not small but it is compared to Rome’s. It’s quite eerie being in the arena where millenia ago people were dying.

I head back to Sorrento and the hostel and chill out on top of the roof for a bit before going up to the chicken shop for dinner. Sadly its shut – they shut on Tuesdays. Its quite silly. So we grab a case of beer across the road and then head back to the hostel. We decide its best we eat at the hostel – its cheap-ish and it’s convienant.

We end up going up having beers and chilling out in the small lounge room playing wii tennis.  Not a bad way to spend the evening.
Note: My camera is complete garbage and somehow won’t let me upload – so I have to wait for it to be looked at by some one and cost a fortune. So no photos for the rest of my Italy trip at the moment. Once I have them I will upload them on here. Apologies.

The Only Church You Need To See!

Rome, Italy – October 12th, 2009.

Last free breakfast in Rome, and myself and Joey dump our bags and head off with Cassie and Rory to the Vatican/St Peters. We start to head to St Peters til Cas and Rory decide to go do the Vatican Tour with our Roman Forum Guide.

Joey and I head towards St Peters Square thinking we’ll get in pretty easily. Then we hit the square – and the line up is HUGE. I am talking from one side following the circle of the square. Its ridiculous. We head to the end and Joey basically goes fuck this I’m out and heads off to his next destination – Florence. I stick around – I’ve been waiting to see St Peters. Its been the one church on my list that I have to see.

What is this line?

The line goes quicker than expected and its not long til we’re ushered through the secuirt gates – bit much for a church but I suppose this is the centre of the catholic church. Heading up the stairs I spot the colourful swiss guards who guard the place.

Stepping inside is like another world. Its incredible. It is by far the best church you will see. The decorations and size is overwhelming. I go past Michaelangelos Pieta statue and then mosie about the cathedral. It is absolutely incredible, there is even a mass going on.

Inside the Cathedral

I go to visit the tombs but the line up is ridiculous and I head off. Taking in one last look at the biggest church in the world and set off for the hostel. At the hostel I grab my bag and head off to Roma Termini and book a ticket to Napoli (Naples) and then get some pizza whilst waiting.

The train trip itself is relatively slow – it lasts about 2 hours and I’m pulling into Naples. From the train it looks fairly dodgey. I walk myself to the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento.

Getting off its tip toeing through piles of dog crap to the hostel. Which just so happens to be a lap of luxuary. Its by far one of the best hostels you could plonk yourself in – despite the lack of self catering facilities its pretty good. I chill out on the roof top terrace and soak up the last rays of the day.

Rory and Cassie recommended a local Chicken shop which apparently has the best meal ever. I spot a few other travellers waiting for theres – they’d been here 4 days and only just heard of this place. But heading back to the hostel and tucking into it – it is without a doubt the best chicken and chips you will taste. Despite the fact that I mistakenly ordered a whole chicken instead of half.

Note: I am still in the process of getting my remaining Rome/Sorrento/Pompeii/Vesuvius/Capri/Amalfi/Naples photos – the SD card was a bitch. So the photos are probably not mine but a friend of mine. You’ll get over it.

The Hangover…

Rome, Italy – October 11th, 2009.

Its a bit of a hazy and lazy day. We chill out and watch a movie before heading into the train station and grabbing maccas. Before doing a lot of nothing for the day.

We go and grab a pasta dinner, before grabbing some gelati to help the hangover soothe away before retiring for another movie.

Such is the life of a traveller – you have these days and can afford to have them.

Gladiator

Rome, Italy – October 10th, 2009.

I wake up to everyone wishing me a happy birthday, then get a msg from people who can’t ring. So I sit on Skype and talk to everyone (parents and friends). Its nice to hear from people.

We have some breakfast up at the kitchen then head off on another day in Rome. Rory, Cassie, Joey and I make our way on the metro to the Colosseum. Some big ruin thing thats in Rome. I haven’t really heard of it.

We make our way over, and I get my first girl for the day. A lovely large girl in the form of a sculpture. haha We make our way for the line and then realise how long it is. Ridiculously long. It must be popular.

What a lucky girl!

We decide its time to get our tourist on and take a tour by bypassing the line. We end up still having to line up somewhat, but we get in a bit faster. And are given these annoying speakers that our guide talks to us through.

The line to get in. A bit ridiculous.

Apart from the frustrating speakers, its a pretty awesome and spectacular site. To consider that this is over 2000 years old and still standing is amazing. Its quite a feat and its quite a marvel.

Colosseum.

We ditch the tour lady and go explore the colosseum some more. It really is specatcular. We then realise we have about 30 minutes to get some food before heading over into the Roman Forum.

Roman Gladiator.

We head up to Palantine hill, and have a quick but informative tour of the Roman Forums – a lot better than crazy colosseum tour guide. Its absurd thinking this place is 2,600 years old. Nuts. They used to have marble here that is worth about 1 million per square metre or something ridiculous – its all in the vatican now.

Roman Forum. 2,600 years worth of history right there.

Cruising out of the forum, the walk takes us past the wedding cake – as its called in Rome – and onto the Trevi Fountain. We first grab a gelati – yeah I know another one but its so god damn good – then grab a spot by the fountain and enjoy it. Before doing the obligatory chuck a coin into the fountain. We had a lot of spare change – I think Rory chucked in at least 1 euros in shrappers.

Last stop, and its to chill out like the locals do in Rome, by chilling out on the Spainish Steps soaking up the suns and people watching. Life can’t get much sweeter than this!

The awesome foursome on the Spainish Steps.

We grab a few beers and head back to the hostel for free pasta and start to drink up. We then head back on the Metro and head on a pub crawl with a 1 hour of power. Apparently cause its my birthday I get a free bottle of wine – it was spumante. All class.

Outside the Colosseum at night before we do an hour of power.

The pub crawl is loose. Very loose. It was a pretty fucking good night. Apart from how it ended. But all in all, looking back on it, a pretty amazing Birthday. Life is sweet.

Loose Night.

The Vatican Museum

Rome, Italy – October 9th, 2009.

A free breakfast is a free breakfast no matter how terrible it may be. So we tuck in and devour some food. Before heading down to the metro and grabbing a metro to near the vatican walls. We do the trek along the walls to the museum entrance.

To the Vatican.

I was half expecting the line up to be as massive. But we score pretty well and make our way straight through to the museum.

Entrance to the Vatican.

The Vatican has to be one of the biggest museums in the world. The place is huge to put it bluntly. We walk out into the courtyard where there is a huge earth ball standing. Very modern for a place built on a lot of historical artifacts.

Gold Sphere.

We then head into the museum, and its packed. Its chockers, shoulder to shoulder. But it is quite amazing. I’m not gonna go into too much detail but if you pay for one museum in your life, make it this one. Well worth it. We spent a good couple of hours exploring.

Being a goose.

We go to the egyptian wing, but strangely come back out to the main courtyard. We then realise we have to go back and backtrack to get to the Raphael rooms and the Sistine chapel.

We keep making our way down corridors and corridors of frescoes. Amazingly detailed frescoes. One of the more intriguing rooms was the map room – a room where they had old maps of italy painted. Incredible.

Map Room.

The Raphael rooms were the precursor to the main attraction of the vatican. But these in their own right would be worth the visit.

The Sistine chapel is a place of worship. It’s not massive in size, as I first thought it would be. But when you look at the ceiling and the Last Judgement. It blows your mind. Although I find it funny that the guards try to so valiantly to keep the peace and stop photos but it seems to be to no avail.

The Sistine Chapel.

Myself and Creation.

The roof of the chapel.

After that we head through some “modern” religious paintings. I spot an odd-looking painting and its a Salvador Dali painting. I’m amazed it’s there.

We explore the rest of the galleries that are nearby before heading out down the spiralling staircase. Joey and I make our way for some food – museums can take it out of you. So we grab a pizza and a coffee nearby then a fix of gelato.

After lunch sustinence.

Pizza and Coffee for lunch.

It’s then off to St Peters Square and muse about before going and getting lost trying to get somewhere. We end up in the slums of Rome somewhere I think. And then decide its best to backtrack.

It’s off to Piazza Navona and the Pantheon again. But with the beauty of these places you can keep going back time and time again.

Inside the Pantheon

A quick bus back to the Termini and we grab a bottle of vino from the store and hit up the hostel. Someone has decided to put on Gladiator again. Not suprising given most of the movie is set in Rome. And we chow down on some awesome Pasta before waiting for Rory and Cassie to arrive.

Once they’ve arrived we go in search of some local bars. We find one bar, and head in. Only problem is they only serve Heineken. Ew. So we make our way to the Yellow bar (which is underneath the Yellow Hostel). And drink away the night. At 12 midnight – which just coincidently happens to be my birthday – they all go and buy a shot.

The shot is dark, very dark in colour. Shotting it back I can only summon up the words “tastes like burning”. It is pure fire. Apparently it was filled with Tabasco sauce, absinthe, jager and sambucca. Nasty little concoction that was. The name was Chuck Norris Roundhouse kicked me to the head. I kid you not, that was the name of it. The rest of the night we drink up a bit. And get in late-ish.

Devils shot - Chuck Norris really did kick me after this.

The Eternal City

Roma, Italy – October 8th, 2009.

Since I don’t want to do anything that the others (Cas, Ror and Joey) want to do, such as the main touristy sites I decide to head and do a bit of a Angels and Demons tour of Roma. Angels and Demons being the book by Dan Brown.

Anyway after some breakfast and checking of email I head out with a map to show me the way. I head up around the corner. I hit a nice looking church and head in. Its the Santa Maria Degli Angeli. Its a hulking big church, but its inside is amazing in its design and decorations.

I make my way up to one of the churches in the book the Santa Maria Della Vittoria. There is not much of this church to be honest. Its quite small and very musky in smell. The outside had a beggar opening the door for money. Inside though is truly amazing. It is splendid in its smallness and the Bernini statue is quite the sight.

Bernini Masterpiece at the Santa Maria Della Vittoria.

I then walk along a road, it seems to go on and on, and up and down. Then I get to the top where a church is. Taking a look down, I am met with the Spanish Steps and the view over the city towards the Vatican and St Peters. Its quite a view. I stop off on the steps and take it all in. I wasn’t expecting this but its quite enjoyable hanging out on the steps.

Looking down on the Spanish Steps.

I then head up to one of the first churches in the book at Piazza Del Polpo and the Santa Maria Del Polpo – though the church is fine I just love the big square that we are on and then head off down the road.

Piazza Del Polpo.

Making my way down this long stretch of road I grab a slice of pizza paid for in weight. And keep on going. And at the end I head to a gelati shop to grab a mass amount of the good stuff. I walk down the road, get accosted by spruikers from pub crawls to vatican tours. And then hit one of the most famed sights in Rome and the christian world.

St Peter’s Square is massive – completely huge. I missed the papal audience with the pope but its still a sight to behold. Its grandeur and the fact its sort of tunnelled in by the collanades makes it seem larger than life. I spot the Air symbol on the ground and mill about this massive existance.

St Peter and me.

I make my way down the street towards Castello St Angelo, an old castle on the River Tiber. Its interesting in that its not what you expect from a fort. But the crazy guys outside street performing hold more interest to myself.

I then head to Piazza Navona. One of the prettiest piazza’s you will ever visit. Stunning. The centerpiece is the Fountain of the Four Rivers by Bernini. Its a massive massive with ginormous scultures featuring the four major rivers of the world (at the time). Its quite incredible – the whole place is packed full of tourists, spruikers, artists, you name it. I head for somewhere quieter.

Fountain of Four Rivers.

And hit the Pantheon – quieter isn’t exactly what I find, but its amazing. It is sublime – an amazing feat of architecture. The dome is perfect. Completely. The inside isn’t what you expect, and it holds the kings and queens of Italy. Not to mention Raphael’s tomb.

Pantheon!

Patheon Roof. Incredible.

And after this I have finished my Angles and Demons tour. Its quite easy to do by yourself and you only need a map and knowledge of the book. It as enjoyable. I head on back to the hostel and buy a bottle of wine and put it in the fridge to cool.

A shower and then I wait for the pasta to cook, whilst watching another movie. Joey rocks up and we finish off the Red Wine.

To the Eternal City.

Roma – October 7th, 2009.

So after wandering the markets of Florence and haggling for a belt. I got it down from 35 to 10 euros. Bargain. Til I get back to London and 2 months later its falling apart. But hey it’s an experience. Always haggle for it at markets.

I hop on a train and make my way to Roma – The eternal City. Trains go pretty regularly. But if your backpacking ask for the cheapest ticket (otherwise you’ll fork out 50 euros). The cheap ticket takes 3-4 hours but saves about 30 euros (which you can spend on booze/food/accom).

The trip to Roma is smooth and slow. But I do see a lot of the country side. It would be fantastic to just pull into a town and wander through with no one speaking a word of english. Thats my dream destination. I don’t like going to a place where they speak English – its not real.

Anyway once at Roma I make my way down some very very shady back alleys (I am sure most hostels are located near the Roma Termini) and get to the Legends Hostel. And then sign up for the Pasta Party. Its not a great hostel – the only common area is the Kitchen and the rooms arent great but are tidy. Its ok nothing great. But when you get breakfast and dinner….you take your chances.

Anyway its a lazy afternoon of watching Gladiator and then enjoying some Pasta. Then making sure I get Joey a bed for tomorrow night and the next few nights. Then hit a gelati store before crashing out in bed.

Art, Art, Art.

Florence, Italy – October 6th, 2009.

I weigh up where I should head to. I have two choices – Galleria D’Academia (home of David) or the Uffizi Gallery. So to help myself as I suck with art I ask the girl on reception which one she’d recommend. I know if I don’t go to one I will regret it. And if I don’t go to the other I’ll regret it. She tells me the Uffizi is a must see and I shouldn’t miss it. So I head on down there.

Head on pass the Duomo, with its magnificent facade. Then down to Piazza Della Signoria and I get to see my David (even if its a replica). Then I go and line up. I didn’t buy a ticket – so I stand in line.Vatican line). But its not moving one bit. I do get in, and pay the pricely sum of 10 euros for the priveledge of seeing some artwork.

The line up. Its not long but it took forever.

In case you’ve been hiding under a rock The Uffizi is one of the premier art galleries of the world. And probably the best for Renassaince Art – that period that brought us Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Raphael, and Botticelli. And the rest, thats just a few. It is the renassaince art gallery. Even more suprising is that the majority of the art was owned and bequethed to the city of Florence by the Medici family.

The place isn’t as big as the Louvre, it does have a tonne of rooms. And it is in chronological order. And despite the  famous art works like Bottecillis – The Birth of Venus and Da Vinci’s – Annunciation (and don’t get myself wrong they were fantastic), l I get a little overwhelmed with the amount of christianity and religious themed art work. Its all splendid and magnificent, but there is only so much an atheist can take. The art work is brilliant though – its a shame I can’t show any photos as there are no photos allowed and guards everywhere. I do sly off a few inside.

Inside the Galeria D'Uffizi.

I then make my way to get a pick me up – Gelati of course. Then head over the Ponte Vechhio. And chill out outside another gelati store. Not addicted to it or anything huh. But this is the best I have tasted in Florence.

Ponte Vechhio.

Its a bit of a lazy afternoon, hanging by the Arno River and wondering the streets of Florence.

Arno and Ice Cream.

Back at the hostel, I meet some new room mates and we go grab some food – Pizza – its becoming a staple for me here. Then head back to the bar upstairs and have a few beers. The only terrible thing about this hostel (barring the no kitchen is the fact that you need to put money on your room key). A few beers at happy hour and a few drinks and talking to all I decide to call it a night about 12. I’m heading to a city that was created by a wolf child.