The Tour had a city walkabout this morning, but we cancelled and decided to do our own walkabout. We have a late breakfast and head off at 10 am. Our first stop is the Basilica of St Peter in Chains. Here we see a horned moses by Michelangelo as well as the chains that bound St Peter. We then went to the Wedding Cake and had great views over the city. Found a nice little cafe for lunch and then headed for the Pantheon. Amazing place, consecrated as a catholic church in 609 AD. We also went to Circus Maximus and walked along the banks of the Tiber river. We get back to our hotel, with some beers we picked up along the way, at 4.30 and shortly after the heavens open up and it pours for the next three hours. Lucky we had already picked up some beers! We head out for dinner at 8 pm and find another lovely restaurant where the waitress provides us with a dictionary so we/she can translate. Best chocolate mousse and coffee so far. Another great day. Head off to Naples tomorrow for the second part of our trip.
Day 10 Sunday
Today we head off to Naples by train. Get to the Termini 11.30 am and book our return trip. While waiting Luggy is accosted by a gypsy with baby, and Luggy shows no interest she spits at him, Luggy lands a return serve. Gypsy Beggars are everywhere. Our train arrives and we find our seats and settle in with our wine and cheese. The train is very comfortable and smooth and it is a lovely way to travel.We arrive at Napoli station at 4 pm, but can't find our pick up. Use Ross's phone again and we learn it is outside the McDonalds. We are driven to an area which looks really dodgy. We have to enter behind two large garage like doors which open on to a courtyard and then we take a one person lift with two suitcases up two flights. From the street you would have no idea there was a hotel in here. The room is lovely, comfortable and quiet. We are due to meet our Amalfi walk guide at 6 pm. We meet up with other members of this tour and await his arrival. He eventually turns up (Francesco) at 8 pm and claims there was a mix up with hotels and passing on messages. Not a good start.
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People waiting at the Pantheon for it to rain through the Coppola.
Grandma beggar teaching child to beg and pulling her mouth into a “sad” position.
At the Termini putting our suitcases into a circle like the wagon trains to protect them from Gypsies.
Even the nuns and the priest wouldn’t engage with the Gypsies.
Saw the gypsy with the Gucci bag get into a Mercedes.
John Hoy always has a corkscrew and knife with him for just ‘that’ occasion.
Naples is like New Delhi - dirty looking, lots of people, chaos, noise cars going everywhere,
Our driver did not speak English.
Opening little door to go into the renovated villa, Ross made an observation - “this is where we lose a kidney”
Francesco our guide works on , just not Italian time , more like Fiji time,
Francesco was a bit of an enigma and very canny with money.
Traffic flies down the cobblestone streets like a waterfall.
Saw a man on his scooter with his dog sitting on the running board at his feet.
Crossing the road - every man for himself,
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