My Oyster

And That's It For This Trip...

Today was our last full day in Italy for this trip. We did some shopping for gifts in the morning. We had been scoping out stores all week, so we were pretty efficient. In the afternoon we squeezed in one more amazing museum, the Villa Barberini. Of course, this was all punctuated with food and drink.

We ended our trip to Italy with a last visit to the Coliseum and a gelato from the Gay street. That’s what it is called – though technically it is the Via di San Giovanni in Laterno. Even at midnight, it was pretty much hopping. 

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from day 12 – the last day of this trip...

Nature...

The Barberini family was pretty important.  Their symbol was the bee.

Beauty...

Colisseum at night.

Fun...

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Shopping with Jean.

Spirit...

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This town runs on Vespas.  Literally and figuratively.

Just liked it...

My serene Jean - even with all the commotion around him.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

A Little Bit of Naples on Our Way Back to Rome...

We weren't quite ready to leave Positano, but this morning we hopped in a cab for the two hour ride to Naples.  We arranged for the taxi driver to give us a quick "tour" of Naples before catching our train back to Rome.  It probably would have worked better had she spoke English or us Italian. 

We have lots of pics of things that are important.  One day we will figure out what they are.  We did get to enjoy two pizzas in the backseat of the taxi while zipping around the streets of Naples.  Don't do that every day. 

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from day 11...

Nature...

A cat cleaning himself in front of the produce market with a gaggle of tourists snapping pics.  Nothing more natural than that.

Beauty...

OK, just one more shot of Positano in the morning.

Fun...

Jean trying to keep a straight face in this somewhat staged "candid" photo.

Spirit...

Mount Vesuvius, Naples, and a calm sea.

Just liked it...

These two were having a very animated discussion on the streets of Naples.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

Capri Daytrip - Hmm, Well, We Will Remember It...

Definitely not the most successful outing on this vacation.  Granted, we did not really give it much forethought and we knew going in that it would be swarming with daytripping tourists.  We also knew that the public beaches would be unpleasant (they were).  But we are generally very lucky and seem to just stumble on to wonderful, non-touristy, experiences somewhat effortlessly.

Not today.  It was hot, swarming with tourists, and just a bit unpleasant all around.  By the time we got to the beach, we were so dismayed that we just turned around, grabbed a bite to eat on the water, and hopped on the next ferry back to Positano and our lovely beach there.

But, we did have a nice visit to a less bustling town - Anacapri.  We enjoyed taking the bus.  Took some good snaps, and got a beautiful gift for Maeve from a wonderful 80-something local woman.  Not so bad.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from day 10...

Nature...

Back in Positano, we got in a swim and some drinks while the storm passsed through.

Beauty...

Sunset dinner overlooking Positano.

Fun...

Waiting for the bus on Capri.

Spirit...

Father and sons and some football in a small tucked away square. 

Just liked it...

We hated the actual beach on Capri but I loved the scene.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

A Little Adventure and a Lot of Relaxing...

This morning we rented a boat and "captain" to explore a bit of the Amalfi Coast.  The captain was cute.  The scenery was amazing.  The towns quaint and fun.  Exactly what we wanted.

At one point we anchored the boat and swam into a big grotto (cave filled with the sea).  It was beautiful and a bit creepy.  The water was choppy and I was a bit nervous - but it was beautiful and exciting.

We spent the afternoon on the beach looking at people and the waves and just relaxing.  The evenings here are all about the dinner and primi and secondi plattis.  Yum.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from day 9...

Nature...

Along the Amalfi coast.

Beauty...

Positano from the boat.

Fun...

Approaching the grotto for a swim.

Spirit...

Positano at sunrise.

Just liked it...

 

The beach at the town of Amalfi.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

Yeah, I Think We are Gonna Like it Here...

Beautiful views.  Amazing food.  Lemoncellos on the beach.  Lounging around.  Happy people.  Comfy temperatures and Mediterranean breezes.  This is vacation.

Jean and I took a fast train to Naples (just 1 hour) early this morning then a shuttle to Positano.  Got here just in time to have some lunch on the water and lay on the beach all afternoon.  We are really throttling back the pace for this weekend and it feels good.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from day 8...

Nature...

They really work the lemon here.  Good for us!  

Beauty...

The view from our balcony.

Fun...

Lemoncellos on the beach.

 

Spirit...

Yup, this pretty much typifies the essence of Positano.

Just liked it...

 

 Two sets of lovers on the beach below.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

Gettting out into the countryside...

A local friend, Steven, picked us up this afternoon and drove us around to several very cool and non-touristy spots here in Rome and then we headed out of the city for an evening with locals.

We drove out into the volcanic hills that surround Rome.  There are little villages and olive groves and vineyards.  We looked around a bit, had some drinnks, then an amazing dinner of local meats, veggies, olives, and wines.  Yum.

After all that we drove back into Rome for a late night gelato and looking at the lit up Colisseum. Just beautiful!  It was a wonderful day.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from day 7...

Nature...

Jean roaming in Villa Borghese.

Beauty...

One of the villages outside of Rome.

Fun...

Steven teaching me how to use the water fountains that are all over Rome.

Spirit...

The main church in the beautiful town of Frascati.

Just liked it...

Monument in the very small town of Monte Porzio.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

OK, That's a Lot of Art...

Wow, I had forgotten how much there is to see at the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's.  That is where Jean and I spent most of today.  It really is an amazing collection housed in equally beautiful surroundings. 

The visit brought back wonderful and emotional memories of the visit with my mother several years ago.  I am lucky that I got to experience it with her.  And lucky again that I got to be there today with Jean.

Eventually we got out of the Vatican and did some walking in Trastevere.  It is a leafy green and slightly less developed and touristy part of Rome.  We liked that.  That "walking tour" ended with drinks with an old high school friend of Jean's.  Very nice!

We ended the day near the Spanish Steps for dinner and a selfie snap (see above).

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from day 6...

Nature...

The Tiber river - right in the center of the city!  

Beauty...

The Pantheon, city, and mountains beyond from Gianicolo hill in Trastevere.

Fun...

A slight smile from the Swiss guard.

Spirit...

Sun streaming into St. Peter's.

Just liked it...

I think I spent as much time looking down at the floor mosaics in the Vatican Museum as I did up at the art.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

When in Rome...

Do as all the other tourists to Rome do.  That was our day today.  The Colisseum.  The ancient ruins of the Palatine hill.  The Pantheon.  We tossed a coin into the Trevi fountain.  Pizza and spritzs in a piazza.  It was wonderful.

We were out in the very hot sun for much of the day but did escape into a beautiful old villa turned museum - The Doria-Pamphilj Gallery.  It has turned out to be one my favorites.  It is a small, family collection in a beautiful setting.  The audio-guide was great.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from day 5...

Nature...

The trees on the Palatine hill were stunning.  I could picture someone taking shade there millenia ago.

Beauty...

I have looked at many ornate ceilings.  This one at the Pantheon is simple, 2000 years old, and a still mesmerizing.

Fun...

 

 Audioguide and camera.  All set!

Spirit...

The Forum.  These ancient ruins still hold the feel of that time.

Just liked it...

Jean strolling amongst the statues and glitz.

And more photos here at my flickr account.

 

And We Are In Rome...

We were up early and on the train from Venice to Rome this morning. 

Jean found us another nice hotel in a perfect location.  The front desk guy basically planned our entire stay - right down to which bus arrives at which stop at which time.  Not kidding.

We had a great afternoon of roaming around. OK, there are a LOT of churches here.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from day 4...

Nature...

Lush ivy makes for a nice home.

Beauty...

Baslilica di Santa Maria Maggiore - so golden it was hard to leave.

Fun...

Pizza, Prosecco, Planning.

Spirit...

Moses by Michaelangelo at the Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli.

Just liked it...

Nighttime and crowds descending onto the Piazza Navonna.

And more photos here at my flickr account.