Finally to Rome

Rome - The Eternal City

With great efficiency the Italian rail system whisked us from Florence to Rome in a little over an hour and a quarter. Smooth and fast at another 250 kph.

The weather is hot (32C) and the walking in narrow streets of cobblestone can take its toll. However, our fellow travelers from NZ in the wheelchair continue to inspire us. So on we go!

First stop was the Coliseum. It looked a little smaller than we expected from the outside and it is really only when you enter the building that you begin to appreciate the amazing engineering feat that this building represents. It is not simply in the use of materials that balance the weight across the structure, but also in the drainage and infrastructure that was needs to support a crowd of 86,000 who attended the games.

Needless to say this was not a happy place if you were part of the spectacle designed to entertain such a crowd. Untold numbers of Christians went to their deaths to satisfy the blood list of the mob. Gladiators also fought but not often to the death as they were valuable commodities. Not so the Christians. Phenomenal engineering is all we can say - makes Etihad look positively primitave.

We then went with our lovely guide Elena on a walking tour of some of the memorable Roman sites. Unfortunately the Trevi Fountain, scene of so many classic movies, was closed for renovations - disappointing - but we tossed our coins in the proper way so that if our wish comes true we will return another time to Rome.

Caught in mid throw!

Well nearly caught it!

Possibly one of the highlights of Rome was our visit to the Pantheon, a former pagan temple dating back 2000 years which was later converted to a church. But again what a great feat of engineering.

The Pantheon

The perfectly symmetrical dome with its central portal which is open to the elements.

It was very impressive.

The guide warned us that at this stage of the tour we may suffer from " monument fatigue" and this may be the case. To see so much of Roman history at every turn does make you a little blaze.  So we will leave it there and he head to bed. Oh? Did we mention another wonderful dinner with wine, great food, music and dancing under a perfect sky? No I suppose some readers are suffering "blog fatigue" by now. Take heart - only one more week to go!!!

We do love you all and miss you. Tomorrow Head Office and we will offer prayers for you in St.Peter's Basilica - even if you don't believe in it.

All our love 

Poss and Pop

The Circus Maximus

The ornate column of Marcus Aurelius

What's this one Poss? I give up.

Florence

Market & Church

It was nice to have a slow start to the day. At about 9:30 we set off for the Central Markets following our trusty map and trying to read the street names which at times were hard to find. Having read about the market on TripAdvisor, we were not disappointed in what we found. Every type of fresh produce to tempt the palate. Stall holders offered small tastings of olive oils, prosciutto and cheeses. Who needs lunch?

The building housing the market is not only great to look at and in atmosphere but airconditairconditioned, which on a warm day is nice (about 28C and walking makes it feel hotter). Of course we now quite like the odd coffee and the availability of WiFi made our stay a little longer. The crowds built as it approached midday and lunchtime. Many of the stalls will prepare fresh jambons (sandwiches) or panini for you. However, we chose two slices of a fresh torte made of spinach and ricotta cheese. Absolutely delicious!!! As the crowds increased the WiFi performance declined to the point of being the same as the hotel - pathetic. So on we ventured with trusty map, fighting our way past stalls of leather goods, scarfs, and the usual tourist fare.

Eventually we came to the church of St. Maria Nouvelle, which dates from the 13th century and is very well preserved. It had also been a Dominican monastery so there was plenty for us to see.

The market and outside the tourist traps

St. Maria Nouvelle

The outside of this church was just as delightful as the inside. Just think what these walls have witnessed over 900 years? 

With our feet beginning to flag we slowly took ourselves back for a shower and little siesta before heading into the Tuscan hills to a villa once occupied by Machiavelli. It is a working winery and fine restaurant ( oh how sad!!) . Regrettably we have no pics of this wonderful evening. The wine was great and the five course meal superb. When we returned to the hotel we finished with a nightcap in the bar. Very nice. Don't know what the drink was that Simon the barman poured for us (on the house) but as he filled the ten shot glasses the liquid turned from deep green to deep red. All from the one jug...some sort of vodka based cocktail.

Anyway goodnight and goodbye from Florence as tomorrow we head to Roma!

Ciao, Poss and Pop

Firenze and Fine Art

Firenze 

The Italian fast train was not double decker but traveled at 250kph through one tunnel that went for half an hour (you do the maths). We spent the rest of the day looking at artwork before heading to the hotel, a quick rest and back out to a restaurant for dinner.

Like other cities, Firenze has claims to greatness mostly for its art and architecture. It became the home of Michelangelo and was of course the seat of the Medici family.

The tower of the cathedral was designed by Giotto who did another with a famous lean to it.

Michaelangelo died at age ninety still sculpting.

The WiFi in this hotel is the worst so far so we will use the time for pics (although each pic takes five minutes to load. 

Of course the architecture of towers and churches also figures prominently here.

Perhaps a view over the whole of Florence is more to your liking? Up at this lookout Poss found something to bring home and pull the boat around with!!!

Tomorrow is a totally free day and  we go out to a villa once owned or occupied by Machiavelli  for dinner and we have been told to expect a ghost. Not sure what all that is about. We plan to go to the Central Market( like the Italian Vic Market) and of course a church - dating from the 13th century.

Love to each and every one of you.

Poss and Pop

Free time in Venice

Last day in Venice

Tuesday 26th August

It is hard to believe that it is a week since we were floating down the Seine in Paris. Today was an optional free day but we decided to take the walking tour of Venice anyway. You may think we should be shedding pounds but the meals have been pretty good -but expensive!

The walking tour was conducted by a little old lady called Anna.

This lady told us much about everyday life in Venice, the shopping, the gossiping, how it was and how she fears it may become. She was a hidden treasure.

Gardens, Anna explained were the most prized possession in Venice.

We finished our walk at the old fishmarket which had the minimum size for oysters and fish literally set in stone. Couldn't put this fish measure on Pop's boat, although a pair of them would make it look quite Gothic

Do not be fooled as the early Venetians obviously caught the same size fish as Pop usually catches - small. 

As usual there were innumerable church's if you wanted to, or as our tour Director irreverently put it "ABC - another bloody church.

Just to be different we spent our time visiting the original Jewish Ghetto and its museum. So we went into a synagogue (actually three of them) to improve our appreciation of this religion that Jesus came to fulfill. Shalom and goodbye from Venice for tomorrow we take the fast train to Florence.

But a couple interesting shops here in Venice.

Love to all !

Poss and Pop

Glass and Greatness

Venice

Monday 25th August

Good morning! What are you doing at the start of another week? What a great weekend for the Whites as Steve's team took two wins in Sydney - super!!! And of course we had the win over Geelong!! Not expected but a lot of people obviously tipped them - news about team changes is pretty scarce over here. The Kiwi couple have certainly let me know about our debacle in the rugby! Oh well, still a good weekend eh? 

Down to business. I am sure you will sympathasise with us when we say that this touring business can be pretty tiring. Stop laughing you mob! We had a leisurely breakfast of various good healthy foods on the hotel terrace on the side of the Grand Canal. It was busy with many of the delivery boats restocking the many hotels and shops with - all of which is delivered by boat.

The nearby bridge over which we wheeled our suitcase full of dirty clothes.

Milk and cheese anyone?

After breakfast we travelled by launch (Venetian equivalent to a coach) to the famous Murano glass factory. This was quite extraordinary, with a demonstration of glass blowing by a master craftsman. The horse here took him about two minutes to make.

After watching the remarkable skill this man has been honing for over forty years, we were taken into the showrooms. No cameras were allowed and there was about one security guard for each person in our group. The rooms were a glass wonderland. These amazing works of art were stunning Fromm jewelry, goblets and vases to huge chandeliers. Breathtaking!

We paused briefly (enough to allow you to buy items and lighten your wallet considerably) before onto St.Mark's Square and the Doges Palace. Rather like Versailles Palace in opulence this was once a functioning seat of government and law court. The Doges were elected to the council for a limited time by the six districts of Venice.

It wasn't all by boat

Entering the Palace.

It was fascinating to listen to our local guide Raphaelle, explain the artwork and function of each room. We crossed the Bridge of Sighs , across which the condemned traveled to their fate and took their last look at the outside.

As you can see there is no lavish gilding on these windows which only shed light on the narrow corridors and not into the cells. Yes indeed these Venetians were very wealthy. 

We took lunch in a tiny local cafe and ate panini and coffee, which seems to be always good and they don't use plastic milk.

We shared our launch with another Trafalgar tour group and cruised out to the island village of Burano. Nothing here seems to have changed in many years and the colorful houses are wonderful subjects for photography.

Although a little late for lunch, no one objected to sitting down to a seafood extravaganza in a Michelin star restaurant. Truly the food and wine were fantastic and they really did spoil us.

Then the spectacle of this beautiful city in the evening light. Two cruise liners left at this time which seems to have emptied the place - there again they would have poured maybe 5000 tourists into town.

Upon our return to the hotel we went looking for a laundromat and four one nearby. So we had a great evening watching our clothes go round and round. We were also joined by two other couples with the same intention and similar piles of dirty clothes. 

So buona Serra and Ciao from Venetia.

All our love to you all.

Poss and Pop.