Rome - Day 4

The Pantheon, Spanish Steps and Piazza do Popolo (shopping?)

Rome - Day 3

The Vatican - fabulous guided tour through Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peters.

Rome - Day 2

Today we 'did' the Colosseum and the Palatine and then followed this up with a hop on, hop off tour.  As you may have guessed, we're stuffed.

Rome - Day 1

We arrived around 2 pm and were able to walk to our hotel - brilliant planning - and then walk to the Trevi Fountain, our first highlight of Rome.

Almafi Coast

Today we did the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento to Amilfi via Positano and return by Sita bus in beautiful sunshine (and survived)

Pompeii

Today we visited the ruins of Pompeii.  I heard a tour guide say that the residents were covered in lava from Mt V 6 Km away so I had to correct him and say that is was volcanic ash and pumice.  Anyhow, a fascinating place. Unfortunately, this afternoon is drizzling - Oh well, an afternoon nap would be very nice.

Sorrento - we've arrived

Fast train trip from Florence to Naples and then slow, crowded trip on local circumversuvia train to Sorrento.  When we got here however, we discovered heaven. Palm trees, stunning views across the bay to Naples an Versuvius from our hotel balcony and roof top pool area.

Firenze to Napoli by train

Firenze

On Wednesday morning we headed out by bus on "The Best of Tuscany Tour'.  Highlights included Siena, Gimignano and Pisa.

Venice - day 2

Glass island Murano (don't buy from the first shop you go in to), Burano (beautiful) and gondola ride.

Venice

We arrived in Venice by train from Milan, late Saturday afternoon.  No thought of winter here, just blazing sunshine and crowds.  On Sunday morning we bought ferry passes and headed towards the St Marco Basilica and the Doges Palace.  We wern't alone so heaven help you if it was the middle of summer.  In the late afternoon we went to the Rialto bridge and had dinner beside the Grand Canal.  Venice is a very beautiful place. Tomorrow it's off to the glass islands.

Milan

Sue and I finally met after 4 weeks apart (courtesy of my involvement in the GSE Team to Denmark).  As can be expected all we could do was locate our hotel, have dinner and go to bed (jet-lag of course).  The next day we travelled by train to Lake Como - spectacular.  We took a boat tour on the lake and then went to the top of Brunate in the 1894 funicular.

The next day we caught the metro into the Duomo.