Our
Itinerary
Friday,
June 11, 2004
On June 11th we
took the day flight to London. Departing JFK at 8:30am, we
arrived in London at 6:30pm. The security lines were short and
fast which was a pleasure. The airline food was mediocre at
best. The movie was not that great so I spent the flight reading
my new Microsoft FrontPage version 2003 manual. We stayed at the
Renaissance Hotel at Heathrow. Had a "Pint of Lager" and a light
dinner and then we went to bed.
Saturday,
June 12, 2004
On June 12th we
took the 9:00am flight to Rome which landed around noon. The
check in at Heathrow was much like Times Square on New Years
Eve. I have never seen so many people in one place. Once in
Italy, we picked up a car at Hertz and drove to Naples, about an
hour drive. By the way the Pound is now about $1.90 so be
prepared for London "sticker shock".
We arrived in
Rome and picked up our car at Hertz. We drove to Naples which is
about an hour and a half drive. The Italians have an interesting
habit of passing in the breakdown lane at 100 MPH and swerving
in an out of different lane. It brings back fond memories of
driving the 405 in LA on a Friday night. From Naples to
Sorrento, they do the same thing but on motor cycles with
shapely 20 year old girls riding on the back.
Naples is large
with everything from slums to the very high rent district. The
waterfront was fascinating. There were lots of large yachts. Off
in the distance you can see the island of Capri. We ate dinner
at a seaside restaurant overlooking the bay. It was to dark too
take photos.
Sunday,
June 13, 2004
We will take the ferry from Naples to Capri. We are
staying at the Grand Hotel Quisisana
Check out their website by clicking here
We departed Naples around 9:30.
Instead of taking the Capri ferry from Naples, we instead drove
to Sorrento and took the ferry from there. Sorrento is well
worth seeing. A very charming seaside resort. We seemed to have
timed it just right as we arrive 15 minutes before the ferry
departed. There was long term parking right at the ferry dock.
The ride to Capri is about 20 minutes on the high speed
catamaran ferry. No more Italian. From hear on our you only hear
English (the default language of the tourist trade).
Cynthia over looking Sorrento
Capri Harbor
The walking streets of Capri near
out hotel
Cynthia at our lunch in the town
square
The view from our hotel room
terrace
The stretch Limo convertible taxis
A group of girls from SMU who were
at the table next to us at dinner
Evening in the town square
Monday,
June 14, 2004
Capri - Our 40th Wedding Anniversary
We are going to take a boat ride around the island which
includes a trip into the Blue Grotto.
Cynthia on the Incline Railroad
that goes from the Town of Capri on
the top of the island down to the seaport
On the incline railroad
At the seaport
Our boat around the island went
though that tunnel in the rock
At the entrance of the Blue Grotto
the tour boats wait to off load passengers onto small rowboats
that then go into the grotto
Going into the Grotto
Be sure to bring money as there is
a toll that must be paid to go into the tunnel,
and the rowboat operator wants tip. Also, per the girl
in the next boat, you sit in the bottom of the
rowboat as the head room clearance is
very tight when entering the grotto
In the Grotto
Lunch back at the seaport
Tuesday,
June 15, 2004
Today we went to the other town on
the island, Anacapri which is about a 20 minute bus ride from
the main town, Capri.
A shoemaker who custom fits
sandals to the buyer's
foot size
Cynthia purchasing a towel that
has the recipe on it for Limoncello -
a local drink
The shopping street in Anacapri
Looking back at the harbor from
the bus going up the mountain to Anacapri
The square back in the main town
of Capri
Even cats live well in Capri
Cynthia with her
just-purchased-Italian eyeglasses
Wednesday,
June 16, 2004
We took the ferry from Capri back to Sorrento and picked up
our car. Then we drove 15 miles or so to the town of Sant'Agata
Sui Due Golfi where we stayed in a hotel/restaurant by the name
of Don Alfonso 1890.
Check out their website by clicking here
While departing Sorrento, we
passed a wedding that was about to start.
Don Alfonso 1890
Our room was an apartment behind
the restaurant
Inside the restaurant
One of the many courses. This is
sliced duck.
This is a
portion of the dessert. There were several
glass trays with little items such as this.
Thursday,
June 17, 2004
We arrived in Amalfi after driving a good portion of the
Amalfi Drive which is a winding road that stretches along the
coast from west of Positano to Amalfi and then it continues on
to Salerno where it ends.
In Amalfi, our hotel room is
circled in red above. The view is fantastic.
A view out of our room looking
beyond the right side of the prior photo
The beach in Amalfi
Another look at the main shopping
area down town
Cynthia on the shopping street
Friday,
June 18, 2004
We took the ferry boat that visits various ports along
the coast and we got off in Positano. We spent most of the day
here and had lunch and then took the boat back to Amalfi.
Entering Positano from our ferry
boat.
One of several local artists.
The shopping street in Positano.
More of the shopping area. Note
the hanging garden roof over the walkway.
A seaside
restaurant
Saturday,
June 19, 2004
Today we went to Pompeii. After that we went to Mt.
Vesuvius.
Archeologist digging up new areas
on the edge of Pompeii
It is possible to drive up 80% of
Mt. Vesuvius, but the last part must
be done on foot, and I did it.
This is a
scanned picture from a postcard that shows the crater
Sunday,
June 20, 2004
We arrived in Rome after a long drive from Amalfi. We stayed
at the
Hotel Madrid in Rome
The Spanish Steps - a major
tourist hangout
There are these human statues all
around Rome. They spray themselves with a dust-gray paint and
stand still while their photos are taken. Then they expect a
cash donation.
The Trevi Fountain (Three Coins In
A Fountain - for those you old enough to remember that 1950's
song.)
Cynthia looking up the next day's
activities
Monday,
June 21, 2004
Rome
The roof
breakfast area of our hotel in Rome
The Vatican - Note
that there is tight security at the
Vatican. Try to get there early. It is like an airport. They
X-ray the hand bags and they make you walk through a metal
detector before you get even close to the building.
Since I last visited the Vatican they have
stream cleaned the entire outside. Previously, the stone was
very dark from pollution. Now, it is beautiful.
Ladies, there is a VERY tight dress code. The neckline must be
high and you MUST have sleeves at least a 1/3 of way down from
your shoulder to your elbow. We saw many women being turned
away for improper dress before they got a chance to enter the
building. No open backs. No short pants.
The Pieta
Inside St. Peter's
The remains of St. Peter
The Victor Emmanuel Monument
The Roman Forum
The Coliseum
Tuesday,
June 22, 2004
Fly from Rome to New York
