June 20 – July 12^th

You'll need to follow along with the pictures from "my blog"

A lovely time spent in Italy with my daughter, Alex, Kelly, her two kids (Derek and Emily) and her Mother Jan.  Here we are in the limo going to the airport…when I was a kid of 11 a stretch limo would have been a big deal…our kids are a bit different ;-)

We arrived in Rome via Detroit from Seattle on Tuesday, June 21^st and checked into a great hotel, Capo De Africa, just blocks from the Coliseum.  Alex liked the modern art in the hotel:

On the first day, we walked from the hotel to the Spanish steps…not a short walk…on the way we stopped at the Trevi fountain and got shooed away by the Police for having our feet in the fountain (ignore my thumb too):

Alex walked the Spanish steps with me and we took some great photo’s of the city from high above:

Tuesday night I had a conference call for wok (promise I didn’t do too much in my 3 weeks, but duty called that night…the troops went out for dinner that night…everyone slept well.

Wednesday June 22^nd (yes, my 39^th Bday!!!)

Another walk to the Spanish steps so all the kids could count them…then on to the Rome Zoo…on the way the kids found a kiddy ride in Villa Borgehse:

The day was marked by Emily’s obsession with the 6 person park bikes that she wanted to rent…thank god we passed ;-)…The zoo was fun, but day two meant tired kids…so not much else on Wednesday…

Thursday, June 23^rd

We had a tour guide and saw ancient Rome.  Started at St. Cemente Church near our hotel which was fascinating…they’ve excavated below the church and found an old Pagan Temple and what was likely a Mint for Roman coins…amazing that they’ve gone 2 levels below the church to find all of this…we visited the Coliseum, Roman Forum and the Pantheon…I think the kids were blown away by it all…here are some of the pic highlights:

Coliseum :

Roman Forum:

Pantheon:

Played games all night with the kids on the deck of our hotel…Alex’s first Farkle game (don’t ask) and Grandma Jan’s empty Bilini glass ;-)

Friday June 24^th

Off to the train to find some ruins at Osteia Antiqua.  Kids enjoyed roaming the ruins of this ancient city…Alex and Emily ended up sitting with two Nuns on the train ride and had quite the talk…wish we could have heard this one.  This was a port town during the Roman Empire days…apparently the key diet was bread in Rome and because of the water system back then, grain was housed in this town before moving up to Rome…it was amazing.  Alex had the camera this day and took more pictures than could ever be shown…but here is a great one of the theatre that was in amazing shape:

Friday night we had a nice meal and got some rest for the travel day.

Saturday, June 25^th

Nice drive from Rome to our Villa outside of Sorrento…nice if you like driving a van on roads barely big enough for two smart cars!!!!  More on that later.  But we made it to the Villa and it was amazing…here is the first sunset from our porch:

Sunday June 26^th

After driving to the Villa I decided I couldn’t drive more than every other day on these roads or the vacation would be ruined ;-)  So Sunday was spent, as many days would be, in the pool….and hanging out at the villa playing games.

Monday June 27^th

Ventured off to Sorrento to see the sites, get our bearings, etc…beautiful place with amazing old streets and shops:

And of course, the day we realized the kids were getting BURNED and incredibly tired:

Tuesday, June 28^th

As the rules were stated…this was a day for the villa ;-)  No driving two days in a row for me…

Wednesday, June 29^th

Now I remember why I made the rule…and realized why all the cars have their side mirrors either tucked in or removed…I drove on some of the hilliest, narrow roads with mountains and or cliffs that I care to remember.  Drove through Positano, Amalfi and stopped in Ravello…home of some of the best ceramics in the world.  Kelly had a shopping spree to say the least…

One of the wide roads:

View from Ravello…their ability to farm on the side of a mountain is amazing…

Thursday June 30^th

Great day…we were driven to the Marina where we took a small boat up and down the coast.  Truly spectacular views.  We stopped in Positano and Amalfi and got to look around and shop…unfortunately, I forgot my camera ;-)

Friday July 1^st:

The other rule was no driving on the weekends…we’d let the Tourists take over and enjoy the Villa…luckily, we got the sunset of a lifetime.  This is the sun setting over Capri…did I mention I liked the Villa?  Save the bugs of course and the barking dogs…

Saturday, July 2^nd and Sunday July 3^rd

More of the same from Friday ;-) 

Monday, July 4^th

Off to Capri!!!  We took a Ferry over to Capri and Alex, Derek and I road up a chair lift to the top of Anacapri…felt like we were on top of the world to say the least!!!

Alex also got her first pair of handmade shoes…this picture proves it ;-)

Enjoyed Capri to say the least…

Tuesday, July 5^th

One week left in Italy…wow time is flying…kids are in the pool with Puff (one of the many donations we’ll be making to the Villa) and I’m catching up on the journal…

Wednesday, July 6^th

Off to Pompeii!!!  Great time looking at some amazing ruins…how could your favorite not be the cast of some poor guy buried in ash for 1000 years?

Add to the ruins an amazing drink that was a mixture of fresh orange and lemon juice and you have a great day!!!!  Of course, convincing the girls that Vesuvius was going to blow again and we’d be buried alive (causing crying, praying and nightmares) was fun for me ;-)

Thursday, July 7^th

Kid day for me...I dropped off Kelly and Jan at 9:30am in Sorrento and had the kids at the villa…well…after a stop in Santa Agata for some good coffee for me…it was a good day, picked up the gals around 6pm and had dinner out at a great restaurant in Massa….all in all, casual, fun day…

Friday, July 8^th

Last day at the Villa…spent doing laundry, getting packed, last fun in the pool and eating all the leftovers we could manage!....fun relaxing day, last of the Farcle, and other fun games…said goodbye to Puff the inflatable dragon ;-).  It was amazing shopping every other day for fresh food in the local towns, going to separate butcher, fruit/veggie, pastry shops, etc to make meals that were so fresh and amazing…add the $7 Euro wines that were amazing and eating at the Villa was a highlight for weeks.

Saturday, July 9^th

Back to Rome and 100mph speeds in the Van…got back with little trouble…and walked around a bit.  Got into trouble for letting Derek and Emily have a second Gelato cone, but such is the price of being a grown up kid with money ;-).  New hotel is nice, Regina on Via Venetto…here is Alex in a big comfy chair on Sunday…

Sunday, July 10^th

Off to see some stuff we’ve missed like the Piazza Navarro

We also went to see the Saint Maria Maggiore church…one of the most amazing churches for me…the art, the history…next to the Vatican (see notes for Monday ;-) it is the best sight in Rome…well, we also went back to Trevi Fountain for more Gelato…

Had our first minor accident as Jan tripped on a lose stone and chipped her two front teeth…she was an absolute warrior though and never once complained…

Monday, July 11^th

Vatican day and the reminder that you need at least 3 days at the Vatican to see anything…Day started by us cutting in an hour long line because our tour guide was so aggressive we had no choice.  We were not very popular ;-).  We started with the Rafael rooms and Sistine Chapel.  From there, off to St. Peters.  Sylvia was great, anyone wanting to go to Rome should use this woman, she was excellent especially with the kids.  Here are a few good pics from the Vatican

Pope John Paul II tomb:

Kids with the Swedish Guards:

Alex touching St. Peter’s foot:

Kid’s with our tour guide Sylvia:

Tuesday, July 12^th

Up early…3:30am for the flights…we almost made it home without issue, but with a few hours to go, Emily got an upset stomach and Derek got a migraine…so the last few hours were interesting ;-)…but we made it…the trip is over and the jet lag has begun….