Wednesday, October 30, 2013

"Nanapalooza 2013"


So that was "Nanapalooza 2013."  Thanks Jackie for coming out to see us.  We know it was a busy few weeks.  You did great.  We hope you had a blast.

"Nanapalooza" - Rome, Italy - DAY 5


On our last day we had a few hours to cram in some more sightseeing and shopping before our flight back to Zurich.  We walked over to "Castel Sant' Angelo," which was about a block or two away from our apartment.  The building is the mausoleum of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, and its bridge is lined with merchants selling souvenirs and things.  From there you can get a great view of St. Peter's cathedral across the river.

So that was our trip to Rome.  Overall, we loved the city.  It's crowded and kind of chaotic, but the people were friendly and the food was amazing.  We spent about 4 full days worth and I still feel we hardly saw anything.  There is so much to see.  And our guides were great.  We had three different people and they were all really friendly and outgoing.  So in short, Rome was great.  Can't wait to go back.




"Nanapalooza" - Rome, Italy - DAY 4


Our last full day in Rome was a long one, but very rewarding.  Our driver ("Salvatore") picked us up at 7 in the morning for our 3rd guided tour - a 2 hour drive south to the coastal villages of Sorrento, Positano, and Pompeii.  

Our first stop was in Sorrento, which is a quaint little town on the western coast.  It's a popular stop for cruise ships, and sure enough we encountered a good amount of tourists.  We had just enough time for a little shopping and browsing, and then we were on our way again.

Our second stop was in Positano, where we stopped for lunch.  And boy was it a great meal.  Not only was the food excellent, but as you can see the restaurant had some of the best views we've seen in Europe.  Wowee wow wow!  Needless to say we were thrilled.

Finally, we ended our day with a 2 hour guided tour of Pompeii.  Our guide "Paula" walked us around and gave us a great history lesson of the village ruins.  Paula did an exceptional job of engaging the kids and keeping their interest.  The kids were completely fascinated with Pompeii, and they were still talking about it long after our tour ended.

Anyway, as usual our day ended with another incredible dinner and of course...gelato.  Yum!

________________________________________________________________
In Sorrento











________________________________________________________________
In Positano












________________________________________________________________
In Pompeii






Everything here is original, including the roads










Original frescoes




Paula shows the kids gladiator graffiti 


















Original floors








The forum, with Mt. Vesuvius in the background