Salzburg

We catch the overnight train from Rome to Salzburg, changing at Kufstein at 5.30 am. Hardly anyone at the station and slightly on the cool side, which is a change from the heat in Italy.

Arriving a Salzburg at 7.00 am. The place was dead. We had time to kill as we had booked the Sound of Music tour at 2.00 pm. Found somewhere for coffee, then set about exploring the city. Salzburg is a city full of character, culture and old architecture. After having been in and out of various craft shops we decided to go up the cable car to the fortress at the top of what can be described as a massive rock. Now the temperature was getting seriously hot. The cable car had been there since 1898 (although has been replaced several time over the years) the first cable car was water driven, today its electric.

The gardens and mansion in the top 3 photos was, apparently, once owned by the local Catholic Archbishop who had 15 children with a mistress. :O

Fortress on the rock, you get to by cable car. Has a torture chamber.

View from the fortress

Sound of Music tour.

Left Salzburg early this morning for Leipzig, changing at Munich (today we see it in daylight it was at night when we went to Venice to Zurich) Colditz tomorrow with a WW2 historian.

Vatican City

Our Second day in Rome and we decide to take the Metro to St Peters Square in Vatican City. First of all a trip into the Church. Came across a que and an official moving people along. It was the statue of St Peters and his foot is wearing away from everyone touching it. Moving around the church we saw various statues and paintings. Came across an on going service so kept quiet, although already quiet, this was extra quiet. When walking out we decided to join the que to go to the top of the Vatican. The ques were long but the moved fairly quickly. Into the lift we go (or you can walk the first 300 odd stairs) then there is another 300 odd steps to the top. The nearest I can describe the last 300 steps is a cross between climbing the steps inside the Pyramids (Giza Eygpt) and Alice in Wonderland where everything is getting smaller and smaller and narrower and narrower. The floor stays flat but the walls are leaning to the right. Unlike the Pyramids there were stopping points and fresh air coming in through windows. Pleased I did it, even if it was to just get that photo from the top. I have decided there is no need to it again.

Tomorrow we're leaving Rome and the Italy Tripp is finished. Catching the night train from Rome to Salzburg.

Rome

Today we went to the Forum and the Coliseum. Entering the Forum first we see the remains of an aqueduct then the private gardens of what was then the posh villas, where the Romans exercised their horses. We then had an almighty thunderstorm right on top of us, which for a change made us feel cold. Working our way through to the Coliseum, it can be seen that under the main arena area there are passages where the animals were kept. And graffiti is found on the stones where spectators would scratch the name of their favourite gladiator. At lunch time the Romans would send a criminal into the arena.

This and Pompeii is reminding me of my Latin lessons at school.

Naples Museum

Today is our last day in Naples, we decided to go to the museum. Loads of statues, Julius Ceaser, Brutus, Herculies and many more. It started off well with everything explained in English as well as Italian but as we went further the English was dropped and we couldn't read Italian, we couldn't understand what it's all about.

Then there was the Secret Room (which was also in English). Rather than explain, you can look at it here:

http://www.naplesldm.com/secret.html

Interesting it was the women who photographed the pictures, not the men. LOL

http://www.naplesldm.com/secret.htmlhttp://www.naplesldm.com/secret.html

Pompeii and Sorrento

Today we catch the tube to Garibaldi station in Naples (No, it's not made of biscuits) for the train to Pompeii and Sorrento. Arrived at Pompeii at about midday, the very time people tell you not to go as it's so hot. Looking at Vesuvius in the background, being so close, the thoughts that went through my head was A/ Did they know what that mountain was when they built Pompeii, B/ What did they think when it erupted and C/ The speed the lava and ash came out of Vesuvius, they had no chance.

Sorrento

This was a quick visit for an ice cream and tea. Sorrento looked like a place built for tourists, will need to return in the future all the same.

Back in Naples station, just to prove I'm not joking

Naples

Now arrived in Naples. Caught a taxi from the station to the hotel. Had to haggle the price (brought back memories of (Eygpt and Kenya). I forgot how wacky Italian drivers are.

Went for a walk along the coast and had to have a Naples pizza. Back at the hotel, the airconditioning is on and still sweating buckets. Pompeii tomorrow for more photos.