Intercity, Vatican and Rome

Outside the Vatican's St Peter's Basilica - No Pope today

A view in the other direction from the  top of the Basilica's dome

And from the back of the  statues who oversee St Peter's Square

The dome

A beautiful mosaic at the top of the dome

Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) 

Each river has a representative God with  stereotypical indicators of each respective continent

A lion and a  palm tree for Africa and a  bamboo stick for Asia etc...  Great fun guessing who represents which

Incidentally this fountain was also fed by aqueduct  and occasionally (although not since 1866),   they put a plug in the drain, flooded the entire surrounding square, and had mock warship battles! Good times!

The Pantheon, an original Roman building built in  27 BC in homage to the Gods.  Later converted, in 609 AD, to a  Catholic building to celebrate just the one God

They lay down when they ate their food... - Arraahhhh the Romans!

Outside the Colosseum our first night in Rome. We managed to avoid picturing the
scaffolding adorning a large section of the Colosseo.

Mother to a murdered daughter,  wife to a murdered husband –  and she will have her vengeance,  in this life or the next...

A view of the underfloor staging areas inside

Waiting for the tour, chilling on a  2000 year old column piece

During the tour, gangsta rapping, yo

Some men genuinely gangsta rapping with the Colosseum as a backdrop

The Roman Forum, a large area  in the heart of Rome

A view across Rome's rooftops - you can see the memorial to Rome's first  King in the distal background...

... the Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland) celebrates the first King of a unified Italy and is controversial because it is so white  (like a wedding cake it is said - yuk!)  Spot Roisin at the front.

The Trevi Fountain - with unruly horse on the left and placid horse 

on the right to represent the fickle nature of the sea. Fed by a roman aquaduct.

Rosin throwing money over her shoulder into the Trevi pool

Vesuvio

We tried to summit Mount Vesuvius the same day as we did Pompei, knowing that the weather was set to turn. Unfortunately they closed earlier than we expected and we were turned away. So, instead, we went back yesterday but due to the weather...

Oh no! It's closed! But wait, Kit has an idea...

...Just break in... like a gorge it is hard  to close a mountain.

At the top looking into the crater and  waiting for the explosion

Chilling in the fog with the place to ourselves - spooky

And a big lump of igneous rock

Amalfi

The Amalfi Coast - from Amalfi Pier

At the top of the Amalfi Coast

At the bottom

No parking here in off season

Mount Vesuvius from the Amalfi Hills and overlooking the Napoli greater metropolitan area - we love it.

Tanti Auguri a Kit

On the 19th we celebrated Kit's birthday true Italian style (as suggested). We drove into the Naples historic center and sampled some traditional, authentic Napoli pizza. Of course we both selected the margherita pizza. 

Kit picked up a few tips from the Pizzaiolo aka 'the professional' who was more than happy to share his secrets - and he was pretty good too.

To our surprise Corina and Salvatore, our hosts, had noticed Kit's D.O.B on his licence so we were greeted into their home for traditional 'Tatara' (ricotta cheesecake), Prosecco and some Limoncello homemade from their citrus trees. Cake was accompanied with a happy birthday song. Great Hosts. Check them out here if you are going to Naples/The Amalfi area. - http://www.booking.com/hotel/it/villa-le-favole.html

Blowing out the candles in our hosts' living room

Kit's birthplace is in the US so apparently he is Italian American now :-) he says "you want a favor?"

And of course we went out for dinner at the local Pizzeria. You can never have too much pizza!

Cheers!

Pompeii - run for your lives!

Today we visited the ruined city of Pompeii. Getting there from our apartment in Sant'egidio del Monte Albino was quite a challenge. We had to navigate both the narrow streets  and the crazy drivers. It was pleasant once we arrived because, like most sites we've visited, there wasn't a queue in sight. Despite it being the off-season, we basked in 15 degree, sunny weather. Perhaps the nicest day we've had so far, although Solvenia put on a great show...

Jupiter's Temple in the main square of the ruined city

Victims of Vesuvius' eruption in AD 79

3,000 people perished however  20,000 people had evacuated before the eruption

The fresco of one of the city's baths which were  restored after an earthquake in AD 66. A handful  of people were bathing during the eruption in AD 79

A fresco in Nero's second wife's house

Kit in the courtyard of the house of the Faun,  the most lavish house in Pompeii.  You can see Vesuvius in the background

It was such a sunny day, posing for  photos became difficult

Someone who obviously had 

unusual decorating taste

A view of part of Pompeii  from the necropolis

Standing mighty. Apparently security didn't  think it was such a good idea

A typical street

Marks from centuries worth of wagon traffic

Standing mighty #2 at the top  of the amphitheater

Ruins of Pompeii and a view of the culprit