Writing this from home. Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Rome to Paris Left The Beehive at what I thought was a reasonable time, but managed to miss the train to the airport anyway. No matter, they have one every half hour. I must say this about Italy - when the trains run, they run on time! Got to the airport and went in search of the AirFrance lounge. Managed to get some coffee and brioche before the flight was called. This business class flight was a non event. T...

Monday, November 9, 2009 My last day in Rome Well, this is my last night in Italy, tomorrow I fly to Paris. I have to say that Rome met my expectations, although I didnt and couldnt do everything there was to do. Backing up to my last entry from Naples. Tuesday, November 3 So the Baryshnikov performance was not at Teatro San Carlo, the Opera House, but at Teatro Politeamo, a smaller and plainer venue nearby. I guess I will just have to return during Opera Sea...

Tuesday, Nov 3 Naples Left Sicily yesterday, Can you blame me. Decided to take the day train from Palermo to Naples. It left right on time at 10 am and got in at 7pm. 45 Eu. Read my book and took a wander when the train pulled onto the ferry at Messina to make the crossing. I feel pretty disappointed that I spent all that money to come over and see practically nothing, but not every day or days can be great ones. I will say though that I love Sicilians! Warm and...

Thursday, October 29, 2009 Palermo, Sicily Well, I had a fairly restful night on the ferry. Valeria and i took turns watching each others stuff as we used the restroom, got drinks and walked the deck taking photos. We finally turned in around midnight, and with my earplugs and eyemask, I was able to shut out most distractions. However, when I woke up, I felt a disturbing amount of swelling around my nose. My neck also felt hot and swollen, right side only. When ...

October 26, 2009 Pompei So, having scoped out the proper train to take yesterday, I had a lazy morning at the hostel and got to the Circumvesuviana train and over to Pompei at the crack of ...noon! Should have left much much earlier..... pompei is huge! I had expected a few pebbles on the ground in the outline of houses, but the area is huge, really they have excavated nearly the whole town, and its a big one and except for the roofs a lot of the buildings are ...