Epiphany January 6 is a holiday of sorts here in Italy. Each of the several holidays we have been in Italy for so far this trip has varied in observance, perhaps because of where we were. Much more is shut than we are used to in Australia, but even on Christmas in Rome, some things were still open. Our major intention today was the Neapolitan walking tour which we had missed yesterday. Before this though, we wanted to find the bus stop for the Vesuvio bus n...

A:Mick had organised yet another wonderful day for us exploring the stunning Amalfi Coast, stopping at Positano and Sorrento and Amalfi as well as a few quick stops along the way. While we usually try to avoid this kind of thing, one of the stars - and major frustrations at times - of the coast is the narrow, winding and scenic road that connects the major towns. There was no way we wanted to drive. Even if we were feeling brace, the driver wouldn't be abl...

Jan 5 After a comfortable night, we were all set for a free walking tour. While the forecast was not for rain, it looked like a fifty fifty proposition. So we went armed with raincoats and brollies, but were blessedly free of caps, scarves and down jackets in the fifteen degree plus heatwave. You could tell the locals, because they had scarves and beanies on! The rendezvous point was the Castel Nuovo, which we can see from one of our grand balconies, so it was ...

We were up early to clear out of Bari Casatita, our little home away from home. We agreed that it had been probably the best accommodation - among a series of good stays- in the trip. The normally excellent information system on the platform at Bari Centrale was, as they say, fuori servizio, so we had no indication of when our train was expected, and where the carriages would pull up, or even if the train that arrived around the time was ours. A few well placed ...

PAGE Wednesday 3.1.18 Day trip and walking tour of Matera. A: We were on the road early and had breakfast as the locals do- in the cafe with coffee and pastry (cornetto). Mick's new cough had taken a good firm grip, but there was no way we were going to miss Matera - a major destination in the area, as you will read below. Today's trip was on another of the small local railways - the Ferrovia Appulo Lucane. It even has it's own station building, and has o...