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Monday 27th August
Arriving in Milan around midday after an early flight from Dubrovnik we relaxed in the hostel for a couple of hours and spoke to our families back home. After leaving the hostel we wandered up the shop filled streets to the main square Duomo Square which featured the amazing church which is the worlds largest gothic cathedral and Europes 3rd largest church. There is a difference between cathedrals and churches I have learnt by the way they are built.
After walking through another prestigious shopping mall we came to the tetro Alla scala - the opera house and the Leonardo monument. After having a bit of a rest in the shade we continued onto the Castello Sforezesco - an old castle surrounded by beautiful gardens. We headed back to our hostel around 5 as we were exhausted from a long day of travel.
Tuesday 28th August
We jumped on an early train to make the most of the time we had in Venice and after arrived at around 11 and getting lost trying to find our hostel we finally found it and we're surprised by the beautiful view of the grand canal!! That afternoon we enjoyed a trip down the grand canal on the vaparetto - the local water bus and then a gondola ride through the tiny quiet canals... It was beautiful and although very expensive defiantly worth it!! After finishing our gondola ride we visted st Marcos square and the basicalla, fed the pigeons and got lost of the narrow streets!!
The following day we went to Murano the home of murano glass making and wandered through the streets some more and then later wandered around after dinner which gave us a whole new look of Venice - very beautiful at night :)
Thursday 30th August
From Venice we travelled to Florence arriving at about 1pm it was so so hot and after climbing 3 flights of stairs with our 20kg packs we were exhausted !! After a short rest we were off again to see Michealangos Statue of David!! Just incredible - to think he carved that from a block of marble is hard to believe. After wandering around looking at the churches and squares we got some dinner and headed back to the hostel for a well earned rest.
Friday 31st August
After having a bit of a sleep in we jumped on a train to Pisa - to visit the leaning tower of course. Arriving to the tower after a short walk we were amazed at the crowds and enjoyed watching everyone do the typical holding up the tower poses etc! We sat and ate our lunch in the park after taking our photos there as we're trying to save money to get through the last 5 weeks so peanut butter sandwiches it was for us!! We arrived back into Florence about 3pm and walked up a hill that overlooks the whole of Florence!! The walk was tough as it was 600m uphill but the view at the end was so worth it!! See the photos for proof. We stayed up there a couple of hours watching the sun set and had a picnic for dinner :)
Saturday 1st September
It was an early start for us today as we were off to Cinque Terre the west coast of Italy Approx 2.5 hrs away. We had booked ourselves into a day bus trip so jumped on board just after 7am ready for the drive and big day ahead. After arriving at Cinque Terre - the name derives from 5 villages that make up the area we began our walk/ train ride visiting each of the towns. We walked a short 20 mins from town 1 to 2. And then due to the closure of the walking trail from 2-3 from the landslide in October 2011 we jumped on the train to town 4 to begin our 3km trek along the cliff face up and down through beautiful olive and grape vines. A very beautiful, strenuous walk but of course very rewarding with gorgeous views the whole way. After walking for 1.5 hours we had some lunch and relaxed with a swim a Sunbake before heading back to Florence arriving at 7pm. What a massive day!!
Sunday 2nd September
We we're on our way to Rome fairly early as we knew we had a lot of ground to cover over the next 4 days!! After arriving at our hostel about 1pm we were not greeted so Nicely by the staff and told I dump our bags and come back at 3!! After travelling all morning and after 4 months of backpacking we were not too happy with this which set is off with bad moods!! Not a good start to the eternal city!!
We decided to jump on a hop on hop off bus to calm our nerves and relax as we were in no mood for sight seeing. 1.5 hrs later and a lap of the us route we had calmed down. That afternoon we wandered the streets visiting and trevi fountain and Spanish steps and then again later that night after dinner as mum has told me
To visit everything at night! It was beautiful :)
Monday 3rd September
Today we tackled the Colosseum and the roman forum! What a spectacular walking tour we did of the colosseum - our guide was fantastic and was very informative about the goings on that happened thousands of years ago!!
After finishing our tour we then had a tour of the roman forum and this is where the rain began!! We got caught In a huge rain storm, it bucketed down for 20 mins and then the sun came out!!
Tuesday 4th September
Another rainy day in Rome today and we walked in it for 2 hrs whilst on a walking tour!! The walking tour was great we visited the Spanish steps (again) the pantheon, parliament and numerous other squares and fountains that are dotted all over Rome!! We had a quiet afternoon and caught up on washing before heading out for dinner with friends we met in Split.
Wednesday 5th September
Today was the day for the visit to the Vatican!! Wow what an amazing place... We were told to get a tour to take us through the Vatican museums and I'm very glad we did as there was so much to see as many museums it was nice to be shown the most significant and interesting pieces. The maps section was a highlight for me and the amazing tapestries that I kept thinking were paintings!! After visiting the museums we went into St. peters bascilla and ventured down into the grottos finishing off with the climb up the stairs to the dome of the Bascilla which provided stunning views of Rome and beyond!! We didn't get home until 7pm after leaving at 10 so were exhausted to say the least and could hardly walk!!
Thursday 6th September
On board another early train we were on our way to sorrento! After changing trains in Naples to the local train we finally made it and decided to relax for the afternoon in the hostel and visted sorrento town, watched the sunset and had some dinner before crashing!
Friday 7th September
Today we were off to The Isle of Capri - we Jumped on the fast ferry and arrived just before 10.30 and not our disappointment the blue grotto tour was closed due to rough seas so we decided to take a normal tour just around the island seeing many other grottos and natural arches. It was beautiful! You would not believe it but by the time we made it around the island and past the blue grotto they has opened it as the seas had calmed!! But it was now a 2 hr wait and something we didn't have time to wait for :( oh well a good excuse to go back someday! We walked up to Capri town from the port and wandered through the white washed streets lined with pricy boutiques and designer lables before heading to the other town on the island Anacapri. From here we were able to get a 13 min chairlift ride to the very top of the isle of Capri some 600m up!! The view was spectacular and I got lots of lovely photos u will be able to enjoy :)
Saturday 8th September
Another jam packed day today as we were off to visit Almafi and Positano! Beautiful towns with tiny Winding streets and cute little shops lining them was lovely. But the view was more spectacular the small towns perched on the cliff side was huge mountains in the background looked just amazing!! And the bus ride was just as insane! Huge buses winding along the coast line around blind corners on roads that were sometimes only one way meaning the drivers had to toot their horns to signal to other drivers they were coming around the bend! Defiantly an unforgettable experience!
Sunday 9th September
We had a relaxing morning today as Evan wanted to watch the sharks play in the first semi of the finals unfortunately they lost which means he won't be flying home for the grand final which of course I'm happy about haha!!
We were off to Pompai today and Mt Vesuvius. The waking tour of Pompai was terrific an our guide was very informative sharing information on the eruption to why so many people were unable to escape as they were gassed by the ash cloud and all about the preserved bodies. After finishing Pompai we got on a four wheel drive bus up the mountain for a look at the volcano! The bus dropped us 1000m from the top and we walked the rest of the way only to finish right at the edge of the crater. After a short explanation by the guide about the volcano and how the eruptions occurred and how it's
Monitored we were free to explore and take photos. It was amazing standing at the very edge of the crater and something I don't think we will be doing again any time soon.
We r officially exhausted as our 2 weeks in Italy was jammed packed. And after 4 months of travelling we r still
Enjoying ourselves but it's safe to say we r sick of living out of our backpacks and r looking forward to moving into our new flat in hammersmith early October!
Now we r off to the Greek islands for a week of fun in the sun!!
Love Rhiannon and Evan xxx
- comments
Leonie Ah Ran what a great blog, love reading about it and can relive those bus rides around the bends at Positano and Amalfi, the tour of the Colussium, the Gondola ride etc etc. you will share these happy memories for the rest of your life, they are priceless. Can't wait for the photos. Keep the blogs coming. Love mum xx
Lynne Keane Loved reading your post, I don't think I could keep up the pace, we migh,t have left our run too late, maybe cruising down the Rhine or mediterainian is our limit
Margaret Madden-Burns What an interesting blog Rhi, you are a talented writer. I could imagine myself with you. You certainly have seen lots of Italy.