Pompeii

An early start today to avoid the heat - beating the many tour groups who also started off early. Amazing, firstly that the city dates back to 424 BC, then it was completely buried in 79 AD, then the buried city was discovered in 1594 and finally when proper excavations we started and continued without a break ever since. Walked round for a few hours only imagining what life must have been like back then. Bought an illustrated Resconstuction Book which has the ruins as they are today with an overlay - before and after pictures.

Now

Originally

Ann

   

Pompeii...........June 21

Left Rome this morning for Pompeii - another scorching day today. Arrived at our campsite - Camping Spartacus - don't you just love the name - round mid afternoon. We are literally across the road from the entrance to the ruins so first thing tomorrow morning we will start to explore them - before it gets too hot. The scenery changed today from vineyards and orchards to rolling hills and mountains.

Ann



2 scorching days in Rome..................June 19 and 20

An early start to catch our tram outside the door into central Rome for our hop-on hop-off bus. Gary saw precious little of Rome last time and a tour of the iconic Colosseum was at the top of his list.  We headed there first with our 'skip the queue' ticket which worked a treat - we felt like celebrities walking past the multitudes lining up - the slightly extra cost was certainly worth it. We went on a 60min guided tour and had an interesting time - to think it was built in AD 72 and so much still remains today is amazing. Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, the Vatican, St Peter's Square, the Victor Emmanuel Building (or the Wedding Cake), Spanish Steps and so much more - plus my favourite - Trevi Fountain. The B&B we stayed in 2011 is only 250m from the station so we paid a visit to Massimo who helped us out so much last time. We didn't have to introduce ourselves - he remembered us instantly.It was nice to catch up and thank him again for all his help.  We have enjoyed our time in Rome but it is a very b ig and very dirty city and will  be pleased to get out into the countryside once again and take in some more of Italy's beautiful scenery. We leave Rome tomorrow for Pompei - and I am sure it will be even hotter there.

Ann

All roads lead to Rome...............June 18

More lovely scenery on the drive through and came across some more amazing hilltop towns built precariously on the sides of sheer rock cliff faces. It must have been dreadful living in times when you are in constant fear of being invaded by neighbouring towns - always guarding your own territory. Roads in Italy (except on the toll roads) are appalling - the country's economy is in a bad way and nothing is being spent on infrastructure. All roads lead to Rome - or so they say - anyway ours did today and we made it in good time on the A1 arriving mid afternoon at our camp ground a 15 min tram ride into central railway station tomorrow.  Brings back such vivid memories of last time when Gary spent 2 nights in hospital here.   It is unbearably hot in Rome but our motorhome is parked under a shady tree
so we have a beautiful breeze flowing through. Off to see the sites tomorrow.

Ann

More of Tuscany...................17 June

Short drive back to Cortona this morning - Under the Tuscan Sun was filmed here. Cortona is described as 'one of the jewels of Tuscany' and I would agree with that. It sits on a mountain spur facing south towards Lake Trasimeno and the views from Cortona are simply stunning. We were there early before the crowds so we had a really good wander. Pienza was our next stop - we enjoyed visiting it last time we just had to go back. It did not disappoint this time either - it is our favourite place in Tuscany. We revisited the doll shop and bought some more exquisite fairytale dolls - they really are a work of art. The views from here were wonderful, as they are from all hilltop towns. As lovely as these towns are to visit, by the time you park and walk up the hill in 30+ temps - it gets very hot and exhausting. We had a couple more on our list but we just did a drive by - Montalcino and Pitigliano. Pitigliano has to be seen to be believed - you ask yourself why on earth did they build on the cliff face - absolutely stunning to see. Slowly making our way south to Rome tomorrow we stopped for the night in a little town just outside of Orvieto.

Ann