Positano

On Wednesday we took a day trip up the Almafi coast to the town of Amalfi. We stopped over the town of Positano to check the amazing view. This picture really doesn't do it justice.

Augustus garden

We ended our tour of the island in Augustus Garden. The views were pretty but the garden couldn't match all the other breathtaking things we have seen.

Chair lift

Next we rode the chair lift from really high on the mountain to really, really, really high on the mountain. It went to the highest peak - Mount Solerno

Garden of San Michele

Me walking through the garden - it was "absolutely beautiful". (That is how our tour guide described everything)

Tour of Capri

We spent the morning Tuesday on an awesome tour of the island of Capri. First we visited Villa San Michele, which was the home of a famous Swedish doctor on the island. It was very quaint, yet spacious for the size of the island with some gorgeous views. Here is a pic of John looking over one of the railings down onto the sea from San Michele.

Arrival in Capri

Just getting off the ferry to check out this timy island that is only 3/4 of a mile across at one point and has a total coastline of only 10 miles

Pompeii

We toured the town of Pompeii that was lost for almost 1500 years after it was smothered in lava an ash. It is pretty amazing how much of the city remains untouched and how much is still left to be excavated.

Crater of Vesuvius

Though we could see into the bottom of crater, it was hard to get a good shot for fear of dropping camera!

At the top of Vesuvius

There was no reception (at all - wifi or cell) in Capri so these pictures are a couple days late :(

We hiked (quite a steep hike) to the top of Vesuvius. We we were super sweaty and our bodies were complaining. But we made it. We were able to look into the crater of Vesuvius and off the side down to the coastal town below.

Roman skyline from the top of the Spanish steps

Sent from my iPhone

Spanish steps

After the one million miles of HOT walking this morning and early afternoon, we took a nap and then went out for more walking. This time we saw the Trevi fountain and climbed the Spanish steps. Why are they calls the Spanish steps you ask? Well, you see, they are in Italy. Which was once roman. And they were paid for by a French guy. So there, that makes sense, right? Yep. Yes, there is more to it. Like they connect or connected the Spanish embassy to a church. Really, that matters? where the steps lead? Henceforth, I shall call all walkways that lead from my car in the parking lot to Pappsito's the Mexican walkway. Thy really were beautiful and more so than the stairs themselves, I found the coolest thing is how everyone just lounges about on them. Very casual, like they aren't just randomly laying on this piece of architecture that, until today, I have only seen in movies.

Onto the killing arena

After the morning tours, we headed to the Roman Forum and Colosseum. You know, enough love, light, forgiveness, and gold - time to go see where the people killed each other!!!

Here we are "inside" the colosseum. Though it was a place of battle, torture, and death, we learned some cool facts about it -like the ground in the colosseum was actually a wooden stage covered in sand. And they would have circuses before the slaughters. (Nothing negates the negativity of a slaughter like a juggling clown.)

St. Peter's

This is us standing in St. Peter's square staring up at St. Peter's basilica. We couldn't really take any good pics inside the basilica. But I must say - it is remarkable. Beyond remarkable. Huge, ornate, filled with symbology, and even a mummified pope, seriously. We could see his body - all brown and mummified. Seriously.

Heavenly door

So every 25th year (which is a holy year) the Pope rips through the concrete on the other side of this door with his bare hands and then open these bronze beauty doors. It is said that anyone who walks through them will pass straight to heaven. (Not sure if that means after you die - later - naturally or if right there on the spot you ascend to heaven. Whatever, I'm in.). They really are a giant but magnificent work of beauty.

Kicking off the day catholic style

Our day started with a huge dose of Catholicism. We got up super early to head to the Vatican museum, Sistine chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and St. Peter's square.

No photography allowed inside the Sistine chapel - no talking either. Your voice might disturb the paintings! But here is a cool picture of the steps leading from the chapel. They actually go down several flights and were designed by Bernini.

Yep...

I forgot to post this one last night. So, pretty building right? But wait... Is that a guy with a bubble gun on the other side of John? Why, yes. Yes, it is.

Neato fountain

This is just one of the many fountains we are bound to see over the next few days in Rome. It wants all that massive. I think the neatest thing about it is that is was like a hang out spot. There were probably 100 people just chilling out around the fountain. After taking it in for a few minutes, we headed for some gelato the back to the hotel to get ready for a bustle day tomorrow.

We have to be ready by 7:00am (on vacation!) to get the day started. We should have lots of pictures to post tomorrow!

Massive Pantheon

Okay, so this structure is massive, especially since it is situated between all these little city blocks. This is John checking out the side of the pantheon. The columns are huge!

First night in Rome!!!!!

We didn't do a whole bunch today. Landed at 8:00, got to our hotel around 10:30 and then took an awesome nap! After that, we had our first meeting with our tour director to go over the optional excursions for the next couple of days then headed off on our own for dinner and a little exploration.

We learned how to ride the Italian subway. Okay, so that doesn't sound like a big deal - but believe me it was! Once we finally figured that out, we made our way into the heart of Roma and ate at one of the first little outdoor ristorante locations we could find - we were hungry. We had some great authentic Italian cuisine and went for a walk toward the Pantheon.