Day Three: 79AD

Today started out very early for us as we had to wake up around 6:15am in order to meet our tour guide at 7:00am. We were picked up at our hotel and promptly bussed away down the Highway of the Sun. After travelling south for 3 hours we arrived in the Italian port city of Naples (Napoli). After briefly sightseeing throughout the city it was time to head to our true destination for the day, Pompeii.

Pompeii is the city that was famously lost in the first eruption of the Volcano Vesuvius in the year 79AD. Once we arrived in Pompeii we were shown around the current modern city where we briefly visited a Vatican owned Basilica and had lunch in the city center. After lunch we were transported back nearly 2000 years ago to a city lost suddenly and tragically.

On our tour of the Pompeii archeaological site we saw ancient basilicas, ancient temples to various Gods, ancient homes (some still completely intact), an ancient brothel that still has the original wall frescos in it, and people mummified by the volcanic ash that rained down on the city after the 3 day long Volcanic eruption. The day was extremely informative and truly awe inspiring, it was as if we were transported back to 79AD and those fateful days where a city was lost forever.

Tomorrow we go to, "where does the Pope live?" ...and no it's not the woods (That is a TV show FRIENDS reference for those who aren't hip to our ways)... Vatican City!!!

The Italian Port City of Naples. (Napoli)

The Volcano "Mount Vesuvius."

Pompeii ruins with Vesuvius in the background.

 Pompeii victim mummified by the ash that rained down upon the city.

 2000 year old Fresco that was hung in the Pompeii brothel (You didn't pick by woman, you picked by position).

 Us in the "Teatro Grande" of Pompeii.

Day Two: Ancient Rome and the Pantheon

So after a busy travel day yesterday we got some much needed rest before an early start to today. After breakfast and a short walk to the Colosseum we met up with our tour guide Davide and started our tour of Ancient Rome. First stop was The Colosseum were we walked around it, in it, and up it visiting the different levels of this 1900 year old arena which was used for Naval battles, animal hunts, and of course most famously Gladiator battles.

After the tour of the Colosseum we followed Davide into the Roman Forum where we saw the remains of early Rome including Rome's first butcher shop, Rome's first senate, Rome's first Basilica, the location where Caesar's remains were burned, as well as several buildings that had been built then destroyed then built then..well you get the point. Below is a picture of the overview of Foro Roma.

Our final stop on our Ancient Rome tour with Davide was Palantine Hill which is the largest hill in Rome. Palantine Hill was the location of Caesar's, Octavius', Romulus', and the other notable Kings/Emperors homes.

After ending our tour, we decided to head to the monument of Victorrio Emanuelle II. He was the first King of Italy and they erected a giant white marble monument in his honor.

After a quick visit at Victorio Emanuelle II monument we headed over to The Pantheon, where Rafael di Santi and the first and second Kings of Italy are entombed. The truly magnificent part of the Pantheon however is the fact that it is completely illuminated by natural light that shines through a 27 foot (9meter) occulus located directly in the center of the Pantheon. Below are pictures of the Piazza, the occulus, and us in front of one of the massive columns of the Pantheon.

After getting our fill of history for the day we decided to head to a couple of fun locations in Rome. So, we visited Piazza Navona and Campo dei Fiori where we saw beautiful fountains, street performers, and even a streetside marketplace selling fruits, vegetables, pasta, and spices. All in all it was a fantastic day in Rome. Tomorrow we head south to Naples then visit Pompeii.

 Above is the "Fountain of Four Rivers" by Bernini in Piazza Navona.

 Above is a look at Piazza Novona filled with tourists, street performers, and artists.

Day One

After 21 hours of travel we arrived safely in Rome. The flights were fine, mostly just us sleeping. The in-flight safety video from TAP Portugal is probably the only one we've ever actually paid attention to. It was claymation style, but the characters were made out of wood. And only if you are not made of wood will your life vest work, like 99.9% of us are. (Yes it seriously said that.)
We only had one hour between our flight from Portugal to Rome and had to clear customs and go through security again, when Greg realized we weren't going to make it he asked for us to move up the line. Thankfully it worked and we made our flight.
We arrived in Rome and the taxi ride was pretty boring unless you count the hula-hoop girl who did a little show at a stop light and then passed around a hat. Once we got into the city there was much more to see.
After we showered and checked in we found a place to have lunch had some yummy calzones while Greg watched football. Then we walked to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Trevi Fountain.We got a little lost on our way back to our hotel, but managed to find our way and then found a good restaurant right on this block for dinner. It's only 8:30 but we're pretty exhausted so we're turning in early tonight. We have tours scheduled tomorrow of the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
This is us at the Trevi Fountain. I'm having connection issues so the rest of the pictures will have to wait until tomorrow. 

One Week

We leave one week from today for Italy! I thought our first post in this blog should be of our planned itinerary.

Saturday January 28

• Arrive in Rome 11:30
• Check in at Hotel Grifo
• Eat lunch
• Walk to the Colosseum
• Walk by the Roman Forum (look over the ruins)
• Walk to the Pantheon (go inside)
• Get Gelato and walk to the Spanish Steps
• Walk to the Trevi Fountain
• Eat Dinner

Sunday January 29

• Colloseum and Roman Forum tour
• Walk Palantine Hill
• Visit the monument to Vittorio Emanuelle II
• Take elevator to the top of Vittorio Emanuelle II
• Go to Piazza Navona

Monday January 30

• Day trip to Naples and Pompeii                    

Tuesday January 31

• Guided tour of Vatican City 9am-4pm               
•  St Peters Basilica and Cuppola, St Peters Square,
•  Rafael's Room, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum
• Castel San't Angelo and the Angel Bridge
• Anniversary Dinner in Trestavere neighborhood

Wednesday February 1

• AC Milan vs. Lazio

Thursday February 2

• Take train to Florence Booked at Hotel Aurora
• Day Trip to Pisa 
• Tuscan dinner in Florence

Friday February 3

• Day trip of Florence                             
• Piazzale Michaelangelo, Giottos Bell Tower,
• Baptistrey/Brunelleschi Cuppola, Accademia Gallery,
• Eat lunch, Church of Santa Croce, Piazza Signoria,
• Palazzo Vecchio and Loggia del Lanzi, Uffizi Gallery                  
• Take train back to Rome

Saturday February 4

• Piazza del Popolo
• Santa Maria del Popolo church (inside visit)
• Old Roman Gate and Pincio Gardens
• Basilica di San Clemente
• San Giovanni in Laterano and Santa Scala

Sunday February 5

• Depart Rome 11:00am
• Arrive Lisbon 1:00pm
• St. George's Castle
• Alfama Area Visit
• Portuguese Dinner