Time to go Home

What have I picked up while on my "expedition"?

1. Patience is a virtue, but you waste a lot of time achieving it. I can't tell you how much time I have waited for idiots, who have no clue that other people inhabit this world, to move out of a shot. 
2. Croisants in Italy have powdered sugar and a filling.
3. You have to lock your hotel door from the inside, it is often not a automatic thing, and you have to lock it on the way out. Twice around.
4. Crossing streets in Italy is a game of intimidation. Make eye contact and force them to stop while you walk across, otherwise they will have the advantage and never let you go.
5. Traffic lights are sort of there just to add color to the intersection. Few people pay attention to them. If no one is ready to go when the light changes, they keep going.
6. Scooters are everywhere and worse than cars. They sneak in between cars.
7. If there is a space of more than 5 feet in front of them, Italian drivers try their best to hit 100KPH.
8. Remember when you sit down at that beautiful patio table that you will be surrounded by smokers. It is the only restaurant seating that allows smoking. And it seems EVERYONE smokes. Walking the street is contact cancer.
9. Always use the front or rear cars on the subways and metros, as the majority get on in the middle, and that's where the pickpockets work. Don't let anyone slow you down getting on board, cause they are taking your goods. PUSH THROUGH!
10. I haven't met anyone that a simple smile and a laugh won't help translate a language barrier.
11. The food in Europe is healthy, fresh and good for you. American food is trying to kill you!!
12. Caffe gets everyone going in the morning, and by mid-morning most are crashing and nodding off. Then they light up and keep going.
13. The trains are great in Europe. Even in Italy where they are never not on time - the passenger is either early or late!
14. There is so much to see and do here, that it is overwhelming. Calm down and don't expect to do it all. Plan on coming back.

There's more I am sure but I am packing my bag for that 6:30 flight tomorrow and with an hour's drive to the FCO, and two hours ahead of international flight, I up at 3AM. Then it's three flights and a drive to Ventura. Let me see if I can find a shot to fly home on.

Saint Peters on left, Castel St Angelo on right

Castel Saint Angelo

Another old Ruin in Rome

Ciao to Roma, Farewell Europe - It has been fun and I promise to return!!

Roma

I got here Monday evening, went to my Airbnb apartment and then the troubles began. To cut a long story short, I moved out this morning and checked into a hotel that is already superior in so far as they have a room with a window. When the dead plant on the table at the apartment to welcome the guests wade the room look good then you can guess the rest. Airbnb is having troubles with it properties in NYC and other places, this could be part of it. No one is checking the validity of the properties and if they are what they are advertised to be.
Changing High Horses here.
I went out yesterday and rode the Hop On, Hop Off bus to get my bearings, and Rome is large, but not undo able. I look forward to my next few days here and the end of my expedition and returning to SoCal on Monday.
I have to go do some laundry and have some lunch, so I just leave you with this one shot of Saint Peter's Square last evening and say

Ciao

 

Warning: Don't change High Horses in Mid-Live Streaming

For those of you who can remember the original phrase, I hope you see the humor in it as I did when I thought of it. I had just heard that CBS was going to be starting a live stream. Now there will be yet another "news service" that will be ranting about all kinds of things Especially during these last weeks before midterms.
For those of you who didn't recognize the old saying, uttered many times during my youth, as it doesn't fit the three letter, two finger typing lexicon so favored by the young iPhone generation, I would say to ask your parents - but studies have recently suggested that it's not the number of words they speak to you during infancy, but the quality and complexity of the words that matter in the making of intelligently conversant adults. In other words you are just as stupid as your parents!
Oops! I changed horses again, didn't I?
Ciao

Leaving Sorrento Tomorrow

I have been in non-wifi world again, but have busy anyway. Sorry no photos today as I'm using my mini at a Pub up the street from my hotel. Got to get up early and try to avoid the pickpockets at the Napoli train station. I took the ferry to Sorrento when I arrived to miss them, but yesterday I went for a bus ride to Positano, Amalfi and then Solarno and decided to train back to Naples and on to Sorrento on the Circumvesuiana train, so of course they tried to hit me getting on to the little train. This Eastern European girl body blocks me on the way into the car and then stops right in front of me. DuH! she's a setup for someone to hit my pockets. Well, I just did a very un-American move - I pushed her out of the way and went to the back of the car and out of the way. She was able to get my side pocket zipper down but my move kept her partner from getting my phone. She did get caught by an American girl with her hand in her purse and she started yelling and shouting. Americans 2 - Pickpockets 0.
There will be so many photos to upload to this site when I get back, it could take until my next trip.
I'll be off to Messina in the Deep South and then back up to Rome.
More later
Ciao

Sorrento

I got here yesterday from Orvieto thru Napoli. No Photos of Naples as I didn't want to wear my camera around my neck traipsing thru town to the ferry terminal. I decided on the ferry after hearing all the pickpocket/robbery stories that take place in and around the terminal. I know that train stations and tracks are not welcome areas in all cities and tend to be the last places to get upgrades and reconstruction. It appears to me that Naples has extended that area to include the whole of the city. It's dirty. It needs repair, and there are a lot of people out of work.
I again am staying in a hotel without wifi - you get what you pay for - though the room is good (four towels on my scoring method) so I am using my iPad to provide a hotspot for my mac. It's all about sharing.
Sorrento is a city on a bluff that is one of the oldest in Italy. Far older than Rome as it was started by Etruscans and then Greeks very early on. I am learning that they a renown for their wood inlay art and of course limoncello. Had some last night at the little cafe where I ate. I mentioned it to the waiter/owner and he says "I make my own." I don't use yellow lemons, I only use green lemons and I have them marinate for six months. He gave me some as I was leaving, and now I am spoiled. It was so smooth, no bitter aftertaste and went down very easy. I forgot to mention he uses 95 proof PGA.
As I stepped off the ferry last night, I noticed the sun beginning to set over the bay and quickly grabbed my camera. Have I mentioned how much I love sunsets?
Tomorrow more exploring.

Ciao

It's Friday Already!?

I have been in the small town of Orvieto for the last two days and have enjoyed the locale greatly. The food has been wonderful. Case in point. Does Truffle have a season? If so, this is it. When you can go to the little pizza place/ pub and get a bacon and truffle pizza for 6 - yes six - euro, then I would think that they are plentiful and cheap. I have been eating the black little beauties as often as I can and I am finally able to really distinguish its taste - and I enjoy it. Truffle on pasta. Truffle on toast. Truffle on veal. How can I have it today?
Yesterday was the village market day and lots of produce and lots of used clothes as well. Morning fog gave it a bit of a weird feel.

Yep, That's a whole roasted pig

Then it was off to Civita by bus. Now the buses in Italy are also the local transport for everyone and when school is in session, the local school bus. Kids ride free on all transport from buses to trains. The short 16 K ride took almost an hour as we stopped at many little villages along the way to drop off kids (after making a detour to the school in Orvieto). It is about a mile from where the bus drops you off to reach the Civita and many of my shots I took were for no reason other than to stop and catch my breath on the climb. The Civita is on a pinnacle that once had a natural causeway joining it to the larger area. Now that bridge is gone and there has been a concrete one built in its place. My big take away from Civita - If you like cats or are a vet who does spading and neutering, then this is you town. They are everywhere!

I'm having some trouble uploading photos now so I'll try for one last one, as it is time to get out and eat some more truffle. Tomorrow it is off to the South and Sorrento.

Sunset over Orvieto - Oh, this is a 6 image HDR, not my usual three.

Ciao

David

Hey, the US dollar has been up against the Euro for about three weeks now. Whoopie! It's costing me less for the same amount of Euros.
I have been using my Firenze card to see the sights of Florence for the last two days, today makes three and that's the total. The problem has been that with repairs and UNESCO in town, many places are closed for a day or two and that makes my card a lot less useable. The Duomo Museum is closed until next fall.
The one big bright spot was the recommendation to go to the Museo Accademia Friday night after seven. The day rush had been cleared out and I went to dinner and strolled over there about 7:30 and there were about a dozen other people there. No one! I walked into the museum and went to the hall for David, turned the corner and there he was at the end of the hall and no one between us. What a spectacular sight. It was amazing to view this statue that we have heard about and seen photos of and video about, but nothing prepares you for the actual sight. To be there virtually alone to view the statue at your leisure, walk around it as often as you like and not have someone bump you out of the way or get in your frame.
Here you go:

Got to go and see some more sights, but it will be hard to match this one.

Ciao

Question: Why are the Japanese so narcissistic?

Yep, I'm back in the tourist mainstream and I'm sorry that I may be perseverating about this, but I've only seen a handful of Japanese who have taken shots without another Japanese posing for the camera. I evan saw a girl the other day walking with her iPhone in front of her and assuming she was taking a video of the neighborhood. When I past her I took a look and the lens was pointing at her not the neighborhood, very close and no background at all. Any ideas?
Well, it seems that the whole of Italy is in repair and restoration mode, and I get to witness it all. The Baptistry is totally covered, though open, the Duomo has cranes and scaffolding and the Duomo Museum is closed until next Fall.
I got in yesterday afternoon and did my laundry. Great ruin restoration there let me tell you!

Got down to the Arno for sunset, but since it rained, there was only a partial chance for a good sunset and it wasn't. Good evening views of the Ponte Vecchio. Good dinner and a good night's sleep and off today to get the lay of the land. I walked the streets of the old city, dodging tourists and tour groups and trying to see past the construction. Hey, It Is Florence!!!
Walked to the Palazzo Vecchio and stood on the spot where there burned the priest who was tiring to burn the books and bring the people back to the old dark ages values. (Bonfire of the Vanities). Then on to the Uffizi Gallery next door and found Leonadro's statue covered in wire cages.
Found an 8 Euro lunch, with two courses and walked to the Piazzale Michelangelo and was rewarded with a breath taking view of the city. (Along the way I even saw some real life drama. The cops had cordoned of a section of trees by the river in the woods along the South side and when the crime scene folks showed up, I figured there was a body in there somewhere, though there were so many people walking around in there before they got there, the scene had to have been totally compromised.)
Decided to come back and download and have a little wine and get ready for tonight's sunset (fingers crossed) and tomorrow with Firenze Pass in hand, I take on the Museums.
I have decided to start playing the Lotto again when I return, just so if I win I can return to Italy and actually buy something in one of the clothes stores. You got to dream!!
Have I said how much I enjoy the food here? and the Wine? Though I must admit that I am doing as the ancient Romans did and I am now watering my wine, just a little!

Ponte Vecchio

Arches leading to the Ponte Vecchio

Firenze

Anyone know what this is - Bee or a Bird?
It flies like a Hummingbird, but the locals think of it as a bee.

Time to go see about tonights sunset.

Ciao