We couldn't go to Italy and
not go to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and what a coincidence that the
American Campground was less than 10 minutes away. The town was a
real tourist trap, but it is like Stonehenge in England, you have to be
able to say that you were there. This was the first place that we
went after we got there, and it was no coincidence that it was the only
place we drove to. The Italian drivers are CRAZY!!
They believe the green means go, yellow means go like mad it's going to
turn red, and red means go faster before the other guy hits you.
We enjoyed the city, but would never drive in another Italian city.
Piazza Dei Miracoli, Pisa
Square of Miracles
The Leaning Tower
Venice and Those Beautiful
Canals
This was our favorite place
in Italy. We got up early and took the bus tour from Camp Darby.
It was a long ride but well worth it. We arrived at the outskirts
of the city and took the water taxi to the city. It is the only way
to get there because there are no cars in the city. At first all
you see are the wharfs, but then you start seeing the old city.
We visited the Piazza Dei San
Marco, where the big cathedral is and the bell tower. You can see
that bell tower from anywhere in the city. We had lunch at a restaurant
right on the Main Canal. Here is a hint: don't order fish in
Italy. We did, and we received this plate of whole minnows that were
battered and deep fried. Kind of a surprise. But you can order
pizza at just about any shop and it will be good.
We thought about going on a
gondola ride, but they are expensive. Some friends of mine went on
one and spent over $100 for a 50 minute ride for two people. I could
just imagine what it would have been for four.
I think the thing the kids
enjoyed the most was feeding the pigeons in the Piazza Dei San Marco.
For 2500 Lire (about $1.50) you get a large bag of bird feed and the pigeons
will come land on you and eat right out of your hand. They loved
it.
Views from the water taxi ride from the mainland.
Venice as you depart the water taxi station.
The gate to the city.
The Piazza Dei San Marco.
The bell tower in the Piazza Dei San Marco. A typical Venice street.
And of course, the canals.
Rome and Vatican City
We went to Rome near the end
of our trip. It was kind of a disappointment. You really don't
have enough time to do the city on a one day bus tour. We arrived
around 10:15 after a 5.5 hour bus ride
and had two hours to see the
Vatican. NOT ENOUGH TIME!!
We spent most of that in line trying to get in to see the Vatican Museum
(the only way to see the Sistine Chapel). The chapel was beautiful
but it took so long.
After we got through at the
Vatican, we went on a city tour of Rome. We visited the fountain
from the movie "Three Coins in the Fountain", the Roman Forum, and of Course
the Coliseum. The Coliseum was what I had waited for all day, but
again I was disappointed. It was more in ruin than i thought it would
be, and It looks so big, but really is not that big (but I would not have
missed it).
St. Peter's Cathedral, Vatican City, Rome
Carol, Robin and Kevin in front of the fountain at St. Peter's.
The halls at the Vatican are all like this, but most are more crowded.
A funny thing happened to me on the way to the Forum . . . , the
Roman Forum that is.
Where are the christians? The lions at the Coliseum are hungry.
Camp Life
Of course as we do every summer,
we camped on this trip, too. The camp ground was run by the Army.
It wasn't too bad, but we've been to better. The best thing about
it is that it is only 10 minutes to the beach. We went to the beach
about every other day, for the ten days we were there. Not quite
as nice as the upper gulf coast of Florida, though. The beach peddlers
would walk up to you and stay there and try to sell you whatever it was
that they were selling. You really had to be firm and tell them no,
or just ignore them and they would finally go on to the next poor sucker.
Of course we had a blast camping, and you know me, I couldn't stay
away from the beach.
Wastin' away in Italy. (doesn't sound quite right)
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