Author: admin-eng

No One Standing

If  you are current with the blog, then you know that Debbie was teetering on the edge of being sucked into the sick dimension .   The symptoms were sore throat, couching and hacking.    A few professed to fever.  Each person diagnosed themselves.  Sinus, allergies, a cold (Debbie calls it the crud as an all encompassing compromising term. ). Debbie tried to distance her self but it is difficult when all the people at the table are hacking and coughing away.  She dealt a few drugs from her medicine kit to different members but had started considering a hoarding plan.  Debbie had been to the pharmacy with various members of the party and her trusty “Itranslate” application.  “Sore throat medicine?” Italian ” medicina mal di gola?”

So as you might have guessed, Debbie fell kicking and screaming into the Sick Dimension to join Jerry and Joyce.  Larry had already emerged on the other side although he did refuse to give up his toilet paper roll used as tissues.

We all woke up and sat glumly on the couch each clutching their tissue of choice.  Toilet paper, paper towels and disposable tissue packs.  Debbie enlisted Larry to walk to the pharmacy with her since she had no sense of direction.  There was fear that she might get lost  and  be found sniveling on the streets with no tissues.  Joyce sent a shopping list of drugs with them.  They stopped at the grocery store and purchased a real box of tissues for Joyce and Debbie plus their own box of decongestants at the pharmacy (Everyone lived in fear that on the next plane  their head will explode upon descent.  Debbie noticed that people started to whimper when discussing the upcoming flights).

Back they glumly sat again but this time with real tissues.  Everyone considered how the day was going to go.  No one could imagine walking several miles until someone suggested a break for the day.   We don’t remember who suggested it but everyone wanted to say it.  Suddenly people perked up.  “We could have a TV binge day”.  They all disappeared to reappear in different clothes with blankets.  (There is a rumor that Joyce never changed out of her pajamas the whole day.

Thus began the Helix binge with Jerry and Larry sent for take-away lunch.  Questionable Cultural Moment:  The sci-fi thriller follows a team of CDC scientists who are headed  thrust into a potentially life-or-death situation after being deployed to a privately run research base in the Arctic to secretly investigate what could be a disease outbreak. (Debbie’s review – show gets weirder as it goes.  It has everything – Zombie, Frankenstein character, slime, twins).

Thus our day ended with no pictures ,everyone clutching tissues, decongestant for everyone and a coughing contest of who has the worst sounding cough. (Joyce had the “I am bringing this up from the bottom of my toes cough” while Debbie had the “I am choking and can’t stop without throwing up on someone” cough as people fled the room yelling “She’s going to blow!”.)

 

Whistler Blowers

Today was the day that we visited the Acropolis.  History Moment:  The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on an extremely rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. The word acropolis comes from the Greek words “highest point, extremity”) and πόλις (polis, “city”). The Parthenon is a former temple, on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron.   If you go to Athens, this is the sight that you want to see.

We started out early to try to beat the crowds and with jackets and coats. (Actually, Debbie kept her sweater on the longest.  She told the others she needed the sweater because that she wasn’t huffing as much as they were.  There was a response about Debbie going slow, blah, blah)    The higher that we got the harder the wind blew and colder it got.   Once on top, the group began to drift apart.  Debbie and Joyce listened to descriptive podcasts (intellectual)  while Jerry and Larry took pictures (let’s say artistic – Joyce actually did both.  Debbie’s cell phone shots don’t count – although they were magnificent).

The Acropolis included another temple, the Erechtheion.  Joyce had told Larry and Jerry to meet at this temple.  They found Debbie at the Erechtheion because she was huddled by the wall and a tiny worker’s building for wind protection.  This little building had a door with a window that said private where inside a man sat looking out the window at the temple.  The building looked like someone sat a large man on a stool and then built 3 walls and a door around him.  We don’t think you could turn around in the room.   Larry, and Jerry joined Debbie huddling by the wall.   The man in the room kept looking at them suspiciously (actually, there was only way to look out of the little building) so they decided to go stand downwind behind the Parthenon.  (It was really because they were just cold.  This proved to be a major mistake.  Really?  How hard could it be? ) They kept checking by the temple but never saw Joyce.  They  encountered the first whistle blower.  As they were headed for the new waiting area, a lady blew a whistle.  It was a bit like yelling “Freeze” in freeze tag.  Everyone on the Acropolis froze.  Everyone looked around trying to figure out who blew the whistle.  We finally decided that it was one of the Japanese tour guides that was rounding up her group. (We didn’t know what everyone else decided but they started moving).

We could not find Joyce so, Debbie decided to circle the entire top of the Acropolis (no small feat – her scarf blew off and she had to chase it around the Acropolis) and Larry and Jerry were gone from the  place that she had left them.  After a while, Larry, Debbie and Jerry, found each other and decided to travel like a pack of dogs.  We received a text message from Joyce that asked if we were at the steps so we answered “No, we are behind the Parthenon but we would come to the steps”.  Only part of the message went through so we changed places.  Finally, everyone stood on the steps waiting for Joyce until she appeared.  We did hear the whistle blower again.  (The tour guide must be having trouble.) The total search took 45 to 60 minutes.

Once reunited the group proceeded down to the Areopagus (Mars Hill).  It is a bare marble hill next to the Acropolis .  History Moment:  It was here that the Apostle Paul delivered his famous speech about the identity of “the Unknown God.”  There was a nice path up and around the hill but Debbie and Larry got so excited that they scrambled up and down the hill.  (Debbie doesn’t know what happened to them, other tourists were shouting “Watch out for the slippery rocks”  but no they were all over it.  What happened to Safety first?)

After standing in the wind for a couple of hours and having been exposed to 3 weeks of the crud, Debbie started to cough.

As they descended the Acropolis, they found the Greek Agora.  History Moment:  The word Agora  is Greek for ‘open place of assembly.  It was an interesting place with little wind, shade,  many different buildings and fewer people.  It included a Greek stoa which is a covered walkway or portico, commonly for public use, (The open shopping center), a drainage ditch,  museum, a temple, Church of the Holy Apostles, and lots of ruins.  While we walked through the Agora, we heard the whistle again.  This time it was a different lady sitting in the shade except she yelled at people.  We realized that when you did something incorrect in the historic sites that the guards blew a whistle.  (Debbie is thinking that this would be a good retirement job.  You sit in a chair in the shade and when someone does something wrong, blow a whistle.  The group is also thinking of getting a whistle for Joyce to direct the group.  The whistle would have helped everyone find Joyce much quicker).

We had lunch and scored another free dessert!  Debbie was thrilled.  However, both Joyce and Debbie were both coughing and Joyce has slowed down considerably so they called it an early day.

Athen’s City Walk

Athens Walk

We spent the first day in Athens getting acquainted with the city.  We were in a great location but it took us awhile to figure out where we were.  The first landmark that we found was the Panathenaic Stadium.  Cultural Moment:  The Panathenaic Stadium hosted the 1st Olympic Games of the modern era in 1896 and is entirely made of marble.  It was also used in the 2004 Olympics.   Once we found the stadium, it was easy to get back on track to take a city walk of Athens.  Below are some of the sights that we saw:

  • Athens National Gardens – We like to go to Gardens in every city that we visit.
  • Greek Pharmacy  – Third pharmacy stop this trip.  Ask us for our trip advisor status for pharmacies in Athens, Venice, Rome and Naples.
  • Hellenic Parliament building – Parliament building of Greece
  • Evzones –  The greek elite guard who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  There is a ceremonial changing of the guard every hour.  Larry was thrilled that he got to have his picture taken with the Evzones  especially since he had to rush to get to the front of the line.  He also wants some of those spiffy shoes.
  • Church of Kapnikarea –  a Greek Orthodox church and one of the oldest churches in Athens.  It sits in the middle of a pedestrian mall.  This is a really small church.
  • Athens Cathedral – “Mētrópolis”, is the cathedral church of the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece.  In other words, this is the Vatican of the Greek Orthodox Church.
  • Church of Agios Eleftherios – is a Byzantine-era church located at the Mitropolis square, next to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens.  This is a really, really small church.
  • Adrianou Street – Pedestrian mall Shopping street (We like this street)
  • Hadrianopolis – The Arch of Hadrian divides the Greek Athens and Hadrian’s planned Roman area.  (Debbieopolis has a nice ring to it.)  We saw the remains of Zeus temple.


We went back home and were thrilled that we could watch English Netflixs.

Athens

We started our day early with a taxi waiting at the door.  Joyce finally succumbed to the crud that everyone else had.   (Debbie is feeling paranoid and somewhat like the designated survivor.  Joyce told Debbie and Larry to not sit with them in the airport.)  Debbie and Larry were quite happy with Olympic Airlines.  Bigger seats, free snacks and free drinks.  (They did watch to see if Jerry took the food before they took snacks).  Meanwhile, Jerry was being quizzed by other passengers if he was contagious.   The woman in front asked him 3 times if he was contagious.  (He does sound contagious).

They arrived at the flat and were pleased with the accommodations.  There is one interesting bathroom.  (Debbie says that no one in Europe seems to have a shower curtain).  The interesting bathroom just has a shower hose in the corner with a hole in the floor.  (So, Debbie with her shower history has the potential to hose down the entire room with water – She has been banned from this room).  Thus far, only Jerry was brave enough to take a shower in that room.   The flat reminded us of our Grandmother’s house.  It has high ceilings and a full dining room set.  We might throw a dinner party.  Jerry and Joyce scored all the storage units in the flat and in response, the Engs have confiscated the drying racks for storage.  There is a washer but the dryer does not work that well.  But, there  is a clothes line in the back that everyone but Larry has tested.  (Larry says that he has a working system so why change?)

We went to a restaurant, Piggy Popoulo, for dinner.   Shockingly, Debbie really liked Greek food.  She cleaned her plate and the others did not.  (Are we is a topsy turvy world?).  Most of all she has been to three different restaurants and all yes all have given them free desserts.  Greece also has giant donuts.  No more pasta or pizza for Debbie.  Give her one of those kabob things.   She even tried fried feta.  The others are not sure what has happened to her.

Just a tip, when you see Debbie next say “Oh, you look good”.  It is better not to say anything about the recent weight gain.

Naples Final Day

Jerry was still down for the count on the final day in Naples.  This left Larry, Joyce and Debbie on their own.    Joyce also started showing symptoms of the crud.  She lost her voice.  (Debbie called Joyce the puppet master as she would whisper her questions and then Debbie and Larry would  go ask the question. (Just an FYI – Italy was very stressful on the Engs.  Larry bought some vodka and drinks a shot every night while Debbie carried chocolate in her purse).

Today they had two goals.  The Naples National Archaeological Museum and the Castle Elmo.

Cultural Moment:  Naples National Archaeological Museum – is a museum that  contains a large collection of Roman artifacts from Pompeii, Stabiae and Herculaneum.  It is the most important Italian archaeological museum and is considered one of the most important in the world.  (We think that Naples made that part up).

Okay this museum needs some serious organizational help.

Joyce’s Puppets:  We have the Napoli Pass do we have to go to the ticket office?

Info Desk:  Eye roll “Yes”  (Now why would this be if we already have a ticket?  We think that she was just mad because we broke up the flirting).

Joyce’s Puppets:  Do we have to get our tickets here?

Ticket Office:  Yes – (Turns the ticket over and writes a date on the back.  Oh that was hard – )

Joyce’s Puppets:  Where do  we get an English audio guide?

Ticket Office:  Here

JP (Jocye’s Puppets):  Good we will take an English guide

Ticket Office:  We don’t have any now come back in 20 minutes

JP:  Do we have to go to the end of the line?

Ticket Office:  Yes, you must go to the end of the 100 people standing in line

JP:  (We don’t want your audio guide.  We were just trying to give you money.  We are cheap.  We never buy stuff. You need Debbie to organize you).

JP:  Can we rent a locker?

Locker Check:  No, only for backpacks

JP  Can we check this? (Larry’s bag that he wears on this back)

Locker Check:  No, it is not a backpack (We beg to differ, it is on his back).

By the time that we got in with no audio guide and our original tickets, the group was not super happy with the museum.

Our next stop was Castel Sant’Elmo.

Cultural Moment:  Castel Sant’Elmo is a medieval fortress located on a hilltop overlooking Naples.  The name “Sant’Elmo” derives from a former 10th-century church, Sant’Erasmo, shortened to “Ermo” and, finally altered to “Elmo”. It presently serves as a museum, exhibition hall, and offices.  (It is not the Elmo in Sesame Street.  We know that you want to ask).

We were pretty excited when we walked up and the attendant flagged us down, told us that the castle was free today, and gave us a ticket.  (Les Cheap Girls were thrilled).  Cool castle and it was free.  So we started to walk, walked some more and then some more.  (Debbie says if she lived in that castle that she would have to ride a horse into and out of the castle everyday. )  We eventually got to the top of the castle with some art museums and great views.

By the time we hit the summit, Joyce was fading fast.  On our way home, we hit the gelato shops for a farewell cup.  We could aslo see that Joyce was fading fast. We almost had a disaster when the puppets got off the Metro and Joyce didn’t because she was asleep.    The puppets were yelling “Joyce, Joyce!)  Just in time she staggered off.  (At this point we officially declared Joyce, as woman down).

You know the drill that night.  Eating all the leftover food and frantically packing.

 

 

The Greek Boys Chapter 7 – Almost Home?

You will want to read about the Greek Boys last experience.  We have been late posting as the blog editor was just stunned at their experiences.  Please read on.

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Rainy day and museums planned for the day. Another great breakfast on the roof then back to the room to confirm flights and get on the road!

Getting checked in easy peasy…Wait! Don can’t find his passport <can you say the “F” word now?>I think it’s called for.  Rooting thru both suitcases, two backpacks, under the bed, the closet, the waste baskets, the toilet…where could it BE!!!!  It could be in the hands of a thief either from the airport train, the maid, who knows????

Panic again with much hand wringing, the “What shall I do” ballet thru the hotel room and finally resolve that we’re screwed.  We get on the U.S. Embassy’s website only to find that we are to request a police report which usually takes 5 days to process, then we must have an appointment only they don’t have one until December!  Now we’re really doing the dance! Suitcases, backpacks, purse holders, lifting the hotel floorboards.  Alas, no passport.

“Let’s just go there!” I cry.  We elected to call.

The words, “Really? We’ll be right there” gave me the false hope I was waiting for!  Off we went in a cab in the rain, Don with his raincoat, me with my umbrella.  We  arrive and Don can’t find his copy of his passport even though he’s downloaded everything to his phone. Apparently you can’t bring a cell phone into the embassy!  He finally finds his copy as I’m told my passport won’t matter as I’m NOT going in.  Oh great, I’m stuck on a rainy veranda and freezing. I turn to Don to ask for his coat but he’s been whisked inside and out of my reach.  No problem, certainly they’ll let me into the waiting room! “F” no!

I can only imagine the 1950’s we’ve all seen in black and white movies: “Oh! You’ve had your passport robbed? Oh please, you and your mate please come into our lounge. Here, have some bubbles to soothe your misery while we take care of everything! Oh, lost your money too? Do not worry, we’ll have 100 Euros for you to buy the essentials (the equivalent of 500 Euros today).” In 10 minutes a new passport is delivered, many hands are shaken and the diplomats are on the phone to the police berating them for their lack of diligence.

These are the thoughts that passed thru my brain for the two hour wait on that balcony, the only comic relief being the man who didn’t believe the “No photos!” ban.

“But I’m taking them of the tree across the street!”

“I told you NO PHOTOS.”

“But I’m…”

“Sir, I’ve told you NO PHOTOS!” as he reaches behind him to summon help.

The officer and the tourist are both white-faced now and I’m giggling!

So we’re off to get photos for the new passport, the rain now steady now, the toes of my shoes black with wet.  Very nice gentleman who was way more sympathetic that our Greek consulate – I mean U.S. Consulate, except all the employees are Greek!  Back to the Consulate assured of a quick resolve – go to the head of the line.  I’m confident and looking for taxis but lo…another hour only to find that Don can’t find anyone to wait on him although they’ve called ahead.

<Grrrr.>

So he’s out – no! He’s called back because the card he asked if he needed, told no, you have it all – is on the desk and he has to go back in and claim it.

Recap – day one to Athens, airport strike, day two, touring day, 3rd and last day spent in the consulate until 3 PM!

We grab a cab and rush to the Architectural Museum hoping it’ll be open after 4. Yea! 8 PM!  Wait! We haven’t eaten in hours!  Greg elects to skip lunch and see some damned art! He’s going thru withdrawal!  Halfway thru the first wing of three on the first floor we spot a sign to the cafeteria.  Guess what? At 4 there’s pretty much cheesy pretzels and swill left for the tired travelers! Thank goodness we’d elected to get beers as they come with potato chips!  20 Euros later and back to the naked baby parade upstairs.  Fortified with alcohol we’re on our way with a vengeance and the museum did not disappoint with wonderful preserved artifacts of all descriptions.

Oh, I forgot to tell you, the cloak room was full of backpacks only and you couldn’t take your soaking umbrella into the museum so we kissed my umbrella goodbye and Don stowed his wet coat as best he could on board and we were off.

Now that we’re done, I spy Don trying to find my umbrella as I walk to the door. The umbrella stand is a shambles of umbrella shards and water and laughing attendants.

As we descend the stairs we are happy to see sunlight although it is still raining.

“Would you like my coat?” my chevalier asks.

“Taxi!” is my reply.

We’re then informed that the two main streets to our hotel are closed under protest due to lack of jobs for the younger crowd and all taxis are 15 Euro.  Yeah sure, here’s your 15 Euro, just get us home for we’re informed tourists now and we’ve learned to expect to expect wallet rape as a matter or course!

Total tab today less dinner? 175 Euro and for that we have a museum experience – 20 Euro, two beers, cheese pretzels and a bowl of potato chips!

The alarm is set for 3 AM for our 6:30 flight. Believe me, the thought of just going directly to the airport now was a real consideration!

Enjoy a few pics of the better parts of the day!

Greek boys out!

Strange Tours

The trip to Pompeii and Amalfi Coast took Jerry out for the day.  This left Larry, Debbie and Joyce on their own.  Larry asked to see the aqueducts and maybe the underground.  Since it was Larry’s birthday, we decided to visit the Underground tour.   Debbie’s interpretation of the tour:  You go underground, WWII bomb shelter for Naples, WWII resistance history, aqueducts, museums and some displays of trash dumped at the site.  Sounds great!

On the way, there were stops for some churches.  (Joyce has caught Debbie’s church fever.  Debbie says that it is a treasure hunt.  The outside is often very plain but when you go inside what a surprise).  First stop on the church hit parade was Chiesa del Gesu Nuevo.  Church Moment: The church is the final resting place of much-loved local saint Giuseppe Moscati, a doctor who served the city’s poor. This includes a recreation of the great man’s study, complete with the armchair in which he died. The walls contain ex-votos, gifts offered by the faithful for miracles purportedly received.

This was followed by another church visit directly across the street, Santa Chiara.  Debbie’s Church Moment:  It was built at a different time so it looks different.   It seemed like when the second church was built that someone should have said “Oh wait a minute, there is already a really big church right across the way.  Maybe we should not build them so close”.  (Once again organization people).  A third church, Chiesa Cathedral of Napoli.  Church Moment:  Also known as Duomo di Napoli is the main church of Naples and the seat of the Archbishop of Naples. The church houses a vial of the blood of Saint Januarius which is brought out twice a year.  When the dried blood usually liquefies. If the blood fails to liquefy, then legend has it that disaster will befall Naples. (We did not see this).

We proceeded on to the tour.  Let’s just say that Debbie’s interpretation of the tour was wrong.  The tour was an underground tour of tunnels that were built by the Romans / Greeks and then used for  a World War II bomb shelter.  They took us through the tunnels and into some underground wells / pools.  The street level squares were the places that common people went to draw water.  To reach the pools on the underground tour, every 2nd person took a lighted candle.  (Yep, lighted).  The went through these little narrow tunnels so small that you had to turn sideways.  (Some participants had to dust dirt off their stomach and seat once they got out.  Also, it is hard to walk sideways and carry a candle without getting your feet  tangled up trying to walk sideways.  People were supposed to shout out if you turned left or right. (Notice the words “Supposed To”)).  When you finally got to the pool, there was a violin and cello duet. (Debbie said that she was not sure what she would say if all the money that she invested in a child’s music lessons turned into a job playing the violin in a tunnel).    Joyce declined this part of the tour for claustrophobic reasons.  The tour also included experiments in growing plants underground.  The plants looked like they were dying to us.

We then proceeded up gut wrenching flights of stairs in the semi dark to  ground level.  We stumbled out into daylight and into the museum.  (Debbie was able to take a picture of 25% of the museum).  Our guide lined us up, grabbed an umbrella and marched us down the street.  Yelling “ Watch for cars!  Don’t walk in the middle of the road”.  We stopped in front of a door and the guide said “Wait here and stay out of the street”.  (We seemed to have issues following directions in her mind). The guide left and came back to lead us into a 1940’s apartment.  She then pushed the bed aside to take us down stairs and into a basement that was the back side of a Roman theater.  She led us around to come out into a side street to complete the tour.  Joyce’s evaluation of the tour was “Cheesy!”.  Debbie and Larry both thought it was “Interesting”.  Larry says that he would not pay for it again.  Debbie says that your children would love it   but do you really want to give them a lighted candle?

A quick stop for lunch and down to the bay with a couple of churches on the way.   Debbie’s Church Moment:  San Paola Maggiore. –  Debbie’s Church Moment: Another big church with pianos in the front for a concert and the worker guy kept climbing over the altar rather than walk around.  This seemed wrong to us.   San Lorenzo Maggiore – Debbie’s Church Moment:  It is an old church built on top of a Roman market.

Naples is a different type of city.  The streets are narrow and winding.  Vendors set up their booths on the side of the road.  Taxis, cars, scooters and people all mix together.  We liked Naples better than Rome.  It felt friendly and we didn’t see as many tourists.  We shopped the streets and made our way to the bay.

For Larry’s birthday dinner, we found a Chinese restaurant with good ratings close to the flat.  We think that we made their day.  We went for take away and spent 30 minutes going through the menu.  We thought that we ordered a lot of food until we discovered that the size portions were about half the size of what we are thought. Luckily, we had bought more than enough.

 

Less Les Cheap Girls

Sit down because we know that you will find this unbelievable.  The Les Cheap Girls paid for a bus tour.  What has Napoli done to them?  It was actually the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill that did them in (Remember wandering aimlessly?).  They discovered that they could see Pompeii and the Amalfi coast in one day on a tour.  We know that all hardliners are shocked and the Greek Boys were probably knocked to the ground but yes, a day tour.

We began our tour standing, huddled outside a hotel at the train station waiting.  Our driver appeared and loaded us on to the bus.  The total tour number was 8 with only one selfie stick.  The driver introduced himself as Max or Massimo.  Our group sat at the back of the bus except for Joyce who scored a better seat.  She quickly began talking to the other members of the tour group.  Joyce found out that the 20 something guy (Let’s call Jeff) was from Miami.  Jeff was on the tour with another cool guy (Let’s call Randy).  As we rode the bus toward the first stop, Joyce asked Jeff if he traveled with his Dad very much.  (We wish you could have seen cool guy, Randy’s face. The backseat had a good view of him chocking).  No, Jeff said “that is not my Dad that is my colleague”.

Joyce:  “What do you guys do?”

Jeff:  “We work for an airline”

Joyce:  “Are you flight attendants?”

Larry:  “Joyce, you have to start high.  Ask them if they are pilots”.

Jeff and Randy did not respond.   From this point onward, Jeff & Randy were referred to as the Son and the Dad.  Randy was a good sport and kept asking where his son was (He did grimace a little each time he asked.  The guy wore pink shorts how can he be Jeff’s dad?).  Jeff enjoyed it more than Randy.  We drove down the Amalfi coast line with several stops.  (Tour included lunch which made Les Cheap Girls Happy). Debbie’s Interpretation of the Tour of the coast – They grow lots of lemons, have windy roads that people try to drive on while other people walk in front of them resulting in honking, there is an island just for parties and celebrities like to vacation there.  (Debbie and Joyce said to look for them in next week’s Us and People magazine.  They are busy planning their outfits for the next party on the island).

The tour stopped in the city of Amalfi to look around.  Surprisingly, there was another church.  The Basilica of the Crucifix.  We think it is also called the Amalfi Cathedral.  We dragged ourselves up a big flight of stairs and paid for the tour.  (Not Jerry – he was saving his money for gelato)

Next off to Pompeii through the mountains.  Debbie got an up close and personal look at the mountains on the way down the Amalfi coast and cutting through. (Debbie thought that we drove too close to the mountain and cars.  Quote: “You should not have to honk before going around a corners.  This is just wrong and made me ride with my eyes shut”.)

Once we arrived in Pompeii, we met our English speaking Pompeii tour guide, Miguel, (We’re not actually sure about his name).  We were thrilled to finally get to follow an umbrella.  Miguel said to close our eyes and imagine.  (We did close our eyes to concentrate harder on what Miguel was saying as the accent was heavy.  We are not sure that you could call it English.).  Pompeii was not exactly what we expected.  It was huge and you could spend a couple of days.  Much of the Pompeii artifacts have been sent to museums and Pompeii rebuilt.  What was really confusing was the art pieces that were on display in Pompeii.  At first, we got really excited until we figured out “hey wait a minute, no one ever mentioned giant stuff before.”  (It must be a problem because the guide kept pointing out what was not part of Pompeii and art.  He must have to repeat this for tours that aren’t as smart as ours).

The tour was a success.  It was nice not to worry about how to get places.  We can only imagine taking a ferry to the coast (With Debbie and Joyce hanging over the side barfing away) or riding a train / bus to Pompeii.  We thought it was well worth the price. The Les Cheap Girls need to rethink their cheapness value proposition.

Larry ended his day by walking to Burger King.  He also returned with a disorganization report but did say the Whopper was well worth the wait.

 

 

Naples Travel Day

We started our day early in preparation for the move to Naples.  We waited for our last visit from Fausto and needed to print tickets in his office.  Now here’s a treat.  Fausto is not real computer savvy nor is his friend who only speaks Italian.  So picture Joyce, Fausto, Debbie and the friend huddled around a computer.  Joyce turns to Debbie (wait for it) and throws her under the Italian computer bus.  Joyce says “Debbie is a computer expert, she can do it”.  (Debbie says that she could do it if the operating system was not in Italian, all text was not in Italian, and the keyboard wasn’t Italian – different).  After entering the information and fumbling around, Debbie was ready to print but it won’t.  She finally figured out that the document was saving to  PDF and told the little guy how to change to a printer so it would print.  (All this in Italian and hand waving).  To top it off at the end, the little Italian guy turned to Fausto, pointed to Debbie, waved his hands about how hyper she was, and hee-haws.   (Well, yes, she was a little hyper about missing her train and you people don’t seem to have the faintest idea how to print.  Debbie and Joyce saw you both shrugging your shoulders).

Fausto was supposed to arrange a cab.  However, he kept getting put on hold by the cab company.  (What happened to I know the owner?  Fausto will get you a deal?)  At this point, we spilled out on to the street with our luggage.  We decided to walk to the taxi stand and use 2 taxis if needed.  Fausto suggested that two people and the luggage take a cab and the other two ride Bus 64.  We all looked at him in horror.  We were done with Roman buses and there was no going back. (Remember Debbie and Larry could be on wanted posters for not using a ticket). Joyce, with Debbie trotting at her heels, took off for the Taxi Stand with Larry and Jerry trailing in their wake.   Joyce picked out a taxi in line and says “You – Cuatro (Four) “.  Thus ensues a cuatro discussion between the first taxi in  line and the guy with the bigger taxi.  Our appointed driver handled it well but we think that the conversation went something like this.

Cuatro Driver (our driver):  Those stupid Americans don’t understand  taxi etiquette.

1st in line Driver:  They are too stupid for words and there are four of them

Cuatro Driver:  Yes, you don’t want them in your taxi.  They probably don’t know where they are going.  I will get rid of them for you.

1st in line Drive:  Yes, take them away

Cuatro Driver:  Okay, I take you now.

To top it off, he drove us to the station for 10 Euro which is half the price of the deal that Fausto got for us.  (Maybe we are too stupid for words).

We arrived at the train station to discover that they Italio train is leaving on time yet late again.  We  moved a step up in the train accommodations and paid for a snack.  Coffee drinkers got tiny plastic cups with instant coffee.  We all got some nifty cookies.  (We think there were vending machines in our car for less than what we paid).

Once we arrived in Naples, we caught a cab.  We arrived at the flat and almost had heart attacks when we thought that we were going to have to climb 4 flights of stairs with our suitcases.  Luckily, there is a tiny elevator that runs for .20 cents.  (Yes, you read this right – you get in and deposit .20 for a ride).  The rest of us walked up the stairs.  Joyce kept getting slower and slower until we figured out that Larry had gotten her to carry his carry on bag which is filled with rocks (He denies the rocks but we don’t believe him).  The owner met us there and gave a tour with directions.  As soon as she left, we had our first power outage and it took us 30 minutes to get power back on.

It is a nice flat but does have it’s drawbacks as does all places.  The biggest drawback is that the microwave can only run if nothing else is on.  If you try to cheat, the breaker flips and takes down the power system.  (We think the first time, the apartment just took the power down to show us who was the boss).  The internet is sporadic (This is why the blog is running 3 days behind –  Yep, Really?)  and we know where all the Italian Goth Teenagers go to hang out at night.

At the end of the day, we arrived safely and are happily ensconced in our new flat.

Our new flat ranking:

  1.  Venice
  2. Naples
  3. Paris
  4. Rome

 

Another Man Down

During our stay various members of the party have fallen out with sinus, cold or allergy.  Today was Jerry’s sick day.  Of course, he spent the day in the fabulous Roman Flat.

The other three decided to visit a church built on top of another on top of something else.  They visited Chiesa Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano riding Bus 64 on the worst ride yet.  The bus was stuffed full of people and suitcases.  They had to yell at the driver to let them out. (Really, I am not kidding)  Church Moment:   Archaeologically speaking, the structure is a three-tiered complex of buildings: (1) the present basilica built just before the year 1100 during the height of the Middle Ages; (2) beneath the present basilica is a 4th-century basilica that had been converted out of the home of a Roman nobleman, part of which had in the 1st century briefly served as an early church, and the basement of which had in the 2nd century briefly served as a mithraeum; (3) the home of the Roman nobleman had been built on the foundations of republican era villa and warehouse that had been destroyed in the Great Fire of 64 AD. (Is that a lot of history or what?  )

The three bought their tickets and proceeded down the stairs.   There were frescoes and different levels.   Plus it was really dark (Debbie kept pulling out her flashlight to read the signs and then other people would come over to read with her.  It became awkward when you had to take their light away.).  The directions were not always clear especially if you were running to beat a tour group.  Overall, the group was disappointed.  (This church does have the distinction of having the only make out session  seen in a church during their trip.  The participants were kicked out of the church in case you were concerned).

It started to rain again.  (Luckily, Joyce had convinced Debbie to bring her raincoat and that it would not impact her fashion look.  Debbie thinks Joyce might just be telling her that).  They were wet and cold when they decided to get lunch at an American themed restaurant.  Joyce won the award for the largest BBQ plate ever – She got ribs, chicken wings and a BBQ sandwich.   Debbie got the best deal with an 8.00 Euro burger and fries.

After their big lunch, they rode to the train station to do a trial run for the next day and to catch Bus 64.  When you are standing in the cold rain, any bus will do.  Debbie thought if you rode the bus 64 from the beginning that you would get a seat.  (She was wrong).  Joyce was able to score a seat after a couple of stops.  A few more stops and Joyce helped Debbie find a seat.  A few more stops after that, Debbie’s seatmate addressed the entire bus by yelling at them loudly in Italian over Debbie’s head.  (Debbie just pretended that everything was fine. )  Was it mentioned that Debbie and Larry were quite daring and didn’t use a ticket?  (Joyce doesn’t know that – she used hers but then she got a seat didn’t she?)  So they said “good riddance” to bus 64.

They came back early to check on Jerry and make sure that he and Fausto were not meeting for coffee and dessert without them. (They weren’t but they suspect Jerry of watching TV without them).

Tomorrow is move day!