Today I did a heap of walking in the city, and saw a heap of incredibly famous things. It felt like a movie.
I saw a heap of squares, but the best were the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon.
After dark, I went back to the Colosseum to see it with the night sky. It was beautiful! Sadly, shops close quite early, so I couldn't get any food without going to a restaurant. So much good food.
Tomorrow, last day in Rome xx
Today was a huge day, and was seriously impressive. I got to see the Colosseum.
It's one of the things from my bucket list, along with the Great Wall and the White House, and it did not disappoint!!
Seriously, it's like 2000 years old and still just chilling here. What?
Even the lines were worth it. There are lines for everything here though. You want to see something? Line. You want to go somewhere? Line. You want food? Line. It's not so bad though, because I just talk to strangers and get more travel tips from them while I'm waiting.
There are also ruins next to the Colosseum which you can go into, so I spent a couple of hours losing myself in there.
After all the ancient stuff, I went and checked out some more old stuff, including the Mouth of Truth and the Keyhole.
It looks fake, but I swear, the keyhole is real.
Tomorrow, more old things xx
Today I took a tour of the Vatican City.
I decided to do a guided tour, because I don't know much about the works of Raffaello or Michelangelo, and even less about what makes a good tapestry, which is a lot of what I saw today.
We got to go through the Vatican Museum which is mostly the art collections of past popes, and commissioned arts of famous painters, sculptors and weavers. It was incredible.
After the museum, we got to see the Sistine Chapel, which blew me away. I couldn't take any photos inside, but the roof... just wow.
Finally, we went to St Peter's Basilica. I didn't realise that it is technically a cemetery, with 8 of the past popes who have since become saints, canonized, either on display, mummified, or in coffins. The real standout was the glass murals, which from afar looked like paintings, but up close, were huge glass jigsaws.
Tomorrow, the Colosseum xx
The manager of the hostel I was staying at, Giovanni, is great. He is super eccentric, and took me out on his road bike on a private tour to one of the best views I've ever seen.
It took a few hours, and then I caught a bus to Rome, and I have done nothing since getting here other than plan my next few days. The internet here is super slow though, so it's been pretty frustrating.
Tomorrow, the Vatican xx
Today was a huge day. We set off early, and spent the whole day, non stop looking at things, walking and exploring.
We started off by heading to the city of Pompeii. The new city is really beautiful, but that isn't why you go to Pompeii.
The old city of Pompeii was completely buried by meters of ash in 79AD and preserved underneath it for almost 2000 years. Now you can walk around the town and see the real homes and places where people lived, so so long ago, unchanged.
After Pompeii, we visited the place responsible for all the death and destruction in 79, Mt Vesuvius.
We got a bus almost to the top, but it was a decent 40 minute hike to the top, where there were just the most incredible views, not only of the still active volcano (just steaming away up there) but also over all of Napoli and the entire shoreline.
We also had a cheeky rose up there too.
Tomorrow, a bus to Rome xx
Early this morning I arrived in Naples. The hostel manager is amazing though and have me the lowdown on the entire city!
After the hour long debrief, i headed out to see some churches. They are all incredible here!! Some of them are over 1000 years old, and still immaculate.
I also went on an underground tour of the Roman Theatre, and the old aquaduct which was built over the top of years ago and only recently uncovered. Some parts were really narrow, only 50cm and lit by handheld candles!
I went back to the hostel for lunch, where Giovanni, the owner cooked us Brocolli pasta... It was delicious!!
After lunch I headed back out and saw some of the Roman building and palaces, as well as a lookout over the whole city.
Tomorrow, Vesuvius and Pompeii xx
Today was a rest day after the huge days on the Venice Islands.
I started the day off with a long swim in the pool at my hostel after a nice sleep in, then I spent a few hours calling the bf back home!
I feel like this trip has been really all then nothing, with huge days upon days, followed by chill out days. It's been kind of nice!!
I am about to get on a night bus all the way down to Naples, so fingers crossed it isn't a busy bus!
Tomorrow, Pompeii xx
Today was another huge day. I took far too many photos, but it was great!
I started the day off early with a trip to the most tourist-y places on the whole island of Venice - the Rialto Bridge, the Doge's Palace and San Marco Basilica.
The bridge was a little bit boring, despite being almost 500 years ols, as it was under construction, but the Doge's palace was amazing. The paintings were just intricate and even got to walk across the Bridge of Sighs.
After the Palace, I went to the main church. It was free to get in, and really pretty, but then you had to pay to see anything other than the main church area.
In the afternoon, I went to a couple of the small islands off Venice. The first one was Murano. It is known mostly for its glasswork, and they definitely had a lot of it! I got to see a craftsman making a glass horse (no photos sadly) and heaps of intricate wares!! Apparently not all of it is real though, so that is kind of sad.
After that, I went further from Venice again, to Burano. This island is known for it's lacework, but it was the brightly painted buildings that really amazed me. It is one of the most beautiful towns I have ever seen! Everyone was in on the bright coloured fun!!
I ended the day with a cruise back to the bus station, which went right around the entire Venice area. Sadly, night photos all come out super blurry when you're on a boat, but take my word for it - it was really nice.
Tomorrow, some swimming xx
Venice looks like just you would imagine it. I had a few people talk it down, but it is actually spectacular.
I got into the city from a nightbus just after 5am, and have not stopped since!
I started off with a free walking tour of the city, which didn't go to the tourist sites, so I will do them tomorrow, but it was so nice seeing the parts of the city that isn't completely covered in people!
Tomorrow, more Venice xx
Today I am still fairly sick, with this cold, and yesterday's hike and huge amounts of cheese did not help.
Because of that, I just sort of bummed around and went for a nice walk around the city. I didn't really see anything new, but that was nice! Just to know a place well enough to wander around and have it be small enough to not get lost was great.
Tonight I have a night bus, so I've just been making the most of this wifi and updating all of the photos from the last few days, so now I feel better about my lack of updates.
Tomorrow, Venice xx
