The weather since our arrival has been in the 40s and low-50s, with dreary, overcast skies; and we were greeted this morning by a steady rainfall. We had ventured out of the apartment yesterday, to the local grocery store and tabac to buy tickets for use on the trolley and subway systems, but otherwise rested our weary bones. So we decided to brave the elements today, hop on a tram (Straßenbahn) at a nearby stop, and then visit a few of the signature sights within the inner core of Vienna. While waiting for the tram, I had an opportunity to practice my rusty German language skills with a local resident waiting for the same train. So far, I've been able to make myself understood, which has been somewhat of a pleasant surprise, because it has been ... read more

This morning we traveled with Francesco to visit the Certosa di San Martino ("Charterhouse of St. Martin"), a former monastery complex turned into a museum. Along with the Castel Sant'Elmo that stands beside it, this is the most visible landmark of the city, perched atop the Vomero hill that commands a panoramic view over the Gulf of Naples below. We and a group of friends (Lucy Tullo, Danielle and Larry Cobb) had made an attempt to visit this monastery and museum back in 2016, but it happened to be closed that particular day. Built as a Carthusian monastery, it was finished and inaugurated in 1368, dedicated to St. Martin of Tours. During the first half of the 16th-century it was expanded. Later, in 1623, it was further expanded and became essentially the structure seen today. In ... read more

Dee and I finally caught a break with the weather, as overcast skies gave way to some sunshine today. By mid-afternoon it was downright pleasant, with the temperature reaching 59 degrees, under partly sunny skies, and light winds. Still jacket and scarf weather, but quite comfortable for walking. We've wanted to try riding the train from Piano di Sorrento into Sorrento, saving us a 3-mile hike. The station is a 15-minute walk from our apartment, and after we arrived we purchased roundtrip tickets for 5.20 euros (about $6.75), a real bargain compared to a taxi fare of $40! We missed the first train, after waiting on the wrong track(!), but boarded the next one about 20 minutes later. This train runs between Naples and Sorrento, with numerous stops along the way, including Pompeii. It's very popular ... read more

The weather has been so miserable the past few days that Dee and I have felt a bit like penguins stranded on an ice floe! Although the temperatures have been well above freezing, the incessant showers, rain and gusty winds have discouraged us from venturing more than a few blocks from our apartment. In fact, with the exception of brief visits to the weekly vegetable market, and nearby grocery store, our only contact with the outside world has been from the balcony and the internet (no English-speaking channels available on the cable TV service in our apartment). Yesterday afternoon, however, we took advantage of a lull in the rainfall to explore the Georges Vallet Archaeological Museum inside of the Villa Fondi across the street. This smallish museum, spread over two levels, is the first territorial archaeological ... read more

The wind howled throughout the night, with intermittent rain showers and chilly temperatures settling in by morning. We had planned on taking the local train into Sorrento proper today, which lies about 3 miles west of where we are staying in the suburb of Piano di Sorrento. But we were forced to scrap that plan when a steady rain and chilly wind continued into the early afternoon hours. Yesterday, by way of contrast, the weather turned out to be quite pleasant, so we ventured out for a walk through the grounds of the Villa Fondi de Sangro across the street from our apartment. This villa abuts the property (Villa Jenny) our group rented in 2016, although none of us had explored the grounds and gardens during our visit. Villa Fondi was built in 1840 by the ... read more