Blogs from Pompei, Campania, Italy, Europe - page 7

Bongo, or to give it its full name is a Mazda Bongo Friendee. In its original form its a 8 seater MPV that converts into a camper sleeping two up two down, and I think that’s how it derives its name cos you have to be very friendee to all sleep in it (boom,boom...oh suit yourself). A turbocharged 2.5ltr diesel automatic driving all four wheels, its very easy to drive and powerful enough to make short work of getting over the mountain passes we’ve been through. The 4WD is also useful for the snow and wet campsites we’ve had to contend with. Its not as big as some motorhomes, but it fits in normal parking spaces, and we would never have manoeuvred a larger vehicle through some of the mountain top villages we have been through. ... read more

I had an amazing night of sleep (something like 10 hours) so I was more than ready to attack visiting Pompeii. This is something that I have wanted to do for a few years now … actually since visiting Rome three years ago and getting my first taste of these types of archeological sites. I took the subway to the train station and bought my ticket for the Circumvesuviana train (that name doesn’t really roll off my tongue if you must know …which is not practical when having to ask about it!). It was about a 40 minute ride but it essentially drops you off just a stone’s throw from the entrance of the archeological site. There were quite a number of people in line when I arrived but the line was moving swiftly. I also ... read more

I have slept for 12 hours, I feel much better! Honey Nut Cheerios for breakfast, a taste of home. We drive to Pompeii, it’s only about 45 minutes away. As I am now awake, I notice more about Italy as we are driving. The houses tend to be two or more stories tall. The cars are small, apparently a side effect of the high price of gas. Part of this is from the taxes on the gas. I saw an Italian Pine, and Pliny was right, it does look like a mushroom cloud. We park at the back of a restaurant and walk to the site, passing a group of multilingual street vendors. I try not to make eye contact. We are at Pompeii! I have wanted to be here since elementary school, an interest which ... read more

Hi all, Friday 6th May. Our drive out of Tuscany and into Lazio took us through the Le Crete area, we passed the eye-catching site of Monptepulciano before we arrived on the northern outskirts of the city at Camping Tiber. After a fairly long drive we decided to relax by the pool for the rest of the afternoon and plan the days ahead in Rome. Saturday 7th. That morning the camp site shuttle bus took us to Prima Port station from where the train went direct to Rome and to the Piazza Popolo. The plan was to just wander around the town all day, get our bearings and decide what we'd like to see and visit when the weekend crowds had headed home, so off we went. We walked around all afternoon and got our bearings ... read more

While sad to leave Rome it was time to head further south to Pompei via Cassino to fulfill a promise to Pam’s dad to visit Bill Inglis grave in the war Cemetery. Bill was one of the many that gave their live in the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944 so that we now may live in freedom and peace. It was quite moving being there and until you see the huge amount of NZ and other allies’ headstones it is difficult to conceive just how many lost their lives. The cemetery is kept in beautiful condition, with the grounds maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. A register is kept in the south shelter available for the public to use. The register contains an accurate record of those interred at the cemetery, and their location. ... read more