Herculaneum I also liked Herculaneum better than Pompeii, although it was much smaller. The only problem was that you had to pay extra to visit each of the really good houses when I was there many years ago. Do they still do that? When you are on a budget it means you just choose one and hope it is a good one. Like you I loved the idea of the fast food stores. You could also see adverts scrawled on the walls in some places in Pompeii, too. Nothing changes!!
Getting fit You must be getting REALLY fit by now - with all those steps and hikes! I love the colourful streetscape. That was one of the things I liked around the islands in the lagoon in Venice - all the houses were painted such lovely colours there, too. Our tour guide reckoned it was so the drunken men knew which was their house when they staggered home at night. Cheeky thing! Whatever the reason - they look so fresh and inviting don they? I also love the way the houses in these old walled towns seem to cling to the mountainsides as they clamber over each other to the top. We saw a French one like it (St Paul de Vence) last year, surrounded by a high wall and perched on a mountain top. GORGEOUS!
Stunning view from the top What a lovely view from the top. We didn get chance to get up there. You are right about the red roofs - very Tuscan. Can mistake it for Australia can you!! I also love the shot of the looming shadow from the tower dwarfing the antlike people below. Certainly puts us in our place doesn it!
Fabulous golden door The golden door on the cathedral is stunning isn it. You have shown a lovely shot of one panel. There were more (6 or 8 - I can remember from when I saw it last year) but each is just as beautifully detailed. It was difficult to see the top ones properly though, as they were so high up you couldn make out the details. maybe with a good camera like yours you could have zoomed in and seen them, unlike me. Mine is just a happy snapper. There were also a lot of people around it the day we were there so I couldn stay and really enjoy looking as long as I would have liked - others were waiting to get in for their turn. I also found the living statues fun, although I didn see this one. I was surprised you couldn take photos of David. Im sure I got some. Ill have to check my thousands of photos.
Csir Coaching
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog.I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Cathedrals do you remember what i tought you about cathedrals and how thery're shape in the form of the cross layng down. the entrance to the church is the head of the cross.
sounds like youre having a great time hun! off to spain now yeah? wow! so jealous!i loved tuscany i wish i was there in the countryside with you! xoxox
Glasses Thanks Ramz! It's funny I never would have considered buying sunglasses like that before this trip. I used to think they looked silly but now they're fashionable I feel awefully glamorous in them! Hehe.
Memorable trip Hi Stacey,
Your trip to to Cinque terre is exciting and as usual the snapes are too good. Do upload more snaps as you have indicated. Also you look great in the large dark glasses on the bus to Cinque terre.
Have a nice time and do travel more.
bye,
RAmz
Brilliant Butterflies I'm so glad you loved the Butterfly Park - it was also a highlight when I was there, though as you say its miniscule compared to Melbourne butterfly house. Must be something to do with the peaceful respite it offers :)
Thanks for the comment! No I didn't touch Juliet's 'you know' because I had no one to take the photo for me and to be honest I thought it was a little tacky. Funny though.
Sinking not floating I'm sure the Venetians wish it was a floating city - then they wouldn't be sinking into the lagoon. So many buildings have lost their lower floors because of the rising water levels, which is why they are working so hard to control the water level in the lagoon with the gates that being constructed at the moment (or are they finished).
It's probably just as well that there are lots of tourists because the locals are leaving at alarming rates and so the buildings are not being maintained as they were. If it keeps going like this the city will deteriorate even faster than it is now.
Gorgeous masks Those masks are beautiful. We also saw some fantastically sculptured ones made from leather - some quite diabolical (as in devil-like). I really wanted to buy one of those but they cost an arm and a leg! I never though to haggle over them though, maybe I could have got it cheaper (there were certainly a lot of mask shops around so as you say with the glass places, they probably would haggle).
I hope I manage to win Tattslotto so I can buy some of these amazing glass works (it's the only way it's going to happen! Champagne taste on a beer budget, that's me!)
I think you may have seen the Doge's Palace from the sound of it. It is incredible inside - even the stairwells! I agree about the smell, though, it is very musty.
About Me: I'm an Aussie from Melbourne and it´s definitely a beautiful city and a fantastic place to live BUT I've now been living in England since December 2009 and I LOVE it! Between leaving Oz and moving to England I backpacked Italy, Spain and France for three months. Best experience of my life. Most recently I've been working on cruise ships as an Entertainment Host but don't really find any time to blog about it! :( Moved to the eclectic and wonderful Brighton and plan to stay here for the forseeable.
Highlights so far: Watching the opera Notre Dam di Paris at... full info
KathyH
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Herculaneum
I also liked Herculaneum better than Pompeii, although it was much smaller. The only problem was that you had to pay extra to visit each of the really good houses when I was there many years ago. Do they still do that? When you are on a budget it means you just choose one and hope it is a good one. Like you I loved the idea of the fast food stores. You could also see adverts scrawled on the walls in some places in Pompeii, too. Nothing changes!!