Blogs from Lazio, Italy, Europe

We’ve had a couple recent cab drivers try to get us to pay with cash. Last night’s ride to the cooking class actually sat in the square waiting after we said we didn’t have enough euro. So, we gave him a 10 euro and 3 american dollars. That showed him! After class, the tour guide, Lisa, called a cab for us and told him that we would be using a card. No argument. Today, we used FreeNow, which is already tied to a card. No option. That worked well. Another nice train ride, taxi driver quite chatty (wanted cash but I prevailed). His mother-in-law's sister was married to an American sailor and lived in Virginia Beach for 20 years! Small world. Sunny here but very windy! Checked into our airbnb but our colds are getting worse ... read more

We had breakfast at the American restaurant, Homebaked. Lots of bacon (real), pancakes, eggs, etc., on the menu. Lots of Americans eating that breakfast. Mike had avacado toast which he loved. Walked over to St. Peter’s Square for Angelus and blessing. Square was packed today, as opposed to yesterday afternoon. We had tickets for the Rome Hop On Hop Off bus but had to walk to the other side of the Tiber to get to a stop. Mike had picked up a cold and was feeling crumby, and it was raining off and on. We got on the bus and rode the full cycle. ‘Saw’ the coliseum and Circus Maximus but most of the sites were a walk after leaving the bus so we stayed on and listened to the narration. When we got off, we ... read more

Cesta přes oceán se tentokrát uskuteční s přestupem v Římě. Zastávka v Římě je dvacetihodinová, takže jsem si zamluvil pokoj. Hotel jsem vybíral s ohledem na Suverénní řád Maltézských rytířů. Ten je z pohledu mezinárodního práva svrchovaným nestátním subjektem bez vlastního území. To mu však nezakazuje vydávat poštovní známky. A má navázané diplomatické styky s různými zeměmi, včetně České republiky. Kdo mě zná dobře, ví, že hotel je hned za rohem od pošty Maltézského řádu. Naštěstí do ČR řád díky vztahům poštu doručuje. Takže plán byl skvělý, ale znáte to. Člověk míní a Pánbůh mění. Týden před odletem jsem nešťastně upadl na kovový vozík a hned jsou zuby pryč, spodní dáseň orvaná a rozsekané koleno. Naštěstí mě na Karlově náměstí v nemocnici dali do kupy, zašili, co bylo třeba, a poslali na obvod. Zubařka mi zuby ... read more

After a lovely cup of Italian coffee, I walked the last few kilometres to the church of San Pietro In Montorio where the Earls are buried. It was surprisingly moving seeing their memorials. I found Hugh O'Neill's memorial easily enough. However, I couldn't find the one to Rory O'Donnell despite searching all the aisles of the small church. Fortunately the Parish Priest was in the church at the time. He was quite knowlegeable about the Earls. When I asked where Rory O'Donnell was buried he rolled back the blue carpet in front of the altar to reveal both his and Hugh O'Neill Jnr's memorials. They both died quite soon after arriving in Rome. Their deaths and funerals occurred within the time frame covered by Tadhg O'Cianain in The Flight of The Earls. The Earls arrived in ... read more

Departed “Just Chillin” by arranged transport at 10am for Rome’s Fiumicino airport and the beginning of the return legs to home base, Perth. The HIGHS: (Likes) Robert and Mary Elliott – their love, care, sharing and humour Sheep – the black ones, the white ones, the mixed up ones, the lambs Hairy cattle – the brown and the black Shetland Islands … remoteness, vistas, cliffs, narrow roads Climbing Cairngorms – the view Scotland – the vistas Anne Boyd – renewing and humour Ferry journeys - overnighters Yorkshire Dales – the stone fenced fields Viaducts The hikes Hilary and Peter Shaw – friendship and care Sorrento – clean and vistas Ravello views … of Amalfi coast Matera/Sassi … Puglia region Lecce Old Town … Pulgia region Dubrovnik wall and Old Town Sailing Croatian Islands … Komiza and ... read more