Italy

Italy.

We woke up to discover that the ship had docked at Port Torres, an Italian island. Although we were 11hours away from our destination, we were in Italian waters. It was exciting. When we went up to the deck we discovered that the pool had been filled overnight, and was usable. Dom was delighted. So we donned our togs, and jumped in. It was a little cold but not too bad. We played in their for a while, and then got out in time for lunch in the ships restaurant.  Lunch wasnt too bad, I had paid it when we booked but didnt really know what it would be. For the 10euros we paid we got a plate of pasta, plate of meat, and a plate of salad or fries. We were then able to choose from wine, beer or fizzy drinks for a beverage. Once lunch was done we returned to the pool, relaxing on the sun loungers at first and then swimming around in the pool after. Dillon and Dom launched themselves into the water from one anothers shoulders, insisting that i photograph them on the sports setting! It was lots of fun. 

We arrived at Civitavecchia at 7pm and hit the road heading towards our couchsurfing host. It had been so hard to find a couch in Italy.  Yesterday before we left Spain i had received a message on couch surfing inviting us to stay for one night. It wasnt as long as we needed, but one night was better than no nights. It took 30 mins to drive to Ladispoli. Our host Francesco was excited about hosting us, and enthusiastically welcomed us. He said that he had just joined couch surfing and was excited to be hosting someone. His mum lived with him but also owned an apartment in Ladispoli which was empty. She had kindly said that we could stay there the night. She came with him to the house to meet us, and within minutes was saying that we could stay there until we leave for Athens! We were so excited, pleased and relieved, an apartment to ourselves in a seaside resort, for the entire time that we were in Rome.

Francesco took us into Rome for the evening, where we went to a couchsurfing event at one of the bars. They put on free food for couch surfers. I went to buy the drinks and almost choked. They were 5 euros each - $10! (Petrol is also wickedly expensive here- 1.89 euro a litre, yep over $3 a litre- how i wish i had filled up in Spain!). Oh well, when in Rome do as the Romans do - even if that means not choking when you hear prices! We stayed at the bar for a couple of hours chatting to other couch surfers there. People are really kind, i think the one thing that has stood out to me on this trip is peoples kindness. After the bar, Francesco took us on a guided tour of Rome. We drove down one of the ancient roads and around the vatican as well as to some other places. Eventually we got home at 2.30am poor dom didnt know what had hit her! As i crawled into bed i set the alarm for 7.

Everyone was tired as when it came time to get up. We had arranged tickets to see the pope at the vatican, and had to pick them up between 8 and 10.  Josh decided to stay back at the apartment. So off went Dom Dillon and I. We used the tomtom to get from the apartment to the train station (walking) and then caught the train to just outside of St Peters square.

We made our way to St Peters square, and tried to find the Bronze gate from where we had to get our tickets from. It wasnt signposted but eventually we found it. We got our tickets and joined the queue. Unwittingly we had joined the queue for the Basilica not the mass. After reaching the basilica and walking around it, I clicked that we were in the wrong place. We headed back outside into the square and then joined the appropriate queue.  After standing in the queue for 40 minutes, we discovered that the place was full and they were not allowing anyone else inside, even though they had given tickets to lots of us who were still waiting on the outside, it was disappointing.

We went back out to the square and took some photos before heading back into the basiilica. As we walked around I began to understand why Martin Luther had spoken out like he did. The basilica was incredible, beautiful and would have cost a mint. As we walked around we took heaps of photos, and saw the preserved body of a previous pope, at first Dillon thought that it was wax, but it wasnt - it really was a body.

After the Basillica we decided to visit the Vatican museum before heading back to Ladispoli. We headed along a street lined with illegal street vendors. The further we walked away from the Basilica the cheaper things became. It was fun playing with the vendors, one tried to sell an umbrella for 5 euros, he refused the 2 euros i offerred. I continued on with him following, eventually he gave it to me for 2 euros. One of the street sellers tried to sell me an ornate fruit bowl for 45 euros, it was nice but not worth that, he persisted in following and wouldnt leave me alone .Eventually i walked into a shop just to escape him. It was all fun though. We ate pasta in a restaurant and then continued to head to the vatican museum. The main attraction there, and reason for us going, was to see Michaelangelos work in the Sistine chapel.

The museum was lined with artefacts from the turn of the millenia. The first part had lots and lots of heads of once famous people, and gods/godesses. Then we went into an Egyptian area. It was much like the Louvre in Paris - if you want to see Egypt go to the museums. It sad that the relics havent all been returned to where they belong. There sarcophaguses, and even two mummies there- one was sompletely covered in sackcloth, but the other had its head and hands visible.  Eventually we reached the sistine chapel. It wasnt at all like i thought it would be. I had always imagined that the painting of creation was painted on a dome ceiling, but its on a flat ceiling! You were not allowed to take photos in the chapel, but sneaky Dillon grabbed a few. We headed back though the street vendors towards the train station. On the way we saw slushies for 1.5 euros, and the place had free wifi. so we stopped and had slushies, and hopped online with our phone. All was good until it came time to pay, they charged us 3.50 because we 'ate' in. so much for the free wifi!

On our second day we got up and trained back into Rome. This time we bought a multi transport pass for the day. They werent too bad at 8 euros each. First we headed to the free stuff. We went to the spanish steps and then the Trevi fountain. At the fountain people throw coins in and make a wish. There is a guard stationed at the fountain making sure that no one jumps in- or to protect te 3000 euros that are purportedly thrown in everyday. We are our lunch there and then continued on to the Pantheon, on the way there we saw a pillar standing with carvings in it, twisting slowly around the pillar, we stopped for photos. I dont know what it was called but Josh said that he had seen it in a documentary when we were still in new zealand. The carvings tell a story as they spiral up the tower. The Pantheon was amazing, almost 2000 years old and still standing.  It was free to enter, so in we went.

Afterwards we jumped on a bus to the Colliseum. Jumping off of the bus we were filled with awe at the building before us. We had all seen it in pictures before and they we were right next to it. Once again the persistent street sellers were there. We entered and bought audio guides, It was incredible, you felt like you were part of history, and that history from hundreds of years ago was alive and kicking right there! Unfortunately though not long after arriving there a massive thunderstorm erupted over the skies, and it bucketed it down with rain. We looked around and then moved on to the Roman Forum. That was incredible too, all that i had learnt in church history about Nero, and here i was standing where he had lived, and Augustus too. I dont think i have ever experienced history coming alive as quite like that.

When we returned from Greece, we went to Eustracean tombs with our host. The tombs predate the Roman era, and were really interesting until we came across the snake, then we couldnt wait to get out of there. 

When we left rome we travelled to Florence via Assissi - that was an amazing little town, lots of history and spiritual significance. From Florence we went to Pisa via San Giomangio, beautiful place too. After that the last place we visited in Italy was Venice, the most expensive city in the most expensive country that we have travelled to so far - but nice nonetheless