Capri

There is a way to pronounce Capri....and it sounds weird unless you are a) Italian or b) in Italy.....I know, because I've tried and people think I'm weird....so just read it however you want...

We were so excited to include Capri in our Italy trip and just crossing our fingers (and toes) that the weather would play nice so we'd be able to get into the Blue Grotto too....

We took the fast train from Rome to Naples and then got on the Hydrofoil (passenger ferry) over to Capri.

As soon as we arrived we jumped on a boat to head to the blue grotto. The weather was playing nice and since it can change very quickly, we didn't want to miss our window of opportunity...

We arrived at the mouth of the grotto on a boat with about 30 passengers....and were greeted by what seemed like nothing short of chaos....Lots of boats like ours full of people and lots of little rowboats circled around. Our guide assured us that there was a system and then we just waited for the system to work!

Sure enough, after a little downtime waiting, a rowboat arrives and we are ushered into it....four to a boat. We are rowed over to pay some very jovial men the entrance fee and then we are told very loudly to lie very flat in the boat as our boat-man pulls us through the narrow opening via a metal chain...

All of a sudden we are through the opening and trying our best to sit up, get our bearings and pull our camera's out....we are smushed in behind our boat-man who is now singing in italian (and wanted a big tip for doing so!) and all of a sudden we are trying to remember to lie flat as we are pulled back through the opening....no reminder on the way out!!

It was fast....and surreal...and the water is soooo turquoisey blue. It's mesmerizing....and sadly these are the best pictures I got in the crazy moment of it all. But trust me it was beautiful and awesome that we got to see it!!

And after paying our healthy tip, we clambered onto the main boat and were back to the beautiful port of Capri.

We took the cable car up the the main village where we had lunch with a gorgeous view and then explored the sights of Capri...

It was such a beautiful day!!

Rome....behind the scenes.

I tried my best to keep the pictures to a minimum in my last Rome post here...believe me, 45 was minimum:) But there is so much more that makes up the Rome experience, so here are a few pics....kind of like the backstage pass of our trip...

I never got tired of the doorways, or the streets or the shuttered windows, or the way people parked (the driving was another story!), the cute restaurant/cafe's/stores, even the graffiti held it's charm!

Enjoy the unique sights and sounds that make up Rome! Beautiful city!

Ciao!

Til next time:)

Rome...the Tour

You know you really have to say "Roma" as it just sounds so much more italian. I can hear the sing-song-y way of speaking in my head right now....I love that beautiful, happy, lilting tone of the italian language!

I have reached the grand old age of thirty-something and have never really discovered the awesomeness that is a girls trip.....but now I am converted. Three of my lovely friends and I got to spend a few days in Rome (plus a day in Capri - a whole other post) and it was the most amazing vacation ever!! We laughed and laughed til we cried (or pee'd, whichever came first) and you know if I tried to tell you some of the things we laughed about, they wouldn't sound that funny (believe me I tried...and I saw Andrew's reaction,....I'll save you all from that) but there is nothing quite so refreshing and invigorating as laughing and having fun with great friends.

Where to start....???

The tour guides were  out of this world...

Max, Valentina and Daniela

We never waited in a single line, got access to some amazing behind-the-scenes stuff and heard some great stories.....they were phenomenal!!

The Coliseum was our first stop - about 5 minute walk from our hotel...and just incredible!! We got to go in some restricted areas on the top and in the basement...the history is amazing and every direction you look is another breathtaking view.....do you think there is a max number of pictures per blog post?? If there is I think I might just be about to exceed it.....:)

We started another day with a visit to Castel Sant'Angelo and the Bridge of Angels....wow!! We got a daylight tour of the Passetto di Borgo (the above the walls passageway that joins the castle to the Vatican)....through locked gates and doorways....it was pretty awesome!! 

We also went down into the basement/prison...and up to the rooftop.....doorways and winding stairs...I am running out of ways to say amazing!!

Everywhere you turn your head is literally another feast for your eyes. Rome is drenched in history and culture and you just walk around trying to catch a drop here or there, but knowing you are only scratching the surface....

The Castle is just down the street from St Peter's and being a Wednesday the crowds were gathering to hear the Pope speak...fascinating to watch!

Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, The Key Hole and Baths of Caracalla.....

And last, but by no means least.... The Vatican & St Peter's Basilica. It's really would take a lifetime to really see everything there is to see in the Vatican....it holds mountains of priceless statues and paintings and artifacts....the Sistine chapel (no photos allowed) was much smaller than I expected and St Peter's was much grander....It was 3 days of one awe-inspiring place after another...and we loved every minute of it!!