ROOM WITH A VIEW 2 (BAY OF NAPLES)

A few days have past & we have managed to see a bit more of Florence (well a lot more via the top of Brunelleschi's dome...a rather strenuous climb),

a Lucy Honeychurch moment or two in the church at Sante Croce (Galileo,Dante,Raphael,Michelangelo & Leonardo Da Vinci's tombs all grace the walls) and also a visit to a lovely intimate museum  for Michelangelo's family.
On Monday we still managed to miss Museo San Marco with Fra Angelico's frescoes (it is only open half days) but spent a few hours at the Medici's former Pitti palace(I think they were vying with the Tsars for decadence & conspicuous consumption)and wonderful (if a bit neglected) Boboli gardens

Boboli Gardens

A trip in the late afternoon to placate our disappointment over Angelico's frescoes on the local bus to Friezole in the hills outside Florence was a welcome respite to the hoards of tourists that crowd the streets of Florence and the views were spectacular.

On Wednesday we made (successfully..if a bit fraught)the train trips to Sorrento via Naples.

toasting the people of Pompeii AD79 with Mt Vesuvius as a backdrop

Sorrento is a lovely 'seaside" town hanging on to the cliffs beside the bay of Naples and opposite Mt Vesuvius & the star attraction Pompeii.It is much more relaxed here & people much more friendly.

Today(Thursday)we took the 30 minute train trip to Pompeii & spent an good part of 6 hours trudging the streets............an ambition since I was about 15 and Nicco the man who runs these apartments told us he had never been.....can you believe that! It was FANTASTIC!!!! 

We hope to catch up on all the art that has been removed(which is most of it) in 2 days time.

Wagon ruts & stepping stones on the streets of Pompeii

The ever present Mt Vesuvius

Forum Baths

More archaeology tomorrow at Herculaneum!

Ciao Kath & Sue

PS don't suppose you were all down at Echo Point today waving the Union Jack!!!!!