Sunday, April 5, 2009
Australia - March 24-April 8, 2004
This trip was definately a dream come true. I started dreaming about going to Australia when I fell in love with kangaroos and koola bears when I was about 7 years old.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Day 11 - April 3rd - going home
Dawn and I took the shuttle to the airport with our bags while Dad drove the car back (he was afraid he would get lost so he wanted us to go with the shuttle to avoid any delays). We checked in with Alitalia then met with Dad for a last coffee before he took the shuttle back into the city and then we headed through security. I ended up having to open my carry-on due to a question about.....my slippers. I think the guards gave the x-ray guy a hard time about that after we left. That then became a joke between Dawn & I for the rest of the trip (any time we had to go through security).
We got home safe and sound, tired but with some great memories.
We got home safe and sound, tired but with some great memories.
Day 10 - April 2nd - back to Rome
Breakfast again at the hotel then it was off to Monte Cassino. It's amazing what they have done with the place after it was bombed by the Allies in WWII. It is beautiful and covered in gold. We stopped at the Polish Cemetery and the German one before heading towards Rome. We had lunch in Cassino at the Goa Pub/Pizzaria/Birreria/Paninoteca. Dad had the tourist menu lunch (2 courses plus a drink), Dawn had pizza margherita and I had the pizza quatro formaggio.
We arrived in Rome and headed to our hotel - the Four Points by Sheraton Roma West (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1388). I redeemed Starwood points for 1 free room night for myself & Dawn, and 2 nights for Dad. We had rooms 309 and 311. This is about 20 miles from the city as well as 20 miles from the airport. They have a free shuttle that will take you to both places (it drops you off/picks you up not too far from the Piazza Venezia in the city). My cousins from Argentina happened to be arriving that day from Paris so we headed into town to see them (I hadn't seen them since 2001). We took the shuttle in, a taxi then to the Harley Davidson store (for Dawn to buy the shirt for her husband), then onto the Hotel de la Naccione to see the Chaos and the Morinis. We all went out to see the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps (climbed to the top), then had dinner close to the Via Veneto at La Corte dei Leoni. There were an assortment of appetizers, then I had risotto con carciofi (risotto with artichokes) for my main course. We walked back to their hotel then the 3 of us took the 1020pm shuttle back to our hotel - Dawn and I needed to repack as we were leaving the next morning. This was the 1st day/night that the weather was not on our side - it rained on and off.
We arrived in Rome and headed to our hotel - the Four Points by Sheraton Roma West (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1388). I redeemed Starwood points for 1 free room night for myself & Dawn, and 2 nights for Dad. We had rooms 309 and 311. This is about 20 miles from the city as well as 20 miles from the airport. They have a free shuttle that will take you to both places (it drops you off/picks you up not too far from the Piazza Venezia in the city). My cousins from Argentina happened to be arriving that day from Paris so we headed into town to see them (I hadn't seen them since 2001). We took the shuttle in, a taxi then to the Harley Davidson store (for Dawn to buy the shirt for her husband), then onto the Hotel de la Naccione to see the Chaos and the Morinis. We all went out to see the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps (climbed to the top), then had dinner close to the Via Veneto at La Corte dei Leoni. There were an assortment of appetizers, then I had risotto con carciofi (risotto with artichokes) for my main course. We walked back to their hotel then the 3 of us took the 1020pm shuttle back to our hotel - Dawn and I needed to repack as we were leaving the next morning. This was the 1st day/night that the weather was not on our side - it rained on and off.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Day 9 - April 1st - Pompeii
We started out with nourishment at the hotel then it was off to Pompeii (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompeii). What an amazing place to see. It blows the mind how the mosaics and paintings have survived. We got there shortly after it opened, so by 1pm we were ready to head out. Walking here is rough - the uneven cobblestoned streets really did a number on my knee. We drove back up the coast and stopped in Sorrento to take a quick trip to the Isle of Capri (not originally planned). We took the 245pm departure of the Linee Marittime Partenopee to Capri ($9.50 EUR per person/each way). The thought was to do the Blue Grotto but when we arrived and tried to purchase tickets we were told that there were no more excursions running that day as the tide was too high. We decided instead to rent a taxi for a tour of the island. It cost $60 EUR for all 3 of us and this included the tour plus time to shop (our driver was Vincenzo Verdoliva - driver #26).
We returned to Sorrento using the 620pm sailing then it was back to the hotel. There were 3 tour buses there when we arrived (Germans & Brits I think) so we were lucky we were able to find a parking spot. Dinner at the hotel restaurant again - I had crema di asparagi (cream of asparagus soup), scaloppine al marsala (veal escalopes in marsala sauce). Dad had a penne dish to start then the scaloppine al marsala and gelato. Dawn had the insalata verde (mixed salad) and pollo alla cacciatora (chicken). Dad & I finished off the meal with limoncello.
We returned to Sorrento using the 620pm sailing then it was back to the hotel. There were 3 tour buses there when we arrived (Germans & Brits I think) so we were lucky we were able to find a parking spot. Dinner at the hotel restaurant again - I had crema di asparagi (cream of asparagus soup), scaloppine al marsala (veal escalopes in marsala sauce). Dad had a penne dish to start then the scaloppine al marsala and gelato. Dawn had the insalata verde (mixed salad) and pollo alla cacciatora (chicken). Dad & I finished off the meal with limoncello.
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