ahh, finally

Though slumping off to sleep at 9PM, I made it all the way to 6AM. Hopefully, that means I’m back to normal time.

almost adjusted

It’s been four nights since I’m been back and this is the
“latest” I’ve woken up so far. Progressively, later to to sleep and to wake up. Sunday, it was 6PM and 2AM. Today

vacation, day 15 onward home

Thanks to business class tickets, we were able to “fast track” the huge security line at Heathrow. Saved an hour. Granted we waited at least that inside the terminal but at least that can be enjoyable.

Was glad to see that I was about the same weight as when I left. Even with all the pasta, pizza, beers and wine, the walking helped to keep it off.

vacation, day 14 on to London

Onto London. We stayed nearby at the Sheraton Skyline. Had dinner at the sports bar. Bacon cheeseburger with fries for 13.50£/$26.00. Small bottle of beer were 4.00£/$7.50. By comparison, in Rome a large bottle costs only 4,50€.

vacation, day 13

Winding down with a open bus tour. Like many of these buses. It can be difficult to darn right impossible to get back on once you get off. Especially at the more popular sites. For us, it was not a good 30,00€ spendt.

They say it’s safe to drink the water from these flowing fountains around town.

Later we trekked back to Trevi fountain for dinner at Quirino. Maria went wild and ordered the pasta with black truffles for 25,00€. After dinner when we paid. Our waiter, Antonio was upset with us about his tip. The menu states the tip in included and any additonal was not required but appreciated. We started with 2 and updated to 5 but he still stormed off.

vacation, day 12

12:30PM-Late start today. Back down to the Colossum and the Forum. Best to buy your ticket here. It’s good for both the Forum and the Colossum.

        

vacation, day 11 Vatican City

Dropped by the Spanish Steps and then on to Vatican City via the Metro.

Thanks to Tyler’s efforts, we received our FAX confirmation for our Vatican Musuem and Chappella Sistine tour at our hotel after it arrived at my work after we left. Without it meant a very long line in the heat.

The tour was nice. Our group was maybe about 20 people ad we had a nice guide. Man, the musem is crowded and hot. Can’t image it in the summer months. Afterwards, we went to Basilica St Pietro. It’s huge. Once inside, there’s so much space, it’s feels actually empty.

         

vacation, day 10 onto Rome

8:40AM-we leave Levanto and take the fast route. As we approached Florence, we started to run low on fuel and the were no gas stations for the past 30mins. Finally, a gas station and another 49,01€ in gas.

1045AM-we arrive in Florence and 15mins later at the airport.

Returned the car. Summary-962KM/598 miles, 69.17liters/18.27gallons and 89,00€/$115 (@1.30 exchange rate). We got about 33MPG at @ $6.33 a gallon.

1:21-3PM: Eurostar to Rome.

3:32PM: arrived hotel Martini by foot.

Later, we walk down to the Colossum and it later rained. Funny thing, we brought an small umbrella but didn’t have it 2 of the 3 times we needed it.

  

vacation, day 9 Cinque Terre

9:29AM- got onto train to Riomaggio which is the first of the “five towns or villages”.

  

11:22-45, we walked trail #2 to Manarola. Ten minute train ride to Varnazza which was packed. Lunch at Gambero Russo.

  

4:12Pm-we board a train to head to Monteresso.

4:24PM-we arrive in Cornelia. We headed the wrong way! So, while we are at the station and the doors are open, we see at train headed the other way. I yelled. let’s get on it. We made it and ended up in Monterusso at 440PM. We had dinner at ristorantela Cambus.

vacation, day 8

8:40AM we leave Chiusi and by 9:50, we had reached Florence via the Autostrada A1.

1040AM we arrive in Pisa and stayed for about 1 1/2hrs. Poured on the way to Cinque Terre

.     

355PM. Thanks to good signage, we found the hotel easily and arrived at our next hotel-the Garden Hotel in Levanto. It took alittle longer for we took the winding, scenic route S1. Dinner was at Usteria da Boss.