Amalfi Coast

Yesterday I went on my own to The Amalfi Coast.  Aaron hurt his foot a few days ago and needed to rest it after our long day at Pompeii and Vesuvius, so I spent 3 hours and trains and busses to get here:

Worth it, right??

I'm terrible at selfies.

Lemon is a big thing here, so everything is lemon:

Limoncello was invented here (it's a lemon-flavored liquor) and it's better here than anywhere else (which isn't saying much, it's gross).

They have their own Duomo:

Overall, amazing place!  I also passed by Positano and it was also really beautiful (I always remember Positano from that movie, Under The Tuscan Sun).

So, today we leave Naples for Catania, Sicily.  Can't wait!

Napoli

We are in Naples (leaving today for Sicily) and we finally had some time to relax.  We got a private room at this really nice hostel (it's really more like a hotel) with air conditioning and it's been so nice just to kick back a bit.  It's funny the little luxuries you notice when you've been backpacking.  There's a TV in our room and a private bathroom with little soaps, which sounds totally normal, but NOT if you've been backpacking and sleeping in hostels. Bits like a whole other world, one I thought I would hate, but I'm actually really enjoying it (except for the no air conditioning part).  

Anyway, we saw Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius the other day:

Mt. Vesuvius:

Kinda uneventful on the inside, for an active volcano.  I was expecting some sort of smoke or lava or something.  By the way, I don't know why I did that pose, I was trying to point, but it looks like I'm saying "number 1!" which makes no sense.  Whatever.

Then we went to the beach town of Sorrento:

Caught this old guy swimming:

Living the dream, old man!

The Vatican

I know I'm late, but here are a few pics of the amazing Vatican museum and St. Peter's Basilica.  You're not allowed to take pics inside The Sistine Chapel, so I didn't get any, but it was amazing!  We even caught a priest (?) saying a prayer while we were in there!  I'm not really religious, but it was definitely something special.

You have to have your shoulders and knees covered, which is why I'm wearing pants (I'm not just a glutton for punishment), and man was it hot!

St. Peter's Basilica:

Florence and Rome

Florence was great!  So many sights and the city itself was just beautiful.

Duomo:

Leather market:

My new purse:

produce/meat market (most amazing market I've ever seen):

Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio:

Ponte Vecchio:

Palazzo Pitti:

Giardino di Boboli:

Now we are in Rome.  Another amazing city.  I've heard a lot of negative things about Rome being dirty and overcrowded, but we absolutely love it.

Spanish Steps:

Trevi Fountain:

This is some monument for Vittorio Emanuele II (whoever that is):

Evening party by the water:

Pantheon:

Coliseum:

Palatino:

Today we will try and go to the Vatican.  Then tomorrow we will leave for Naples.

Venice

I know it's so lame that I haven't posted a full blog in like a week, but it's just been so hectic trying to see and do everything, that I've barely had a minute to myself.  I will definitely backtrack and catch up at some point, but it probably won't be until we settle in Barcelona.  I know, lame!  Anyway, for now here are some Venice teasers:

I have been to Venice before (about 11 years ago) and it hasn't changed much, but Venice is never a bad idea.  I would go again in a heartbeat!
Currently we're in Florence, which is beautiful, but it's been such a mad dash these past few weeks that we are worse for the wear for sure.  I've got blisters on my feet and Aaron's pulled a muscle in his back from his giant backpack, so we're hoping to take it a bit easier the next few days.  We're gonna see the sights and not be in such a rush to move on to the next place.  We've been making good time so far and been able to see most of what we wanted, but it's just being constantly on the go that's getting old.
I'll keep you posted as I can!