A long long travel day - even though you know it's coming it is still rough. I checked out of my lovely roman hotel, battled peak hour traffic for half an hour to get to Roma termini trainstation for the first leg of my trip .... Eurostar second class train to Naples. Have to say it was great, maybe did not need to pay those first class suppliments. I knew things were about to change when I got to Naples garibaldi station (a sad tribute to my great great great gr...

I walked to the most important church in Rome - st peters basilica, which I couldn't get into yesterday due to the popes address! It is the second biggest catholic church in the world and designed by michaelangelo. It is amazing, huge, grand, and a testiment to the money and power of the Vatican. The photo is of a portion of the dome. I stopped for lunch at the campo de fiori, and had a plate of salumi and cheese! I bought a smaller suitcase with the 4 w...

Postnote to yesterdays entry.... I had just posted when a local started asking me about my phone - ended up going on my first italian gelato date - hilarious! Got told i have very important eyes. He was very young and charming and I was curious to see if all the cliches were true (yep, they cut to the chase fast and are over the top romantic). I blew him off after I finished my icecream as I wasn't really interested and it's hard to find a real connection when t...

Breakfast is served in the room again (chocolate croissant, cappuchino, bread and cheese), but it's not quite the same without the view of the grand canal! This morning I walked to the famous Campo de fiori, home to a produce market during the day and bars at night! Ther fresh produce is so lovingly displayed, you immediately want to buy the huge range of fruit and vegetables. I am seeing alot of beans and artichokes, stone fruit and zucchini flowers (still try...

I woke late and enjoyed a long slow breakfast at my window posse, and watched Venice go about it's daily business. I caught a midday train to Rome, it's a 4 hour journey that went quickly thanks to my new book about the stig and top gear compliments my motor enthusiast English friends. Rome is a massive contrast to Venice and lake como. First of all they are crazy drivers - there are no lanes, there are no sides of the road, you do what you can get away with ...