last pics # 2

The approach to Toledo old town, after we've come up 5 escalators.

A Bread Tree - very interesting bakery window display

Toledo Steel swords

Ceiling in Jewish Synagogue (built by Arab tradesmen)

Original ceiling - Toledo

Leaving Toledo old town, via St Martin's Bridge.  You can see a coach in the distance.

Toledo view, from St Martin's Bridge

last pics # 1

Hi Folks.
Here are the photos from the last couple of towns I visited in Spain.

Fuengirola beach

Mijaz - UNESCO World Heritage listed "white" town

Gorgeous Wisteria at El Alhambra

Just one of many amazing doorways at El Alhambra

A cedar ceiling at El Alhambra

El Alhambra

Doorway into the Sultana's courtyard

At El Alhambra, water flows everywhere.  This is beside the stairs as you leave the gardens.

Gypsy Flamenco, in a white cave.  The young couple on the right are Marcella and Eujenio from north of Mexico City.  They spoke to me in English, on the Tour.  They were very nice young couple.

Venice or bust.

Hello all.  First Kate, I visited St. Clares Cathedral in the afternoon.  Very impressive.  Assissi was very laid back after Rome and few other places where you're constantly watching your wallet.  And Tina,  It's such a great place with the vfiews and buildings and history that you don't really notice the steps but I will say that from yhe top road to the caslte is 161 steps and when you get to the road to the castle after that, look on the left at the 4 strand wire fence.  Check the photo....people have been jamming their chewed gum on it for years and it is quite repulsive....and seen some repulsive shit in my day.
Now Venice.  First the exhorbitant prices blew me away.  I thought Rome was bad.  I decided my beer and pasta gut needed a break so I had a cheese burger, fries and a beer.  $36.00 later I nearly called the coppers cos I was getting robbed.  The hotel is nice, right on the main canal.  Jumped on a ferry yeterday arvo and did a 2 hour trip/circuit to check it out.  An bloody eye opener but also reminds me a bit of home as well.  Did the Maritime museum to kill an hour and walked out 4 hours later.  Very impressive stuff but I'm into that stuff a bit.  Walked around to the Rialto bridge thru the bloody crowds and found St. Anthonys church.  St. Marks queue was worse than Rome so didn't bother.
Will try for photos but may run out of time.  Last Blog as I fly home tomorrow.  Love to all and thanks for the comments.  I've been giggling as much as you lot hav e been enjoying them.  Lucas

The Champion of the Coloseum

Chewy fence.  Zoom in and check the old mouldy ones

Cab't beat a view like this can you

That towet on the left is what I swung off to get some pics.  The things I do.  Had to change my undies afterwards.

Rialto Bridge in Venice.  As you can see, very busy.

Rome and Assissi

Hello pernernernums.  Shaking the flu slowly and soldiering on.  For those who have been to Assissi and Positano...........shit ya gotta love steps and up and down walking.  Arrived a 1000hrs and my room wasn't ready so dumped the big bag and set off.  Went to highest point of the mountain then to the top of a turret of Castle Magiorre.  May I say the 150mt walk through the tunnel to get there, on top of the very skinny sprial starcases, were a challenge.  I was surprised how fit I was even with the flu.  But what a view.  I gripped the flag pole like a little boy grips his pecker when he gets into trouble, and did a 360 with the camera on movie mode.  Can't send you that cos this computer has no card reader.  rome day 2 and Assissi added up to 120 photos.  Did a couple of other cathedrals.  As I narrated in the 360, if I did a Hail Mary and an Our Father at every church here I'd be staying for about 12 months.  Said a few for everyone, got my hotel room after lunch on the steps of the town square then headed to St. Francis of Assissi Basillica and crypt.  Very impressive.  Never seen so many nuns and monks, and priests.  Only saw 2 beggers so I guess all the others had been 'saved.'  Not like Rome.  Absolutely majestic but as you would guess - no photos allowed in most places.  Went to the crypt and cathedral of St. Clare and Saint Torrino as well.  Went for an late arvo stroll around town looking for a beer and ended up in the bowels of some excuse for a shopping centre.  So imagine the 5 million steps had to then climb back up so I dersered that beer then.  In the main Piazza there was a junior local band playing old italian folk music so I kicked back with a pint and enjoyed the music, view and the beer.  Had a lovely lasagne and salad with half a litre of red to wash it down with a view over Umbria.  Beautiful.  Heading off on the train to Venice tomorrow so chat then and hopefully get some final snaps on this blog thing.  Love to all.  Lucas

Rome day 2.

Woke up wuth the flu today.  Felt like someone was standing on my chest.  Slept in for a few hours then tackled the Metro which was a breeze.  A station across the road that took me straight to the coloseum.  Big queues but only an hour wait this time.  Another beautiful day but a bit cool.  Overawed at the size and magnitude of the place.  And YES, you guessed it, celebration week so it was free entry to all monuments again.  Man you've gotta love that.  got a bit sunburnt yesterday so purchased a tourist hat for the last week of my travels.  Thinks it's gonna rain all week.........you wouldn't believe it would you!!!
There is a celebration to Nero going at the moment so there was a big display in the Coloseum and another at some other flash church in the ruins.  Speaking of the ruins, had a good wonder through acres of them including a look at the  senator's forum.  Was back at the hotel by 4.00pm after buying some drugs and plan to get a quick bite and stay in and beat this bloody flu thing.  Anyway on a train to Assissi in the morning.  Everytime I say that name i think of Paul and Bede - a sissy.  Make me giggle every time.  Good to hear Georgina is home safe although late.  Blog soon with some more snaps.  Love to all.  Lucas

AAHHHH Day one in Rome

Hello to all.  did the full on tourist thing in Rome today.  Planned on an early start to get to St. Peters Basilica before the crowds.  Slept in, missed the bus, when I got on it the knucklehead behind mr kept standing up (very naughty on these buses) and hitting me in the back of the head with his gut.  I nearly retaliated with mine.  Anyway, mentioned the gut assaults to him in no certain terms and then all was fine.  And yep, the bloody crowds were there before me.  2 hours in the line in the sun with no hat (lost my bloody hat somewhere about 3 cities back).  Once I got to the main gate area some bloody italians with their kids decided to push in in front of me didn't they.  Well, I mumbled something about pushing in, teaching their kids bad manners, etc and gave them a few evil stares and the mothers started to giggle at me so I pulled out my camera and started taking photos of them all.  That gave them the message and they slunk back about 5 metres behind me.  got a pat on the back by a young fella from Hungary.  But may I say, absolutely worth the wait.  Very interesting place.  Did the dead pope cemetery which covers the inside of the basilica.  Didn't bother with the sisine chapel cos the queue was the same and I was over waiting.  Anyway went walking and did the Vittorria Monument then on to Trevi Fountain (more bloody crowds) and it was a battle to get near the water but managed to throw a coin in.  Then I went on to the Pantheon (yes sneakers and Domo the Pantheon).  Very impressive place and it was a beautiful clear day as well.  Also did the temple of Adriano and the sacred area where good old Ceasar got knifed in the back by his mates.  I've got so many photos that I'm starting to confuse myself about what is what.  I've also filled a 4 gig stick and started a second.
Tomorrow I'm going to tackle the metro and go to the Coloseum and the old roman ruins.  I'll see where that takes me tomorrow.

running out of time CIAO

Lucas

Sorrento and Rome

Hello all.  Left Sorrwento this morning on the rattler to Naples.  Last night I walked to the water front near where I was staying.  Didn't know it was another cliff top and my arse was puckering big time.  Managed to steo back to a restaurant and have a cold beer and watch the sun set over the Mediterranean.  Beautiful.  This morning was a case of watch your bags for thieves and head off to Rome.  Met a couple from houston Texas on the train who'd fallen in love with Positano and wanted to return.  We shared stories of the bus rides.  got the bullet train to Rome and struck mayhem and, for the first time, lack of help and friendliness from the local coppers.  Anyway' once again I pissed off a local.  This knucklehead with a 'free inforamtion' badge approached me and offered to walk me to my accomodation for ten euro.  I said, where's the free in that old mate.  He got the shits cos I mentioned taxi so I told him he was a rip off and walked away as he gave me a gob full.  Shit I laughed as I walked away.  Got directions to the hotel which was a 5 minute walk and was pleasantly surprised with my new digs.  Did a walk to a few close places and was blown away by the Basilica for Magdeline Angelica.  This had a display on  Galileo comparing science to the church which was a good insight.  Sneakers had mentioned the church with the light that shines in and marks time and the stars etc.  Blew me away.    Found a place with, yep, you guessed it cos you've been waiting for it.....Saint Lucas.  Check the attached snaps.  Hey Sneakers, you've got a shop, I've got a bloody saint!!!!!!
I don't know what happened to my snaps but I seemed to have lost nearly all my Pompei photos.  not happy Jan.
Doing the Vatican, St. Peters etc and then hopefully the Trevi Fountain.  If I have time then Pantheon.  go Sunday as well but am staying away from the vatican for obvious reasons.  Went into the church in sorrento late yesterday for a look and mass just stared.  Stayed for mass - in italian but was able to respond in most places.  Very different but the same if youy get my drift.
I'll try some more snaps.

Amphitheatre in Taormina.  amazing place.  Another tick off the bucket list.

Mt new partner.  great help.  Can't remember her name.

Dead Scooters left to rot on the side of the killer highway at Positano.

On the beach at Positano.  Wait till I get home to show you the footage of really bad seamanship.

Watching the sunset in Sorrento.  Behind the bloke taking the photo is a sheer cliff face.

Check the sign above old mate...yep.  Saint Lucas.  Yeah baby!!!

Did I mention they have icecream in Italy.  Chocolate, Strawberry and Bannana. Deeeelicious.  The only one they didn't have was poo flavour but I did ask!!!!

Time line on the floor of the Basilica.  Even has the star signs by Galileo.