Croatia, Italy, Paris & Berlin

August - September 2024
  • Cayte Campbell
Four holidays in one! So lucky Read more
  • Cayte Campbell

List of countries

  • Singapore Singapore
  • Germany Germany
  • France France
  • Italy Italy
  • Croatia Croatia
  • Australia Australia
Categories
None
  • 35.6kkilometers traveled
Means of transport
  • Flight-kilometers
  • Walking-kilometers
  • Hiking-kilometers
  • Bicycle-kilometers
  • Motorbike-kilometers
  • Tuk Tuk-kilometers
  • Car-kilometers
  • Train-kilometers
  • Bus-kilometers
  • Camper-kilometers
  • Caravan-kilometers
  • 4x4-kilometers
  • Swimming-kilometers
  • Paddling/Rowing-kilometers
  • Motorboat-kilometers
  • Sailing-kilometers
  • Houseboat-kilometers
  • Ferry-kilometers
  • Cruise ship-kilometers
  • Horse-kilometers
  • Skiing-kilometers
  • Hitchhiking-kilometers
  • Cable car-kilometers
  • Helicopter-kilometers
  • Barefoot-kilometers
  • 40footprints
  • 41days
  • 310photos
  • 210likes
  • Split Day 1

    August 24, 2024 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    First things first - sorted our washing! Then headed into town for the free walking tour around Split. Our guide Rocco is a local and took us for 90 minutes through the centre of town and the Diocletian Palace - built as a retirement home in the 4th Century for himself but really more of a fortress and a monument as Diocletian believed himself a god. In the Palace there is a turret area without a roof where local singing groups perform for tips as the acoustics are really good. Was great to listen to. We went down the narrowest street (70cm wide). The early afternoon was filled attending the museum of Illusions. So much fun. An interactive museum where nothing is quite what it seems - and I even managed to solve a puzzle or two. After the museum we walked around out the town - and found an excellent gelato shop - yum. The town itself is quaint with winding streets with everything built from stone. I think I prefer here to Dubrovnik. Then of course up the bell tower and down to the crypt. We had tea at an amazing little restaurant where I had the scampi which is more like crayfish.Read more

  • Split Day 2

    August 25, 2024 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 35 °C

    Off to Krka Falls for the day. Had to be up early and met our guide Gabby for the 90-minute journey away from Split. Krka Falls are cascading natural falls in the Krka National Park - apparently one of the sunniest areas of Croatia which we have worked out means the driest areas. We wandered around the park checking out the wildlife and more - so many fish - with little falls all the way around until you get to the main event which was lovely. From there we had a cruise to the quaint little cobblestoned town of Skradin, whose origins date back to ancient times - so of course we climbed to the top of the fortress. The weather was so hot and humid making this hard work. We then checked out their pebble beach (give me sand any day) before heading off to a local winery to taste their wares and then dozing all the way back to Split. Cooked our own dinner as we had a kitchen.Read more

  • Split Day 3

    August 26, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 36 °C

    Due to issues with dates today is the day that we have to change accommodation. Managed to drop our bags at the new place as we left the old one which was handy. Other side of town and an unusual place - but comfortable. Right near the main beach. So went down and spent some time just watching the goings on at the beach. The sand was more like mud than sand but everyone seemed to be quite enthused about it - it certainly was busy enough. Then off to Diocletian’s palace to explore the underneath further - they have a museum down there. It was so good (and cool as almost underground). This area is where Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones kept her dragons. Ran into our Seattle friends from the winery part of the Krka tour and caught up on both our days
    Went over the road to TOC for tea and then sat and watched YouTube for bits of the Game of Thrones that was filmed in Croatia before retiring for the night.
    Read more

  • Split Day 4

    August 27, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 35 °C

    Checked out of our accommodation and put our baggage in store at the port. Then headed off to the Archeological Museum. A fair walk but worth it. So much Roman stuff from the 1st to the 4th century. Ian was in his element. But if figured if you want the family portrait to last, best so it in stone 🤣. Wandered back to the old town and decided to do dessert first - the ice creams here are really good - and so many gelato shops. With dessert done we did lunch. Ian finally got his sardines and I had scampi tacos - amazing 🤩 . .Then went to the Natural History Museum - interesting but …. But we scored the free day so that worked well. Then off to the port - quite a wait before we boarded our boat where we had a cabin on board - not a lot of room, but our own bathroom! And at 7.30 we headed in on our way to Italy. It was beautiful watching the port and Croatia disappear into the distance. And a surprisingly good nights sleep.Read more

  • Rome Day 1

    August 28, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Woke up as the ship berthed, gathered our things and then walked the 30 minutes to the train station for our train to Roma Termini. The countryside is more diverse than I expected. Huge rock hills on the Adriatic coast to farmland in the middle, interspersed with villages. Found our accommodation - again good except this one is not hear public transport so there will be lots of walking. First stop was the Castle of the Angels - Castel Sant’Angelo - probably one of my favourite places in Rome. Explored the whole site, sadly the Pont Sant’Angelo (bridge) is under reconstruction so only a limited view of all of Bernini’s angels. Weaved our way back through to our accommodation and a nearby dinner - just walking the streets is lovely.Read more

  • Rome Day 2

    August 29, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 35 °C

    While getting up early in Croatia meant no crowds, it is very different here. Sirens, lots of cars and people. Breakfast was a custard croissant - which I liked even though the man struggled with the concept that I did not like coffee (and gave me an orange juice even though it was not an option). Headed to the tour start and saw their free video which was a reconstruction of Ancient Rome - very interesting. Then off to the catacombs of Domatilla. There are about 28km of corridors on four levels. We started in the underground Basilica and then followed our guide (single file only) through lots of corridors of catacombs and family crypts - some open but some still sealed with their occupants in them. From there we made our way by public transport (always interesting) to the Museum and the Crypt of the Cappuchin. The Cappuchin monks are one of three orders that was founded by St Francis. They live in poverty helping the poor and needy - but have some strange practises - including flagellation. And their crypts were something to be seen - decorated with bones of friars past. After that we walked home, past the Trevi fountain (so many tourists), the Pantheon, the Church of St Ignatus and the Piazza Navarone with the Chrurch of St Agnes and some beautiful fountains. This large space is important as it has been maintained since 86AD - enhanced but not actually changed. Our accommodation is only a 5 min walk from here. Stopped for a glass and then some pizza (we are in Italy 🇮🇹). Crashed.Read more

  • Rome Day 3

    August 30, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Up early to get to the Forum. Walking again so half an hour there and then lots more steps, and worth every minute. What was built by the Roman’s and the size and complexity of the buildings that make up the Forum was really quite amazing - including all the that is left from the Romans in the 1st/2nd centuries and what has been restored or even enhanced since. Some great views and peaceful gardens too. Then over the road to the Colosseum. The security to get in was more than getting into Italy. I really like this building. You can really see how it functioned - sort of reminds me of the MCG. It was a centre of entertainment for the masses with the cheap seats at the top. One thing I was amazed about was that they had elevators to bring up participants through trapdoors in the floor. Then Ian headed off to a Roman museum overlooking Navarone piazza and I wandered off to St Peter’s (for a look outside only as the crowds were ridiculous) and then managed an ice cream from the Old Bridge shop - our haunt last time we were here. Legs need a rest - 25,000 steps today.Read more

  • Off to Positano

    August 31, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    Quiet day today as mainly travel. So to start two good photos from Rome (as I am limited to 10 photos a day on this). First is self explanatory. Second is the Rome equivalent of our Fireman’s calendar - every time I see one of these (and they are everywhere) i must say it makes me giggle 😆. Packed up and headed into Roma Termini and found that our plans worked and we met Anne where and when we said. - who would have thought. Must have been all that practise in 1984 😀. Then headed off to Positano - train to Naples, train to Salerno and ferry to Positano. So pretty all the way. Paid to have our bags taken to our apartment and thank goodness - it was all stairs. But the apartment was worth it. Views amazing. Required us to buy a bottle of wine and sit on our deck before dinner.Read more

  • Positano Day 2

    September 1, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Up early and headed off to the bus (via a small diversion in the local shops). Caught the bus up to Nocelle. The roads are wide enough for one car most of the way so there was a bit of negotiation to be done. But scary - the drop off in many places is straight down. Worth the trip as we checked out Nocelle before having lunch at Santa Croce - with the best view and yummy seafood. Then we walked down via the “Path of the Gods” through Montepertuso back to Positano. Thankfully it was down hill 90% of the way - some unhappy knees by the bottom. Absolutely amazing views. The pictures do not do it close to justice to the view itself and how steep it is. I have no idea why/how anyone would build here. Honestly some of the houses/villa look like they should just slip off into the ocean. We had booked for dinner at Da Vin - which has more spectacular views and the food and service were brilliant. One of the quirks was that the menus given to the ladies had no prices!! I suppose that just means Ian is shouting.. Great dayRead more

  • Positano Day 3

    September 2, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Woke early and headed out to the deck to watch the sunrise - magnificent and so peaceful. Headed out on the ferry to Amalfi and caught the bus up to Ravello to explore. The town is 365 metres above sea level and it is nearly all straight down to the ocean. There are some pretty little streets and a lovely old villa called Rufolo named for the family that built it in the 13C. It has a beautiful garden and they host concerts up at the top!!. Thought about walking down - and caught the bus 🤣. Not as many steps sides as the trip to Nocelle but still a bit scary. Amalfi is not as pretty as Positano so was happy to head back ‘home’. Anne and I successfully headed off for a bit of retail therapy and Ian went exploring “old stuff”. Then had dinner in on the deck. I could spend a lot of time here but unfortunately we leave tomorrow.Read more