Heraculum (Ercolano)
16 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
This is the OTHER town, along with Pompeii, that was both wiped out and preserved by the massive eruption of Mt Vesuvius. We decided to buck the crowd and visit it instead. We were thrilled with theEn savoir plus
Heraculum 2
16 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
Do you recognize the latrines?
Heraculum 3
16 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
The skeletons were found at the docks end of town where people were fighting to catch a boat out of the inferno.
Curses! We were foiled
17 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
We've been waiting for a nice day and for the haze to clear so we could drive down the famously beautiful Amalfi coast. Weather was nice but haze was TERRIBLE. Hoping it might improve a bit south, weEn savoir plus
Garbage
18 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
Who knew it could be so complicated? Our hostess walked through it in detail when we arrived, and left these handy instructions on the dishwasher. She mentioned bags, but we can't find the rightEn savoir plus
Dang! Relaxing AGAIN!
18 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
We were hoping the predicted shift in wind would clear out the haze so we could try driving the Amalfi coast again. Well maybe it has. We can't tell.
We are having another bang up day relaxing. AndEn savoir plus
Amalfi Coast
19 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
Tried again. There was a low ceiling but no haze. It was a wild ride and Italian drivers are crazy! Got somewhere between Positano and Amalfi before deciding our stomachs couldn't take much more. WeEn savoir plus
Um ... remember that view we had?
20 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
Guess it's time to be going. Today we head to Orvieto north of Rome.
Hill towns
20 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
We are obviously entering hill town heaven. Gordon managed to snap these two anonymous examples from the car on the way to Orvieto.
Driving up to Orvieto
21 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
Orvieto sits at the top of precipitous cliffs. It was exhausting even to DRIVE up. First thing we mosied over for a view of of the surrounding area. The cats were a bonus. I think.
Walking around Orvieto
21 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
Walking around Orvieto 2
21 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
Riding the funicolare
21 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
Visit to Civita
22 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
One needs to walk into the town, but my back was hurting, but it was still well worth looking at from afar.
On the drive
23 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
Lunch at Bottega dell'Abate
23 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
The host was taken aback when we only had water with lunch, no wine. He told us to watch out for the police after drinking. In Chianti, when they do a blood test and find water, you get in trouble.
San Gimignano
24 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
Medieval walled town famous for it's defensive towers. Only 14 left out of many more built over the years.
San Gimignano II
24 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
Town of a thousand tourist shops. Most seemed pretty high quality. Fortunately I already purchased my 11 euro sweater so I didn't have to fork out 200 for a fancy one here.
I forgot to take a photo, again
24 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
Bar dell'orso (bar of the bear). Yummy food. Heather had pasta with radicchio and Gorgonzola. Gordon opted for comfort lasagna. Tirimisu and ricotta torte slathered with chocolate for dolci.
Etruscan Tombs
24 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
Came upon these by accident in Castellina in Chianti.
Driving through the countryside
24 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
Monteriggioni
24 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F
On the pilgrim's route of Via Francigena. Just 2 miles from where we are staying.
Daniel's House
24 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F
Staying with Daniel near Monteriggione turned out to be special as we actually got to spend time socializing with Daniel himself. The discussion wandered from travels to work to deep philosophicalEn savoir plus
Heading North
25 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
Italy is 10% smaller than California with about a fifth more population. For a few days now we've been humming, "Give me land lotsa land lotsa land don't fence me in!"
We had heard that the AostaEn savoir plus
Hitting the Alps
25 mars 2017, Italie ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
The landscape became progressively wilder as we approached and passed through Genoa. However it was still intensely populated. Driving was tough, but as we spied our first glimpse of the Alps we wereEn savoir plus





































































































































Margaret NicholsI hear that the mosaics in the museum in Heraculum are the best in the world - even better than Ravenna. Did you get to see them? Envy, envy, envy ...
VoyageurWe didn't want to drive into the center of Naples and park. I would have loved to see the castings from Pompeii that they have there. Alas. Perhaps next time.
VoyageurOops just reread that. I think everything from both Pompeii and Heraculum has been moved to the National Archeological Museum in Naples. There were two museum looking buildings on site there that were quite empty and showing neglect.