Immersive Italy Bus Tour

Day 1 Lazio Region

After a group hotel meeting, the tour bus dropped us in the middle of Rome for a guided walking tour. There is so much history here and our passionate Italian tour guide provided us with information overload.

It was so hot and busy. We constantly refilled our water bottles from the plentiful water fountains along the way and you can see why tourists get in to trouble with the Polizia for hopping in to cool down!

As brutal as the conditions were, there’s something surreal about being here. I am standing in the ruins of The Forum where Julius Caesar stood 2,000 years ago!! I resisted the urge to scream the famous line, “Et tu Brutus!”.

More walking to see landmarks which finally ended with dinner. The menu choices were pizza or pizza. A comfortable air conditioned hotel room and bed ensured a good nights sleep.

Day 2 Campania Region

The food speciality from this region is pizza (in fact pizza was invented in this region) and limoncello.

Today we left for Salerno, stopping at Pompeii on the way to see what we can dig up. Pompeii erupted in 79AD and is a moment frozen in time. A large part of Pompeii is still unescavated. The eruption was not lava but actually ash and pumice rock. There were many two storey buildings that housed a business downstairs with the owner living upstairs. All the 2nd stories were no longer there as they collapsed due to the weight of all the ash and rock.

The process of injecting plaster to form replicas of humans and animals has enabled us to gain so much information on this past civilisation. The bodies remained in the same positions and the form was preserved after the biological material decomposed.

We were reassured Mt Vesuvius was not going to erupt today but not to worry, the mad Italian drivers would kill themselves trying to escape an eruption anyway!

After a quick refresh at our hotel in Salerno, we were soon on a ferry to Amalfi. What a spectacular coastline! We were greeted in Amalfi to a very busy main thoroughfare. Tourists, scooters, cars and cats kept us on our toes.

A few scenic points were pointed out and soon we were tasting Limoncello. Ruthie was hoping our included dinner would be on a terrace overlooking the ocean. Instead we had no view and a very hot Ristorante but the food was great.

Our trip back to Salerno was aboard a bus along the roller coaster coastal road. Here we got to see all the splayed lemon trees along the cliffs that the region is famous for all whilst marvelling at the bus drivers expertise at negotiating all the traffic and bends.

Day 3 Campania Region

Another day, another ferry. This time we were spending the day on the Isle of Capri. Ruthie was very excited about this but she did forget her Sophia Loren scarf.

The ferry took us along the beautiful coastline with stops at Amalfi and Positano before arriving at the Isle of Capri. The yachts and super yachts (several with helicopters aboard) lined the harbour surrounded by limestone cliffs. You could tell this was a playground for the rich and famous and nothing would be cheap here.

Hugo, our tour guide soon had us on the funicular up to the top of the island. It was extremely busy as tourism is its only industry. The locals live away from the hub but rely on the tourist dollar. They work for 7 months a year, 7 days a week and then shut down.

Beautiful hotels, houses, Augustus Gardens and views and you soon realise why the tourists flock here.

After exploring the town, the funicular soon had us back at the harbour. We were now taking a fast boat to sail the 17 kilometre Capri circumference. Again a different view and the mansions and beach clubs really stood out. Although we saw many caves and grottoes, our boat was too large to enter most of them. This disappointed Ruthie as it was advertised as the Blue Grotto cruise but we were never a chance to actually enter the Blue Grotto.

On the plus side, we did get to sail through the “love arch”. Legend says if you kiss as you go underneath your love will last forever. Once we had returned we were able to have our first swim in the Tyrrhenian sea to refresh us.

Day 4 Lazio & Umbria Region

The food specialty from this region is lamb, pork game and especially roast suckling pig.

Today we’re off to Cassino to explore the famous Abbey of Montecassino. Founded in the 6th century, it was the first Benedictine monastery. We wound up the snake like narrow road to the top of the hill and when you see this monastery, you wonder how they built it and why did it have to be at the top of the hill. Rebuilding has occurred due to earthquakes and bombings from both world wars and the craftsmanship is superb.

I would have thought I was over churches and basilicas by now but our next stop in Assisi was a whole new level of wow! Assisi is a hill town in central Italy’s Umbria region. It was the birthplace of St. Francis (1181–1226), Italy’s Patron Saint. He was canonised in 1228 by Pope Gregory IX as he’d done all the stuff required (healing the sick, walking on water and raising the dead.) We, along with the throng of tourists all streamed past his tomb. This site is one of the most visited for pilgrims in Italy. We took a seat on a pew and just sat and contemplated what we were participating in and wondered if he still could possibly heal these two of some of their aches and pains? The township is pristine and the huge 2 level church goes back to the 12th century. Like all the tourist attractions in Italy, everyone including the religious order is cashing in on the tourist dollar. Souvenir shops and cafes are respectfully scattered among the buildings. In fact, we couldn’t go past trying a cannabis beer as we walked along. I wonder if the monks drink these?

Day 5

What’s in Italy but not in Italy? Yes, we’re calling in to San Marino, an independent state in the mid- eastern part of Italy and the first republic in history. It’s a tax free state and shopping is comparably cheap. For 5 euro you get a fancy stamp in your passport.

Again, it’s on top of a hill with fortifications, narrow streets and no traffic. There are 3 fortification towers set apart and we walked between them. The tourist shopping in between was interesting with quite a few shops selling guns, swords and knives. There seemed to be semi automatic rifles on display and I’m not sure how easy they were to purchase.

Day 6 Veneto Region

The food speciality from this region is risotto.

Our day started with a walking tour in Venice. We were early so the crowds were bearable especially in St Marks square. Venice is a labyrinth of canals and small laneways and it’s very easy to get lost but somehow our group managed to stay together.

When in Venice it’s a must to ride on one of the only 500 gondolas that are allowed to go up and down the canals. Our gondolier didn’t sing but luckily we were close enough to someone that did serenade us.

Next a ferry to Burano, an island close to Venice. It’s an old fishing village. All the houses are colourfully painted. The tale is that the fishermen could see their colourful houses when out fishing and more importantly what their wives were up to. (If they had a male visitor specifically.) Nowadays it caters for tourists with cafes, souvenirs and boat hire.

The ferry then took us to Murano where glass blowing has been going on for over 1,000 years. We were given a glass blowing demonstration and the artistry is incredible. It takes over 10 years to become regarded as a master glass blower. Our group then were ushered into the show room where everything was of course discounted by 50%. If only we had known the shop next door’s regular prices were cheaper.

Our last trip for the day in Venice was a speedboat which gave us an entirely different experience. The exhilaration of the speed and the wind contorting my face was a great finish to the day.