Italy '07

Hello everyone from a hot Split... Ive been very fortunate so far that the hot weather has been following me on my summer holiday.. the only bad day was travelling on the train to the ferry yesterday!! Well Italy.... what can I say... I arrived in Rome from Madrid on a early morning flight (as it was only 35 euros!) on Tuesday and had 10 wonderful days exploring this country!! Rome.. well, it was one of those cities that is always high on the list to check out.. the history, culture, arts... so much of today comes from Italy and most of it centres around Rome! I wont bore you with too much detail on Rome as most travellers have spent time looking around the amazing sights! The highlight was seeing the Pope.. and not just that he was on his Popemobile.. and we were right up the front! Literally 10 metres away from the great man... I had to pinch myself that I was there experiencing this.. The other highlight was the Colosseum.. something that I have been wanting to see for years! (As a lover of sports and huge stadiums this takes the cake!!) As much as I loved Rome, I was glad to board the train to leave.. it is very touristy and the food and service is pathetic.. but it is still one of the worlds most remarkable cities! I left Rome and headed to the Almafi Coast to get some beach action and to visit Julia and her Italian bf who both live down there! I took the train to Salerno where they met me at the train station and gave me a tour of the nearest big town.. we then took the drive to where I was staying.. Atrani.. I really didnt know what to expect from the Almafi Coast but it is just spectacular! My jaw was on the ground.. it is gods country around here! Some of the views were just amazin.. I made the stop every so often and take numerous pics.. with me in them of course! The roads are the scariest Ive been on in Europe! I wouldnt be seen dead trying to drive around here... I then had lunch with Lucas parents who are the typical Italian families.. His Mum was just adorable, she made up a 3 course feast!! I havent eaten that well since I left the sanctuary of my parents.. I told her when Luca goes to Australia that I was going to move in.. she was all up for that idea!! I could easily have this twice a day and spend the rest of the time at the beach!!!! Good lifestyle.. I kept telling Julia that she is living every girls dream, spending a summer in the most romantic part of Europe! I spent 4 wonderful days on the coast, and went to the island of Capri for the day.. also checked out Sorrento and Positano on day trips...Each day was postcard perfect weather and the water was just brilliant! I really cant speak highly enough of this place.. Im definitely coming back to have another summer here! I sadly said goodbye to Julia and Luca and went to Brindisi to spend 3 days travelling around the heel of Italy.. you can tell its the poorest part of Italy and its an area that is not on the backpackers circuit! It was so good, to go to places that wasnt full of tourists... very strange! The locals didnt speak a word of English, so I was trying to speak semi Italian.. not very successful! The ppl down south were just the friendliest ppl that Ive come across in Europe and even though they didnt speak a word of English they really tried to help you out! I have now left there and last nite I took the ferry across to Split.. It was my first ferry experience for a while and I tell you what after the rough seas that we had last nite- I wouldnt be doing it again anytime soon! Anyway, gotta run. Hope everyone is well! Cheers T