Walking 1000 miles from Lands end to John O'Groats in aid of The Air Ambulance (starts april 7th 2024)

Wednesday, 26 February 2025

day43 Grabbing at opportunity...

Hostel of the Sun, well even if it's raining outside, the atmosphere inside is sunny! 
Everyone here is friendly and chatty! 
Included in the 15 euros a night is a free breakfast!! Crazy good value!!!
Just sitting down I'm already chatting with a German lad(Jacob) getting ideas of where to visit when I get there, at the next table a group of Argentinian girls are passing around a drink of what looks like mixed herbs floating on boiling water ... The cup has a fixed straw to drink the infusion they pass it over for me to try..... You only die once eh! 
https://youtube.com/shorts/cqS47AyGFGg?si=Iy7MwLPhO-vs1izq

The video is my reaction, it's a drink called Yerba Mate no idea what's in it but if the link doesn't work from the blog I think it tastes like a mixture of black coffee and tea while not a regular flavour it's something I'd try again.... For now at least it made me some more friends!!
I like a challenge and the next was to take on Naples metro at first few glance's it wasn't at all clear until it became glaringly obvious there's a blue line on Google maps looks like it's a metro line..... And I think it is, but the three entrances to the metro I found at Municipo the station it appeared to start from only headed north on the yellow line perseverance and plain luck played a hand.... I took the yellow route up to a Station called Museo (near the archaeology museum) a linking passage to Cavour station and I'm heading where I want to go!
It's a Numismatists shop a way out of town.... I'm glad I made the effort, even tho the front door was locked they were open for business! I'd come looking for my one souvenir from Italy that I'm allowing myself! 
And it's a little cracker that I bought.... A tiny silver sesterces from Republican Rome 211bc! It wasn't cheap but it was cheaper than one I found online.... And that's good enough! 
It's got Roma on the obverseand Castor and Pollux riding horses on the obverse....a beautiful little coin!!
The guys in the shop were very polite and capable of dealing with this Englishman! Much to my benefit!.
Leaving the shop I look up at the hill above me it's face being particularly smooth and in places showing signs of ancient workmanship..... I had to investigate.... Passing under the railway line I find a locked gate and a sign ..... I'd blindly wandered to the entrance to the Tomb of Virgil the poet! No entrance here of course but I spot an old lane running alongside the establishmentparts of the left hand wall must have been off Roman origin surely! 
But the Tomb is to the right and over a wall that the railway passes..... It was worth a look I could just make it Virgil's tomb! where the arch is.... 
Nice random find! 
With my souvenir tucked away safely and a little explore done I head back to the station, debating wether to stop at the museum at the station I change trains at ..... Of course I head for the museum! 
It's raining now so there wouldn't be much option, but I'm glad I did..... If you're ever looking for an excellent museum on the Roman era this is the one!
There were literally hundreds of Roman statues! from emperor'sto dogswith Roman art and mosaic some with Tessera on bigger than a few millimeters! incredible work!!!
In one section named Gabinetto Segretto- cabinet of secrets? There was a collection of what can only be described as Roman porn !
Phalluses everywhere! flying cock pendants small phallic pendants, signs to brothel's comprising of naturally a penis! 
Statues of beastialityif a fawn and a goat can be called such?
This is the Romans for you! 
And then there is the opposite the finest gold work.... Possibly from the Greek era when parts of Italy where Greek colony'sthe most incredible fibulae!!! Puts my finds to shame! 😏
Glasswork and cornets from Pompeii!the list of exhibits is phenomenal!!!
I can't do it justice here! 
So visit if you can. 
Back through the rain to the station and again to the Hostel it's about 5pm I want to relax for a bit before heading out again.
A good chat with my dorm mates then I'm into town to the supermarket I found Sole 365 stocking up for tomorrow, once more into the rain and I'm after a pizza restaurant, finding one tucked down an alley with a few Italian couples sitting eating I realise I've found a locals restaurant.... The real thing... Making my order I stand there feeling a bit awkward in my inability to say anything! 
It was a pleasure to watch the pizza being made, upon receiving it I manage a gesture and one phrase..... pizza maestro!! Suddenly the room changes..... Big smiles and a little laughter.... They appreciate my attempt at a proper thank you! Small victories like this make a day!
I'll be going back again I think! 
For now the pizza is taken to the dorm..... Damn it's fine!!!
I've got a trip booked for Friday and I plans for tomorrow.....I think I'll be extending this stay....🙂

Tuesday, 25 February 2025

day42 dun Rome'in

What else could the title be when I leave Rome???
No apologies either! 😁
Today is a location change to Naples so not much happening but there have been some funnies today....
Away and catching the 9.26 from Rome to Naples, had great weather in Rome and now it's damp and grey I timed my visit right! 
The train continues down the south western coast of Italy again skirting the mountains mostly, with the occasional train tunnel and with the sea to our right
Only a two hour journey so I'm soon in Naples its not the prettiest bit of town by the station but it's alive with the usual shops selling bags lighters generally crap really! And lots of shops selling the same.... Weird they keep going......... Probably like the Turkish barbers at home........maaaan!
I'll explore more tomorrow today I'm just settling in, a mile or so walk to the hostel and I met Nunzia the receptionist, now she's a star! Seriously jolly and helpful! 
I'm soon in my dorm and set up my pack in the locker cage under the bed, and I'm off to find a supermarket getting some essentials for snacks tomorrow and munching on tonight passing down one aisle I burst out laughing at the name of some condoms....yes it makes some sense it retards the flow of.... Well you know what..... But it's just so bizarre a name in English! 
I realize the time has flown and I've not eaten lunch it's now 6pm I really need to pay more attention to eating!!!
So I find a steakhouse..... I opt for a rack of ribs rather than 'worn out' Wagyu steak! Another perler!!! I didn't ask what they meant by that!
The ribs were good tho! 
Back to the hostel and I'm chatting to some French guys about language seems in not alone in the vocal struggle, I explaining that as I'm deaf I may shout a bit... Then one made my day saying it actually helps if people shout as it's easier to understand..... All those years we the British have laughed at ourselves for not understanding other languages so well and joking about just shouting at foreigners to make them understand...... Damn me it does! 
I fell about laughing when the French chap said that and explained about that British comedy.... He laughed politely! 

And that's it really today 
Let's see what tomorrow brings.


Monday, 24 February 2025

day 39+40+41

Day 39
Up bright and early, and it's too my favourite little takeaway pizza shop, loaded up with food and I'm into the metro and on my way to the Vatican busy train today must be catching the rush hour, I'm off again at Ottaviano station and only a short walk to the Vatican border, well the walk got longer as I had to queue for a bag check before entry.... Longest queue since I saw star wars in 1977!
worth the wait tho, you really can't go to Rome without seeing the St peters Square and the basilica.. Through the gate and I'm surrounded by two semi spherical rows of columns with saints on the top and the basilica aheadthis is the largest basilica in Christianity and with my first part to visit being the dome I can believe the claim! Climbing a spiral ramp up to save a 5 euro charge for the lift..... And I'm in the domeand looking down on the proceedings belowyep it's high with the walkway walls decorated in mosaic 
Rather beautiful up here, following this was a walk to the balcony of the dome, yep I'd misunderstood what they meant, more up! And this facing one of my phobia spiral staircases!!
I can never clear the idea of plummeting down them!
Starting with a ramp where the curvature of the dome has you walking leaning to the right way a rather awkward angle, difficult for the old folk going up! Then it's time for the tight spiral and no rope or handrail in sight..... Yeah I'm probably a bit pale going up here!.... Then the final stretch the tightest spiral I've been up! Thank the gods it has a rope!!!..... You'll notice the lack of photos for this accent ... Hands probably too shaky!!
Onto the balcony .... Oh my!!!
This really appeals to my love of panorama and roof views! Incredible! The history laid out in front of me! Thousands of years to survey!saint peters Square laid out before me looks like the needle on a compass pivoting on the obilisco vaticano and pointing east towards the holy land! How many pilgrims have headed east from here crossing the Tiber and picking their route to Jerusalem or disaster?... Back down those stairs I trick my overthinking mind by following a big group of people.....I can't even see the spiral! 
Out of the dome the route takes us onto the roof and the rear of the statues looking from the basilicaand at our rear the outside of the dome rears up with the tiny metal fence visible below the top most columns that had enclosed us during our viewing!back down the now easy ramp and I'm into the basilica with it's abundance of gold and renaissance art work the Papal alter is surprisingly dark being made from black marble from Greece although it's thick with gold and so tall!each wing of the basilica is thick with artwork and the the remains of past popes this one being pope Pius the tenththe crypts below hold the coffins of about 20 more popes and dignitariesin various displays of basic humility with plain designs to indicate and rather gaudy excess.... The only pope I've paid any attention to in my life is Pope John Paul the second I only found a painting of him here....I think he was polish likely buried back at home! back up into the basilica and passing groups of pilgrims entering with cross bearers in the forebefore I exit past the Swiss guards on duty.... Normally very stoic and straight of face I capture the chuckle of one as he watches a little girl playing on the steps!good to see the humanity! 
Walking along the road east from the square I reach the Ponte Vittorio Emmanuel the second, the bridge over the Tiber pausing amid the traffic to catch this pic! 
I don't cross the bridge I follow the bank of the river north east to the Castel Sant'Angelo the history of this place goes back millennia! It was to be the tomb of Hadrian and his descendants which this image portrays it's use alternated between castle, private residence and today the museum and tourist trap it is, with another roof top view taking in part of the city walls here
looking up I see a familiar angel with the sword pointing down if you've watched Angels and Demons the Dan Brown book/movie you'll know it, tho here it's certainly not pointing towards the base of the Illuminati!inside and the usual multitude of renaissance art and beautiful ceilings, ancient weapons and armour being on display
the amount of ancient art I've seen in the last month is blinding me too that on display just catching my humour with this carving of the Madonna and child.... Or to me a scene from Punch and Judy!a fair comparison I think! 
Out into the air I'm sitting feeding a pigeon and luring it close until eats from my hand.... Catching a few smiles from passers by I guess most ignore these birdsthis one went away with a belly full of nuts and grain. 
I had intended to go to see the Mausoleo Di Augusto but like many places this was under renovation.... Having to settle for seeing a pretty smart corvette nearbymade my way back to the hostel and slept....
I didn't realise how tired I was and how hungry...... I seem to have neglected the meals and pushed too hard in my race around Europe.... Gotta change down a gear and organise rest days rather than push until my body calls a halt! 
As it is I've spent days 40+41 sleeping and eating and resting! 
And now feeling the better for it..... I'm off to Naples or Pompeii next ....I have to plan it so I don't know which yet.... But I will need energy!.......