http://blogs.bootsnall.com/worldtrip Dutch guy and his fun-loving wife quit the "old 9 to 5" to see a bit o'the world Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:50:36 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Welcome to Vesuvius National Park. Trash pick up does not seem to be a priority in this area. Everywhere you go there are mounts of junk laying next to the roads. We did however climb Vesuvius. The last picture is of the town of Caserta Vecchia where we are staying during ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/worldtrip/vesuvius-italy.html Getting to the archaeological sites is the interesting part, as they sit in the middle of the urban blight of Naples. Rob did a great job negotiating the roadways where traffic lights are either not working or ignored entirely! Then throw in some crazy scooters and fearless pedestrians for good ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/worldtrip/pompeii-italy.html Herculaneum is one of the towns buried after the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. The second one being Pompeii. The difference is that Herculaneum was covered by volcanic mud which kept the remains more intact while Pompeii was covered by the ash of the eruption. Both sites amazingly ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/worldtrip/herculaneum-italy.html We drove from Lucca towards Naples taking the Appian Way, the original road leading to Rome. We were hoping to see remnants of old Rome, but only saw the remains of an aqueduct. It was an interesting drive though, through small towns and agricultural areas, tree farms, and greenhouses. ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/worldtrip/terracina-italy.html We took a 30 minute train ride from Lucca to Pisa to see the famous tower. From the train station it is a 30 minute walk to the Piazza del Duomo where the Tower, Cathedral and Baptistery stand. Other impressive buildings belong to the University of Pisa. http://blogs.bootsnall.com/worldtrip/pisa-italy.html We rented a small apartment approximately 1 Kilometer outside the walled center of Lucca. You can walk all along the top of the medieval wall that wraps around the city. It is all tree-lined paths for pedestrians and bicycles. Lucca is a great town, known especially for their wine and ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/worldtrip/lucca-italy.html http://blogs.bootsnall.com/worldtrip/mediterranean-sunset.html Nice try Universal Studios, but there is no way anybody can re-create this. Portofino is incredible, makes you want to buy a yacht and stay awhile. http://blogs.bootsnall.com/worldtrip/portofino-italy.html Today we hiked the trails of Cinque Terre which wind up and down, around and through the 5 towns. You walk narrow paths amidst tiered terraces of olive trees, grape arbors, and tomato vines; all the while winding their way along the Mediterranean coast line. The trek took us about ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/worldtrip/cinque-terre-italy.html After two long days of driving from Holland, we have arrived in Deiva Marina. It is a small village tucked between the mountains and the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean. We have rented a small studio apt. and from here it a short walk to the ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/worldtrip/deiva-marina-and-vernazza-italy.html