A weekend in Abruzzo

Driving up to Scanno in the hills.. and then this lake appeared.. absolutely beautiful.. and you could see the snow on the mountains in the distance.. not much snow left... but some..

Michael, Philippa and me with the snow in the background..

The small market town of .... oops forgotten the name already...

Scanno in the background looking through the arch at the top of Largo San Francisco

Ross partaking in some fresh mountain water from a fountain advertising this particular town was the most beautiful in Italy!! Some sort of annual competition they had won.

Playing silly buggars on the chains.. which read 2000 apparently to commemorate the Millenium

View of the lake driving up to Scanno.. very windy roads but beautiful scenery

Michael, Ross and Betsy under the arch looking into the small market town..

If you can read the posters you will see an Australian Youth Choir is performing here.. yep they love us Colonials in Italy.

Another one of the same and I cant delete it!! Help.. technology aint good for Blondes!

A 'grumpy' woman in the typical dress of Scanno.. very particular to this part of Abruzzo.

Ross posing on the car... the first time he had driven on the 'wrong' side of the road .. and he did very well.. he did all the driving and I was a passenger.... very relaxing I might add.

Another hilltop town.. only this time it was full of decrepid buildings no longer used. All there was in the town, aside from a few people (a population of 92 I think was the word from Lonely Planet) was a beautiful castle, a restaurant and wonderful views of the valley and hills.

The convent building in the town of Capestrano where we stayed for two nights.

The view of the countryside, snow on the mountains and village from our deck (not balcony but DECK) .. with an E not an I as they insist I pronounce it.

Mmmm.. the menu in the restaurant in the village.. still not sure what Beer made with oil and beans tastes like.. no one was game to try.

another excerpt from the menu... and something edible at last?

Couldn't resist it.. I finally found my ideal car..

This sign was hanging outside one of the houses (yes houses) in the dilapidated castle town.. took my fancy..not sure what it was all about.. perhaps they are still playing Knights in Shining Armour in that neck of the woods?

The confused Pub. Is it Irish, Scottish or Italian. Oh yes.. the pink bag resurfaces...

Abruzzo - Capestrano Night Out!!

Ross buying some (very) expensive wine.. well at Euro 4 a gallon it had to be up there with the best.. and of course clutching his purchases of the day.. a brand new pair of shoes.. a man after my own heart!

Ummm... attempting to be a Dalek... I always wondered what those culender things were for

The board after an extremely challenging game of scrabble...

And the results the following day.. asleep at lunch

Video of Anzac Day Ceremony at Gallipoli

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Naples weekend

The highlight of the weekend for me was going to the top of Mt Vesuvius which is regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes 9n the world because of the population of 3,000,000 people now living close to it. It is the most densely populated volcanic region in the world. The bus from Pompeii struggled and actually broke down.. however against Italian tradition a new bus did arrive within 10 minutes!! Another amazing feat. Once at the end of the line for the bus there was still another 2km steep uphill climb on a road/path of volcanic rock. I made it though! Having opted out of the Mt Etna climb last year I made sure I had walking shoes on and stuggled onwards and upwards with Ross. The views were amazing and the crater huge as you can see from these pics.

Ross had an idea to cover the top of Vesuvius with a tarpoulin to contain the next eruption.. looks like someone had the idea before him.. as here is the proof!

Me at the top looking down on Naples and its surrounding towns and villages.. and of course Pompeii.

The entrance to the Crater Road

Pompeii. I must confess I wasnt that fussed with Pompeii this time.. I mean three times in three years and it hasnt changed a lot since 79AD when Vesuvious erupted. But.. being the kind Aunty I am Morgan asked for some pictures of the house of a family she studied at School. (Who would do Latin I ask you? lol.. sorry Morgan)... anyway here is the house of Lucius Caecilius Iucundus who was a prominent banker in Pompeii at the time of the eruption.

And the huge ampitheatre at Pompeii... built to hold 20,000 people.

Ross with the Gladiators barracks in the background...

A new view of Rodannes Thinker perhaps... he didnt think quick enough as he was buried alive in Pompeii

Another pic of Morgans house....

Naples.. and one of the very narrow streets that have been built to bring the sea breezes up to the centre of the town.
Hilltop scene.. we didnt get around to getting the Funicular up here.. maybe next time..

Castle Nuovo in Naples.. aka The Disney Castle

Rubbish in Naples... Naples has had problems for about 6 months with no rubbish collections.. although we didnt see the evidence I have read about it was still pretty bad...

'The Italian army has begun bulldozing the 100,000 tonnes of rubbish that has piled up in the streets of the southern city of Naples.
The government is to hold an emergency meeting to find a solution to the rubbish crisis. Naples dustmen stopped collecting rubbish two weeks ago.
With nowhere to put it local people are forced to burn it. The fire brigade has been struggling to put out the fires. ' BBC Jan 7 2008

Typical Naples scene.. three on a Vespa.. no helmets.. smoking.. texting...


Capri... third time again.. but still as beautiful as ever.. and me too of course!

The three of us at the Top of the Chairlift on Capri... just amazing views and a gorgeous day.

Looking down 100 feet plus.. the sea is so clear.. the white things are boats and the dark shapes is the sea bed!! Honest it is.. the water is just translucent.

Another view from the top of the Chairlift....

Capri Port with all its colour

Istanbul & our final night in Turkey

All good things come to an end..and off to work we go....

On the top floor of the Aya Sofya... The Aya Sofia (also Haghia Sophia) is a museum nowadays. It was founded as a church on a place where earlier another church stood. That was inaugurated on 15-2-360 during the reign of Constantius, son of Constantine the Great. That one was set alight and burned. During the Nika-uprising in 532 the Great Church, started under Theodosius II, which was the next church on that place, was also destroyed. Remains of that church can be seen at the West of the current church. That was built in 5 years and inaugurated by Justinian on 27-12-537, with the words “Praise the Lord who found me worthy to finish this project. Salomon, I have surpassed you.” (in Greek, I suppose). After Mehmet the Conqueror took the city in 1453 he had the church transferred into a mosque. The mosaics were covered with whitewash. In 1934 they were uncovered.

A view of the Blue Mosque from the verandah of our first night.. introduction drinkies.. The Blue Mosque was founded by Sultan Ahmet I. He ordered Architect Mehmed Aga to begin constuction in 1609 and the whole complex was completed in 1616. The location of the mosque is just opposite the Church of Hagia Sophia in competition which is actually true because Architect Mehmed wanted to construct a bigger dome then Hagia Sophia's. Instead he built the mosque in perfect proportion of domes and semidomes as well as the amazing minarets. There is an interesting story of the mosque; according to it, Sultan Ahmet I wanted to have a minaret made of gold which is "altin" in Turkish. The architect misunderstood him as "alti" which means "six" in English. However, when the architect was shivering as "am I going to be beheaded?", the Sultan Ahmed I liked the minarets so much. Prior to that time, no sultan had a mosque with 6 minarets.

The Aya Sofya in the background.. and back to some warmer weather..

The column was erected by Constantine VII, known also as Porphyrogenetus, around 944 AD for the decoration of the Byzantine Hippodrome. It was made of limestone blocks and completely covered with bronze slabs bearing inscriptions which were dedications made to his grand father Basileus I. Unfortunately all bronze slabs were removed during the rule of the 4th Crusade who melted them to make coins and weapons, therefore none of them survived until our days. The column is about 32 meters high and rests on a small marble base.

The million stone is located at Sultanahmet neighborhood, in the centre of old city. The Million Stone was always put in the center of the city and distances to all corners of the Byzantine Empire were once measured starting from this point. The stone was erected under the reign of Constantine the Great around 4th century AD in the northeastern corner of Augusteion Square, marking the starting point of an extensive road network

And then the last night, which unfortunately was not as lively as it should have been given it was the night following our accident and we hadnt got in to Istanbul until almost 4.30am!!

The Leather Factory Experience at Pamukkale

After all that histsory a bit of retail therapy was needed.. and boy did some take advantage of it! The leather was beautiful and soft.. and not too expensive as leather goes. Some of our group were hoisted onto the stage to model the wares



Phil doing a twirl.. must have been a model in a past life!


And thats the end of the show folks.. now go and spend some money!

The Calcium Terraces & The Hierapolis at Pamukkale

Pamukkale was a sight for sore eyes.. I was 'over' ruined cities.. I mean no matter how amazing they might be one can only take in so many so the landscape of cotton castles or Calcium Terraces was a welcome change.

An unusual natural and historical site with the sparkling white castle -like cascades, Pamukkale is one of the most important highlights of Turkey, unique in the world. The site is named in Turkish as "Pamukkale", that means "cotton castle", parallel to the glorious and spectacular view of the site. The dazzling white calcareous castles are formed by limestone-laden thermal springs, creating the unbelievable formation of stalactites, potholes and cataracts.


They looked just like white candy floss .. and sparkling with it.


Waters in the terraces are the sediments of the springs with calcium bicarbonate in 33C. Waters, containing mainly calcium salts and carbon-dioxide, run off the plateau's by depositing calcium while carbon-dioxide disappearing. The marvelous landscape of Pamukkale has been created by this gradual formation, leaving a cotton-like image.

Located above the theatre of Hierapolis, the mineral water sources from the thermal springs of Cal Mountain. It is collected in a pool, known as the "Sacred Pool" of ancient times, where you can swim amidst the historical remains of Hierapolis. The Sacred Pool is now located inside Pamukkale Hotel.
The water of Pamukkale is famous for its benefits to the eyes and skin; and its curing properties to the ills of asthma, rheumatism, as well. The remains of the ancient Hierapolis are situated on back of the thrilling white terraces, standing wondrously in the area.

And now back to more ancient ruins!! This time the Hierapolis of Pamkkale.

Hierapolis, whose name means "sacred city," was believed by the ancients to have been founded by the god Apollo. It was famed for its sacred hot springs, whose vapors were associated with Pluto, god of the underworld. The city also had a significant Jewish community and was mentioned by Paul in his Letter to Colossians.
Today, Hierapolis is a World Heritage Site.

The theatre of Hierapolis is well-preserved, especially the stage buildings, which were beautifully decorated with reliefs. Constructed around 200 BC, the theater could hold 20,000 spectators and had reserved seating for distinguished spectators in the front row. Today, just 30 rows of seating have survived.

Northwest of the theater are the north Roman baths, built around the late 2nd century AD and used as a Christian basilica beginning in the 5th century.

To the north of the main ruins and along the modern road is the north necropolis (graveyard), the largest in Anatolia. It contains more than 1,200 tombs of various types, including tumuli, sarcophagi and house-shaped tombs from the Hellenistic, Roman and early Christian periods. Some have Jewish inscriptions.

Nearby is the monumental Gate of Domitian constructed around 83 AD to serve as the northern entrance to the city. It has three arches and two towers, and originally had two stories. The gate led into a colonnaded street known as Frontinus Street (named for its builder, the proconsul of Asia, who also built the Gate of Domitian). This was the heart of the city during Roman times, containing shops and public buildings under covered walkways.

East of the Temple of Apollo, toward the theater, are the ruins of a peristyle house with Ionic columns. Dating from the 6th century AD, it includes a courtyard with a floor made from polished stone or glass (called the "opus sectile technique").