Our Trip To Europe

Italy - a country I'll never understand
A cool looking Scuolabus passed by our campsite in Fusina outside of Venice. For pictures of the bar at the campsite, and it's patrons, go here.		Our water scarphe into Venice passed some interesting locals	San Marco square from afar.
	San Marco Basilica and the four horses that Napoleon stole for France (well, replicas).
			Our glass making demonstration.
OK, so I knew that if I ordered a coffee I'd get what us North Americans consider an espresso shot, so I ordered a Cappuccino and look how small it was! I'll drink my coffee the Italian way with pleasure, but could they serve it to me in American sizes?	The Rialto Bridge
Everyone knows that the Gondolas are the water taxis, etc. But those two boats are the water busses, they even have floating bus shelters.			Good shot Adam, you should sell that one to Kodak!
The bridge of Sighs - The famous "Ponte dei Sospiri" links the Palazzo Ducale with the prisons section.	Gondolas..	....a Gondola.	San Marco's - it's a beautiful city, but there really isn't that much to see once you've been there a day - and you don't plan an dropping $1000 Euro on jewelry.
	Venice's major export is blown glass and this..	...particular shade of red is their official colour they created.
	The groups did a Gondola tour in the afternoon.	no one actually fell in, but it was close at times.
	That's how it works with a convoy of Gondolas, you stare at people, they stare at you.		< These are the lane markers for the major water way from Funcina to Venice. I don't understand why Italians follow these lanes when they won't follow them on the roads. I guess it's because they could ground their boats.

Aside from the complete lack of hygiene in Italy our campsite outside of Rome was very nice.		The Spanish steps.

Not the best picture I ever took, but you can't review an Avantix photo.

	The Pantheon.	Inside the Pantheon, which was designated a Catholic cathedral so that it would be maintained.



We then went out for dinner and Adam snapped this picture of the washroom.		The Coliseum, the geographical and socialy centre of Rome.



	The main runes of Rome.



The Italian parliament, bracing for a large protest scheduled for later that day.	Now leaving Italy and entering Vatican City.
You are not allowed to take pictures of The Sistine Chapel, but here is one I found on the web. This is before the paintings where restored, now Michelangelo's Work is in it's full glory of rich, deep colour.		In a very catholic manor everything is very ornate - not a surface goes undecorated.	I'm not exactly if the Pope got all this great stuff as a gift from other nations people or just from other nations.
		Into the Sistine Chapel.
		...and exiting the Sistine Chapel.	The main square in front of St. Paul's Cathedral.

St. Paul's' Basilica.	The largest cathedral in the world.	The Swiss Guards who are in charge of security for the Pope.	Hello David. Hello Florence.


I was in Italy for over three days and this was the first Ferrari I saw!	Campanile	Santa Maria del Fiore
	Inside Santa Maria del Fiore
Our friend Alameh was not allowed into Santa Maria del Fiore with her shoulders exposed, so they gave her this.		One of the many copies of Michelangelo's David, this one in front of the town hall. We could have gone out to the school of fine art to see the original, but it's so far away :(
I think this bridge is on the 10 Euro, but I'm not sure.
	Porsche Speedster This classic car rally was wrapping up while we were in Florence.	Ferrari Daytona? The rally starts and end in Florence and goes all the way down to Rome and back.	BMW ---- The total rally is 1000miles, according to the posters.
Porsche Speedster The cars slowed for the basilica and to wave to the crowd.	Mercedes 300SL One of my favourites!	Jaguar A100? One of the few British cars.	Ferrari Daytona? An other great Ferrari!
	Then there's the Autogrill, the road side 'restaurant' that traps captives along the highways of Italy. If you would like to eat at the Autogrill you must first identify at the counter what found you would like, go to the cash and tell them, pay, then take your receipt to the person who makes the food. Once you tell them to make your food you must then tell them what you bought and wait for it to be made. But it's not that easy, because if someone orders the same thing after you they will try to take yours when it is ready so they don't have to wait. In the end it's pure anarchy - but they'll still manage to hit you up for 0.50 Euro to use the washroom.
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