Hustles, History and a Volcano (Naples and Pompeii)

I learnt a lessen upon my arrival in Napoles, booking a head, and a little research will hopefully help steer you clear of a dingy (purple) room that smells like a brothel, with no toilet seat or hot water... oh it wasn't cheap either.
The only reason I didn't ask for a refund was I so nakked from drink all night and morning. All I wanted was something soft and flat to lie on and some Wi-fi... which kept on dropping out overnight. I fell flat on my face on the bed, the next thing I knew I woke up and it was 7pm.
I took an excursion down the the street to see what I could find for dinner. It was smelly, dirty, grungy and in it's own way fantastic; street vendors selling half grade merchandise, shady mob looking characters, even the Ho-bos have a hustle, any euro coins go strait to the pocket and the smalls go in the cup. Amongst all that I found myself in an absolute jewel of a restaurant, like a light in the dark, I felt warm and welcome from the the moment I walked in; and the food, boy it was good!! Simple fresh and tasty.


I woke up early, packed my bags and headed down the train station, I was a little difficult to find my train at first, but it does build ones confidence to do so in Italian (mostly)
The doors of the train jolt shut treating to snap off any unfortunate part of the body that may be exposed and we roll on. The street art on the way to Pompeii is excellent, but as soon as you hop off the train it looks as touristy as everywhere else. Walk around the corner and wow.
It's indescribable the feeling, out of nowhere are the living pages of history books. With it's amphitheater, heated bathing rooms, political history and array of temples, one can see it was an advanced society and a wealthy city. The infamous Mt. Vesuvius stands clear in the backdrop, it's creator cap rising up into the clouds.



I caught a bus up to the creator, after seeing the city, it's a eire feeling standing on a well of such great power; looking down into the creator and back over the cities it engulfed in destruction after erupting in 79 AD, Herculaneum and Pompeii, killing 16,000 inhabitants. It is still active and considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, due to the dense nearby population (3,000,000), and explosive eruptions.

Head in the clouds, feat on the ground.

Apollo's temple, and Mt Vesuvius from Pompeii

Family on the road

After my coffee, I returned to my hostel to check in. I went out to the garden to have a smoke, out there I dropped in to a conversation three lovely girls and one excellent fellow from of all places Australia. I guess its true, everywhere you go, it isn't long before you run into an Aussie; or in this case four of them.

We chatted over a bottle of wine, drinking from mugs. Where we were going and where they had been. Everyone was very close to each other in this group, and feeling a little emotional that they were spitting up there family of travellers. They invited me out to join there fair well dinner that night. We found a nice family Italian restaurant over the other side of town. It was a magnificent spread of food, bread with figs, salamis, tomatoes, fish, and pasta with veal intestines stuff with liver (My choice).

The next day we met up for breakfast, went down to the fountain di Trevi. It is incredible, white marble sculptures, with a clear blue sky background, though also overwhelming amounts of tourists, and the inability to stand for thirty second without someone trying to sell you crap. Around the corner is the most amazing gelato, absolutely exquisite, I ended up going back there a few times, like my friends had done before me.
Kris and I parted with girls and headed to Vatican city. It has a awful beauty, such skill in the artists, and deep history, yet greed and decadence which cannot be ignored. Though you can find humor in the Michelangelo's work on the Sisteen Chapel where he depicts God seated on a human brain shaped cloud, Adams belly button and one of the church minister of the time as a gatekeeper to hell, and a refusal to cover the genitals of his figures, where a the church employed another artist to paint over them after his death.

The Fam (To Kris, Anna, Tegan & Rachael, I wish all the best in your further travels, and thank you for the fantastic time we spent together!)

No photos of the chapel ceiling, but here's one of the first automotive Pope-mobile 

From the rellies to Rome (Perth)

At mid day, the plain touched down in Perth and me and my new friends parted ways, where my uncle Tom collected me. Tom is quite a humorous character. Upon arriving at his, he gave me the grand tour of where I would sleep for the next three days. Showed me where he had renovated the house from the previous tenants digressions, and introduce me to his pet wooden gecko, who has gained considerable reputation for keeping down the levels of wooden flies, wooden mosquitoes, wooden insects, any other wooden creepy crawlies that had the misfortune to wander into the house.


We went round to Granny's, hugged and said hello. She was struggling with her new vacume cleaner after her last one caught fire! I've been told, this need for replacement had nothing to do with her approach to repairing gadgets... everything can be fixed with a good hit with a hammer... or several.


Tom took me to see both of the football teams he couches play. One game was called off at half-time due to a deluge uncharacteristic of Perth. Someone would kick the ball, and it would stop in a meter or two, hitting a puddle.
Afterwards we shared a couple of nips of whisky together. I thought I had had some nice whisky before, but nothing I had ever tasted was quite like the 18yr old Highland we had. Absolutely incredible!!


We ate lunch together over the next few days, went to the casino. I think I have learnt casinos can be glamours and intriguing but, poker is definitely not my game, at least when real money is at stake! Afterwards I caused my uncle some alarm at our evening meal, who is adventurous by nature but not a fan of a goat curry. On the last day before leaving Perth, I got a chance to cook for Gran and Tom, which meant a lot to me. Pan fried trout with potato salad, asparagus, baby carrots and hollandaise sauce.


Two flights later I was arriving in Rome. I took a taxi to my hostel. It took a moment to adjust looking at the cab line to realise that, the cars were not all occupied and to remember in Europe they dive on the wrong side of the road! It was amazing driving though the city and seeing what was once a dream to visit becoming a reality in front of my eyes. After finding my hostel and dropping my bag. I bought a couple of post cards. Found a wonderful cafe, where the staff were friendly and helpful in teaching me a little Italian, sat down and started to write my journal.


(13/9/13)

A New Chapter - The Butterflies of Anticipation

It's a strange feeling leaving your home country, to travel by your self and not knowing when you will return.
The most accurate thing I can compare it to is skydiving, the moment in the plain just before you jump, the slight butterflies, but knowing, there is a lot of fun ahead of you.
It does feel like a chapter has closed and a new one is in the process of being written. Jack (my brother) and I have left home. I have completed my apprenticeship and most of my friends in Australia have turned, or are turning 21 this year.


Dad organised a fantastic send off party, which was a a good opportunity to say my fair wells. Though I cannot deny when I left they still felt incomplete. None the less they would still feel incomplete had I spent another week or three in Australia, so I'm glad of the fun we have had together  as friends, and wish us both all the best, wherever life takes us.


At 3am on Monday (9/9/13) Dad and I left for the Sydney domestic airport for my 7 O'clock flight to Perth. We talked the whole way down, of events of the last few years and what might be in the future for the both of us.



After checking in my luggage, and boarding. I found myself sat next to a beautiful girl, an opera singer from Perth, who had won a competition the night before to sing, of all places Italy in January!! Across the Isle, was another person I gained quite a lot of enjoyment talking to, a man who had served for 15 years in the Australian navy, who had travel all across the world, and making plans to continue with his wife and young son. Sat next to him was the flight steward, who's girlfriend's dad worked with mine. I couldn't help but think of what a small world it is and that no one person can explore it all in one lifetime.