Italy coming to end - and on to Germany

Well

I've been flat-out site-seeing today in Venice. Last night there was a Festival with Fireworks run to modern music - very clever & well done - although Venice is the city of love & it was thus lost on me a bit being on my own here.

I'm currently in a hotel lobby using their internet with only 24 minutes left. After that I've got to get back to my hotel and have a shower (funnily enough, hot days in a city full of water means lots of humidity).

Okay - lets see what I can cover of the last few days here (briefly) - with a more thorough update to follow later for each town.

POMPEI - Wednesday 11 July
Okay, initially I thought I'd be clever and catch the ferry, rather than the train to Pompei (my Lonely Planet did mention there was a ferry from port [x]). What it didn't say was that there were 2 primary ports in Naples and I went to the wrong one.

I did however find a castle - pretty cool for my first up close & personal (but I was there to early to go in & didn't find my way back later on).

After this I then tried to catch the public transport to the other port - eventually successful only to be told "not today, come back tomorrow" - bugger.

I made my way back to the train station - fairly tired by this time (around 10am - I was up at like 5am though). Got a package tour (train plus admission plus guide) and again it was the right thing to do.

Arrived at Pompei station - the entrance is only about 500 metres from the station which is good - leaves all your energy for walking around the site.

POMPEI ROCKS - I highly suspect that it may be the best bit of my entire trip - it will definately be in my top 5 things that I did (yes I will make up some of these lists when I get back home). If you are interested in how they built things that long ago, GO TO POMPEI (or the other less well known dig that I can't remember right now (Rebecca please write in with the name - starts with a H).

I'll tell you more about it later - need photos I took to help with story.

Milan - Thursday 12 July (arrive) and 13 July (explore)
Travelled from Naples to Milan by train - all worked out well and found Victor without to much trouble (except that wheels on armour bag have completely died now and its just being dragged along -will probably have to be replaced before I get home (sorry dear)).

Victor makes me realise just how casual we are with our SCA in Australia - he really doesn't like the idea of any mundanity at an event (he was commenting that he wasn't sure if he wanted to go to Pennsic because he heard they used trestle tables - I let him know that it would be a much bigger shock than just that).

Anyhow, we went out dinner that night, and then a bar he is known well at.

Next day out wandering Milan - I'll talk more later, but the differences between Naples & everywhere else were starting to become very apparent (cleaner, friendlier, more complete).

More to follow later.

Naples - not pretty

Okay - aside from the crazy Italians & their scary driving, Naples has other things that make it not worth going to.

Currently there is a long running garbage "dispute". It involves the mob so I'm really not sure, however their is rubbish everywhere. If it does not get resolved soon they are likely to have a mouse or rat plague.

The piles of rubbish lining the side of the roads are occasionally torched & the fires are left to burn (the fire brigade doesn't do anything).

On my arrival there was a fire burning on the side of the road (it had spread to be a grass fire along the verge). The next morning when we came past, a powerline pole was leaning into the middle of the road (the bottom of the pole was still smoldering).

When we returned that evening, the pole was no longer a danger to traffic as it had shortened by several feet. It still had not been attended to when I left.

The next day (Tuesday), a pile of rubbish nearby was on fire. I was still smoldering this morning when I was on my way to the Navy base.

Rome is okay, Pompei was great, but Naples is worth missing.

Cheers

Hanbal

Arrived in Milan

Hello all

Well, its been a busy couple of days.

Yesterday was a quick look at the castle in central Naples & then out to Pompei.

Pompei was worth it - the best bit of the trip so far and really happy I went.

I got to share the journey with a lovely old lady who I met on the tour - "Sandy" from the Isle of Mann, pictured with me below (with Mt Vesuvius in the background).

Anyhow - today was a lot of travel on train & I'm now going to go out & get some dinner with Victor.

I'll try to write more about my adventures tomorrow.

Cheerio

Hanbal

Blisters & full days - a quick update

Hey all

Well - Rebecca & Matt have been absolutely brilliant to stay with. They have a wonderful Italian Villa on the edge of Naples and have been full of good ideas & assistance.

I have been flat chat the last several days - I do have lots of photos already, so I can see a slide night (or 2) planned for when I get back.

So - Lets go back a little way....

As I was walking around Bangkok airport, I couldn't help but notice that every walkway displayed their incredible loyalty to their King. He has been in power for 60yrs now & they really do adore him.

So - Monday, I'd arrived & was invited to go do some training with Matt, Rebecca and "the other couple in Naples (sort of reminds me of Sunbury a couple of years ago). Anyway, we went down to the USA Navy base (support) - and after some chat, we went outside & got geared up. Matt hadn't fought in armour since he was in Iceland (18 months ago) & Scott (the guy in the Japanese armour) hasn't got a lot in since moving from the states. So for me it was more about investigating different styles & seeing if I "quietly" offer any advice. Afterwards we did some Rapier & this time I had a very willing student in Rebecca, and think I may have helped her a bit.

They had a friends son (18yrs) who wanted to have a go, so since the other 2 had to stop before me, I got to beat up the new guy (nicely). He had fun & may well be back.

I also let these 3 or 4 young kids that turned up have a go & beating me up - with the usual results (they enjoyed it immensely).

On the left is my host Matt & on the right (in the Japanese) is Scott (who has been to Rowany & been beat up by many Knights & Squires at one of their trainings (they were training "unmarked" so he didn't know who he fought till afterwards)).

Yesterday (Tuesday, July 10, I went to Rome (That is the Collosium behind me to the left). This photo was thrown in for free as part of the tour that I went on. He started out with the gladius to my throat & asked where I was from - when he heard Australia he said "oh no kill then, friend".

And today I went to Pompeii.

I have photos for both, but its late & I have another early start in the morning - so I'm off to bed (after I deal with these nasty blisters that I have developed).

Some small changes to my Schedule though.

I am now staying in a hotel in Venice (instead of John & Honor's - something came up).

Fighting on the 21st will now be in Edinburgh somewhere - so I'll have to visit York on a different day (but without the armour - oh well).

Ciao for now from Naples, Italy