Italy

 Now back from Italy - my first attempt to post did not work - we had massive difficulties with our mobile service not connecting to the internet which prevented adding any pictures to the blog. What good is no pictures?


Anyway, great trip. Here are some pics, not in any order because I have not figured out how to reorder them once selected. We started in Nerano on Amalfi coast, then to Naples for several days then north to Bologna.

Sun deck at our Air B&B in Nerano - great views.


Ferry from Sorrento to Amalfi and Positano - lots of luxury accomadations - this near Amalfi.


Mermaids are at each corner of the Trident statue in the main piazza in Bologna - water spouting everywhere - the pope financed this fountain to show his power to control Bologna's water supply.



Procuittos aging.


Samples of regional meats.

Ferrari museum near Modena.


In small boat waiting to enter Blue Grotto on Capri - the opening is so small you sit on the floor of a rowboat and lay down so you are below the gunnels - inside the Grotto it is quite large.


Cathedral in Bologna. We saw many churches, each had a distinct personality, most very elaborate.


Twin towers in Bologna - rich famalies built towers for defense and to display wealth - there were one hundreds but only  few today, the one on the right is leaning and has been shortened several times, perhaps again. You can walk up the big one, we didn't.


Toured a processing plant which makes Prosciutto and other cured pork products - these are fresh legs waiting for processing - a coating of salt and then curing at various temperatures and humidity.

 

Toured a Parmesan factory - minimum 12 months aging - tasted 24 and 36 month samples, gets better with age, no limit how long it can go.

  

Fresh wheels of Parm - after several days the wheels are submerged in very salty water for 18 days, it takes 12 months for the salt to migrate to the center of the wheel and equalize hence parms salty goodness, no salt is added before brining.


Getting suited up for the Parm factory tour.




Statue of Neptune in the main Piazza of Bologna - if you look at the statue from the correct angle his thumb stands out in a way that was thought to be a slight to the Pope who wanted control of Bologna but populace preferred independence.




Large church in the main Piazza, the facade is marble and unfinished - has been this way for hundreds of years and restarting the work considered many times - experts say the structure cannot take the added weight. When finished, based on the original plan it would be bigger than St. Peters in the Vatican - the Pope put a stop to it so the transit (wings are the opposite end to form a cross) were not built. Still very large and beautiful - Pope also blocked efforts to make it a cathedral, another smaller church is the cathedral of Bologna.



Bologna is a foodie paradise - fresh fish for sale.



Very famous sandwich shop in Naples - millions of Instagram followers, long line around the corner. We had just eaten or I would be standing there too. 



Archeological museum in Naples contains huge collection of items removed from Pompeii excavation, this is a mosaic, the pieces of which are the size of small peas - incredible detail and workmanship. Pompeii was covered in 60 feet of ash in 79AD. No serious excavation until 1500 years later.



Statue of two men tying a woman to the back of a bull as punishment for her badmouthing their mother - a famous Greek legend. This example said to be the largest single stone block carving known.




Food stall n Pompeii - pots would sit on the holes, fires below for hot food, not if cold. Many food sellers in Pompeii.


Elevated stones allowing pedestrians to cross and avoid foul water flowing in street - Pompeii did not have underground waste system, streets were flushed with water taking bad stuff away.



Inside Blue Grotta - opening is large allowing light to penetrate but only a small part is above water level making entry difficult. 



This boat took about 25 persons on a tour around Capri and then near the Blue Grotto you transfer to a small rowboat - 4 persons max and enter if conditions allow - more than 50% of days are too rough and nobody gets in.


Hiking in the hills above Nerano on the Amalfi coast, great views. Baily Smith, Susan's niece, visited us in Nerano for a few days.


Lemon products are all over the Amalfi area - a small sample here.





View from hike in Nerano.


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