The beautiful Trevi Fountain. I threw in one coin, so I guess that means I’m coming back here some day. Dave thought that if I threw the second coin in (then you’re meant to fall in love with an Italian) was as good as cheating. So the third one (marry an Italian) was definitely out of line.

 


Tick. When in Rome……Was very impressive. Everyone says it is a bit of a cliche, but I didn't care. My head filled with images of Russell Crowe fighting lions and there aren't many places that can do that...

 


Dave on the Spanish Steps. Not much to say about this one really. I guess I could say it was was right near the ritzy shopping area, which Dave proceeded to drag me through. I had woken up vomiting that morning so needless to say after all the sight-seeing I had dont that day my patience was running low. I didn't even have the energy to pretend that I could afford anything.... At least it wasn’t raining, I guess.....

 


Piazza Navona. Fontana dei Quattro Fiuimi by Bernini (1651). That sexy lady again.

 


Dave was obsessed with finding a Caravaggio (sp?) painting. H literally dragged me to the furthest flung churches known to man in Rome. Each time we arrived, we found the church had shut 5 mins earlier. Every. Single. Time. Here is us next to some random place that should have had one of these paintings and this photo was as close as we were getting. The all have green hats on (dave and the buildings)

 



Inside the Pantheon. Looking up. That sexy lady again. This time in a sexy fake fur hoodie. Fwoar.

First Night in Naples

 


After the day of mega-ticks we took the 2-3 hour train ride to Naples. This was something of an ordeal. Not only was our train not leaving for over an hour… but it proceeded to be delayed. And then delayed and then delayed again. When we finally boarded the train four hours later, well after we had read out magazines bought specifically to read on the train, we took off. For the next - @#!? knows how long – the train splutter and stalled it’s way to Naples. This photo is a of the final ‘stall’ moments outside Naples Central Station. You can see the frustration on our faces (well mine anyway, Rachel is always a grumpy cow)

 


Late night pizza in Naples. This man was the best Pizza-maker in Italy. Seriously. I ate a margherita pizza at every meal and nothing came close to these pizzas. And it literally took him about 1 minute to prepare and cook each pizza. (*must get one of those ovens in the back yard at St Morris*) Naples pizza’s were slightly thicker and more ‘doughy’ than the ones in Rome – which (surprisingly) – we preferred.

 


This photo was purely taken for the lady on the right who Dave was fascinated with all night. I tried propping my breasts on the table but it didn’t have the same effect.

Exploring Naples

 


Unfortunately, most of the following day - our first day in Naples - I spent in bed having come down with some bug. I couldn’t hold down liquid or food. This was the 31st so I was trying my best to get well for a crazy Italian New Year. Anyway, the point is..… the following few photos… well… I have no real idea what they are about but they are pretty. This is Ray and Dave at the Bay of Naples which was a very important Port in ye olde days. (I was reading Thackery's Vanity Fair during this trip and got excited when one of the charachets it spoke of their going to Naples while i was in Naples!... glad i shared that)

 


Richard’s impression of dignity.

 


Rachel… In Naples

 


This photo doesn’t do the view justice. The colours and the style of the buildings was beautifule. I must say that Dave and I particularly loved Naples and hope to come back in in Summer. It has a reputation for being dirty and violent, but after the tourist-friendly Rome, it was quite exciting to be in a place that ‘felt’ like Italy.

 


It looks like Dave has superimposed himself on this one.

 


Phew! Finished! This is a picture of Heather in Naples. Narrow/crowded streets were a theme. After this small tour (i made Dave take me round the streets near our hotel when he got home after his day out as I had been so bored all day) we dolled ourselves up for a bit of New Year action....(photos continued below)

Chuck's Response

I know I might be the only one seriously amused by the whole Chuck Norris Thing, but he has formally replied on his website http://www.chucknorris.com/html/events.aspx


IN RESPONSE TO THE "RANDOM FACTS" THAT ARE BEING GENERATED ON THE INTERNET


I'm aware of the made up declarations about me that have recently begun to appear on the Internet and in emails as "Chuck Norris facts." I've seen some of them. Some are funny. Some are pretty far out. Being more a student of the Wild West than the wild world of the Internet, I'm not quite sure what to make of it. It's quite surprising. I do know that boys will be boys, and I neither take offense nor take these things too seriously. Who knows, maybe these made up one-liners will prompt young people to seek out the real facts as found in my recent autobiographical book, "Against All Odds?" They may even be interested enough to check out my novels set in the Old West, "The Justice Riders," released this month. I'm very proud of these literary efforts.
~ Chuck Norris


www.chucknorrisfacts.com

Why this is Half-Arsed and Taking so Long

These few photos below are about 1/5 of what I ahve to add from my Trip to Italy and the few weeks since. And whilst I'm loathe to add a photo essay that isn't complete, I don't really ahve a choice. It takes a surprisingly long time to get things the way I like it on this website when I'm adding photos. For example - the Christmas Photo-essay took me the better part of a day. One reason for this is that all my photos are stored on Dave's computer. Therefore I need to be using his computer, which limits the available time drastically. A further problem encounterd by this is Dave himself. Such like a child who is learning how to share. If he leaves the computer to do something else and I sit down to start work on it - all of a sudden he wants it again. My interest sparks his interest. So I get kicked off again. SO the fact is, that whilst I would like to put all the italy photos on in one hit, I wont be able to get enough time in one sitting. So I will do it in drips and drabs otherwise it will never happen!! After Christmas we went with Rachel adn Richard to Rome for 2 nights (Dec 28 - 30) then Naples for three (Dec 30 - Jan 2). Below is the last part of our stay in Naples from the night of the 31st till the 2nd. Essentially it is New Years and our trip to the 'Crown of the Naples Museum Circuit' - the Naploi Archaelogical (sp?) Museum.



(Yes. I know that I should have started with our first day in Rome, but when I started putting the photos on I had grand plans that I would do the entire Italy trip, only to be felled by reasons listed above)

Naples, Italy - New Year 2006

 

First beers of New Years Eve went down smoothly for most of us. For me, it was the first liquid/solid I had held down for 48 hours so it didn't sit with it's usual aplomb, but not one to let the team down, I battled through it. After these initila drinks we headed to the local Italian Club where were booked in to a 5 course meal (delicious) and an evening of drinks and dancing. Unfortunately soon after the first course my stomache decided it had had enough and proceeded to tell me so after every course I attempted to eat/drink.

 

'Happy New Year Rach' 'Happy New Year Rich' *clink*

 

'Happy New Year Heather' 'Happy New Year.... Chip?!'

Dave had mysteriously morphed into an all-american Soap Star by the name of Chip/Beau/Todd. And started wearing eyeliner.

 

This is one of about ten photos that Rich and Dave took after they came to the conclusion that the Motzarella balls looked like boobs. This was the cultural highlight of the night.

 


Some of us in the Italian Club were given tambourines after dinner to bang along to the 'live music'. In true Italian style, most people proceeded to jump up on the tables and dance with such vigour, it was almost a competition to see who could look like they were having the most fun. Sadly whilst Rachel was unable to match the pouting and preening of the Italian ladies, but she did our table proud. After ten minutes of this, my stomache demanded that I go home where I passed out almost immediately. Only to be woken at 4am by two giggling australian men who were in the hallway making loud dog-barking noises. Needless to say Dave wasn't in my best books at that moment...

Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples - Italy

 

Apparently you can get 'lost' in this museum for days. I think they are referring to people entralled by mosiacs and old statues as we managed to do it within an hour. All quite good, but would have been better if placards/signs had English so we knew what we were looking at. But the stuff from Pompeii was pretty incredible, Dave was particularly fond of the 'Pompeii Porn'. I managed to not throw up for a few hours, so that was a positive.

 


Spot Rachel....

 

Remarkably similar pasty palours...

 


We're having fun with History!

 

Could have a field day with this one...

 

Dave and Hercules. Or is that Hercules and Dave. Tis confusing....

 

This sculpture was by someone called 'Farnese' (as is the Hercules one above) and called 'Toro Farnese'. Apparently he is a bit of a big deal, this scuplure especially as Michaelangelo (sp?) restored it.

Christmas 2005