Italy 2010
Projet Caesar | Du 18/11/2010 au 28/11/2010 (11 jours)
operating instructions
Various functions are available as part of the map.
mouse/touch operation
moving by grabbing the map with a mouse-click you can move the map around
overview map using the < button in the bottom right of the map you can expand an overview map
zooming in and out using the + and - buttons in the top left of the map you can obtain more or less detail in the map
switching themes or maps clicking on the ≡ icon on the right-hand side of the map you can view and select available maps and themes
retrieving information the map may contain elements that contain more information, by clicking these a popup will show this information
fullscreen display using the ⛶ button the map can be maximized to fullscreen display, use the ▢ button to return to page display.
keyboard operation
Keyboard operation becomes available after activating the map using the tab key (the map will show a focus indicator ring).
moving using the arrow keys you can move the map
overview map using the + button in the bottom right of the map you can expand an overview map
zooming in and out using the + and - buttons in the top left of the map or by using the + and - keys you can obtain more or less detail in the map
switching themes or maps clicking on the ≡ icon on the right-hand side of the map you can view and select available maps and themes
retrieving information the map may contain elements that contain more information, using the i key you can activate a cursor that may be moved using the arrow keys, pressing the enter will execute an information retrieval. press the i or the escape key to return to navigation mode
fullscreen display using the ⛶ button the map can be maximized to fullscreen display, use the ▢ button to return to page display.
It's possible that some of the functions or buttons describe above have been disabled by the page author or the administrator
Intro
Of course, I could have choosen not to remember more than the 10 days of rain I experienced… But I was conscient of that risk before to leave (november is not august), and I've seen too many beautiful things to complain.
You'll certainly wonder why I say it rained so much, when the weather seems to be so nice on my pictures. I can explain it. First off all, I had the chance to enjoy great sunny intervals between gusts of rain. Secondly, please remember that it (almost) never rains inside chruchs and museums. And, finally, … I'm talented !
Enjoy the trip!
D1 - Piove!
18/11/2010 | Grenoble - Lyon St Exupéry Airport - Rome - Palazzo Massimo - Rome - Terme di Diocleziano - Rome - Santa Maria degli Angeli - Rome - Piazza Esedra
So hard to wake-up at 3 a.m.. Even to go on holidays!
Lyon St Exupéry's Terminal 3 looks like EasyJet : definitely Low Cost!
“<i>Dove la stazione per il treno Roma-Vitterbo ?”</i>, were the first italian words of my trip.
Of course, I paid attention to use my hands while speaking.
I had my ticket checked in the subway (Ep. I).
I met an italian guy that did not understand how and why, I could go on holidays alone, in november, with a tent and a heavy bag…
“<i>Mammamia!</i>”, he was saying again and again.
Because of the rain, I visited The National Roman Museum.
D2 - Colosseo
19/11/2010 | Rome - Colosseo - Rome - Palatino - Rome - Foro romano - Rome - Capitoline - Rome - Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II - Rome - Pantheon
I had my ticket checked in the subway (Ep. II).
Tanks to the <i>Roma Pass</i>, I skept the line to enter the Coliseum.
It worth it, despite of the crowd.
“<i>My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.</i>”
I would have loved to see a true gladiators' fight.
After the Coliseum, time to visit the Palatin and the Roman Forum…
… under the rain for more fun!
Ancient romans were the kings of columns.
But, today's, certainly not the kings of information's panels!
A sunny interval allow me to spent some hours near the Pantheon.
2000 years… Unbelievable!!!
Too much for my eyes…
… but also for my EOS 7D, that crashed, and crashed, and crashed again…
D3 - Churchs...
20/11/2010 | Rome - Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore - Rome - Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano - Rome - Castel Sant Angelo - Rome - Piazza San Pietro - Rome - Piazza Navona - Rome - Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II - Rome - Foro romano
I had my ticket checked in the subway (Ep. II).
To escape the rain, I've visited churchs and basilicas.
So impressive and luxurious!
After the rain, a blue sky to enjoy a wonderfull sunset.
Time for my Canon 70-200 to show what it is capable of…
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! That's the difference between Canon L series and normal series!!!
D4 - Napoli
21/11/2010 | Rome - Napoli - Pompei
Traveling in Italian trains with Italian people is funny, but definitely not restful!
Piles of trash and dozens of beggars… The first impression of Naples wasn't very pleasant…
The second neither: dark alleys, noisy people, a dramatic lack of respect for everything and everyone…
I couldn't stay longer.
Luckily, the campsite was far away from this.
A touch of wind and sun to dry my tent…
… And I felt asleep a few meters from Pompei ruins.
D5 - Pompei
22/11/2010 | Pompei
For some very long minutes, I walked alone in the streets of Pompei.
Such a special and rare moment in life…
Pompei is more than wonderfull…
… and looks still alive!
I'm a lucky man!
D6 - Herculaneum
23/11/2010 | Herculanum - Napoli
After Pompei, some minutes alone in Herculaneum.
Beautiful, but not as moving as Pompei.
I decided then to give Naples another chance to convince me…
… But I still was chocked by the irrespectuous way of life of its inhabitants…
I got over this disappointment with a succulent real napolitain pizza.
In the Late Dark Deep of the Night, I experimented what must be the second most terrifying thunderstorm of my life (after Oslo's one)…
D7 - Margherita!
24/11/2010 | Napoli - Rome
The tent and associated stuffs were dramatically wet after this strong thunderstorm. How to get it dry?
My new english friend gave me the solution: drying in the toilets with a portable heater!!!
Some pictures in the Goodies page.
Last time in Naples for a last pizza.
Gino Sorbillo, one of the best.
Mammamia!!!
I still remember its incomparable taste…
D8 - Vatican
25/11/2010 | Rome - Museo del Vaticano - Rome - Basilica di San Pietro - Rome - Circo Massimo - Rome - Terme di Caracalla
Vatican. State in the State.
I didn't see the Pope.
I didn't see Jesus neither.
Neverthelss, I saw the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.
St. Peter's is more than huge… but strangely doesn't seem so when inside.
The Vatican State has its own post service.
The beautiful sun convinced me to visit Caracalla's terms.
I got there, entered the site…
… And, of course, it began to rain!
D9 - Dolce Vita
26/11/2010 | Rome - Basilica di San Paolo fuori le mura - Rome - Santa Maria in Trastevere - Rome - Trastevere - Rome - Piazza Navona - Rome - Pantheon - Rome - Fontana di Trevi - Rome - Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti - Rome - Villa Borghese - Rome - Piazza del Popolo - Rome - Colosseo - Rome - Foro romano
Cold morning rain…
I took the way to St. Paul's Outside the Walls Basilica.
Means I've visited the four most important Basilicas of Rome.
The sun came back.
Allowing me to spent good time in Trastevere's streets.
Red, yellow, ochre.
Then in the Centro Storico.
Piazza Navona, Pantheon, …
And, of course, the Trevi foutain, where I threw two coins. One to fulfil my wishes, and the second to be sure I'll be back to Rome one day.
Yet another nice sunset on Roman ruins!
D10 - Borghese
27/11/2010 | Rome - Museo Borghese - Rome - Villa Borghese - Rome - Centro Storico
First (and single) day <u>WITHOUT RAIN</u> of the trip…
… and also LAST day of the trip!
I'd like to say Galeria Borghese is wonderfull.
But… honestly I can't!
First of all, because classical painting is… just boring!
And, secondly, because the way they exhibit paintings is absolutely scandalous!
Luckily, thanks to Bernin's sculptures, the catastrophe was less catastrophic.
A last walk in the Centre Storico, the place I prefer in Rome.
Then, went to the Youth Hostel.
D11 - Il ritorno
28/11/2010 | Rome - Centro Storico - Lyon St Exupéry Airport - Grenoble
It was such a bloody mess in the airport, that it took me 20 minutes to check-in, and 40 to reach the security check!
The good news was that, then, the waiting before boarding was short…
The Alpes covered by snow… Home, sweet home !