Italian Adventures
Mary Marlin
- There came a day
- When decisions had come
- And the time to play
- Had soon been won.
- A Rick Steves talk
- Had encouraged the trip
- To far flung lands
- And sweet Italy's grip.
- The chance to enjoy
- The Amalphi Coast...
- Who knew the adventures
- Would become the boast
- Of incredible scenery,
- Of mountains and towns
- The food, the experiences
- The people....new friends found!
- Yes, southern Italy
- Plentiful with dreams
- That absorbed the mountains, the valleys,
- The in-betweens.
- So far removed
- From the Tacoma home
- A trip back in history
- A new land to be roamed.
- So we started out
- With Caterina, our guide.
- With her energy, knowledge,
- And zest for life.
- She shared first the grandeur of Rome
- Trevi Fountain a must...
- The coliseum, the statues and
- All the steps a plus.
Then Hadrian's Garden...
Don't miss the turtles.
Grand statues...
sweet pond reflections
And a walk through the fertile....
Pathways of Roman history,
The enchanting Hadrian rest stop!
His walls may be famous
But his garden is tops!
Don't miss the turtles.
Grand statues...
sweet pond reflections
And a walk through the fertile....
Pathways of Roman history,
The enchanting Hadrian rest stop!
His walls may be famous
But his garden is tops!
Then on to Vieste...
An incredible day!
Boat riding with sun
Showing us the way...
To hidden hideouts and caves
Nestled into the rocks,
Quiet places to swim
Without any docks.
Retreats from the busy,
Beautiful caverns to explore.
There's one. There's two...
And so many more!
An incredible day!
Boat riding with sun
Showing us the way...
To hidden hideouts and caves
Nestled into the rocks,
Quiet places to swim
Without any docks.
Retreats from the busy,
Beautiful caverns to explore.
There's one. There's two...
And so many more!
Then on to Matera
An ancient hotel.
Built into the cliffs
The Romans knew so well.
Who knew mankind
Could be so smart
To chisel the rock
Into a home to start...
Then many years later,
A hotel it became
With sauna and pool
And unending fame!
Also if you want to walk
And take in the view,
A small grand canyon
Is close by to renew...
The excitement of travel,
The unknowns down the block...
Consider Matera!
You'll be in for a shock.
An ancient hotel.
Built into the cliffs
The Romans knew so well.
Who knew mankind
Could be so smart
To chisel the rock
Into a home to start...
Then many years later,
A hotel it became
With sauna and pool
And unending fame!
Also if you want to walk
And take in the view,
A small grand canyon
Is close by to renew...
The excitement of travel,
The unknowns down the block...
Consider Matera!
You'll be in for a shock.
Pompeii.....oh, Pompeii
With a volcano close by.
There was no time
To escape the rise...
Of the fire and devastation,
The lava and the smoke..
Centuries ago the citizens
Were gone before they awoke.
With the area now preserved
For the citizens of today
We are thankful and know
There is a better way.
New laws. New knowledge.
History retold.
Yet a visual reminder
We are all in the fold.
Oh, almost forgot to mention...
The folks still had fun!
Check out the artwork
(After the kids have gone!)
With a volcano close by.
There was no time
To escape the rise...
Of the fire and devastation,
The lava and the smoke..
Centuries ago the citizens
Were gone before they awoke.
With the area now preserved
For the citizens of today
We are thankful and know
There is a better way.
New laws. New knowledge.
History retold.
Yet a visual reminder
We are all in the fold.
Oh, almost forgot to mention...
The folks still had fun!
Check out the artwork
(After the kids have gone!)
Then Sorrento, the city,
The delicious busyness of life...
The shopping, the watching,
Without the drama of daily strife.
Just sitting at a table
Overlooking the sea...
With easy statue companions
As we gaze gently beyond the breeze.
The wine certainly helps
Smooth out the bumps of the day...
Who wouldn't appreciate
Toasting the sunset across the bay!
The delicious busyness of life...
The shopping, the watching,
Without the drama of daily strife.
Just sitting at a table
Overlooking the sea...
With easy statue companions
As we gaze gently beyond the breeze.
The wine certainly helps
Smooth out the bumps of the day...
Who wouldn't appreciate
Toasting the sunset across the bay!
Positano...my favorite!
For sure, I know why.
The lights on the hillside
Caught my attention...oh my!
Our hotel's patio
Was perfect each hour...
Morning breeze, colorful sunsets,
Busy tourists, memorable flowers.
A city with everything
One might want to sample,
The food, the beaches,
And the churches ample.
Also the shops that were there,
To encourage one's purse
To empty the dollars...
Okay, you go first!
So when you stroll in Positano
You'll be rich in memories.
Be sure to take photographs
That will be enjoyed for centuries!
For sure, I know why.
The lights on the hillside
Caught my attention...oh my!
Our hotel's patio
Was perfect each hour...
Morning breeze, colorful sunsets,
Busy tourists, memorable flowers.
A city with everything
One might want to sample,
The food, the beaches,
And the churches ample.
Also the shops that were there,
To encourage one's purse
To empty the dollars...
Okay, you go first!
So when you stroll in Positano
You'll be rich in memories.
Be sure to take photographs
That will be enjoyed for centuries!
Naples and traffic noise
Kindly go hand in hand,
Perhaps more like motorcycle riders
Who play in a band.
First the base, then the piano,
Then here come the drums.
Get in the rhythm
As the cycles hum.
Slipping along alleyways
Now the trumpets calling
Don't slow down a minute....
Keep on moving-no stalling!
The blinking lights on the streets
Hold some authority....sometimes!
Although it's usually best
To look both ways, and hopefully find
A smiling face and a hand waved in
peace. Now is the time
To quickly cross the road.........
Kindly go hand in hand,
Perhaps more like motorcycle riders
Who play in a band.
First the base, then the piano,
Then here come the drums.
Get in the rhythm
As the cycles hum.
Slipping along alleyways
Now the trumpets calling
Don't slow down a minute....
Keep on moving-no stalling!
The blinking lights on the streets
Hold some authority....sometimes!
Although it's usually best
To look both ways, and hopefully find
A smiling face and a hand waved in
peace. Now is the time
To quickly cross the road.........
And to feast....
On the pasta, the olives,
The cheese, and the bread
Today's the day to try something new.
You'll always be glad you did!!
On the pasta, the olives,
The cheese, and the bread
Today's the day to try something new.
You'll always be glad you did!!
Oh, the final day in Florence
What an incredible remind!
Thank you, Michelangelo,
For your efforts to find...
Our amazing David
Embedded in stone
He's out there now...
And never alone. And
The Ponte Vecchio Bridge
With shops ever open to us.
You MUST buy something
Before you get on that bus!
What an incredible remind!
Thank you, Michelangelo,
For your efforts to find...
Our amazing David
Embedded in stone
He's out there now...
And never alone. And
The Ponte Vecchio Bridge
With shops ever open to us.
You MUST buy something
Before you get on that bus!
So THANK YOU, Caterina and Rick Steves,
For showing us the way.
We'll always cherish the moments
Of our memorable Southern Italy stay!!!
Buon viaggio! Happy travels! Mary Marlin
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/south-italy
For showing us the way.
We'll always cherish the moments
Of our memorable Southern Italy stay!!!
Buon viaggio! Happy travels! Mary Marlin
https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/south-italy