Day 10, Capri, Sorrento, and Back to Rome

We saw another sunrise in Capri, then it was off to Sorrento for some power shopping. I bought The Boy a T-Shirt, and it was actually only the 2nd item I bought that you couldn't eat or drink. It was funny when we claimed our purchases at customs, $700 for Portage, $18 for Digger. My other buy was my "Italia" hat.

We see Capri for the last time.

Approaching Sorrento

A large Cactii Garden in Sorrento. Very interesting to Portage and me, as we have a huge collection of cactii at home.

Interesting use of English on this sign.

Fishermen on the rocks

Ellie gets another photo of an Italian guy.

A Street vendor. I think she was yelling, she may have just been asking how's it going.You just can't tell.

  We had a wonderful farewell dinner. We were serenaded, and as usual, there was bottomless beer and wine.

This was our entertainment at the farewell dinner in Rome. I usually find these guys annoying, but, despite how he looks, he was really good. He brought tears to someone's eyes when he sang "Time to Say Goodbye". You know who you are. He did sing it very well.

 I think that was his last song, and by the time he finished, we were all feeling melancholy. To hear "Time to say goodbye", click here.

The girls gave Rick and me their roses. What could we do?

  After dinner, we drove to see St. Peter's square one last time. We all got out of the coach to take some farewell photos, and  all of a sudden this convoy of police cars (lights and sirens) comes around the corner, followed by a big blue bus, and then more police cars. It's the Pope, going somewhere! How cool is that, we were within 20 feet of him. Total coincidence.

See those lights on the top floor? That's where the Pope's living Quarters are, and he is home! To the left of the two lights is his bathroom, the two lights are his bedroom lights.

 Quick Flashback....As we drove by the Vatican on the way to dinner, there was a white helicopter coming in for a landing nearby. Someone said "That's the Pope's helicopter". And it was. He was returning to Italy from Germany. He may have even been at the controls, because (stolen from Internets).........

"Fun Fact about Pope Benedict XVI:  Pope Benedict XVI has a pilot's license for the papal helicopter and likes to fly from the Vatican to the papal summer residence, Castel Gandolfo, but the pope does not have a driver's license as he never learned to drive a car."

The Vatican. Along with St. Peter's Basilica, it's the world's largest church, which is nice.

  That was quite a way to finish off our 10 day trip. Thanks to Sue, our guide from Globus, and Oscar, our driver (who lives in Lake Como), we had a great trip. (Oscar actually crushed a little car in Rome with our large bus, and like an idiot, I didn't get any photos.) 

We gathered at the hotel for one last drink, then off to bed for the last time in Italy. It took us at least a week to get out of vacation mode, and I think we are already planning for the next trip.

Next and last Italy post, my thoughts about some Italian things I think you need to know. I'll have to throw in some of Portage's best photos.

  Then it's back to a running and diet blog, at least until the next big excursion. Daddy likes Spain, Greece and Portugal! Portage likes Newfoundland too. First up, in 4 weeks, we will be traveling to Utah to run in the Mesquite races, me, Captain and Beaver are doing the marathon, Meanie is doing the half-marathon and Portage is doing the 5K.Guess we better start training. DOH.