Gelato anyone?

4/30/12:

A lack of Internet means less blogging. But we'll do our best to keep up.

4/29/12:

So after seeing the major sights we figured we'd linger around some other areas and maybe see a couple lesser sights. We started the day with some much needed laundry (remember a bird used me as a toilet yesterday) which was über expensive (€16!!!!! For 2 loads). We decided after this to only do laundry in our sink (or just be dirty). Anyhow, we made it out of the room and after some metro shenanigans we ended up in piazza del popolo where we tried to check out a sweet church. Unfortunately for us it was Sunday which meant people were using the church for it's intended purpose. The nerve. Consequently we weren't able to see a chapel designed by Raphael. Oh well. We walked around, I had some amazing slushy coffee near the pantheon at Tazzo d'Oro. Found another cool church where we saw our first relic!!!!! Woohoo! This particular church has the heart of St Charles in a small chapel! More walking followed by a cramped bus ride to another amazing church (San Giovanni in Layerano). This church looked awfully similar to St Peters Basilica but is much much older. We walked around and tried to take it all in but I'm sure we missed 90% of it. Just so much beauty to see. Next door is a building which houses the Scala Santa (holy steps) which supposedly are the actual steps Jesus walked up on the day he was crucified. The steps are marble but were covered in walnut wood to protect them. You're allowed to go up the stairs but only on your knees. I decided to perform this pilgrimage-type act but immediately regretted it since the wood is not very nice on the knees and the steps are deceptively long. From here we made our way to eat. Yummy pasta and wine ... Hooray!!!! Ended our night with some gelato and hit the hay.

4/30/12:
Our train was supposed to leave Rome at 1039 so we got to the train station around 1000'ish. Saw our train on the board and waited. Around 1023 our train disappeared from the board. WTF!!!!! We flagged a train worker lady and found out that due to some sort of crash our train was leaving from another station. So she kindly put us on the next train leaving at 1139. The train was just like Harry potter!!! We got a compartment and shared it with 2 Italian guys and a cool backpacker from Seattle. The Italian guys were great cause they had a thermos of coffee which they generously shared with me!!! Made it to Naples and transferred to a commuter train down to Sorrento. Got here around 3'ish and went for a walk around town. This place is super charming and the atmosphere is just happy. Seems like heaps more tourists are here but that's alright. Ate lunch, walked around, sampled gelato at 2 places. Happened upon a local olive oil market / festival / something. Tried some yummy lemon olive oil, fava beans and lemoncello (which was NASTY!).

Tomorrow we're gonna take the bus around the Amalfi coast and see where the day takes us!

Pics:
1) gelato in Sorrento.
2) evening in Sorrento.
3) Heart of St Charles.
4) Most lavish McDonalds in the world near the Spanish Steps.
5) my amazing slushy coffee.
6) train ride to Sorrento.
7) Church of San Giovanni in laterano.
8) Scala Santa (holy stairs).
9) View of Naples from Sorrento.