Naples-Pompeii

Well, our friends REALLY wanted to visit Pompeii and Naples. So we drove them down so they could see it. It was actually a pretty relaxing trip because while they were in Pompeii (the ruins) we just walked the streets of the current Pompeii. It's a quaint little town now.

When in Naples you MUST try their famous pizza! The traditional is just a plain cheese pizza, but it's full of flavor!

Trying to figure out how to eat it :)

The secret to the pizza is to have an oven like this

the streets of Naples

a bell tower in Pompeii

WOW! WE found a squished penny machine in Pompeii! This is a great cheap souvenir and it's fun to be on the lookout for these machines. They are out their but not always easy to find.

Just resting on a bench in the shade for a little while

Yes, the pizza is that good.

We were right next to the table that Julia Roberts ate at...so we took a picture of it. Our table was a famous soccer guy ;)

This man just loved that Yoyo was carrying around a box of pizza. we asked for a picture together (I don't believe he speaks or hears) but he was happy to take a picture. He got really tickled/embarrassed because he was joling around with her and opened the box. I really don't think he thought there was pizza in it so when he saw it, he was very apologetic and laughed at his mistake.

Cold lemon icees...2.50 for these tiny things! I would not have bought them at that price. XJ, however, offered them to each of the kids.

These two were being sneaky and went shopping alone...wInter bought me a magnet and wanted to surprise me
 

Venice

Venice! This place has been one of my favorite places that we have visited in Italy. I had told the kids before going that we would not be riding one of the gondolas because it would be too expensive. However, because we had a full boat and the gondolas were a set price per boat, it ended up being about the same amount of money if we had ridden the water taxi. This was much more enjoyable! ANd the kids were thrilled!

Such a unique town1

The smaller alleys were our favorites of the ride. 

The view walking over one of the bridges. You can walk just about anywhere in the city. There are plenty of sidewalks and bridges.

Love this one!

XJ and the girls. The gondolieri new we were together so he called his friend over to where we were so that our boat rides would be near each other. 

Going under the bridge

Out of no where, HUGE raindrops started falling from the sky. Thankfully, it only lasted a minute, but the driver gave us a big shade umbrella to help in the meantime.

The entrance to someone's home or business (I'm sure there is an entrance on the other side of the building on a sidewalk as well)

Next to the university in Venice

Haha! He got tired of all teh girls going in to shop after shop, so he started to wait fro us outside the shops and play a little.

Regan and Yoyo

Katherine and Yoyo

Winter and Regan

Xiao Jun and Hudson

I should have known there was a square in Venice. It was nice to look at, but all of the alleyways throughout Venice were my most favorite, not this section. The streets around this square were packed. THe other streets were not so bad. 

We parked the car at a garage and rode a train into Venice.

Katherine's souvenir, Morano glass

Cute little store

I loved all of the random stores along the way.

This bookstore has a section in the back that has a staircase made of used old books. Good picture spot

When you try to get a picture with mom but the wind is too strong and won't stay out of your face

Katherine and Lauren at the books