I woke up at 8 am…left at 9am and had café latte across from the coloseum.  Toured the colosseum .  Phenomenal.  Then went to the Basilica St. Frncis and lit a candle for mom.  Then roamed the ruins of the forum.  Climbed to the top of the Piazzo Vittori.  Then went to St. Peters Church where they have the chains from when Peter was arrested.   Then I came home for a little while and rested and talked with Eros.  He can’t really help me until Sunday so this I ruminated about where I was going and when and where to stay. I called Marco for suggestions then I called Maurizzio.  Maurizzio was very organized. It looks like I’m on my own for four nights.  Then I went to the train station to get times for trains and then got lost trying to find the café that had the internet. But I found it and wrote some emails.  Then I came home and rested, called Youth Hostel and Antonio. I’m supposed to have dinner with him tonight.  I hope it works out…it is nice to meet new people.  I showered and repack.   I reste now at 6:30 and read.  It is hard to believe all this is happenin.   I called Antonio and he said he would meet me at my place between 8:15 and 9 pm.  He got there about 8:45 and showed me where he worked, the French embassy and some other plazas.  Very nice.  Went to a wonderful dinner with potato pasats and Italian Cake with Chocolate Chip.  We talked about family politics, dieting, travel, etc.  We walked back along the Tiber River through the forum at night.  Surreal  to see it lit up at night.  I had so much fun and felt comfortable yet there was a bittersweetness about it knowing I would probably never see him again.  It’s odd to think me met so many months ago on chat, emailed and finally met.  I got home at 1 am and have a chest cold and slept on the couch.

Woke up at 6 am…didn’t feel good.  Walked to train station.  Got money changed and couldn’t figure out the trains.  I still don’t know if I’m on the right train.  I arrived in Florence at 9 am and went to information and booked a pensiones from there. It’s only a few blocks, no bathroom but only $30. I got to my room. I didn’t feel well at all…congestion and soar throat.  But I decided to do Pisa today so I got on the 11 am train and got to Pisa at 12:20. I walked all the way to the Plaza and saw the leaning tower, cathedral, baptistery and 2 musueum.  Even saw the lamp Galileo used for his experiments.  Then walked over to this old jewish Cemetery and had to wear a yamaka.   Individualized tour and he was from Israel.  Talke about Jews, Holocaust, politics.  After I had a late lunch at the Duomo Café.  Rode back to Florence.   Felt rugged and slept a bit.  Got back to room and shanged and went out at 7:30.  Walked looking for cafes, bars, etc.  Finally found an internet café.  Walked until 11 went to my first bath house.  Interesting.  Had a hot pocket and got home at midnight. I don’t feel well so this will be short.  Wonderful day though.

Woke up at 6:30 Am Left at 7:15 for train which I found.  Had to a get my card validated and found my train.  Nice train.  I met Nello on the train!  Arrive in Naples at 10 am and caught the Circumvesuvio train which was confusing.  But I asked a guard who spoke a little English and he helped.  Got to Pompeii at 11 am.  Overwhelming to walk throught the city, theater, amphitheater, gladiator gymnasium, ruins, temples, and bodies writhing in anguish.  Walked for 2 hours then got on train to Vesuvius but I had missed the last bus to the crater.  So got back on train to Naples at 1:30.  Scarry, crowdes and dirthy being accosted from all sides.  Traffic out of control. I learned how you just walk in fron of the cars.  I walked, walked finally got to a nice area.  Castel Nuovo…beautiful.  Meditarranean sea…to the Teatro San Carol (1737), Plaza and Government Buildings destroyed in WWII.  Walked down to t the beach…unbelievable.  Then went to the 1860 Grabinus a café where Oscar Wilde and other scholars used to go.  Met Maria and her friend Pilar and laughed at all the pics we were taking.  Walked and got lost trying to find the train station.  But was interesting all the small streests.  Finally got to the train station.  Had some pizza and coke for $4.  First food of the day at 5:30.  Did postcards and found out train to Rome was leaving in 6 minutes.   Ran and it was not an express.  God home about 9 pm.   The scenery was like California.  I got home and Massimo had made me chicken potatoes and spinach.