mybigadventures.com

Having spent so long at the Vatican yesterday we didn't manage to visit St Peter's basilica, so we went today instead. Getting there was nice and straightforward taking much the same route as yesterday. We approached the basilica from via de porta angelica in what is basically a straight line from the station entering piazza San Pietro from the side. We immediately joined the long line that was snaking around two thirds of the perimeter of the piazza to enter the basilica. It didn't take long to get in as it was just a queue to get through security and as such was constantly moving, taking us about 30 minutes in total. 

The first thing we decided to do was visit the cupola. We opted for the lift tickets which you can get for 7 Euros as apposed to the 5 euro tickets where you have to climb an extra 200 steps. After the lift you do have to climb a further 300 steps and as you approach the top of the dome the space gets a bit narrow so not ideal if you're a bit claustrophobic. once at the top the 360 degree view is spectacular, with views as far as the eye can see taking in sights such as the piazza below, the pantheon, castle Sant'Angelo and Vatican city itself including the pope's private residence. We stayed up there for about an hour before heading back down to explore the basilica itself.

The basilica is as breathtaking as the view above containing works of art by Bernini and Michaelangelo to name a couple. We spent quite a while looking at the sculptures and painted domes, spotting some of the completed Bernini statues for which we saw the practice models in the Vatican yesterday. On exiting the basilica we saw a couple of Swiss guards (private guards to the Vatican) in their colourful uniforms. We took some photos around the piazza and then feeling a bit weary headed back to the hotel.

We bought takeaway pizza today from another well reviewed local pizzeria (pizzeria del secolo). The pizza was sold by weight so we chose a few different flavours including potato pizza, fresh tomato basil and mozzarella pizza and game and mushroom pizza, which we ate back at the hotel. At around 8 we headed back out to take a few night time photos, first of the basilica where there were bats flying around and secondly at the colesseo. We had an ice cream from the same gelateria we had visited when at the colesseo on Saturday. Arrived back at Termini around 11 stopped in at the supermarket there for a couple of beers only to find they weren't allowed to sell them after 10pm, never mind. Got back to the hotel just after 11. Last day in Rome tomorrow before we travel to Sorrento!

It's that time of year again - the one where all teachers get to breath a little easier and feel a bit more normal, that's right folks, the summer is almost here! We break up really early this year to enjoy one of the longest holidays I've had in my teaching career - nearly 7 weeks. The weather seems to have picked up and it actually feels like summer, well certainly as summery as Britain ever gets, let's hope it lasts into the break!

With just over a week to go until we depart on our Big Japanese adventure, I've spent some time checking the site, making sure everything is in tip top condition for updating whilst we're on our travels. I think everything works, but if you do spot any problems just add a comment below and I'll try and sort it out.

Keep your eye's peeled for the updates, they'll be some new albums appearing which I'll try and link into the blogs and I'll share a few bits on facebook, although I'm thinking I may start to reduce the number of photo's and things I actually share directly on the facebook platform. I hope you all, teachers and non-teachers alike, have a great summer whatever you might be up to! Enjoy!

Got up just in time for breakfast today and determinedly stood in the queue to make waffles. It was much quicker today and we managed to make a waffle each. Ben covered his in cream and chocolate sprinkles and I had a bit of cream with Cherry compote, and a small pot of syrup for dipping - quite successful! We didn’t burn the waffles and they didn’t stick! Result!

Spent quite a while packing up our stuff before loading it into the spacious car boot and heading off. We stopped off just down the road in Mariposa, as we wanted to take a couple of pictures - it looks quite Western in style, with lots of wood and overhanging balconies. Pretty cool!

The journey itself was fairly straightforward. It took about an hour to get out of Mariposa country and leave behind the winding mountain roads and then we hit the freeway. Long, long, straight roads with just fields for miles.

We stopped for some lunch at an out-of-town shopping centre in Tulare. We went to Denny’s and had quite a big lunch… Ben had a Philly sandwich - a steak and cheese melt with onions - and I had a hickory chicken sandwich, both served with a heap of fries. We both felt like we weren’t eating enough for our server, as she kept asking if we wanted anything else! Felt quite full, so went for a wander among the shops. Went in a few to check out the prices and compare them to prices back home. Went into Toys “R” Us and bought some Lego! A Lone Ranger set - pretty awesome given we haven’t even got the film yet back home. It was about $41.

Headed back to the car and went on our way. The journey was pretty straightforward, just long, and we had to stop twice for petrol. Decided to stop off again within an hour of LA, and stopped at Starbucks. Had a little chat with a trucker from Minnesota about cookies and went on. The stretch into LA itself was fairly horrific - a five lane interstate, with very heavy traffic. The Americans also seemed unable to give way, so moving lanes is interesting! It took about an hour to go about 10 miles! Ben was very relieved to get off it, as it made him quite nervous.

Found the hotel after a few wrong turns and got parked in the hotel car park, in the early evening. Checked in before recovering our stuff from the car. Because the hotel is in Little Tokyo, it has quite an oriental feel - possibly the poshest hotel room so far. Had a rest and then went for a wander around - ended up in Little Tokyo; looking around, we thought about getting something to eat, but everywhere seem to close just as we got there! In the end, we got some snacks from a mini-Mart and headed back to the hotel.

We investigated the Internet/Wi-Fi, but it was $10 per day, except in the lobby where it’s free. So instead we used the ‘business room’ downstairs for the use of the hotel guests, to plan for tomorrow. We also spent a little bit of time on the tablet in the lobby area. Went upstairs after and discovered our free Internet connection was still active! Get in!