We are Leaving Rome

Today is the day we leave Napoli and return to Salt Lake City.  It has been  glorious 5 weeks. We appreciate Cydney and Damon's hospitality and for putting up with us and being our chauffeur through the whole of Italy and into Austria and Germany.  They made this truly a trip of a lifetime.  Cydney took us to the Roma airport where we caught our flight back to the United States. Arrivederci Roma! ! ! ! ! 

We are on our way home! ! ! ! ! 

Mother's Day - 2011

Today is Mother's Day. We went to church services this morning at the Caserta Branch then home for a family celebration of Mother's Day.  We had a nice Sunday meal prepared by Cydney.

Happy Mother's Day - 2011

Goodbye to the Naval Support Site Housing

We are so glad to have had you stay with us.

Going Home

Saturday, May 7 - Took two more packages to the NEX to be mailed to Andrea.  Things are winding down as we get ready for Mother's Day tomorrow. Had grilled hotdogs for lunch.

Went to the Arizona Pizzeria one more time before we leave Italy. They really have good Italian pizza and pasta.

Currency exchange rate - $1.53 american = one Euro.

Sorrento/Positano, Italy

Today we went to Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast and took a boat to Positano and made a walking tour of the city.  Positano is a city built on a hill and the only way to get up and down the streets is to walk as there are no roads within the city.  It was a fun day which we enjoyed with Cydney, Savannah and Halle. At the end of our tour, we walked to the top and took a city bus back to Sorrento, got our car and returned to Napoli and home.  We were able to purchase gifts for our daughters, friends, sisters, etc.  Bought some scarfs for the women and chocolate treats for the men.

Foreigner's Club - where all good friends meet
overlooking the Mediterranean Ocean.

View of the bay from the balcony of the Foreigner's Club

City built on a hill

The red hotel on the left is $2500.00/night.

Yum-Yum

Another view from the Foreigner's Club

Cinco De Mayo - Visit to Rome

Today was our day to visit Rome. We went to the train station in Napoli and caught the train to Roma.  Upon arrival we took a walking tour going to the Rome Coliseum, The Sistine Chapel, and Vatican City.  We think this is one of the highlights of our trip to Italy.  We also took a bus tour around Rome to get a better view of the sights.  The Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and Vatican were very impressive.

Our arrival at the train station in Roma.

The Coliseum in Rome

Banners throughout Vatican City in preparation for Easter

St. Peter's Square and Basilica

Michelangelo's Last Supper in the Sistine Chapel

An altar inside the Basilica

"Three coins in the fountain, somewhere in the heart of Rome"

Naval Support Living Quarters

Tuesday, May 3 - helped Cydney straighten up her pantry, closets and kitchen.  Took most of the day.  Damon received a Fitness Report from his commanding officer, Admiral Harris, placing him at #3 of 45 commanders on Admiral Harris' staff.

Way to go Damon.

Wednesday, May 4 - another day of cleaning and helping Cydney. Made another trip to the NEX to mail boxes home.  Had a nice lunch at Subway.  Halle and Savannah had soccer practice today.  Our time in Naples is coming to a close as we leave next Monday to return home.

Isle of Capri - Italy

We traveled by boat from the Port of Naples for a visit to the Isle of Capri where we booked a boat tour around the island.  We stopped at many beautiful grottos along the way.  Most dramatic was the Blue Grotto.Cyd took a dingy inside the grotto and took some pictures. The water is the most beautiful blue which is the result of the sunlight being reflected off the limestone in the grotto. Rode an inclined railway up the side of the mountain to reach the city center of Capri.  Had lunch and a self-guided walking tour of the city. Left Capri at 4:30 pm to return to the mainland - Port of Naples.

Hydro-foil boat to take us to Capri

One of many grottos on the isle of Capri

Our tour boat anchored by the Blue Grotto

Inside the blue Grotto

Cydney on her boat ride inside the Blue Grotto

Overlooking the city of Capri

Entrance to hotel on Capri

Rebers

Today is Fast Sunday. We attended church at the Caserta Branch with the Dixons.  Services were from 9AM to Noon. Once again an interesting experience to hear testimonies borne in Italian and translated into English by the full time missionaries.

After our block of meetings we visited with Brother and Sister Reber. They are full-time couple missionaries who just arrived in Naples. Their assignment is to work with the military personnel and others who are not active in the church.  They are from South Jordan, Utah. It was good to get acquainted with them. Their apartment on the second floor is above a local night club, which makes it interesting for them.

Sister Reber plays the ukulele and took the time to teach Halle how to play and taught her a song - She'll be Coming Around the Mountain".  Maybe we will have a ukulele player in the family.

National Archaeological Museum of Napoli

Main Entrance into the museum

We've had it and are waiting for Dad

Typical traffic in downtown Napoli

Today we had planned on a visit to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius with the Dixon family.  Our plans were changed due to rainy weather (light to heavy rain, high temperature 18 degrees C).  We opted to go to the National Archaeological Museum of Napoli.  While enroute, Damon was called to work. He dropped us off at the entrance to the museum and said he would be back in a couple of hour.  Inasmuch as it was raining we welcomed the opportunity to be inside a building for the next couple of hours.   It was very enjoyable to learn about Roman and Italian history.

Later in the afternoon, Savannah had a soccer game at 3:30 p.m., playing in the rain. Her team won by a score of 1 - 0.

Royal Wedding - London, England

Friday - April 29 - The Royal Wedding was held in London, England today.  Prince William and Catherine were married. Spent a lazy day at home watching the events unfold.  Bev had her hair set.  Halle had a soccer game.  Cydney made baked chicken and Margarita pizza for dinner.

ASC (American Soccer Club of Napoli) had a tournament in Caserta, which the girls were involved in.

Nuovo Castle, Napoli, Italy

The Moat around the Nuovo Castle

The Opera House in Downtown Napoli

The City Square in Napoli

Down this alley and to the right is Gambrinus

Thursday Wash Day in downtown Napoli.

Italy's Best Pizza

Inside Brandi's - downtown Napolli

Nuovo Castle

Monterciucello Open Air Market - Napoli

Wednesday morning we went to the Monterciucello Open Air Market in Napoli.  Went to Carne Park for visit with a stop at the Metro (Italian Costco).  Had lunch at Bennies and went to an iron works store to get a glass bottle stand for the Dixon's front entry way.  Cydney also ordered a table for their kitchen.

Ceramic Pottery at Vietri, Italy (Amalfi Coast)

Tuesday - today started out with rain. We took a day trip to Vietri on the Amalfi Coast to do some serious shopping for ceramic pottery and a lunch.  We found a nice tray with two matching pitchers (one for vinegar & one for olive oil).  It was fun looking at all the different pieces available for purchase.  Cydney is familiar with the proprietor of the store we went to and is on a first name basis. (What else is new).

Also found a hand made piece of ceramic pottery that was made in Poland and brought to the NEX at Caserta for sale. Too hard to resist.

Savannah has soccer practice again this afternoon.

Cydney made her version of bolanagse sauce and pasta for our dinner.

Shopping at NEX

Monday, April 25 - Cydney took us shopping at the Navy exchange for groceries and other items we needed after being away for 10 days.  We then had a nice lunch at the Navy Hospital gallery. A nice change after eating Italian Cuisine for the last week or so.

Savannah had a soccer practice this afternoon.  Always fun to watch our granddaughters perform the skies were overcast, light rain and windy.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011, was spent by going to church at the Caserta Branch in Napoli, Italy.  The services consisted of branch members presenting the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ through readings and musical numbers by adult and children members.  Sunday School was a combined meeting with a video presentation of the Lamb of God.  Priesthood Meeting's lesson was given by Damon on 'Tithes and Offerings'.

We had a nice Easter dinner at the Dixon's home later in the day as Damon had duty from 3:30 p..m. to Midnight.  Our dinner consisted of ham, vegetables, fruit, fish-eye salad and ice cream for dessert.  Cydney has become a wonderful cook and hostess.

Later in the evening we watched the video "Lamb of God" for the second time today. It was enjoyable sharing the message with Cydney, Savannah and Halle.

Caserta, Italy

The Royal Palace in Napoli

Interior decor inside the palace 

Painting on ceiling in main hallway

How about this for a bed?

1/2 mile walk to the Palace gardens.

Cydney and Damon's Branch had an Easter breakfast consisting of waffles, hot cakes, sausage, and orange juice. After an enjoyable time with members of the branch we went to the NEX for a few purchase and then off the Napoli for a visit at the Royal Palace which was built in 1751. The gardens were about 1/2 mile walk from the palace to the water fall (something we did not do and waited for the Dixons to complete the tour).   We then returned home where we had a delightful dinner of hotdogs and hamburgers prepared by Damon.