01/13/2003 to 02/03/2003
My sister Jeannie asked us if we wanted to do a ski trip with her and her group - so naturally we said yes. What better way to recover from 3 surgeries than to go trans-Atlantic and ski in the Alps!
The trip over was fun for a 10 hour flight, then we had the usual lost luggage issue (not ours), the missing bus requiring all of us and our luggage to be squoozed onto one bus for the 5 hour ride up to Bormio.
After several days of skiing we took 2 buses to Milan and the train into Rome. This was such fun since we had wine, cheese and salami.
In Rome we did our tour of Pompeii and then another day the group went to the Coliseum.
After we all returned to the hotel George and I found the closest metro station and had a ball running around Rome seeing the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, eating in cafes and more.
Bormio is an old medieval town from the 1400s. It boasts a world-class ski resort and some ancient Roman bath in the grotto.
We had a ball, even if the skiing was not great the town was wonderful.
We stayed at Baita dei Pini which is ideally situated for walking around the town or getting to the slopes.
All these pictures are old slides we scanned in so the quality is not great, but we had such a good time we just had to share
Looking at some of the hotels and buildings around our hotel
At the plaza - yes there is always a plaza in old towns
I don't remember what the statue was to celebrate, but it was a pretty nice spot to stop
Looking up one of the streets. About 5pm all the locals come out for a stroll before the evening me
The tower in the plaza
More plaza shots
Just another street and more great shops - we were partial to the bars and cafes.
After our lovely time in Bormio we all piled into buses and headed down to Rome.
One of the extra curricular activities we could do was a trip to Pompeii near Naples.
Not wanting to miss anything we joined those of our troupe who felt that touring ruins is fun.
The area is just amazing. I have to wonder if it is so impressive as a ruined city how wonderful was it during it's prime? Our guide was great, and although we were all freezing we had a great time. So glad we took the time to do this.
Again, scanned slides so not the best pictures.
One of the main streets in Pompei.
A bakery
One of the ovens from a bakery
The remains of a home
The grander homes had courtyards in the front entry with a fountain and a statue
One of the casts of a Pompeii victem
Another street. They must have built them well for that arch to still be standing
An example of the amazing colors in the flooring
One of the shops. Probably selling food
They did love their stadiums
Another shot of a stadium
Surround seating
A major intersection
Another shop
That's us funneling down a small side street
When we left Pompeii we went to Naples. This is Castle Nuovo
Our group took the Rome tour, and I must say we were more than amazed. Not just at the city but how those bus drivers can maneuver those huge buses around those narrow, winding streets and not hit anything.
The Coliseum hasn't changed much since Dad was there in 1944. It is still most impressive, probably more so now we understanding the amazing engineering that went into those spectacles.
Jeannie & I with the Forum in the background
Outside the Coliseum
Down near the lower level
It was a maze of halls, walkways and side areas
Looking down from the top level
The Fourm
Jeannie - looking pretty good for someone with walking pneumonia
Rome