April 26-Oblia-Naples-Civitavechia-La Spezia

 April 26-Oblia

We were docked at the end of a long pier, so a shuttle bus was available to take us the two miles to the city center (the Ferris wheel). The bus took us past the Ferris wheel, then headed for the airport 5 miles away. At the roundabout just outside the airport the bus reversed directions, went back three miles and dropped us at the Ferris wheel. It seemed like a taxi ride given to the unsuspecting tourist to pad the meter. (On the return later in the day we went straight back to the ship.)

 

 Also in this park was a carousel for the kids.

We walked the pedestrian shopping street, but but was early on Sunday and nothing was open. The church was doing business, and had a fine tiled roof.

Street art

This being a weekend there was a huge gathering of bikers near the carousel. Except these bikers were all on Vespas. It sounded like an angry beehive as the air filled with the blue tinged exhaust of their 2-stroke engines. There were probably 300 of these chainsaw powered vehicles out for a Sunday drive.

 

April 27 Naples

After Olbia, Naples seemed like a big city, and it is. It is New York City, except it was laid out by the Greeks and Romans, and there is a church on every block. We stayed mostly on the pedestrian streets which were perhaps 5 meters wide -- and weren't really pedestrian streets since motorcycles and delivery trucks went roaring by. And on one side street we were passed by two police motorcycles probably doing 50mph past us pedestrians. It made walking through the city more sporting than just a stroll.

 

Here's a street scene. I forgot to mention that the outdoor seating areas of restaurants extended well out into the street at regular intervals.

We first hiked up to the cathedral. It was befitting a major Italian city.

 

 Another of the many churches throughout the city. 

The same street the Romans walked. Buildings are just a little different. 

  Guglia di San Domenico, a monument

April 28 Civitavechia

 This is the port city for Rome and a changeover day (people leaving and joining the ship). We chose to take the shuttle bus into Civitavechia rather than spend all day on a bus going back and forth to Rome. We were shuttled to a bus depot and walked about a kilometer to the center of town, Of course, being the port for Rome it is protected by a Roman fort.

 

And, of course, being a modern tourist city, it has a big Ferris wheel.  

 April 28 was the feast day for the city's patron saint so there were parades and artisan's booths and general festivities. Here was one of the parades reenacting the Crusades(?). Mostly it was an excuse to dress up and drink wine.

 Street art 

April 29  La Spezia

 Since it's a new segment, and the Bradleys have gone as far east as intended, we turn back west and make another stop at La Spezia. It's another beautiful day and we wander though town pretty much as before.

Here's Guiseppe astride his horse, this time from the side to get the full profile. 

Part of the street scene. The staircase on the side of the building on the right -- what was it for? Would you use it regularly, or only intermittently. And why is it on the outside of the building rather than inside? So many questions for just one architectural feature.

An impressive set of stairs leading to the castle. We didn't take them.

 

Besides an equestrian statue, Guiseppe Garibaldi has a piazza named for him with this fountain. I guess he was a lover as well as a slayer of enemies.