Capri

Capri (day 6)

We pulled into capri by ferry and the seaside view was breathtaking. In the morning we boarded another boat to the Blue Grotto, this was such a great experience. The Blue Grotto was a small tiny cave about the size of an average house with the water as bright as the sky. It is amazing how we were able to attend this cave and view the facsinating blue water in a pitched black cave. After the Blue Grotto, we then boarded onto a second boat for a tour around the perimeter of the Island, there were amazing views, cliffs, landscape, etc. Arriving back into the boat port, we got our own time for about 1 hour to look around and go for lunch. After lunch, we took off for a Tram to the top of Capri, you will not believe what the scenery and landscape is!!

Being at the top of the Island, the Visual Art Students took off to relax and sit down somewhere and begin sketching the view that overlooked the island. The Italian students went for a walk around the top of the island, and even got a cake. Ms Callani was Jealous of the art students work after meeting back together. Taking the Tram back down to the bottom of Capri, we had a nice afternoon having more free time, and even going to the pebble beach for about an hour. Everyone going on the boat back to Sorrento all tired and exhausted. This day has been very great, and many comments from the students were "I want to live here" and even "Best place I've been to so far here in Italy". Capri was such a great day.

Morgan Keyte

Pompeii

It was an early start to the day with a 6:30 breakfast. After the scoffed down our breakfast we had our suitcases out by 7:15 and we were on the bus, off on our second leg of the journey. It was a long drive, most of us slept and gasbaged the entire way untill we arrvied on time and met our tour guide Signor Scisciola and he took us around Pompeii we saw what it was like we saw their street crossing, their ovens, we were told about how the had an open sewer system but was geniusly made so that it all ran out into the sea. We saw wat we all were waiting for the brothel. the tour guild told us all about how the sailors came and did not know the language so all the did was pointed at pictures in the brothels and bing bang boom the prostitutes knew exactly what to do. Then we saw the famous cast of the lady sheilding her baby from its and her's impending doom and the dog that was chained up when the disaster struck. It was actully ash and gas that coverd the city Pompeii and killed the people within the city. We had lunch on the go , together. A quick look at the harbour from a distance and the Temple of Venus and off we went, ON TO SORRENTO!!!

Sorrento/Orvieto

Piano di Sorrento

Day 5 (27th September) saw the 27 italian and art students travel from Roma to Sorrento via Pompeii. After a half day tour of Pompeii we arrived in Sorrento to the wonderful view of the beach, right across the road from our hotel. To the surprise of most of us the beaches were black sand and stone. Once we had checked into the hotel (with a proper shower and fairly good views) we were able to go to the beach. The walk down to the beach was quite long and steep but the walk was well worth it. After the few tentative steps in the water we all went for a refreshing swim after the heat and intensity of Roma. That night we had dinner at the hotel overlooking the water and after dinner we were able to go to bed or visit the town. Those of us who went to the town found a fare with some rides and food stalls. After enjoying a gelato from the local gelateria we walked back to the hotel to prepare for an early start the next day.

On day 6 we travelled to Capri (see seperate post) before returning to our hotel. The next day we had a sleep in and were given two options - to visit the local market or go for our last swim in the Mediterranean. We then traveled by bus to the small, country town of Orvieto. At the farm we were allowed some time to relax before we started our first cooking lesson. The lesson was about how to make pasta and we all had a go making our pasta - with a lot of mess and help from the Nonne. We then learned how to cut the pasta into different types and then the process of cooking the pasta. We then enjoyed our meal and a wonderful view as the sunset over the farm. The next day (day 8) we were able to have another sleep in before going to the town of Orvieto. Once we arrived we all made our way to the Duomo at the top of the town (quite a long walk). After some lunch and a look around the art students were able to use the public gardens and main street as inspiration for their drawing, while the Italian students embarked on their own 'amazing race' through the town. This included finding names of places, local dishes, the location of a certain boar and ordering different food. We then returned to our farm stay for our second cooking lesson. The nonne taught us how to cook an apple cake dessert. This involved making a large batter and laying sliced apples into the mix. We then enjoyed our last dinner at Orvieto before our trip to Purugia (baci factory!)and Florance the next day.

David, Martti, Richard.

The City of Roma!

Roma!

24th September: Day 2.

Once we entered Rome all the tired and over flown boys casually walked onto the coach and checked into their first hotel, Sebraeli Hotel. We were amazed at all the sites while driving into
central Rome, seeing great fountains, Old Rome architure and of course the Colosseum. After checking into the hotel we moved onto the Rome central station to take an open tour bus of Rome. Stopping off and heading to the "Time Evelator" showing us an amazing visual experience of the Roman's history which everyone enjoyed. We then sneaked in a quick look at the Trevi fountain by night, which was very spectactular and enormous. Then catching the underground metro train which was quite an experience to head to a quiet restaurant for our first meal in Italy.

25th eptember: Day 3

Today was a wonderful day for the history lovers of the group today we went to see the ancient and magnificent Colosseum. We were given a full tour of this ancient roman battle ground, in all its glory. After seeing the Colosseum, we took a walk around ancient rome, hearing about the many ancient structures and heading to the trevi fountain by day, to throw in a coin or two, and of course have a gelato.

After enjoying the fountain, we all headed to the anicient Pantheon, to view the pagen turned catholic church. After lunch we got on the open tour bus again and arrived at the station, we then boarded our coach to play some "calcio"or soccer as we know it to play against some Italian boys. Once we got through the traffic (thats what i call peak hour) we finally arrived at a local soccer school. We saw the boys playing and knew we didn't have much of a chance, but when in Rome, Do as the romans do. The games ran smoothly and we did score once or twice, we then gave the italian boys some aussie footballs and they gave us some shirts. We then departed back to the hotle for a good nights rest.

Day 4 26th september

Today was another busy day. We woke up early to be able to get in line to view the Vatican and its many museum pieces. The highlight of the day was definately the sistine chapel which in person is phenomenal. After veiwing the main st peters basillica we headed to Gladiator school. We were broken and then trained the ways of the gladiator, with many boys becoming fine warriors, then heading back to rome for dinner and sleep. This ended our time in Rome, where we then headed to sorrento!

By

Tom Forbes, Matt Mc Garry, And Jake Leicester

CHOCLATE FACTORY

1st october, day 9.

after leaving oriveto farmstay, we boarded the coach for perugia.

here we visited the famous, Nestle' chocolate factory in perugia. the only factory in the world that makes the Baci !!

once we had arrives and had our free baci chocolate, we entered the factory and had a tour of the history and the making of the chocolates and confectionary.

We found out that every minute the factory produces 1500 choclates, now thats alot!

We also saw a replica of the biggest chocolate that was ever made, it almost weighed a whole 6 tonnes of choclate.

Once we got out of the factory we had time to shop in the baci gift shop where we all bought a lot of chocolate and maybe some for all you parents back home in PERTH

Benvenuti!

Check out our itinerary for our Italian Tour 2009...