Italy

Reggio, Calabria, Italy (the tip of the toe of the boot of Italy)

Our two Sicilian lady friends drive us to the boat docks in Messina. We purchase tickets on a ferry boat to Reggio Calabria, the toe on the boot of Italy. (Wanderer, page 199)

Two local guys approach us and tell us we can stay in a condemned beach house on the beach. We locate a small café and buy some bread and ham. Then head to the beach house. (Wanderer, page 199)

Naples, Italy

We have breakfast, pack up and get back to the road hitchhiking. One lone ride gets us to Naples by mid-afternoon. (Wanderer, page 200)

We decide to spend the rest of the day in Naples and get rested up. We locate some cheap college housing for a night, share a lasagna dinner, and then take a short walk about the neighborhood. (Wanderer, page 200)

Rome, Italy

It’s a long walk but I decide to hoof it on foot anyway. I use up a great portion of the rest of the day on my grand sightseeing walk through Rome. (Wanderer, page 205)

Jason and I hit the streets of Rome, walking through the town till we arrive at the Ancient Forum. Everything is fenced in to keep people out. So we survey the surrounding ancient ruins from afar. (Wanderer, page 204)

Then we head over to the Coliseum. It’s an amazing structure to walk up to, so iconic, very far out, man! Wow! It’s not as big on the inside as I expected it to be. (Wanderer, page 205)

This morning I go to the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. I pay five hundred lire to get into the Museum. I go with Mickey and two Aussies who sleep in my room at the student hostel. (Wanderer, page 205)

I get to experience the Pope’s Sunday Audience! Like a white speck in robes from my far off vantage point, I spot the Pope standing in a window ledge, off to the side of St. Peters Square, high above the massive crowd, for all to see. The fantastic sound system of speakers blares out the holy words from the Pope to the masses. (Wanderer, page 210)

. . . Jason lights up a joint and we invite a nearby German youth from Berlin to partake with us. The three of us share the tokes in silence, looking out at the ruins. (Wanderer, page 204)

View Attributions

Flickr: Reggio Calabria - Panarama
Flickr: Reggio Calabria - City w seaview
Flickr: Reggio Calabria-Ship on the water w city view
Flickr: Naples - Panorama View (Mt. Vesuvius in background)
Flickr: Naples - city view
Flickr: Naples - street scene
Flikr: Rome - Vatican City
Flikr: Rome - Roman Coloseum-outside in sunset
Flikr: Rome - Forum
Flikr: Rome - Roman Coloseum - inside
Flikr: Rome-bridge over river
Flikr: Rome-city view
Catholic Philly: Rome - Pope in Window at St. Peters