Grace's Sixth Chapter

01 Sep – 9 Sep

After a long drive from Salzburg we arrived at Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. We had a walk around the old town on the river and we went up to the top of the tower in the castle.

We went kayaking down a river and went through 6 lock (rapids). Mum was terrified of them and whinged the whole way. After we went through each lock we would spin around at the bottom and the second lock was the scariest.

We spent the next couple of days back in Nuremberg lazing around. On the weekend there was a festival in the neighbouring town of Mimberg which was like a mini Octoberfest. It also had some small rides.

We packed our suitcases and caught a taxi to the train station to catch our overnight sleeper train to Rome. But our train was late and we missed our sleeper train in Munich. Not everything goes to plan when travelling. We had to spend an extra night in Munich, 10 hours on a train the next day sitting up. I was not happy. We then had to spend the night in Rome before we could drive to the Amalfi coast. But I did get to go to an Italian restaurant and meet a waiter we nicknamed Flash who taught me how to say, “portray avre il contro per favoure” – could I have the bill please.

For the next week we stayed at a house with a roof top terrace on the Amalfi coast at Marina del Cantone. We swam at the rocky beach and snorkelled and swam lots of fish in the water. I even got stung by a stinger. We also walked around to the next little beach for lunch and a swim everyday too. We saw lots of big boats and cruise ships going

past. One day we caught a boat to Amalfi and Positano and the water was so flat and clear it looked like someone had drawn it. Dad and I also saw the Esmerald Gotto (emerald underwater cave). It was really cool and it has a nativity scene under the water – Mary, baby Jesus and Joseph – all statues.

We hired a boat and dad let me drive. Mum was whimpy and didn’t like it at all. Then dad took the boat too far into the shore and we got beached. Trying to get the boat back out, dad nearly got crushed, mum was nearly left behind and I thought the boat was going to tip over. We got so close to Capri island but mum told us we had to take the boat back.

On the way back to Rome, we stopped at the ruins of Herculaneum. A nearby volcano Mount Versuvius erupted and covered the town in 20 metres of ash. It was then discovered in 1709 by a farmer digging a well. Archelogists have undercovered most of it and you can walk around. The coolest thing was the skeletons of the people who were waiting for boats by the sea who didn’t make it. I did a separate information sheet on Herculaneum for everyone. I hope you enjoyed it.

Travelling safe,
Grace Frawley