Salerno, Pompeii, Amalfi, Positano

---

Salerno
We got into the train alright but the usual baggage compartments zero...i went to the other side of the carriage to put my bag.....no baggage compartment but i did find the train engine...since it was only two stops...we decided one bag would take my seat the other we would put it near the single seat again...and I would go and find an empty seat....Then...this huge fight erupted...due to a dog...yes dogs are allowed in the trains...don't know what the rules are but they can take their dogs....they were all screaming and carrying on...someone had to call the train master.....after more screaming they all got told to sit down .....Lol so funny hearing Italians argue....their hands are going everywhere...after that it was a pretty quite trip ...When we arrived at Salerno ...we had to wait for our pick up for the hotel...standing at the station was interesting to say the least....I saw this girl with two sizes track suit pants with her stomach hanging out..she then turns around and all I can see is her crack...then all this people beeping to get out the way....then people arguing....a guy tried to sell me woollen socks in 30 degree heat.....I felt like I was in the Simpsons ...When our pick up truck arrived...it was a 20 minute ride to the hotel....when we arrived it was like been stuck in the 60s....the advertising was very deceiving ...good photography...the beach want with the hotel...it's across the road .... So we get there... Check in and get changed to go to the pool... By the time we get there they all know us already... It's like they don't get many women there.... All in all but we did enjoy our stay at the hotel....so what happened in Salerno....Day 1 and day 2...sun, surf....yay beach....nothing to do....water is beautiful here its a nice warm water....we did admire how hard some people work in the beach....if you need to make a living you do anything to make a sale....appreciate the work you do I say some people have it harder...the waiters love us at the hotel, all they do is constantly give us snacks with our drinks, then they try and get us to taste cocktails that they made up.....one waiter even propositioned Carmen....(in Italian accent) I am 25 age is no problem for me....this is while we are ordering our food...lol...language barrier I think.... Day 3 we decided to go Pompeii....just a 30 minute train ride....thank goodness no luggage...Trust us to pick the hottest day....we started to walk and walk ....we thought freaking hell ...did we get lost againnnn....I asked this little old man directions...in perfect English he told us that we were walking the right way....he used to be a guide in the Pompeii area ..he said walk with me, I'll leave you at the closest point I don't bite....We left him, Thank him and he wished us a safe trip....i think he was in the mafia....he kept mentioning it lol........we started walking some more and this other man says, are you from Brasil? I said no....from Australia ....he says are you lost...i was going to say no, we just stopped for a breather....anyway he tells us where the Pompeii gates are....We finally get there ....we sit down for a drink and cannoli ....the cannoli is massive...not the real thing....didn't taste like one...I then go to get the tickets....the line moves at snail pace .....then when I got closer to the ticket box ..I understood why.......there is two windows..one for the ticket buyers ....guides get priority...guess they bring in more money ....the other window is for checking ids for kids...as they get in free....Once I got the tickets...I went to find Carmen, who was chatting up the store guy....typical I do the hard work....and she is socialising...we buy a Pompeii book from her boyfriend and do our own guides tour...so this is what we learned and saw...On the 24 August 79. AD Pompeii was buried under six to seven meters so ash. Seven hundred years later an architect, Domenico Fontana, who was digging a tunnel.....found the amphitheatre by accident...Not realising it was a whole city under the earth..Four fifths of Pompeii have been discovered... There is still more to go...The oldest building is dated back to 6 century BC...the rest of the buildings date back to 80 BC...The place is amazing...I know you see relics and empty buildings but if you images how they lived and what each building, they pretty much had an urban system of today....there was amphitheatres, theatres, bakers, crossings, taverns, markets, paved roads, crossings, brothels, aqueduct to carry water to all parts of the city. There are large lead pipes that are under the city to carry the water only to the rich houses and the Roman baths and fountains.Poorer people obtained the water from the fountains....the fountains were also all destined differently there is 45 of them in the city...all different as you could identify the streets but these as no street names were held...60% of the people were free the rest of them slaves..each free man had a slave depending on the status..if you were rich you had three....We were sweating it ...so we started shorting what we wanted to see.......so I said to Carmen...I am going to go and have a look to see if there is anything in that house worth looking at....I went in said hello to,the guard..and yes it was it was the lovers house...no not the brothel...this house has really nice wall decorations...I call Carmen we explore..take a few photos and we then find some more amazing houses with wall decorations....especially the one about the two rich brothers ...see their portrait...After four hours exploring I think we had enough...the heat was getting worse....Back to the train station ..back to the hotel...Carmen slept.....and I went by the pool... Day 4Early rise again and off we go exploring the Amalfi coast and Positano....Off to the ferry wharf....we went with our favourite driver....Gabriel ....still can't get used to this Italian driving and blowing the horn every five minutes....Once at the wharf we just needed to catch a ferry fir a 30 ride from Salerno...then take a lovely view off the Amalfi...The view is amazing....reminded me off cinque Terre with all the houses up on the mountains...right next to the sea....When we arrived there we decided to take the hop and off bus....there is only four stops...it climbs up high and low through the mountains....the views are amazing....the driving is another story....how the hell do they fit two buses in such narrow streets..they are so close to the houses...that one can knock on someone's door....not only are e roads narrow but winding roads too....In the Amalfi pretty much it's, food, beach and shopping....there are towns for vacation and relaxing ...We explored the little towns, had lunch and then caught the next ferry to Positano ...The ferry guy was talking to us...and telling us that Positano is the most beautiful town of the Amalfi ...especially at night....he also said there is one hotel...a little further out fom Positano that costs 3000 euro a night.We then began chatting about our travels and told him that we would be going to malta....he said that when he used to be a tuna fisherman...he used to go to malta all the time...and that he had a line of women waiting for him....because he was young, had muscles and smelt good....Carmen said sure and he said look I still smell good...and went near her so she could smell him...and then she said all I can smell is fish.....LOL...he goes noooooWhen we arrived in Positano.... Pretty much the same as Amalfi .....beach, food and sunYou can tell this island accommodates the tourists more...their food is more international...that's why the ones from cinque Terre....think Positano have sold out...they have lost their identity..It is still a beautiful town....it's colourful and very hilly...I think our legs had. Good work out....It took us about an hour to get back ......when we arrived at the wharf I uncovered a poker game behind the cars...so I went to take a picture...one guy says no photo....the other says oh just let her 😊So dinner and early night for tomorrows departure and say goodbye to our friends the waiters...who were sad to see us go....Carmen you need to send he postcard to the waiter Antonio from malta.....

---