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Published: July 26th 2008
We're now in a hotel in Sorrento with a view to Mount Vesuvius, thankfully over 2,000 years too late!!
Our train from Florence to Napoli (Naples to you) was an hour late but we finally made it here and its very relaxing. The weather has remained our friend so, despite having to sit patiently at Florence train station longer than expected (we had some nice Canadians to talk to), we're really got nothing to complain about. It's amazing the way buildings are clinging to the cliffs that drop sharply into the ocean - very picturesque. No doubt there was lots of smuggling went on - and maybe still does - because there are lots of tunnels which have entrances down at the water, one of which we walked through. And for someone used to the likes of Bondi, Manly and Pearl Beach, to name just a few, black gritty sand and stones don't seem to go with the beautiful pristine blue and green water! But what you don't have you don't miss I guess!! And having to pay to sit on a deck-chair is a bit much - I wonder if those who charge for the privilege actually own that bit
Scooters and Saints
in the main street of Sorrentoof beach?
We visited Positano which was even more picturesquely beautiful than Sorrento - taking the 9.25am hydrafoil there and catching the bus which took us along the coast road. That was very interesting, the bus driver tooting his horn every few minutes as we went around bends on a road which clung to the side of the cliff. We walked up and down the steep Positano streets with shops, shops and more shops trying to temp us. I'll admit there were some lovely cotton blouses and dresses but they were all MADLY expensive. I would have loved to buy Grace one of the gorgeous cotton dresses they were selling but at 50 Euros - about $75 - it was a joke! Following our visit to Positano we decided it was a must to also go to Amalfi - bus there and back with such a windy road that I almost felt motion sickness by the time we arrived back in Sorrento. The Amalfi coast certainly is beautiful - my vote goes to Positano as the pick of the three we visited.
A trip to Pompeii was mind blowing - excavations show that it was originally founded somewhere between the
8th-6th Century BC. The city was destroyed, and completely buried, during a catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius in August 79 AD. The volcano buried Pompeii under many meters of ash and pumice, and it was lost for nearly 1700 years before its accidental rediscovery in 1748. Since then, its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy, with 2,571,725 visitors in 2007. It was well worth a visit - amazing to discover how big the city of Pompeii had been and what great public services the city fathers provided for its citizenry. There were public pools built for the poorer citizens; many houses had their own. Amongst some beautiful scenery it would seem to have been a very sophisticated city. Pompeii could boast two coliseums - the earlier one built in the 2nd Century BCE & holding 5,000 people; the larger one built later and holding 12,000 people. Next to the coliseum was the gladiator school - according to the guides when the citizens of Pompeii saw the gladiators walking to the coliseum, knowing
a show was about to start they all flocked down there!
I started this entry while we are in Sorrento - where I had my hair cut this morning - but we've now arrived in Rome - watch this space!!
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liliram
liliram
Don't we all love Positano?
Just came across your blog. Nice writing, superb hairdo! It's been months since your trip to the Amalfi Coast, but I bet the happy memories linger. So, how are you doing spending the kids' inheritance? Lol.