From Sorrento with Love

After a slight panic trying to get a taxi to the airport, we arrived with loads of time to spare. Taxi ended up being free due to a promotion. We made it seemlessly through security, and got few bits for plane, as neither us were really hungry because it was way too early to eat. We were unlucky not to sleep beside each other. Liam nodded off for a bit,  however, I was unlucky to be stuck beside, the most annoying two-faced, self-centered shrew I ever met. I was never so glad to get off a flight in my life. Until, we met the travel agent at the airport who was unhelpful and rude but we got sorted in the end with our 3 day tourist travel pass. What is ironic, Liam sub-consciously told the agent I was 25,forgetting I had turned 26, so was entitled  to a young person pass, which was 7€ cheaper. With a sprint, we finally made the ALBIUS bus from the airport into the centre of Naples. 

We attempted to try find a pizzeria that was recommended on trip advisor, after a detour or two,finally found it, however it was closed, which was surprising, as it was lunchtime on a Saturday. As I have never seen Liam so nervous or anxious, as we strolled around the city, we made a beeline for the train station, to catch the circ.. to Sorrento. As everyone packed on the train, we were very lucky to get seats, as it was getting pretty full. On the journey, one of the passenger across from me, opened a water bottle, which sprayed everywhere, spraying me in particular, which was a welcome relief and was something of a conversation starter. Somewhere on the way, traditional Italian type musicans boarded the train, and began playing stereotypical Italian music. Once we arrived finally into Sorrento, after what seemed like an eternity, with our 2 new friends in toe, we departed the station and attempted to find the Foreiger's Club hotel, which was recommended in the Rick Steves' guide book, something Liam and our new friend Anna, had been reading, with Liam leading the way, following the directions laid out in the book, which were spot on, and we all got to the information point with ease, collecting all the required info. After this, we finally made it to our hotel, where we parted company with our new acquaintances. We quickly checked-in, unpacked and went off exploring the town, the view from the rooftop of our hotel, was breathtaking of the mountains in the distance,which we soon learned was nothing to the view from the marina. As we climbed down the steps from Piazza Tasso towards the port, which was some trek, but was a fun experience, we saw the Sorrento city train and gave us idea that we must do that and both agreed, glad we did it even if it was tiring.

We explored the marina, port and surrounding beaches, before attempting the scary but beautiful climb back up to the town, which seemed to last for ever. Ironically, if we had brought our travel passes out with us, could've got the bus back for free.  We found the first place that looked decent for food, as at this stage, we both were famished. Soon after the meal, unsurprisingly we found the obligatory Irish Bar, Chaplin's. Not long after this, as it'd been quite a long day we were wrecked, and had an early start the next day, so off to bed we went. On the stroll back to the hotel, approx. 9.30pm we noticed the evening rush hour traffic, which we both laughed and joked about.

After an early start the following morning, we headed to the train station, having consumed the complimentary breakfast. We got the train to the Pompei Scavi stop, collected our tickets at the Porta Marina using our tourist passes. Once we got into the site itself, we began using Rick Steves' audio tour and map, which directed and guided us around the ruins, which we found invaluable at times, as it's quite easy to get lost and confused due to the vast size of the ruins. This audio tour, highlighted 18 key ruins which showcased the site perfectly, especially the house of the faun, house of the vetti, brothel (or Lupanare with such erotic art drawings on the walls) and the theatre. After this audio tour finished, we trekked to the other end of the site to the Villa dei Misteri which luckily enough was worth the walk. Before we knew it, we had spent almost 4.5 hours at Pompei, nearly an hour over the time, we originally planned. The walk from Villa dei Misteri back to the station, was nearly more strenuous on us then the 4.5 hours within the site. 

  

Once we finally got the station, the next train that was due was cancelled, which gave us time to recover before our next outing in Ercolano, to visit the site of Herculaneum. What is quite ironic, on the walk to the site, seems we took a wrong turn, and ended up in the wrong end of Ercolano for almost an hour, we nearly gave up trying to find Herculaneum when out of no where, we walked passed it. We both nearly cried with laughter and relief at finding the site finally! During our time at Herculanum, Liam was almost in tears when his home button on his phone became lost. He was such a grouch for the rest of our time at the site. The site is more intact in parts. Then Pompei, preferred certain aspects of this site, mainly less crowded, had the women's baths as well as the men's (Pompei only got the men's), however the baths in Pompei were more extravent then Herculanum. The statues were amazingly intact and so ornate. The trip back to the station was so much quicker and less eventful then getting to the site. On the train, Liam finally saw the funny side of it, as he joked about leaving a part of his phone at a Roman ruin. 

When we got back to Sorrento, the fun didn't stop as we jumped onto the City Train Sorrento. Which gave us a scenic audio guided road train trip around Sorrento. The first time we sat down and chilled all day was over a drink at what seemed to turn into our local, Chaplains. We finally managed to get something to eat, at a place we noticed the previous night, La Fenice, despite the quite slow service, the food itself was perfect. To complete the perfect day, we went to a gelatari Bougainvillea, that was recommended by Hotels.com iPhone app as we booked a hotel in Sorrento. 

Last minute change of plans, afforded us the ability to spend the day, travelling along the Amalfi Coast. Our day started off with pure luck, as we got the last 2 seats on the bus leaving Sorrento towards the coast, as we didn't want to stand the hour journey to our first spot, Positano. We soon learned, we got off at the wrong bus stop, after a detour or two, finally started the descend towards the beach, Spiaggia Grande, where the cathedral Chez Black, despite the long trek down, the beauty of the duomo made the effort all the more special. The shorter trek up the hill to the bus stop, was timed perfect as we made it as the bus pull up and we hopped on towards Amalfi. The cathedral of Amalfi, dedicated to St Andrew the Apolstle was a particular highlight of our visit, with this complex housing the Cloister of Paradise built in the Arabian style holding ancient sarcophagus, mosiacs and in the middle of the northern side of the cloister gave the perfect glimpse of the cathedral's bell tower, in the crypt the preserved remains of the apostle are hidden under the altar covered by heavy slab of marble and cathedral itself to the right of transept is the chapel of the relics housing relics of saints brought with the body of St. Andrew. At the bus terminus, we had to wait awhile to get a bus to Ravello because of the queues. When we finally got there, we took in the breath taking views of the surrounding areas from the hills above Amalfi. As the village of Ravello is such a small town, it's explored by foot. After a well earned coffee break in the Piazza Duoma, we dediced to just visit the Villa Rufulo due to time restraints. We were able to get the group admission rate due to our Artecard card into the estate, which gave us outstanding views of the Bay of Salerno. The panic of people boarding the bus, meant we had to wait for the next one, where again pure luck we were able to get seats for the journey back to Amalfi. Nearing Amalfi, with the roads so small our bus driver has to reverse for what felt  like an eternity, but everyone on the bus gave him a round of applause as it was no mean feat. The crowds waiting for the connecting bus to Sorrento were outrageous, when the bus finally arrived, pure chance we were able to get onto the bus, however we ended up standing until we got to Positano as crowds on the bus were jammed packed. After getting back to Sorrento we went straight for food, as were fanished where were we serenaded  by a female singer, and Liam had both limencello which I think went straight to his head. After our nightly visit to the irish bar and Bougainvillea, we gave into tempetation  and try the Queen Amsterdam chips as there was always a queue on the walk home. That was until we heard and saw a real life Italian tenor, singing in the private courtyard of a residence club, in the Piazza Tasso singing Nessa Dorma, which had Liam emotional as he always loved that song. 

With our last full day in Sorrento, we decided to go visit the island of Capri, we bought our tickets at the marina, like with everything else, the queues were unbelievable and disordered. The hydrofoil took just over 25 mins to the island, and had our tickets for the 9.45 am tour around the island and to the Blue Grotto which cost 30 euro each with 13 of that paid directly to the grotto. The tour leads to the White Grotto, Arco Naturale, Faraglioni rocks, Green Grotto before stopping and giving us to option to visit Blue Grotto and see the magic of the water from within before returning back to port. From here trying to follow the recommended intinery by attempting to catch the bus to Anacapri after 3 buses and 45 mins queuing, we jumped on the next available one to Capri and get a connecting one from there. Although the queues were as bad, the frequency of buses was a lot more frequent, that we were on buses with seats even, quite quickly. Once departing the bus at Anacapri, we got on the chairlift to Monte Solare, purchasing return fares. Liam told me at the top, and his finger nearly got caught on the bar as he entered the chairlift. Although the views from the summit were amazing, my vertigo had kicked in, on the journey up and wished to walk the descend instead. Over half way down, the ironic thing happened, I slipped and fell on my backside. Liam was at first, not quite sure what happened, before he realised to help me up. The journey down was properly more dangerous, twice as long and more painful on the feet than the chairlift would have been but we finally reached the bottom and brought us right to the Villa San Michele our next stop. That was until we saw the price of admission, and thought wasn't worth the money because all we wanted was the panoramic view. Then to our surprise, we saw the viewpoint which was free and the view was outstanding. We decided to tough it out and stroll back to Capri which took roughly 35 mins. In Capri we got a cannolo, al baba and lemon slushi, before joining the que for the funicolare railway, back to the port. At the port, after getting the ticket for boat back, maneuvering through the crowds waiting for the Napoli ferry, was near impossible and riots nearly occurred, only for crew did any of the passengers for the Sorrento ferry make it through. Despite the ups and downs of our visit to the island it was worth the effort. 

To finish off our trip in Sorrento, next morning we went to visit the church of St. Anthony, whose the patron saint of Sorrento, before boarding the train for Napoli. In Napoli, while waiting for our connecting train to Roma. We tried to see if da Michele the pizzeria was opened this time, but was closed due to vacation. So tried another one nearby, after waiting 30 mins to order, another 40 mins for food before we decided to walk out as we had our train to catch. Ironic thing was when we got to Napoli Centrale station, our train was delayed bout 40 mins before we departed for Rome.