On this day we made three stops, Isle of Capri, Sorrento, and Pompeii. Even though we were at the port of Naples, we didn't tour there. Naples is a working man' s town much like Detroit. It has a higher unemployment rate than many other cities in Italy and more social problems than most.
We started with a boat ride. It was a high speed catamaran that slowly rode up and down with the waves. The cabin was like sitting in a theater. The lack of windows amplified the motion's effect on the brain and stomach. For a least a half an hour, the crew passed out plastic catch bags for the lesser heeled sailors amongst the passengers. Many were glad to place their feet on solid land again.
At Capri, the show was the scenery. You must take an inclined plane car to the top of the island. This is a very upscale place. Gucchi, Rolex, and other notables were represented on store fronts.
Perfumes, jewelry, high end fashion were available. We bought three postcards.
On to Sorrento, an excellent lunch which was included in the tour, window shopping, and back on the bus to Pompeii.
Pompeii is the legendary city that was covered with volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius around 95 AD. It was rediscovered in the 1800's. (If I recall correctly.) Frozen in time it is a very interesting place. Unlike Rome, the ruins have not been abused by centuries of pillaging and weathering. In one ancient residence, the murals on the walls and tile work on the floors were nearly perfect. You really got a feel for the daily life of these people. This was the highlight of the trip so far.
Leave it to me to have an uncharged battery in my camera. Fortunately, Linda brought her camera. I'll post some photos later.
