11 November 2017 –– Naples, Italy

What a glorious, beautiful, sunny day for our trip to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.  Our driver, Salvatore, was prompt and waiting for us at the dock at 8:15am, and a quick 30-minute drive to Pompeii and we were ready to get rolling  It started on the cool side but quickly warmed up in the high 60s and the sweaters came off before we were half way through the ruins of Pompeii. 

The ruins were spectacular, to say the least, dating back to 79 B.C.and so well preserved considering the violent eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.  The town of 12,000 was a major port for olive oil and wine and was very prosperous as noted by the one house that was there, Casa de Fauna, that totaled some 27,000 sq.ft.!!  With winter and summer gardens, marbled floors, mosaics, etc.!!

Because the town was covered with hot ash and not lava, even bodies of people and animals were found in the excavation that was started by the King of Italy in the 18^th C.  It is amazing the amount of detail that remains, such as colors, mosaics, marble floors and walls, etc.

As we said, words cannot describe what we were about to hear and see from our tour guide, Gino, in 2 hours.

Then it was on to a drive along the winding, twisting, mountainous, narrow roads along the Amalfi Coastline from Salerno to Amalfi.  What gorgeous scenery!!  We stopped along the way as we passed through some small towns, that all had houses, hotels, restaurants, orchards of lemon trees and olive trees on the steep hillsides with no access except for stone steps cut into the mountain rock.

At Amalfi, we had gelato and strolled through the town and its small shops and street restaurants.

Due to heavy rains in Sorrento and Postiano, the roads were closed to traffic, but we really didn’t care as we had more than enough to see and do.  As you can see this blog is being posted late without pictures, as we are exhausted after 3 back-to-back days in Italy and taking in all the sights we did in just a short time.  But we promise to update tomorrow or Monday, as internet connections are available.

As we leave Naples tonight we have traveled over 6200 miles and are entering our 4^th week since leaving Ft. Lauderdale.  How time flies when you’re having fun, and we truly are having fun!!