Naples
Leaving Rome, I took an "accelerated" train to Naples. Do I ever regret that decision! I simply didn't understand the Italian description of the train. As a consequence, the train meandered here and there between the two cities. It took me 7 hours to reach my destination for a trip that should have taken approximately two. Nevertheless, my journey led me to see a portion of the Sorento Peninsula I had not planned to see. As a result, I do not consider the time taken wasted. My first impression of Naples was not very good. From the hotel, which was near the train station, I walked through a slum district for a long time. I finally lost myself, and on my way back, had to take a cab to the hotel. I felt uneasy during this walking tour of a part of the city that was less than appealing. I was happy to get back to the hotel.
I concluded, perhaps erroneously, that Naples had very little to offer me, so I determined that a visit to Pompeii would be more to my liking. Since John and Eiena had joined us here, we decided to visit this incredible archaeological site together. It was destroyed in 79 AD under a mountain of ash and pumice after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The fortunate aspect of this disaster is the preservation of buildings, objects, and even human forms. Pompeii was lost for centuries until it was rediscovered in 1748. Archaeologists continue to provide new insights into life during that time. Pompeii actually offered no surprises for me. Nevertheless, given the significance of the disaster so long ago and the recent discovery of evidence of life at that time, it was an incredible visit.
After spending the entire day in Pompeii, I decided to visit Capri. The sea was very rough, but I arrived safely. On the way, the boat stopped at Sorrento long enough to allow me to walk around this town for a short while. Having arrived in Capri, I found a room at a pension in Marina Grande. I decided to head to the island's higher elevation and took the funicular to the town of Anacapri. This proved to be quieter and less touristy than Capri itself, giving a more authentic island feel. It is renowned for its spectacular views, rich history, and charming atmosphere. I took a walking tour as described in a pamphlet I had picked up on the boat.
On the way back, I disembarked at Sorrento and took advantage of the opportunity to visit it to an even greater extent than I had during my first stop here. I managed to get a bus back to Naples via the Amalfi Coast. This is a stunning 50-km stretch of rugged coastline. I was not surprised to learn later that this region is a UNESCO World Heritage site, attracting visitors from around the world. There are 13 coastal towns, and together, they offer breathtaking scenery, often featuring steep, winding roads. I decided to get out of the bus and wait for the next one a few hours later. This allowed me to have lunch at a delightful restaurant overlooking the bay. While sitting on the balcony, I watched people throw coins into the water, then young boys dive to retrieve them.
As we were leaving this area, I told myself that I would have to return and thoroughly explore the entire territory at some point. I never have, and probably never will. Having travelled to roughly 100 countries across all seven continents, there are a number of regions I would like to revisit, but time is running short, and who knows what will come about.
It was well worth the time and effort to make the trip here, and I was glad I did.
Upon returning to the lower portion of the island, I took a tour of the Blue Grotto. The water is really blue! It was unfortunate that there were so many boats bringing other tourists here, and, therefore, the blueness of the water was obliterated to some extent by their presence. This sea cave lets sunlight shine through an underwater cavity, and the light is reflected back up through the seawater beneath the cavern, giving the water a blue glow that illuminates the cavern. In spite of the multitude of other boats spoiling the view of the blueness, I found the visit to be entertaining and worthwhile.
Before leaving the island, I visited Tiberius' Villas. He must have been a spendthrift because he built 12 of them on this island. However, only three have survived the passage of time. These are scattered all over the island. The itinerary in the pamphlet allowed me to visit all three. The largest of these is Villa Jovis, and to reach it, I had to climb a steep hill but, fortunately, it was a short one. This allowed me to gain a different perspective of the island and its nearby coastline. This proved to be a very enjoyable last viewpoint that I would see during my stay.
Peering down toward the coast, I recognized a boat launch that Brigitte Bardot had been pictured on - amazing!
