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Sorrento & Pompeii
  • Gillian Michael
  • Emma Harvey-Robinson

Sorrento & Pompeii

A 8-day adventure by Gillian & Emma Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 1, 2022
    Sorrento & Pompeii

    Manchester T1

    September 1, 2022 in England ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Emma and Gill off on an adventure again!
    After a delayed flight and delayed although very speedy transfer arrived at hotel at midnight. Small apartment with disco bathroom lights and a street view balcony.
    On a busy main road (even noisier than Moor Lane!) We did want to be near the centre though and the sound proofing in the room is good! We later discovered the bathroom poltergeist who took great delight in opening the nifty pocket door when one of us sat on the loo, and even locking it from the inside one night, Emma almost wetting herself whilst trying to not wake Gill up picking the lock with a tea spoon!
    Anyway, enough of that, let the adventure begin...    Read more

  • Sorrento & Pompeii

    Bougainvillea and exploring Serrento

    September 2, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Fabulous comfy super king bed!
    Breakfast on the balcony people watching with fabulous Italian coffee.
    Sun cream at the ready to explore Sorrento in 24° at 9.00am 🌞
    Full day finding Cathedral's, Christmas lemon baubles, Inlaid woodwork crafts and beaches. There is so much colour in this small busy city. The beaches are commercialised stripes of sunbeds (extra for a brolly!) Even got to swim in the sea and watched the sunset behind Capri. Ended the evening at The Pink Lion for Pizza and complimentary ethanol- sorry LimoncelloRead more

  • Sorrento & Pompeii

    Positano

    September 3, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Having studied various organised trips, in the region of 75€ we decided to make our own way to the Amalfi Coast using public transport. This would give us more freedom to spend the time as we wished.
    All was well until we realised just how bendy and windy the roads were 🤢 Emma, who never gets travel sick was glad to get off at Positano! Poor Gill it was another Misson to Mars scenario so we had to find coke to stop the legs shaking! Definitely would not have made it to Amalfi.
    Positano is a colourful, busy tourist attraction made up of restaurants, clothes and gift shops, lots of "lemony lemony" lemons and what we thought at the time to be chilli's, and Art. We found a garden bar away from the steep main road for nausea recovery.
    Explored the beautiful tile shops where it was easy to spend £1000's on garden tables and pots. You had to pay 30€ to get on the crowded beach so opted for a bar with comfy seats that served drinks starting at €15 but at least you got complimentary butter bean's and olives! Emma was pleased to still have a swim and play with her Gourock taking in the colourful cliffside town from the sea. Positano definately warrants more then the hour offered on the organised tours.
    Opted for a 2hour boat ride back to Serrento rather then risk the bus again.
    We spent about €15 on transport today, compared to the organised tour prices Em considered that a "barg" so felt very smug enjoying the boat trip back, having spent a fabulous leisurely day there.

    Finished the day off watching 3 Tenors at the Villa di Communical and Gillian realising she had lost her holiday wallet containing all her cash and cards! Not to worry, two OTs on your problem solved their way around this for the rest of the trip.    Read more

  • Sorrento & Pompeii

    Bucket list Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius

    September 4, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Woke to a thunderstorm wondering whether it would be safe to hike round a volcanic crater when it's lightening?
    Made our own way to Pompeii on the train for 2.60€ and free entry on Sunday with €5.99 audio guide app, rather that than another 110€ for a half day organised trip - bargain/ as Emma has been saying "baaarg".
    The archaeological site is vast and was meticulously excavated over many many years. The site was much bigger than we expected, and we were surprised to find ourselves walking the roads through the town imagining life passing through the gates, ordering take away, harvesting produce from the gardens, being entertained in the amphitheatre and more. We hoped to see more daily life artifacts, but thoroughly enjoyed the lava bread, and the Ash preserved people fleeing the 79AD eruption were a poignant highlight.    Read more

  • Sorrento & Pompeii

    Bagni Regina Giovanna

    September 5, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    As we were unable to climb Mount Vesuvius yesterday due to thunderstorm, we opted for a 5k walk up to Bagni Regina. This had a small cove previously belonging to the Roman villa dating back to Claudias 45ad.
    It is almost a secret location with clear blue sea and rocky outcrops to sit on... almost being the operative word as there were a fair few other people, families, scuba divers and archaeologists trying to find a smooth section of rock to perch/lay on.
    Before heading down to the waters edge we wandered in some of the ruins, complete with authentic Roman smells 💩
    Gill will forever be grateful to Emma for the loan of her sea shoes.
    After swimming, snorkeling and floating we had a leisurely walk back down to Marina Grande for Parasailing adventure. So exhilarating and calming...
    To finish the day off we made a quick stealth change on the pier, or supposedly... Emma turned around to find Gill religiously applying her moisturiser, as well as creams and make up as she gawped on in bare-faced, sea-hair, saggy-playsuit astonishment (Nothing a trusty straw hat couldn't compensate for mind). We ended the day overlooking the picturesque harbour enjoying fresh local fish.    Read more

  • Sorrento & Pompeii

    Capri

    September 6, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Took a boat ride to Capri from the port of Massa Lubrense. This included off boat swimming in crystal clear water., looking at caves with stalactites and elephant rock formation.
    Capri itself is very busy and expensive island with narrow roads lined with designer shops. Great for window shopping, although they were displaying the new autumn winter collection. Somewhat disconcerting when it's still 30° .
    Emma was able to quickly figure out which bus to catch from Marina Piccola to the central plaza. From here we visited the Giardini di Augusto. This had great look out points and plenty of shade to eat our complimentary mozzerella and tomato sandwich!
    More sea swimming on the way back. Gill even got to try a noodle float!
    We had wanted to try the highly recommended La Tantinaccia across the road but the queues has built up by the time we had showered and changed. We instead took a short walk into town and found a hidden gem called Convivo, where we enjoyed seafood bruchetta, pasta/ravioli and Emma tried her first approach spritz.    Read more

  • Sorrento & Pompeii

    Cheese, wine and bike tour of Serrento

    September 7, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Best tour of the trip!
    20km ebike ride with stops to enjoy the views, admire the lemon and olive farms and finally reach Schiazzano. It must be said for the first 6km uphill Gill's ebike was not working, the only power coming from Gill's legs! Fabio the tour guide could not understand what was taking so long, but Gill managed to flag him down to explain, and he arranged a replacement bike. Stirling effort from Gill, who certainly earned her lunch!
    From Schiazzano we were taken in a local Ferrari - Ape Calessino - along the narrowest of lanes to il Turuziello to a family cheese farm. Benedetto showed us the preparation of Mozzarella and Ricotta (which translates as "recooked") which we were then able to try. It was the best and freshest Mozzarella ever. Unfortunately not able to buy as is for local family and best restaurants in area only. We did however have the chance to taste and purchase the most delicious olive oils, which were made from olives grown on the farm. These are strictly not for cooking with though, as the high temperatures destroy both the flavours and health benefits. Gill was lovingly nicknamed "Chilly Gilly" which Fabio took great delight in singing, despite her favourite oil in fact being the basil/truffle. Emma also, uncharacteristically enjoyed the fresh home made Limoncello, especially as her name was being chanted as it was being poured from bottle to mouth, and it must be said also broke Fabio's heart at the end of the day by flashing him her wedding photo screensaver as she explained the evening plans which did not involve him.
    All in all a fabulous last full day, filled with fitness, fun and food!    Read more

  • Sorrento & Pompeii

    Pool day and Naples

    September 8, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Spent the day by the pool in Hotel Flora, next to our apartment. Glad to be able to fully laze about as both somewhat achey and tender from the bike tour.
    Both kinda glad we didn't stay in a typical package holiday hotel hosting brits abroad.
    Took the train to Naples which was busy, uncomfortable and crowded. Discovered the timetable is more guidelines then scheduled and it is not a scenic route.
    Whilst in the airport heard the sad news about our majesty the Queen    Read more

    Trip end
    September 8, 2022
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