November 2018

Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre

Work takes me to Italy next. Learning about the best places to stay, tours to make sure you have a great experience and the only way to travel on your time schedule. A couple nights in Rome, then on to Naples, Pompeii and Sorrento. Read more

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November 2, 2018
Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Wednesday, October 31, 2018 at 8:48 PM
- 🌙 15 °C
- Altitude: 299 m
- United States Goff Creek 36.29587, -80.3688436°17’45” N 80°22’8” W
Packed and ready to go!
October 31, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
TravelerHave fun. I will follow you along the way. 😊
11/1/18Reply
TravelerTammy - Jerry is coming too
11/1/18Reply
This with Avanti, MG?
11/1/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 1
- Friday, November 2, 2018 at 7:14 PM
- 🌧 20 °C
- Altitude: 125 m
- United States Raleigh–Durham International Airport 35.87922, -78.7913135°52’45” N 78°47’29” W
Clear TSA at RDU, now to wait.
November 2, 2018 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 20 °C
Left my home in King, NC Thursday for Falls Lake State park, one last of camping before heading to Rome via London. Flight due to depart at 815pm. Stopped for a beer, hoping to get a good flight sleep on the over.Read more
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 2
- Saturday, November 3, 2018 at 4:00 PM
- ⛅ 19 °C
- Altitude: 27 m
- Italy Piazza del Popolo 41.90742, 12.4724541°54’27” N 12°28’21” E
Ciao da Roma!
November 3, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
No time at the Heathrow airport to see or do much. We arrived in at Terminal 2 then took the shuttle to Terminal 5. Good bit of walking, but it felt good after a 7+ hours. Nope, didn't sleep much.
Flights were great, all on time. On our 2 hour flight to Rome, I dozed a little but then we hit turbulence passing the Swiss Alps , beautiful view (I'll post those pictures later).
On our approach into Rome I think I saw Vineyards, the the cruiseport which has a Princess and if you look really close, upper left is Disney.
After clearing customs which took 5 minutes tops... scouted around for my driver from Avanti- there were at least 25 people with signs, wish I had my phone/camera out for that. Drive into Rome and Vatican city was wild but here at Hotel del Mellini for a few nights.
Showered, unpacked and resting with my feet up until happy hour when I meet the rest of the group.Read more
TravelerLooking Pretty in Pink💗 Rest up and enjoy!!!
11/3/18Reply
TravelerGlad to see you using Find Penguins! Had a great day over here in Montenegro. Will send up a smoke signal to you neighbor!
11/3/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 3
- Sunday, November 4, 2018 at 5:48 PM
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 27 m
- Italy Piazza del Popolo 41.9074, 12.472541°54’27” N 12°28’21” E
Rome in the passing showers
November 4, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Start out with nice breakfast and great cafe' with steamed milk. 9a we were off. Mirko our driver is joined by Franca our guide for the morning. Visited Parthenon, Trevi fountain, Colesium. Spanish steps and 2 hotel inspections, with lunch. Tonight is cooking class and dinner!Read more
TravelerSounds like a hopping busy fam! :)
11/4/18Reply
TravelerI hope the rain clears up!! Have fun!!
11/4/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 3
- Sunday, November 4, 2018 at 11:50 PM
- ⛅ 14 °C
- Altitude: 27 m
- Italy Piazza del Popolo 41.90743, 12.4724541°54’27” N 12°28’21” E
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Amazing cooking class and dinner
November 4, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Where do I start. After a busy walking day, 30 minutes of rest and off again, this time to Tiberina Island for our pasta cooking class and dinner with wine of course! When in Rome!
We had a tour, then got put to work... cutting vegetables, drinking wine, making pasta, drinking wine, sampling our ravioli stuffing of zucchini more wine then time to eat.
Sleep now for tomorrow morning we head south to Naples. But first I want to add some pictures but took so many where do I start...Read more
TravelerSo I gained weight just looking at your pictures! Fun!
11/4/18Reply
I love the apron that looks like a chef's coat, I want one!! Think we'll have time over Thanksgiving to have a pasta making dinner??!!
11/4/18Reply
Traveler looks amazing!
11/5/18Reply
Traveler Looks like you guys are having fun!
11/5/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 4
- Monday, November 5, 2018 at 4:32 PM
- 🌧 14 °C
- Altitude: 155 m
- Italy Caironi 41.57908, 13.3622541°34’45” N 13°21’44” E
Rome to Naples
November 5, 2018 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
Checked out after early breakfast and on our way to Naples we stopped at the Pope's summer place Castelgandolfo. Another rainy morning forced us into a cafe cutting our tour short... rain stopped so we tried again only to get 1/2 block and the skies opened again. Quick trip through a few shops and back on our van, continue the journey south. Lunch today is at Marco Carpeneti winery and vineyard. Through the clouds we took in their view. Then onto the tour. Roberta was very informative and explained the history of this family run winery.
Next the tasting:
Small plates (so they said) were lining the table: fresh bread with their own olive oil, vegetable soup, olives, cheese, bacon and prosciutto, baked pumpkin with rosemary and most important the wines. Wonderful! Only bought 1 bottle of their brut, 14 Euros. May not make it home.
Back on the road heading for our hotel in Naples for the next couple of nights.Read more
TravelerSo beautiful! Wine and food sounds delicious too!!
11/5/18Reply
TravelerI think wine tastings in the US should be like that!
11/6/18Reply
Travelerwow.
11/6/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 4
- Monday, November 5, 2018 at 10:50 PM
- ⛅ 14 °C
- Altitude: 30 m
- Italy Piazza Garibaldi 40.85181, 14.2681240°51’7” N 14°16’5” E
Naples
November 5, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
If you have ever driven in NYC, that is nothing compared to rush hour traffic in Naples. These people are crazy. But our driver was excellent, got us safely to the Grand Hotel Oriente. Checked in, quick shower, then hotel tour and dinner. Lots of fish, bread, pasta and wine!
Tomorrow we will see this city and taste what they are known for - Italian Pizza and sfogliatella.Read more
TravelerPraying all the rain is behind you!! Enjoy Naples and the pizza!!
11/6/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 5
- Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 6:57 PM
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 42 m
- Italy Piazza Carità 40.84256, 14.2504540°50’33” N 14°15’2” E
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Naples!
November 6, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
You know when you get to have breakfast alfresco, it's going to be a great day! Sun is shining, skies are blue, and cappacino is great!
Off we go... by motorcoach to take in the sites of the city from one of the highest points of Naples. Breathe taking view of the Mediterranean sea that can't be captured in a single picture.
Back down into the historical district for a walking tour of churches, shops and bakeries - where we had a midmorning treat, then off again.
More walking, then our coach picks us up to drive us back to the waterfront to Rosolina's. The personal pizza here is enough for 2 or more, but excellent. (Accompanied with wine.) Followed by a couple of great sfogliatella and a shot of limoncello!
Good thing the hotel we were to inspect was just a block down the street. Grand Hotel Saint Lucia is a beautifully restored hotel with an amazing view.
The rest of the afternoon was ours to do as we wished as along as we were ready to leave at 710 for our dinner at Marianna's place. More on that later.Read more
TravelerSounds like y’all are eating your way across Naples!! Yummmy 😋
11/6/18Reply
did you get holy water?
11/6/18Reply
TravelerStop with the food already.... I am not eating it and I am gaining weight.
11/6/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 5
- Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 7:05 PM
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 41 m
- Italy Piazza Carità 40.84258, 14.2503240°50’33” N 14°15’1” E
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More pictures...
November 6, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
As we are only in Naples 1 full day, took lots of pictures to capture this beautiful city.
TravelerSomeone didn’t include the girl in front of you on the email: “wear blue today” Beautiful pics MG!! So glad the weather has improved!!
11/6/18Reply
Traveler Awesome group!
11/6/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 6
- Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at 12:08 AM
- ⛅ 14 °C
- Altitude: 38 m
- Italy Piazza Carità 40.84267, 14.2499740°50’34” N 14°14’60” E
Dinner at Marianna's
November 7, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Avanti is the only company that offers this special feature - dinner in a local's home. Come, sit, relax, have a glass of wine, converse with new friends and enjoy a special evening. This evening we rode to the marina were Marianna lives in a beautiful complex. We rode the open elevator up to the 6th floor and were greeted by our gracious host.
For the next 3 hours flew by... we chatted about our day, had some wine, toasted to good days ahead, laughed, listened to a wonderful guitarist and singer and ate fabulous (what I would call) Italian comfort foods - mini 'mama's pizza', gnocchi with marinara sauce, pasta with prawns, bread, fennel and orange salad. Dessert was puffs filled with a limoncello cream and a shot of limoncello! AMAZING!
The miracle is that we all came down the elevator (3 at a time) and it still works! So full not sure I'll get to sleep anytime soon but tomorrow we head for Sorrento via Pompeii.Read more
TravelerWhat a fabulous experience!
11/6/18Reply
Travelerlove your new scarf. Sam, aren't you proud of all the pictures of her! I love seeing her smiling face.
11/6/18Reply
TravelerMe too!! It really makes all the difference seeing my soul sister enjoying the food and the splendor... and not just the food and His splendor!! 😘❤️❤️❤️
11/6/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 6
- Wednesday, November 7, 2018 at 1:42 PM
- ⛅ 17 °C
- Altitude: 185 m
- Italy Boscotrecase 40.78755, 14.4594540°47’15” N 14°27’34” E
Pompeii and Sorrentino Winery Vesovio
November 7, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Heading south for our last 3 nights in Sorrento with a couple stops; ruins of Pompeii and wine tasting and lunch at Sorrentino. Rain a bit but now beautiful sunshine!
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- Day 7
- Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 2:23 AM
- 🌙 14 °C
- Altitude: 45 m
- Italy Sant'Agnello 40.63591, 14.390940°38’9” N 14°23’27” E
Hotel Villa Garden, Sorrento
November 8, 2018 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
Warmly welcomed to this beautiful seaside Villa, with an exceptional mimosa, this will be our home for the next few days. Sorrento is a hidden gem south of Naples; rich in history, spectacular views and yes, wonderful food!
After a tour of the Villa, we find our luggage in our rooms... I have to pull myself away from taking in the view from my room, unpack, freshen up and rejoin the others in the reception room. And we are off with our local guide, Enrica, for an evening walking tour of the village and on to dinner. St. Anthony, their patron, is proudly represented and revered by the residents. Beautiful church shares the many miracles he interceded for those who came to him.
November till mid March is not as crowded here as in the summer months, so walking down the streets is not difficult. We popped into a limoncello store for a quick tasting, will have to remember this place to come back to purchase a couple of bottles to bring home.
Dinner as always was excellent, back to the Villa for a good night's sleep tomorrow-another day of adventures awaits us.Read more
Travelerso wonderful!
11/8/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 7
- Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 12:23 PM
- ☀️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 265 m
- Italy Positano 40.63569, 14.4834840°38’8” N 14°29’1” E
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Positano
November 8, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Amazing drive south toward the Amalfi coast leads us here. Views, views, and more views of this city built in the limestone of the mountain. Hiked down to the Bay of Salerno. Even dipped my toes in the water, which felt great. The sand is volcanic with small stones were rough.
Now on toRead more
TravelerAmazing women with an amazing back drop how did I get so lucky to be traveling with her?
11/8/18Reply
Traveler Looks beautiful! keep on enjoying! :)
11/9/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 7
- Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 9:04 PM
- 🌙 16 °C
- Altitude: 64 m
- Italy Santuario del Carmine 40.62697, 14.3766840°37’37” N 14°22’36” E
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Wonderful day!
November 8, 2018 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Lunch in Positano was wonderful, as all meals have been, then back to the hotel for a rest (for some people) but a few of us enjoyed the patio with wine and a beautiful sunset!
Off for a couple of hotel/villa tours. Now enjoying a simpler dinner. Off for a walk thru the historical district to window shopping!Read more
Traveler That Jerry is out of control lol
11/8/18Reply
Traveler looks perfect
11/9/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 8
- Friday, November 9, 2018 at 7:52 AM
- ☀️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 45 m
- Italy Sant'Agnello 40.63586, 14.3908140°38’9” N 14°23’27” E
buongiorno da Sorrento
November 9, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Sadly our last day... but what a beautiful view to wake up to. Today we will see a few more hotels, indulging in a gelato for lunch and walk it off by supporting the local economy! I think I have a few Euros left and a bit of space in my luggage! Ciao for now. This is the view from my room.Read more
TravelerBeautiful
11/9/18Reply
TravelerCan't wait to hear about this tour company and your thoughts! Looks fabulous
11/9/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 8
- Friday, November 9, 2018 at 3:11 PM
- ☀️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 45 m
- Italy Sant'Agnello 40.63591, 14.3908340°38’9” N 14°23’27” E
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Shopping done, on to pizza making
November 9, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
So much fun today. Got the business stuff out of the way this morning; visited 2 beautiful sea front properties and our reps office & coworkers. Great people. Now to enjoying a gelato and shop!
Traveler love this picture- que bella!
11/10/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 8
- Friday, November 9, 2018 at 9:15 PM
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: 45 m
- Italy Sant'Agnello 40.63596, 14.390940°38’9” N 14°23’27” E
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Last night, fun night!
November 9, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
When in Sorrento, you must do the cheese making, pizza making, and learn the limoncello making process. What a blast. Funniest part was the drive after we got off the coach and into a 4 pax vehicle cross between a moped and a golf cart. But the best part is just like an amusement park ride:" keep your hands inside the car at all times" and they mean it!
Sadly we had to say goodbye to Rossella who has been with us all week. Thank you for showing us some of the best things in Italy especially your home city of Sorrento.
4am comes early... so good night!Read more
Traveler This is a must do excursion
11/10/18Reply
TravelerI hope you took notes.... I want to learn too!
11/10/18Reply
Traveler yum
11/10/18Reply
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- Day 9
- Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 5:20 AM
- ⛅ 10 °C
- Altitude: 87 m
- Italy Naples International Airport 40.87832, 14.2828440°52’42” N 14°16’58” E
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Naples Airport
November 10, 2018 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Homeward bound..😥
But one of the quickest check ins and security passes. Still 2 hours till departure so plenty of time for coffee.
TravelerSafe travels! Hope you get some rest on the flight!!
11/9/18Reply
TravelerAwesome. Thanks for taking us on the virtual trip!
11/10/18Reply
Traveler 😱😂😘
11/10/18Reply
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Traveler Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Sorre
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- Day 9
- Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 9:24 AM
- ☀️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- Spain Barcelona–El Prat Airport 41.29233, 2.0773641°17’32” N 2°4’38” E
Welcome to Barcelona
November 10, 2018 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
What?!?! My connection is in Madrid. Electrical problems has us rerouted into BCN hopefully it can be quickly completed and off to MAD.
At least I'm in good company with Kristin, Mirtha and 100+ of our new friends!Read more
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- Day 9
- Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 12:46 PM
- 🌧 13 °C
- Altitude: 590 m
- Spain Madrid–Barajas Airport 40.49903, -3.5664340°29’57” N 3°33’59” W
In and out of Madrid Airport
November 10, 2018 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
Could my arrival and departure gates been further away from each other... probably but it I had to hustle to catch a train then 10 minutes too late to change seats. Row 52 it is then.
Long flight ahead to JFK, hope I can catch a nap.Read more
TravelerRelax and have a cocktail after your airport triathlon. Then hopefully you’ll get in a good nap 😴!!
11/10/18Reply
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- Day 9
- Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 5:13 PM
- ⛅ 4 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- United States Grassy Bay 40.64819, -73.7962940°38’53” N 73°47’47” W
Fast paced
November 10, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 4 °C
JFK has got to be the worst for Intl connections. Guess there wasn't enough time for transferring the luggage to our connection. Well at least not mine. Just made it to the gate for my final leg.
TravelerSorry 😐
11/10/18Reply
TravelerFlying is so much fun
11/10/18Reply
Traveleras long as you are home safe-you can not be replaced!
11/11/18Reply
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- Day 13
- Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at 12:08 PM
- ☁️ 6 °C
- Altitude: 270 m
- United States Hanes 36.08665, -80.2902836°5’12” N 80°17’25” W
Reality sets in...
November 14, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C
Trip was awesome and when the lost luggage shows up, you unpack it and everything is fine, it must mean that the vacation is over. 😂
But kudos to Kent from AA baggage service who brought my bag all the way to King, NC!

Now to pack for this weekend's training sessions, Superbowl of Knowledge!Read more
TravelerSo glad all is well with your belongings!
11/14/18Reply
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Trip end
November 10, 2018