Naples and Sorrento

We arrrived in Naples at 8Am and the four of us disembarked at 9AM and made our way to the Marittimia terminal tBbo catch the boat to Sorrento (11 euros each). THe crossing took around 40 minutes, passing Capri on starboard and Mt. Vesuvius to port. Sorrento is a throughback to the Italy 50 -60 years ago, and boasts some very upscale hotels. We disembarked the ferry boat and walked to a new elevator (1 euro) that took us up from the baeach to the town. The other options are a winding, 1800 foot long pathway or bus or taxi. The elevator seemed fairly new and wasn't mentioned in any of out travel guides although it is along a fairly sketchy looking walkway along the waterfront. We spent the day walking the narrow (and I mean narrow) cobblestone streets and we managed to get there before most of the ship tours arrived, so we had hte place more or less to ourselves for the first 1 1/2 hours. Linda and I bought shoes at a clearance place, mine were 20 eauros and hers were 15 euros, as the 'season' is winding down. PEggy and I were both interviewed by somoe local high school age students doing an assignment on TV watching and were photographed and video'd for their project (We both said the amaziing race was our favorite program). As it is late in the season some of the shops had already shuttered.

We then went to 'da Gigino Trattoria' a bistro Rick Steeves recommended ( and now so do we). WE had salad and Pizza and washed it all down with their red table wine. We sat next to a couple from Vancouver who were just finishing spending a week in Sorrento, and we all agreed it is one place we would like to return to and spend more time.

We walked up through the town to the train station and caought teh 220PM train ( 4 euros each) back to Napoli via Pompeii. The trip took just over an hour and was great value for the money, although we entered Naples through it's grubby 'back door'. A cab ride back to the ship from the train station took 5 minutes (and 10 euros) and we arrived back in time for TRIVIA(15/20) at 415PM.

WE depart at 7PM and head for Civitchevechhia, the port for Rome, where we will spend the day.