Day 49 Pompeii
Wednesday January 23rd.
We decide to check out and drive to Pompeii and then head towards a suburb of Rome – Frescati.
The smell of smoke really is the deciding factor – I cannot stand it anymore plus off-season in Sorrento does not offer many things to see. Skipping the Amalfi coast drive – too nervous about the drive and encountering traffic on a very arrow cliff lined road.
It is nor raining although it stormed hard the all night. It is crisp, clear and chilly.
We make the drive to Pompeii – and magically do not get lost. Pull right into a parking area a few hundred yards from the entrance. Parking all day is 10 euro – they sell us a guide book 7 euro and there is even a restaurant for when we are done.
Pompeii is awesome – I am glad we did not skip it. It is very large – deceptively – we start slowly and realize this could take a couple of days. The wind is blowing pretty hard and we are not dressed very well. Allysha is not feeling very well but hangs in there. The theatres, amphitheatre, sports complex, swimming pool, residences and frescoes are amazing. The casts of people and animals caught by the Vesuvius eruption are disconcerting – especially with Vesuvius looming in the distance.
We eat lunch – nice Piazza and Pasta and head towards Frescati. We are a little nervous as our map does not have any detail for the town and the guide book does not either. We use A3 toll way – total tolls are about 11 euro. One stop for fuels and water – Allysha accidentally breaks a mug – she feels terrible.
People drive very fast and flash their high beams as they overtake. They also tend to drive in multiple lanes but I am starting to feel more comfortable on the road.
It is dark by the time we arrive - we find the town amazingly – driving in town is not pleasant – a lot of people honking – I park and we head off by foot to find a hotel. First place only has a single room – she calls another place – also no room. Staring to get nervous – but using the guide book for one of the hotels Aria navigates and we find it – Hotel panorama. They give us a single room with a double and 2 singles – 130 Euro – we are desperate so we take it. Not very good English but we find out that the proprietors Son (she say he looks like me and he kind of does with black hair is caput and she is wearing black in mourning. Not sure what happened but he died at age 40. Very sad – Pam gives her a hug.
Room is fine – actually a large bathroom. The car is parked a considerable distance away and navigating the one way streets is daunting. Aria and I decide to go get the car but the proprietor's husband actually ends up driving us to our car and we follow him back and he gives us a parking place. How awesome – I remark to Aria that luck was with us today – we found the town – a place to stay and got the car to the hotel an amazing accomplishment.
I am still not entirely sure what I feel about Italy. It is certainly picturesque and interesting to see people living in towns and buildings that are very old. There are a lot of cars and the roads in towns are not really designed for cars – they seem out of place. I also cannot get my mind around the schedule that is kept. Also the economy seems strange – a lot of store fronts – no big businesses.
It is also expensive – food and lodging are a big expense.
Pam and Aria go shopping and get some food – it seems the shops close at 8 but restaurants are open later.
