Graham arrived at 09.30 to take us to Manchester Airport - interesting ride as he showed us his El Grand (?) car and his dog (his mixed race - half Thai - daughter was in the photo!). We survived! Flight was memorable as the oldish man next to me needed medical attention - he got oxygen and I took the aisle seat vacant in front of Margaret! The rest of the transfer was uneventful. We checked into our hotel - great location and a pleasant place - Hotel La Badia
1st October 2016
Tour around Sorrento ... Coach down where we got off and saw Paul & Ann! We toured on foot, then had lunch in town then walked back up having been down to the Piccolo Marina (the small one that is bigger than the Grande one!).
At breakfast Margaret was asked whether we had picked from the menu - and when she replied that we would be eating out that night the Head Waiter was horrified and wondered if we did not kike the food! Margaret had to explain we were meeting friends! We met Paul & Ann that night (planning on walking down but just we were about to set off it rained so we got a taxi). Met them at their hotel
(Paul welcoming us as if he owned the place!) and had pre-dinner drinks. We walked around (under brollies) to Caruso ... a pleasant restaurant
where Margaret had Ravioli and I had cold meat followed by a slow cooked suckling pig - which was like a pork chop and not brilliant at all. The wine was better .... Paul asked for a Barolo and the maitre suggested a southern Italian equivalent T ....which was excellent. We went back to hotel and after a small kerfuffle got a taxi ... that cost double the one down ... to get us back! Thanks to the concierge! (30 Euros!).
2nd October 2016
Heavy, very heavy rain greeted us ... It had been steady through the night and seemed to ease a bit by the time we had driven up to Vesuvius
(a torturous drive) where we waited at the ticket office for info. as to whether the path to the top was going to open. After an hour waiting we were disappointed to learn we couldn't make the visit so we drove back!
Margaret and I dropped off in town - did a bit of shopping (blue shorts and a belt!) and had lunch then did some shopping and headed back to the hotel. We read until dinner at 7ish ...
(This photo makes the dining terrace look charming but the plastic shields were down as it was inclement weather!).
3rd October 2016
Up for breakfast at 7ish ... then to the port to take a hydrofoil to Capri...
There we took a boat around the island in calm sea and a warm day. We then took a difficult ride in a coach to Anacapri where Margaret and I took a chair lift to the top of island ... A quick coffee and back down on this single seated chairlift. We had a fixed lunch at ' Barbarossa' Looked at the garden in the nearby villa Michael & then took the coach down to Capri and spent a bit of a while
looking around until it was time to return ...back at the hotel for 5pm.
https://artmodel.wordpress.com/2009/02/15/rosina-ferrara-sargents-muse-of-capri/
4th October
We had a coach ride to Amalfi and Ravello. The coastal drive was dramatic and. Very difficult for the driver and the coach!
Amalfi saw us have coffee and then a walk around St. Andrew's cathedral and the attached basilica and cloisters...not to mention the 'famous' steps which now we know of ....
At Ravello - very difficult to get to - we had a snack - then went to look around. We just got to the square and it rained heavily so we "shopped" and finally bought an umbrella (had left the umbrella and showerproof clothing on the coach that had to leave and pick us up later!
We set off back and Margaret went for a swim ... Dinner and then an early night for me ...Margaret read more of the Clifton Series...
5th October 2016
Went to Herculanum (Herculaneum) .... Good guide called Michaelo or "Mike".
He took us around and explained everything in a very erudite way. On return we stopped off in town - had lunch at the Trattoria Basilica.
Margaret had the amuse bouche of a small slice of a small pizza then had Parma Ham & Melon... I had Liver - Venice style. Then walked about looking for more shorts for me and bought them and another belt after going for a coral chilli for Sophie.
Upon our return we went down to the pool again where Margaret swam for a while ....then back to the room where Sophie rang! This after Margaret tried Sophie via Martin's phone ...she had a job at the school in Harrogate for 2 weeks and Martin was working that night! Luckily Sophie was going to Betty's with a friend after work!
It was the Gala Dinner tonight - on the cold terrace - the owner attended with some friends - she was well wrappped up. Quite a few people went to get warmer clothing! During the proceedings "Shrek" and his wife were celebrating their 35th Wedding Anniversary.
6th October 2016
Went to Naples after breakfast ... slow going, took about 2 hours.
Went around museum quickly with guide Susanne, (Belgian who lived here)......v. interesting and some stunning pieces.
After an adequate lunch 'did' Pompeii in 2 hours ...
Looked at concert amphitheatre and then Poppea's house and some others, the brothel and ended up at the Forum.
Back to the hotel shattered at 5ish, having left a very good Ingrid, (our guide for the week - her 9 year old had just broken his leg playing football!), with a good tip and Chielo (our driver for most off the week).
Pleasant evening meal for company but not food.... in the dining room, as it was too cold and miserable for the Terrace.
Bed at 9ish.
7th October 2016
Up for a breakfast at 06:30 and coach at 7:10 - through to Naples airport where again we checked in etc. for our flight at 12:00 - all done easily (hardly had to wait in the coach holding area), and got out flight home without any medical issues! Paul picked us up (in his "new" Mercedes) and we got home at about 4:30 to 5pm and had something to eat and went to bed fairly early!
