Circumvesuviana to Sorrento

Rome to Sorrento:  Today was one of those days that really makes us wonder why we try to travel without our RV. Planes, trains and automobiles!

Today there was a transit strike in Italy.

There is often a transit strike in Italy and they have a schedule. For instance the buses and metro (subway) were on strike early this morning, then again around noon and then later in the day. It seems they go on strike because they can go on strike.

Since we knew there was a train to Naples every 30 minutes, we didn't even make a reservation. When we checked-out of our hotel - after saying goodbye to our friends, off to Greece - we had an amazing ride in a taxi to Roma Termini (the main train station in Rome). Traffic was a nightmare. Streets were closed. Our taxi driver actually went the wrong-way down a one-way street to get us to the terminal. The police were standing at the intersections - but they would not direct traffic. I just don't get it.

We bought our tickets and learned we had about 15 seconds to catch the train! We sprinted to the platform and hopped on the first car just as the door closed behind us! We just left our bags there and learned we had hopped onto Car 12 and our seats were in Car 1. The train was already moving, so we slowly made our way to our seats. It was a nice, high-speed, Eurostar train. I opened the GPS and clocked the train at 124 miles per hour!

The Naples train station is just a dump. Dirty, dirty, dirty. The toilets are in another building and hadn't been cleaned since Mussolini was in power. There was no tissue, soap or towels. No toilet seats either, but that is another story. The strike was causing problems in Naples too - the nice tourist bus to Sorrento (about 45 miles away) was cancelled, so loads of people were lined-up to get on the Circumvesuviana - the local train which stops at every town along the way - approximately 20 stops!

We bought a ticket - 3.20 Euros - and lined up with the masses. No one was in a good mood and it was hot too. Unbelievably, there are no escalators or elevators - you must drag your suitcase down/up two flights of stairs to reach the train platform. I can't imagine what a handicapped traveler must deal with - families with strollers were having so much trouble.

After the comfort of the Eurostar train, the Circumvesuviana (I think it translates to something like "past Vesuvius" because it goes by Mount Vesuvius) was a wake-up call. We were jammed-in like sardines into dirty train cars. An Aussie we were chatting with was pick-pocketed and there was an old Italian man eating things he had found in Naples train station garbage cans - including a partially-consumed bottle of beer! If it weren't for jovial fellow tourists (from every corner of our globe) making light of the situation, the ride would have been a misery.

As awful as the ride was, it wasn't too long before we were in Sorrento and we exited along a slope (no steps) and then to an elevator (!) to the street level to the prettiest town we may have ever seen! Sorrento is simply gorgeous, lush with palm trees and flowers and happy holiday makers. Our hotel was found just a few blocks from the train station.

The terrible ride was forgotten.

The view from our room - 6th floor - across the bay to Naples and Mt. Vesuvius


DT inspects the vista


The pool below


Our room


The bathroom

We are also most pleased with our hotel choice – The Grand Royal - which I booked on-line several months ago. It is quite luxurious, with a large lobby, bars and restaurants, a pool, tropical garden and a small beach! Our room is huge and the floor and bath are tiled in yellow and red flowers. We have a desk, two chairs and a big bed. But who cares - we have a balcony over-looking the sea! Palm trees! Very nice! The weather is just perfect too. The Seven Seas Voyager Regent was anchored off-shore when we arrived, but she sailed off at 5 pm.

We unpacked and then headed-out to explore the town. (Martin & Shirley won't be arriving from London until quite late.) We stopped at a cafe. DT ordered a pizza and I had an open-faced sandwich with sliced chicken, tomatoes and cheese. We shared a nice tiramisu and I had the best cup of coffee of the trip. (So far!)

Lunch time


Pick me up

After lunch, we walked some more and found a small market where we purchased water and wine. For the first time since arriving in Italy, I found my favorite wine for sale - Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio. We pay around $20 per bottle at home. Here it is less than $9. A bottle is now chilling in our mini-bar fridge.

My favorite wine - $8.80

We waited downstairs for Shirley & Martin to arrive from London until they finally closed the bar (midnight). We left a note that we would meet them at 9 am for breakfast... and went to bed.

Pedometer: Just over 10,000 steps. Boring. Gelato of the Day: I guess the tiramisu from lunch will have to do... we never did have dinner - after our big lunch.