Oct 21, 2009 - Amalfi, Positano & Capri

Amalfi, Positano, and the island of Capri are very picturesque, but the photos cost ! Bargains are not to be found, but the sights are also very unique. The 1960-ish (Smugglers Notch in Vermont still operates the like) chair lift on Capri to the island peak was well worth the trip; great views of the Bay of Napoli, Vesuvius and the Amalfi coast. The other thing we've also noted about this region is that, evidently, Luigi or somesuch, controls the restaurant industry because all the menus are the same with the same prices ! Unfortunately the...

Oct 19, 2009 - Sorrento & Pompeii

Walked down from old town Siena to train station, and discovered that the train station is NOT well marked for walking travellers. After a 1/2 mile diversion we arrive 10 minutes before 'train' departure. At that point we discover that "PE" platform designation actually means 'you're on a bus'! On we get, and immediately into a accident caused traffic backup. Will we make the connection for train to Napoli is the question. Making our way after clearing the accident zone we discover that the bus driver has called ahead and the train will...

Oct 8, 2009 - Rome to Isle of Capris and Sorrento

0545 Wake up call 0615 baggage 0625 breakfast 0705 Depart WE say good bye to Rome as we head south oh Hwy 40 towards Naples. \foggy morning so we can’t see too much of the terrain for a while. The terrain is very hilly with lush green trees. Lots of farming in the area and fruit trees. We are starting to see some olive trees as we get closer to Naples. Fields of vineyards are appearing in some regions and the homes are looking more plush. The tall Cyprus trees line the driveways. The train track continues to follow us along the highway....

Sep 22, 2009 - Sorrento

We've begun the last leg of our trip, arriving today in Sorrento. Yesterday we caught up on several years worth of church! We spent the day visiting the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. The Vatican Museum is huge - and overwhelming (somewhat similar to the Louvre). The art and collections range from ancient Egyptian through modern. Thousands of statues, paintings, tapestries, mosaics, and on and on. Trying to imagine the value (wealth) on display is beyond comprehension. However, we both agree that our favorite...

Sep 22, 2009 - Sorrento Day 12, and 13

Day 12 we left Asissi(I could have spent more time in that town) On toward Sorrento stopping off at Cassino to visit the World War II Cemetary(what a moving experience that was) Then onto Naples arround Mt. Vesuvius to Sorrento. We spent then afternoon shopping and exploring the town. Ate a special dinner on the waterfront. The next day(13th) we visited the Isle of Capri, the towns of Capri and Anacapri. Did some sight-seeing and shopping. They make a special liquer called Lemoncello(it's like the lemon capital of the world) In the...

Sep 20, 2009 - Travel Day to Sorrento

We spent the day traveling from Tuscany to Sorrento. A train from Spoleto (for Southerners-the origin of the festival in Charleston) to Rome, ah but not the correct Rome train station, 45 minutes wait for a 15min connection to the right Rome station and then a non-stop Inter-City train, very nice with tables and electric for the laptop to Naples and then the CircumVesuviana train (35 stops) to Sorrento. All in all, pretty easy, just long. Our hotel has an impressive view of the harbor and Mt. Vesuvius. Fingers-crossed that volcano stays...

Jul 29, 2009 - Sorrento

After a night in Naples we took a train to Sorrento, a beautiful seaside resort town. When we went to buy our train tickets, I was surprised to see that lexi speaks Italian pretty good, good enough to get by daily basic communication (she must have been paying attention to those Italian classes back in High School after all). Bravo Lexi! It was about one hour train ride, but it wasn’t a very pleasant ride, it was hot, probably around 33-4 degrees and train was packed with no air-conditioning. However it all paid off when we got there. This...

Jul 22, 2009 - Days Two and Three, Sorrento & Capri

The train trip to Sorrento took three hours, and the country we saw on the way south was very green-lots of market gardens. Sorrento is a very quaint touristy town, right on the coast. It didn't take us long to have our first swim down at the old fishing village. The sand was a dirty brown colour. In the afternoon and evening we window shopped our way down the numerous little side streets and main street of Sorrento. Great atmosphere, plenty of tourists. On Wednesday morning, after an enormous breakfast at our great hostel, the Ullisse, we...

Jun 9, 2009 - Wonderful times, wonderful sights

After another long day of traveling by train and having my bum grabbed by an Italion boy and my mom catching a pickpotter in the act we made it to Sorrento. The hotel is nice but they nickel and dime you for everything. That night we went to dinner where the host wispered in my ear that he can be my desert and wants to open me like a book. GROSS. The waiter told my mom that I was beutiful and brought me a free order of fench fries. Thought it odd that he would bring me french fires but I guess it was nice. This day we went to a cooking...

Apr 28, 2009 - Onward to Sorrento

Tues 28th April---Weather:-‘It’s Raining it’s Pouring’ Amalfi to Positano (if we can) ( J)It is 5:30 in the morning and it has been pouring rain all night—it’s the juice of life so we do not mind. There is no shortage of sweet water around here, as it is in Rome there are decorative fountains and drinking fountains everywhere—you do not need to carry bottled water with you in these areas. Yesterday while trundling up the mountain we were walking over huge metal grills in the road with the sounds of gushing water speeding down the mountain...

Apr 17, 2009 - Sorrento

Hi guys well today, which was friday April 17th, i went on a school trip down to a place called sorrento, which is near naples on a map. Its in southern italy. It was soo beautiful. I spent the morning exploring with some friends and then in the afternoon, i went to Mt. Vesuvius. We took a coach up most of the way and then got out and climbed to the top of the volcano. Apparently it errupts historically every 50 years. Last one was in 1944 and it is always very explosive erruptions. We didnt get to see lava, but you could see steam coming...

Dec 23, 2008 - Sorrento

On our final day in Sorrento we decided to take it easy. We went for a walk around Sorrento. Went down to the water and walked through the historical centre. We asked the nice Italian lady at our hotel where she suggested for dinner which was a good idea. We ended up at Z'ntonio's. We had a nice 3 course Italian meal (surrounded by tourists). Shannon finally had Italian Mussels! After dinner we followed a marching band through the streets with the crowds which was lovely. We were both having deep sleeps (finally-considering the paper walls)...