Pompeii and area
· Italy
We stopped in a campsite opposite the entrance to Pompeii, €20 + tax + €5 for each extra person. The site did it’s job but it’s not one I would choose to stay on, the spots were small and it was used as a carpark. It was 5 minutes walk to the circumvesuviana train line which had trains to Sorrento, Herculaneum, Naples. We spent 10 days here so lots to write. Five days we were joined by our sons which we always really enjoy.
Sorrento – trourist trap, small streets full of tack shops. The “beaches” are pontoons built out into the water. Nice place to wander particularly in an evening.
Amalfi coast – we stopped at Positano, Amalfi, Maiori, Salerno. All of which are nice hillside hugging towns. We didn’t drive Bertie as it’s closed to motorhomes during the day, instead doing the public bus. It is very beautiful but nothing like as hair raising as I was lead to believe.
Pompei – I love Pompei, it’s my second trip here but John and the boys have not been before. We paid for a very expensive private guide and it was worth every penny. If you can wander around Pompei and not be in awe of just how advanced the Romans were and horrified at the events that took this area then, well you’re not like me. It really made you think about life.
Herculaneum – I have wanted to do these ruins for over 30 years since I first did Pompei. I have always been told it is so much better than Pompei. It was very good, the skeletons in the arches are fascinating in a way that they really shouldn’t be, but I was disappointed, maybe just over-expectation but Pompei and Oplontis seemed better to me.
Oplontis – wow, great fresco’s and I want a swimming pool like that, in fact the villa as it was will do me.
Vesuvius- alas I didn’t make it to the top, that’s twice now I have failed to see the crater but we did go for a walk in the foothills, through Ercolano (Herculaneum ) back streets past piles and piles of rubbish and out into the beautiful woods that adorn Vesuvius. What surprised us was when we tried to leave the official path we met a 10 foot gate and fence and we were on the inside!
Sorrento Sorrento Sorrento Sorrento Vesuvius Walk to Vesuvius past the normal piles of uncollected rubbish Vesuvius walk in foothills Vesuvius walk in foothills Amalfi Amalfi Amalfi Amalfi Amalfi Maiori Maiori Salerno Salerno Excavation at Oplontis Excavation at Oplontis Wooden door at excavation at Oplontis Excavation at Oplontis Excavation at Oplontis Excavation at Oplontis Excavation at Oplontis Excavation at Oplontis Mosaic at museum at Boccareole Naples Naples Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Positano Positano Positano Sorrento Sorrento Herculaneum A few of the 300 who died awaiting rescue in th harbour at Herculaneum A few of the 300 who died awaiting rescue in th harbour at Herculaneum A few of the 300 who died awaiting rescue in th harbour at Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Some wood that survived at Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Boat recently unearthed at Herculaneum Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Pompeii Positano Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum Herculaneum