SORRENTO AND POMPEII

Sorrento and Pompeii!!

A wonderful change of plans! Naples was off the list of ports as the Italians, despite saying it would be done, did not dredge the Naples port to a depth that would allow QM2 to pay a call.

The great news was that we went instead to Sorrento, a beautiful seaside resort as opposed to “Nasty Naples”. It also meant that we were even closer to Pompeii for those of us who had not been.

So, on a cool and beautiful morning it was off to Pompeii. I must admit that I was only going to Pompeii as one of my daughters insisted I must see it. So a short tour version was decided on. Soon we were captured by the lifestyle shown in the ruins and the ingenuity of the Romans to figure out and build such clever water delivery systems, heating methods for the public baths and such a grand way of living – if, of course, you were among the elite. That being said, there was not much discussion of how the other half lived and that was left to our imaginations.

There was a part of Pompeii I found disturbing – that being the figures of those caught in their sleep or life and frozen forever in time. Morbid and haunting, there was no lingering at these sites. I must be a wimp, though, as many, many visitors were really searching these sites out. Morbid is my end thought here.

After returning to Sorrento it was time for a more uplifting experience.

Sorrento is beautiful. There are wonderful shops, gelato, restaurants and places to sit and watch the world go by. The port area is dramatic as it is surrounded by steep, rocky cliffs (there is a shuttle bus to take visitors from sea level up to the town proper). Houses cling to the side of the hills and people are friendly, prices not too expensive (Euros here) and much to explore. An Italian blouse found me, thank goodness!

Still, there was poverty here like everywhere. Beggars sat on the ground down side streets away from the main squares and shopping. Watchfulness was called for as pickpockets are not uncommon. But nothing anywhere close to unpleasant happened and we made out way back down the hill to the port area for a short tender ride as the sun began to set!

One of the best ports!