Sorrento, Pompeii, and Amalfi

It really is a shame that I can not post photos from my iPad or at least I can't figure out how.  The view from my hotel above Sorrento is really something to be seen rather than described.  The terrace from my room looks down on Sorrento, Napoli, and then you can see Mount Vesuvius past that.  The blue of the sea is stunning.  This is more than twice the cost of any other place I've stayed and that's what you get when you book the day before arriving but it is well worth it.  Still at only about $100 a night it's a good deal.

My body is telling me the more aggressive and ambitious excursions will have to come to an end.  The large amounts of wine are taking their toll.  Today was a relatively mellow trip to Pompeii.  I can handle no more.

Before leaving for Italy I did my research, read up on some of the history especially the Roman Empire.  Pompeii was part of that research but nothing I read prepared me for the size of the city.  I imagined it to be 1/3 the size at best compared to the size it actually is.

If you come make sure you bring good walking shoes with good ankle support. You'll be doing a lot of walking and the roads are uneven.  I'm picturing beautiful women of Pompeii walking around in their togas and really thick strong ankles.  

Parts of Pompeii are so well preserved you might think they were reproductions.  The mosaic floors in some of the houses held up quite well.   and there are frescoes that are still in remarkable shape.  I rented a guided audio tour and it was worth it.  The description of the brothel alone was worth the price of the audio guide.  Of the 60+ spots you can walk through I didn't even make it to half.  Worth another trip for sure.  

Sorrento is visually stunning and the Amalfi coast is even better.  Everything they say about it is true.  In Amalfi I was able to see another side of the Italian way of life.  They are very comfortable with confrontation around here.  There is no need to buy theater tickets because most of the people are displaying their dramatic skills throughout the day.

At a restaurant there was some dispute over the amount charged.  A group of about 10 Italian visitors from another part of the country thought they were overcharged.  The waitress was explaining the charges.  A woman from the group was speaking way too fast for me to understand but she was not pleased.  She pointed at other customers with some type of accusation about how much they paid.  The waitress continued her explanation until two men from the group joined in.  As the voices raised the hand movements increased.  Two people from the table behind me were backing the waitress and they were getting into the act.

The dispute continued for only a couple of minutes in total.  It seemed it might become physical the way the hand gestures were flying but as quickly as it started it ended with the group of 10 walking away after paying.  Before leaving one of the men turned, paused, looked at the rest of us still sitting and said loudly, "Aaah-maal-fiii".  The waitress went to talk with her Amalfi backers behind me.  The hand gestures were calmer but just as pronounced.  She ended her conversation with them by saying in Italian, "This...is Amalfi"!