Thought for the day

“The farther you go, however, the harder it is to return. The world has many edges, and it’s easy to fall off.”
Anderson Cooper

Pompeii, a tragedy locked in time

Pompeii is still in the shadow of the brooding Mount Vesuvius.

 The city of Pompeii, along with Herculaneum, was partially destroyed and buried under 13 to 20 ft of hot ash, pumice and mud in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.

One of the tragic inhabitants of Pompeii, forever encased in ash. His teeth are still visable, clenched in fear.

Another former resident is frozen in their final, terrified position.

One of the preserved illustrations on the wall of the brothel. Several of them are dotted around the place, each showing one of the delights on offer for the excitable inhabitants.

Neil tries his hand at serving in the ancient fast food joint!!

Amalfi coast – spectacular

Neil surveys the view at the pretty coastal town of Amalfi. It is indeed Salad days . . .

Here’s a different view of Amalfi, a gorgeous little piece of paradise.

A speciality of the region – delicate, ornate little painted tiles. Next to the obligitory moped!!!

Here’s another of the beautiful little villages on the Amalfi coast – Positano. Where houses tumble down the hillside to the beach.

Next we visit Pompeii, a huge site in the shadow of the brooding and treacherous Vesuvius.

Capri and Sorrento

I love Lemon based tacky products and Capri and Sorrento are simply crammed full of the yellow, fragrant, marvellous little blighters.

Even with its chic boulevard of designer shops – Prada, Louis Vitton etc etc (if that is your bag) you can still find a veritable cornucopia of tat in Capri!!!

There’s a fantastic (by which I mean slightly terrifying) chair lift from Anacapri to the top of Mount Salaro.

Amazing views but you do have to cling for dear life to the pole (not to the bar across your lap as this, as i discovered, can simply be lifted up . . )

Neil looks suitably delighted by the whole experience.

Back down again! With my trotters dangling

Here’s another perennial tourist favourite – the fridge magnet!

Me and the better half collect the colourful little blobs of joy from everywhere we visit. The fridge looks like an explosion in a plastic factory.

I utterly love the art shops in Sorrento, you can barely even see this one under the proliferation of canvas!!

We stayed at Hotel Eden in Sorrento.

It’s a hotel of two halves, literally! One half is recently renovated, lovely, fresh and clean, whereas the other half leaves a lot to be desired. It has a fab pool and is ideally located on the main square of Sorrento, but make sure to ask for a room in the newly renovated half!!

Here’s the coolest gelato bar EVER in Sorrento – so many flavours to chose from and plastered with celeb photos from the Pope to James Bond!!

Who knew there were so many different flavours to chose from!

Here Neil investigates the finer points of Gelato marketing.

Next up, a bus trip along the Amalfi coast to some fab villages and the epic but haunting spectacle of Pompeii . . .  .

Overpriced but pretty

So Capri’s main attraction is the Blue Grotto, a naturally formed cave that is illuminated with a vivid blue light.

You can access the cave via one of the many boat tours around the island but you will find yourself bobbing about for ages as you have to wait (along with lots of others) for the boat men to come and pick you up.

It’s much quicker to actually walk to the blue grotto, wait on the shore in a much quicker queue and get in there quicker!

It is very expensive however – 12.5euros per person, quite a lot for what it is. But we were there so we had to see it!!

Here’s the queue of floaty boats waiting to take their turn in the grotto.

Here’s some of the vivid blue inside the Grotto.

A little way around the coastline from the Blue Grotto is a lovely little swimming spot that is popular with the locals.

Naturally the mountain goat has to throw himself off the cliff side into the sea.

Capri and Sorrento 2012

So back to Italy, for the fourth time! Despite swearing blind last year I would never spend my hard earned money in the grumpy rude fest that is Italy, back we go! Just can’t keep away from the culture, astounding architecture and glamourous beaches.

First off, the glorious wedding of a close friend in Rome. Married in the beautiful setting of the Campidoglio in Rome, it was every inch the Dolce Vita! Even though it was 38 degrees and no air conditioning!!

Here we are looking glam.

Next up a six am train ride to Naples, hopped on the hydro foil and headed to the home of glitz and glamour – Capri!

We actually stayed in Anacapri, the small, less developed little village higher up on the island.

We stayed in the fantastic Il Sogno B and B. Absolute bliss! Only three bedrooms and set just off the main square it is ideally situated, quite and set in gorgeous gardens. A perfect escape.


Check them out here

First glimpse of the Island.

Here’s the Marina Grande – the ferry’s all dock here, in order to get to Anacapri you can either get a taxi or simply hop on one of the tiny, frequent buses that bumble up the steep hill.


Feel the fear as they wind up the impossibly high hill, with a sheer drop to the ocean on one side and barely an inch to spare between buses as they meet each other on the hair pin bends.

Colourful houses line the Marina Grande and there is a pretty little town beach too.

The sea around the island is an incredible, azure blue. Almost too perfect to be true.

But always involving a very steep hill down, followed by the realisation it’s a private beach, followed by the hill you need to climb back up . . .

The coastline around Capri is stunning. A combination of rugged cliffs and almost otherworldly clear blue waters.

Next we visit the Blue Grotto and check out where the glamourous rich folks hang out – Capri!!!

Italian count down!

Not long now readers, a fortnight today I will be back in sunny, grumpy, rude, frustrating, marvellous Italy! (Yes I know I swore blind after last year that I wouldn’t set foot there again  . . )

Blame one of my best friends for having to have a super glam wedding in Rome!

So it’s back to the Eternal City for three days, then hopping on the train to Naples, grabbing a hydrofoil and onto the gorgeous looking island of Capri for a few days of watching the beautiful people.

Thenk it’s onto Sorrento to check out the Amalfi coast, Pompei and other Roman ruins!

Here’s an image of Capri to whet your appetite!

Expect lots more pictures of azure waters, tiny hidden coves and lush vegetation when I head back. Plus the obligatory whinging about how rude people are, how I hate flying and general grumpiness!