Pompeii and getting stuck in Sorrento

Yesterday we had a plan to head out to the Amalfi coast and then head back with the idea we were going to go to Pompeii today.... Well all that changed because there was a strike on the Circumvesuviana that meant we could not make it the first leg to Sorrento like we wanted to.

Instead, we found a bus that would take us to Pompeii and so we did that.  Pompeii was astounding.  It was so interesting to see Mt. Vesuvius (first real life volcano I have seen in person... sorry Hawaiian Rumble, you aren't real) and wonder what the people of Pompeii were thinking when it erupted.  It was weird to see how big the city was and how well preserved some of the things there were.  The view from around the city was also beautiful with all the snow capped mountains and cliff faces in the distance across the water.

When we left Pompeii, we noticed that the train was running again and so we continued on to Sorrento, thinking we could take a bus down the Amalfi coast and then make it back to Naples that night. Oops, when we got to Sorrento, the person in the ticket office said unless we left very soon, we would not be able to make it back by train because the strike was back on.  So, we made an adventure of it.  We found a REALLY nice hostel that was pretty cheap in Sorrento and booked it for that night and then explored Sorrento.

Sorrento is a very nice town.  It is super laid back and the coastal views are amazing.  It almost looks like coastal Florida only 500 feet above the water.  We had dinner at a local restaurant and I have to say, the Bruschetta that they had is definitely in the top two things I have eaten on this trip.  It was so good that I am tearing up a little just talking about it (jk).   It was also cool to see that they have lemon and orange trees everywhere, they line the streets and you see little orchards in the middle of town with trees all full of fruit.

We made it back to Naples the next morning and explored there.  Naples is a pretty hectic, dirty, disorganized city but there is still beauty to be found here.  The views of the bay are astounding and the Duomo here is really cool inside.

We are off to Rome tonight.

Ruins of Pompeii with Vesuvius in the background.

More Pompeii.

Mount Vesuvius.

Deep valley in Sorrento, looking from Piazza Tasso.

Palazzo di Villa Fiorentino.

Some topography of Sorrento.

Castel Nuovo.

Inside the Napoli Duomo.