Sunny Sorrento
The day started with a Kat getting in trouble again (Day 1 brought trouble at the hotel when I apparently used the wrong outlet to plug in my laptop to compose Day 1 of the blog). Day 2’s troubles involved stopping into the Drug Store to buy some snacks for the train. (Yes the drugstore – like in America, they don’t sell many drugs, but unlike America instead of aisles of Cheetos and cards, it’s fruit, pasta, prosciutto and wine). Anyway, it seems that you must weigh the fruit and take a ticket BEFORE you get to the register – they have no ability to do this while you are trying to pay. Much sign language made the day, and I went back to weigh my fresh peaches and take my ticket, and waited in line again at the register. Rich commemorated my successful shopping with this photo.
Snack in hand, it was smooth riding by fast train from Rome to Naples in first class. Free juice, nice seats, comfy ride…travel in style. Part two of the journey from Naples to Sorrento was more nerve-wracking. Guide books, fellow tourists and common knowledge all indicated that the Naples train station, where we had to make a connection, is absolutely notorious for pickpockets and thieves. With our luggage we felt like sitting ducks. We counted 3 “sharks” circling the fish, and watched their practiced signals and eye contact for pointing out the “marks” – luckily the train came then, and with the advice of our tour book, we quickly hopped the car right beyond the conductor, where things are more safe. We actually made it to Sorrento with all our belongings intact. And once in Sorrento…beauty reigns…and the pockets picked are only for tourist prices for the gelato, cappuccino and limoncello. Sorrento is famous for lemons, and there are trees full of fruit everywhere you look…but unlike America, where it would turn into lemon meringue pie and lemonade, here its limoncello…a lemon based liquor that is sweet and potent.
It’s charming here – Sorrento sits right on a bay, is full of shops and lemon trees and vast quantities of British tourists. Dragging our luggage from the train station to the hotel was no picnic – but Rich did let me stop for gelato on the way. And once we arrive at our marble encrusted hostel, we found a very spacious room, especially for Italy – the bathroom is the size of Rhode Island - and we enjoyed dinner at a waterside ristorante.
The day started with a Kat getting in trouble again (Day 1 brought trouble at the hotel when I apparently used the wrong outlet to plug in my laptop to compose Day 1 of the blog). Day 2’s troubles involved stopping into the Drug Store to buy some snacks for the train. (Yes the drugstore – like in America, they don’t sell many drugs, but unlike America instead of aisles of Cheetos and cards, it’s fruit, pasta, prosciutto and wine). Anyway, it seems that you must weigh the fruit and take a ticket BEFORE you get to the register – they have no ability to do this while you are trying to pay. Much sign language made the day, and I went back to weigh my fresh peaches and take my ticket, and waited in line again at the register. Rich commemorated my successful shopping with this photo.
Snack in hand, it was smooth riding by fast train from Rome to Naples in first class. Free juice, nice seats, comfy ride…travel in style. Part two of the journey from Naples to Sorrento was more nerve-wracking. Guide books, fellow tourists and common knowledge all indicated that the Naples train station, where we had to make a connection, is absolutely notorious for pickpockets and thieves. With our luggage we felt like sitting ducks. We counted 3 “sharks” circling the fish, and watched their practiced signals and eye contact for pointing out the “marks” – luckily the train came then, and with the advice of our tour book, we quickly hopped the car right beyond the conductor, where things are more safe. We actually made it to Sorrento with all our belongings intact. And once in Sorrento…beauty reigns…and the pockets picked are only for tourist prices for the gelato, cappuccino and limoncello. Sorrento is famous for lemons, and there are trees full of fruit everywhere you look…but unlike America, where it would turn into lemon meringue pie and lemonade, here its limoncello…a lemon based liquor that is sweet and potent.
It’s charming here – Sorrento sits right on a bay, is full of shops and lemon trees and vast quantities of British tourists. Dragging our luggage from the train station to the hotel was no picnic – but Rich did let me stop for gelato on the way. And once we arrive at our marble encrusted hostel, we found a very spacious room, especially for Italy – the bathroom is the size of Rhode Island - and we enjoyed dinner at a waterside ristorante.
