It's Goodbye Again (Sorrento - Naples - Rome)

And so we have reached the end, dear reader. Today is a transit day to our hotel at Rome airport before we fly off to walk like an Egyptian and check out all things polyhedron. But that is tomorrow and first, we must travel from Sorrento to Rome. It sounds so simple, doesn't it?

There are no pictures from a transit day, so I have dropped in some other shots from the museum and of Vesuvio of course.

The Circumvesuviana was an option and a very cost effective one at €2 each. The lack of bag storage and the inherent crowding, not to mention the uncomfortable seats, ruled it out. I considered a ferry for a while. A picturesque way to depart but getting the bags to the terminal and then needing to travel on the Metro to Centrale proved a mountain too big to conquer. A taxi or private car transfer was the most expensive option and given my life flashed before my eyes more than once on our drive into Sorrento (think 140kmh speed and overtaking on double lines in a tunnel) I wasn't ready for that style of return trip.

In the end, we settled for a shuttle. A mini-bus/van that seated 12 of us plus luggage for €30 each. As our apartment was on the way to Naples they picked us up at the door. I would have preferred the 10am shuttle but it was booked up so 9am would have to do. It means a lot of time wasted at Napoli Centrale.

Comparatively, the journey was uneventful and we were dropped off at Centrale around 10:30am. As you would expect, it was very crowded. Also as we have come to expect, there was minimal seating. We found the food court and a vacant table to enjoy our morning coffee and croissant. Perhaps enjoy is not the correct term. There are extensive renovations underway and the noise from the construction/destruction ensured we did not loiter at the café.

We wandered the area searching for a vacant seat. There were none; station real estate is more valuable than a Bondi Beach unit with sea view. As we reluctantly settled to lean against a wall, Jayne asked were there seats on the platform. The Trenitalia App had us leaving from Platform 17 and yes there were seats there. Why? Because they don't post the platform until 5-10 minutes before the train actually departs.

An Arab trader.

A minute or so later, we were seated on the platform. A move which started a trend as a number of other people followed suit. There was still over an hour before our train. The platform was incredibly long and deserted so I thought I'd walk to the other end. About half-way there was a set of stairs and two workers standing there chatting. I ignored them as I walked past. Shortly after I could hear them trying to get my attention, which I also ignored. This is Italy. They could just have been talking to each other and not yelling at me. Anyway, what's wrong with walking the length of the platform while you're waiting for a train?

Plenty it turns out. The little Mussolini with the gold star on his collar chased me down. I could hear him wheezing up behind me. Have I mentioned everyone here still smokes? Apparently the news it's bad for you hasn't reached here yet. Although the cigarette packets have those ugly smoking related disease photos on them. Still at €5 a pack ...

Anyway he caught me and huffed and puffed something in Italian. I shrugged my shoulders and asked English? What are you doing? came the terse response. Walking, I replied, it is an hour before my train. No he asserted and pointed back up the platform. I shrugged and returned to where Jayne was sitting.

Helmet.

We waited a long time for our train. Every other Trenitalia train arrived and departed on time. Naples was the starting station. How could it be late? Anyway the 12:30pm departure that became 12:20 without notice eventually left at 12:45. The 11am shuttle would have been fine.

The trip to Rome was uneventful. Although I was concerned when we first took our seats. There was a group from a country not known for their use of indoor voices, occupying the two four seat sections across the aisle. Upon sitting down they started a conversation over the back of the seats. Loudly. It did not last, thankfully.

We disembarked and ignored the signs that directed us to drag our bags down stairs into the tunnel to connect with the Leonardo Express to the airport. A good move it turned out because at the other end of the tunnel was another set of stairs. We walked to end of the platform and then around to Platform 24 and straight onto the train.

Earrings from Pompeii.

As has been the case, someone in close proximity, directly behind us, began coughing up a lung and sniffing. Just disgusting. Why some cultures will not avail themselves of a handkerchief or tissue is beyond my understanding.

Upon arrival at Rome airport, finding the hotel shuttle at Terminal 3 proved to be the next challenge. A disinterested attendant waved us towards the bus terminal. As we neared it we could see Stops 6 - 11 and more beyond. We were looking for Stop 1. Signage was of course minimal, but we managed to find it, across the road, and waited only a few minutes for the shuttle. There were three other Australians there that had been waiting an hour.

We were in our hotel room within 20 minutes. A quick unpack and then down stairs to enjoy our welcome drink. We teamed up with the other Aussies to discuss where they had been and where they were going next before we got organised for dinner.

From above Sorrento Port.

After eating Italian food for the last 7 weeks and not entirely trusting a hotel kitchen to do the cuisine justice, we opted for burgers and fries. Mistake. The wine, a local montepulciano was excellent.

Although we don't leave Italy until tomorrow, our remaining time will be hotel, transfer, airport, so It's Goodbye Again by John Denver seems an appropriate song for today.

Alla prossima