Visiting Pompeii was a priority in our trip to Italy and it was also super convenient since it is so close to the Amalfi Coast. We took the high speed train from Rome to Naples, then the Circumvesuviana from Naples to Pompeii. The train station for the Circumvesuviana is beneath the other train station. So it was an easy transfer. We hopped off the train for a few hours to see Pompeii while storing our luggage and bags at the storage facility at the train station. There is also a luggage storage area in Pompeii. It costs a few dollars but is worth it.
We ate lunch
here. We ordered pizza and pasta and it tasted great to us! The location was great and the outdoor seating and surrounding citrus trees and terra cotta potted plants very charming.
There is just something pretty incredible about visiting old cities like Pompeii. The frescoed walls, statues, etc it is pretty neat to see Mt Vesuvius in the distance. Pompeii has an interesting history. We stayed away from the red light district, where apparently there is ancient world porn and not something we wan the kids exposed to. Still its kinda funny (and sad) that even in those days...
We also were warned that the best art and statues were in the archeological museum in Naples. We considered stopping there but the kids didn't really want the full Pompeii tour anyway but just being there and reading the guidebook and listening to the Rick Steves Audioguide was fine. We spent a couple hours and had to head back to the train to get to Sorrento. The train was delayed. So we spent awhile in the tiny station there. This is apparently not a reliable train, but the kids enjoyed it and were good sports. You have to admit there is something really fun about those kinds of things. Taking a van and having a driver just doesn't compare with the adventure of squishing on the train and the unknown. Lol.
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| The roads in Pompeii were paved by these old stones. Pretty cool to see how they were worn down over time. |
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| Kids entertaining themselves. It used to be everyone had a book. Nowadays its phones. |
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| Outside the Restaurant Hortus Porta Marina |
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| he was a little mad I wouldn't let him stand on the pillars lol |
Sorrento was interesting! We stayed in an Airbnb that was not where we originally booked. The one we originally booked (
here) was unavailable for some unknown reason. The one we got (
here) was a bargain at only $100/night. We saw many cuter more charming options in better locations. But the price WAS really good and it was pretty nice. It was close to the train station (not important to be close but saved us a little time) and very removed from the heart of the city. The orange trees and the nearby overgrown playground was fun though for the little kids. The apartment was comfortable. Had a lot of room, two bathrooms and a washer and dryer.
Jared was so funny. There are bidets all over Italy. Jared was so amused and thought it was cool that there were little "foot washing sinks" in the bathroom at our airbnb that had little washcloths hanging next to them and sprayers. I laughed and said it was actually a bidet. He insisted that it was definitely NOT a bidet. We had a good bet going about that. It WAS most definitely a bidet and not a foot washing sink. Haha. We still wondered how on Earth they all dry off with that washcloth? Bidets are cool and I can see why people like them, but you can't pat dry with a washcloth that gets shared. Yuck.
It was also fun to experience the kitchen. We could NOT find the sink. Finally we realized that the countertop was removable and there was a sink underneath! So interesting. We spent most of our trip trekking to different areas, like Capri and the other Amalfi cities. So it wasn't super important that we were not close to the heart of town. But Sorrento was cute and I wished we'd had another day or two there. We especially loved the little marina area where we ate dinner that used to be the fisherman village.
We found a fun little restaurant nearby that was recommended by our host. It was incredible and felt very authentic.
Cantinaccia Del Popolo.
Our favorite day of our entire trip (Paris, Rome, etc) was the boat tour to Capri. It was a small group boat. Our family sat in the front of the boat and it got cold but we bundled up. It was beautiful and picture perfect in every way. I love being on the water!
The van tour of the Amalfi cities was also super cool. I think we just booked this from a Taxi driver. We had a great time and it was pretty neat. I blogged it here.
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| Church in Amalfi |
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| Our favorite little beach of the cities we visited was in Positano |
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| Beautiful Amalfi, Beautiful Elise |
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| The little man at the Lemon stand was so excited about all the stuff we bought that he posed Simone for a picture. He was so funny! |
If we had more time in Sorrento we would have liked to go to dinner at a farm to table restaurant that was nearby. The Marina Grande was our favorite area. Look at this darling hotel in Marina Grande! I would go back to stay at
Maison La Minervetta. It was not available when we were booking. But it is so charming.
We ate dinner at
PortaMarina Seafood one night. It wasn't our favorite mainly because we don't like having to work so hard to eat seafood with all the bones and everything. But it was pretty good. I think we just like easy stuff that isn't hundreds of dollars for dinner. In Europe food can be a very expensive part of the trip. And the less expensive options are really good. We all laughed because somehow Monet always ordered the grossest stuff. Like it sounds good to get a steak, then the bloody plate arrived. That night was no exception. Lol, poor picky Monet. At least the bread and butter is always good!
