Sunday April 26

Sunday, April 26, 2009
Today our port was Naples, Italy (Napoli). We got into port by 7 am so we had a quick breakfast at the Garden Café and then got off the ship to meet Denise and Ivan for a walk to the train station in order to catch a train to Pompeii. The local taxi drivers were quite insistent that we hire them telling us that it would take 45 minutes to get to the train station. Per our map it only took about 15 to 20 minutes to walk there. Probably the worst part about it is that Naples is not a very safe place. It's extremely dirty and crime is quite high. The housing is very poor and it's just not quite what I had expected for Naples.
So we hopped the train to Pompeii and the train stops just across and down the street from the entrance to the city of Pompeii. We bought the audio tours 2 for 10 Euros and that really helped to know the history and just what we were looking at. I knew it was a little city, but it is pretty large. We walked down many of the streets and eventually saw the petrified people and the dog. Hard to believe this was all the way people lived in 79 BC. So of course I took loads of pictures.
Before getting back to the train we were all hungry so we stopped at a restaurant and ordered some brick oven pizzas (tomato & Mozarella, a Napoli specialty). They were SO GOOD and such a deal at only 8 Euros.
After returning to Naples we decided to just get back on the ship and not shop in town as it was so disappointing to see how nasty this city is. We went to the cabin to put on our suits and went up to the pool. Certainly as soon as we decide to do this the clouds come out, but we didn't let that slow us down. I had to soak my legs in the hottub and Chip took a swim. Then we had some drinks and just sat by the pool until I felt I had to get into the hottub one more time. The hottub always provides an opportunity to meet and talk to more people and stories about their adventures of the day. There seems to be a majority of people on this cruise who have also experienced a half dozen or MORE cruises. We met a young couple with a 13 month old little girl named Piper who was as cute as can be. Just brought back memories of Kylie at that age.
Now we are getting ready for dinner and will probably turn in early tonight. After a FULL week on the go I think we need an early evening to try and catch up on some rest. I don't think my feet have ever ached this much in my life!!!! Wow we were getting ready for dinner and I was rubbing my feet and I think I strained a muscle since there's a lump in my arch that didn't used to be there. It's very tender.
Now we are trying to decide what to do tomorrow in Sicily. Didn't get enough planning done before leaving home. We port in Messina and thought we would try to go to Taormina. I was just looking up whether a bus or the train could get us there and where we would have to go to find the bus or train. Later this evening we are planning to go see a late night comedy show. We shall see if we are awake by then.
We DID make it to the show and met Ivan and Denise there. It was fun. I also consulted Ivan about my arch pain and lump since he is a foot doctor. What a relief to find out it's only swollen from overuse and I haven't done any damage. So I guess I'll get the bill at the end of the cruise!!!! LOL!!