Rome to Sorrento

April 19th, 2010 Monday

I finally found the first thing I don't like about this trip, not that I have been looking for something not to like, but...packing the suitcase every other day is a real pain!

This morning we left Rome, and headed south towards the Bay of Naples. Along the way we got a treat. We stopped in a small town called Cassino, which happens to be the home of our lovely tour director, Heidi. She rocks by the way! We went to a cemetery for soldiers from the Commonwealth, who died during WWII. This area had Germans soldiers who were stationed at the top of the hill near an Abbey, which we learned has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. The last time was when the Americans bombed the area on top of the mountains to get to the Nazis. The area down below, which is the part we visited, was filled with people from all over Europe. They were being watched very carefully by the Germans up above. The memorial was very beautiful, with lots of soldiers from the UK, India, and Canada.

In Cassino I got to use my first foreign ATM. I made a mistake and pushed the button for Italian instead of English, but I figured it out. There are not too many buttons you have to get through to get your money out! I was surprised when the ATM gave out $50 Euro bills. I am so use to only getting $20 bills in America.

From Cassino we went to the Bay of Naples. We are staying in Castelemarre, but we went straight to Sorrento. We saw a demonstration in a wood working factory. They made beautiful things there. Just across the street from there I had what I feel was my first real Italian interaction. We couldn't find too many options to eat, but we found a small shop. (Think Otto's for those of you in Burbank.) The lady in the shop spoke very little English, we spoke very little Italian, but we managed to get out of there with some very delicious sandwiches. It was very wonderful to interact with her, and work through the language barrier. And it was probably the most delicious ham sandwich I have ever had. (Prosciutto and mozzarella)

After lunch we headed for an optional excursion to Positano. We drove in small buses along the Amalfi Coast. It was beautiful. The small beach town of Positano reminded me of a mix between Carpinteria and Santa Barbara. It was small like Carpinteria, but the shops were nicer, like in Santa Barbara. I wandered down past the shops to the beach. It was beautiful. When I walked back up I met Daniel and Richard in a cafe for some gelato. Have I mentioned how much I am loving the nocciola? YUM!!!

The drive back was just as beautiful and we really enjoyed ourselves. Again we found our group laughing a lot, though I can't even remember about what. I have laughed more in the last few days than I have in a while. It has been a real treat to travel with this part of my family.

That night we had our first included meal at the hotel. It was very good. We ordered some wine to enjoy with dinner. Dinner was pasta, salad, and fish. It was a sole fillet, (who knew that would become my new favorite!) that was breaded. It was very light and delicious. After dinner we went to the seventh floor bar which over looks the Bay of Naples. We enjoyed a local favorite, limoncello. Heidi shared with us her recipe for making it at home. I will be on a mission to give it a try when I return!

It was a very nice day. It was much more relaxed than the previous day in Rome. It really felt like a day of vacation instead of a tour!