Day 3: Rome, Pompeii, and Sorrento

We woke up and had an excellent continental breakfast. The rolls were good (one sweet, one like toast) and I had 3 cups of cafe au lait. I was in a euphoria as we got on the bus to travel to Pompeii. Unfortunately, I think that the café wore off around 11:00 a.m. and I felt a little nauseous and tired.

John Patton at Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background

We arrived at Pompeii and had true Napoli pizza. I think the students reacted positively to this. Then we shopped around the Pompeii markets until out tour at 3:00 p.m. We had an excellent tour guide (Dominic) who gave us a rousing show and talk.

Taylor, Heidi, Annika, and Jamie trying the pizza

Kristen Salerno, Tamara Miller, and Valerie Hubble ready to eat

Ryan and Brent trying an original pizza

I got tired on the trip to the Cameo shop, but still managed to learn that they were made from sea shells. We also stopped at a wood engraving shop and for a 20 minute demonstration on how it is done. Then they took us to the showroom to buy stuff. I got a music box for my daughter for 61 dollars American.(A 10% discount for paying cash)

We got to Sorrento and everyone oohed and ahhed over the sight of the Mediterranean sea. Sorrento is a beautiful town. The hotel, Hotel Villa Florella, had excellent views of the Mediterranean. The students who got great views from there room were lucky. It was the best view they would get during there trip.

Someone mummified during the days of Pompeii

Barb Fitzpatrick, Tamara, and Valerie checking out the mummy

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Tamara and our tour guide Dominic

Unfortunately, the hotel staff wasn't very friendly for the following three reasons:

1. They were charging us for bottled water when they weren't suppose to. It was settled that we would get carafes filled with one liter of water or buy it. Alessandra was ticked and gave the manager an earful. The meal was good, as we had pasta with tomato sauce as a starter and then pork with salad as the main dish. Fresh watermelon was for dessert. It was very tasty.

2. On one of the balconies, there was an umbrella on the ground that should have been in the table. Jon happened to be stepping on it while talking to someone in our group. The management accused him of taking it out of the table and stepping on it.

3. A gal who was traveling with the Louisiana group had her foot on the railing outside her room and was jiggling it. It was not well attached on the side. The management accused her of breaking the railing and wanted compensation. Alessandra handled it, but there were a few tense minutes.

Our group was innocent except for the jiggling the rail and stepping on the umbrella. I suspect that the management was out to get us because of the water incident.

Tamara and Kristen were the only ones from our group to see a music festival in town. all the other students were tired and wanted to relax in our nicely placed hotel. The students did enjoy staying up late. The two groups interacted very well. I think that they were also smart, as they had to get their wake up call at 6:00 a.m. for Capri the next day.