The weather was quite kind for the walk through Porthkerry to the airport, even if I was a bit early. It was even kind for the first flight to Amsterdam as there wasn't too many clouds and I saw the Severn Bridges, thought I recognised the Cotswold Water Park and saw the bridge at Ipswitch. However, two more flights Amsterdam to Rome and then Rome to Naples got be a bit. Especially as the Naples flight was delayed by over an hour.
Bus into Naples cost 5 Euro (not the 3Euros the internet led me to expect), and Google said it was only just under 2 miles. I wouldn't have liked to walk it though as most of the roads were motorways. Found the Hotel Ideal and it's old but nice. They also lent me a UK Conversion plug which is nice of them as I forgot to pack mine and the cheapest I could find was 17 Euro.
Monday Dec 10
Did battle with the coffee machine and eventually found out how to get enough coffee out of it. Basically get a white coffee and add hot water and cold milk. Good buffet which has kept me going all day. Particularly pleased since last night cost 7Euro at the station and I was hassled by a beggar. Cheaper venues are available.
Also pleased that I got a 7 day local transport ticket for 16 Euros which is what theinternet said. Just need to check out tomorrow that it is good to Salerno.
Today was Naples. Started down at the harbour, decided not to go into Castel Nuevo, instead walked past the Opera House and through Piaza del Plebiscito (views of Baescillica Real Pontifica) and I suspect a palace to the seaside. Then retraced my steps to find to find the Funicular. I was half way up the hill when I did.
Rode that to the top and found Castel Saint Elmo. Great Castle and wonderful views. Lots of photos to be composited. Other Funicular down to Montesanto. Nice cheap area - it's the Italians who are a nation of shopkeepers these days. Rode Line 2 in the wrong direction for a while, Station architecture got me off and heading for Museo. Credit card again got me into the Museo Archeologica Nazionale di Napoli (12E).
There was a temporary exhibition on the Art and Archeology on the Metro which was good but hard to find the context as there was only one map and some of the stations are under construction.
Lots of stuff from Pompei and Herculaneum. Much artwork talking about changing fashion in the preferred Roman Myths and how they were displayed - homan Myths. Didn't think much of the pornography.
Coming back to hotel got off train at Dante to look at the artwork. I'm very artistic. How 225 photos to process!And I was going to watch the late Sunday game (American Football) That was great Chicago won with reminders of the team of 85. Have I really been watching it for that long?
Tuesday Dec 11
Badly let down by Google today. Plan was to go up Vesuvius. Cheched 7 day ticket validity and discovered it wasn't good for that distance so went and bought a 3 day ARTECard at 32E very expensive. Got on a late TrenItalia train and got off 3 stops later at Erculonium only there was no sign of the No5 bus. Much walking later it was change plans and visit the ruins.
Lickily the card covered the cost of getting in so maybe things weren't that bad, but the ruins were pretty depressing. There was a nice exhibit of a boat and if that really was the coastline then it puts a new perspective on geography.
Circumvesuvius on to Pompei - bigger and more depressing. Pink Ffloyd exhibit was the best bit. Trained out to Sorrento because I could but much of that was in tunnels - there are lots of those and they are deep!
Not getting vey far with photos - Going for the Monday night game now. And fell asleep.
Wednesday 12th
Officially confirmed that Vesuvius is closed at least until next week. Given that I have done the ruins (originally scheduled for a day each) this is a bit of a blow. Seems there was a landslide which has blocked the approach road. Difficult to close a volcano!
Decided to explore Line 6 and the Funicular at the west of town only to discover it isn't open, even though it is shown on maps. Walked to the Funicular but the top was boring. Decided to go to the Esher Exhibition but Google failed to clearly indicate the correct bus stop so I had a walk along the promenade to get there. It was good - although the chronology was difficult to follow. Wandered around for a bit more and as it was getting dark thought the best way home was via the 2 Funiculars with a pizza at Montesanto.
Got photos backed up but have failed to update the website or look at the files.
Thursday 13th
It was raining today! The trains were late but I was determined to use the last day of my ArteCard, so I made my way to Bagnoli and the Museum of the Sea. Only to find the place occupied by students - it was supposedly in a nautical school - students said it was shut anyway.
Next objective was the Souterran Tour, at least underground I would be dry. Tried to make it by 12 but took the wrong Funicular. At least it gave me a chance to look at the Arcade and have a Chocolat shake at McDonalds. When I did get there I couldn't find it - just a very swish cafe. So off to Castle Neuvo. Which was OK. The Arte Card got me in for free.
Back to Line 1 of the Metro, checked out the University Station - interesting. Quick stop at hotel and on to the National Train Museum. Of course, this is not "artistic" so it cost me 5E and I had to wait until it opened at 4pm. They had a Christmas Market - she same sort of cheap wooden shacks as in Cardiff. Somewhat depressing in the rain, with hardly anybody about. The trains were interesting. 2hrs there.
Back at Hotel processing photos and listening to Radio 4.
Friday 14th
Thought I would check out the train departure but I was too late - but it is there on the timetable at 9.50 so an early breakfast tomorrow. Took the Circumvesuvio to the end of the line - the port. Finally worked out that as a 1m guage line it would be completely separate from the standard guage stuff. Discovered the local fish market and market - very fishy!!
Today was the day for checking out the Metro Art. Only I left the water behind - it was proving difficult anyway, as the Art Stations were not clearly identified on the brochure. Short while on the internet while in the room and videos and brochures identified so I was wasting my time. Carried on anyway as I also booked on a talk at 1800.
Getting tired and hungry by 1715 so treated myself to 2 cheesburgers and a chocolate shake before rushing back to Dante for the talk. All in italian so left, to finish Museo and Garibaldi. Back to finish by 1930 local time. Dead Ringers on the radio.
Saturday 15th
Day on a train.
Departure was 9.50 only it was coming from Rome and was 20 mins late. OK and started going through Phillips files only I couldn't figure how to rename or delete them Chrome problems.
The route was alongside the sea for much of the time and as good as Exeter to Plymouth only a lot lot longer.
Got put on a ferry for a 30 min crosssing to Sicily where the train split with my section going to Syracusa and the other to Palermo. Then it got dark and the views vanished but I found the power point so played music on the phone and did solitaire.
Hotel was further from the station than expected but only 5 mins.
Sunday 16th
Syracuse. Wandered around the island.
Monday 17th
Morning wander around the shore side of Syracuse and then on to Pozzallo on a Railbus.
Tuesday 18th
Waiting all day for the ferry was interesting, considered taking a ride on the train but instead practised sitting in the sun exercising patience.
Ferry left at 9.30 and I was met in Valetta and taken to the event hotel. EurMed Regatta and then back to uk.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/4CXubH8oTRBwRMkdA
