Another Long Day An Even Longer, as in Really Really Long, Train Ride. The Beautiful View

Just a quick post to let everyone know that we’ve arrived safely in Piano Di Sorrento.

After a long flight, most of you have experienced it, we arrived in Piano at around 2:45 PM local time (7:45 Westcliffe time). No real issues travel wise. Planes on time, Trains until Naples on time. But the local Circumvestuvio was a zoo. But first, the view from the apartment.

That’s the harbor of Piano nearly right below us and Mount Vesuvius just over the mountains to the right of the frame.

When we arrived at the airport, customs was nonexistent and passport control went very quickly. Bags arrived and we purchased our tickets into Roma Termini. I don’t think that either of us really slept on the plane but we both felt rejuvenated once we got out and walked in the train station.

We went to buy a SIM card for our phone at the TIM store (it’s Italy’s national company). I must have been walking dreaming because after all the research on SIM’s, I for some reason ended up with a Data Only card that didn’t have any calling minutes. Fat lot of good that did us.

Anyway, I contacted our host Candida via mail that we had arrived and would be on the 11:23 train to Naples. It was slightly delayed but of course we didn’t know that. Walked over to a park with luggage and Mary checked out the plants and trees and the architecture.

Back to the station, the train finally came and we pretty much had the first class car to ourselves. Sitting brought back the fatigue but only an hour to our destination went quickly.

Managed to find our way to the local train platform again with a little “which platform” anxiety, and loaded up on a very full train to Piano.

School must get out at around 1PM as at nearly every third or fourth stop crowds of teenagers would board.  At Pompeii, a ton of tourist got on as well. Very full, stand up only, packed like sardines.

“Oh, don’t worry Mary, this train will be nearly empty by the time we get there”. NOT! Part of the experience Mary said.

Finally off in Piano. Pushed our bags thru the rotating barriers with some hilarity and there to meet us was our hostess, Candida with her car. Sweet, no 10 minute walk to the apartment.

Candida gave us a quick tour to the town and then the apartment. Rapid fire English. Ok?, Ok? But we got the just and settled in.

After talking about what to do, we headed to the grocery store, bot some produce, sausage, cheese, crackers and very cheap wine. Went back and had a lovely picnic on our balcony.