(29-April) Exploring Ischia

Can Italy get any more beautiful than the Isle of Ischia, which we explored early this morning? After a quick breakfast we stowed the bags and hiked about a mile through this sleepy, picturesque port village.

We steadied our pace to a stroll, snapping pictures of old churches, ally ways, arches, sand and waterfront along the way.The occasional Vespa would putt putt past us, and the shops were all closed as the community got ready for one of many Sunday services at dozens of small Catholic churches around town. Stephani gathered a few handfuls of sand.

We were awed by the incredible beauty of quiet lapping water against the bridge leading to Il Castello, an old fort and cathedral who's origins date back to as early as 472 B.C. We were very happy to get up early and beat the crowds, having Il Castello pretty much to our selves for about an hour before it got noticeably busy.

There is a small elevator which says it fits 6, but can actually fit about four. It is the only way up or down, and we imagine the traveling height to be somewhere around 500ft. We took lots and lots of pictures, including many of the home we believe Stephani's grandmother grew up in. Stephani tells me after she left for America the home was donated to an orphanage. It was wonderful to share the same images that one of our relatives had in a location which probably has seen very little change in the past 100 years.

So as I write this we are aboard a faster ferry boat back to Naples. The plan is to NOT GET RIPPED OFF by Taxi drivers, and figure out a way to get to the train station and then travel to Pompei for a few days. We're really excited to be meeting up with old friends Mark and Jilly from Sussex, England.

This vacation is shaping up to be more dreamlike on each stop. I don't know if we will be able to top Ischia, I really don't think I have ever seen a more beautiful, tranquil place.

5:00p.m.

Well, after taking another wild taxi ride through Naples, and the wrong train, we are finally in our B&B in Pompei, a lovely place with English speaking TV, and hopefully big cold beers. The host was very nice, and we even had strangers offering directions as we hauled our bags from the station on foot.

7:30 p.m.

We found a fantastic restaurant across from the main square. Freshest caprese we have ever tasted, and nice big cold beers. Must bring Mark and Jilly here tomorrow. What's interesting is how everyone, I mean everyone, families, the young and old, are all dressed up and congregating in the town square. I imagine many are parishioners going to Sunday service, but hanging out and communicating with your fellow man appears to be big in Pompei, a nice change from Venice and Florence. The town has a noticeable warmth to it.

Tomorrow we will be meeting up with Mark and Jilly, yippie!!