Italia Pisa and Napoli
Trip Start
Jul 26, 2005
1
10
17
Trip End
Aug 16, 2005
Napoli, Italy
Monday, August 8, 2005
Essential stop off in Pisa to see leaning tower, cathedral and bapistry. Stunning architecture surrounded by what can best be described as a very run down dirty city.
Lasting memory is that while in the bapistry, one of the guards closed the dorrs, asked everyone to be quiet, and then sang an amazing harmony solo, using the unique acoustics within the building. Eerie!
V.v.v.v.v long drive down to Napoli, including countless wrong turns due to appalling Italian road signeage. Eventually found the campsite......Baia something or other....this place is as close to Butlins as you can get. And Yes, we weren't happy campers. Arrrrgggghhhhhhh. DJ on the go until gone 3am keeping the whole site awake.....to be then followed by the local dogs barking until dawn. Not a good end to a long day.
Day 2
A better start to the day. Warm sunshine, with the tent nicely sheltered in the shady pitch we'd found. Chilled out on the beach with some beers - and then headed out later to try and get some fresh gas cannisters for the BBQ and lamp. Note to self and all reading - european gas connections are totally different from those you get in the UK. So, take more supplies than you need or face the cost of buying new gear when you run out. Did I say that the day was getting better?
Day 3
Time to head for Mission 2 Pompeii. Heading south again past Napoli, this time prepared to get lost due to signs saying norte when in fact they were sud etc., etc., however got there 2 hours later.
Weather not too hot today so the full tour around Pompeii really enjoyable. It's an amazing place to see, particularly when you consided how advanced a civilisation they were when it was decimated by Vesuvio. Not quite on the scale of Egypt and the Pyramids, as anyone who's ever been to Egypt, will ponder forever the thought that given the state of Egyptian construction today, how on earth could their forefathers be even remotely connected with the pyramids! It's a pity that the Italian archeologists have decided to remove nearly all the original frescos and statues to the museum in Napoles, as I'm sure that the tourists would all rather see them in the their original location. Definately worthwhile a visit though.....
Back to Butlins - PS it was Italian karioke tonight....
Northbound now.....
