Who Needs Naples?

Okay, here's my input for our last day in Italy. I'm thinking the Taste of Sorrento & Pompeii. As much as I'd love to do the Herculaneum tour, I think it would be more beneficial for us (as first time visitors), to visit Pompeii. It's kind of one of those things that as a tourist you just don't miss. Here's what that tour includes:


Travel from Naples via the autostrada and the Campanian coastal route to Sorrento. Enjoy the panoramic scenery of the Bay of Naples as you make your way towards the Sorrentine Peninsula. Once in Sorrento proceed to a local farmhouse, nestled in the hills and located over this beautiful town. Visit the antique wine cantina and learn of the process of producing olive oil and hand-made mozzarella. Following the explanations and demonstrations, enjoy a taste of the mozzarella cheese, fresh tomatoes, salami and bread in a peaceful setting of lemon and olive trees. You will have a time (approximately 1.5 hours) at leisure to explore, shop and eat in Sorrento's charming flowered-filled streets that offer a wide array of boutiques, souvenir shops, and atmospheric outdoor cafes. Please note that lunch is at the guest's own expense. After lunch, drive towards Pompeii and enjoy views of Mt. Vesuvius, the still-active volcano located about fifteen miles southeast of Naples. Your guided walking tour through the rocky ruins of Pompeii will begin as you enter through the sea gate. Marvel at the many beautifully restored buildings. The plaster casts of the volcanoes victims are particularly poignant and one can never forget the horrible events that brought life in Pompeii to an end. Time permitting; a stop at a small cameo shop will be made so you can browse for delicate, handmade earrings, bracelets and brooches. Return to Naples and catch glimpses of this metropolitan area, much of which stretches along the waterfront with a maze of crowded streets and their infamous motor traffic.

My boss Russ said that eating hand-made mozzarella in Italy is an experience. Plus, it's in a farmhouse nestled in the hills, and we can learn all about olive production! This Sorrento/Pompeii excursion is not only cost-efficient, but we'll see Naples because we have to disembark! I think this should be one of the first excursions we purchase after we get our plane ticket.

I'm so glad I've spent so much time researching this trip! That Roma Archaeological pass is amazing! Apparently, it's 27.50 euro (you do the conversion--it's too much for me to think about right now...). Thanks for enlightening me on the Palatine Hill and the Eternal City. Considering Rome was always conquering other lands, it makes sense that it remained the capitol. You're so smart!

Taking a break from excursions, I had some thoughts go through my head. If I remember correctly, doesn't Europe have a different power source? If so, will we need to bring converters to use electronics ie. hair straightener, blow dryer, and kindle (hopefully) or ipod charges on the boat and in the hotel room? How do we go about finding out? I know, super trivial, but still important! :)