BEST of ITALY 2009 - Sorrento and Rome

Saturday, November 7, 2009

We enjoyed our one and only sleep in day as the tour of Italy neared its end. Taking the gut-wrenching sea-road out of Sorrento and back out along the coast, we skirted the Bay of Naples and headed north for Rome. Unlike the previous day of rain and fog, today was absolutely beautiful.

After quick stops at a cameo factory where coral was carved into jewellery, plus the usual Autogrill rest break, we hammered the motorway towards Rome and another night at the Pineta Palace. Once back at the hotel and our belongings stowed, we walked the neighbourhood in search of final trinkets and a much needed McDonalds. Several amongst us were just plain pizza and pasta'd out. The visit was complete when I ordered a draft beer to go with my meal combo.

Using John's I-Touch and the Rick Steves travel book, we located and secured accomodations for the next night in downtown Rome, ironically at the Hotel Montreal. We whiled away a quiet night of packing and prep, still with one day to go but already sensing the end of the road. We turned in relatively early for the night....

....but a phone call at 1:30am tore us from fitful slumber. It was Julie and she was plainly upset - John was passing a kidney stone and they were hoping we would accompany them to the hospital for my pitiful translation skills. By the time we were up and about, Jane and the concierge had also woken Sabina, so that she would know where we were going, to the nearby hospital just a few blocks walking distance.

By this time John had passed the stone, and was feeling rather sheepish about waking everyone else up, in spite of his agony. We walked the darkened streets towards the hospital anyway just to be sure.....and were treated to some local entertainment as we encountered a case of coitus interruptus, stumbling upon a young couple sharing an affectionate moment in a parked SmartCar at 2am. Those Italian ladies sure are flexible. Just sayin'.

Back at Pineta Palace, we fell back into bed and were quickly asleep.....

Vesuvius from across the Bay of Naples

Sorrento from the bus

The Road between Sea and Cliffs

Cliffs o'er the Mediterranean