We have had a whirlwind couple of days here on Italy’s western coast. Our hotel in Castellammare di Stabia was pretty nice – our room looked out on the Mediterranean Sea and Mt Vesuvius. The food at the hotel was good with a welcome dinner night one and then 2 nights on our own which meant dinner in the hotel. Each day we returned around 7pm and were highly encouraged to eat in the hotel because transport to nearby restaurants was not running/non- reliable… you get the picture how groups are pointed to the hotel restaurant.

What to say about the Amalfi Coast and Isle of Capri. Gorgeous! Unbelievable views and panorama!! Limoncello!! Lemon granita!!! Lemon farms!!Many lemons!!

But also: crowds, traffic, Disney- like waits, disorganization. Did I say, “Hurry up and wait”??

I am glad to have seen these places and made the effort, because in all likelihood I will never be here again, but the 50 person tour group is simply not efficient.

Case in point, we waited for many things all day in Capri, but in the end we rushed to the ferry. In the midst of a crowd of hundreds, our group separated and my brother and sister in law were denied entrance even with a ticket. Have you heard that Italian ferries are routinely oversold??

The New York Italian in Patrice came out and told the mate she was not being left behind (not exactly her words…). Everybody got on and an international incident was averted.

Onto Pompeii today!