Dead and not quite buried

Walking, walking, walking, it's a long walk to Museo di Capodimonte. Walked passed a funeral parlor where they were sweeping what looked like the leftover ashes into the street. Two spits up was a shrine to the same guy. Maybe he should have ordered the complete meal?

No wonder they're called ruins

Visited Pompeii, Hot, dusty, hot, dusty, found an AutoGrill (pretty funny) in the middle of something really old and consumed by ash and had a toasted sandwich and a beer. Mark reckons we could just get a fold out thingy of the town, before, after, maybe a little bit thingy in between. Yet again had a problem finding Mount Vesuvius. Back to Naples and lunch.

Driving!

....it's totally bonkers. We drove back from Amalfi. Mark had to reverse in to a wall around a corner to let a very big and wide bus get through. Not especially relaxing. Mind you Pad and I were very helpful. The streets in Naples don't feel any wider than aisle 9 in Coles. Our Lady of the Dash Board, gives us great advice, 'Do a U-Turn in 50 meters'. She's never been to Naples. Anyway, the drivers, Mark and Pad, are doing pretty well. So far no dings and no casualties. Touch wood. How any visitor can drive around here without a GPS is beyond me. Mind you I've really missed having a mallot. Just a quick thwack, how good would that feel? I mean, to hit Mark. Our car is now parked in a garage. We're leaving tomorrow, on to Rome!

Just blendin in

Had lunch, quelle surprise, went to the loo, came out and sauntered back to the table. A lovely English couple came up to me and ordered a drink. I said they could have what ever they wanted. Kept on sauntering and sat down.

Snug as a bug

We returned to our haven. Pad went out, a little while later he yells up at me from the square. 'Mum, the lock's stuffed' He was locked out and we were locked in. Not ideal. I rang the hotelier, who had to break in from the basement. He apologized for the 'terrible tragedy, and your son is locked out!' I said 'We didn't care, he'll be fine'. Didn't see the need to mention that he'd just nicked out for a beer. They couldn't fix it so, miracle of miracles they removed the lock and gummed it up with masking tape. Didn't we feel safe! Pad got back in and the family was reunited!

Ferry nice

Sorrento for lunch We took the ferry to Sorrento from Naples. Don't you find that people who are waiting at terminals all have the same look? The moosh that looks like they've just smelled their grandma's fart. There was one really annoying kid on the boat, Mark said 'lucky they've taken lots of photos, they will have something to remember when I push her off the boat'. Sorrento is absolutely beautiful. We took a cab from the pier to the town, should have cost about 3eu. There was a lift that only cost 1eu. Because we are genius' we took a cab. The driver suggested some dodgy restaurant probably owned by a toothless family member, we declined and the fare went up to 15eu for a three minute trip. Thank god we are not negotiating for the Greek economy. The restaurant Un Bufalito was extraordinary. Buffalo mozzarella is the specialty around there. Never fancied milking a buffalo myself, but you know those crazy Amalfians. When you put your fork into the mozzarella ball it just oozes milk, that sounds gross, but it was fabby. The owner was great character. Two fiancées, one Australian, one American. Married the American, studied in Parsons, Has a art gallery, a specialty food produce shop and a fine restaurant. Bit of a renaissance man. Back on the ferry, forgot to say that Pad had a couple of dips in the Bay of Naples. Home off to sleep after a couple of vinos and then tomorrow. Ciao

Ostuni, ( that bit wasn't in the brochure )

Well, after driving through Sorrento and Positano, just a tad wonderful, we arrived in Pascarosa, Ostuni. Temperature in the car 18deg, outside 38deg. You know when you have that sinking feeling? 10 days here, Oops, We drove down a dirt track, and Mark said, 'oh good, the stone walls just got narrower'. We had to pull in the rear vision mirrors. Arrived at the Trullo, no one was very excited, but we kept on saying how wonderful it was, and decided to check out the local hotspots. We dropped Pad at the pool next door, where he met the Albanian football player who was employed as the lifesaver! The pool was only chest deep. We drove on to Ostuni, couldn't find the ancient white city, mind you we went to Pisa once and couldn't find the leaning tower. At this stage we are being really polite, finally Mark said 'We're staying in Rumplestiltskin's house and the town next door is a shit hole'. It was like being in Nimmitabel but we couldn't speak the language. We changed our ten days to three and had a ball. Instead of it being a prison, it was a trampoline. We had dinner at the local b&b, which was delicious. Following day we drove to Lecce and had an amazing lunch, on the way back we went to the beach and paddled in the Adriatic. Last day lunch in Prolignone, on the sea, with freshly caught fish. Back home to the Trullo which was cool and sweet. One plus about that hideous heat, your washing dries really quickly. Straight back to Naples. Just arrived, not that flash on a Sunday arvo, but we are hopeful and the pizza is yummy. Ciao.