Our final port day was spent with our new friends from New Jersey. We had a nice big van with our driver Nichola, who had nerves of steel. The drive to Pompeii was quick and we were there for 8:30 opening. It is so interesting to see. Th city was buried completely by an eruption in 79ad. The layout and architecture of the city were stunning. We could see the walls of the houses with frescoes and paint colours still visible. It was a little gruesome and disrespectful to see the casts of the people who died but it did prove how suddenly the eruption happened. The brothel was interesting, with pictures of each act so if one did not speak the language it could be chosen by pointing!
To get to the little town of Ravello we drove up into the Monte Latteri mountains. Narrow winding switchbacks with breathtaking views of both the mountains and the ocean. Such contrasts, many Mercedes cars, and then we would round a curve to see a burro tied up in front of a small house. Everywhere are grapevines, Nichola said that most rural people make their own wine. The region is also known for lemons, the base for Lemoncello, which is a delicious liquer. Princess makes it on some ships so we got a taste for it! We stopped for lunch in Ravello, at a little local place where Mama served us the most delicious feast of hot zuccini salad, crusty bread, gnocchi, canneloni (Alene would have loved it!) fettucine, Tiramisu, all accompanied by vino rossi and ended with clementines from her garden. It was one of the meals that will set a high standard for any future Italian food. The ambience was pretty terrific, also. Ravello is picturesque and quaint, full of cafes, shops and with a central square looking up on the terraced vineyards in the mountains.
The Amalfi coast is rightly famous as a beautiful drive. It is another switchback, hairpin turn, white knuckle, hide your eyes TREAT! The views get better around every corner and the sea is azzura (my Italian spelling may be off). We stopped for a little look at Amalfi but sadly Ellie fell and injured her ankle so we had to get back to the ship.
In all it was a good day despite injury and a little rain at Pompeii. We will be saying goodbye to the Star Princess and some good new friends. I expect we will keep in touch, we hope to meet again on some future cruise.
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