ARRIVEDERCI ROMA

What a day! We started out full of confidence, train tickets in hand and the expectation of a 1st class rail service to Naples and on to Sorrento. Well, the first bit was OK - a slight delay at the Rome station validating our Eurail tickets, some confusion over platforms and a rude shock when an apparently helpful station attendant turned out to be a 1st class hustler, oh well you learn fast!

A happy camper

The trip went well, comfortable seats, and a rapidly passing countryside with a complimentary drink (soft)! On arrival in Napoli we had to de train and get a ticket and catch a local train to Sorrento. God! Much confusion with the ticket purchase - long queues, a different platform area, but the ticket cost should have been a warning of what was to come! For 4 euros we couldn't possibly have expected much, and guess what, we didn't get much! The train was similar to those you see rotting in the back blocks of Redfern - graffiti adorned rust buckets, talk about cattle class!!

Cattle class!!

35 suburban stations, no seats for 1/2 the trip, and a serious lack of airconditioning and personal hygiene around us. It seemed to take forever, but some time later we rattled into beautiful Sorrento. The only highlight being the awesome might of Mt Vesuvius in the distance.

Mt Vesuvius

Were we glad to get to Sorrento or what? A rattle through the towns cobble stoned streets with our luggage in tow to our apartment and a well deserved beer and lunch. The apartment is great, a loft bedroom and living area below right in the middle of town and handy to the harbour front, even if it's some distance below us. 

Sorrento harbour

We're planning our tours from here, Capri, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello over the next four days. Oh, and there's some washing to be done too!