Author: Maggie Page 26 of 34

This morning we shall be climbing Mt Vesuvius. We have booked a specialist guide and volcanologist which means we shall be able to climb to the very top of the volcano and walk around the rim of the crater. The weather is perfect – clear blue skies and not too hot so the views should be magnificent.

The coach trip takes about an hour and 1/2. We drive up to the car park on the lower slopes and dig out covid vaccination and negative test paperwork together with a copy of our passports. All documentation is thoroughly checked and then we walk up the winding path to the viewing station. The path is wide and easy underfoot but there seems to be no end to it. We walk uphill for 40 minutes and I really wish I was fitter.

Eventually we reach the rest station where we can have a drink and take a loo break. From this point there are unguided paths around the crater. Some of the party opt for this as we are told the final ascent is not easy. Jane and I are determined to attempt the ascent but as the guide unclips the rope at the start we look at the first stage in horror. It is steep, narrow, very slippery with loose ash. We are told to make sure to put our feet in the footsteps of the person in front and to be sure of grip before each step. I ask if the whole ascent is like this and our guide assures me it is only the first 100 yards or so that is difficult and then it becomes easier. We trust him and cautiously follow his tracks.

He was true to his word and eventually we emerge onto more friendly terrain. The ascent is still steep but not as intimidating though a wrong step would still have you sliding down the mountainside.

As we near the top there are vents letting out steam. We are told to put our hands in one that has cooled and is just very warm. Amazing to put your hand inside a volcano!

We carry on up to the summit. Wow! What an absolutely amazing view

We walked the whole way around the crater rim. I am happy to say that the descent was much easier via a different and less steep route. We stop by the refreshment station for a well earned beer and eat our picnic lunch. The sun is hot but it is cool in the shade – we are after all at 4000 ft.

After lunch we drive down to Pompeii, which was buried in ash from the eruption in 79AD. We have a guide, which is essential. Without him you would not know what you were looking at. He was a wealth of knowledge.

My initial site of Pompeii takes my breath away. It is so much bigger than I had expected. I probably do not need to say much – the photos largely speak for themselves. Below is the Great Theatre and Casa di Octavius Quartio.

Photos below show way to the brothel, bed and very descriptive painting.

Pompeii treasures and plaster casts of the victims.

Street sign, Temple of Apollo and final views

Hearing the groans and the agony this morning form my group is hilarious. Nobody can make it down the stairs without looking like a geriatric. The plan today is that we ascend the 500m from Bomerano to the top of Monte Tre Calli (10.5 km round trip). The group is split – some want to do it and some of us want to recover from yesterday. Jane & I join the group for the first mile or so of the walk to see the view over Bomerano.

Tomorrow we are meant to be climbing Vesuvius and we want to have recovered from yesterday and be able to enjoy it. We sensibly decide to take the bus into Amalfi and have a lazy day sitting in a bar, people watching and just exploring the town.

We enjoy a snack and beer before exploring the town

We explore the back streets and discover a wonderful speciality food shop which overloaded us with food samples of scrumptious confectionery. It was a good sales technique as we purchased quite a few items – many containing chocolate! We made our way down to the seafront before catching the return bus.

This morning we are going to walk down to Amalfi. However, first we will see how mozzarella is made. The little cheese factory is situated on the farside of Bomerano and it’s probably a 15 minute walk from the hotel, mainly uphill. Bomerano is very poor and when we arrive at the farmstead we are greeted by ancient, slightly mangy dogs and led into the rather shabby buildings. Personally, I was not a fan of the hot milk smell mixed with farm-yardy odours. I quite liked mozzarella before this experience but having seen it boiled, stretched and plaited, it may take a while before I eat it again. We were able to sample it – I declined!

We then set off on a walk back through town to commence the 13km trek down to Amalfi.

Bomerano is 723 metres above sea level and the descent is down a combination of old mule trails and derelict steps of assorted shapes and sizes. Unbeknown to us our guide wants us to see another village high up on the cliffs. This means we walk downhill on loose gravelly trails for an hour and then uphill for 45 minutes (it seemed longer!). The sun was shining and it was hot for October. I don’t know how people do this in the summer. Eventually we reach the village and settle at a cafe in the main square for a well deserved coffee.

After our short break we commence the descent down to Amalfi. Initially it is easy going along rustic paths and even more rustic steps. We occasionally cross the road which traverses the steep cliff face and is peppered with numerous sharp hairpin bends. The hike is brutal – 2800+ steps and we’ve already walked at least 10km up and down steep slopes. Every so often the terrain flattens out but then to our horror there are more steps. It is relentless. However it goes from bad to worse. Our guide takes us down a steep path, on which a section has suffered a landslide. We had to side-slip down it; putting our poles ahead of our feet to stop an uncontrolled descent on the loose surface. Having survived that we didn’t think it could get worse…. How wrong can you be? The path was blocked for repairs. We had to climb onto a wall over a precipitous drop and manaouvre ourselves around the barrier. It actually was very funny, particularly watching Tim – not the most athletic of us and the person who had fallen earlier.

Walking poles helped but by the time we finally reach Amalfi, everyone’s legs had turned to jelly. I tried at one stage to dart across the road when I saw a car coming. My legs were like lead. Actually quite scary! I cannot imagine how Exodus Travel consider this easy to moderate. It has taken us so long to descend to Amalfi that there is no time for even a drink at a bar. We clamber willingly onto the waiting coach and plonk our weary bodies onto the seats.

We meet in the bar for pre-dinner drinks. They are good – ridiculously cheap and very large. Exactly what is required after such a gruelling day.

One of the couples in our group start complaining to our tour leader that the trip was not what they expected. They thought it was a private tour and were clearly not happy. The husband had really struggled on the walk. Over dinner the situation escalated. Suddenly there were raised voices at the far end of the table, chairs were flung backwards, fingers pointed and the difficult couple stormed out of dinner. The husband clearly had some issues and had been seen with a well depleted bottle of whiskey before dinner. Their room was above mine, with thin walls and floors. At 5 in the morning suitcases were being wheeled around and the husband was saying “But Caroline, you don’t understand. I had to take the higher moral ground”. They flew back to the UK in the morning, which seems pretty extreme behaviour.

“And what was the argument about?”, I hear you ask? Apparently, someone had said they couldn’t stand Boris Johnson! Surely not a reason to cancel your holiday! 🙂

I am travelling with my good golfing friend, Jane and we arrive at Heathrow in good time. We booked business class seats because, with the presence of covid, we thought this would give us more space. The queues at Terminal 5 were horrendous, including business. We tagged on to the end of the queue and prepared ourselves for a long wait. Within minutes a BA lady asked us where we were travelling to. We told her and she said ”Follow me.” We were taken to the invitation only lounge where they told us to sit and drink champagne while they processed our bags. How very civilised.

The flight was on time and uneventful apart from the steward that took a shine to me. He continually asked if I had all I needed, always touched my shoulder when so doing, and served me extra drinks. We thought it was pretty amusing.

We met our guide outside Naples airport and he escorted us to our coach for the transfer to Bomerano; a small village up in the hills above Amalfi. We were staying in a small family run hotel – Hotel Due Torri. It reminded me of a chalet style, ski resort hotel.

My room was small, clean and functional and had a newly refurbished, very compact en-suite bathroom. The tiles were very ornate and Italian – not quite my taste. The good news was that the shower was really powerful with plentiful hot water and that I am not sharing the room with anyone. Jane has her own room which is bigger, but up more flights of stairs.

We convene in the bar for a briefing and to meet our group. There are 18 of us. We are split into two groups with our own guides. We go upstairs for dinner and retire to bed.