Vacay 2015--Sorrentine Peninsula Fun

The second day of our Mediterranean cruise found us docked in Salerno, Italy.

Salerno was a substitute for the original port of Tunis, which they'd eliminated because of security concerns in Tunisia.  Having never been to either place, I didn't have an opinion about which city was better.  I did know that there were almost too many choices of things to do.  In addition to exploring the city itself, just a bus or boat ride away were the ruins of Pompeii or Herculaneum, the Isle of Capri, the city of Sorrento, and drives along the Amalfi coast. If you were so inclined, you could even hike to the top of Mt. Vesuvius!

After a lot of discussion, Hubby Tony and I chose an excursion that offered time to wander through Sorrento, a bus ride along the scenic coast, a stop for lunch, and more free time in the city of Amalfi.

At 7:30 a.m. we followed a stream of fellow cruisers to our gathering area, where we showed our excursion tickets and received a sticker showing what group we'd be with. We didn't have to wait long until it was time to go outside and board the large motor coach. The guide was a middle-aged woman who spoke English with a lovely Italian accent. During the 90 minute drive to Sorrento she pointed out parts of modern Pompei, and we got a glimpse of Mt. Vesuvius in the distance. We also saw a lot of olive and lemon trees and a few vineyards.

When we reached Sorrento the guide pointed out our meeting place, then we were free to explore.  Tony and I walked through the main part of the city, and bought a snack in a grocery store.  We also stopped at a cafe for a cup of coffee and a wi-fi network to make sure there were no emergencies back home.

A collection of Euro coins

When our time was up we boarded the bus again and headed towards the lunch restaurant, which was located a scenic 45-minute drive away along the Amalfi Drive.

Amalfi Coast from Tony

The restaurant sat at the top of a cliff overlooking the sea.  When we arrived there were bottles of wine and mineral waiting for us, and as soon as everyone was seated the wait staff came around and poured glasses of Prosecco.  After a wonderful multi-course meal we got back on the bus and continued towards Amalfi.  The road got narrower and more winding, and I decided I didn't want to know how close we were to the edge of some of the cliffs.

When the bus parked at Amalfi the guide told us what time to be back, and once again we were free to explore.  Although the city's cathedral was visible at the top of a large stairway, Tony and I decided to spend our time browsing on one of the main shopping streets.  I bought a small ceramic plate, which the clerk wrapped securely for the trip back.

Plate