Naples and Pompeii

So hard to believe we were coming down to the last week of this amazing vacation. Next stop was an overnight stay in Naples so we could visit Pompeii.

What can I say about Naples? Large, congested and chaotic, with some street construction added in for good measure. Of course our Airbnb was right in the middle of the construction with no place to park. We took one of the narrow cobblestone streets across from where we would be staying, and followed it up the hill and around a corner or two before we found a parking garage. After getting the car settled, we headed back down the narrow streets in the heat, dragging our suitcases behind us.

The Airbnb was small, but updated, clean and comfortable. Our host greeted us and told us a bit about Naples, said he would make a dinner reservation for us at one of his favorite places, and even offered to return in the morning to help bring our suitcases to the car. We couldn’t ask for better accommodations and service.

After a brief rest we headed back to the car for our trip to Pompeii. I was not thrilled with the idea of moving the car from the safe space we had found; who knew if we would ever find our way back through the maze of narrow streets and alleys? My trepidation was well placed; trying to get out of Naples and on the highway was a nightmare as the GPS tried to send us down streets so narrow the car would not fit. It took us about 30 minutes to find the highway – we should have been on it in half that time.

Pompeii appears to be small as you enter the old city. However, once you go through the main entrance, and start climbing up the old streets, it’s truly incredible how large a city it truly was. The sheer magnitude of the explosion from Vesuvius with the destruction it caused is almost impossible to imagine. Even more impressive is the archeological work that has been done to uncover the ruins and all that was frozen in time when the eruption took place. The theater, courtyards, homes, gardens, shops and so much more seem to go on forever. We climbed old stone streets to higher ground, and the views were incredible. One can only imagine what it took to build such a magnificent city. After walking for almost two hours we were ready to call it a day, so we made our way back down with memories and photos to share at home.

I was right to be concerned about finding our way back through Naples to the parking garage. It took us several attempts through many streets, and a lot of frustration, but we eventually made it; the car was parked until our departure.

Our host made our dinner reservation as promised, and with directions and a little help on the way, we found Trattoria Da Papa. We had an amazing meal, dining al fresco, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of Naples at night. There would be time enough to think of our long drive to Sicily in the morning.

Trying to manage our stress in the city's morning traffic, we maneuvered through chaotic streets and finally made it to the highway and out of Naples. Next stop Villa San Giovanni and the ferry to Sicily.