We had a slow start to the day - no early opening hours to meet - and made a few phone calls home. We knew that Naples is the place for pizza, and the Antica Pizzeria da Michele is reputed to be the best in Naples- high praise. All the reviews just speak of queue and long waits. Our plan was to get there soon after it opened at 11 to beat the crowds. The plan succeeded. The shopfront is so unassuming we walked past first time. Inside, plain marble top tables, s...

Pompeii and Herculaneum These two places are easy to visit together because they are along the same train line. The first hurdle was to discover where in the main Napoli station we could find our train tickets on the separate Circumvesuviana line for Pompeii/ Herculaneum, and then the train tickets for our trip from Napoli to Palermo on Friday. The first was accomplished amid the din of a rather physical argument with some men nearby. We think the railway polic...

Epiphany January 6 is a holiday of sorts here in Italy. Each of the several holidays we have been in Italy for so far this trip has varied in observance, perhaps because of where we were. Much more is shut than we are used to in Australia, but even on Christmas in Rome, some things were still open. Our major intention today was the Neapolitan walking tour which we had missed yesterday. Before this though, we wanted to find the bus stop for the Vesuvio bus n...

A:Mick had organised yet another wonderful day for us exploring the stunning Amalfi Coast, stopping at Positano and Sorrento and Amalfi as well as a few quick stops along the way. While we usually try to avoid this kind of thing, one of the stars - and major frustrations at times - of the coast is the narrow, winding and scenic road that connects the major towns. There was no way we wanted to drive. Even if we were feeling brace, the driver wouldn't be abl...

Jan 5 After a comfortable night, we were all set for a free walking tour. While the forecast was not for rain, it looked like a fifty fifty proposition. So we went armed with raincoats and brollies, but were blessedly free of caps, scarves and down jackets in the fifteen degree plus heatwave. You could tell the locals, because they had scarves and beanies on! The rendezvous point was the Castel Nuovo, which we can see from one of our grand balconies, so it was ...