Day 3 Amalfi Coast

Day 3 Amalfi Coast – Today will be remembered as the day I rode to Pompeii.  What an amazing and adventure filled day!

 

It started early getting up to grab some dawn shots along Amalfi.  Beautiful morning here, no clouds, just birds singing, the waves gently rolling in on the pebble beached cove next to my accom.  I was going to catch a bus or taxi to Pompeii.  When I enquired at reception about the journey the following conversation took place:

 

Adrian: “What time does the bus leave to Pompeii, or how much for a taxi?”

Receptionist: “You have scooter no?”

Adrian: “Si scooter, bat bike, si.”

Receptionist: “You ride, only take one hour and half.”

Adrian: “But what about the traffic, isn’t it dangerous?”

Receptionist: “You have scooter, who care about traffic!”

 

So I hit the road and I have to say I am glad I did.  The ride along the Amalfi coastline is something everyone should do before they leave this world.  It is breathtakingly beautiful.  I stopped along the way getting shots.

 

I arrived at Pompeii early and once again beat the tourist crowds.  That gave me the opportunity to get wide shots with no one in them and to casually stroll around.  I was really moved by Pompeii.  Here I am in this other world, back when in 79 A.D Mt Vesuvius that I could see off in the distance erupted covering the entire place in molten ash and rock.  I saw bodies frozen in time gasping for air, asleep or huddled looking for protection.  Where people lived, were entertained, swam, bathed, worked, ate or shopped.  For the first time I filled my primary memory card on my camera!

 

When I finished at Pompeii it was time to get back to Praiano.  Now I am not exaggerating here (and this is where the ride got a little hairy) the traffic from the Sorrento turn off from Pompeii to Sorrento itself was bumper to bumper!  Check out google maps, look at the distance involved.  The receptionist’s words started ringing in my ears, “you have scooter, who care about traffic!” (use the force Luke) – She was right, this is where the scooter has the advantage, I rode on the inside and outside lanes going past everyone, through long tunnels, dodging oncoming buses, trucks, cars, bikes.  Finally I got to Sorrento then the road from there was pretty clear and I could exhale again.  Once again I stopped along the way picking up shots (it’s impossible not to) in and around near Positano.

 

I saved a lot of euros in going to Pompeii the way I did (only cost 15 euro – fuel and entry fee) but the whole experience was priceless in the end.