This morning began with breakfast at the hotel followed by a 30-minute bus ride up to Pompea. It was a late start for our trip; we got to do breakfast at 7:30 vs. 7. For those that know me you know mornings are not my jam, but I'm doing ok with it. Especially given with Mama's o2 I have to get up every 2 hours to get the batteries charged. They charge so SLOW! With all the technology available today this could be better... but people don't care about improving the lives of the elderly, let's invest in making a smaller faster iPhone instead - I mean? Ugh! Our society's priorities are so screwed.
We knew Pompea would be a rough day. But the only reason we are really on this trip is so Mama can see Pompea so she did it. These guides are amazing at looking out for her. When the guide started talking on the bus about how many of Pompea's artifacts are in the museum in Naples vs. actually in Pompea Mama was kinda bummed. I knew this was a bucket list item so I started talking to Nicholas about leaving the tour for the day and making our way to the museum, which we could have done but he made it where we didn't have to. There is a mini-museum at Pompea not on the tour that has some artifact including a few of the body cast Mama really wanted to see. They added it to our trip, I mean... just unthinkable the way they are making this special.
The day was rough. 86 degrees but felt like 95 with the sun beating down. We put Mama in the shade wherever we could, bought her a sun hat, held an umbrella over her head when in the sun, and had her O2 on 5 and she was still really struggling. At some parts, she was just putting one foot in front of another vs. focusing on the trip, but she was there. She saw it. She made it. The ruins themselves are really quite something; it's literally a city in ruin. With rooms and paintings still on the walls. We went to a brothel and you can see the extremely risque paintings still existing on the walls. It was just amazing that they were still there.
I also have to give a shout-out to our group. Everyone is going out of their way to be nice to Mama and make sure she is ok. Especially one couple Jim and Joan are amazing. They are both older and his knee is bothering him so if he goes to sit down somewhere he always offers to take Mama with him. One time the guide had an area that was hard so she escorted her out of another section. I am not letting Mama go anywhere by herself so I was about to leave the tour and go with her - Jim stopped me and went instead. He wanted to sit and he said he would look after her, and he did. It brought tears to my eyes and still does. They have been so kind - and trying to help us make the most of our trip. It is amazing.
After Pompea we went and sat at a small cafe with water to recoup. Jim and Joan stayed with Mama while we did a bit of souvenir shopping. It was a market and it was obvious bartering was the norm so we bartered a bit. I probably didn't get it as low as I could have but I got an ornament for the tree, some postcards, and a magnet for Mama. I'm not much of a haggler but walk away and suddenly the price drops drastically.
We then went back to the bus and rested on the way to Naples. By the time we got to Naples, the temperature had dropped a couple of degrees and it made such a difference. I mean Mama is still tired but she was spry again, looking at the statues, loving the square, etc...
The square in Florence is much like the big one in Venice minus the cafes. It was pretty and I could imagine big events being held there. It was great.
We then walked down and explored a "gallery". I was thinking it was going to be an art thing, no it was a mall in a gorgeous cathedral-type building. We grabbed a pastry, and water and sat ... here is what is funny. We went in to order and then when they found we wanted a seat they sent us out and waited on us with a waiter. Not like a food court in the US that is for sure. It was appreciated. I asked the lady what her favorite pastry was and she pointed out 2 - I got one of each and we tried them. Both were lemon-based and amazing!
After this, we meandered back to meet our group and headed out for a slice of Neapolitan pizza. We sat, got a drink, and ate pizza while visiting and generally enjoying not being on our feet. It was nice. We then took advantage of the free bathrooms before heading out to explore Naples a bit. We mainly just walked down to see the Castle from the outside and walked around the square a bit more so I could get some better photos. Mama and Jack went to sit on the steps and I explored. It was so hot though I ended up joining them in the shade. We didn't have too long and Naples is a bit of a throng of people shopping. I'm sure there are other sections but that is where we were.
We also did do a drive up to see Naples from the top and I got some great pictures overlooking Naples. It was gorgeous.
Once we met back up with our group we headed back to the bus and to the hotel. Where I promptly got a hot bath and just soaked. Now we are sitting on the patio enjoying the breeze and sea while waiting on dinner. We meet up with our group and have a preplanned dinner here at the hotel. It's going to be nice and then we get to pack up to leave this hotel in the AM.
Overall it was an exhausting but great day!
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