July 5: Salerno, Pompeii, and Sorrento, Italy
When faced with another ten hour tour to Pompeii and Sorrento, the four McDonell boys staged a “vacation intervention” for the mom and explained that their very mental health was dependent on NOT getting within 50 yards of a bus for at least the next 48 hours. You may think I was upset but in actuality I totally understood. There was a LOT of learning happening on these tours and their shriveled “summer brains” were being damaged with too much education.
I set off at 7:20am with my mom, Caroll, Matt, and Jordan for the tour while Toby and the young male contingent slept until late in the morning and then wandered as far as the beach before coming back to the ship and relaxing a bit more.
Wow! Pompeii was astonishing! As a total anthropology and ancient history geek, it was the most amazing thing I have ever seen! Even though we felt like we were in the seventh circle of hell with the temperature and very little shade, the amount of history that I tried to visually and intellectually digest in 90 minutes would have fried my children’s circuits. I have no words… except to say that if my teaching partner, Janet Taylor was there with me, we would have been squealing like fan girls at every single thing. I did manage to restrain myself but it was close. :)
Next up was a trip to the charming little village of Sorrento. Toby would have loved this part… if he could have taken a helicopter to get there. The tiny narrow streets and citrus fruit everywhere made me want to kick up my feet and consume a vat of Limoncello…. so I did! Did you know there are several types of this tasty (and viciously potent!) beverage? Well, yes, yes there are, and I have tried MANY if you would like my opinion on which is best. Let me just find my way off the floor.
Our final destination was a working farm where we saw how olive oil is produced by hand, as well as how both mozzarella and ricotta cheese is made… also by hand. The family that owns and runs the farm has done this for three generations. My sister-in-law, Caroll now wants her own cow so she can make cheese. I think I would just like to visit and eat the cheese. AND, guess what else they grow on the most beautiful farm in the world overlooking the coast of Italy? Lemons! AND do you know what they make with their lemons? YES! Limoncello! Not wanting to be rude, I felt it was my duty to taste their items and sample their tasty beverages. Selfish, I am not. (A bit sick at this point but still being my generous altruistic self!)
In our Limoncello haze, Caroll and I forgot our wallets on the bus but our tour director “Cindy”, seeing our despair over the inability to purchase vital libations, came to our rescue and spotted us some Euros to make our purchase. Now THIS is my kind of tour guide! Needless to say, Cindy got a great review (and her money back of course!) No throwing the Italian from the bus! They know what’s important!
Back at the ship, I could barely stay awake for dinner. (I am certain it was all the walking I did!) Fortunately we have a “Sea Day” tomorrow as we cruise up the Adriatic towards Venice so we can all regroup and rest in preparation for the next half of our journey.
Of course, although I posted this already, I must include the “Nana Bonanza” that occurred last night and was completed today. We had heard about a raffle that if you went to the casino and played, you would be given a raffle ticket. The winner of the raffle would be upgraded to a fancy suite. Toby and I are not gamblers so we sort of ignored it BUT JENSEN was on the idea from the get go, to the point that, when dinner was over, he forced any adult who would listen to him to go to the casino. Nana to the rescue. She only plays the slots but figured she would humor the grandchild. Jensen and I head back to the room where I fall into bed and he falls into his iPad. An hour later Nana shows up at our state room laughing and says, “guess who won the suite?” ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????? Yes, Nana won…. which means that BAILEY also won. Jensen was so excited, he got dressed and ran around the ship to find everyone and tell them… even Toby and Riley who were in the movie theater watching a film were not spared from his glee. The room became hers after our shore excursion and the room attendants even helped them pack and move their luggage! Bailey is now gloating over his GOLD keycard and the fact that they not only have a doorbell but a HUGE sitting room and a bathroom that was as big as our entire flat in Paris!
Tomorrow will be nice and relaxing and I plan to wake up at noon…. and then spend the day at Nana’s suite. :)
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