Not exactly off to the smoothest of starts but at least we were some of the lucky ones that got to leave Stanstead on the 11th unlike 20 other easyjet flights shedualed to leave that day. The limted hand luggage meant that Dan had to leave his camera behind, gutted (Mike you will understand!), also the photo storage device had to be left behind and we forgot heathers docking station, so no pictures for now.
We had a rather swanky start to our travels, staying in The Raddisson at Stanstead airport the day before our flight. Chilled in the spa and then went for a few drinks in the bar, and watched the wine angles, performing acrobtic manouvers in a 40 foot glass tower full of wine bottles very strange, and slightly erotic (Dan).
Out Italian Adventure started in Sorrento. Satying at a nice hotel, Hotel Nice, well it must be nice otherwise why would they have named it that!! Actually it wasn't bad (though that would be a rubbish name) if you discount the fact that they let dogs stay there and one morning we were greeted by a pile of kahka (shit) outside our room. but enough about accomidation.
We spent our first full day exploring Pompeii and Herculanum, both places destroyed by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in AD79. The ruins are spectacular, in many cases you can still see grafitti on the walls, oh yeah and some pretty impressive fresscos. Dan - Have to admit that the preserved bodies are my favourite things, people were killed an preserved so quickly you can still see the looks on their faces.
The next day we took an over priced hydrofoil to Capri, the weather was shitty which didn't help heather with her Sea sickness, truly her face lost all it's colour which was intresting to watch! fortunatly we docked just before she was tipped totally over the edge! The town centre was naff just stupidly expensive shops. Also the weather being naff meant that there was no point in visiting the Blue Grotto, plus this would also have meant more time on a boat! Dan - So I took Heather on a route march around the North of the Island, which was beautiful, though there seemed an excessive mount of steps to climb.
As much fun as we were having we realised that we were not yet fully into the backpacking frame of mind - The concept of budget was not really there, a concept neither of us had to worry about on other trips. We found ourselves in the Amalfie coasts finest wine bars and eating some rather special grub. It took a couple of these outings to realise that we were blowing far too much money and we might have to start cooking our own food!!
We are in Rome right now but I am bored of typing and my wife has decided to break and catch pink eye/Conjunctivitis. Laters
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