Friday 12th February, 1982 fine but cold
Up and prepared for being on the road again. All set to go, John turns ignition - nil sound so luckily Ron hadn't left. No answer to jumper leads start so Ron towed John till it kicked over and off we went to pick up Sandra's overcoat. It was ready, and off we went on the Autostrata, past towns and villages. Frosinone to Cassino will where we turned off to visit Monte Cassino, what a moving experience. Monte Cassino is where a huge battle was fought from October 1943-May 1944 to wrest the Benedictine monastery from the Germans. Thousands died in a futile situation and we visited the British cemetery where thousands of graves, both marked and unmarked stand. In the centre, 12 monoliths with names inscribed of thousands more who couldn't be buried - it was heart rendering to see so many young men. African, New Zealand, Canadians, English, Scottish and Welsh. We lunched and then on to Pompeii. Had trouble with the exhaust pipe, half broke off so that has to be fixed.
We are at camping Pompeii where we settled in for the evening. The camp is opposite the ruins with a highway one side and railway the other.
Saturday 13th February, 1982
Today we were up after a good sleep despite the
traffic. Up to do some food shopping,
then over the road to visit the long lost city.
It must have been a fair sized one as there are streets and shops, houses
and even the tombs.
 |
| Mt Versusius in the distance |
Huge stadium was quite well preserved as parts of other
buildings. In 79 AD Mt Vesuvius erupted
and completely covered the area where people had vineyards, farms and city
homes. Then in the 1600s part of it was
uncovered, but left to crumble. Then in
1860, serious excavation took place uncovering a whole city - even the ruts in the
stone roads from carriages. About 20,000
population in Pompeii,
one book says, most escaped and another said few escaped.
 |
| Pompeii, Italy |
We lunched in the stadium and imagined all
types of games being played, then walked home.
Sandra and Joan are still suffering from the cold, so Joan stayed home
and Sandra went home after about two hours walk through the city. |
| Pompeii, Italy |
We had a free afternoon.
There’s a tribe of Hare Krishnas here in the camp - wake us
each morning at 4:30 a.m. with their chanting - grotty lot - washing left in sinks,
food etc in hand basins. One day a knock
on the door and pizzas Italian style were thrust at me. One for you - you're married and the
Bambino - didn't trust them - threw them in the bin.
Sunday 14th February, 1982 happy
Australian birthday John. Wet
and Chilly
Kids woke John early with streamers, blowers and presents - far
too early for us. Had breakfast, washed
some clothes then off to drive the Amalfi Drive - not a good day for a scenic
drive. Sean had a brilliant idea - if we
began the drive at the end near Salerno we would be on the inside and wouldn't
feel so ill and it worked - it was 66 km of winding good road - narrow right along
the cliffs from Salerno to Sorrento - the scenery was spectacular with villages
built into sheer cliff face. The
sea - even though it was overcast - was green in some bays, very blue in
others. It must have been hard on John
driving - some bends we were almost at right angles. Rae was sick and we all were squeamish - glad
to stop at Sorrento
for pizza - no take-away so we had our usual salad sandwich. It was pouring rain and the main street of
Sorrento was busy with a carnival, so both sides of the main Street were lined
with stalls and people, we very slowly drove towards the end when a bus came
one way and we were halted by awnings and umbrellas - so after lots of exchange, the Italians held the umbrellas up and we barely scraped through. Back to Pompeii
via the coast after our lunch in Dell Corso Italiana Sorrento. Showered and prepared birthday tea. Joan and Ron joining us for dinner in the
bar. The kids and John and Ron prepared
the room whilst we cooked veggies, Joan heated chicken - 5440 lire each
cooked. Was a lovely meal - nibbles before,
chicken, spats with parsley, broccoli and fennel with cheese. Then fruit jelly cake Italian style, wine and
cheese etc very satisfying before our diet schedule begins.
Monday 15th February, 1982 happy
European birthday John
Up - farewell to Ron, Joan and Pompeii and on to Roma. The dinner left us all contented. Left the rain in Pompeii.
As soon as we arrived back, having had lunch at a service station on the
Autopista - out with the washing to dry and into town went John, Sean and I. John to buy tickets for Greece - cost $240
return - Sean and I for mail and buy a pair of boots. Sean gave me my first tube ride - clean
carriages - railway stations 200 lire. We walked around Rome
almost like Sydney,
well not quite. Home on the bus with the
boys, dined, packed our bags and the bed.
 |
| Rome to Rome via Pompeii, Italy |
