Friday we were planning a tour to Sicily for the day to Taormina, one of my favorite towns. There is an old Roman amphitheater there that has remaining upright columns that one can get a wonderful photo of Mt. Etna framed between them. The seas are very rough and our boat trip was cancelled. Probably saved me a bit of money as one of my favorite artists is there and I buy a piece of art from him every time I go. Since our tour was cancelled, we went into town to have our money reimbursed. The girls went back to the hotel to vegetate and I wandered the town. Found a wonderful art store with handmade art – very quality work. Found a wonderful ‘lamp’. About two feet tall and rounded, a village scene of houses, windows, doors and all kinds of people inhabiting this town that has interior lighting. A baker, women doing laundry and hangingit out the windows, ladies of the night in doorways, curtains blowing out, neighbors gossiping, even a Nativity scene with a cow and donkey looking out the windows. I am sure it was a fortune, didn’t even ask as had no way to get it home. I had lunch at a favorite spot and had delicious mussels and toast to soak in the juice. Hope I can find good mussels in Dallas to fix when I get home. They sure are good.
Saturday morning, we left Tropea on the Little Engine that Could and went to another town to change trains for Naples. There were two young women on the train with 4 dogs – each about four months old – that they had rescued and we’re taking to a shelter in Naples. Hope these little critters can get adopted into a good forever home. I held one for awhile and killed fleas on it. Poor thing was scared and cried most of the time. When we got to Naples, we took the little train to Pompeii. When we got to Pompeii, it was pouring rain so we took a cab to our Bed & Breakfast that I had booked on line. It was very close to the ruins. When we pulled up in front of it, I was pretty nervous…it looked pretty sketchy. Turned down a driveway and our fellow, Massimo, was right there to greet us. Quiet a character. Took us into a little cabin type apartment and it was wonderful! Large, clean and comfortable. The living room has a kitchenette with breakfast bar and stools, a breakfast table and chairs and a large leater sofa that made into a big comfortable bed. TV on the wall. Large bath, with a big wonderful shower. A bedroom with another TV, a double bed and a twin bed. Another hidden jewel. We skipped the ruins because of the rain and went to dinner at a local place in town. I had a delicious grilled sea bass and the girls had pasta. Very pleased with out dinner. Our driver picked us up and took us back and we were in bed very early! Slept well until the storm of storms hit. Haven’t heard that much rain coming down since I don’t know when…it was actually scary. After awhile it stopped, but showers continued thru the night. I do not feel well, might be a cold or allergies or just exhaustion, so I am staying at the hotel while the girls tour the Ruins of Pompeii. We had thought about taking a tour to walk up Mt. Vesuvius, but think it will be a mass of mud after all the rain…so when they get back, we will probably grab a bite to eat and head back to Naples and Rome. Our week in Tropea was just wonderful and so relaxing and I really appreciate Nancy for sharing it with us.