Day 17 Sunday

It is a nice sunny morning. Our driver is on time and we head off just after 8 am. We head back up the mountain and then down again to Naples arriving at 9.15 am. We have time for a coffee before we board the train. As we walk towards our carriage, a "porter" asks us which carriage  and then escorts us to our seats and evicts someone who has occupied our booked seat. He helps to stow luggage and then waits for a tip. He wasn't a porter but a hustler who prey on unsuspecting tourists. We give him 6 euro and tell him to go. We have the whole compartment to ourselves. On arrival in Rome we have to get the airport train and after some searching and 11 euro each we head off to platform 25. It is quite a high step to get on board with our luggage and Ross has claimed a compartment. A bit squeezy with our luggage  but we fit in and are on our way. We arrive at the airport just after 2 pm. confirm our flights and book in and head off to the gate and McDonalds near our departure gate. Suddenly notice our boarding gate has been changed from 4 to 19 so we head off again. For boarding we have to bus it to the plane. It is a long drive out to the plane. We land in Paris just after 7 pm. Gather our luggage, no customs and ring for our shuttle, after 30 mins it finally arrives. One hour trip to our hotel and we book in by 9.30 pm. We are all staying on different floors. I have a rest while everyone else goes for a wander.

Day 18 Monday
We have breakfast at 8 am and Ann is excited because they have boiled eggs for breakfast!  After breakfast we decide to walk to where we pick up the bus for our tour tomorrow. It takes 40 mins with all the window shopping along the way., hopefully we can reduce that to 30 mins tomorrow. Head back very slowly to the Louvre. Lots of shopping opportunities. We take our time wandering through the Louvre and taking in all the main sights. We check out Napoleon's apartments - unbelievable opulence. Have lunch in the gardens and then head off to Notre Dame, another magnificent sight and experience. On our way back to our hotel we stock up on happy hour supplies and have happy hour in Ross and Karen's room.

Day 16 Saturday

We are told we are heading off at 9.30 this morning, so we have a late breakfast after 8 am. When we get there plans have changed and we are catching the 9 am bus! We get the bus to Scala, and we are all hoping this is the right stop. We then head off on our walk to the Valley of the Watermills. It is a far easier walk, but still up and down steps. We get to a height of 400m and have magnificent views to Ravello and Amalfi.  It is a lovely walk. We walk past a watchtower and then walk down into the Valley of the Watermills. In amongst the thick growth are remnants of Europe's oldest paper mills dating back to the 11th century. The mills were fed by waters of the valley's clear streams. The paper was made in individual sheets and with the number of mills, all overgrown, it was quite an industry.  We head on further into the valley and the terrain gets a bit more difficult where we are almost rock climbing. It was well worth it, when we are rewarded with magnificent waterfalls and flora. It is almost prehistoric. We then head back to Amalfi back past the old Mills, We have a farewell dinner tonight at 8pm, but happy hour first. Having drinks in Ross and Karen's room overlooking the sea when a thunderstorm approaches. Plenty of lightning, thunder and heavy downpour. Still raining as we head off to dinner, fortunately not too far away Once again Francesco's organisation skills are displayed. Supposed to be A La Carte, but bill is divided amongst all. Note that Francesco never seems to pay for his meals. Meal servings were wrong, and expensive. Saving grace was that the ladies all received a bottle of lemoncello. Ross has a new audience to entertain and he is in his element. Tomorrow we head back to Naples and then we catch a train back to Rome and then fly to Paris.

Day 15  Friday

Today we wake  to sunny skies and we are off to Capri.  Waiting at ferry terminal to board and it is extremely crowded. Two people from our Tour and Francesco get on, but the rest of us miss out. After some discussion, it appears a German group have queue jumped and are refusing to get off.  A compromise is reached where the rest of our group are  allowed to board. An hour ferry ride across to the Isle of Capri. Arrival is chaos, people everywhere typical Italian organisation. Francesco is insistent that we stay together and keep moving, not easy in the throng of people.  We are due to take a cruise around the island and after some argy bargy with one of his drinking buddies we are the last 15 to board.  Most of the seats are taken, however half find spots at the bow and the other half find seats at the stern. As it turns out we probably had the best views. Saw all the grottos, but the blue grotto was closed due to the high seas. The water is so clear and blue. The island is a great sight from the water.  We tehn head up on the Funicular to the top of the Island. Very expensive shops and hotels. We go for another mountain trek until we revolt and go no further. Have lunch half way up a mountain side with spectacular views out over the water. Karen buys a gatorade - cats 7.5 euro!!! Dearer than Luggy's beers!
After lunch head back down on the Funicular and we chill out by the shoreline while waiting for the return ferry. We are told to queue at Dock 13. Crowds everywhere. People waiting for the next ferry, trying to get off the ferry against crowds trying to get on - chaos. The dock area is a mass of people. Francesco does it again, our ferry comes in at Dock 9. So now we have to push through the crowds to get to dock 9. There is pushing and shoving as people move in all directions. Ann and I feel like we are in a maelstrom of people. We can see Luggy up on deck looking a bit concerned and ready to jump into the fray if needed. The ferry crew couldn't care less about the pushing and shoving, their only concern was that you had a ticket. We eventually make it and as we depart we look back at the docks and they are deserted. For dinner tonight we have beers wines and pizzas and lots of laughs.

Day 13 Wednesday
Wake up again to thunder and rain. After breakfast, still raining, so we have a change of plans. We farewell our lovely hotel and go down to Amalfi early via an exciting bus ride in the pouring rain. At Amalfi we walk around the city, trying to keep as dry as possible. We visit the Basilica of St Andrew, the patron saint of Amalfi, and the museum.  We walk through covered narrow alleyways, visit the town hall, and encounter more steps. The legs are feeling it today and we are relieved we do not have another hike like we did yesterday.  After lunch Francesco decides we have free time because it is still raining and it would be uncomfortable and not very enjoyable continuing with the tour. We walk around a bit more looking at the shops and buy some beers for happy hour. The rooms at our hotel and very spacious, but Ross and Karen have lucked out with their room having a balcony overlooking the sea. So we all head there for happy hour until we head off for dinner. Lots of laughs.

Day 14 Thursday
What a Day!!!
Rain overnight but wake to clear skies. Today we catch a bus to go back up the mountain to commence our walk from Bomerano to Positano. The walk is known as The Pathway of the Gods. We get to the top and Francesco hustles us off the bus.  Not the right stop - Francesco claims the driver took the wrong route!  We end up walking back to where we stayed the first two nights. After asking directions we head off. After 2.5 kms walking we reach a spot where we have to take the bus a couple of stops back down.  Bus is early and we nearly miss it. It is the same driver who drove us up to the top. We all hop on and after a few stops we get off.  Too early!!  Francesco stuffed up again! More walking to Bomerano. Eventually we get to the starting position and commence our trek at 10.30. It is 3 hours of walking on uneven ground, upwards and downwards, steps, broken rock and pathways. The scenery is spectacular! We stop for lunch at 2pm with spectacular views. Lunch is fine but expensive 25 euro each. Francesco is clearly getting kickbacks. After lunch we have a choice of a bus or walk into Positano. Karen and Kaye choose the bus. There are 2000 steps down to the road to Positano and then about 1 km walk. Tiring but great scenery.  We have an hours rest on the beach at Positano and then we take the ferry back to Amalfi.  We arrive back for our happy hour before we head off to dine at Francesco's recommendation. During happy hour  we learn that Ross was up early! He had knocked the phone over and the beeping woke him up. Looked at his watch, saw it was 6.30, got up had a shower and shave only to find out he had looked at his watch upside down. It was midnight not 6.30 am.