journal entry: Italia parte sette (also London and home)

last one for this trip. what an adventure it was.

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26 November 2018
6:58 PM - Charlotte airport

I am back in the US! Feels like my trip went by in a flash and yet, it seems like forever ago that I left STL for this trip.

Today, I am thankful for:

1. London - it was great spending a little time with Tenten for that layover; I hadn't seen her in 10 years before this. I got to see a little bit of London, but I definitely want to go back. There's so much more to see.

2. this entire trip - with only minor inconveniences that might have felt huge at that time, but for the most part, I was able to do and see and taste everything I planned.

3. God, most of all - for letting me do this and for keeping me healthy and safe throughout this trip.


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27 November 2018
1:30 AM

Home sweet home. As sad as I am that my trip has come to an end, I am glad to be sleeping on my own bed again.

I unpack tomorrow. Right now, I sleep for at least 10 hours.

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9:01 PM

I slept for 12 hours! And it felt soooo good. I still haven't unpacked, I'll just do that this weekend.

Today, I am thankful for:

1. a full day of rest. I needed that after my trip.

2. not having caused any issues at work while I was away. At least, none that I could see in my email.

Tomorrow, back to regular programming... a.k.a work.

journal entry: Italia parte sei

i realized these Italy journal entries are about to celebrate their anniversary and i still haven't finished them here... not that anybody cares (i guess, i do) but i really just wanted to get this done before my next trip... mostly just for content on my blog. again, not that anybody cares...but whatever.

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24 November 2018
9:57 PM

I cannot believe my vacation is almost over. After months of waiting, all finished in, now what feels like, an instant. It makes me a little bit sad, but also feel very very grateful. Tomorrow will be a pretty relaxed/chill day, so I will have time to slow down a little before my flight back.

Today, I am thankful for:

1. the whole Sorrento-Positano-Amalfi tour - it was a little expensive considering I have been DYI'ing it most of this trip, but I wanted a day that I didn't have to worry about catching the bus or the train, or wonder if I have the schedule right, or try to decide if I should spend less or more time somewhere...basically, a day that I just sit back and let somebody else drive (literally and figuratively). One downside of a tour though is you have to be on a strict schedule, and I kinda wanted more time to check out Sorrento. Oh well, maybe next time.

2. pizza for dinner - believe it or not, this is my first pizza in Napoli, and it is on my last night in Napoli, where pizza is supposed to be really good. Hopefully, I will have some more tomorrow.

3. this whole trip - now, that it is nearing its end, I feel really fortunate and blessed to have been able to go on this trip. It also made me realize that I definitely want more of this.

I want to come back, especially to the Amalfi coast area. I want to visit Capri island, and other cities in the North. I really really hope I will be back someday.

journal entry: Italia parte cinque

next trip in 2 weeks!!! with a couple of friends, this time. soooo excited!
in the meantime, I thought I would continue with my Italy journal posts.

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23 November 2018
3:53 PM - Vesuvius, waiting for bus to Pompeii

I didn't forget to write last night; I was just not feeling well so I went to bed early.
Yesterday, I was thankful for:

1. train to Naples - I managed to get my bag on to the overhead rack. Sadly, nobody offered to help. It was a quick hour of train ride - the train was going at 245 km/hr. wow!

2. metro to B&B - the metro was fine but the walk to the B&B turned out to be a bit exhausting, and there is no elevator at the B&B so I had to carry my luggage up 4 flights of stairs. a bit of a workout, I tell ya.

3. B&B - my room is like a little apartment - there are separate rooms for the bedroom and closet and bathroom with a little hallway. The closet felt a little claustrophobic, but other than that, I like the room.

4. cuoppo, baba, sfogliatella - all good and yummy! And it was actually Thanksgiving in the US yesterday so Happy Thanksgiving!!!

sfogliatella and baba

cuoppo di mare

9:16 PM - Naples

I feel like I've done my 2 weeks worth of steps the past few days, which is good because I also feel like I have eaten 2 weeks worth of food in that few days.

Today, I am thankful for:

1. train to Pompeii - not bad at all, got a seat on the train, but I did arrive in Pompeii early, about a half hour before it opened so I had to wait a little.

2. Pompeii ruins - amazing. so much history. I wish I had more time, there was so much more to see. I had to focus mostly on the sites I listed beforehand because I wanted enough time for the bus to Vesuvius.

3. bus to Vesuvius - I needn't have rushed through the ruins because the bus was really late or I think maybe it's on a different schedule than what was posted (summer schedule perhaps?) . While I was waiting at the bus stop, with a few other people there waiting for the bus as well, a guy approached us and told us that the bus only operates during the summer and offered to take us to Vesuvius in his car (for a price, of course). I'm glad I wasn't convinced and didn't go with him, because the bus did finally come, after an hour of waiting, but it still came.

4. Vesuvius - man, I am so out of shape. I was out of breath just walking from the ticket booth to the entrance... to be fair, it was a bit of a walk but still, I had a long way to go yet. From the entrance, I think it took me maybe about 45 minutes to hike up to the top, with stops to take pictures and sometimes to pretend to take pictures while really trying to catch my breath. And then about 30 minutes to go back down. And then I, along with other people, had to wait for the bus back to Pompeii train station.

The rest of the day was comparatively uneventful, and I got back safe and sound to the B&B. Thank you, God.