Just got back from ridding around Italy.
John and I left Wed night and flew over night to Germany. Germany we had a 3 hour layover that turned into a 10 hour layover. The first flight was canceled. It could have been worse.
Ate some German food and a pretzel.
Have 10 hours of sitting around the airport. I tried to sleep a little but couldn't. So I put my helmet on. So it would make it quieter. Got some interesting looks when sitting around the airport with my helmet on.
The front desk of the hotel we were going to stay at closes at 10 PM. Our flight wasn't landing till 11 PM. After a few phone calls and they said they would stick around till we got there.
We finely get to Naples Italy. Walk of of the airport to get a taxi to head to the hotel. This guy comes walking up to us asking if we needed a taxi. Where are you going? Pompeii. He replies with "Pompeii no problem." We get in his van.
The taxi drive takes off flying around turns. At one point we went on an on ramp across 4 lanes to another ramp doing 110 KMH (68 MPH) while he was reading an email. Keeps saying "Pompeii no problem." He didn't know where the hotel was. Once we get to Pompeii he pulls to this Bar/Cafe starts yelling at people sitting at a outdoor table. One of the guys sitting there comes over they start going back and forth. The taxi drive tells the guy at the table he is wrong and the taxi driver takes off.
John calls the hotel. The person that answered asked where are we and why haven't gotten there yet. John hands the phone to the taxi drive and they start going back and forth.
We go a few blocks the taxi driver stop starts yelling get out we are here. We start to get out of the van looking around. This isn't the hotel. The taxi driver is saying it is. Then he goes no it isn't. get back in the van. drives around to the back of the building and starts yelling get out we are here.
There is a family sitting sitting outside. This older man come walking over starts asking what is going on. The taxi drive shoves me back into the van. At this point I am stating to think isn't this how scary movies start out? Drive down a few blocks there is 2 people standing outside. we get to the hotel.
View from the hotel room.
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| Courtyard view |
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| The bike I rode all week. |
Meet up with Joe and head to Camping Village Fabulous. Where we meet up with the Blue Knights.
I really like the trees at Fabulous.
Relaxing between riding and dinner.
Saturday we go to meet the Blue Knights to do a riding tour of Rome. Some how we missed them leaving. So Joe and I took off to do our own thing. We rode out to ride the Via Appia Antica a ways then headed back to Rome.
While on the Via Appia Antica we stopped at Catacombe di San Sebastiano. If you are claustrophobic this is not something you want to do. The very low ceilings and small walk ways between a few larger rooms.
Some video of the Via Appia Antica.
(hopefully I'll get it uploaded soon)
When we got back to Rome there was some big event going on with lots of road closuesrs so we turned around and went back to Fabulous.
Sunday we left Fabulous and headed for the mountains.
This was painted over the bed in the rooms. Was told it translates to "In life it does not matter where you go but who you travel with."
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| In life it does not matter where you go but who you travel with. |
We left the hotel and rode up to Camp Imperatore. Campo Imperatore in the Gran Sasso National Park.
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| Altitude 2,130 meters (6,990 ft) |
The Camp Imperatore Hotel is where Mussolini was held during WWII. Look up Gran Sasso raid to see how German paratroopers rescued Mussolini.
Next to Camp Imperatore Hotel there is this very small Catholic church.
Church of the Madonna Della Neve
Tuesday morning we got up and headed towards the Amalfi coast. The roads leading up to Agerola where our hotel was had some really nice switch backs.
Wednesday we headed down to the Amalfi coast.
John and Joe looking at a map only to realize it was a map of hicking trails around the Amalfi coast area.
Walking around Amalfi.
Wednesday night we had some crazy thunder storms. Thursday morning it was still raining on and off with some nice heavy rain. So for lunch we when for a short walk around Agerola.
These were all over. They don't look like much but look like they could be fun to mess around with.
The rain moved out Thursday afternoon and we headed out to ride along the coast.
The last gelato before heading back home.
Friday morning left Agerola and head to Pompeii to drop off the bikes.
Dropped off the bikes and headed to Naples to catch a early 4 AM (GMT+2) (10:00 PM EST) flight home.
Waiting to board the flight watching the sun come up over the mountains.
Arrive back home. What better way to relax then to sit in the backyard by a fire with a few friends.
Some videos from the trip.
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