Last Day with the Car

This morning we got up bright and early to check out of the hotel.  While mom went for a morning stroll, us children packed up our things.  We enjoyed our last morning in Praiano having our breakfast with a fantastic view.  After breakfast we had to start the long treacherous walk back to the car.  We had a lot of luggage, and there were many stairs we had to take.  Kathleen and I took the long way to the car that had maybe 20 stairs to climb with a ramp.  Charlie and mom took there luggage up the steep stairs to the car.  Charlie and mom definitely beat us to the car.  Before we left, Charlie made a little pitstop at a little grocery store, where we got paninis and drinks for the road.

Charlie at his little store

We finally had everything and almost everyone in the car.  Charlie was going to help me with getting out of the parking space.  I had parked along the Amalfi Coast where I got lucky with parking on Friday night.  This morning I had to get out of the parking space and do a u-turn on the small road without falling off the cliff into the water.  Everything worked out fine.  I didn't hit -- "tap"-- any pedestrians or parked scooters.  We drove along the Amalfi Coast through Positano, so we could make our way to Pompei.  I just want to remind you, that I was driving a manual car.  Yes, a manual car through the mountains of Italy and the Amalfi Coast.  I felt like I was a race car driver while I was in Italy because I was constantly shifting gears when I was making sharp turns and going up and down hills/mountains.

Me trying to get our 2011 Ford Kuga out of the parking space without ending up in the water

Charlie and Kathleen really wanted to see Pompei.  It was on our way to Roma, so we made a pitstop to see the ruins of Pompei.  I recommend that you do NOT drive in the area of Pompei if you are a driver who is always second guessing yourself about whether or not you should pull into traffic.  Where we were driving, no one followed the rules of the road.  No one stopped at stop signs.  There were tons of stop lights, but they didn't work.  If you wanted to make a turn or get through an intersection, then you held on for dear life and prayed that the person coming towards you sees you and slows down to let you through.

After finding parking near the ruins, we were able to take a leisurely tour of the ruins.  It was amazing to see all the streets and buildings that were once there.  In some of the buildings you could see the original flooring and artwork on the walls.  It was pretty neat.  It was also pretty hot out in the sun.  Whenever we had the chance, Kathleen and I would relax a little bit in the shade.

Charlie, Kathleen, mom, and me in Pompei

When we finished our tour of Pompei, we jumped back in the car, turned on the GPS system, and got out of Pompei.  Our next stop was Fiumicino Airport in Rome.  The plan was to drop of the car at the Avis rental place at the airport.  Originally we were just going to take the metro from the airport, but I put my foot down and said "NO!"  I did not want to carry my luggage through the metro (I should say, I didn't want Charlie to carry my luggage).  We all had too much luggage to drag up and down stairs, and through the hot streets of Rome.  We looked in the Rick Steve's book and he said a cab from the airport to anywhere in Rome City was 45 euros for up to 4 people with luggage.  He was right on.  The taxi driver dropped us off at the hotel, and he said the fare was 45 euros.  Not too bad Rick Steve!

It has been a long day.  We have all settled into the Hotel Atlante Star.  Here Charlie, Kathleen, and mom will stay until Saturday morning.  I will be leaving Wednesday morning, so I can make it home for a friend's bachelorette party.  The plan for tonight is to relax and to get ready to take on the city of Roma tomorrow!