Our transportation plans have changed a little bit. I had already purchased train tickets from Ancona to Sorrento. It was to be our longest journey yet. We would need to pack, leave the villa, return the rent car and get to our train by 8:35. When I was discussing this plan with our Hertz guy the other day, Danita jumped in to ask, “If we were to drop off the car here at the airport instead of the train station, would that be ok?” “Drop-a off-a eeesaa drop-a off-a.”, was his reply. And yes, my mind started wondering then.

It took Danita another day to ask, “If we did not take the train, but took a plane from Napoli to Ancona, would you still be my friend?”

So from train to plane…that is the plan.

Even though our departure time was noon, I got up early, packed, showered and wrote a bit. Around 9:30, we were off to the areoporto.

My parents always wished I could experience the freedom of having a car in Italy. Hearing their stories of Daddy driving while Mom navigated, exploring towns off the beaten path and just the fun of driving in a different country (parking, driving in reverse down a hill top town), made me want to do so. My first try has been a great experience. Being able to pull a U turn and drive down a dirt road to get a closer look at fields and fields of sunflowers, exhibit one.

Arrivi l’aeroporto, l’automobile di ritorno, Nessus problema.

But when we walk into the terminal, we get a bit confused.

Not a whole lot going on here. We ask. Ahhh…we are at the arrival building. So we head over to departures. And after a bit of waiting in the checkin line (even though there were only 4 people ahead of us) and at the termini…we board…a tad behind schedule but still ahead of what the train would have been…most likely.

There are two flights involved in this passage. We will fly from Ancona to Roma, Roma to Napoli.

Arrivi Roma…and we wait. I didn’t pay much attention to the time, but I could hear others around us complaining that we were going to be an hour or so behind schedule. We board aereo due…

And we wait and wait and wait. During this wait time, I am communicating with the shuttle company I had previously scheduled to pick us up at the Napoli Treno Stazione and take us to Sorrento. We worked it out where they pick us up at the areoporto instead, but now he and I are going back and forth regarding our arrival time in Napoli. At one point he asks me, “What time will you arrive in Napoli?” I tell him, since I am still sitting on the runway in Roma…it’s a little tough to say. He writes back later saying his information says we have taken off and should be arriving shortly. I look out the window, verifying we are indeed still on the Terra, and I inform him otherwise. At this point….we are behind what the train schedule would have been…most likely.

Due ore behind schedule…we are airborn.

Let’s face it…things could be worse. Whenever we arrive, we can figure out a way to get to Sorrento. There may be more euro involved…but we can get there. Things could be worse.

Hang on…things are about to get worse.

Arrivi Napoli.
It takes about 30 minutes for the little baggage track to start rolling our luggage out. OK, there’s mine. One more to go. Waiting, waiting, waiting…

When the termini worker holds his hands up and says, “E tutti…finito”, Danita and I just look at each other…straight faces…and she joins the line under the Bagagli Smarriti sign.

I feel bad for her.  Her question, “If we take a plane instead of a train, will you still be my friend” is taking on a different twist.

Meanwhile, back at the luggage carousel, I am still communicating with Francesco regarding our driver and car to Sorrento. He writes asking if we have arrived. Then letting me know our driver is waiting. Then letting me know our driver is still waiting. I first tell him we are waiting on our bags. Then tell him we are waiting on one. Then tell him we are waiting in line to report a missing bag.

Meanwhile, back at the Bagagli Smarriti line, Danita is making her way up. She’s one due persona away, but the donna in front of her at the window WILL NOT let her complaint go. She goes on and on regarding the fact she has two small children who will have no clothes.

Danita mutters something about an impending meltdown…but keeps her cool. It is ironic that Vesuvius is a couple of miles away. I wonder which may explode first.

Next up, little Italian looking guy in front of Danita. When he opens his mouth to make his claim, we realize he’s not Italian, Italian, but of Italian decent from possibly the Bronx. He speaks with a little bit of a lisp which I am sure is exacerbated by the situation.

Finding it difficult to communicate the name of the hotel he will be staying at, he resorts to the old A like Apple explanation. He’s going through everything, “I like Igloo, M like Mountain, P like Pig, E like….E like…” Here he gets stuck. Finally he leans in under the little glass barrier as he finds his solution, “E like Eggwoll”…

E like Eggwoll??? Oh my gosh, THIS nugget might have been worth all this delay. E like Eggwoll…WHERE does that come from? Danita and I just look at each other doing a pretty good job of containing our laughter. Later Danita shares she thought he said, “E like eyewoll”…which would work perfectly in this situation…whatever it was, it was priceless!!

Meanwhile back at the luggage carousel…Let’s check in with Francesco. He’s being super patient as we are now well over due ore pasted our scheduled pickup time.

Glancing around at others who are waiting to report their lost baggage, I see a little this…

and a whole lotta this…

Paperwork finished, promises of a within 24 hour delivery made…most likely…we make it out where our driver is to be waiting.

And sure enough…There is Mario…

When he sees us laughing and waving at him…he looks down at his watch and gives us a look. That stops us in our tracks and Danita spouts something about he better not go there….He follows up with a “No problema” and escorts us to the car.

As we pass Vesuvius on our way out of Napoli…I giggle.

I will end today’s post with highlight of our day.
Enter the Limoncello Cocktail at D’Anton…

While I threw off the bagged out boyfriend jeans I had on all day, Danita scoped out this quaint little spot right across from our room. Brava mi amica!! Brava!! As we later reflect, Sorrento is a place we would probably not return…although we enjoyed our short time here. But this cocktail, was worth all that preceded it. We add to it a piatto di aperitivo and are revived.

While we sat, a storm entertained us. Gabriel moved our table under an awning as the rain poured down and the lightening danced.

Another bella example of Tutto e ‘Bene Quel Che Finisce Bene…