July 30 2018

Farewell Pompei, we hope you survive the next eruption from your very close temperamental neighbour!

We got on the local train to Naples and got off on the wrong station. No problem, get back on the train and get of in one stop – no extra charge!  As mentioned previously, there is graffiti everywhere, even the trains have graffiti on them.

This is the only graffiti in Italy that we have seen that is comparable to some of the \”art-work\” we have seen in other areas of Europe.  Maybe the only reason that graffiti is so prevalent in Italy is that it comes from an Italian word. The rest of the graffiti is just tags.

\”Both \”graffiti\” and its occasional singular form \”graffito\” are from the Italian word graffiato (\”scratched\”). … In ancient times graffiti were carved on walls with a sharp object, although sometimes chalk or coal were used\”

We bought our “slow train” tickets back to Rome. Cost of these tickets were E26 for two, cost for the fast train after 12:00 was E45.00 tickets for two. We should have got in to Rome about one hour later than the fast train. No worries worked on pictures and got the photos ready to update the blog.

The train was delayed at one station because the lights were not working on the track. The conductor on the train spoke very good English and asked if we had heard and understood the announcements. Good service!

When we arrived back at the hostel we had a nice cool shower and asked to do some washing. We were told the cost at the hostel was E10.00. E10.00 you have to be kidding me. We asked where the nearest Laundromat was, she said they charge E10.00 for the wash and dry. We don’t use the dryer for the cycling gear and our clothes. The young lass (Marianne) who is working the desk at the hostel, apologized for the cost. We got our dirty clothes together and were about to find the closest Laundromat when Marianne came in and said she would do the washing for free and if the boss came back she would say they were her clothes. The boss wasn’t due until 11:00 p.m. We didn’t want to get her into any trouble, but she took the clothes and put them in the washing machine. European washing machines take over an hour to complete the wash cycle. The washing was done, dried and folded by 8:00 p.m. – Good Service!

Ralf went to get us some pizza slices from the pizza place across from the hostel (Pizza Cinque). The lady who served us last time, served Ralf and asked where I was – Good Service! Things are looking up.

Tomorrow we are hoping to get the bikes boxed or at least boxes for the bikes. If we use a service, we have to get the boxed bikes from the bike shop back to the hostel. If we can get boxes, Ralf can box the bikes and we only have to get them from the hostel to the airport.

We are only booked into the hostel until Friday, then we either have to stay a few more days or find a hotel closer to the airport.