Pompeii Italy

Pompeii needs no introduction.  It was buried by ashes from an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.  It was buried under 4 to 6m of volcanic ash.  It was a wealthy city of 10,000 to 20,000 residents when it was buried.  It was discovered in the 16th century but excavations did not occur until the 18th century.  Most of Pompeii was uncovered by 1960.

Before going to Naples I thought I have to join a tour to see Pompeii.  But when I arrived in Naples my B&B hostess Alessandra told me it's easier to go on my own and join a guided tour there.  I took the Circumvesuviana (EAV) from the lower level of Naples Central Station (Napoli Piazza Garibaldi) to Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri.  The ticket costs €3.30 one-way.

Train station for Pompeii

When I arrived at the train station there was a ticket booth right in front of me.  I thought that was the official ticket booth to the entrance but it is a private ticket booth that sells tickets and guided tours.  I bought the tickets and another ticket to take the bus to the top of Mount Vesuvius later.  In total I paid €69 or about $78.

Ticket Booth (not the official booth)

Entrance to the Pompeii Ruins

I am glad I bought the guided tour because without it I will be seeing a lot of structures but no explanation.  It is beyond my knowledge or memory to explain all these structures but below are some of the pictures.  There have been many articles and books written about Pompeii. The structures are very similar to some of the Roman structures I have seen in other countries - Turkey, Jordan and Morocco are some that I remember.

First Glimpse of the Ruins

After the ruins I took a bus up to Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that spewed the ash and covered Pompeii.  It was about a 30-minute bus ride away.  The bus stopped almost at the top.  In order to reach the summit you have to hike another 30 minutes.  I was too tired after the entire morning of guided tour around Pompeii so I did not hike to the top.  

Vesuvius National Park

Information about Mount Vesuvius

Trail to the summit

Waiting area of the buses

Gift shop and entrance to the trail

It was a long day - a lot of walking for the guided tour and a lot of waiting for the bus at Vesuvius.  However, it was a day well spent.  Now whenever I read about Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius I can visualize what it's like and have a better understanding.

Naples Italy

I have four days between my trip to Munich and the start of my Sicily tour with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT).  I decided to go to Naples, where I have always wanted to see Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.  I took an 1 1/2 hour flight on easyJet from Munich to Naples.  EasyJet is a budget airline that flies all over Europe.  It was modeled after Southwest Airlines in the United States.  It provides a convenient and affordable way to fly between mid- and small-size airports.

I landed in Naples on a late Monday morning.  Through my research I found that you can take the Alibus from the airport to the city center for only 5 euros.  That is much more affordable than a taxi which will cost about 30 euros.  The bus stops about 500m from the Bed and Breakfast (B&B) called Serendipity that I booked.  I had trouble finding my way initially but eventually found an old building next to McDonald's.  It was deceiving on the outside because it looks nothing like the pictures I saw on the internet.  I was welcomed by Alessandra the owner.  When I entered the B&B everything looks modern.

I picked Serendipity because it is convenient to everything and everywhere I wanted to go.  It is located in Piazza Garibaldi, the main square of the city.

Entrance to the B&B

B&B Apartment

I come to Naples because there are two places I want to go:  Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.  I saved them for days 2 and 3 respectively.  On the first day I walked around the city.  Two things I was surprised by:  the number of non-white immigrants (mostly Africans and Indians) and how dirty the city is.  Granted, it is a very big and old city but that should not preclude it from overflowing trash cans and litter in Garibaldi Square and the nearby streets.  

I was told that the Naples Cathedral or Duomo is a must-see.  Alessandra, the hostess, show me where all the popular landmarks are.  They are clustered around the city center.  

One of the streets in the city center

Outside the duomo

Another city street

Overflowing trash

Tourists on the streets

Inside the Cathedral

One of the beauty of visiting Naples is the food.  My B&B hostess gave me a list of suggested restaurants in the area.  One of them is a pizza restaurant.  Of course, Naples is famous for its Neapolitan pizza.  I went to the Franco Gallifuoco restaurant and the crust of the pizza is the best I ever had.  I think it has a lot to do with the dough and the wood-fired oven they use.

Pizza chef and the wood-fired oven in the background

My Margherita pizza

The Franco Callifuoco restaurant

I had many delicious meals in Naples, all recommended by my hostess.  One of the most memorable recommendation is a pastry shop just below my room.  It's called "Attanasio" Vico Ferrovia 1.  Here's a Google map of its location:  Sfogliatelle Attanasio.

Here are all the recommendations she gave (from a WhatsApp message):

Food tips 🥐🍕🍝

RESTAURANT AND PIZZERIA

Close to Serendipity 

“Franco Gallifuoco” (pizzeria and restaurant)

Corso A. Lucci 195

“Mimí alla Ferrovia” (restaurant)

Via Alfonso d’Aragona 19/21

https://www.mimiallaferrovia.it

“La cantina dei mille” (restaurant and pizzeria)

Piazza G. Garibaldi 126

“Amoroso 1876” (restaurant and pizzeria)

Piazza G. Garibaldi 121

Around the city

“Diego Vitagliano” via Santa Lucia 78 (pizzeria)

“I decumani” (pizzeria)

Via dei Tribunali

“Signora Bettola” (trattoria)

via Medina 72 

el +39 081 377 8653

“La locanda del Gesù Vecchio” (trattoria)

Via Giovanni Paladino 26

“Officina del mare” 

Piazzetta dei marinari 20 (on the seafront nearby Castel dell’Ovo) only fish or pasta with seafood

BREAKFAST

“Attanasio” Vico Ferrovia 1

is the most famous pastries shop in Napoli, from Serendipity just turn on the corner

(Close on Monday)

“Granato” piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi 

“Cuori di sfogliatella” piazza Garibaldi 93

Sfogliatelle Attanasio

A couple of days later when I came back to Naples I tried to go to the Sansevero Chapel and Museum.  Unfortunately I could not get in because all the tickets were sold out that day.  If I had known it was so popular I would have booked the ticket in advance.  This is a "must-see" if you ever go to Naples.  Here is a link to its website:  https://www.museosansevero.it/en

Then I decided to walk to the nearby National Archaeological Museum of Naples.  It has many beautiful sculptures from different ancient periods of history in Naples.

My next two stops are Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.  

Munich and Oktoberfest 2026

I get a standing invitation to come to Oktoberfest in Munich every year.  My good friend Tobias has a way to get a table reserved for him and his friends.  Since I was coming to Europe this year I thought I'd make a stop in Munich before going on to Sicily.  I was lucky to find a Business Class "open-jaw" ticket with Turkish Airlines at a very good price.  I fly from JFK airport in NYC to Istanbul to Munich on the outbound and Palermo to Istanbul to JFK on the inbound.  In between my stay in Munich, including a short visit to Salzburg, and Sicily, I was able to schedule a few days in Naples.  I've always wanted to see Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast so this is the best opportunity for me to do so.  I will write about that trip in my next post.

When I landed in Munich on a late Tuesday evening I had already planned on the trip to Salzburg, which I wrote in my previous post.  Upon my return from Salzburg, after a few hours rest, Tobias and his wife, Christine, and I went straight to Theresienwiese, the area in Munich where Oktoberfest is held.  There was a large crowd on the train and walking towards the fairgrounds.

Tobias, Christine and I

Large crowds outside the beer tent

The official Oktoberfest actually starts in September.  Why?  Years ago they said it was too cold in October so they start in September, and overflow into October.  The day I attended in late September was a beautiful warm day.  We walked around the fairgrounds before going into the tent where we have a table reserved.  It's not easy to get a table.  You can come early and get into a tent but if you are not sitting at a table you won't be served beer.  Through some connections Tobias was able to get a table in one of the tents.  There are about 10 big tents, each holding about 8,000 happy beer drinkers.  Each tent is sponsored by a beer company.  There is a lot of 1-liter mugs of beer sold.  I was told that each tent can generate about 4 million euros a night!  One liter of beer costs about 16 euros.

Our waitress delivering beer

Happy friends!

Drinking and Singing

Fans sining "Sweet Caroline"

Everyone had a glorious time.  Who wouldn't?  After all the beer and a rousing atmosphere you can't help but be happy and singing.  The band was playing very loud music.  As the night goes on the music gets louder and at a higher tempo.  I was waiting for the song that will get everyone singing - "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond.  For some reason this song became the most popular song at Oktoberfest.  Every Oktoberfest I attended in the past, this song will get some to jump on the table and start singing and dancing.  Maybe it's because of its catchy tune and easy sing along tune.  Like many baseball games in the US this song has become the anthem of many public events.  Neil Diamond is sitting happily at home collecting royalties.

I have been to Munich several times but I have mostly gone around the Marienplatz area where there is a big pedestrian mall and in the middle of it all is the well-known and popular Glockenspiel.  

The Glockenspiel in Marienplatz

This time I asked my friend Tobias to show me around the downtown area.  We expanded my previous knowledge of the area and walked by many places I have never seen before.  

Munich Cathedral

Statue of a famous person

An important residence

In the morning we also visited the Lustheim Palace.  It is a beautiful setting for a palace.  It was not busy in the morning but as we were leaving in the afternoon more visitors, including a wedding party showed up.

Lustheim Palace

Another view

We had some refreshments in a beer garden.  I was surprised that the Germans like mackerel.  They eat it barbequed.  Most Americans said that mackerels are too oily, which is exactly why the Germans like it.  Like salmon and sardines, oily fish are healthy.  Mackerels are included in that category.

BBQing mackerels

On Sunday we were invited to lunch with Christine's brother at a small town a few miles away.  There was  a farmers' market going on. 

A German band 

Two women entertaining visitors 

Kids' performance

Our table of friends

It was a wonderful and short visit to Munich.  I feel so lucky to know someone and get invited to Oktoberfest every year.  I will be back!