A minor mountain climb and a brothel!

Tuesday morning dawned, grey but significantly less wet than the day before and as we sailed into port the sun was just breaking over the horizon giving just the briefest glimpse of what we hoped was going to be a fine day.

I awoke feeling slightly achey but otherwise fine and knowing that some food and a steaming cup of tea would start to put me to rights, I headed for a quick shower to revive me. The only problem with being in a cabin with someone else is that, no matter how quiet you are, there is nothing you can do to stop your movements being heard and so as I slipped into the bathroom I heard Claire’s drowsy enquiry to how I was feeling. Popping my head back out the bathroom I told her I was much better but needed a shower and she had time yet to doze before the alarm went off. Satisfied that I seemed human, Claire lazed about until I was finished in the bathroom and we got ready for the day ahead.

Having learned from the day before, Claire and I packed a couple of spare dry tops into our bags (although hoping we wouldn’t need them) and threw in a pair of ankle socks to warm our toes on the coach – as we both had sandals on. Ready for the day ahead, we once again went in search of breakfast.

From the minute we left the cabin, members of staff asked how I was feeling and commented on the improvement in my colour and spirit. Answering everyone briefly and thanking them for their concern Claire and I finally reached the restaurant – 5 minutes after leaving the cabin and 4 minutes longer than it normally took to get there. Queuing for the syri-gel we chatted about the day ahead and Claire asked me if I was really up for it – after all, neither she or I wanted a repeat performance of the day before. Reassuring her that I really was much better and reiterating that I would have to be strapped to a hospital bed not to go to Pompeii I managed to allay her fears and we took a seat for breakfast. Within seconds of being sat, Alex and Elvis (one of our evening waiters) were at our table asking how I was and could they do anything to help. They were really very sweet and although they both offered to go to the buffet and get whatever it was my heart desired for breakfast I managed to persuade them that I was perfectly capable of getting my own food but if they could get me a mug of tea – rather than any of this pathetic 2 mouthfuls cups we normally had, I would love them forever.

Needless to say, by the time Claire and I had returned to our seats with some food, there were 2 mugs of steaming tea waiting. I loved these men! Leaving us in peace to eat, Alex returned as we were finishing up to seriously ask if I was ok, reassuring him (and thus every other member of wait staff) that I really was better, still not 100% but nothing some fresh air and exercise wouldn’t cure he let us go with best wishes for the day and told us he’d see us later at dinner.

A quick run down to the cabin for our bags and tickets turned into another challenge as more people stopped me to ask how I was feeling, so leaving Claire to grab my stuff for me I tried to reassure everyone that I wasn’t really so stupid as to go on another trip if I wasn’t up to it and yes, the fever had gone – I’d managed to eat breakfast and I would just take the day steady. Trying very hard not to hunt Kane down and ask him to do something as mad as an announcement to the same effect to stop me loosing my marbles, I met Claire at the gangplank for disembarkation to find her talking to some of the entertainment staff who were escaping for the morning before they had to be back for rehearsals. I was greeted to a round of smiles and pointed comments about not being able to hold my liquor (which in turn received some pointed looks and immature behaviour on my behalf) we made our way off the ship and to our coach for the day. Waving goodbye to the team we settled onto the coach as Claire told me she’d already told the entertainment guys how I was and asked them not to push the issue. Ever grateful to Claire for realising I was on the verge of madness I told her she had to do something now so everyone would leave me be. That suggestion was greeted to a look which would have put me 6 feet under if I didn’t know it was all in jest.

And so our trip began with the winding road up the side of Vesuvius. Ah Vesuvius – does anyone not know the name of this volcano and its volatile history? Well, I’m assuming not – so rather than bore you with tales of the disaster’s it’s caused I’m simply going to summarise it with the one name – Pompeii.

The view of Vesuvius from the coach

Reaching as far as we could by coach, we disembarked and our guide finished his talk on the volcano. Passing us our tickets he told us we had a little under 2 hours to make it to the top – go as far round as we wanted and get back to the coach. Ahhh! Simple, a leisurely pace and time to spare we thought. Oh, if only! Lol! Once you get through the ticket gates you’re greeted with a steep incline and a winding path to the top. Telling Claire that if need’s be I’d meet her at the top we began to climb and admire the view back down over the town and the bay. Now, not unsurprisingly, the higher you get the colder you get, but we hadn’t accounted for was the strong wind. Whilst we weren’t exactly cold, there is nothing like a cold head to make you feel colder – so bundling up under my scarf and Claire under her hood we carried on to the summit and when we got there….. a hole! Lol! The funny thing was we knew this and whilst we were happy watching it vent its steam there were people complaining about the lack of lava! They failed to consider the fact that if there was lava visible we wouldn’t have been allowed up to the summit in the first place.

 The Face in the Mountain

 The start of the climb

 Looking back over the harbour

Letting of steam

So having conquered the mountain – sorry volcano and almost got blown off the top by the high winds, we made our way back to the coach to find it already more than half full – of 32 passengers, we were 2 of only 12 people that made it to the summit and along the rim! Warming our toes up whilst we waited for the last few to arrive and looking at each others photos I can honestly say I had forgotten how ill I’d been the day before.

As we left Vesuvius to head for lunch and Pompeii the weather cleared further and the threatening clouds cleared. Yay! Sitting down to a traditional Margareta Pizza for lunch (seriously there is nothing like it – if you ever go to Naples you have to have one!) we were joined by a highly amusing couple who we hadn’t met before on the ship; Nick and Claire. Full of pizza and ready to settle down for a siesta, we were once again rallied to venture into the past, to the world of gladiators, brothels and gluttony – oh how I love ancient history and more so, Pompeii!

I could rave for hours on the wonders of Pompeii – really I could, I studied the site and its history for 2 years as a student and my fascination with it has meant that it’s also been a personal addiction in my spare time. So rather than bore you, I’ll leave you with some of my personal favourite photos of the trip.

 The Gladiator's Arena

 The theatre steps - recreated

 The steps across the road

 Original wall writing - the name of the house owner

 The Brothel

 The Brothel 'Menu'

 From the marketplace - some of the original signs

 Decoration within the men's baths

 In the baths - carved from one singular piece of marble

 One of the bodies which has been cast

Some of the gardens on the way out of Pompeii

Upon returning to the ship, slightly weary and in my case, dire need for a cup of tea, we wandered to the bar to get a steaming hot mug before returning to the cabin for showers and that nights preparation for looking stunning (if it was actually going to be possible in my case). Mugs of tea drunk and two showers later, we stood staring at the wardrobe again and having debated which dresses we would don it then returned to the usual debate as to what to do with our hair. Not in the mood for having hundreds of pins stuck in my head again I kept it quite simple with a network of overlapping braids in a lattice effect whilst we twisted Claire’s up in a bun with strategically placed curls.

With time to grab a drink before dinner we ventured into the Clipper Bar, where the two bartenders enthusiastically welcomed us and declared how glad they were to see me up and about again. 2 glasses of wine delivered, they entertained us with some slight of hand before we headed down for dinner. Once seated I once again surrendered to a round of polite acceptance of everyone's best wishes and reassured everyone that I was much better.

The first course had just been served when we hit the open seas and the ship lurched. Slightly mistified we asked Raymond (our other waiter) if he knew what the weather forcast was for the night. He said he didn't but would ask around and get back to us. Well, getting back to us came in the shape of Alex and a cheeky smile as he explained he was using the answer as an excuse to come and say hi. Although he was lovely and it was great to talk to him, the news he bore was less fun - we were due rough seas, force 7 gales to be exact. Oh joys!

Thank goodness for sea sickness tablets is all I can say!

Dinner over we moved on to see that nights performance in the show lounge - Modelled by Mowtown. I can't fault the showteam, boat bouncing - passangers looking green and I defy you to know the showteam were struggling. A perfect performance and not a foot out of place. It was only later, talking to Nick (head of entertainment) that we learned over half the team had been throwing up moments before the show- suffering with an extreme case of sea sickness!

After the show we wandered through to the Oklahoma lounge to prop up the bar with Neil and half heartedly listen in to the alternative question of sport which was taking place. Lively conversation, much laughing and many drinks later the show team (or those who were still coping with the rough sea) came to do the evening disco - rock your soul, with Kane (the cruise director) making a guest appearance! well, all I can say is WOW! what a voice and a hidden talent and a half. Much dancing, more laughing and several drinks later we headed below deck to the cabin about 2am - knowing we didn't have to get up early as we weren't due to dock until midday. By this point in the holiday, a lie in was much needed!

Another fabulous animal creation awaited us in the cabin and after a pint of water had been consumed a rolled into bed to sleep the night away, totally unaware of the ship been tossed around like a pebble in the sea.

Day 5: A unexpected twist of events