Thursday: I'll Isle. I was here once. There aren't too many places in the world where I've made a second visit. I came to this part of Italy when I was working in Saudi Arabia in either 1985 or 1986. At the time, I did most of the trip by tour group. I vowed to return to the Isle of Capri again. I thought if I were rich, I'd fly all my friends here for fun trip. It is 22 or 23 years later and I did make it back.
Today, we were in no big hurry to get up. First we had to figure out how to get to the Marine Terminal at the waterfront. Napoli's Metro system doesn't make it there yet. We did find out that it is Bus #1 from the area in front of the main train station. We also found out that tickets can be bought from any tobacco shop. The rush hour is horrific and it probably would have been nearly as fast to walk but too tiring.
The cost of petrol has pushed up the prices of the ferry / hydrofoils to Capri. Our 2008 Lonely Planet said 10 to 12 Euros. It cost 17 Euros now for both types. So to get to the island and back today cost us about $100.
I wish I could say it was worth it, but I guess I am not as impressionable as I was close to a quarter century ago. There were a few picturesque views. It is now considered a shopping mecca and everything was too upscale for us, even the restaurants. We went to a grocer and bought a chunk of good cheese, several baked breads, and some mango juice. We ate lunch overlooking the houses which overlooked the sea in Anacapri. We took the funicular, and busses up. We took a bus to Capri proper and walked down to the port for our return.
After getting back in a very fast half hour as it was an old hydrofoil, we walked to Plaza del Plebiscito. Then we walked up Via Toledo past the Spanish Quarter. The subway system we got at Plaza Dante must be quite new. It was clean and bright. We switched lines and came out of Line 2 back at the station. It's not late.
Tomorrow, we will catch a 12:30 regional train to Rome. We have already reserved two nights at a hotel there. On Saturday, we'll go to see the things at the Vatican. On Sunday, we'll have to fly back home! I guess Alitalia is still in the air even though it has some financial trouble.