(early riser edition – later edition covers trip to Mt Vesuvius)
Mitch had a four hour afternoon/early evening nap yesterday, and was able to paint the town red until 3:30am. this morning.
NOT US!
Sharon and I are still recovering from jet lag/poor sleep, and were in bed early.
Sorrento is the moped/vespa capital of all of Italy. More rambunctious cyclists than cars. The locals start riding in public at age 14. Crosswalks can appear to be a dangerous place to the uninitiated because of aggressive riders. We have learned, like the locals, how to be aggressive pedestrians.
Cannabis is legal, yet no sign of its use anywhere. Lemoncello (hard liquor) and wine are the big draws for temporary consciousness adjustments in these parts.
We hiked the 1500 steps up the mountain behind the monastery before dawn today. The stations of the cross decorated many switchback points. Not my religion, per se, I follow the Spirit, however. One included picture shows the view from the top.
We are headed to Mt Vesuvius later.
Have a happy, joy filled journey, whichever part of the path that you may be on!
(afternoon edition)
We hiked to the top of Mt Vesuvius today. Thank goodness the bus took us to within 25 minutes of the summit! Views from the top were good, though some haze prevented best view of the surrounding countryside.
The eruption of 1979 created the big crater. The eruption of 79 AD that took out Pompei was 10,000 times more powerful, for the amount of ash/pumice/rock thrown around the countryside. The caldera of the 79 blast is the immense valley between Vesuvius and the mountains beyond. To give you an idea of how much earth was tossed around in 79 AD that area used to extend to the heavens nearly 5500 feet!
It remains one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. 1 million Italians are in harms way, should it explode again like 79AD. If only one quarter of the most powerful volcanoes were to erupt to their potential in the next five years, virtually all life upon Earth would be destroyed. Yellowstone and Etna alone could spell the end of civilization.
The experts monitor their local threat closely.
(evening edition)
Well, Sharon and I finally recovered enough to enjoy the Italian night life with Mitch !
After nearly 21,000 steps up and down hillsides and volcanoes, it was a stirring conclusion to one of the fullest, finest, funnest days in our lives since the beginning if the pandemic.
Off to Herculaneum tomorrow!
Salute!
