arrivederci napoli - today we pack up and drive out of portici
today's plan was to drive back to sorrento and ferry it to capri
but the feeling is we will return for another visit and do it then
instead today we will take the scenic route back to our lazio base
a longer journey than the 2-3 hours to get here via the autostrade
out with google maps - find a town on the west coast - point - shoot
formia is the target and should take a couple of hours cross country
we get past naples city quickly on their efficient roading system
first impression of rural campania is that it is flat, dry and busy
various factories are randomly placed as are some small towns
there's a very real feeling of authenticity as we observe life here
particularly in the flat, unadorned, large town of cancello ed arnone
a sharp contrast to the tourist-oriented places of the last few days
but with that an appreciation of being a brief part of real life here
a fleeting visit as we find ourselves heading north next to the coast
it seems like the coastal strip is holiday-oriented - but not glitzy
possibly the place where the more average italian is summer bound
it's all quite rundown with many vacant and delapidated buildings
we've seen this in other parts of italy - a sign of economic hardship?
all very interesting though especially seeing towns high up on hills
any one of them would be worth a visit but we still have a long drive
as we cruise into formia we spot a town on a peninsula further north
formia looks ok but gaeta looks to be some kind of fortress town
so on we go and upon arrival we park the car and walk...and walk
we are in another special place - gaeta is in a beautiful location
the northern part of a large bay with mountains to the south
a marina is chocked full of large and modern looking boats
there are a couple of large yachts racing out on the water
and a mini-cruise ship is docked with a gangplank down
the buildings - wow - old but all in immaculate condition
seems we have stumbled on some kind of rich man's riviera
it's early afternoon and deserted - the many food outlets closed
the place probably buzzes at night and the looming holiday season
good for us now though as we then head up towards a cathedral
as we approach we find it is no longer used with a security fence
and an immediate thought - ah the money these days is in toys
maybe the purchase and upkeep of boats diverted from culture
shame as this cathedral with it's large welcoming statue is prime
it's pastel colours a beautiful contrast against the bright blue sky
we walk down and back along the foreshore to our waiting car
a longish drive to hit the ring-road around rome then north
quite a relief to get to our current home in torrita tiberina
it's been a totally fulfilling 4 days in the trip to napoli...
