Trip 3… Naples Day 3
“Where the heat meets the horizon, there's a story waiting to be told.”
July in Southern Italy is a game of extremes. Some days, the heat feels like a warm embrace, soft and comforting. Other times, it's a fierce test of endurance, pushing you to your limits. Today, it was the other.
I woke up at the crack of dawn, greeted by the cheerful chirps of local birds outside my hotel window. The sun hadn’t yet risen, but I could already feel the promise of another scorching day ahead. I hopped out of bed, quickly got dressed, packed my things, and headed upstairs for breakfast—an all-important meal before tackling a journey back in time to the ancient city of Pompeii.
A breakfast fit for champions (just like the day before), we ate quickly, ensuring our bellies were full before embarking on the day’s adventures. By 7:20 AM, we were ready for the tour bus, booked through ‘Get Your Guide’. Our driver greeted us warmly as we boarded the small coach. We expected a few people to be there already, but to our surprise, we were the first ones. Not even the guide had arrived yet!
As we set off towards Pompeii, we drove through Naples, catching glimpses of the coast, the busy city center, and the looming castles in the distance. The mix of languages inside the coach was a fun contrast—French, English, Italian, and a few others—all weaving together in a lively symphony. The guide, effortlessly switching between them, had my full respect. It’s not every day you find a guide so skilled in handling such a diverse group!
STOP 1 - The Arrival at Pompeii
The air inside the coach was still bearable at first, but as we approached Pompeii, the temperature soared. The heat became intense—thick, suffocating, and unforgiving. My phone read 36°C, and by the time we arrived at the Pompeii site, it was already nearing 40°C. As the sun beat down on us, our excitement mixed with dread. This would be a test.
We stepped off the coach and into the sweltering heat, immediately feeling the full force of the summer sun. It was a race against time—grab a quick drink, use the bathroom, and get inside the site. We dashed toward a shaded area to regroup. The heat was unbearable, but the energy of the place was contagious. Our new tour guide was a whirlwind of enthusiasm, completely unbothered by the soaring temperatures. She was a true professional—her bubbly energy lifted our spirits as we prepped for the next leg of our journey.
After a quick stop at the toilets (which came with a fee!), we joined the line for the entrance, our bodies already starting to feel the toll of the heat. The garden at the entrance, full of vibrant greenery, seemed to stand strong against the temperature, its flowers and plants blooming as if Pompeii’s scorching sun didn’t touch them at all.
STOP 2 - Antiquarium di Pompei (The Museum)
Once inside the gates, we were greeted by cool gusts of air from fans blowing mist to keep us refreshed. The ancient ruins, however, offered little relief. The guide suggested we take the reverse route through the site to avoid the crowds of tourists crowded at the entrance. This turned out to be a brilliant move.
We veered off the main path, passing under thick green bushes that shielded us from the sun as we made our way to the Antiquarium di Pompei, a museum tucked inside the ruins. The exhibits were haunting—displays of the bodies of those who had perished in the eruption, their forms frozen in time, and artifacts recovered from the ash. It was both striking and unreal, with a sense of history quietly lingering in the air.
STOP 3 - The Heart of Pompeii: Foro di Pompei
As we explored, we encountered more buildings and ruins—some we could only admire from afar, but the preservation of the site was remarkable. It’s hard not to be amazed by how much this city has survived the centuries.
After about an hour of walking down sun-drenched, bumpy streets, dodging wasps at the water fountains, we finally reached the heart of Pompeii: the Foro di Pompei. The large open square, once bustling with the city’s life, now served as a gathering point for visitors, eager to snap photos and cool down in whatever little shade they could find.
By this point, I had gone through three or four bottles of water—each one turning lukewarm within minutes. We were all dripping sweat, but the sense of awe at the historical value of this place kept us going. The views around us were incredible, giving us a glimpse into how vast Pompeii once was. We took a much-needed break here, 10-15 minutes of stretching our legs and appreciating the view—before diving back into the intense heat.
STOP 4 - Teatro Grande (Pompeii’s Grand Theatre)
We rendezvoused back at the statue and continued our journey towards the Teatro Grande, Pompeii’s ancient theatre. The walk to the theatre was more relaxed, thanks to the shade, and our guide kept us entertained with her stories and humour. She explained how we took the less-crowded route to avoid the chaos at the more popular sites, making our visit much more enjoyable.
When we arrived at the theater, the space felt like a breath of fresh air—cool, spacious, and inviting, with tall flowering trees framing the entrance. Despite the heat, this spot made it all worth it. The amphitheater stood majestic, as though the laughter and cries of its audience still echoed within its walls. The crowd was beginning to grow, but our earlier detour had allowed us to experience this site with fewer people.
I can’t thank our guides enough. Their passion for Pompeii was infectious, and the tour was expertly done. 10/10—highly recommended!
As the tour ended, we were all exhausted, sweaty, and in desperate need of a break. The small coach we’d ridden in was now a sauna, and the journey back to the hotel felt like an eternity. Two hours after dropping off other guests later, we finally made it back to our hotel. We refilled our water bottles and, after a much-needed rest, decided to check out the hotel’s swimming pool. We booked a couple of slots for the pool on other days before heading down the hill for lunch.
STOP 5 - Lunch at Chalet Ciro 1952 - Mergellina
We made our way to Chalet Ciro 1952 for a much-needed refuelling session. The food was great, but the pigeons were a bit of a challenge—desperate for scraps and causing a bit of chaos. The highlight, though, came when a woman walked in with a golden eagle perched on her arm. Apparently, the eagle's job was to chase the pigeons away, and it did so with authority, swooping past us, wings spread wide. It was a spectacle in itself, but the pigeons didn’t give up easily!
Lunch: 7/10. The Burgers, sides, and fries were tasty, but the bird drama kept it from being perfect.
After refuelling, we ended the day with a sweet treat—gelato, of course! After choosing from an astonishing array of flavours, we sat in the shade and enjoyed our dessert. The heat was starting to cool, and we decided to take it easy for the rest of the evening.
Before heading back to the hotel, we stopped by a small market to grab some snacks for the night. I thought I’d discovered a shortcut, but it turned out to be someone’s driveway! So, we retraced our steps up the steep hill to the hotel. The climb was grueling, but I had a trick up my sleeve: walk 100 steps, pause, then repeat. It worked wonders! The rest of the group couldn’t keep up, so we had a little race to see who could reach the top the fastest.
When we finally made it back to our room, we cranked the air conditioning and collapsed onto the bed, our bodies sore but satisfied. A few cards on the balcony, some snacks from the market, and a quiet night in were all we needed to wrap up the day.
And with that, we drifted off to sleep, dreaming of the next adventure: Positano, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast!
Ciao for now!
E x
Trip 3… Naples Day 2
"Exploring new horizons, one destination at a time."
When heading to a new destination, you can often tell right from the start whether you’ll connect with the city or not. Sometimes, it’s a place you instantly vibe with, and other times, it’s a place you never want to visit again. Today was that day when I would get my answer about the city center where we were staying.
After a nice lay-in and getting ready, we headed up to the restaurant for our first breakfast buffet in Naples. My goodness, the view was impeccable! Seeing Mount Vesuvius, the sun’s rays reflecting off the water below, and looking out over the city from above was breathtaking. I could never get tired of that view, but the heat... well, that’s another story.
It was time to head to the buffet for my three rounds of breakfast:
Cereal (x2): Coco Mega Pops
Full English Breakfast: Bacon, scrambled eggs, sausages, toast, and a small portion of mushrooms
Pastries: Chocolate-filled mini croissants
Alongside all of this, I tried their blood orange juice to quench my thirst—amazing!
Rating: 9/10. Great variety, and the view to match. I could definitely enjoy breakfast like this every morning—minus the excruciating heat coming through the windows.
After a nice lay-in to adjust to the time change, we had breakfast—a fresh buffet with a beautiful view. We decided to take the tram, but it was shut down, so we opted for a taxi to the shopping district (the famous long road). We explored the shops, visited a lovely church, and stood in line for a water fountain. For lunch, we had chips and bruschetta with tomatoes from a local corner café.
I picked up a small gift for Mum and a bracelet for myself (I’d return another day for a gift for me). After that, we took a long, hour-long walk to a high-end shopping area. It was fine, but I didn’t know about the 200-meter high-elevation climb—we felt like we were walking to the top of the world! The hill was so steep it felt like death. Every time we turned a corner (thinking it was the end), the hill just kept going. Near the top, we started to hear people, cars, and shops again. Scraping the last bits of energy, we raced to the stairs at the top and made it! We’d conquered what felt like a mountain. Time to re-align the map in our heads and head to a shop for replenishments. Water and sugary snacks later, we arrived at the shopping district, which was a mix of local shops and well-known brands like LEGO, Zara, and H&M. We walked through the shops to pick up a few bits, and when I got to the till to buy a little vest top, I received an email about my WSET Level 2 Spirits course—I passed with flying colors! I was ecstatic! After six weeks of learning about spirits and preparing for the test, it was time to celebrate!
We headed to a local restaurant to celebrate and have dinner. We found a nice shaded spot at a place called "Canova Scarlatti." Eating outside, in the shade with fans around us to keep us cool, felt like bliss after the manic day we’d had. We all decided to go for comfort food. Club sandwiches were the way to go—club sandwich, chips on the side, and some apple juice. This was heaven! The customer service was excellent; the staff took care of everyone outside, nice and efficiently. I would highly recommend it—10/10.
After satisfying our hunger, it was time to head back to the hotel. Booking a taxi through FREENOW was the best thing I ever discovered! It was a bit of a nightmare with public transport at the time—the heat had melted the train lines, causing them to shut down, and there were no buses nearby where we were. Taxis were the next best thing! Once we got back to the air-conditioned hotel to unwind and clean ourselves up, we relaxed with the family, played cards, enjoyed our snacks from the corner shop, and unwound, preparing our bodies and minds for Pompeii in the morning.
Ciao for now!
E x
Trip 3… Naples Day 1
Sometimes, when life gets you down with a whole load of commotion, you just need to get away from it all. You need to clear your mind, be somewhere new for a little while, get your head back into order, and recharge before heading back into the chaos of everyday life. This trip was exactly what I needed. Being invited to Naples with the family last minute was the perfect opportunity. Time to book flights, secure a hotel, pack my bags, and go! A big thank you to Sky Scanner, EasyJet, Booking.com, and GetYourGuide for making the whole trip possible.
For this trip, my main focus was to enjoy as much as I could, discover the gems around Naples, recharge, and have a blast! I managed about two-thirds of those goals throughout the trip. A few days before heading to the airport, the news broke that a heatwave was hitting Italy, with temperatures reaching 36°C (or more!). This was going to be a hot holiday.
Packing the day before, I laid out my clothes on the bed, carefully planning what to wear for this heatwave of a trip. I’ve survived 34°C heat before, but this was looking like the hottest holiday to date! All packed and ready to go, I set an early bedtime for a 4 AM rush to the airport.
If you wake up at 4 AM on a regular day, you’re usually tired and cranky the rest of the day. But when it’s for a holiday, a burst of energy kicks in, fueled by excitement. Within 10 minutes, I was ready to go. After a 3-hour journey, with McDonald's McNuggets as our snack, we arrived at the car park. It was a bit of a maze to find the entrance and available parking, but we finally made it. We caught the bus to the airport, checked in, and went through security. With some extra time to spare, we grabbed a drink and browsed the shops. After all, when you're going on holiday, it’s always best to arrive early than to risk being late!
Our flight was delayed by an hour, so we decided to head to Starbucks for a frappé and a cake. After the gate was announced, we headed down to the plane. Being near the front of the queue, we got to our seats quickly and stored our stuff overhead. It’s always a bit of a hassle if you wait for everyone else to board—their bags end up on the other end of the plane! I was lucky to have no one sitting next to me, making the flight blissful. Headphones in, manga in hand, and the journey flew by. We arrived in Naples with plenty of time to spare.
As soon as I stepped off the plane, the heat hit me like a chili that’s gone down the wrong hole—sharp and painful! While waiting for the rest of the family, I was rushed onto a bus to head to the arrivals door. After a few minutes, we all exited the airport, and wow, it was packed! The summer crowds were in full swing.
Once we got outside, there was a taxi waiting. My overthinking brain told me to avoid the first one we saw—what if it was a scam or took us somewhere strange? But no, we went straight to the first taxi, and off we went to the hotel. As we rode through the winding roads, I marveled at the views before we finally arrived.
AIR-CON! Walking into the hotel felt like heaven, especially after the heat outside. We checked in, dropped our bags in our rooms, and headed up to the bar for a drink while sorting out a basic itinerary for the week.
When you're in a new place, everything can blur together. But that’s why I love finding the unique gems in each area that give a place its own identity.
When planning an itinerary, you need to give yourself time to explore but also hit the must-see landmarks or events. For us, the main highlights were Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, and the Amalfi Coast. However, after feeling the heat, we decided to cut Mount Vesuvius out and shorten our visit to Pompeii to half a day. It was just too hot to spend a full day there with all the crowds. After booking some tours that would pick us up from the hotel, here’s what our itinerary looked like:
Day 1: Arrive in Naples, relaxing afternoon, explore the area near the hotel, dinner by the waterfront.
Day 2: Shop in Centro Storico and Vomero, dinner out.
Day 3: Pompeii (half-day), more exploring of nearby shops and restaurants in a different direction.
Day 4: Amalfi Coast trip—Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi Coast, dinner at the hotel.
Day 5: Relax by the pool, visit the remaining shops, explore more of Centro Storico—Galleria Principe di Napoli.
Day 6: Last bit of pool time, then head back to the airport for the flight home.
It wasn’t too packed, but it was just enough to keep us busy without feeling overwhelmed.
After we put our suitcases away and finalized our plans for the week, we set out to explore what was near the hotel—high hills and only houses around. The walk down the steep, winding hill to the waterfront was longer and steeper than I had expected. By the time we got to the bottom, we were starving and in search of dinner. We found a restaurant opposite the water—Bar Napoli.
After scanning the extensive menu, I decided to try the carbonara. Whenever I’m in Italy, I always try the carbonara because it’s always different wherever I go. This one was rich and filling—huge portions that, by the end, made it look like I hadn’t touched my plate. I’d rate it a 5/10.
After dinner, we ventured further down the road toward the park and mini beach we had seen from the hotel balcony. Unfortunately, it was too packed to get close enough to dip our feet in the water to cool down. As we were heading back to the hotel, we stumbled upon a gelato shop—perfect for cooling off. As we turned the corner, enjoying our ice cream, we discovered a hidden path through the trees, with sunlight filtering through the leaves. It was a small, hidden gem—one that only appeared when the conditions were right.
On our way back up the hill, I thought I’d found a shortcut. Turns out, it was a tunnel under a dual carriageway. A little concerned, we decided to keep going. Eventually, we ended up walking right past the hotel, forcing us to backtrack and take a longer route back, making the walk an extra hour. By this point, we were all tired, annoyed, and ready to get back. So, after grabbing some water, I used the FREENOW app to order a taxi back to the hotel.
Lesson learned: Always carry water and double-check the map before heading anywhere!
It was time to put our feet up, hydrate, shower, and plan for a long lay-in tomorrow.
Ciao for now!
E x
