Posted Sunday, July 19, 2009 from Paris - Photo taken Wednesday, July 15, 2009.

With much reluctance, we left Torre Sangiovanni B&B on Wednesday to get back on the road again. As we drove away, Rosary (the owner of the B&B) stood at the garden gate and waved goodbye - as if her family had just left. We would all miss this lovely lady, her delicious meals and her so very comfortable B&B. We had a new friend in a faraway, very different, part of the world.

From left - Bob, Sarah, Rosary, Ginny, Genann and Mike.

We were to be on the road (AutoStrada) for almost 5 hours - in a car built for four (there are five of us). At speeds of between 80 - 90 mph (130 - 150 kmph) with cars and motorcycles passing us as if we were standing still, we were on our way. The mountains, just outside Rome, appeared as if they had been picked up from the Arizona desert and placed in the Italian countryside.

We weren’t impressed by the areas of Naples (Napoli) that the AutoStrada traverses, and the traffic was some of the worst in which we had driven. Once off the AutoStrada, we were on a two-lane coastal highway, mountain to our left and cliff and sea (with guardrail) to our right, bogged down with the rest of the tourist traffic.

Inhibitions are left at home on these beaches - men (young and old) are in speedos and women (young and old) sans swim suit tops.

After several trips around the block, we found what was to be our lodging for the next three nights in Sorrento. We walked up two flights of stairs to the Casa Astarita (recommended highly by Rick Steves). The A/C is wonderful with no restriction on hours of operation. We have “real towels”, flat screen TV with access to CNN and BBC, and the breakfast room is open all day with free water, juice, fruit, etc.