Volendam 2026, Naples,Italy...

We had an amazing sail into Naples, the views are just incredible, everywhere you look.  So nice to arrive mid-morning so I don't have to get out of bed in the wee hours.  I was a busy guy out on the forward deck, took over 200 photos as we sailed into port. Our plan today was to catch a cab up to St. Elmo’s Castle for the views and walk back down to the ship. The best laid plans…We negotiated with a taxi driver named Salvatore and ended up with a 4-hour tour of Napoli and Herculaneum. Our first stop was a Cameo manufacturing company…we never realized Cameo were carved from seashells…it was an interesting demonstration of how the pieces are made. Next, we went to Herculaneum Archaeological Site. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, Pompeii wasn’t the only town that was destroyed. Herculaneum (known as Ercolano) was also part of the devastation. Herculaneum sits pretty much at the base of Mount Vesuvius; the views of this massive volcano were very good from the Herculaneum ruins. The town with a population of 5000 was destroyed and buried under 15 to 20 meters (50 to 60 feet) of volcanic ash, mud, when Vesuvius erupted. On the approach to Herculaneum, you get to look down on the site from above which is excellent for photos and puts the town into perspective. Unlike the pumice and ash of neighboring Pompeii, Herculaneum's compact volcanic material baked and sealed the town, preserving organic items like wooden doors, furniture, food, carbonized scrolls, and multi-story structures. As we explored, we found colorful frescoes still on the walls, mosaic floors in near-perfect condition, and multi-story houses with balconies intact, details rarely seen elsewhere. This was our first visit to Herculaneum, and we were pleasantly surprised how remarkably well-preserved it was. Driving back to Naples we visited the city Centre and stopped to visit the Duomo di Napoli one of the city’s most impressive landmarks. It features Gothic architecture with some incredible artwork inside its walls. From here we drove to the Mergellina area, the coastal part of Naples and went up to a great sweeping viewpoint of the harbor and Naples. From here we crossed the city to Vomero Hill near St Elmo Castle far above the city center, to take in the views over Naples with Mount Vesuvius in the background. We returned to sea level by the Spanish Quarter with its steep hills and densely populated housing. This area is close to the Historic Center and the port and is brimming with lots of character. We had an enjoyable day visiting this bustling city with its energy, chaotic street life, narrow alleys, and rich local character. Another enjoyable day in Napoli! Thank you, Salvatore. Tonight we are having a Tamarind dinner in the Pinnacle Grill.