Day 15: Isle of Capri and Rome, Italy

Day 15 (July 14, 2004) Isle of Capri and Rome, Italy

We got up pretty early so that we could make the boat that would take us to the Isle of Capri. It left at 8:35 a.m. We met our tour guide, Marchello at the port. The water was pretty calm though an hour trip still had some students mildly seasick.

Kayla Sherwood approaching the Isle of Capri

The other side of the island, featuring the small island on the right where the sirens sang there songs in the Odyssey

We got off the boat and then proceeded to get on another boat. We took a tour around half the island and saw rock formations and coral as well as passing through an arch in a rock just off the main island. In fact, legend had it that these rocks were where the sirens sang their song while Odysseus/Ulysses and company passed through in the Odyssey.

I was surprised that the blue grotto was not mentioned, as it is one of Capri's biggest tourist attractions. I asked our tour guide the reason and he said that the unpredictability of weather/tides and long lines made it not a sure thing, even if you take a boat out. he also mentioned times he had gone out and it was closed temporarily, waiting for hours to open us again.

When we got back, Marchello took us up the funicular and we saw the upper level of Capri. We went to the Augustus Gardens and had breath taking views of the island and Mediterranean Sea. We took pictures and then the majority of us went to eat at a restaurant that he suggested. I had fish and french fries for €13.

We were left to shop until 2:15. Some shopped and explored, while others went swimming one more time at the beach. It was rocky.
After getting a lot of sun, we went back to the boat and went to Naples. We said good bye to the tour guide and went off to Rome. The trip started off subdued as we realized that the trip was almost over (not to mention the fact that some were still tired). After a break, the noise picked up in the bus.

We ate in Rome and had chicken and salad. We have noted that our provided meals usually tended to be that, usually with french fries. We were serenaded by a trio of musicians while we ate. It was a female singer/tambourine player, a guitar player, and an accordionist. They played for about 10 minutes, performing such favorites as That's Amore and O Solo Mio. Afterwards, they sold some of us their CDs that featured old Italian classics.

We got back on the bus in good cheer and headed through Rome to our hotel. It was out by one of the airports. Once rooming assignments were done, it was late enough to get ready for bed. The group leaders met one last time with Gigi for some evaluations and said our goodbyes.


Other than some phone pranks from the Italian soldiers that were at the hotel, we said our last good nights in Europe.