In January, Nate and I kicked off our 2026 travels Mediterranean style with a celebratory trip to Italy with my cousins Katrina and Vanessa. You only turn 40 (or 45) once, and Katrina had been wanting to see the Amalfi coast for a while, so we made it happen!
After months of planning, saving, and anticipating, we were anxious and excited for the multi-leg flight from Kansas City to Boston, Boston to Paris, and then Paris to our final destination, Naples. Thankfully, Nate, figuring we would be exhausted, cranky, and uninterested in navigating public transportation, scheduled a private shuttle to our hotel.
Traffic in Naples is a whole experience in itself. Having been to Naples and seen it before, Nate and I enjoyed watching Katrina and Venessa take in the small European cars and Vespas swerving in and around larger vehicles, and our shuttle driver navigating tight curves on narrow streets and close calls with oncoming traffic.
The shuttle arrived at our accommodation at Hotel de Bonart without incident, and after checking in, we promptly made our way to our rooms to rest and relax. We were finally there!
A Blast in the Past in Pompeii
Since the sun set shortly after our arrival, we took it easy that first evening with drinks, dinner, and an early night at the hotel. The next morning, though, we hit the ground running with a day trip over to Pompeii. Other than a scheduled tour of the Amalfi coast, we didn’t plan a strict itinerary for our time in Naples, but made a list of sites to see and planned to play it by ear based on the weather. Saturday seemed the best to explore the ruins, and boy did we get it right!
After enjoying a filling breakfast of eggs, cheeses, pastries and coffee at the hotel’s buffet, we made our way to the train station. It’s about an hour’s ride along the Gulf of Naples, and Katrina and Vanessa were both impressed with the convenience and cleanliness of their first European public transportation experience. It was also a great way to see a good portion of the countryside without having to worry about driving and traffic.
When you step out of the train station in Pompeii, you’re bombarded with shuttle and taxi services to the archeological site, but we opted to go it on foot. The walk to the east entrance is only about 20 minutes, and we wanted to get a taste of the modern city as well. Despite a commercial tour company clerk stopping us and telling us we couldn’t, we were able to purchase tickets online and enter the site at that gate.
Our off-the-cuff approach to our agenda paid off, because we were able to see a good portion of the ruins under a crisp, clear blue sky before the crowds of tour groups arrived. The Amphitheater of Pompeii, dwarfed by massive stone pines and Mount Vesuvius resting stoically in the distance, is the first major structure you see inside the gate. You’re immediately transported centuries in the past.
The most eye-opening thing about touring the ruins of a city that was buried under 13-20 feet of volcanic ash nearly 2,000 years ago is discovering how much of human culture and habit have transcended the centuries. Aqueducts and fountains, frescos and mosaics, shops and taverns, theaters and brothels — you can easily understand how significantly different life would have been back then with lack of modern technology, yet so similar as well.
We spent about two hours exploring the stone lined streets, peeking into bath houses and villas, and wandering around remnants of temples and squares. With all the wealth and effort that went in to building the ancient city, exploring it under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius made it clear that while the ruins have remained, nothing human made is absolutely permanent compared to nature.
And there were cats! All four of us, fond of the four-legged fluffs, paused several times to stop and pet the friendly felines that have made the archeological site their home. Definitely a highlight of our impromptu tour!
Before heading back to the train station for our return to Naples, we had to indulge in an Italian must: gelato! We stopped at Pasticceria De Vivo, conveniently located a few blocks from the archeological site, for a few scoops of the delicious frozen treat.
Ending the Day in Naples
We had the evening after Pompeii to take it easy and explore a bit of Naples at our leisure. We found a place to dine on delicious Neapolitan-style pizza and watch the sunset over the sparkling hillside city, and then we wandered up through the cobblestone streets and steps back to our hotel — admittedly a not so leisurely trek.
We were only one day in, but couldn’t believe how much we had seen already, and how much we had ahead of us. It was definitely a great start to an unforgettable trip. I look forward to sharing more in posts to come!
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