Salerno - the next day!

Well, I was right - so much happens in one day!
Woke early, did my 'housework', go down to reception and ask them to call me a taxi so I can go to the train station then on to Pompei.

he was sunbaking while I was waiting for my taxi this morning

The taxi arrives and we get about 500 metres away and the driver tells me all the roads are blocked because there is a triathalon on the two front roads so he will have to go the back way. OK, how much is that going to cost? He didn't know but after going those 500 metres there was already 17 euro on the meter. WHAT???? Last night the taxi cost me 10 euro from the city centre to the hotel!! How much is this going to cost? With a shrug of his shoulders, 50- 60 euro! Oh no it's not! I said I would pay 25 euro and that is it. He wouldn't accept it and started yelling at me so I jump out, in the middle of the triathalon track. The two cops minding the track start yelling at me so I run to the side of the highway, taxi driver yelling something about Australians, I jump a fence and start walking back to the hotel, only it's not the hotel road and I have NO idea where I am going, I just know I'm going. The cop is yelling at me, I yell back NO CAPISCO - HOW DO I GET BACK TO THE NOVOTEL!!! He's signalling for me to hitch up my skirt and jump the fence again and go over to him so that's what I did. I got to him, told him the taxi driver was trying to rip me off and how can I get to the train station? The only way I can get to the train station is walk the 9 kms. Ok, how do I get back to the hotel? If I wait until he finishes his shift he will take me!! Jesus plod!! LOL
I get back to the hotel and the staff are all running around, they have people trying to get to the hotel because they have an expo on but the roads are all blocked, AND the taxi driver is also on the phone wanting his 17 euro.
I went to the cafe and had coffee while they sorted it out - the american who works here is very handy!
After a couple of cappucino I decided to go for a bit of a walk because in a couple of hours the triathalon will be finished, buses will be running and I can go to Pompei.
I walk and ended up walking the 9kms to the station. Didnt feel like 9 kms, lucky it was a nice day!

walking in to Salerno this morning 

I arrive at the train station at Pompei, walk up the main street and follow the crowd to the ruins, pay my 11 euro and go in. I find the arena and walk through that, then start walking around the 'streets', found a 'mansion' (I don't know what they called them in those days) and walking through while following and listening to a tourist group, finding it all very interesting but after a few minutes I start to feel 'funny' so I keep walking to more little homes and really start freaking out and decide I need to get out of there. I start walking back the way I went and it was horrible, I started to feel sick, I couldnt get out of there fast enough.

On the way to Pompei

Pompei

Pompei

Through a hole in the wall at Pompei

Walking out of the arena at Pompei

I walk back through the streets and the street hawkers to the train station where the next two freaking trains are cancelled so went and had a magnifico gelati then went to a bar and got a glass of vino, sat at a table and then a creep came and sat at the table next to me and is staring so I got up and sat in the chair in the corner and drank my wine while wondering why and what I was going home to Australia for.
Drank my wine, walked to the station, knew the guy in the purple top was following me so stopped walking. So did he. Gotta give him credit, he at least starts chatting to me, different to the other creeps who just leer. Gaetino wanted me to go in his car with him and he would drive me back to Salerno then we would go and have some dinner together. AHHHH, thanks Gaetino but I don't think so. Lucky for me, unlucky for Gaetino, the train came! I wandered around Salerno, had a couple of pieces of patata e salami pizza, then walked back to the station for a taxi. Out of all the taxis in Salerno I got the taxi that drove me from the ferry on my first night here, so we had a big catch up!
I am now back in my room, with a nice glass of wine and a couple of nice cheese watching my stupid shit tv show Advanti un Altro.
I wonder what is going to happen tomorrow!!! My plan is bus to the citta then I want to find out if I can get a boat to Amalfi, then bus to Positano, then bus back to Amalfi, then another bus back to Salerno. Wonder what the chances are!