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After lunching in Cassino, we drove the short way back to collect our bags which were still at Le Ninefee. As we drove up the unpaved and very rocky driveway we slid a little off the drive and there was a loud noise – but we continued on. While in the town I realised I had left my Fitbit at the house so I went hunting for it -but I couldn’t find it, even with the hostess and one of her employees helping us to search.
Putting aside my frustration at losing the Fitbit (well OK panic), we packed the car ready to travel to Napoli but when we got to the bottom of the drive, the car’s computer alerted us that we had a puncture. We pulled into the nearest drive and the boys set to work, but the mechanics of it all took a bit of figuring in an unfamiliar car with only a French manual. Nevertheless they sorted it … meantime I went through all my bags unsuccessfully looking for the missing “equipment.”

Trying to release the spare tyre

Phil changing the tyre dressed in the obligatory vest

Contemplating the job how to sort the jack
Once the tyre was changed and we were on our way again, we called into the local bike shop and asked for directions to a garage or tyre shop. As luck would have it, the bike shop bloke spoke English and said there was one quite near – quite true but we discovered his directions were somewhat wayward. While waiting for Phil to get the those directions, a person from Le Ninfee who spoke English rang Roger to say the Fitbit had been found – yay – so the puncture, while a nuisance, was also lucky as we would have been well on the way to Naples had it not happened.
When we eventually found the tyre shop the guys were very helpful and efficient and quickly had us back on the road again, for an easy trip into Naples. Finding the hotel wasn’t quite so simple but once found it proved to be in a fabulous position with our rooms looking directly out on the Bay of Naples.

Room with a view

Love the decor

View from our terrace
The hotel is quirky and modern and we love the rooms which are all named after famous film stars – as a great Marilyn fan, I am thrilled we are in the Marilyn suite. It is still my birthday of course so when we were refreshed and spruced up, we strolled off in the direction of the castle around the bend, where we had been told there was a great seafood restaurant, for a birthday dinner.
The location was perfect, right on the water on the Marina, the seafood was good (not great) but we had very surly, unhelpful waiters – no matter, a “strolling minstrel” (read for that nuisance), did sing me happy birthday (only after Phil gave hime a few Euro to get rid of him.) We watched the sun go down as we ate then strolled back among the ever-growing throngs of people who walk this promenade in the evenings – the colours, the sights, the sounds and quirkiness of Naples fully on show …
Tomorrow – we get ready to explore Naples with our private guide…