Farewell Vesuvius

We spent our last day in Sorrento down at our hotel's sea terrace, enjoying the sunshine and taking in our favourite view across the Bay of Naples. We noticed that the fires that we saw a couple of nights ago were still smoking away on the slopes of Vesuvius, and four fire-fighting planes were taking turns to dump water on them. James tells me that they are Bombardier CL-415s. As we swam in the sea we could see the far away white splashes really clearly, as the water landed on the fires. Gradually the smoke grew less and disappeared. However we found out later that there were more fires on the other side of the mountain, because on our way round the bay to the airport we saw the planes still working away, and also a helicopter heading upwards carrying a big bucket of water under it! The effects of six tons of water landing on the mountainside were even more impressive close up. 

Our trip to the airport was again by air-conditioned taxi which was a really nice touch, and we are now on our way home. We are sad to leave beautiful Sorrento and certainly hope to be back. However we are looking forward to seeing three family members this evening of whom we are very fond; Tom and Ruby of course, and also our Davie, who is arriving home from his own holiday in America tonight.