Campania- IES Abroad Weekend Getaway

My IES Abroad sponsored trip to Campania was months ago, but I never got around to editing the footage. Looking back on all the beauty and adventure of the trip, I’m filled with gratitude for the way IES Abroad Rome has provided us with cultural experiences that will stick with me for life. 

The Campania trip started at the crack of dawn; the students gathered outside the IES Abroad center at 6 in the morning, loaded onto a coach bus, and set a course for Pompei. We arrived by 10 A.M., meeting up with a wonderful tour guide who took us through the ruins. It was one of the highlights of this semester; to walk through the streets of a once forgotten city, to think about the suffering of the townspeople in their final moments, it all made me feel very human. Also, our visit to the Temple of Apollo was a contributing factor to the tattoo of Apollo’s lyre that I have on my hip as of Friday:) A perfect souvenir. 

After Pompeii, we got back on the bus and headed for Sorrento. We stopped at a family owned lemon farm where we enjoyed a delicious meal of farm-fresh vegetables, baked goods, and olive oil. Lemon and orange flavored olive oil! Incredible. Our guide was an enthusiastic young man who has had the farm in his family for years. I could feel the care that was poured into the operations of the farm and was grateful that they took the time to show us around. We got to see the produce growing, the farm animals, as well as the cats that roamed the property and slinked around our feet throughout lunch.

After the farm, we headed to the Sorrento coast to check into our hotel. The boutique hotel was adorable and provided us with a lovely breakfast the next morning. Room assignments were random and I was lucky to be placed with some friends from my Rome as a Living Museum Class. I didn’t know them very well before, but I was glad to have some familiar faces and we spent the trip together and became good friends as a result. The entire trip had a pizza dinner all together and, though we were only there for a short time, took in the beauty of the coast. 

In the morning, we woke up to thunder and rain. Yikes. We were unsure if we’d be able to go through with the plan, taking a ferry to the island of Capri, but the weather cleared and we were soon on our way. I’m not the biggest beach lover, but Capri was absolutely breathtaking. The rocky beaches, the cliffs, it was like a postcard. We were given total freedom on the island, with just a meetup point for the end of the day. I stuck with my new friends and we explored the island by bus, took in the views on a chairlift, and enjoyed some fresh seafood. Once we were done, we took the ferry to Napoli where we met the bus and departed for Rome. 

In just two days, we had a comprehensive adventure introducing us to a beautiful region of Italy. I loved looking back on these clips while putting them together for you all, I hope you enjoy the video!

Alla prossima,

Ellie