As it was raining when we got up we leisurely had breakfast and Alison decided to put in some washing in the machine. We decided then that Vesuvio was the destination for the day. The road up to the mountain ws very narrow at times and most of the restaurants were either closed or looked abandoned and although it was a national park, litter was quite prominent.

We ended at a junction and went right to where it ahowed that there was a chairlift and panaromic view. There was a shop with hardly hardly anyone there except for an old man who claimed to be the operator of the chairlift which had been extinct for the last 15 years. He was offering to sign the book on Vesuvio if anyone bought one. Before we decided it was all a con job we left and took the other road up.

We were met with about 5 busloads of tourists on reaching the car parking area where the rest of the way to the vocano had to be made on foot. The guide told Alison that as it was cloudy we wouldn't see aything if we went up and it would cost us 6.50 Euros each. We drove down and found a little layby to have something to eat and that was when I noticed the wind changing with the clouds clearing up. We got back to the carparking area and bought our tickets for the long climb up the slopes. It would normally take about 20 miutes to reach the top but it took me 50 minutes with frequent stops. Alison was worried sick that something would happen but I was careful not to exert myself, hence the 50 mins.

We got to the top and the edge of the volcano 10 minutes before it closed for the day.and had enough time to have a good look around at the smoking crater. On the way down we got a lift from the last staff vehicle to come down. While at the car park Stefano, Augustino and another guide got a briefing from us as to what we were doing and Antonio gave Adrian a piece of lava with all the minerals on it.

When we got near the campsite we looked for a place to have dinner and identified one within walking distance from it. John and Avril had just arrived and came over for a chat and then we were ready  for dinner. We go to the restaurant just half hour before it closed and I had the best spaghetti bolgnaise ever!

Alison got to use the internet and checked the status of the visa application into Libya. Apparently Ahmed of Arkno Tours was not successful in getting our visas and had left us with no choice but to go through Syria and Jordon into Egypt. Shit to the Libyans!!.