(Please first refer to Part 1 with this subject line)
Okay, here's our tentative plan:
3/19 Arrive Rome, then take ES train to Naples and Check luggage at station. Possibly go out to Caserta and/or "Walking Tour of Naples". Definitely want to see Sansavero Chapel. Collect luggage, take Circumvesuvian to Sorrento. Eat dinner and crash. (Lodging: Sorrento)
3/20 Take Circumvesuvian back to Ercolana, Vesuvius, Pompeii. (How long to plan for these 3 spots?) Return on Circ to Sorrento. Do ?? depending on time remaining in day. (Lodging: Sorrento)
3/21 Poke around the Sorrento Peninsula using bus/boat/feet, possibly going to Positano or Capri. (Is it worth it to go to Capri? Heard mixed reviews. Blue Grotto sounds cool but very touristy; rest also sounds touristy; might go if it's a beautiful day). (Lodging: Sorrento)
3/22 Do the Amalfi Coast drive with a driver and guide (which company to recommend?), hopefully stopping to see towns along the way. Would love to poke around these areas for a while. Considered staying in one of the towns and hiking the old mule track along the cliffs and "Path of the Gods", but we're concerned that would take up a lot of our time and the weather could be yucky. We're strongly considering having the driver take us all the way to Paestum. (Lodging: Paestum)
3/23 See Paestum ruins if we not seen on 3/22. Take bus to Salerno, train to Naples, ES to Rome. Check in to apartment we are renting. How best to use the rest of the day?
3/24 - 3/27 See Rome! Interests include: The "Caesar Shuffle", Vatican Museums and St. Peter's, Catacombs, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Cappuccin Crypt, Castel Sant'Angelo, Appian Way... basically all of the biggies. If time permits (ha!), we'd consider day-trips out of Rome, including Ostia Antica, Tivoli, Orvieto, Assisi, etc.
3/28 Depart Rome at 9:00am.
(continued in Part 3 with this subject line)