Italian trains

High speed trains at Roma Termini station

I interrupt this travelogue to discuss Italian trains.  We took a series of trains today from Rome to Pompeii, so I feel free to comment.  We started with the pricier leg of the trip, from Rome to Naples, on the Frecciarossia.  This engineering jewel goes up to 300 km an hour (186 mph), and has cushy assigned seats. 

Classy, comfortable interior of Italy's high speed trains.

Before you depart, you can also fortify yourself with an espresso from the self-serve machine.

No time for the caffe? The caffe is dispensed to you. 

 In under ninety minutes, we were in Napoli (Naples).  Then it was time for the local train, specifically the Circumvesuviana.  It's best feature is the price, at just 2 Euros each way.  The cars and stations are covered in graffiti (though I would argue, highly artistic graffiti) and you are cheek to jowl with a mass of humanity. 

Local train station.  Sometimes graffiti covered the station name too.

At least the car windows were open.

One empty seat!  A modern day miracle.