Day 1: Storm Eowyn, Sleepover in Airport & Sunny Rome
This was not the first time the Home Economics Department organised a trip to Italy – our last trip was cancelled due to the global pandemic and this trip very nearly didn’t get off the ground due to a once in a lifetime weather event!
Thursday was a very jittery day watching flights being cancelled, weather forecasts, lots of phone calls and teams messages but thanks to lots of support (from everyone!) and our superhero bus driver Damian Long we arrived safely at Cork Airport ahead of the storm for an unscheduled sleepover.
We felt like celebrities at the airport with many SCS friends and family checking in with us and making our sleepover more comfortable. This was much appreciated, thank you to everyone. Before we knew it, we were boarding our delayed flight to Rome which eventually took off at 11am on Friday Jan 24th.
Alessandra our tour guide greeted us at the airport in Rome. She took us under her wing, and we immediately felt at home. The sunshine and blue skies of Rome were the perfect antidote to the stormy weather we left behind. It was straight on the bus for a scenic drive and snooze to Sorrento. On arrival we had dinner, checked into our lovely family run hotel in the centre of Sorrento and it was an early night for everyone!
Day 2: Storm Who?
What a difference a day makes - after a good night’s sleep and breakfast, we were collected by Alessandra and our bus driver Giovani who took us on a whistlestop foodie tour of Sorrento including:
A 200-year-old family run, wood fired coffee roastery
A marmalade and honey farm and factory
An olive farm and olive oil factory
Lunch in Franco’s, Sorrento’s oldest pizzeria , unforgettable!!
Some free time to wander the beautiful streets of Sorrento
Before meeting up again for a Gelato demonstration & tasting
Quick stop for a Mozzarella demonstration & tasting
We rolled back to the hotel to freshen up before heading out to dinner in a Cookery School where we got a masterclass in Gnocchi from Head Chef Mama Lucia.
Our students then got to work making their own dinner.
We finished the evening with the most delicious Tiramisu, a perfect end to a perfect day!
Day 3 – Amalfi Coast with more Pizza and Gelato!
More sunshine for our coastal bus tour of the breath taking Amalfi Coast. Pictures don’t really do this justice.
After a stop off in Positano for some beautiful photos, students had some free time to explore and wander through the beautiful streets of Amalfi, have a coffee, some amazing local pastries or more gelato (well it would have been rude not to!).
Back to Sorrento, Alessandra organised a picnic for us in Marina Grande, an authentic fishing port and marina. “Daddy’s Burger” delivered pannino ( a popular take out option with teenagers in Sorrento) which we ate al fresco. We did have some unwanted company from some overly friendly local seagulls! We just about had room for a little sample of some local delicacies which we had bought in the most divine bakery in Amalfi (purely educational!). A quick visit to the church of Saint Anna, before working off lunch with more free time to explore the orange tree lined streets of Sorrento.
Our hotel was just a short walk from Sorrento town centre where we regrouped later and headed back to the Cookery School, this time for a Pizza Making Masterclass, what a treat!
But the food was only half the story – we were entertained by some local traditional dance and song – so much fun! Of course, our very talented students reciprocated with some music, song and dance of their own - a thoroughly enjoyable evening. We didn’t want to leave.
Day 4 – Pompeii, Rome and Home to Skibbereen
An early start as we said our goodbyes to Sorrento, but we didn’t have time to be too sad as by 9am we were in Pompeii, in the shadow of the imposing Mount Vesuvius and this most certainly did not disappoint.
Pompeii is a very special place, hard to put in words how we felt walking in the footsteps of those who went before us over two thousand years ago. It was truly awesome and we could have spent the day there and still only scratched the surface.
Next stop was an early lunch before our 3.5-hour journey back to Rome. Luckily, we were able to squeeze in a quick two hour city tour, rescheduled from day one. Highlights included a drive by the Colosseum, walking through the streets of Rome, stopping for a gelato at the Trevi Fountain, climbing the Spanish Steps and marvelling at the Pantheon.
We really just dipped our toe in a city that has so much to see around every corner. Had we more time we possibly could have tracked down that Dubai Chocolate Bar, that Napoli Jersey and we would have visited the five storey Zara store, but they will have to wait for our next visit ! (Intour joke!)
At Rome Airport we bid an emotional farewell to Alessandra our trusted tour guide who really did make our tour with her professionalism and attention to detail. Next stop Skibbereen.
A trip of a lifetime, a taste of the Dolce Vita, beautiful places, people and food. Some items ticked off our bucket lists and we will be back!
This trip would not have been possible without the huge work & support behind the scenes from the following:
Our principal Anton O’ Mahony, 4th year Deputy, Diarmuid O’Donnabháin and all SCS Management.
Our TY Co–ordinator, Mr. Conor Uhl & Year Head Mr. Pat Joe Whooley.
Mary Kelleher Fowler.
The Parents of our TY Students.
Our tour co-ordinator Lyndsey O’Loughlin from Saffron Travel.
Alessandra our tour guide in Italy.
Damien Long Coach Travel.
Our Home Economics Department; Sarah McCarthy, Norma Roberts and Majella Ní Charthaigh.
Our amazing TY students who made this trip by being such fantastic ambassadors for themselves, their families and SCS.
Arrivederci!
