Thursday, October 31, 2013

The Island of Capri

The final full day of our fall break to Sorrento took us to the island of Capri, off the peninsula from Sorrento.  (That's COP-ree, not ca-PREE according to what we're told...)


Capri holds two main towns -- Capri, and Anacapri.  We chose to focus on Capri, but first you have to get there from the port.  There's the elevator...


or better yet, the furnicular!  Yep, a railway up a hillside:




We found a place for our cousin:



and then walked the narrow "streets"



This is how the mailman delivers
Amazon.it boxes on Capri!

We were headed for Villa Jovis, a Roman palace built for the Emperor Tiberius in 27 AD where he ruled and spent the last ten years of his life.  It is set on the highest point of the island.



As you can see, it has "commanding" views of the area...







This is the view back towards Sorrento and the Amalfi coast:


We then took a "nature trail" back from Villa Jovis to Capri...



where we refreshed ourselves with lemon granitas!  The whole area is known for lemons, lemon sauces, granitas, limoncello, etc.  I won't say it's better than Del's -- but it certainly was refreshing!


Then it was back down to the port...



where we were able to take a boat around the island!  Paulo was an excellent guide, and left the driving to Theresa!


We were able to go into caves and rock overhangs, where the mast would let us...


and see how the island was once further under water than it is today (which is partially why there are grottoes).



The grottoes' water was crystal clear, with special coral:



We were able to pass through a "keyhole" in a rock around the island:

 

and here we are on the other side!



Instead of going to the busy "Blue Grotto," we instead went to the "Green Grotto" and were able to get off the boat and swim!  They drop you off on one side, and pick you up on the other.







This is the entrance to the "Grotto of the Saints," where there are kneeling figures inside and an angel outlined in black on the outside wall!




We finished the cruise with a little limoncello,



and then it was back to Capri,


and back to Sorrento.


Another beautiful day!

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

WHOO-HOO!


The Amalfi Coast (and roads!)

Then the third day of our break -- the Amalfi coast:

From the bumpy private bus up Vesuvius to the public SITA bus on the Amalfi drive... many hair-raising moments on the cliff's edge and narrow one-lane roads with, cars and busses going in both directions!





Cars and busses will sometimes play "chicken" with each other, contesting for space and honking their horns as warning when they come around corners.







Imagine if your bus to school went on the Amalfi drive!






















As long as you can ignore the driving and the roads, there are amazing views!



Positano!



 









We dip our toes in the sea again!  (But more about that the next day...)





Relaxing on the beach -- a fine vacation!






Zucchini Flowers with Ricotta,
Mozzarella Rice Balls, Fresh Lemon Juice 



Check out the artist on the beach
And it was back on the bus, down the beach to Almalfi.  Oh, and the red sign on the wall is for Ristorante Adamo & Eva...







Amalfi, Italy!



Do you see Kendall and Adam on the stairs?  Hopefully it gives you a sense of how high the church is...



The bay at Amalfi, in full panorama:



Joel's "selfie" on the Amalfi rocks:



And then it was time to find the bus back to make the drive back to Sorrento!






Once again, a full day and a beautiful sunset back at the hotel in Sorrento!  Time to get some rest before our last day in the Sorrento region.