Florence June 2011: Weekend in Amalfi

Thursday was a suuuuper long bus ride to Sorrento, stopping at a rest stop for dinner where we had pizza slices as big as your head with their sad excuse of French fries. McDonalds, I miss your fries. We arrived around 2 am and fell asleep in our little room for the four of us: Lizzi, Megan, Madison and myself.

Friday we had our first Italian breakfast – aka rolls dusted with powdered sugar, an assortment of jellies, tea and coffee. We ventured to Positano where we had lunch on the beach at L’Inconto. Lizzi, Madison and I had prosciutto and melon, caprese salad, and calamari. All dishes were delicious and perfect! We spent the rest of the day walking around the town a bit, then laying on the beach and enjoying a much-needed day of getting a tan! Lizzi, Megan, Allie and Madison all bought a pair of really cute custom sandals where you picked out the style and color of the sandal you wanted, your foot was sized and your shoes were made right there! Very neat to see. That night we had dinner at the hotel included in our trip with a small party afterwards.

Saturday the 7 of us (Allie Blackburn, Caroline Wagner, Lizzi Salem, Megan Jennings, Madison Corbridge, Kristen Brush and myself) traveled to the ferry port of Castellammare with our group, but split off to take the local train 7 stops down to Sorrento, found our driver who took us to the port of Sorrento and met Capitano Ago for our private boat tour of Capri. This was the best day yet of the entire trip over here. The weather was beautiful, mid 70’s. We left from Sorrento on Capitano’s boat stocked with Peroni’s, Prosecco and other drinks. After being tricked and sitting on the bow of the boat, Capitano plunged me into a small waterfall and I was soaked. In freezing water. SO COLD! But I survived and it actually felt pretty refreshing.

Capitano dropped us off in Capri for 3 hours on our own. We took the Funicular up to the heart of Capri, an autobus to Anacapri, and then a single-rider chair lift to the highest peak of the island for a beautiful view. After adventuring out to the edges of the cliffs, we returned to Marina Grande at the base of Capri for our island tour with Capitano.

He showed us around to the different grottos and we were able to swim into the grottos, see jelly fish, take funny underwater pictures with Megan’s camera, then we returned to the boat for lunch Capitano provided for us. More Peroni, more prosecco… We saw the mothership of all yachts, sailboats, etc. After an entire circumference of the island of Capri, we went to the Blue Grotto. This was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The light that comes into the grotto from under the water is eerie but looks imaginary.

Sunday was slightly overcast but perfect for a quick tour of Pompei and climbing Mt. Vesuvius. I stole some lava rocks J Then we departed to return to Florence. What a great weekend, spent with great friends. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. Next weekend has a lot to live up to!