Easter Sunday. 21st April Naples, Italy.
Stupid o’clock start today for a tour to Sorrento and the Amalfi coast. But at least that there was a sunrise….. and I saw it.
The bus drove out of the ancient port of Napoli (Naples), second most important in Italy and very old. It was a military port of the Greeks (9th Century BC). The Byzantines took it from the Greeks in 536AD. In 1501 it came under the rule of King Louis XII of France, but the Spanish took over pretty quickly. In fact, this town stopped Hannibal from taking the area. The Italians got it after the unification of Italy in 1861.
It’s very pretty with much of the stone fortification and forts still in good condition. Naples has a whole old ancient city buried underneath and you can do tours to see it.
As we drove out we could see Vesuvius towering over the area. It’s still an active volcano and is over due to blow…yet 800,000 people still live in the RED zone! Go figure. Didn’t they learn anything from the people of Pompeii?
A cameo factory was visited. They take large shells – conch, huge oysters are some. After cutting the ‘eye’ out of the shell they carve it by hard. Unbelievably fiddly and skilled.
The drive down to Sorrento was through super rich land. If it didn’t have a building on it…it was market gardens or greenhouses. Umbrella Pines or Nautical Pines were everywhere. What a super tree. Huge straight trunks towering up into the air with a canopy way up high. Just like an umbrella. They were everywhere around the Vatican but were even more useful here. Great shade, but they take up no room down low.
The Amalfi coast is a 50 k strip of coastline on the southern edge of the Sorrentino Peninsular. Definitely not a beach place. Huge limestone cliffs and a rugged shoreline, with a few scattered beached and small fishing villages. Buildings are all of muted pascal colours. Earthy tones. The cliffs were amazing, but it did make you wonder. Why, when most settlements around the world were on the sea, did they decide here that it was a good idea to build up on the cliffs. Away from the sea. But, centuries later it went on to become worth squillions and so sort after. And really pretty. We drove up through the steep twisty roads with amazing views. Narrow and twisty, on the side of cliffs.
Our first stop was the town of Sorrento. Stunning. It’s on top of the cliffs. An old town with warren like streets and alleys leading to a town square Piazza Tasso that is surrounded by cliffs.
This bit started with a visit to a timber inlay factory. They have a drawn design on paper and cut slivers of timber to cover the drawing. When it is finished it is painted with glue to stiffen it then is bonded onto slabs of wood like mahogany. It was very beautiful….but not worth the prices I don’t thin. 100 Euro for a small placemat!
We got to wander around for a few hours and it was wonderful. The views over the coast, and down to the fancy hotels ‘water access’. Most of the hotels have a level or two on the ground level, then the rest is cut into the cliff. A giant elevator takes clients down to the water. Usually a series of pontoons set up as floating beaches. Deck chairs, bars, restaurants.
I looked at the cathedral – whose bells were ringing every 15 minutes as it was Easter Sunday. It was busy in there. And also a small church only 100 meters down and alley. A priest was singing and it was amazing.
I looked at many things including beautiful linen work.
There was so much pasta available. Dried pasta to take home and cook. Rainbow coloured and of many shapes.
Lemons were the main ‘thing’ of this town. All kinds of lemons ranging from normal to bigger than rock melons. The towns were full of fruit laden tress and all shops sold something to do with lemons – lollies, Limoncello, linen with lemon embroidery, crockery with lemon pictures. This is where Limoncello comes from. The glorious lemon liquor. Beautiful. For some reason much of it is sold in dick shaped bottles. It’s to do with the ancient Romans fascination with the male genetalia in art. A walk up and along the old town wall was pretty.
Walked up and along the old town wall. Lunch was in a lovely old restaurant the sollowed the slope of the hill down and was very old and authentic. The food was great too. As was the prosecco and the bottle of white that went with lunch.
We then drove back through the mountains to the other side of the peninsular to Campania. The drive was great. Narrow roads with steep drop offs and hairpin corners. One corner took a nine point turn with traffic having to stop in all directions. In Campania we boarded a boat for a cruise down the Amalfi Coast to Amalfi, where we had more wandering time. The boat trip was wonderful. Raining but wonderful. Past the huge cliffs covered in houses, mansion, old forts and hotels. A few beaches were scattered along. Dark sand, covered in deck chairs and loungers. And many caves and grottos. The town was lovely with so many food places – great gelato. A huge cathedral was perched at the top of 100 steps.
Then the boat trip back to the bus and to the ship. Great day. Only 9.7 ks today.
It was sad to wave goodbye to Italy. So wonderful!
Mon 22nd April Sea Day.
A bridge tour to start the day. No different to other ships of this class, but I still had to go! New ship – must visit the bridge. This class of ship only has two aziopods. The Captain came up to say hello.
Trivia, chatting, eating and then a snooze. Yay.
Dinner was with Shane and Brooks from Seattle and was great. Best Chops I’ve been to for quite some time.
Sleep.
Next page Athens.
http://www.rainatravels.com/athens/