The Isle of Capri

ON OUR FREE DAY, WE ROSE AND LOOKED AROUND US and decided to visit the island of Capri. Down to the harbor we went with ideas and suggestions from Mario, most of which we immediately forgot, except for the white taxis ...







The weather was sunny and the water clear and blue as the ferry powered its way across the mediterranean. When we arrived at Capri we took a white open/canopy roofed taxi to Anacapri, the town halfway up the island.




The roads are very narrow, often with rock fences on both sides and many hairpin bends in the road. Fortunately the buses are half the usual size.




When we got there we took a chair lift to the top of the island.




Don seemed to handle it very well, concentrating on the old terraces used for fruit and vegetable gardens ... Tomatoes, figs, loquat, grapes, olives, chestnuts, peppers.




The views from the top were stunning.







The temptation to play Harbor Master was irresistible.










The return on the chairlift was beautifully quiet (and steep!)




The views were amazing. Did we already say stunning?







Next we rode one of the little buses back down to the harbor. We had to stand up all the way down, swaying as we navigated hairpin bends, oncoming traffic and the motorbikes that are favored here.

Before we knew it we were being forced to eat gelati, drink beer before finding the ferry back to Sorrento and pizza for dinner -- Quatro formaggia! Lemon deliciza Di Sorrento! Almond cake di Capri! Muddled menu words! Yum!

- Posted before we cross Italy, west to east.

The Amalfi coast

OUR HOTEL IN SORRENTO HAS GREAT VIEWS! This is what I saw first thing in the morning. The fishermen were pulling in a large net.







After a walk through the town, into a quiet cloister and then down a lift to the harbor, we caught a ferry along the coast to Amalfi.




Don and Gianni puzzling something out!





Our hotel is the bluey one on the edge of the cliff.




Amazing to see the clusters of homes, now mainly hotels and holiday houses, clinging to the edges of the cliffs and in little bays along the coast.




These were mainly fishing villages, and fisherfolk would have to climb down and up hundreds of steps each day.







We got off at Amalfi to look around the town.




The main market square.







We visited the Cathedral of Amalfi. It incorporates elements from two earlier versions, producing a hybrid rather than simple replacement, perhaps reflecting the very limited space available. The crypt houses the head and other bones of St Andrew, Jesus' first disciple, brother of St Peter. Reputedly Britain borrowed the Amalfi naval flag for their red cross and still pay some token fee ....




This is the latest period of building from the early 18th century. It has a Baroque interior with art work dedicated to St Andrew.




These mosaics are the remains of the ancient Byzantine pulpits of the Cathedral built in 1174-1202.




We had lunch in the square.




And then caught a bus along the winding and sometimes scary road back along the Amalfi coast.







We stopped off at Positano for a break and some gelato. It was a long way down to the beach with its black sand and stones. Jo and Mario are getting up courage to make the long trek down and back up.














This tiny cruise liner was in the bay outside when we returned.




- Posted post-Capri potentially

Pompeii

AND WE'RE OFF AND RACING ... well, actually driving cautiously towards Naples, stopping only to check out the tale of Vesuvius. The largest lemons you ever saw (apart from in other places) are produced here.




The group waiting for the Pompeii tour guide, Mario explaining the rules of bocce.




Pompeii was built on old lava flows but the volcano had been dormant for 1500 years until the disaster. The town was then of 20,000 people -- 11,000 slaves. It had been conquered by Rome around 150 years before, and still had many Greeks and others living there.




The ampihtheatre.




Details from the bathhouse.




Pizza oven! This one still had the bread that had been cooking when the city was covered with ash.







The courts of justice ... A pre-Roman Greek temple. The bronze of Apollo is a copy, but the original is extant and safe.




This is the view of Sorrento from our balcony.




Looking down on Jo and Aileen.




Mount Vesuvius in the distance




Evening light across to Sorrento.




Out on the town after a lovely fish meal.







Tasting samples of Limoncello and lemon lollies, chocolate etc.




- Posted when wifi permits

Location:Via Capo,Sorrento,Italy