Today we hired a guide and took a drive along the Amalfi Coast. We hired a guide because the road along this coastline is very very narrow, steep and has many hairpin bends. It is also a very busy stretch of road and Mark really wanted a chance to relax and take in the scenery instead of doing battle with the traffic.
We visited 3 beautiful little towns built into the side of the hills and cliff faces that make up the Amalfi Coast. Positano is a very busy town with beautiful little shops lining the streets selling gorgeous linen clothes that are made in Positano itself. There are also lots of ceramics produced in this area and so lots of shops selling ceramic items like plates, cups and bowls right up to the most beautiful table tops and outdoor settings. We had lunch in a lovely little cafe and then headed toward the town of Amalfi. The coast line is really spectacular and we were blown away by the terraced gardens and orchards growing lemons, cherry's and olives. How these people live and work here is just amazing. Some houses actually have flying fox type arrangements to get stuff down to their front doors. The stairways are incredibly steep and winding and there is absolutely no parking and yet the locals still seem to squeeze their cars into the most obscure places. We were also amazed by the local fruit stalls that set up on the sides of the road in what looks to be the most dangerous places to stop......however lots of people do, including us today.
Amalfi is a little different to Positano and has a lovely old town area with a large town square. Because lemons are big here you can get lemon ice (granita) on every corner and I must say it is really refreshing on a hot day. We know cause we had a couple!!
Our last stop before heading back into Sorrento was Revello. Just when I thought the roads couldn't get any steeper or narrower we found ourselves climbing steadily higher in to hills to this beautiful little town. Again with a lovely town square and shops selling ceramics and clothing.
We got home about 7pm, enjoyed a really nice meal and are now getting ready for bed as we are off to visit Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius tomorrow. I will post some pics from Yesterdays blog as well as I was unable to do it yesterday.
 |
| Em in front of Neuschwanstein Castle |
 |
| A model of the castle |
 |
| Part of the castle...it is very big and hard to photograph in it's entirity. One of the towers was covered in scaffolding for restoration work. |
 |
| The river flowing through Fussen in Germany....the most amazing milky blue colour. |
 |
| The landscape leaving Germany heading into Austria |
 |
| More landscape.......so beautiful |
 |
| The Swiss Chalet....part of the hotel were we stayed in Lake Lucern Switzerland. |
 |
| Lake Lucern from our window |
 |
| Mark and Em in a paddle boat on Lake Lucern |
 |
| The 14th century covered bridge and tower in Lucern |
 |
| There are lots of swans in Switzerland |
 |
| The bridge close up |
 |
| Lucern |
 |
| Lucern |
 |
| Em and Mark with a swiss boy???? |
 |
| Marks first European haircut |
 |
| Another Lake in Switzerland |
 |
| Arriving in Italy |
 |
| The Leaning Tower of Pisa |
 |
| Emily with Pinocchio |
 |
| Our first look at the Meditteranean in Civitavecchia |
 |
| A statue called "Unconditional Surrender" in the port city of Civitavecchia in Italy |
 |
| Emily at the beach in Santa Marinella |
 |
| Santa Marinella |
 |
| Positano on The Amalfi Coast |
 |
| The Bay of Naples |
 |
| Em in one of the streets in Positano |
 |
| Inside the Grotto |
 |
| Em in Amalfi |
 |
| The Amalfi Coast |
 |
| The Amalfi Coast |
 |
| A bay and fishing village along the coast |
 |
| The Amalfi Coast road |
 |
| The coastline |
 |
| The amazing terraced gardens |
 |
| A hotel along the coast |
 |
| A little beach along the coast |
 |
| The Amalfi Coast |
 |
| The coastline |
oh my goodness look how close those cars are on the road lol and everything is soo steep and high up wouldnt want to be afraid of heights lol
ReplyDelete