Yesterday was our last day in Sorrento. As good vacationers, we spent it with a fury of touring and sightseeing. Actually, in comparison to Saturday it was quite a casual pace. We began with a boat ride from Sorrento to Capri. As a group we had decided NOT to do the Blue Grotto, primarily because of the crowds and based on the recommendation of Paolo (who toured us on Saturday.) Capri is a beautiful island that used to be a get away for the rich and famous, now it's full of tourists looking for the rich and famous! The boat dropped us off in Marina Grande, at which point we took 2 busses..one to Capri and then a second to Anacapri. We chose the latter because we wanted to take the chairlift ride up the mountain recommended by both Paolo and Rick Steves. If I haven't mentioned it, other than our personal tour guides throughout the trip, Rick Steves the travel writer has been pretty spot-on regarding his descriptions and recommendations.
Once in Anacapri, we had lunch at a little trattoria. I'd like to mention here that we've been eating great food regularly without pigging out. Usually, Tami orders the mozzarella with tomatoes while I have a green salad (sometimes with tuna or other veggies). There is a reason for doing this, and that is to save room for two staples in Italy: bread and gelato! I have yet to meet a slice of bread that I don't like it Italy. Tami has yet to pass by a gelato stand (just kidding, she passes by at least 3 per day). We've been walking so much we hope to come home a few pounds lighter! (That's enough laughing everyone).
So, back to Anacapri...after lunch we made our way to the Seggiovia Monte Solaro. This is a chair lift up the side of the mountain and one of the best ways to view Capri and Anacapri. Now, many of you might not know this, but I am somewhat afraid of heights. When we got closer, I realized that the lift was single seat (not what I thought) and the angle of the lift was what seemed to me to be 70 degrees of incline. Let's say my panic mode set in and my immediate thought was to run. I did not run however! I thought to myself-how often will you have chance to ride up the side of a mountain in Italy? After watching Tami gleefully hop on, I stood and waited for my chair to come behind me so I could sit and go! The man put the bar down (a metal bar that did NOT lock) and then I had no choice but to to commit! OMG! Danny, if your out there reading this, picture my airplane face when we hit turbulence! Tami was turning in her seat 50 feet in front of me encouraging me to look around at the gorgeous view. All I could think was..."don't move...HELP...I'm going to die!!!!" There is a reason they're called IRRATIONAL fears people! Halfway up I decided to let go of the fear (never letting go of the arms of the chair of course-do you think I'm nuts?) I then relaxed enough to breathe in the sights and a little oxygen as well! I did fine on the way down (i prefer landing over take off). Ironically we passed a gal in her late teens starting up the hill crying ("mama.....") with her family laughing at her. I felt so bad for her, had we not been passing in mid-air I would have reassured her. Honestly I also felt a little like giggling at both she and myself...fearful faces are somehow amusing (I have a picture to share with MY face looking funny). Ann, there is one thing I failed to mention. Capri is pronounced like "kah-pri" with the emphasis on the kah, not like Capri pants. Just wanted to help you sound like a local!
After our return to Sorrento, we picked up a few snacks (AKA wine) and enjoyed the pool area at our hotel as a little siesta (are you proud of me my HE-DPT friends?) For dinner, we walked down to the Marina by our hotel (down a mountain) and ate at trattoria d'emilia. Mama Mia, it was delicious! Tami and Nicole had Mama's Gnocchi,Sally the fresh fish (very fresh!) and I had the spaghetti with clams (shells and all). Simply prepared foods that were so delicious. On the way home we stopped for....gelato! What a perfect evening to end our stay in the Amalfi coast-off to Tuscany tomorrow where I will surely have lots of wine and more stories to share.
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