Today was our first Full day in Sorrento. As Rome was rich with the history of civilization, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast are extraordinarily beautiful! Being here is like seeing 3 dimensional for the first time...but it is so multidimensional it's hard to explain. I would compare it to the awe of the grand canyon because the mountains are beautiful, rugged, and then filled with lemon trees, olive trees, grapevines, etc as well as being surrounded by the sea. Then imagine homes built into the mountainside, rugged steps leading down hundreds of feet, twisting/winding roads...this is all part of the picture.
The people here seem more laid back and friendly, perhaps because the main commerce is tourism, but it is also a way of life. Rome was somewhat edgy...Sorrento more of a South Beach meets Point Pleasant NJ. The funniest part of this area are crazy drivers on mopeds and cars who race like speed demons on roads we would consider in the US to be alleys. Don't forget that there are regular hairpin turns and that you are on cliffs.
Today we had a private tour from "Joe Bananas" company. Our driver and guide was Paulo, and he was fantastic. He picked the 4 of us up at the hotel, and then spent the day touring us from Pompeii to Ravella to Amalfi to Positano-it was amazing. Pompeii is like walking back in time to 400BC and seeing this sophisticated village and the people who died there. Although we did not go to Vesuvius, you could see her looming in the background! We then went to Ravello, a mountaintop village with THE most spectacular views. We toured the Villa Cimbrone, an estate built in the 1300's and then re-established by an English duke many years later. The grounds were breath taking. There were gardens, basilica, even a soccer field that was surrounded by netting because if the ball went out of bounds it would be off the mountain. When I finally get to post my pictures, you'll see old wooden statues carved min the 13th century.
The last few hours of the day were spent riding thru Amalfi and Positano. Again, hard to capture the beauty of these coastal towns. I'm very proud of myself, I haven't been lured by the beautiful pottery, clothes, and jewelry.I am enjoying the scenery too much!
A special shout out to my nephew Zachary and his bride Amber who got married today in California! We were so sorry to miss your special day!
Arrividerci!
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