La Costiera Amalfitana


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April 25th 2009
Published: April 25th 2009
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Rainy Day PeopleRainy Day PeopleRainy Day People

Sam & Terri proving that it is never too cold for a beer and gelato when we were in Ravello.
Whatever the glitch was it has been taken care of...so now back to the regular programming...er posting :-)

11th day - Tuesday
We drove to the Amalfi Coast to take a look around. The weather was dreary, again, and I think it is hard to appreciate the Amalfi Coast when the sun is missing. Nonetheless, we drove into Maiori and stopped to have a looksee and then we ate a swell lunch before driving off again.
We drove up to Ravello, looked around a bit and then headed back down the mountain and drove to Amalfi. We wandered around a bit in Amalfi. There were quite a few student groups around and we surmised that the European kids were also on spring break.
It started raining again so we decided to cut the visit short and take a leisurely inland drive to the autostrada. We took the road back up and through Ravello again instead of back through Salerno. The stretch from the base of the mountain up to Ravello is a bit hair raising by the way. There are some really tight spots. Quick clutch work, stomping on the gas and accompanying horn blasts are the rule of the
Al hikes to churchAl hikes to churchAl hikes to church

“Now that is an impressive façade” says Al of the cathedral in Amalfi
road. Beth pointed out the road signs that warn drivers to “give way to overtaking traffic.” If you have been on the Amalfi Coast you know that there isn’t much room in which to be able to “give way.”
Interestingly enough, the weather was a bit sunnier on the other side of the mountains and we had quite a nice drive. Getting back onto the autostrada was a somewhat comical adventure. We drove into the outskirts of Pompeii and and then into Pompeii itself. Getting to the autostrada when driving through a maze of streets consists of following the green signs that have the freeway symbol. Unfortunately there is a complete absence of such signs for stretches at a time, or in some cases conflicting signs. For example, we came to “T” intersection and there were two signs for the highway but the arrows pointed in opposite directions. This is when knowing where north or south lies becomes critical. We decided to take the one that pointed south as that seemed commonsensical; we were headed south and so we took the arrow that pointed south. Well, more accurately it took us in a winding but southerly direction. I knew where
Where's the sun?Where's the sun?Where's the sun?

On a sunny day it is quite brilliant...but not today!
the autostrada was and could sometimes get a glimpse of it but finding the access point required lots of faith in our guessing which turns to take in the absence of signs.
We finally found the on-ramp got on the autostrada and stopped to gas up and I got out to stretch and got into a conversation with the guy pumping gas. He was friendly and curious about us. He wanted to know about the Northwest; Italians seem to know about Las Vegas, California, some of the East Coast, in that order. The Northwest is a complete mystery to them; probably to most Americans as well. Anyhoo, he wished us well and wanted us to enjoy our time in Italy.
We stopped in Battapaglia, on the way back to the apartment, at a supermarket to shop for supper groceries. Sam later prepared a rabbit with zucchini, eggplant, and tomato sauce dish that was seriously good. I supervised while I watched one of my favorite Italian game shows (Stricia la Notizie). Just so you know, no self respecting Italian game show is without at least a couple of “dancers.”
Beth’s theory is that the “dancers” come on just at the point
With the Bell TowerWith the Bell TowerWith the Bell Tower

Just a little bit of sun would make it that much more impressive.
when the male viewers are about to switch channels. I of course watch for the cultural merit of the programs…honest!
For the curious, you can get a feel for the programs by going to youtube and search “stricia la notizie veline”( or my other fave show) and “Antonio Ricci Cultura Moderna.”


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