Blogs from Amalfi, Campania, Italy, Europe - page 4

We started out at 7:45 a.m. and it was already about 25 degrees...we walked striaght up for 2 hours and 27 minutes. We stopped once for a bathroom break. The views and the challenge became progressively more amazing with each elevation climb. At the top we were over 1000 m above sea level and at the highest walkable point on the Amalfi Coast. IT was breathtakingly beautiful...at our feet the blue-green Mediterranean Sea to our right and below us Positano, and further along the Isle of Capri to our left we could see the coastline near Salerno and all around and below us small villages and other mountain peaks. It was an incredibly demanding hike and I am so proud that John and I did it together and so well! Only 1 other person in our ... read more

Today was rest day and there is no better place to rest than in beautiful Amalfi. After a quick trip to the "supermarket" to grab breakfast and some panini for lunch, we took a stroll down to the pier and the beach. The beach is black sand and pebbles and the water is very clear. There were lots of tourists taking in the sun and it was amusing to watch the Europeans sunbaking on concrete and rocks around the pier. Nick and Emily were deserate to post their postcards so we grabbed some stamps and headed back to our apartment for lunch. Susy and Lino were there to greet us, always happy and smiling (and smoking) and why not? What an amazing place to live. All Damian could say was "e una bella giornata!" His Italian ... read more

In southern Italy there is no such thing as straight down or straight up; one must wind. Although, when travelling, I have no objection to a little bit of winding, I would prefer it if we wound on the back of some Italian stallion's moped... but the bus did us fine. So there we were, winding all the way from the immaculately touristic centre of Sorrento to the outskirts - which were'nt so immaculate, but which emitted an air of faded and unkept beauty that left us craving some sort of miraculous unearthing of something perfect. When in Italy you become accustomed to pretty and charming coves and crevices on each corner, complemented by breathtaking views. Therefore if you ever find yourself in a place that doesn't quite live up to the words "picture perfect" you ... read more

Geo: 40.6344, 14.6026DAY THREE (8/4)—Amalfi CoastThe coast is clear!The most appealing part of the Tauck "Classic Italy" itinerary, the one thing that attracted me most to this tour, was the time devoted to the Amalfi Coast. And despite very high expectations about how beautiful this part of the world is, I was not disappointed. The drive was right up there with one of the most beautiful we have ever taken – the 17-mile drive at Pebble Beach.After an elaborate breakfast in the hotel dining room, and some beautiful photos on the terrace overlooking at the Mediterranean, we boarded our bus and headed south along the coast. Not only was it exquisitely beautiful, it was horrifyingly challenging. Our driver deserved every Euro he made (he drives it three times a week!).Don't ever consider making this drive yo ... read more

We took the train from Pompei to Sorrento, a picturesque (but very touristy) town with lots of narrow streets on the cliff edge over looking the Amalfi coastline. Decided we would take the bus on the coast route to Amalfi. Wow! Some excitement the road was narrow in places and hanging off the side of the cliff...good job it was me who had the window seat and not Kim. The bus swerved, backed up, and bibbed at the approaching traffic, something the drivers must do every day, a journey of 1 1/2 hours of adrenalin and amazing scenery. Amalfi was lovely, quieter, with some interesting tunnelled walkways in the town. We couldn’t resist a swim in the sea before heading back on the bus. Amalfi contrasted sharply with Naples , to which we went, again ... read more