Conca dei Marini

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It is Friday August 28 and I am in Conca dei Marini. Mark and I have beaten our luggage and arrived first to our next destination. We set off from Amalfi at 7.45am on our day's walk to the next destination. We were here well before the ETA despite a few wrong turns which had us back tracking. I am feeling better about our walking now. I think I will be able to do the other two walks even though they will be longer. We are now in the embarrassing position of having stripped off (we were both saturated from sweating and feeling overheated), with no clean clothes to change into. When our bags are delivered, we will presumably have to hide in the bathroom and shout out our thanks from behind the closed door?
Well, the bags arrived and dignity was somehow maintained.Later, Mark and I had a hair raising 750 metre walk along the main Amalfi road facing oncoming traffic (!) to get to La Grotta Smeralda. At one point, the cars were banked up both ways for ages because a big bus and a truck had both got to the same bend in the road at the same time. The truck side of the gridlock had to reverse one by one until the truck could finally reverse and the big bus move by. We sauntered past the idling cars with cross looking people in them. I have to say I was smugness personified!The grotto was very lovely with its emerald coloured hues coming from the opening of the cave to the sunlight outside.We walked back to our hotel and rested. This is a real resort place; nothing to do except swim in a pool or sun bake. Not really my thing. I kind of wish I was back in Ravello, my favourite place so far. Eventually, we decided to visit the pool for a swim. While the it was lovely what I really wanted was to swim in that fabulously azure ocean. Luckily enough, by making our way down yet more steps, we found a way down to the water's edge. I have to say that swimming off one of the cliffs with Amalfi clearly visible from my cool, clear and refreshing spot was one of the best experiences I have had. I shall always remember it. For dinner that night we climbed about 1000 steps (that's what it felt like) to Le Bontà del Capo. Not only did we have a great meal (fish, again; no meat now for two weeks) but the sunset and moonrise were gorgeous! Such great moments I have experienced, this journey has been fabulous!

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