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Published: April 4th 2023
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Souvenir seller on Corso Italia
Corso Italia is one of the principal tourist streets in Sorrento. Yesterday was a day of rest and recuperation, as we're still struggling to recover our "mojo" after a tiring day of overseas travel. Our diurnal rhythms are way out-of-whack, with sleeping schedules completely disrupted. So we decided to lay low all day, occupying ourselves with unpacking, organizing clothing and personal items for a two-month stay, and familiarizing ourselves with the apartment. One of the benefits of extended stays when traveling is the lack of urgency to see and do everything as quickly as possible, so we have far fewer deadlines and time constraints with which to contend.
Late this morning we finally ventured out, the primary mission being to forage for groceries. First we scouted out a butcher shop just a block away from our apartment, where Dee found some basic items and very friendly service. We'll no doubt return to this little store because of its convenience.
Then, after depositing the groceries back at the apartment, we decided to visit the nearby Sorrento cathedral, a church we had attempted to visit on two previous trips (2016 and 2018), but on both of those occasions it had been closed. Our third attempt today proved to be the charm, and
we enjoyed viewing the altar and numerous side chapels, as well as some impressive ceiling frescoes and an elaborate nativity scene.
After visiting the cathedral, we decided on a late lunch at the English Inn, one of many eateries that cater to tourists along the Corso Italia. It was a bit comical for us to gravitate toward a pub/sports bar-type venue for our first meal in Sorrento, but Dee thoroughly enjoyed her delicious caprese salad (tomatoes in Italy taste much better than back home), while the codfish and chips I ordered were excellent.
On the way home after lunch, we made a stop at the other grocery store near the apartment, one of the Carrefour chain of markets that operate throughout France and apparently Italy. The variety of food and grocery items is much larger than the tiny butcher shop where we shopped this morning, although the cashier's attitude at this place was borderline obnoxious.
As Dee points out in her comments, below, the density of pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic over here has taken us by surprise, especially the ubiquitous motor scooters. These crazy motor scooter drivers are like a horde of locusts on drugs, weaving
their way wildly amidst the cars, buses (both public and tourist), pedestrians and delivery vehicles that clog the street below our apartment building (Via degli Aranci). We had all we could handle in simply crossing this street on our walk back to the apartment this afternoon. However, since there is no television in the apartment, the chaotic scenes of this street traffic have been a daily source of entertainment and amusement for us to view from our balcony!
Dee's Comments: The weather today was kind of nice, but a chilly and windy 60-degrees, when we went to the butcher shop up the street. I loved this little store, even though it didn't have everything we needed, but the service was very friendly.
Came back to the apartment to unpack the groceries, then started our journey on foot along the busy street full of locals, tourists and buses. What I have noticed since our last visit is the sheer number of cars, motor scooters and people that clog the streets...can't even imagine what it's like during the height of the tourist season!
After visiting the cathedral, stopped at a loud and crowded English-style pub for lunch; the food
was very good, and we had a good time; friendly Norwegian man sitting next to us insisted upon showing us on his phone how well his stocks were doing today!
On the walk back to the apartment we made a stop at Carrefour for a few more groceries, but the service was very different than at the butcher's this morning...like the difference between Publix and Walmart back home!
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Cindy Vogt
non-member comment
Back in the saddle.
It sounds like after your rest and acclimation, the world travelers are back in the saddle again. Pics from the cathedral are amazing. The scooter traffic seems potentially more deadly than the Copenhagen cyclists! Bob and weave!!!