Italian Vacation....Day 11...A Night In Rome

It's time to get ready to head State side with a detour in Rome.

We have an early flight back to the States so we left Positano in the morning and spending the night in Rome to catch a flight out the next morning.

We didn't leave straight from Positano as we would would of had to of left very early in the morning and if we had any issues on the road we would of missed our flight. The drive from Positano to Rome was about 3 1/2 hours.

We flew United and we only had 1flight out...wanted to make sure we made it.

Alberico (our driver we had when we arrived) picked us up.

In Sorrento he stopped where we could get this picture of Mt Versus (Naples active volcano).

When we arrived in Italy on our way to Positano you couldn't see it as well as there was some cloud cover.

Still beautiful...cloud cover or not.

 The ride was a little boring so we slept a little...we didn't have much sleep so we were still a little tired.

 We arrived in Rome safely and stayed at this little place for the night.

It was a cute small hotel which also had beautiful small rooms...glad we only had 1 night to spend here otherwise we would of been a little cramped, especially in the bathroom.

We were tired but it was 3pm and we were in Rome so we decided to head out and walk a little and get a little bite to eat as we planned on going to bed early.

We found a spot away from the crowds with a good view to people watch and a wonderful breeze on a very hot day....love to people watch.

We watched guys selling handbags on the street, which is not legal...below is one of the guys hiding behind a car away from where the police can't see him....I think while we sat and dined he moved 3 different times from police and each time went back to the same spot.

 After we dined we decided to go and see the Trevi Fountain again...we had seen it before on our last trip to Rome.

 Oh my was it crowded...so many people...hard to get up close...I went to the side so I could get a shot of all these people. 2 years ago when we went to Rome we went twice to the Trevi...once late morning and the other in the evening and never did we experience this crowd.

As well as the picture below of The Spanish Steps.

Another spot that was crowded.

We headed back to our hotel and I got dressed for bed and think I knocked out pretty quickly...before 8pm I believe...I think Lonnie stayed up just a little longer than I did but still to bed early.

Tomorrow morning we have a flight back to the States....we stop in New York City for 4 nights where my friends Stacy and Kelley will join us.

The vacation continues State side....See ya then!

Italian Vacation...Day Ten...Go Out With A Bang!

Today was our last day In Positano.

We had intended to relax but we did that yesterday so we decided since we had not been on the island of Capri yet that we would take the ferry and go see.

 There were 2 times in the morning to go and 2 times late afternoon to come back...giving you at least 6 hours once you boarded the ferry.

This is our view once we got off the ferry.

 Beautiful but a very busy place.

Once we cleared the ferry area we were bombarded by people everywhere, people hounding you for a boat ride, a cave tour, a taxi ride, come eat here, come eat there, wine here, shop here.

I wanted to 

SCREAM!!

Once we got a way from the crowd and got our thoughts together we hired a taxi to show us around a little. Below a view of Capri.

 Enjoying the view.

We saw the Fragneolli Rocks prior by boat tour earlier in our trip now we see them from this road side view...just beautiful.

 We stopped to do a little shopping...the one good thing here is that I was able to find something for the young boys in my life (grandson's)....there was a bigger variety on this island...maybe cause it is more touristy.

 There were people everywhere....I think that is why I did not enjoy Capri as much as we spent a lot of time in a area that wasn't crowded like this.

 We finished shopping a little sooner than when we were suppose to meet our taxi driver so we stopped for a nice view and a glass of wine.

 It was nice to get away from the crowds for a few minutes.

We decided since we had a couple hours before the ferry would return that we would go down and sit by the water, have wine and lunch and wait to see our ferry arrive.

 We had 2 bottles of wine and had a nice time visiting with each other and our waiters.

Once we returned to Positano we walked on the beach so I could put my feet into The Mediterranean Sea...it was a little cool but felt so good.

 It was an interesting walk on the beach...2 bottles of wine and the beach is a rock beach sinking in the sand below...hard to walk on.

Below a couple relaxing on the beach.

 We decided to end the night over wine and dinner at the place we had spent the most nights at besides our terrace Le Tre Sorrelle...here we met 3 couples from Canada that invited us to join them at there table.

 Which we did...they were so much fun...it was a great night...

Here we had 2 more bottles of wine and treated to Limoncello.

 We laughed...shared stories...

 A great time ...a great way to end our last night.

While our friends left before us...we continued with wine and stayed until dark.

Once we were done with wine

we walked to find something and at this moment I'm not sure what it was we were in search of but for those of you that may of received my drunk texted...

This is the P-kankle night....LOL

Our trek up 187 steps was an interesting one...needless to say...we were leaving in the morning and still needed to packed...that we had to wait to do in the morning....

We needed sleep.

But I will say...it was a great night  and a great way to end our stay in Positano.

I loved this place....I could see myself returning...but instead of 10 nights...I think it will be a summer stay.

Italian Vacation...Day 9...A Terrace Kinda Day

We have been in Positano for 9 days now...hard to believe our time is nearing a end...tomorrow will be our last night here and then Tuesday morning we head for Rome where we will spend the night and catch our flight out to spend 4 nights in New York City....

more about that later.

So...when we woke up this morning we were both a little tired.

Our options were...Take the ferry to Capri and spend some time on the island, walk around Positano some more or stay at The Villa and relax.

 We chose relax....

We sunbathed on the terrace...had Bellini's this morning

 warmed up pizza and had rum and cokes for lunch....

watched boats in the sea and wondered who was on this yacht which is still docked as I write this.

 watched how full the beach had gotten today...today was the most crowded we had seen the beach...and we were thankful that we could see it but to be on our terrace with a cool breeze was the way to go...no crowds

 once the sun moved from the terrace the breeze was much more but oh so relaxing...me taking a nap

(didn't realize Lonnie had taken this picture of me napping after she had woken up from her nap).

I'm covered in a beach towel and yes...we have laundry hanging from the balcony.

 For dinner Lonnie fixed spaghetti

 and we switched to wine for the evening...

 Later that evening right before dark, fireworks had gone off at the church in  front of us and some activities were taking place...

music....dancing...

we were entertained right from our terrace and never had to leave.

Today was a great day and we never had to leave the villa or get dressed...

it was a full day spent 

RELAXING

Tomorrow we go to Capri.

Italian Vacation...Day 8...A Beautiful Day At Sea

Today we had planned a boat tour on a different part of the coast than before...

this time was

The Amalfi Coast.

And here comes our Captain to pick us up

Alexander

It was a nice day...sometimes sun and sometimes cloud but never no rain....at times a little windy but beautiful...it did rain some in Positano while we were gone.

 we saw smaller towns along the way to Amalfi and beyond...all just breath taking, especially along the water...the view from the water is beyond words and the pictures just don't do it justice.

 I believe this is the town of Atrani...beautiful.

There are more pictures in this post as it is hard to choose which pictures to share....I wish I could share them all with you...you would never tire of looking at them.

While out on the boat we took a couple hundred pictures...each!

 and as any good sail out on the water should be...relaxing...enjoying the beauty that surrounds you while sipping on wine...at this moment in time

Life Is Good!

 If you were to click on the picture below to enlarge you would see the road above where cars drive to get from town to town...That would be The Amalfi Coast drive...which we did...by sea is much better.

 an old part of a castle that is used as a hotel and the white part above has been an added addition.

It's a private resort with their private beach.

Owned by Americans.

 This white house the hugs the cliffs and looks out into The Mediterranean Sea use to belong to Sophia Loren...she had for many many years and recently sold it a few years ago.

 The town of Amalfi

 It was nice to see the towns being sunny and then also with overcast...gave you two different beautiful perspectives. This is what would make me want to live on the sea.

 A small inlet area that you can pull in from the sea and have a little private beach.

Beautiful.

 I forget the name of the cave at the moment but it was big enough to enter by boat...it was gorgeous...and the way it lit up when inside.

 Once we were done going down the coast it was time to go back up and stop at a little place for lunch....we were shown places along the way...we could of gotten off in Amalfi...but Amalfi is so busy ...that this place was highly recommended and as a local spot...I love the restaurants that you can reach by boat.

We wanted to be a little adventurous and eat something that was more the way the Italians ate... which by the way is a lot of seafood...I was a little more adventurous than Lonnie which surprised me (my inner Fonda must be coming out in me)...but we decided to give it a try and go off the recommendation of our Captain and waiter.

If you want to have fish they will show you the fish and you can choose how it is cooked and prepared...I know...it's hard to be adventurous when your food looks like that.

So, the fish you choose is the one they cook, if you don't choose your fish then you get a fish that is already cut and prepared and not what you see.

Can you tell what fish we chose?

 And here we are with our Captain, a selection of fish and a beautiful view...

I could of stayed here all day...it is very relaxing and for about half our time here we were the only ones.

 Another view from our table...what a way to spend the day sipping wine.

 This is the fish we chose...the red ugly one...head still on...but it was fabulous...so good...before the main meal we even had a little appetizers....octopus (second time to try) a little mussels, a seaweed potato and a fried anchoive with a cream cheese filling...my first time to try those...it was all good...

the anchoive was a little fishy but not as fishy if it would have not been fried with all the other ingredients.

 While I ate I couldn't help telling the stories of how adventurous with food my friend Fonda is and how she let's her guides and waiters order for her when she is somewhere new, and how proud she would be that I was stepping out of my comfort zone with food and how I was experiencing this without her and if only she was here and if I would have enough nerve to try this back in The States.

Once our meal was done they brought us Limencello...we ended up with 2 each....this by far was the best Limencello...it's made in this region of Italy but everyone makes it a little different...some real sweet, some real tart some a mixture of sweet and tart but this was smooth and good....no face afterwards.

Salute!

 Lonnie liked the Limencello so much she bought a bottle.

 Our time aboard has come to an end...so sad...we are now back in Positano.

It was a great day at sea...enjoyed our Captain Alexander so much.

It was nice to meet someone and have conversation with and learn a little bit of their way of life.

He works 6 months in busy season and then in the winter he travels for 4 months.

I seriously need to travel more!

 Once back on land we headed to Chez Black...a restaurant on the beach...I had wanted to try this place since planning our trip to Positano...it had great reviews in all the places I had read...it also is apparently where stars come to eat when here, etc....

Let me say...I was NOT impressed...they were slow and unattentive as the other restaurants I have been in not that way...and with that being said...most Italians are slow, they are in no hurry but they were less than standard...the food okay but our restaurant we had been too on 3 different occasions was much better...it was lacking charm...it was just different...

So we enjoyed our wine...watched the rain and then headed up 187 steps to our Villa

It was a good day in Positano!

And for those wondering...Alexander is the Digit man...lol

As any good American rule...

What Happens In Positano .... Stays In Positano!

LOL