Positano - May 19th
O boy, it's still very early. The alarm rings at 06:30, where we went to bed at 01:00 due to the Eurovision Song Contest last night. A slow breakfast and than off to Brussels Airport. Well in time we arrive (no surprise there). The flight is 15 minutes delayed, but we still arrive as planned in Naples Airport. The luggage takes forever to arrive (knowing that Brussels just ended a weeks strike of the ground staff this was quite nerve wrecking). "Deja vu". No driver waiting for us. After waiting 15 minutes and grabbing a quick sandwich I call Tiziana. "Petra and Jos to the Information Desk". Out of thin air the driver appears?!
In a private Mercedes (?!) we drive all the way to Positano, and we arrive about an hour later. Tiziana welcomes us with open arms and three big kisses each. The Wifi password is still the same .. feels like coming home.
An hour in the spring sun on the terrace .. man did we miss her!
Just lazy - May 20th
Not much to say about today. Wake up late, long breakfast. Strolling the streets of Positano. Lunch at the smaller beach - Spiaggia del Fornillo. (Window) Shopping. Strolling. Dining.
What a lovely day!
Anacapri - May 21st
We take the Jetfoil to Capri in the morning. On arrival we decide to go to the top now the weather is still good (a very good choice we find out later that day). From the Marina Grande we take the Funicolare to Capri, where we get on the bus to Anacapri, and finally the chairlift to the top of Mount Solaro. The highest point of the Island of Capri. What a view! Not only can you see all around Capri, in the blue Mediterranean Sea, but also the the Gulf of Naples and the Vesuvio. Some pictures and down we go, back to Anacapri.
The recommended restaurant was closed this day, so we end up at another one a little further on a small square. The food tastes good.
Back to Capri is a bigger challenge we find out. All the buses are packed on arrival and all pass by without stopping. The line only gets smaller because some give up and some start walking to an earlier bus stop. "5 Euro per person, 4 sharing" I hear a taxi driver of an open "limousine" say. An older Indonesian couple (actually from New Zealand) joins us, and of we go. In no time we are back in Capri.
We wander the streets of Capri and end up at the amazing view at the Gardens of Villa Krupp. Little later it starts to rain ... and doesn't stop raining anymore.
Pooring Rain - May 22nd
The weather forecasts are not good (60% chance of rain / 20mm) but we give it a go any way. Tiziana provides us the Beach Towels and an umbrella, and we walk the 200+ steps down to the main beach - Spiaggia Grande. The sky is blue, the sun shines, only some clouds in the distance. Two sun beds and a parasol are arranged .. time to enjoy the sun and the beach.
After some gushes of wind the beach boy comes and closes the umbrella. "Too dangerous, only 5 minutes". Ten minutes later I open up the umbrella. Way too hot for me without. The beach boys warning wasn't a joke. Another wind gush and off our umbrella went, landing an odd 15 meters further. Good thing it isn't busy today.
The clouds become bigger and darker. The sun disappears. And than 'someone' switches on a big big shower. We think we are smart, hiding under our umbrella, but the rain comes right through after less then a minute! We hide under the parasol, as the people next to us do. And than the shower is switched off.
We, our towels and my shoes are all wet. So what now? Lunch? Back to our B&B? First to the toilet. Hardly arriving there it starts again. This time even with hailstones.
Once the shower clears the skies open up again. We decide to stay. "New York" (the 2 retired couples in front off us) are also still there. After drying a bit up in the sun we go for lunch at Lo Guarrancino. A beautiful view on the small beach and the sea. The food is delicious.
Back on the main beach we have the best weather ever. New York didn't give up either. Slowly the beach is getting busier. The sun is so nice that I even try the sea. Damn cold, but very nice.
At 17:30 the sky closes again. Let's call it a day.
Back at our room, we decide to have dinner at the restaurant we were recommended to go to last night: Bruno. Yesterday we passed on it as it was too cold to eat outside there. Today the nice tables have already been reserved. Lunch was good .. so we go back to Lo Guarrancino. Jummy! Rocket salad with Bresoala. Raviolli with Gamberi. Grilled fish. Lemon cake. Espresso.
The sky has been black all night. Lightning at sea everywhere. We already seen the weather was going to be bad: All the boats at the main marina were taken out of the water! When we leave, the restaurants black cat blocks our way, as if she wanted to say .. better wait. And than the rain starts to gush down.
For almost an hour without calming down the rain is poring down. A nice Lemoncella later it stops. Time to go. Water flows from the mountain everywhere. The footpath is a small flood. But the rain had stopped and the wind lay down, so we are good.
Antonio looks worried when he opens the door on our arrival ... "don't worry, we are fine".
No boats - May 23rd
Again the weather forecasts are promising bad weather. So we didn't plan ahead for today. In the morning all seems not too bad, we could even have breakfast outside. After a slow start we walk to the other side of Positano, to see how the restaurants are over there. Only Il Capitano seems nice. The rest is either too far or lacks a nice view. We descend through the small inner food paths back down to the town center.
The sea is beautiful, but wild. Arriving at the marina we want to check when the boats to Amalfi leave. Hé? All the ticket booths are gone or closed? We also don't see any boats today. The sea is obvious to wild to moor the boats.
After a good lunch at Capricci we take the same route, so via the outside, back. Once back in the room it starts to rain again. And it doesn't stop .. time for an afternoon nap.
We are not too hungry, so we simply get a sandwich from the nearby Mini Market.
Amalfi - May 24th
This is our 2nd time at the Amalfi Coast, but we have never been to Amalfi itself, so we decide to go there today. The bus is packed (no boats, so all tourist, as far as from Sorrento, are all on the bus!) and we have to stand for an hour. Brrr. It's cold in Amalfi, there is a lot more wind than in Positano.
Let's 1st check out the main attracktion: Duomo di Sant'Andrea Apostolo. Very nice, but after a good 15 minutes we have seen it all. We wander through some streets. Hmmm ... Positano is by far nicer!
Less than an hour in Amalfi and we are back in the bus to Positano! Again packed, and no seat for us. Luckily the people next to us have to get off fairly quickly so we can sit a good part of the bus ride.
Yep. Positano is much much nicer. Lunch, Espresso. Life is good.
In the evening we get a sandwich (enough after a big lunch), an espresso and something sweet & delicious. We soak up the view for a last time ... tomorrow we need to leave this beautiful place to go back home.
