Italy
Sorrento

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    • Day 24

      Cinque Fotigrafies-Sorrento Day 1

      May 7, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

      This was our first day on mainland Italy. We arrived to Port in Naples around 8 a.m. after a night at sea on a ferry from Palermo. I was a bit dubious about getting much quality sleep as the seas were rolling a bit. Neither of us suffer from motion sickness, but I do get a bit unnerved by the unevenness of the motion, not unlike my response to turbulence in the air.

      I woke up to the light coming in from the porthole and got up to look outside. It turns out that we were approaching the isle of Capri. That passage will likely be the closest that we get to Capri, but it was fun to see it.

      When we disembarked from the ferry, the next task was to find the commuter ferry from Naples to Sorrento. Google maps saved the day, and we easily found the ticket office about fifteen minutes later. I hadn't booked the connecting ferry until 11 a.m., but the ticket agent let us book the 9 a.m. to Sorrento for a modest fee.

      The ride on the commuter ferry was fun. It was a fast passenger ferry and we cruised along the shoreline at a pretty good clip. Our first glimpse of Sorrento was inspiring as we saw buildings built into the cliffs and walls that reminded me of castles from Game of Thrones.

      As we pulled up to port, we started to map the address, but as I looked up from the dock, I recognized our inn from photos. We confirmed the address and, sure enough, our place of lodging was only about 100 meters from the marina. In retrospect, the lodging house is called Marina Piccolo (small marina) so it makes sense that it was close by

      When we arrived at our accommodations, we met Alice. We were hoping to just drop out backpacks off, but it turns out that our room was ready and she let us move in after a tour of the facility and area restaurant suggestions. She was really quite lovely and welcoming.

      Our room is spectacular. We face the bay and Mt. Vesuvius. The song of the dance of the waves on the shore adds to the tranquility of the place. And most of the city is nestled on the cliffs above us.

      We learned that there are only two ways to get to the upper city: the stairs or a lift that connects you to the public garden. We decided to check out the lift and ventured in search of a local laundromat. As has been true for a good part of our trip, the rains have stalked us from Portland.
      Luckily, Alice had made sure that we had an umbrella, and we found a site to do laundry.
      When we arrived, a young Australian couple helped us navigate how the machines worked. We learned that they had both quit their jobs, and they told us that they were exploring Europe ".. until their money ran out." They alerted us to avoid a specific washing machine. In turn, we paid the information forward by helping another traveling young man navigate the machines.

      Walking the streets of Sorrento is festive with many shops and restaurants luring you to their spaces. The old buildings are interspersed with the new, and I love the integration.

      As we returned back toward our hotel, we opted to try some pizza, the food that this region is famous for creating. When we asked the server how big the pizzas were, he replied that they were single serving size. They were huge and tasty, and despite having leftovers, to-go boxes do not seem to be in custom here. We capped the meal with limoncello shots.

      After a nap, we held a family Zoom call with Genevieve, Olive and my mother as an early Mother's Day greeting and catch up.

      We opted for a late night dinner at the beach. We were the last reservation of the night, and the service was disorganized, but gracious. It should be noted that traveling in Sorrento is a bit like the DownEast Mainer expression, "You can't get there from heah." Although we could see the restaurant from our accommodation, the route to get there was a little tricky as we have to travel up and around a cliff to get back to the shore.

      It's time for bed. I go to sleep with gratitude that the travel gods were looking out for us. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Buona Notte! 💞
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    • Day 25

      Cinque Fotagrafie-Sorrento Day 2

      May 8, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

      Buona festa della mamma a tutte le mamme e a coloro che hanno ricoperto il ruolo di mamme.

      We are having a lovefest with Sorrento. Today we were blessed with a beautiful sunny day thar contrasted the local weather reports. We started the day with a substantive breakfast on the rooftop terrace of the Inn. The service here is generous and friendly.

      The city plazas were bustling with tourists from cruise ships. Jim C went to view the Roman ruins (circa 150 A.D.) where Queen Giovanna escaped the summer heat. I remained at the inn and we met at one of the main plazas at noon.

      While waiting for Jim, I overheard a woman switching from Italian to English, as she tried to explain to her Italian companions the phrase "to put on lipstick as they attempted to repeat it. At one point, I laughed while this exchange was happening, and the woman asked if I spoke English. I told her that I was from the states, and she explained that she was originally from Torinto. She complimented me on my ability to speak English and she told her friends in Italian that I was a good English speaker. I guess nearly 64 years of practice has some benefit.

      I didn't know that Mother's Day is also celebrated in Italy (and many other European countries), and it was fun to see tourists and locals alike celebrating their mothers. The market where craftspeople were selling their wares was lively and packed.

      Jim and I people watched and drank cappuccino freddo, a really delicious blended ice coffee layered on top of cappuccino. We also sampled French fries with a lemon pepper cheese sauce before heading off to wander the city streets.

      On our walk, we discovered a lemon and orange garden where a vendor offered limoncello and other liquors. We purchased a bottle of mandarin- flavored digestive, and we hope to share it with Jim's sisters next week when they join us in Tuscany.

      We decided to check our David's Gelateria who Rick Steve's billed as producing the best gelato in the city. We can offer no dispute- the flavors were amazing. Jim C has become partial to coffee/pistachio and I have really loved the fruit flavors like strawberry and mango.

      After returning to our room, we enjoyed a long nap, and then we watched the changing sky, a spectacular rainbow and the setting sun.

      We wrapped the evening with an extended dinner at Donna Sofia, a restaurant dedicated to Sofia Loren. We were seated in a courtyard; the food and ambience were lovely and relaxed.

      We had a sweet walk home, and we enjoyed the quiet streets as we made out way back while noticing lightning flashes from moody Mt. Vesuvius across the bay. Buona Notte, friends.
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    • Day 2

      Day one is done

      May 21, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

      It’s only been a day?? Day one felt like an endless loop of exhaustion, adrenaline, and more exhaustion. Haha Crazy to think we started this morning having a cappuccino in Amsterdam and ended it by going to dinner on the water in Sorrento. We are quite sleep deprived, getting our rest in every which way possible(check photos). We made the most of it though, enjoyed dinner at Restorante Ruccio with kitties at our feet and a very generous courtesy ride from our new friend “papa” (he worked at the restaurant). And yes , yes we of course got gelato from papa’s daughter, Alessandra. It was splendid!! Goodnight from tre Donne Italia💟🇮🇹Read more

    • Day 223

      Sorrento

      November 14, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

      Den weiteren Verlauf der Amalfiküste erkunde ich auf Grund des anhaltenden Regens lediglich mit dem Auto und durchquere auf der anspruchsvollen Straße mehrere kleine Ortschaften, die sich malerisch an die Steilhänge klammern.
      Auf der gegenüberliegenden Seite der Halbinsel erreiche ich Sorrent und habe Glück, dass sich hier die Sonne zeigt. Dank seiner langen Geschichte als beliebtes Reiseziel, gibt es zahlreiche Luxushotels aus dem 19. Jahrhundert, die der Stadt einen noblen Charme verleihen. Jedoch sind sie zur Zeit, genau wie die Fußgängerzonen, kaum besucht, aber dienen mir trotzdem als schönes Fotomotiv und bieten tolle Ausblicke über den Golf von Neapel bis zum Vesuv.
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    • Day 3

      Königliche Aussicht

      March 21, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

      Nach einer kurzen Pause habe ich mich auf den Weg zum Bagni Regina Giovanna am Kap von Sorrento gemacht. Der größte Teil des Weges führte entlang einer Straße ohne Fußweg, es war grauenvoll. Aber dann kam das absolute Highlight des Tages. Angefangen bei der schönen Badebucht über die Ruinen der alten römischen Villa bis zum Blick von der Felsenterrasse über das Meer und auf Sorrent. Das Ganze begleitet von einem wundervollen Sonnenuntergang. Hätte ich den schrecklichen Rückweg nicht vor mir gehabt, wäre ich definitiv länger dort geblieben. Es war traumhaft und der Wind hat mir den Kopf mächtig freigeblasen.Read more

    • Day 40

      Sorrent - Die Stadt der Meerjungfrauen

      June 8, 2023 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

      Bevor wir die Amalfiküste erforschen, entschieden wir uns heute für einen Abstecher in Sorrent, um einen letzten Blick über den Golf von Neapel zu werfen. Es heißt Sorrent und die Sorrento-Küste waren das Land der mythischen Sirenen, die die Seeleute mit ihrem Gesang lockten. Die Stadt zählt zu den schönsten Küstenorten Italiens und wir können dem nur zustimmen.Read more

    • Day 48

      Tag 48 - Wandern auf Capri

      August 26, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

      Heute ging es auf einen Tagesausflug zur nahegelegenen Insel Capri. Da ich die früheste Fähre genommen hatte war es vor Ort zunächst noch nicht sehr voll und vor allem noch nicht brennend heiß.

      So konnte ich den ersten Abschnitt mit meinem heute fast dauerhaften Begleiter, der Treppe, gut in Angriff nehmen. Eine zum Teil verdammt steile und mit hohen Stufen versehene Treppe führte mich so bis hinauf nach Anacapri, meinem ersten Zwischenziel. Von oben bis unten im Schweiß badend habe ich direkt eine Pause auf einer wunderschönen Bank gemacht, welche ich in der Art im Klosterkomplex in Napoli bereits gesehen hatte.

      Nach einer kleinen Besichtigung der Stadt, welche für mich einfach ganz nett war, ging es dann auf zum nächsten Ziel, Monte Solaro, dem höchsten Punkt auf der Insel (589 m). Hier tauschten sich jetzt zunächst steile Treppen mit steilen Straßen ab, welche noch viel gemeiner zum hochlaufen waren. Gerade die ständigen Überholmanöver von Rollern und Kleinwagen erschwerten es auf den engen Passagen umso mehr. Dann ging es aber in den unbewohnten Bereich. Dort erwarteten mich teils kaum als Wege erkennbare Passagen, sehr unebenes Gelände und ab und zu auch schmale Trampelpfade. Teilweise dachte ich kurz nach umzukehren, entschied mich aber recht schnell dagegen. Langsam aber stetig ging es so dem Gipfel entgegen, während über mir die Gondeln zum Gipfel fuhren. Oben angekommen habe ich bei einem Eis und im Schatten eine längere Pause genossen, nachdem ich mich von der Aussicht beeindrucken lassen habe. Diese war wirklich bemerkenswert. Ein Rundumblick machte. Ein ick über die ganze Insel, die Bucht von Neapel und dem offenen Meer möglich. Nach einem kurzen aber netten Gespräch mit einem britischen Paar ging es dann aber wieder abwärts.

      Nach einem kurzen Stück begann dann das größte Abenteuer des Tages. Auf steinigen steilen und schmalen Wegen ging es auf unvorhersehbaren Passagen einige Zeit hinunter. Teilweise musste ich den richtigen Weg suchen, da dieser nicht offensichtlich zu sehen war. Nach einem wunderbaren Aussichtspunkt ging es über eine kleine Kletterpassage in den Waldabschnitt. Bergab musste ich da echt überall vorsichtig sein, damit ich nicht wegrutsche. Daher ging es für mich sehr langsam, aber möglichst sicher voran. Nach einer gefühlten Ewigkeit kam ich dann in Capri, der Hauptstadt von Capri an. Direkt war ich in der Menschenmenge. Es war brechend voll mit Touristen aus aller Welt. Busse und Taxen bahnten sich irgendwie einen Weg durch die Menge und ich musste höllisch auf meine Sachen aufpassen. Beim Schlendern durch die Siedlung sah ich überall Läden von jeglichen Luxusmarken oder eben sehr teuren Restaurants. Nach einer weiteren längeren Pause an einer etwas abseits gelegenen Stelle ging es für mich hinunter zum Hafen. Unten angekommen hatte ich dann noch etwa drei Stunden totzuschlagen, bis meine gebuchte Fähre losfahren sollte. So ging es für mich noch etwas abseits zu einem etwas abseits gelegenen Strand. Da man dort aber 15 € Eintritt zahlen musste habe ich mich in der Nähe einige Zeit hingesetzt. Pünktlich ging es für mich dann zum Hafen und mit der Fähre zurück.

      Bei einem auf dem Weg liegenden Supermarkt konnte ich dann bereits für den morgigen Tag meine Verpflegung kaufen. So kann ich mich morgen ganz auf die Strecke konzentrieren. Gerade von einem ganz speziellen Abschnitt erwarte ich mir morgen sehr viel. Es geht morgen entlang der Amalfiküste weiter in Richtung Süden. Der weg verspricht mit einigen Höhenmetern anspruchsvoll zu werden. Da die Küste aber unter Fahrradfahrern einen sehr guten Ruf hat erhoffe ich mir gute Straßen mit tollen Aussichten.

      PS: Gut das ich für den Tag meine Wanderschuhe mit perfektem Profil mitgenommen habe. Diese haben mir heute, gerade mit dem ultimativen Grip, welcher mir durch das Gaffatape geliefert wurde, extrem geholfen.
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    • Day 18

      "R" Day

      September 4, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

      We are enjoying a lazy, rainy day in Sorrento, Italy. We had planned to hike the Path of the Gods on the Amalfi coast (thank for the tip Sparkeses!), but alas, ‘the Gods’ did not condone our endeavors. So, we spent a chill day walking around town looking for pencils (unsuccessfully), Italian Pokémon cards (unsuccessfully), stationery beyond postcards (unsuccessfully), and groceries (successfully!). We had our first homecooked lunch of zucchini omelets with parmesan, tuna and chips, carrots, olives and left-over spaghetti pomodoro.

      Now this might sound mundane to many of you, but I had never cooked popcorn anywhere but in a microwave or an air popper. I was so excited to make two batches of wok-cooked popcorn with olive oil on the stove for us to enjoy while watching Sea Beast (a newish Netflix picture with the weirdest combination of accents and nationalities...is it just me parents?). For those of you who know me well, I can get unusually excited about a seemingly mundane thing and it was so thoughtful for Lewis to share in my extended excitement as Andrew and Rob began to roll their eyes. Thank you Lewis! Xoxo

      We also squeezed in some math, Lewis wrote some post cards (writing ✅) and Andrew read about Pompeii (where we are heading tomorrow). The skies cleared by late afternoon and we spent a few hours in the pool before finding our new favorite dinner spot: Le Grazie (after being rejected from another place (Il Pozzo – boycott it!) because we didn’t wait 10 “Italian” minutes on the curb, even though the maître d’ agreed that we could walk around and return within 10 “American” minutes…no, I’m not bitter!) and our new favorite gelato shop: Amorino Al Naturale, which has ‘natural’ ingredients and the most amazing gelato macarons.

      Off to Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius tomorrow - here's hoping the next post or two will be by someone other than me ;)
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    • Day 20

      Greek Mythology (by Lewis)

      September 6, 2022 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 79 °F

      Greek mythology is a lot of fun. Did you know? There is a god of thunder and lightning? His name is Zeus. He is the king of the gods. There are others too, including Hera, Athena etc.. All gods and goddesses have unique powers. Did you know? A child born from a god and a mortal is known as a Demigod. Heracles, (the most powerful Greek that ever lived), was a demigod. I hope you learned a lot today, but there is so much more to learn about Greek mythology!!!Read more

    • Day 46

      Sorrento Swim

      September 19, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

      Just wow! I hopped on the bus back to Sorrento and found this spot on the peninsula to swim!! And it's gorgeous 😍 the water was turquoise and the almost pool thing surrounded by cliffs was amazing. Definitely the highlight of my day 🤗🤗Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Sorrento, Sorrent, Sorrente, סורנטו, सोरेन्टो, RRO, ソレント, Surriento, Сорренто

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