Well, I managed to suffer through yet another gorgeous travel weekend, this time in the Amalfi Coast. I have decided that if heaven is anything like Positano, sign me up! The art historical side of me would like to say that Northern Italy can take Southern Italy any day of the week. However, my inner luxurious, Zsa Zsa Gabor side prefers the large yachts, rich food, jewelry, and beaches of the South.
We arrived in Sorrento late Thursday night to adorable, bungalow style hotel rooms. The next morning we awoke and headed to the island of Capri (pronounced Caapri, long a) for the day. We arrived on the island and immediately were bombarded by solicitors for boat rentals. Using our impressive bargaining skills, we went with the first guy who didn't try to behead us with a map of the island's prime cliff diving locations. Yes, Vincenzo was our man. We embarked on a two hour boat tour of the island's famous grottos. Ingeniously named, the white grotto had beautiful white rock formations, the green grotto had greenish water, the coral grotto had lots of coral around it, and so and so forth. Most famous was the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzura). This cavern in the rocks is illuminate bright blue when the sunlight hits the water in a particular way (this is what I was told....I am no marine biologist). The entire experience was completed by our rowboat captain (it's a very small space so you have to transfer mid-sea from one boat to a row boat...so Italian) who got particularly handsy as he "took photos" of us. The rest of the day was spent at the top of Capri taking pictures and sampling lemoncello.
The next day we set out for Positano, a small mountain town about a half hour away from Sorrento. For me, this was "piu belle", the most beautiful. Though the journey was perilous to say the least in our giant bus on the small winding roads, it was well worth it. we arrived and wandered through the lemon and coral lined streets. We finally hit the beach! It was to die for. Surrounded by the city-scape nestled in the hills, the volcanic rock beach and blue Mediterranean water were quite literally picturesque. I loved every minute of it. Of course, because this is Italy, for eight euro per person and a driver's license from any country, you can rent a speed boat stocked with beer and take off into Mediterranean. Don't be afraid people, I think a professional boating license might be in my future....oh yeah, I drove! Later that evening, we headed back to Sorrento and had the most amazing meal I think I've had so far this entire semester, caprese salad, grilled calamari, roast chicken, spaghetti with claims and prawns, peppers stuffed with eggplant and cheese....as you can imagine, I was quite full (don't worry, we went back the next day for lunch).
Sunday we headed to Pompeii, a place I have been eager to see for a very long time. As a former classics major, this was a long overdue trip. I soon realized that my professors had left out the majority of the racy details when examining Pompeii back at Wisconsin. Our elderly tour guide, Giovanni, had to ask many a time if he could "speak frankly" as he pointed to the various male genitalia which litters the city streets and establishments. When we arrived at the brothel, he told us he was going to have to go to confession for taking a group of young girls to a brothel. Needless to say, it was sort of like going to see ancient porn with your grandfather....no thank you.
Later that night, we sadly had to head back to Rome. Now, I feel I am really heading into the home stretch. With just 15 days left I have two presentations, an oral exam, two major term papers, and four finals....this should be fun! Sadly no trips left. There is the possibility of a day trip to Cinqueterre...pray for me!
Best, Lauren
Music of the week:
Feel in love without you (acoustic) - Motion City Soundtrack
Teach U a Lesson - Robin Thicke
Les Artistes - Santigold
The Girl you Lost to Cocaine - Sia
Better Man - James Morrison
Green Light - John Legend
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