Hey Afaconados!
After having two very exciting food, fun and activity filled days in Rome, my bestie and I woke up early the next morning and headed over to Termini Station to catch our Trenitalia bullet train to Naples. If you ever find yourself in Italy and decide to do inter-country travel, this is the way to go because this trip provides you with a fantastic view of the Italian countryside (so be sure to book a window seat). Not only that…the tickets are very affordable and you can book them well in advance of your trip…PLUS they’re cheaper if you go that route
IMPORTANT NOTE: The beautiful scenery you are about to see in my pictures, while absolutely STUNNING, came at a VERY HIGH price…with the expense being our comfort.
After the scenic trip to Naples, we had to take another train down to Salerno. This train was NOTHING like the train we had taken previously. Beautiful countryside? NO. Roomy Coaches? NO. Space to move around or even breathe freely? NO. LOL! Honestly, this had to be the tightest, most uncomfortable ride I’ve ever taken…and it wasn’t a short trip…AND it wasn’t over! After that train, we then had to take a bus from Salerno to Amalfi. The same element of discomfort applied to this trip…and don’t let me neglect to mention the fact that you’re swinging around dangerous corners on a cliff in a bus that is STUFFED beyond its capacity. BUT, and I’m so glad that I’m able to use this “but”…the view from that bus is not only amazing, it’s literally nourishment for your eyes. The coast is so unbelievably gorgeous you can’t help but stop caring about how uncomfortable (or scared) you are. The beauty I saw in that moment is something I hope to remember for the rest of my life. Looking at the pictures now it seems like it was all a dream.
Our first night in Amalfi was pretty uneventful with the exception of a delectable meal at a restaurant called Ristorante Marina Grande that night, which I just found out was recently visited by Venus Williams. After dinner we settled into our rooms in a well situated, quaint little hotel called Hotel Residence Amalfi. We knew we were in for a full day for our boat ride around the coast in the morning, so we wanted to make sure we got to bed at a decent time. By the way, the service at this hotel is stellar!
The next day would, without a doubt, prove to be our best day EVER! While renting a boat in Amalfi is by no means cheap, it is a MUST DO! The full day boat tour is from 9-5pm and you really do get what you pay for. My outfit of choice was an Elizabeth and James Maxi Dress I’ve had for over a year now and have never worn, over a ViX bikini, with my gladiator sandals and fedora. My bestie and I LOVE taking pictures, so that boat was our chance to really get it in!
Here are some of the shots:
First, we rode from Amalfi to Capri where we ate lunch at a restaurant called La Torre Saracena. This would be where I had my favorite meal of the entire trip. The waiter brings you a basket that contains the fresh catches of the day. After you pick your fish, they cook it and bring it to you for approval. Once you’ve approved, the waiter then takes the fish to another table where he literally de-bones the fish right there for you to see. The fish was AMAZING! I HIGHLY recommend this place if you’re ever in Capri.
Here I am making my selection:
With our full bellies, we got back on our boat and headed over to see the Grotta Azzurra (or Blue Grotto). For a price of 12 euro per person, you get to share a little row boat with 2 other people to go inside the caves. This is also a MUST DO. The water illuminates to the most vibrant blue color when you’re inside…it’s quite an incredible sight.
Check out my view from inside the cave:
After leaving the cave we got back on our boat and continued our tour to the Grotta Verde (or Green Grotto), where we were told we could jump out and swim if we wanted to. The multiple cups of Prosecco I’d consumed must have convinced me that it was a good idea to jump into the water…because I did!
And I realized really quickly that alcohol and swimming do NOT mix:
Lucky for me, Kimya and Franco (our skipper) made it to the other side just as I got there. Although I don’t regret going with my impulse to jump in the water, drinking and then jumping was not a good decision. At the end of our tour, we ended up in Positano where we hopped on the bus to get back to Amalfi. This day was truly unforgettable and we ended it, of course, with another amazing meal. In the morning, we would be heading back to Rome for our flight to Mallorca, Spain.
The fun continues…stay tuned!
