get settled and start classes - check
first official weekend.... Amalfi Coast!
After having about a week to settle into the Florentine lifestyle and attend a weeks worth of classes we were busily packing for the Amalfi Coast. The Amalfi Coast was one of the original resort destinations of Italy, rooting back to the ancient Roman Empire. The Amalfi Coast consists of the towns Sorrento, Capri, Positano and Amalfi. With stunning scenery, hill top hugging towns and historic ruins, Amalfi is easily considered paradise.
thursday september 8th we attended our classes, packed our bathing suits and a small group of 17 Bentley students (we're a close knit group... ) had to catch a 7:30pm bus from Santa Novella Train Station (the main train station in Firenze ) We booked our trip to Amalfi over the summer and through a company called Bus2Alps. The trip included round trip transportation by bus, three nights at 7 hostel, breakfast, and transportation to and from the cities.
After a 6 hour bus ride sitting next to a random kid and with a brat in front of me that "couldn't understand why I didn't want her to recline her seat so that she was in my lap" needless to say I was not a happy camper when we arrived in Sorento at 2am on Friday. We checked into the hostel and 11 of the girls were staying in the sunflowers room. At 2am the hostel looked nice, but everyone really just wanted to get some sleep in a bed. When we woke up for our 9am departure did we realize how nice it was. We learned that 7 hostel is a premium hostel chain throughout italy and greece. http://www.sevenhostel.com/en/index.php
Friday we started with a walk through Sorento to a small marina where we boarded a private ferry to Sorento's main marina. To catch the ferry to the island of Capri
Capri nicknamed the "island of dreams" is full of breath taking views from land or sea. We pulled in to Marina Grande ( translation: large marina ) and jumped onto a private boat for a guided tour of the island. We saw breathtaking views, glistening water and had an opportunity to enter the Blue Grotto.
The Blue Grotto is one of the 7 Wonders of the World. It is a sea cave, on the island of Capri in which sunlight passing through an underwater cavity creates a blue reflection illuminating the water. We pull up to where the Blue Grotto is and there were so many small wooden row boats manned by an oarsmen which is the only way you can enter the Grotto. There is no head room so you have to lie down on the bottom of the boat to clear the entrance way. The oarsmen approach the cave entrance, duck down and pull the boat through by chain at the top of the entrance.
so that's outside.... now check out what inside the blue grotto looks like!
After spending sometime in the Blue Grotto we exited the cave and got back on the private boat for the rest of the tour around Capri since the majority of sights are inaccessible by land. We were able to see green and white lagoons, orange coral, wild cliffs and the Faraglioni.
the Faraglioni are the three 80-100 meter high stacks, that have been formed by the erosion of the wind and sea. The Faraglioni di Mezzo is the middle stack that has a natural archway in which boats can sail through.
We arrived back to Marina Grande, thanked the captain for the tour and had about 5min before we about a 30min hike halfway up the island. 30min of stairs in 90 degree heat = one thing. lots of sweat... everyone was wishing they could jump into the water when we got to the middle point. You easily forgot that you were profusely sweating once you noticed the incredible view.
whats the saying? if you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen... how about if you can't take the heat do not climb up stairs for 30min... lesson hopefully learned when Kiley fainted at the midway point. She fainted in my friend Christine's arms. Christina, our friend Sanja and I waited with her and ambulance. While they gave her an IV and checked her out. . The rest of the group continued up to Anna Capri in a bus. Thanks to her fainting we were able to ride to the top in a "topless taxi"
(taxi drivers in italy are seriously skilled. there were about 3in between our taxi and this BUS)
up next: some incredible views from the ride up!
We reached Anna Capri, had lunch walked around at the shops, did some Limoncello tasting (it originated in Capri) and saw custom leather sandals being made. We took a topless taxi back down the island and spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach.
At 5pm we headed back to the Marina for a ferry back to Sorrento.
(Marina in Capri and sun set in Sorrento)
Thats just the day 1! Positano and Pompeii to come!
The Blue Grotto is one of the 7 Wonders of the World. It is a sea cave, on the island of Capri in which sunlight passing through an underwater cavity creates a blue reflection illuminating the water. We pull up to where the Blue Grotto is and there were so many small wooden row boats manned by an oarsmen which is the only way you can enter the Grotto. There is no head room so you have to lie down on the bottom of the boat to clear the entrance way. The oarsmen approach the cave entrance, duck down and pull the boat through by chain at the top of the entrance.
so that's outside.... now check out what inside the blue grotto looks like!
After spending sometime in the Blue Grotto we exited the cave and got back on the private boat for the rest of the tour around Capri since the majority of sights are inaccessible by land. We were able to see green and white lagoons, orange coral, wild cliffs and the Faraglioni.
We arrived back to Marina Grande, thanked the captain for the tour and had about 5min before we about a 30min hike halfway up the island. 30min of stairs in 90 degree heat = one thing. lots of sweat... everyone was wishing they could jump into the water when we got to the middle point. You easily forgot that you were profusely sweating once you noticed the incredible view.
whats the saying? if you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen... how about if you can't take the heat do not climb up stairs for 30min... lesson hopefully learned when Kiley fainted at the midway point. She fainted in my friend Christine's arms. Christina, our friend Sanja and I waited with her and ambulance. While they gave her an IV and checked her out. . The rest of the group continued up to Anna Capri in a bus. Thanks to her fainting we were able to ride to the top in a "topless taxi"
up next: some incredible views from the ride up!
We reached Anna Capri, had lunch walked around at the shops, did some Limoncello tasting (it originated in Capri) and saw custom leather sandals being made. We took a topless taxi back down the island and spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach.
At 5pm we headed back to the Marina for a ferry back to Sorrento.
Thats just the day 1! Positano and Pompeii to come!
No comments:
Post a Comment