Our Italian Adventure

With the vibrations of our boat gently sliding over ripples on the Amalfi Coast still on our minds, we slowly woke up on Wednesday morning. It’s always easier to wake up when you anticipate having another magical day like we cherished on the Amalfi Coast. That coast was as good as advertised and we hoped Capri Island would match the highs we experienced then. MSB Blu registration check-in was more relaxing since we knew the ropes. We ran into Urzula and recalled our favorite memories of our cruise the previous day. Sadly, she would be with others today. For our cruise to Capri, we would be sharing the boat with a family of five from Chicago. The family included the parents, their two teenaged daughters and their grandfather. For this trip, even with sunny skies, Amy & I decided to sit in the back of the boat. There must have been a shortage of staff today, as we were not assigned a first mate. The captain would be responsible for getting us to where we needed to go, and also be our tour guide. The captain did her best, but managing a boat and being a tour guide, was not the same as the previous day.

As the boat approached Capri, we observed the Island was bathed in its signature sunlight. The sea was skimming the rock formations which surround Capri. The most famous being the Faraglioni Formation. According to legend, these rocks were thrown into the water by the Cyclops Polyphemus in a fit of rage to attract the attention of his father, Neptune. The rocks rise from the deep blue sea. These ancient giants appear to pierce the sky’s celestial blue. What a different vibe than Rome. I’m jealous of the Capri residents. They are perpetually living in paradise!

As one can tell with the picture to the right, the port where boats dock is situated much lower than the town of Capri. The options to reach the top are by walking, taking a bus, or riding the funicular up to the top. We chose the funicular which most tourists do. We had about four hours to explore the island. The family from Chicago elected shopping as their main activity. We kept to our plans that we had developed before leaving for Italy. This would include walking to the Botanical Gardens of Augustus and hiking the Pizzolungo Coastal Trail. This would allow us to see most of the Capri side of the Island and would unfold panoramic island views before our eyes during the hike. As we meandered along narrow cobblestone streets, we left many of the tourists behind us.

First, we arrived at the botanical gardens. As we discovered in Rome, the roses are slightly past peak. However, the Jasmine flowers were in full bloom while captivating us with their sweet aromas. After leaving the gardens, we enjoyed further sights and watched the locals go about their day. The streets and walkways were so narrow that the postal vehicle was only about 4 feet wide and about six feet in length. Kids were kicking soccer balls about. Every step revealed beautiful sights. Whether it was luxury five-star hotels with swimming pools overlooking the bays, or beautiful floral gardens, or gorgeous water and cliff views, this hike was probably the most beautiful hike we have ever taken. I can understand why tourists spend big bucks to stay on Capri. It is magical and enchanting. We were disappointed when the time came to return to the crazy, busy harbor.

During our return to Sorrento, the boat captain skillfully maneuvered the boat into caves and grottoes, although all of us agreed to skip the blue grotto which was packed full of tourists and would have taken time away from exploring Capri. For dinner, I was already craving a burger and fries, so we walked to the English Pub near our lodging. The burger, fries, and cold beer tasted so good! I didn’t feel guilty at all about eating American food in Italy. With such a long stay in this beautiful country, I wasn’t worried about not getting enough pasta and seafood dinners.