Positano

Having some wifi problems, so we will see what we can do here!

I have heard of the Amalfi Coast, but that’s all. We really wanted something “easy” for our day so we could rest up for what’s ahead. Our helpful reception clerk assured us we could take a bus to Positano or other further cities along the coast. It was 39 and verrrry windy–riding in a bus all day sounded just right!

Except the bus station ticket office was closed. No problem, the train station guy was right across the way in the this small Sorrento station. But he simply shook his head and said “train station.” I said, Si, but where can I get bus tickets? He literally closed his window thing and said, “bus driver.” Okkkkkkkkkkk…

So we went outside and asked a bus driver who said, ticket machine, bus over there. Okkkkk…

Now we went back upstairs and used the machine in Italian to buy 2 tickets and hoped they were the right ones. And that I didn’t lose my ticket haha.

Next we stood by the bus and grumpy confused people were stomping off trying to figure out where to get tickets to get to the next stop. But we had our tickets and again when we got on the bus it was clean and beautiful and we got great seats with huge windows.

Soon our talented bus driver was wheeling us across the peninsula. We were up and around and back and forth this motion-sickness inducing ride and it was incredible! When we reached the top of the mountain, you could literally see both coast lines! From looking at the map I’d guess it’s 3 miles across as the crow flies.

Then we got close to the coast. And I mean CLOSE! As I looked down the cliff just feet away, there were the waves crashing on the rocks. I could see the roads ahead and behind, wrapping around the mountains.

It took about an hour to reach Positano. The city of Amalfi was another hour, but we had already had enough of this thrilling beautiful ride.

We decided to stay at the bus stop and find our tickets back so there was no confusion later. The tobacco store was closed. The one tiny cafe had the most amazing woman helping everyone. Yes, she has tickets, yes the schedule it on the door, yes the bus stops right out front, yes there is only one road in the whole city. Awesome! So we had a coffee and pastry and I sat next to this old lady with purple leather pants and an orange hat who was chatting me up in Italian and the only word I got was “bellissima!”

It was incredibly windy now–Mike was literally worried I might blow over as we came up to the side of a cliff. He was remarking that when kayaking it is easy to get into trouble. On one side of the peninsula the water was relatively flat. On the other side, white caps and crashing water with winds whipping into twister shapes. The sun shining on the water created an matte finish glow I had never seen before.

We only walked a ways down between the houses built right into the cliffs, then started right back up. I’m sure to my relatives in Michigan and New York with their zero degree week they don’t have much sympathy for our “feels like” 30 degrees, but it was pretty bitter. And the ride and views were really the experience today!

So we headed back to Sorrento for more views and another crazy ride with motorcycles passing us on the mountain and squeezing by people on the side of the road and even bicyclists and a lady with a stroller for heaven’s sake!

We warmed up and spent time working on how to make our next adventures happen. Then we walked again to the old fishing village. Now the waves were crashing so hard there was Shamu splash zone!

We enjoyed fresh baked bread, olives, cheese, salami, and wine in paper cups for dinner. Mike has been working on finding trains and buses for getting to Sicily soon. I’m a little worried–definitely gonna be tricky. But tomorrow is Pompeii with any luck so we will take it one day at the time! And I have hand warmers I’ve saved for just such a day!