Going Down Just Leads to Going Back Up!

On Wednesday, after our glorious hike up and down Vesuvius it was off to Sorrento. Here we landed in our first true pit of a hotel - the lovely Hotel Desireè. I guess after all the great hotels we were due. Look at this lovely view... isn't Sorrento picturesque? Note the view is down. Our hotel was up on the side of the hill (mountain) just outside of town, an "easy" 15 minute walk all down hill to the town. I was getting a little tired plus with the pit-hotel I wasn't really appreciating the view too much. Going down...remember, you have to go back up to crawl into the pit hotel. So we headed off for a little orientation walk around town... Which just led to more places to go down... But we kept kept trucking... this is Susan, me, and Jen cruising behind the group. That evening we all met for a last drink with our driver Mauritzio at an actual English Pub, then dinner at a restaurant all the way down at the bottom of the hill/mountain at the pier. It was good, I'm sure, but at that point I was so tired I didn't take any pictures. Plus whatever happiness I felt at the great food and wine was plundered by the trek back up the hill/mountain to our pit-hotel. Help! Luckily, Thursday was a free day so we made plans for dolcè far nientè...the sweetness of doing nothing... starting with sleeping in, leisurely breakfast, and some blogging which I did from the nicest spot in the pit-hotel, on the roof-top patio. The Italians do love their patios (thank the Gods).

Pretty good view from the patio...

But of course, being a roof-top patio you have to climb the twisty stairs to get to it. Recognize the shirt?

Ted and I did one lap around the town. Found an awesome internet cafe/bar where I hung out for awhile. Ted got picnic supplies and we had a nice time by the water's edge eating and drinking. Then we applied ourselves to some serious gelato eating. I mean there's nothing like gelato to rejuvenate you.

Just after finishing the gelato, we ran into Tom, Susan, and Mr. Lion who were headed to the same gelato shop we just left. There was nothing to do but join them (of course) so we all went back to the shop and dug into a trough of gelato... can you believe it? We have no self respect

at all!

Ok, feeling better.

Chow,

Carolina!

No Repeat of 79 AD

We made it up Vesuvius and back down with no eruptions. Feeling luckier than Pompeii!! Yesterday we hiked up our 2nd volcano in 3 weeks. How many people can say that? The weather was a little iffy - cloud cover - but there were some gases venting so you never know. I mean this volcano has erupted A LOT in the last 100 years but nothing since 1944, so it's probably due. The picture above was taken at the top near the big crater. We were up in the clouds. The big crater - well, one side of it! Did I say it was a climb up? I earned my gelato that day, I can tell you! I think I'll just roll back down hill. He ran ahead - what a show off. Carroll and Ken, the photographers of the group. A pensive Ted...showing off Roro's ankles of course. Hike up a volcano, have a party at the top. Ted brought the wine! A happy Jen! Nancy and Chuck, enjoying the view. Gail, showing off a new look. I'm roughing it, can you tell? Heading down... Ok. Nap time. Off to Sorento next. Chow! Carolina

Amalfi Attitude

What are you going to do on a free Monday in Positano? You can wander around and shop, browse with the beautiful people, or you can take a trip down the coast to Amalfi. Surrounded by dramatic cliffs and scenery, famous for its Limoncello and the burial place of Saint Andrew, Amalfi has been the "beach scene" for Roman emperors and movie stars alike. And they still let us in. We took the bus from Positano for the full affect, along the twisty road (something like Rt.1 on the CA coast or Skyline Drive in VA), and came back by boat so we could get a good view of the coastline. It was pretty touristy and you could get your fill in a couple of hours but it was a great way to spend the morning. Our first view of Amalfi as we got off the bus... Ted and Tom couldn't resist... it's like this fountain was built for kids in grown-up suits... St. Andrew's Cathedral... they let us in and there were no lightning bolts, even though we did not behave ourselves. Ok, I know this is wrong on so many levels, but BR and Lion wanted to pay there respects to St. Andrew, so...

What a view... this is the Amalfi Coast of Italy!! Having a blast!

Chow!

Carolina...

Positano Living

We hit the Hotel Jackpot again in Positano. Ted and I got a deluxe room with a bathroom bigger than some of the bedrooms we've had. It was so posh, we got spoiled.

Check out the views...

This is actually the town from a boat ride when we came back from Amalfi (I'll tell you about that later)...our hotel is about 2/3 of the way up!

This is looking down from our hotel balcony into the street. Lot's of shopping, twisty streets, and limoncelo!!

We got in kind of late and had to immediately head to our dinner at a restaurant up the street. Another food fest, oh darn! It was all served family style with platters and platters coming out of the kitchen to applause by the group.

New friends John & Linda dishing out the pasta course.

Some kind of ravioli with sauce and cheese. It's all becoming a blur. I know I scarfed it down no problemo!

Fresh thick pasta noodles with all kinds of little clams and mussels. Yum. Then a platter of eggplant parmigiana that I just wanted to dive in to...

When the desserts started coming I started to cry... not sure if it was for joy or the madness taking hold. What are you going to do with a platter like this? Nothing to do but give in.

Really good Tiramasu. And I didn't even get a picture of the platter of canolis as I was busy stuffing myself.

My buddy Jen...

More friends Linda and Bob.

Yup, it's going down bad.

We're not coming back. As long as the euros keep popping out of the little bancomat, we're just going to keep going!! Ha!

Chow!

Eat Your Heart Out - Buffalo Style!

After Paestum, we were given a tour and lunch at none other than an authentic, organic, water-buffalo farm where they make buffalo mozzarella and ricotta cheeses. (JP - I thought of you... it was the best I've ever eaten and I'm ruined for life. The Best!)

Making the cheese...

Ok, so then we were treated to the most incredible cheese fest, glorious animal butter-fat binge we've ever experienced in our lives. The meal started with fresh bread warm from the oven. This bread had olives in it and it was crusty and delicious...

The first course were cheese blintzes with ricotta and spinach that were just so delicate.

Then each person got a plate of little mozzarella balls, ricotta, and salad to go with...is this not the most appetizing plate you've ever seen?

The ricotta was like nothing I've ever had in my life and the texture of the mozz balls have ruined me for any other I will ever be able to get in the states. Once I ate this plate and thought I was going to burst, this little Italian woman came around with extra!! I couldn't resist... I said just a little more "piccolo"... yea that didn't work. I got another plateful!! Oh my, it's going down bad.

Then dessert was this creamy, tangy yogurt in little jars. Ted was going around and collecting all he could from others who weren't eating it. The taste was so unique and I loved it.

As if that wasn't enough, the gave us gelato made with buffalo milk. I actually had to step away from the table at this point but Ted went the whole nine yards. Help!! We're trapped in food nirvana!!

Mauritzio, the best bus driver in the world who has been with Ted and I for almost 4 weeks now, joined us for lunch. At this point, he says that Ted is his brother. (He wore a Ted Pagan Tiki Hut t-shirt to the cave party, good guy.)

Ok, back on the bus for a serious nap and on to Positano, the playground of the rich and famous... and us!

Chow!