The Amalfi Coast and Capri: By Land and by Sea

Jack and I just returned from 11 days in Italy, specifically the Amalfi Coast, with my mom, dad, brother, and "adopted" family member, Nick. The weather was amazing, the food and wine were plentiful, and the sights were beautiful. After every Roman Family trip, we do two things; plan the next trip, and talk about our highlights. While we don't know when or where our next trip will be (the Bro and I are, after all, adults now...), I did know what my two highlights were, both of which have to do with exploring the Amalfi Coast/Capri.

Hanging out on the Spanish Steps

Sorrento

Ruins in training

Jack and I took advantage of the mountainous seaside by hiking. We must have gone on at least three all day hikes, usually climbing to our favorite town of Ravello, or around the island of Capri. We would meet my family for lunch or dinner in the town that we hiked to, and then make the trek back. On the
hike to Ravello, Jack and I saw what he called "Ruins in Training", as they were homes and buildings that had clearly been abandoned long ago, but not quite as long as real Roman ruins. We saw several small towns along the way, including one where we ate lunch called Pantone. We walked up and down rock steps, around waterfalls, and through wooded areas that required frequent lice checks (we were clear!).

The tiny main square of Pantone

Mom and I also went hiking around the island of Capri. I'm glad that I persuaded her to go with me because the views were spectacular. We saw a Natural Arch, views of the perfectly blue ocean, and went to the Villa Jovis, the ruins of the home of Emperor Tiberius. After all of this hiking, we should be in tip top shape. These hills were pains in the @$$...literally! However, the views made it all worth it.

The other way that we explored the Amalfi Coast was by boat.

Amalfi

One day, my family rented a boat and we could go wherever we pleased.

We made a stop in Positano, a city that is famous in the area, but is extremely touristy and posh. Not my favorite area of the coast, but beautiful nonetheless.

Positano

We then returned to the boat and docked it at a restaurant that is only reachable by sea. You dock the boat there and enjoy the beach and/or an amazingly fresh seafood meal. Other than the meal, my favorite part was the bathroom. In case you had any doubts with how to go the bathroom, these pictures were helpful reminders.

Our Lunch Spot

Thank you, bathroom, for clearing that up

Following lunch, we anchored the boat in a little cove not far from Amalfi to do some tanning and swimming. Specifically, my mom and I tanned, while the boys braved the frigid Mediterranean Sea temperatures. After all of us had a chance to play captain, we drove the boat back to Amalfi, got ready for dinner, and continued to eat amazing food.

You can kind of see Nick's head, bobbing around on the left side.

I wish I could spend an hour with all of you and tell you about this trip. There was so much more that we did! We went to the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, visited the Gardens of Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, I rode on the back of a scooter with Nick, and took a rowboat inside the Blue Grotto in Capri. However, not all of you want to listen or read my ramble, so I took out two major highlights and shared them with you all.

Check out Food Porn for some pictures of the yummy food that we ate! Sadly, I didn't take nearly enough pictures of food, mainly because by the time I realized that I wanted to take a picture, the food was already in my belly :) Also take a look in Die Photos for some other great Amalfi/Capri/Rome photos!