Walking Italy's Amalfi Coast by Peasie

[Peasie]

My first non-Jamaica trip report. As if that is unfamiliar enough, I now have to deal with an unfamiliar formatting. And while hurricane Sandy is bearing down on Jamaica, Land We Love! *Now where is that BAWLOUT smilie?*

My trip was about 12 days and I flew from Washington, DC, via Air France to Paris then to Naples. I spent two nights in Naples, a week in Sorrento, then three days in Rome. I could have skipped Rome, but more about that later. Here's a sketch of the Amalfi Coast from Rick Steeve's site *Now where is that ROLLEYES smilie?*



*wait deh, di image code naw work??* lang kissteet to rahtid.

[Peasie]

So this trip report is not in chronological order I just going with what inspires me. In a nutshell, I walked around the city of Napoli, climbed Mt. Vesuvius, walked Pompeii, hiked the Sentiero degli dei (Path of the Gods), followed a villages hike through farms, ferried to Capri for a day, and other walks that I will try to remember.

Having lived for much of my life in Jamaica more than 3,000 feet above sea level, I knew I would love the Amalfi Coast. I was not disappointed and, truth be know, there were many sights, smells, and moments that reminded me of rural Jamaica.

Rained threatened the first three days as I walked around the city of Napoli and even as I climbed Mt. Vesuvius. An old man was selling walking sticks at the bottom of Mt. Vesuvius so I bought one and get it for the rest of the hikes.

By Day 3, we had spectacular weather.

So here is a photo from the bus window as I head up to the top of a trail. BTW, unless otherwise noted, all photos are by me or with my camera.

[CeaBee]

So PZ send you to do her trip report Spur Tree? :tsk: :tsk:

:jump up and down smilie:

[mangoskin]

I'll have to look at pics at home - at work access is always denied (frown)

[Seveen]

looking forward to this!

[kia027]

lovely start to the trip report.. Looking forward to more photos!

[Peasie]

I will start off with the hike of the Path of The Gods which starts in the little town of Bomerano and ends in Positano. The scenery along this trail is spectacular. The trail itself has some treacherous patches and I slipped and fell twice but nothing too serious. It was a warm October day and the skies and the Mediterranean were glorious.

[Peasie]

Around each bend on the trail, the views kept getting better. I had to be careful when I stopped to take photos making sure my feet were firmly planted.

[Peasie]

The Sentiero degli Dei is a popular trail.



I found a map of the terrain

[Peasie]

I'm not much of a picture taker and the camera I used throughout the trip was a little Nikon CoolPix II.

[SandiF]

Sorrento and the bay of Naples! Did you go to Pompeii? Yes, Rome is to be avoided lol!

I can't see the images but please come with the storyline about your trip.

[Peasie]

Thanks for joining me on my first trip report

I can't see the images either when I am logged in. I open another browser, such as Chrome, without logging in so I can view them. Must be some setting somewhere...

Sorrento and the bay of Naples! Did you go to Pompeii? Yes, Rome is to be avoided lol!

I can't see the images but please come with the storyline about your trip.

[Wahalla]

Italy is the second coolest country in the world; after Jamaica...

However Italians think that Napoli is filled with bandits!

I think there is a connection between Jamaica and Sorento... We Jamaicans WIR mutinied there in 1919 after being stationed there..And Carninal Pieceli made representation to the British autorties to keep us locked up in camps as he like Tropicana objected to Jamaican men having sex with white women...

[Peasie]

Southern Italians are white?? Two of my uncles migrated to England after WWII finding work on a Leyland truck assembly line. Each married Italian women, one from Napoli. Aunt Maria's family was dirt poor and she was glad to leave Napoli. Years later they would visit and she reconciled with her heritage. Her daughter, my cousin, is documenting her own Jamaican-Italian ancestry.

Napoli is fascinating. I am told you either hate the city or love it. I loved it. I walked through the archeological museum and was amazed at the ancient Roman sculpture clearly mimicking even more ancient civilizations.

I was also fascinated by the alleys and I took several photos that I will post later. The food was wonderful - I don't think I had a bad meal in Italy! As stereotypical as it sounds, the best pizza in the world is in Napoli! Vegetables were fresh tasting - yummy. When you have fresh mozzarella from a dairy farm with local tomatoes, basil, olive oil and crusty bread, you hardly wish for anything more in life. Except maybe some vino or birra. Oh and some good sex - which, unlike SandiF's Spain vacation, was missing from mine. DWL.

[Peasie]

Some views from Napoli. I could not get over the beautiful little alleys where people lived, shopped, hung out. I veered off the beaten path with one fellow traveler.



That's my friend, Tatyana, walking ahead of me. The first two days in Napoli were overcast and rainy. That didn't stop us from exploring.