Vita Bella

Yesterday we went to Sorrento and today we went to Amalfi so we will combine the two for the blog and give our comparisons for what they are worth.

We travelled by bus and train to Sorrento - very cheap, only 2.40 euros each return. We can't grumble at that especially as the buses and trains run so frequently so there is hardly any waiting either. The trains are full of graffiti as I explained in an earlier blog - see pic. But they are comfortable inside and race along the track. Sorrento was like any other mediterranean resort you may have been to - lots of English there on package holidays and the cafes and bars equipped for them serving English breakfast and English tea - thats the first time in the whole trip we have come across this and we didn't like it. The beach was very small and very crowded and the Italians had set up a man made spit of rock/concrete with sun loungers on (that they graciously call a lido) to make up for the lack of beach.

We wandered around the streets and it had its pretty places of course - but mostly it was over commercialised and overpriced for what was on offer.

Today however we have been to Amalfi. We decided to go by boat which was also very cheap and very comfortable. It was an twin hulled jet boat with air con, fitted out like a very wide airliner. Unfortunately we had to sit inside and look through the windows at the beautiful views as we sped along but photographs were impossible due to the amount of sea spray (and dirt) on the windows. I was hoping for an open decked boat that I could stand at the side of with the wind in my hair as I took photo after photo - but there you are.

Amalfi itself though was very impressive. It was obvious it had loads of character as soon as we got off the boat. The town is spread throughout a valley between mountains that rise vertically from the seashore. It has a mild seedy effect to the buildings which only give it more character. There were no English cafes or bars - everything was Italian - as it should be. There were plenty of UK visitors though as well as Americans off the cruise ships, but they didn't take over or detract from the atmosphere.

After meandering around the lanes and piazzas we had a lunch and a drink on a terrace above the harbour, then some more exploration before we stopped for an ice cream break and then caught a mid afternoon boat back.

That was a much better memory for both of us of the area we have been staying in. The first couple of photos are of Sorrento, the next three are Amalfi.

Tomorrow we move on again to our last campsite in Italy before we catch the ferry to Greece.