Due to rough seas, I opted to tour the Amalfi Coast instead of taking the boat to see Capri - at least this gives me a reason to come back to Sorrento!
Driving along the coast was gorgeous - the wind was strong but rain never came, so the sun shone for the entire day. This meant views from the bus were spectacular - the water glistened blue and green, waves breaking along the shore without interruption. I guess without wide, expansive beaches, there are no swimmers and not a lot of boats travelling in the waters.
The road hugged the mountains, similar to the Sea to Sky highway from Vancouver to Whistler, except much narrower. At every corner, the bus would honk a few times just in case a motorist wanted to careen around the corner - which almost happened a couple of times! Luckily, the bus drivers are extremely skilled - they have a language based on beeping their horns - and there are rules of the road that everyone obeys so people take turns in both directions driving through narrow passages.
I stopped off in Amalfi for a cappuccino, short hike, and lunch. It was interesting to see the buildings and roads change from the tourist areas (all white, newer buildings) to the more rural, mountainous areas (stone buildings that show their age, some grown over in vines). Lots of lemon groves as well - mostly outside of the tourist areas where there's more room - all covered with either green or black mesh netting to create a greenhouse effect without building greenhouses.
Another short stop along the way was Positano - another quaint town right on the coast, with a small section of beach that everyone flocks to. I enjoyed a bit of hazelnut and chocolate gelato while listening the waves before hiking back up to the main road to catch the bus back to Sorrento. So far, I'd have to say the hazelnut has been my favourite - real hazelnuts mixed in with soft, creamy gelato... best served in sunshine!
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