Sorrento - Boat Trip to Capri

Saturday 22nd September

A more relaxed day today as we head off to the Isle of Capri.  We went over on a massive ferry, much like the ones we have going between the North and South Islands. This journey only took about 30 mins and was very pleasant with calm seas on beautiful azure blue water.

Once there our local guide took us up to Ana Capri (which means above Capri) by bus.  I can't even begin to describe this.  The roads are narrow, the same as in Sorrento, and at times so narrow that when you meet someone coming down towards you, you either scrape the wall or the other bus.  As well as this, you are on a twisting, winding steep cliff and the driver was still going like a bat out of hell.  I had the pleasure (NOT) of sitting in the back of the bus next to the window with a terrifying view of the steep drop below us as the bus swayed around the corners.  I tell you I was terrified and my heart was racing. The guide said the road was known by locals as Mama Mia Drive......when you get to the bottom you say "mama mia" as if to say thank goodness I made it back down.

Safely at the top, we were taken into an old Villa, previously lived in by a Doctor Munthe in 1885.  He built the villa on the ruins of an ancient chapel.  Still recovering from the bus ride, I wished he was still in residence as I might have asked him for a sedative.  This was such a peaceful, cool spot with lots of gardens and of course a fantastic view.  The villa is still furnished with ancient relics found by Munthe in Ana Capri and Capri.

Included in our tour was a chair lift ride to the summit. This took about 12 minutes each way and afforded us a spectacular view on the way up and quite simply a breath-taking view once at the summit.  If you can imagine for a moment the bluest water, gorgeous sunny day, with a view out to sea which seems to go on for ever.  Wow!

From there we journeyed once again by bus, (not so terrifying this time), down a level to Capri.  This is where we were taken through some more gardens.  These were situated on the other side of the island and once again we had a great view of the sea and of three big rocks called Faraglioni which appear to be rising out of the sea.  

 

 

 

There are lots of private beaches around but no sand, so there are rows of deck chairs placed on man made level areas.  Capri has a very famous Piazza here called Piazza Umberto (famously known as La Piazzetta) and has a shopping area which is described as the Rodeo Drive of Capri, featuring some very upmarket shops all of which were way out of our league.

 

Italian Gelato is very nice and when you are in the burning hot sun, there is nothing nicer than to enjoy a treat.  Seeing a place with lots of tables under some shade here in the Piazza, we decided to stop for a gelato.  When asked if we wished this to be eat in or takeaway, we opted for the sit down in the shade to cool off.  I believe this may have doubled the price of the gelato.  Now are you all sitting down?  You may need to because these two ice creams cost us 16 Euro! I practically licked that bowl clean to ensure I got my money's worth.  Always, always ask the price first.  Doh!

 

After having some free time here to look around, we went to our meeting point where we would take another bus ride down to Marina Grande.  I haven't mentioned this before, but every time we board the bus or meet at a meeting point we are counted so as not to leave without anyone.   When our tour guide did the count we were missing someone, a lady who is traveling on her own.  We waited for 15 mins, but then we had to get on the bus heading for Marina Grande.  We all felt very concerned but thought she will make her own way down or surmised that maybe she had met with some of the passengers who didn't join us in the island tour and was with them.

We were told there are about 60 grottos throughout the island, some of which can be viewed by a further boat trip around the island as an optional add on if you wished to purchase this.  We decided not to do this and opted to have a look at the various shops here at Marina Grande, so those who wanted to pay for a boat ride left us at this point.  Still no sign of the missing lady!

At the pre-determined time we all met up at the pier for the ferry.  Still no sign of the missing lady!  We had no choice but to board the ferry and our tour guide advised the officials at the port to keep an eye out for her and send her back on the next ferry.  We subsequently found out on our journey back that she had made it to the pier and was following behind us on a different ferry.  Poor tour guide was beside herself.  Not to mention the lady who got lost was pretty worried herself.  I did feel sorry for her.

And so we all got back safely in the end.  We had some more free time before dinner with people going off to explore or one who shall remain nameless deciding to have a snooze while I was blogging.  Dinner was at the hotel tonight and following this we went out into the streets for a walk and look around.  Even at 10 pm or so the place was buzzing.

We leave the beautiful south of Italy tomorrow heading back up the way we came heading to Florence where we will get to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  I still can't believe we are here and seeing all these beautiful places.  (Sigh).