"Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason." -Jerry Seinfeld
One metro, two trains, and a taxi...
Finally! We've arrived in Amalfi! We see the sign and know a fun weekend is about to ensue. After a long trip, it is literally all downhill from here... or so we think.
We grab our bags and head towards the city center making a spectacle as we go. We knew there would be light traveling after the train because the Amalfi coast is a cluster of small towns. We needed to get about 40 minutes up the road... What lied ahead none of us could have predicted.
Blindly walking around, we see a sign reading "info point". The woman told us there was a bus that travels the coast line from small town to small town.
BELLISSIMA! Best part, only 2 euros. Winning.
We wheel on over to the bus stop and here rolls up the "bus". More like octomom's van, packed, and sans A/C like every other place in the whole country of Italy.
Well, we tried to fight our way on but we are five girls with luggage and if you know me well you know I hate to touch. Imagine a stranger's sweaty armpits touching you for 40 minutes...
Alright, new game plan! We sat at a restaurant and ate gelato while trying to call a taxi. The taxi would take an hour to come get us so naturally we took a gelato break.
***fig and walnut gelato
Marcello the taxi driver is from Naples. He is shy but kind, has powerful A/C, and terrible driving skills. I love him.
We were so happy to be on the move towards our final destination! The view was lovely on the ride, but after five minutes of being glued to the window, like dogs wanting to stick their heads out of the car, we were sick.
We pulled up to the city center, grabbed our things, and shed a tear as our one true love drove away in a taxi.
We made way to our Airbnb but didn't have an exact address. We quickly understood why...
The streets are difficult to understand and there is no way we could have navigated our way there.
As we were waiting for the owner of the Airbnb to meet us, we passed a beautiful courtyard. The men were throwing their hands up and greeting us loudly (or it may be the only register Italians know??).
They yelled, "Champagne! Champagne! Sit, sit, sit!"
We politely declined, but they insisted, "Complementary! Because we are gentlemen!"
We sat.
We settled into our place. Half of us went to the beach and the other half explored. Our apartment had a sweet view of the city and we were extremely close to the city center.
Amalfi is known for having HUGE lemons...These aren't even large in comparison to some we saw.
After exploring the town, my friend Alexis and I wandered down to the water. We snapped a few pictures and were in awe of the coastline. We made a friend at the water and all three of us sat at a cafe in front of the church for an apertivo.
We talked up an appetite and meandered around in search of a dinner spot. We found a restaurant up three flights of stairs and were not disappointed!
We finished up dinner and walked back to the church where the town was having a live jazz concert. I had dark chocolate and coffee gelato while enjoying Italian jazz tunes.
The next day, my friends left for Capris. I wanted to have a day to myself in Amalfi and continue to explore the town. I got up early and walked around town. To my surprise, all the locals were out and about greeting one another. It was a totally different feeling than the metropolitan life of Rome.
***almost as charming as Stars Hallow in Gilmore Girls
My only way of communication was to sit at a cafe and connect to their spotty wifi. My friends were coming back from their day trip and we just trusted that somehow we would find each other. I was relaxing with a lemon spritz when all the sudden Amelia pops up sun kissed and smiling! We sat and they caught me up on all the happenings of the day!
The girls and I dressed and hit the town! (what little town there is)
Amalfi is the home of limoncello, an after dinner drink. It is meant for sipping and is extremely strong and sweet. Its not my favorite but worth a try! Our waiter found our loud laughs and gasps amusing and gave us a free round of limoncello!
Waking up we were on the hunt for coffee and wifi! We paraded the streets with our luggage once again and landed in a cafe. We met the best people from Australia and struck up hilarious conversation. This is Deb and she was just the loving, grandmotherly presence we needed after being away from our loved ones for so long.
We waved goodbye to our sweet Italian villa wishing to return soon...
If you thought the way to Amalfi was difficult, the way back to the train station was a disaster... But my mother would kill over if she knew the story. Let's say it lead to bloody marys once we were out of harms way...
My precious friend gave me a flower to make me feel better...
An adventurous weekend with a light touch of learning the hard way! I left a piece of my heart in Amalfi and I hope to return.