Travelling to Amalfi

There is a long standing joke in my family that no one will ever get me on a boat. Lots of kidding around that I would rather drive, fly, walk or swim--anything to avoid stepping on a boat.

The teasing is well deserved. The very sight of boats bobbing up and down in a harbour makes me nauseous and the smell of engine petrol causes me to turn positively green.

Not only do I dislike the movement and engine odours, the isolation of being on a boat is very unappealing. Being stuck in the middle of a lake (or horror of horrors, an ocean) and not being able to get off until the boat finally docks in port sounds dreadful.

Unfortunately, on the Amalfi Coast, travelling by boat is just a way of life. I had hoped that while we were there, we could take a bus or a car to the various towns along the coast. But soon after we arrived, I realized that this coastline was not designed for motor travel. (Let us not forget that in Positano there are 200 steps between the beach and the main road.) For many years, this beautiful coastline was dotted with fishing villages.

Because my daughter and I were both worried about potential (and likely) seasickness on my part, we stocked up on lots of Gravol prior to our trip. On the days we were heading out to Amalfi or Capri or Ravello, I dutifully swallowed a pill at least 40 minutes prior to departure (as the airlines advise).

Then we nervously boarded the ferry--and prayed.

Well, that woman in the photo at the top of my blog is me. Yes, relaxing with feet up, looking out the window and having a perfectly lovely time enjoying the ruggedly picturesque coastline.

I spent most of the trip daydreaming and picturing how this part of Italy looked hundreds of years ago when the warm waters of the Mediterranean held dozens of fishing boats. Nowadays, these waters are host to ferries that take tourists to the quaint and historic little towns.

A couple of days later, I swallowed another Gravol pill in preparation for the trip to Capri and was quite proud of myself not only for not being ill but for my complete enjoyment of the boating experience.

On this trip, I actually enjoyed the solitude and the quiet time on the boats.

(I can't wait to go back to Italy!)

Ciao!

Eating in Italy

It would be impossible to talk about a trip to Italy without describing the wonderful food!

What impressed me most was the freshness of all the food. The fish was caught daily in the surrounding warm waters of the Mediterranean and the fruits and vegetables were picked early each morning from the surrounding gardens and sunny hillsides. When I commented on the sweetness and juiciness of all the fruits and vegetables I was given a very interesting explanation.

In 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius erupted, causing great devastation especially for the neighbouring city of Pompeii: the city was actually buried in volcanic ash. But over time that ash was absorbed into the earth creating a very rich soil in which fruits and vegetables would grow in abundance. Today, all the fruits and vegetables are not only very tasty but extra rich in vitamins and minerals.

Of course a trip to Italy would not be complete without sampling Italian pasta so I very enthusiastically ordered one of my favourite dishes: spaghetti. The Italians cook pasta "al dente" which I know is the correct way--not soft and never mushy. But I suppose that deep down I lack an appreciation for fine cuisine because I prefer my pasta a little on the soft side: crunching spaghetti just doesn't feel right.

But somehow, I seriously doubted that the Italian chef would be willing to cook the pasta my way and I didn't care to see the look of disdain on his face when I made the request. So I dutifully ate the crunchy pasta and decided to switch to seafood and vegies for my next meal.

That turned out to be a wise decision: all the seafood was exquisitely delicious! I ordered another favourite: mussels. This dish was flavoured with fresh herbs, a light sauce and accompanied by juicy tomatoes.

For some unknown reason, the waiters took it personally when we decided to pass on the proffered desserts and would still bring us a plate of cookies or little fruit tarts. (I doubt if the Italians even have a word for "diet".)

Mealtimes are meant to be long and enjoyable and the waiters had all the time in the world to explain local food specialties, or describe the wines of the region and make appropriate suggestions for the best wine to accompany the meal. They were also in no hurry to see us leave and we always had to request the cheque so that we could be on our way to explore the churches and museums.

A very relaxed way of life.

Shopping in Positano

The shopping was fun and interesting, the items unique. We loved the fresh look of the pastel coloured cotton sun- dresses, bathing suit cover-ups and bathing suits. If your luggage was lost en route to Italy, not to worry, you could buy whatever you need in the charming little shops.

The prices were reasonable and the salesladies very helpful. Positano is a bustling little town with a relaxed holiday atmosphere.

As lemons and grapes are grown in abundance, there was a huge supply of lemon soaps (which smelled divine) and local white wine (light and delicious). In fact, there were many lemon flavoured alcoholic drinks. A particular lemon liqueur (forced on me by an enthusiastic waiter) gave me a terrible headache but had an unusual taste. I bought a bottle of this liqueur in a bottle shaped like the Italian "boot" for my son but I think he is afraid to drink it. He graciously thanked me but put the bottle on the top of his bookcase, along with a bottle of ouzo that a friend brought him from Greece last year. (He has made no attempt to drink that either.)

There are several perfumes made from the flowers that grow in abundance in the hills. Jasmine, rose, gardenia, camellia and lily of the valley are blended with lemon, orange, mandarin and rosewood to produce fresh, light fragrances.

Amalfi Coast

Since the Corporate Communications class at Sheridan ended, I haven't gotten around to writing in my blog. I am going to take a little detour from my usual "healthy living" and write about my last trip--to Positano on the Amalfi coast in Italy.

What a fabulous trip! My daughter, Gillian and I spent 10 days exploring the region, (We walked for miles and miles!) eating delicious food, shopping, swimming and just relaxing. This photo shows our hotel on the beach and church where I tried to attend mass (It turned out to be a Saturday evening wedding instead.).

The last time we travelled to Italy, I bravely (and stupidly) rented a Vespa. Bad idea. Before I could even get out of the hotel driveway, I lost control of the vespa and it fell on me, tearing the ligament in my foot and scraping the skin of my arms and legs. Never again. This time we walked, took the bus or a boat.

We spent a lot of time roaming around Positano which is built very snuggly into the rocky hills. Cars and scooters are only allowed on the main road (thankfully) and one needs to walk down the cobblestone streets to access shopping or reach the beach. I found the walking a bit strenuous (and I'm in reasonably good shape) so I can't fathom how older people do it. But there were indeed many older ladies strolling up and down the streets and they didn't seem to be huffing and puffing. One woman even had a walker!

Everyone we met was friendly and charming, especially the Italian men. They went nuts for my daughter and her Mediterranean blue eyes. It didn't seem to bother them that she is several inches taller than they. After all, "bella" is still "bella".