Nancy's Travels

Today is our last day in Italy! Why not check out Capri? Time to get some SNAV bigliette (Super Nice Aquatic Vehicle tickets)!

Upon arriving at the island of Capri on our gargantuan airplane-like boat, we dodge the multiple vendors trying to sell tour packages and follow the signs for Capri Centro (downtown) - they point upwards. We walk and walk and walk up stairs and passageways, glancing ever downwards towards the sea and marina as we ascend. We are surprised at how much work it still is to do stairs after our day in Florence. At last, we arrive in the main town of Capri, which is bustling with people. Capri centro is unbelievably touristy; Prada and Gucci storefronts line the main thoroughfare while restaurants boast pictures of celebrities that have breezed through (Mariah Carey wuz here!). Chris and I decide that this is where the supermodels shop. One euro gets us a map (in Spanish, as they were out of English) for the island. We decide to stop for lunch at one of the nice-looking establishments on the main strip, across from the Prada store. Some asparagus risotto and taglietelle bolognese satisfy our hunger and we are ready to explore. We decide to stay somewhat laid back and not join the mad tourist rush to Anacapri for the chairlift ride to the top of the island. Instead, we get a couple gelatos and meander along some streets until we find ourselves on the path to some local sights.

The hike takes us along the southeast portion of the island, through local vistas such as "Arch Naturale" (pretty cool) and "Grotto" (lame). There were sooo many stairs!!! For about 15 minutes, the path hugged the coastline and as we circled back to the main town Capri, wonderfully situated villas lined the walk. Pink bougunvillias climbed their way across bright, whitewashed cottages framed by the blue sky above and sea below. A lizard skittles by on the rock ledge and we snap a few pictures. The warm breeze begs us to succumb to the sleepy afternoon... if only there was a hammock nearby...and some bellinis! We finish our hike and weave our way through fashion central. Not wanting to walk all the way down the mountain to catch our boat, we got tickets for the cable car/gondola back to the marina.

I loved our boat ride back to Sorrento. The sky seemed intent on finally dumping the contents of its dark clouds on us while we boarded, and as the majority of passengers huddled beneath the covered part of the top bunk of the boat, Chris and I found a nice seat across from eachother in the open, wanting to take it all in, rain or shine. Admist the light drizzle, we admired our final view of Capri - the colorful storefronts in the marina, the rising cliffs that hide the little shopping mecca atop, the unpredictable sky. A man comes around selling drinks - we buy a Peroni beer and I happily settle into Chris' lap as we pull away from the dock. I loved the rolling motion of the boat as it kicked up light blue froth behind us... Capri grows smaller and smaller. The sky above has cleared and we enjoy the light pink of the setting sun. I thought as I looked up, "It's our last day in Italy, send us a sign!". Ten seconds later, a rainbow appears and I couldn't believe it. Perfecto!