The Amalfi Coast Weekend!

July 7^th

Today I’ve just been running errands to get ready to go to the Amalfi Coast! I’m so excited to go and meet more people and not have to worry about finding my way back to my apartment for a few days!

In photography class we went to the Arno River and my professor showed us how to get down onto the dam of the river. Apparently lots of people hang out here and tan. There were interesting people and one obnoxious, drunk old guy waving around an American flag—wish my pics of him turned out a little better, but ones of these American students turned out pretty cool.

Along the Arno river

Crazy American dude on left and poor girls who were tormented 

American student loving life 

After class I headed to the train station with some friends, hopped on the bus and went to the Amalfi coast. We arrived at our hotel at 2:30am, so we went straight to sleep.

July 8^th

Today began early, meeting at 7am to take a ferry ride around the island. It was super hot even early in the morning on the water. 

The Amalfi Coast at 8 am... it was hot

Kelly & Danielle

Our ferry towed the canal boats for the blue grotto 

We stopped at one point to check out the blue grotto—one of the 7 wonders of Europe. It was pretty cool, but not really worth the 11.50 Euros. Four of us got into a small canal boat and the guide took us through this tiny hole through the cliffs that opened up once we got through. The hole was so small that we all had to lie back in the boat to make it though. Once in the cave, the water glowed bright blue, which was really neat. The air was dark, but the water was glowing… my photos actually captured it pretty well! I can cross it off my list though.

We continued our boat trip around the island, which was beautiful, stopping at the green grotto, coral grotto, and maybe another I cant really remember lol. We then docked at Capri and hiked up this huge hill in the scorching hot sun, but it was definitely worth it! Once up midway the mountain, we took a break and were left to explore. The shops there were absolutely beautiful with ridiculously expensive items. There was a garden that two friends and I checked out which was again, beautiful.

Green Grotto

I don't remember what these rocks are called....but the tunnel between them is the tunnel of love!

Where the ocean and sky become one

We took a bus to the top of the mountain, Anacapri, where we got lunch, tasted limoncello, looked at expensive store displays, tasted chocolates and took in more beautiful views. We ended our time there on this tiny, rocky beach and then took the ferry ride back to where we were staying.

Custom sandal shop-- beautiful shoes! Too expensive though (like 150 euros) 

Coastline of Capri 

I just liked this one

Expensive store displays

In the garden on Capri 

View from the garden on Capri

At night we all went to dinner and then to a club. Again, I can say that Italian men (at least Italian men at club) are super creepy.

July 9^th

Today we got to sleep in a bit since it was beach day! We all took a bus to Positano, a black sand beach, and walked down the side of the mountain toward the beach. The beach was nice, but definitely not in my top beaches. The sand was really hot and all rocks near the water, which made it hard to get in and out of the water. It was probably high 90’s, so I couldn’t lie out too long before jumping in the water to cool off.

After a few hours of chilling on the beach, we hopped on a boat that took us cliff jumping and then to swimming through caves. The cliffs weren’t too high, probably about 10ft, but it was still really fun, and now I can say I’ve been cliff jumping in the Mediterranean which I think is pretty sweet.

After we lied out for a couple more hours, then took the bus back to our hotel. At night we went to a nearby hostel where half of our group was staying for dinner and then to the rooftop bar. Kind of wish I was in the hostel, it was so much nicer than our hotel!

(No pictures since I was scared of my camera dying in the water)

July 10^th

We go to sleep in again today, then drove for an hour to Pompeii. There we took a two hour guided tour through the ruins. I think Pompeii has the coolest ruins I’ve seen yet. It was a huge city with much still really well intact. I got to see actual humans that were mummified by the ashes, pottery from their civilization, homes, the marketplace and even their two-story brothel. They even had ‘directions’ to the brothel carved into the marble floors throughout the city (check out pic below of their directions…no joke).

Mount Vesuvious

Directions to the brothel