The Amalfi Coast

20 May
At 9 am we loaded up in two smaller coaches and headed for our drive along the Amalfi coast, destination Positano, the tourist destination.  Think PCH only a lot narrower and once you get close to a town, imagine cars packed and parked on the ocean side, thereby leaving about one and a half lanes for two way traffic.  Our coach driver maneuvered quite well except for the two times he stalled out the engine on two different tight hairpin curves, that required reverse to complete the turn.  Fortunate for us the sun was shining and the variety of Mediterranean blues were worth the trip.  According to Mario, the prices in Positano are for tourists.  Those folks who arent third or fourth generation Positano, don't live in Positano because they cant afford to, instead they live in Naples and  take the Naples Positano commuter train everyday, one hour each way.  None of the locals drive, because gas is $10 a gallon, diesel is $8/gal.  Mario told us an interesting story, earlier this Spring a Saudi Prince pulled up in his mega yacht.  He paid to have the town closed for an hour, so he didn't have to deal with as many people on the streets.  This really made the locals mad, because it hurt their business for the day.  Apparently each shop received a royal stipend for their trouble.  Mario said that the Prince tipped the guy who came out to pick them up at the yacht E2,000 and the polite Italian told the Prince that he didn't have change for E2,000 one of the body guards informed the boat driver that this was the tip.  (Note in Italy you tip or pay for everything from using the toilet to appreciating the coach driver for not driving off the road.)  Needless to say, the same boat driver readily volunteered to drive the Prince back to his yacht and receive another E2000 for his efforts, this story made the local newspaper, along with several other stories of the Prince's generosity.

Mario told us that Italians take the month of August off and families migrate to the beach.  A typical family will rent a beach place and also pay E20 per person to get a spot on the beach for the day.  Picnicking is not done on the beach, so tack on all expenses such as food and drink which can easily cost another E10.  Mario said he really really enjoys the beach in the USA, plus there's usually a beach and not a gravel piece of land that meets the ocean.  Roger started doing the math on a month long vacation and came to the conclusion that Italians are crazy about the beach.

In Positano, Roger and I did some window shopping.  If you know Roger, he wasn't thrilled with this activity, but that's what people do in Positano.  At the edge of the Mediterranean I found some sea glass, so I am a happy little camper.  The drive back from Positano was all that more harrowing because in the 2 hours were were in Positano, the number of parked cars seemed to multiply.  Once back at our hotel we had time to stroll Sorrento.  Not much to write about other than more window shopping.