Sept 6, 2019
We got up earlier this morning to get on the road for our Amalfi Coast Kayaking adventure. We were out the door at 8 am. Stopped in town for a quick coffee and a pizza/pastry and we were on our way.
Wow oh wow. The Amalfi Coast drive deserves it's reputation. It took a full hour to go about 13-14 miles. Narrow winding streets that would be too narrow for a one way street at home but here, it is a two way street. Hairpin curves and cars and pedestrians inches from each other. David is totally amazing. I would have had to just stop in the middle of the road and cry. Kind of like being on top of a black diamond ski run and knowing you don't have the skills to get down but that is the only thing you can do. Of course, the beauty of this drive is also reputed and deserved. Majestic cliffs line the highway and sparkling turquoise waters lay at the bottom of the cliffs. We finally safely arrived at the spot we were supposed to meet the Kayak Guide but it was not without a snag. When our google map informed us we had arrived at Duoglio Beach, we were on a mountain road with the beach about 500 feet below us. When we had the opportunity, David did a race car move and got us turned around. We headed back slowly and Avi jumped out of the car at the spot where the "beach" was supposed to be. "Dove Kayak?" he asked a guy standing by the road. And amazingly enough, the guy told us to park in this little spot behind a gate and take about 600 steps down to the beach. Who knew?? When we arrived there, we gathered with our group and went through the required safety briefing. I was nervous about getting seasick because the waters were rough. But we all did great. It was hard work but fun. Seeing the cliffs and the coastline from the water was so wonderful. The water is warm and beautiful but the beaches are not sandy. They are rough, filled with pebbles. Barefoot doesn't really work. The kayak trip lasted about four hours and we got the opportunity to hear some history of the area, see Sophia Loren's house on the cliff, go into a sea cave and see the famous Lovers Arch.
When the kayak trip ended, we headed back down the Amalfi Coast road. We knew what we were headed into this time but it still is heart stopping. Somehow it all works though. Nobody seems to get hit which is just incredible.
By the time we arrived back at our BnB, we were absolutely starving. We decided to park the car and walk to a restaurant, figuring that would be no big deal. Little did we know, the town closes up at 5:00 p.m. This is dinner hour at home but not here. The restaurants do not open back up for dinner until 7:30 or 8:00. We walked and walked, and this is not an easy walk. These are walks straight up hills - there is nothing flat here. And cars and scooters whizzing around you all the while. We finally found a little place serving coffee and pastry and were happy to get what we could. My diet has gone to hell in a hand-basket even with my best efforts. Every day is filled with carbs and more carbs and I can't find fresh vegetables anywhere. A salad here is a bowl of lettuce with absolutely nothing on it. Kind of interesting but I've eaten them anyway as my body isn't sure it is going to be all right with all this pizza and bread. After our "treat", we walked back home, showered and rested a bit. At 8:00, we walked to a little fish restaurant for dinner. Not my favorite. At. All. Really really fishy fish, squid, shrimp and other bottom dwellers. Ugh. But it was an adventure. So far I haven't liked the food south of Rome as much as the food north of Rome although most of the time, it is still really good. Just some of the things not really pleasing to my palate.
This day has come to an end. My body feels very well used and every day sees less makeup, dirtier clothes and more carbs. But it is all good. Home will come soon enough.
We got up earlier this morning to get on the road for our Amalfi Coast Kayaking adventure. We were out the door at 8 am. Stopped in town for a quick coffee and a pizza/pastry and we were on our way.
Wow oh wow. The Amalfi Coast drive deserves it's reputation. It took a full hour to go about 13-14 miles. Narrow winding streets that would be too narrow for a one way street at home but here, it is a two way street. Hairpin curves and cars and pedestrians inches from each other. David is totally amazing. I would have had to just stop in the middle of the road and cry. Kind of like being on top of a black diamond ski run and knowing you don't have the skills to get down but that is the only thing you can do. Of course, the beauty of this drive is also reputed and deserved. Majestic cliffs line the highway and sparkling turquoise waters lay at the bottom of the cliffs. We finally safely arrived at the spot we were supposed to meet the Kayak Guide but it was not without a snag. When our google map informed us we had arrived at Duoglio Beach, we were on a mountain road with the beach about 500 feet below us. When we had the opportunity, David did a race car move and got us turned around. We headed back slowly and Avi jumped out of the car at the spot where the "beach" was supposed to be. "Dove Kayak?" he asked a guy standing by the road. And amazingly enough, the guy told us to park in this little spot behind a gate and take about 600 steps down to the beach. Who knew?? When we arrived there, we gathered with our group and went through the required safety briefing. I was nervous about getting seasick because the waters were rough. But we all did great. It was hard work but fun. Seeing the cliffs and the coastline from the water was so wonderful. The water is warm and beautiful but the beaches are not sandy. They are rough, filled with pebbles. Barefoot doesn't really work. The kayak trip lasted about four hours and we got the opportunity to hear some history of the area, see Sophia Loren's house on the cliff, go into a sea cave and see the famous Lovers Arch.
When the kayak trip ended, we headed back down the Amalfi Coast road. We knew what we were headed into this time but it still is heart stopping. Somehow it all works though. Nobody seems to get hit which is just incredible.
By the time we arrived back at our BnB, we were absolutely starving. We decided to park the car and walk to a restaurant, figuring that would be no big deal. Little did we know, the town closes up at 5:00 p.m. This is dinner hour at home but not here. The restaurants do not open back up for dinner until 7:30 or 8:00. We walked and walked, and this is not an easy walk. These are walks straight up hills - there is nothing flat here. And cars and scooters whizzing around you all the while. We finally found a little place serving coffee and pastry and were happy to get what we could. My diet has gone to hell in a hand-basket even with my best efforts. Every day is filled with carbs and more carbs and I can't find fresh vegetables anywhere. A salad here is a bowl of lettuce with absolutely nothing on it. Kind of interesting but I've eaten them anyway as my body isn't sure it is going to be all right with all this pizza and bread. After our "treat", we walked back home, showered and rested a bit. At 8:00, we walked to a little fish restaurant for dinner. Not my favorite. At. All. Really really fishy fish, squid, shrimp and other bottom dwellers. Ugh. But it was an adventure. So far I haven't liked the food south of Rome as much as the food north of Rome although most of the time, it is still really good. Just some of the things not really pleasing to my palate.
This day has come to an end. My body feels very well used and every day sees less makeup, dirtier clothes and more carbs. But it is all good. Home will come soon enough.
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