Thank goodness we survived and escaped the Twilight Zone. (I still can’t believe that the police station is a hotel, that just seems to invite problems in my mind.) The drive around the Naples area was awful -- traffic everywhere and it was the middle of the day. I could tell Savage was getting peeved. The TZ just about did us both in, maybe the coastline will help us recuperate.
They even had interesting folks at the toll booths:
They even had interesting folks at the toll booths:
When we got off the main road for Sorrento, it was a two lane road. But the motor scooters used it as a four lane road. It is obligatory for every teenage boy to have motor scooter and a hot chick on the back (some with helmets and some without). This is the prime area of where Italians drive like maniacs. The streets were very narrow (thus the small cars). There were a few small communities before we reached Sorrento. While driving down there we saw a lemonade stand (shaped like a lemon).
Also a great overlook -- water :) feeling better already. We are both beach people in a way, he likes to surf and I like to listen to the surf. Our B&B is not on the water, but anything could beat the “resort” we were in for the last two nights.
Got a little turned around but found Villa Adriana in Sorrento. It was a few blocks from the main town area, in a somewhat residential area (except the Hilton was right next door).
We had arrived a little early and buzzed upstairs. There was a huge beautiful gate and the guesthouse looked like a beautiful house. A young girl that reminded me of my sister came out on the balcony, she was still cleaning the rooms. Andrea and her husband Valerio own Villa Adriana. She is a spunky Australian surfer girl (Savage was loving it -- just his type and she had the Aussie accent -- not the Southern one). She showed us where to park -- they had an underground garage - extremely small. I let Savage park (the “good” driver did a good job getting in the mini space). We brought up overnight bags -- even though we were going to be here a few days -- I had packed it all in one bag (good on me).
Andrea showed us to our room -- great little balcony, view of the pool, very spacious bathroom and tiled floor throughout. She gave us some suggestions for lunch as it was time for that. We wandered down toward town and found an alleyway with a small sandwich shop -- turkey, cheese, and lettuce - good one. I can’t express hot drenching hot it was in Sorrento and in that little cafe.
Savage went back to the room to sleep/decompress/swim, whatever. I decided to hit the streets and see what Sorrento had to offer. Lovely cobblestone streets, lots of shops with local wares, and beautiful overlooks of the Gulf of Naples. The shops sold limonecello, frozen lemon drinks, and coral jewelry. I found a lovely silver necklace in the windown -- got that one and the coral one too -- in for a penny in for a pound. I always like to get a nice souvenir when I visit different places. But I think I need to be banned from jewelry shops on this trip. The guy had to restring my coral necklace so I wandered around some more while I waited.
On the overlook, you could see the “beaches” -- they were piers with umbrellas. Not my idea of a beach at all. Went back to the jewelry shop and picked up my purchases.
Then headed back to the guesthouse. I was looking forward to getting out of my drenching wet clothes and into that pool. It was so hot in Sorrento and walking just wore me out. Most of these people take a siesta in the afternoon and the restaurants were closed for a few hours in the afternoon.
Then headed back to the guesthouse. I was looking forward to getting out of my drenching wet clothes and into that pool. It was so hot in Sorrento and walking just wore me out. Most of these people take a siesta in the afternoon and the restaurants were closed for a few hours in the afternoon.
The pool was very relaxing, I love floating and they have a little walkway you can hold onto so you don’t hit the sides. After cleaning up, Savage and I meandered down to the town and just wandered the streets. He wanted to eat at the waterfront. So we headed in that direction. Found stairs -- lots of them-- down to the old marina area. They had a stage set up and a lot of boats. I saw my first ever little person in real life. He was walking fast through the marina area -- a little man in a big hurry.
The first place we sat down at had quite a few people and no one had any food nor was there a sign of a waitress. So we vacated and went to the next place -- the pier had set up for beach chairs and the cafe was open but wasn’t serving food. So we had cokes and water then started our search again. On the way back up, there were some American students taking pictures of their shadows - very artistic.
There was a traveling band serenading the tourists and Savage wasn’t having any of it. So we found a cafe and great seats outside. It was quiet and the food looked good. Our waiter was an older suave looking gentleman. He wore a pink shirt and a pink tie. His voice sounded like he was from New York City. They were playing New York Italian music too.
That traveling band found us and Savage almost came out of his skin. It was very amusing. The food was very good -- Gnocchi Sorrentino -- tomato and cheese. Savage had seafood rissotto -- a local dish and that was good too.
The sun had gone down and found a homemade ice cream shop -- chocolate and lemon -- excellent. Very friendly older woman who was very interested in flirting with Savage, his expression was hysterical.
There were lots of people out on the streets, it seemed that the locals all came out in droves. They sold spinning pens that lit up. On the way back to the room, we stopped at the Bastion and could see the city all lit up. It was a great view and the weather had cooled off.
In our room the A/C was working and it was quiet. All that walking today wore me out and I was so thankful to be gone from the Twilight Zone.
