Woke up at a decent hour -- ie a little early, and got down to breakfast. I visited with Andrea, she told me all about the cooking classes they offered. Savage loves to cook, but that is not my forte. I do like to cook though, I took a great class in Paris and have always wanted to take a class in Italy. Hum? His birthday is coming up, a good gift idea... maybe?
Andrea gave us the directions out of town for Positano and the Amalfi Coast -- this is where the day went wrong, or maybe it was when I got out of bed?
What do you see wrong with this picture -- Savage gets vertigo and I get motion sickness -- so what do we do? He drives up a very mountainous, cliff dropping, winding road and I am the passenger? WTH were we thinking? Bad move. We got turned around getting out of town (nothing new there, and we found our way to the main road). This was a very steep, curvy coast road. The Amalfi Coast drive is supposed to be one of the most spectacular, dramatic road trips in the world.
Savage was freaking out a little and I had forgotten my Dramamine. Thankfully I found my Benadryl and took some to help me settle my head. He kept saying he was going to loose his brekkie (what in the devil is that?). I, the bad friend that I am, got the giggles and couldn’t stop laughing. I promise sir, I wasn’t laughing AT you, I was only laughing at the situation.
The day was beautiful out and I so wanted to see the Villa Rufulo Gardens. The coastline was amazing, you could see forever over the water (and down a few cliffs). The road hugged the mountains and had huge dropoffs. He really was turning green and starting to breathe funny. But no, he wouldn’t let me drive, hard head.
But as luck would have it, we made it to Positano in an hour. The traffic was horrendous and the parking nonexistent (it was a good thing we didn’t drive here before). The streets were very narrow and my racing car driver did a good job getting to the other side of town. But that is where he “hit the wall”. The vertigo overtook him and we stopped and he got some air. I felt really bad for him. We decided it was best if we turned around and went back. (Oh yeah, we did see some sweet cars, and a lady was driving this one -- how awesome was that?)
I think he was most surprised that I didn’t give him grief about it. How could I? My stomach was all torn up from car sickness (and that dreadful boat ride from yesterday) so I was ready to go back too. Didn’t we make a pair of fools-- him with the vertigo and me with the car sickness.
the gate back into town -- thank goodness :)
I had never been happier to see the Villa Adriana. My head was swimming. There was an Australian family that had checked in the hotel too and their two teenagers were out by the pool, chattering away like siblings do (the sister was giving her little brother major grief, I got a little homesick from my brother and sister too -- they would have loved it here).
I didn’t care, I loved floating in the water and needed to decompress as I had a full on IBS attack since our slow boat trip from Positano and our aborted trip up the coastline. That pool was a godsend after our aborted road trip. I think the trip itself was getting to us too -- it had been two weeks of a full on eventful road trip.
We ran into town and had lunch at a little place in a close alleyway. It was hot in there too -- no A/C and they were about to close for their siesta. On the TV there was a news report where I learned a new phrase -- troppo caldo - which means "so freaking hot you can't breathe" in Italian. Think New Orleans on a very sweltering August day, with no breeze and no A/C. How did people do it back in the day?
I ended up lounging around in my PJ’s in the common room reading my book. Savage was in the room recovering also. When we started talking that afternoon, this is where it hit the fan. I was leaving on a Monday and he wanted to book his ticket to see his girlfriend on the Friday. I was so upset at him. Here I was an old friend who had flown around the world to go on this dream trip with him and share expenses and he was up and deserting me 2 days early? I know he was in love with her and wanted to see her. I know I was getting on his nerves, with my thick Southern accent, my Southern female high maintenance ways, and my “too muchness”, but that really hurt my feelings.
I pleaded with him to stay two more days, he said no. Heck, I even helped him book the ticket online. Ever helpful me, even a good friend when I don’t want to be.
So this was our first fight in the 14 years of knowing each other, not bad I guess. Very odd to fight with someone you are stuck with 24/7 -- there are no neutral corners to go to. As we are both in a profession for arguing, you would think we would be good at this, but I am very confrontational and get it all out there and he is not and doesn’t get anything out there.
I told him honestly what I thought and he was bowled over that I didn’t pitch a hissy fit (I doubt he knows what one is nor if he could handle one) and start crying or something. He was very sincere and said he was sorry. I forgave him and then it was over. Very weird, I really did forgive him and realize I understood where he was coming from. I am a good friend and try to forgive easily. We had another week + left and too much fun and adventures to have to hold grudges. Lovely, a fight that no one wins or looses, does that mean we are mature adults? We were on a dream trip -- why ruin it?
We had mostly recovered from our outing of the morning and our outbursts in the afternoon. I think the heat, exhaustion and sickness from the morning contributed to our disagreement. Thankfully the sun went down and cooled the place off (and our tempers too).
We walked into town and he was still in shock I wasn’t upset with him. Pooh, what’s the point in holding grudges, I just wanted to have a good time the rest of the trip. He is one of my more fun travel partners.
Beside our hotel was a bowling alley and I so wanted to go, as I love to bowl. But he put the ix-nay on that (I think he was scared I might beat him).
As we had a bad restaurant experience before, we went to the little place where we had gotten the good ice cream the first night. Not a good idea, as the pizza left something to be desired. We were batting 100 with the Sorrento restaurants so far. (I had a surprise for him the next night though and hopefully that would be better.) You would think you couldn't find a bad restaurant in Italy -- wrong.com. I would kill for a McDonalds (that is when you know you have been gone too long.)
Afterward, we wandered around the streets and had a great time visiting and people watching (we were looking for the prize man purse sighting -- a Gucci one-- almost got the photo but just missed it). I got some wonderful pineapple gelato in a cone and ate it while we walked on the streets watching the street performers. I almost got run over by the little tram they had going. It was so enjoyable of a night and he was being extra nice (I think he was a little scared of what I might say to him) to try and make up for his transgression of ditching me early. I wonder how long that will last -- I know him - not too long.
someone didn't have their English dictionary out
I can't remember why we took a picture of this?
don't you feel safe?
very cool!!!
is it the plaid bermuda shorts or the fanny pack that makes the outfit?
aw, how sweet - they have matching bags....
this is a local tradition -- the inlaid wood. I found a great piece with the Amalfi Coast on it.
We ended up walking back by the bowling alley and it was closed, drat. Tomorrow we are going to Vesuvius (and it was my idea -- really it was). Hopefully that won’t be an aborted trip as well. Today we “hit the wall” traveling and had it out. I think the rest of the trip will be smooth sailing from here... using Savage’s favorite phrase... “maybe”....
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