Positano adventures
After a few days in Rome, we took the train to Naples, where we were picked up by a driver to head to Positano. It was our first time taking the train, after figuring our our platform and bin number (and a bit of a delay), it was a lovely and scenic trip.
(The view from our hotel room)
Positano is located in the Amalfi coast, close to Sorrento, which is well-known for its lemons and Limoncello. Lemons and linens were the theme of Positano, with lemon-infused oils, pastas, liquor (which was amaaaazing), and handmade (and very inexpensive) linens. The entire coastline is lined with hotels, restaurants and shops, with goodies from local artisans. We picked up a dress for Livi that had been made that very day in the store.
We dubbed these two pups the mayor
and deputy of Positano:
(The deputy, “Biscuit” was so kind to join us for a meal. He has a very busy schedule.)
They live on the beach, and subsist from pasta and table scraps from the restaurant workers and tourists. We saw them each day we were there! They’re also very savvy when it comes to avoiding the crazy fast traffic winding down the street to the large square.
One morning, we rented a boat to explore the Amalfi coast.
We visited this set of islets, which is believed to be the location of the sirens in Homer’s Odyssey. The mermaids supposedly lured sailors in with their songs, and then ate them after they crashed. According to our driver, ” The mermaids were a fish body with a human head. If I were to be eaten, I would prefer a half-woman with a half-fish body.”
Word.
The boat trip was the Pilot’s highlight of Positano, and while I loved it too, my favorite was our last night there. We had just enjoyed a fantastic dinner at the Palazzo Murad hotel, and then wandered down to the beach to grab a drink. It was about midnight (aka, the time the many people just begin their evenings or are eating dinner), and there was a theatre and ballet set up on the shore. We found a lounge chair, watched the ballet and orchestra, while fireworks went off in the distance. I couldn’t make something up like that if I tried.
One of the things I noticed about being in Italy (and even at the Frankfurt airport) was that people are not attached to their cell phones. Everyone is present in that very moment. If someone asks how you’re doing, they actually care and want to listen. It’s something the Pilot and I talked about often, especially when we noticed a group of businessmen in a cafe enjoying their morning espresso together. They were talking, laughing, and not a single one had a smartphone screen glaring up at them, distant from the conversation. My phone rarely left my purse, save to take a few photos here and there, and it’s a habit I’d like to keep with me in the states.
While I love technology (and use it as a part of my livelihood), I feel like it can be a huge source of isolation as well as a comfort mechanism. If you’re bored or uncomfortable (like in a new social situation), it’s so easy to take out your phone and pretend to be busy. In Naples, a group of teens were hanging out in a nearby square while we enjoyed dinner, and even the bored-looking ones didn’t have their cell phones out.
I was also taken aback by the kindness from everyone we encountered. Even at the train station or in Naples, when people were trying to pickpocket us, they were kind of nice about it. Weird, huh? We were able to practice our Italian -the Pilot minored in it, and I speak Spanish which is similar enough to understand what they’re saying but different enough that I had no idea how to form a sentence- with such patient and kind people. The sights were breathtaking, the shopping with fantastic, the food was even better, but the people are what really made the place. It’s definitely somewhere I’d love to live.
Hope you enjoyed this little virtual trip to Positano! I’ll be back later today with regular blogging, and tomorrow’s recap will be all about the FOOD + some restaurants we tried.
Hope you have a wonderful morning <3
xoxo
Gina
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Your view of the coast is awesome. You took some amazing pictures! Funny how other cultures view cell phone usage. Must be an American thing to ‘be connected’ all the time.
Sooooo is there any chance the family could be sent to Italy for the next assignment??
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Love everything, even your dresses haha. I’m so excited to visit next year. And now you need to come to germany 😉
That pink striped dress you are wearing in the photo with the pup is SO FRIGGIN CUTE! Please tell me deetz, I kinda want that in my wardrobe.
So. jealous. But glad you’re having an amazing time 😉
I went to Positano (and Rome and Florence!) last October — and it was INCREDIBLE! hands down, one of the most beautiful places I have been! We stayed at Buca di Bacco and it was just amazing…. I’d love to go back! Glad you had a great trip! We are headed to Spain next month, can’t wait!
Positano looks absolutely amazing! I have been to Sorrento and it’s so gorgeous, so I’m sure this was just as beautiful. Love your green dress!
Wow, absolutely amazing! It’s so dang pretty there.
I hear only amazing things about Positano. Love your dresses you wore on your trip too – super cute.
I was just in Praiano two weeks ago which is the next town over. its so beautiful there!
GORGEOUSNESS!!!
DYING of envy. So much awesome here. I’m making an Italy money jar today.
Beautiful! Wow…what a trip! And the cell phone thing…such a good reminder. I’m going to work on that today!
These views are just breathtaking!! I know what you mean with technology. It can distract us so much from real life – definitely something I need to work on as well!
Oh my gosh, I can’t believe how beautiful it looks in your photos — I can only imagine how much better it was in real life! 🙂
My husband & I love traveling by train when we can — I know it takes longer than flying, but the scenery is so worth it!
YES about the no cell phones!
I spent July in Paris and one of my friends kept noticing the no cell phone thing.
We weren’t as good as them (especially while relying on our googlemaps to help us get places) but I think it made a huge difference in how we interacted with each other and with the locals.
However, in our defense, there were some French people on cell phones. They weren’t 100% of the time better than us Americans at that. 😉
What a beautiful part of the world. I want to go!
I notice the same thing (with phones) in Switzerland this spring….even the time I spent in business meetings and doing presentations was more productive and laid back because everyone was focused on the moment….not their phone, laptop, etc. My friend and I left our phones in our purses while out and about, and I rarely checked it! Manfriend and I have started leaving our phones locked in the car or at home for date nights, and it’s SO nice. Gah I miss Europe!
I’m glad you enjoyed my country! I actually spotted my hometown (Vicenza) in a Pilot’s post a couple of years ago 🙂 and now that I have moved you came to Rome! I’m waiting for your next trip!
I’m also waiting for the food post, if you need any suggestions about recipes and ingredients, just ask! I lived in the States for a while, so I know how tricky finding ingredients can be.
Also, I had never really noticed the whole cell phone thing. But I’d say you are right, if you are in a social situation you don’t really stare at your phone unless it’s an urgent matter or you want to show people pictures or texts. Very often seen during commutes or “alone” time, though!
Isn’t it awesome when you travel and realize not everyone is so attached to there tech devices as Americans are.
Sometime I wonder if Americans could survive without them anymore. Sad reality, but true.
It looks like you had a wonderful time with your husband:)
WOW! I am sooo jealous right now! 🙂 I know you an Tom have wanted to go to Italy for a while, sooo glad you got to!! Your pics are amazing, looks like you had.a blast!
thanks for sharing your italy trip – glad you had a wonderful time! this post made me super nostalgic for europe (i went to scandinavia last summer – i miss their coffee, haha). so i guess i’m vacationing vicariously through your posts!
Oh my gosh! Going out on that boat looks so amazing! You must have had the best time! It would be nice if sometimes we just all put our smartphones down!
Your trip looks amazing!
I’m wondering, did you do some kind of a tour package of Italy, or did you guys just go on your own to these amazing places?
I’m saving up money to visit Italy next year- it’s on my bucket list haha
we booked through our travel agent and she planned all of the hotels, tours, flights, car transfers, everything. it made it so much easier, especially since i’d have no idea how to plan a huge trip like that having never been there
Good to know on the travel agent, thanks Gina 🙂 And yes, I’m completely clueless on how I’ll go with this trip as well, I guess it’s time to find a good travel agent soon!
I love Casa Bottega, where it looks like you had some of their delicious chocolate cake! The shop is such a dreamy little space, isn’t it?
Glad you had such a great time!
i wanted to eat there every day! the ladies who worked there were incredible, too
It sounds like you had an amazing trip! I’ve always wanted to go to Italian, and both my bf and I are Italian. I hope I can do a trip like this someday.
Haha, even the pickpockets are polite in Italy!
I hear you on the smartphone thing. When we go out on dates, hubby and I always tell each other that we’ll keep the phones off the table, then eventually one will make a reference to a picture or post or something, then the phone comes out to confirm said reference. Once the phones are out, they never seem to go away.
Looks like a fun trip! When I went to Italy we went north (venice, Florence, Lake Como, Milan) so I never made it to this part – maybe next time! Out of curiosity, how long did you spend in each city and did you feel like that was enough time?
we did 3 days in rome, 3 in positano and 1 in naples. it felt like the perfect amount of time
This is definitely on my bucket list, and has now moved up the list to the “MUST DO THIS ASAP” section 🙂
Lovely pictures. You both look like models in some fancy catalog!
Love all these photos Gina. I’ve only been to Italy once and I’ve been dying to back since. It’s so beautiful. Hopefully Isaac and I will get to go together sometime soon. 🙂
That looks like an amazing trip! The “nice pickpockets” sound…interesting! That’s really weird!
Love all of these photos! Looks like you had an amazing trip! I love seeing happy lovebird couples 😉
Visiting Italy is my dream!
You look beautiful in green! Where did you get that dress??
thank you so much! it’s from stitch fix but the brand is c.luce
I’m super jealous of your trip! The husband and I have Italy on our bucket list and these pictures make me want to go even more!
You guys look like you fit right in! 🙂 So fun! My parents love it there. I haven’t been!
This looks amazing! I am beyond jealous!
That’s how the people were in Germany when we lived there. Everyone was so nice, not hypnotized by a screen, and followed every single rule there was. I felt very safe there all the time.
Ah, Positano is just amazing. It was our favorite. Where did you stay? It looked like you may have stayed in the same place we did. Ironically, I’m posting this from my cell phone!
So happy for you that you got to go on your dream vacation! I love Italy–the sights, the food, the people! Your trip sounds amazing. It’s so important to have couple time. I’m visiting France right now and we took our kids with us. We are definitely ready for a vacation with just the two of us!
Great that you were able to attach yourself for a bit from technology. The pictures are gorgeous and the dogs made me laugh out loud, they are clearly living the life.
Ah, familiar scenes; we just returned from our third trip to the Amalfi Coast two weeks ago. The scenery was so amazing, and the shopping also. I bought some beautiful sandals that were made right in front of me, and the linens were beautiful. Can’t wait to go back again!
same. i have to go back!
Love the pictures and little bits about your trip!
I love that people try to be completely present and interact with those they are with and not with their phones – something I’ve been focusing on this year (and not doing stellar).
beautiful pictures!!! looks like a great time, enjoy yourself – you deserve it 🙂
HUGS
hugs to you, friends!
Positano looks incredible!! It is so nice to be around others who do not care about their smart phones and would rather interact with the people in front of them than a device!
just beautiful! love your little hat too!
thank you!
I love how the Europeans really take the time to enjoy things. The slowing down they do should become standard practice.
Positano looks amazing! It will definitely be added to my must see list.
Love your green & blue dress!! Where did you get it?
thank you! it’s from stitch fix but the brand is c.luce
Wow!!! Love that they just happened to have ballet and fireworks! So much culture!!!
I’m glad you enjoyed yourselves here in Posi, the mayor of the town is called Arturo, btw! He spends the day on the beach, keeps me company at work and in the evenings goes to the top of the town to sleep!
the mayor!! you know him!!
i’m so excited to keep reading your blog.. it will be an instant vacation back for me:)
Oh, thank you! Arturo is here with me now on the beach, he says hi!
ahhhh! buonasera, arturo 🙂 give him a scratch for me!
That sounds like an awesome trip. I must really disappoint you, the Germans and Italians are the same with the smart phone as Americans. There is no family reunion where not all the guys look something up on their phone…Everywhere you go somebody is checking the phine, looking something up (how did we survive before?) or taking a picture or filming something…
http://www.upworthy.com/after-i-saw-this-i-put-down-my-phone-and-didnt-pick-it-up-for-the-rest-of-the-day