Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

Sorrento is a city along Italy's west coast. When anyone talks about this part of Italy it is always in regards to the beauty of this area, so we had to see for ourselves. It did not disappoint.

Sorrento is covered in orange and lemon trees. The oranges here are different too---they are partly red (I think they're blood oranges). They are beyond delicious!

The real beauty of Sorrento is in the water.

Though is was nice, it certainly wasn't warm (we wore hats and gloves)

that is Mount Vesuvius as seen from Sorrento.

One of the main reasons for going to Sorrento is to see the Amalfi Coast.

We took the bus to Amalfi from Sorrento. The trip was only 2 hours, but it was the longest 2 hours of my life. Why?

2 reasons:

1. Apparently I get car sick

and

2. I was convinced I was going to die (Ok that's a little dramatic, but seriously, it was scary)

A picture from the bus: note the extreme height between the vehicle and the water. Also, note the curves in the road (over 200) and the incredible lack of height in the wall that is made to protect us from falling into said water (consider strength when compared to a bus). Put all this together with a driver who likes to accelerate at all times, of course forcing him to break before turning (and before driving off into the water below) and it made for a nervous pair of Canadians.

The town of Positano, with its white homes perched on the rock face.

The beach at Amalfi

Cliffs in Amalfi

the main church in Amalfi

Amalfi and Sorrento were gorgeous! The bus ride back from Amalfi was easier since we knew what to expect, and instead of sitting on the side with the good view...we hid from view. We did have a silly experience on the way back. To get to Amalfi from Sorrento you have to take a bus and switch to another bus (after a 2 km walk). When leaving, we made sure to find out when the connecting bus would be and we were told it would leave 15 minutes after we arrived, so we'd be fine. We got to the transfer point (us and 10 others) and noted that the sign said a bus would be there in just a few minutes. We waited and finally a bus did arrive. We were very excited that we caught the connection, but then had a little lesson into Italy/European concepts of time and travel. Though the bus was there, and the driver was not dead, we were told the bus was not leaving for 2 hours. 2 hours!!! So we day there and waited for 2 hours until such time that he was ready. We say it was runny on 'ish' time. You know, 'it'll leave at 2:30-ish.'