Exploring the Amalfi Coast

Jane, Catherine, Phil, Jodie and Sue

Emerald Grotto

First swim

Amalfi Dumo

Vesper and me

Amalfi

Our first full day of exploring we walk down to the ferries and start off with a ferry trip to. We hop on a boat with no idea where they are really taking us, its seems to be the Italian way. The cliffs are dazzling in the morning sun. Massive yachts are moored off shore, we should take one of those next time and avoid the road.

We arrive at Emerald Grotto and are ushered to hurry up and wait. For just another 5 euros we get lead 20m into a cave and then put into a little boat and rowed around in a 10m circle. It’s a total tourist trap, but so funny, the guide sings songs in Italian, makes jokes in Italian to the others about the aussies and splashes the other boat with his oar, all worth it for the experience.

The next ferry takes us to Positano a nearby town, it has lots of unique clothes shops and lots of touristy shops. We spend a pleasant few hours exploring and shopping. Back to Amalfi for some more exploring, there are Maltese crosses everywhere, so the Maltese theme on the holiday keeps happening. We eventually discover that the Knights of Malta, originally hailed from Jerusalem, liked the Amalfi Cross used it for their emblem and then settled in Malta to continue their good work building hospitals and helping the sick. The next most common place to see the Amalfi/Maltese cross is on the Queensland coat of arms, which is kind of funny as we have three banana benders on this trip.

It’s so hot that Sue and I go for my first Mediterranean swim. The beach is black, the bikini’s on 60 year old women don’t look too good but the water is so cool and refreshing.

Tonight is party night so its back to the room to doll up and don the  famous red and white dress. First we do reenactments from a photo of Sue, Jane and I taken 18 years ago, then we do all kinds of silly photos all over Amalfi. Phil is the photographer and does a great job of capturing every silly pose we can think of.

We pick another new restaurant and enjoy a perfect meal, followed by tiramisu.