Una giornata divisa in due metà
A day of two halves!
As a stop over San Felice Circeo exceeded all our expectations. The home exchange was one of those delightful homes that made you feel like an Italian! It’s hard to describe how lovely it was; like a beach homestead with a sprawling garden and spacious rooms. Sran and I felt right at home. As you can see from the photographs my friend is an amazing photographer, so we were blessed with some beautiful shots of Stan hanging out.
Finally the weather has changed, and after another monstrous thunderstorm, blue skies prevailed. It reminded me of skiing and waking to what the locals called a bluebird day - a day marked by cloudless blue skies. It served as a reminder that much of the best in life is free! Stan felt that freedom too as we decided to stop at the beach before we headed down to the Amalfi Coast.
Once you’ve explored the town of San Felice Circeo, you can discover its true beauty - the beach! As you drive south of the town wave after wave of compounds create an unwanted barrier between road and sea. Google maps tantalised us with road after road that appeared to take us to the ocean landed in the “PRIVATA” sign and electric gates that barred our progress. We were about to give up when we cam upon a sign, Mare (the sea). Lo and behold a beach to challenge any I’ve seen was served up - complete with sparkling waters. We’d arrived at Lungomare Di Terracina and as if the golden sands hadn’t made it obvious already - it’s other name was Jamaica Beach. It stretches a remarkable 4km. As with most of the places we’ve visited on the trip it’s largely deserted. That is apart from an Italian family who have taken a shine to Stan and want to take his picture. Ooh, a chance for me to practise my Italian. I did OK connecting the mother and the daughter in Italian, but quickly realised a faux pas had been made when the younger woman declared no - sposa! Of course the man with her was not her father - it was her husband! It’s a well known fact that failures are an essential part of the learning process. I rather wish I had not made this particular mistake. In any case, I won’t be making it again!
Reluctantly and after much fun on the beach, we set off for our next destination on the Amalfi coast. When we reach Vico Equense, I will have driven the furthest in Europe I’ve ever driven in my life. We will be some 1,345 miles from home! I now know I can drive anywhere I want to!
Except, and it’s one large exception, the roads in Amalfi are something else! I’m used to narrow roads and I’m use to roads that twist and turn. Some of my favourite haunts from the Lake District carry the names - Hardknott and Rhino’s Pass. If the name didn’t give it away they are the roads that take you over the mountains. I’ve seen many a holidaymaker to that region decline to scale their windy ways. Imagine all of that in Amalfi but far more vertiginious, built up and busy with tourists. These are the roads of Amalfi.
We are headed to Vico Equense where a friend has offered us their apartment for a few days. It wasn’t difficult to get here - we sailed passed Vesuvius and past the sprawling city of Naples. A thunderstorm descended as we ascended the road up towards Vico. We were doing great until we passed the turning that took us to the apartment. I know what you’re thinking - that’s OK - just do a three point turn. Little do you know how hard that is to achieve,
Suffice to say having finally and safely arrived in Vico we will not be getting back in that car. There was only one thing to do - watch the sunset. And what better place to do it than in the bar at the Grand Hotel Angiolieri. If were able to pronouce it at the beginning of the evening the same cannot be said for the end!
The Grand Hotel Angiolieri is another of those great Italian hotels with a prestigious past. Their stand out star couldn’t lead us closed to a Sealyham but we were no less star struck to know it had been frequented by Sophia Loren. I recall my mum’s passion for Sophia Loren and the many movies that explored torrid affairs and star crossed lovers! It’s easy to see why she liked the place. Look at the view!
That gave us our inspiration for our next adventure - it was time to get on the water!
Where’s my dinner
Comfy in the kitchen
We have avoided this Amalfi road so far - but you get the picture!
Look Stan, tomorrow we’re going on a boat
Sunset in Vico!
