The day of the boat tour

May 24

Today started with another breakfast with amzing views of the sparkling Mediterranean sea. After breakfast we quickly checked out of the hotel and headed out front to flag down a bus. Once safely on the bus with all our baggage we quickly made it to the main port of Amalfi (much quicker than our usual 30 minute walk).

On the Boat

At 1000 we boarded a massive speed boat for a tour of the Amalfitana coast and the isle of Capri. Here is the description per the website:

Our private full-day boat tour departs from AMALFI, MAIORI and MINORI. Aboard our traditional gozzo motor-boat, which we custom-built three years ago, your captain will steer away from AMALFI to take in the nearby seaside towns of MAIORI and MINORI. Just beyond MAOIRI is the marine cave called PANDORA'S GROTTO, which we can enter with our boat to experience this beautiful natural wonder. Onwards you will visit the nearby MARMORATA FALLS and view the majestical RAVELLO, the famous village of music, which is seated high on a cliff face towering over AMALFI.

Encircling the cliff past AMALFI, your captain will cruise along to the pristine enclave of SANTA CROCE and its Lover's Arch and onwards to CONCA DEI MARINI where you can visit the GROTTA DELLO SMERALDO or the EMERALD GROTTO. Sailing west, your captain will point out the FURORE FJORD, a deep inlet where the International Diving Championships are held annually and then cruise along the twin-mountain town of PRAIANO.

Offering drinks to quench any thirst (which he did not), your captain will continue towards the gelati-hued village of POSITANO, before steering out to sea to visit the mythical islands of LI GALLI. The islands are legendary as it is said Ulysses had to tie himself to the mast of his ship in order to resist the singing of the sirens.

CAPRI is now within reach at PUNTA CAMPANELLA, where the AMALFI COAST officially ends and the SORRENTO COAST begins. Your motor boat excursion continues to CAPRI and your captain will circle the island, visit the famous BLUE GROTTO (we didn't go in it was WAY overpriced), the FARAGLIONI rock formation and the WHITE and GREEN GROTTOS. After circling CAPRI, your captain will dock the boat in the prestigious MARINA GRANDE of CAPRI Your captain with his local knowledge will take you for a swim in a picturesque location where it is possible to dive straight off the boat into the navy Mediterranean depths.

Planning a seaside vacation in May, we had anticipated only getting to enjoy the gorgeous views, and expected the water to be far too cold for us warm bloods to enjoy. However, my favorite portion of today’s boat excursion was our stop for a swim in a clear cove off the south side of Capri. Although the water was frigid at first touch, my body quickly numbed to the chill and I enjoyed the swim more than anyone. I guess Richard doesn’t have quite as much adipose (that’s FAT) to keep him warm because he was freezing the entire time.

Shortly after our swim we arrived in Marina Grande, Capri. Once there Richard’s pessimistic personality started to get the best of him, when my cell phone didn’t work and we weren’t sure how to get to Marina Piccolo on the opposite side of the island. But the fates were good to us with this adventure, at the end of the pier there was a tourist office, they phoned the hotel for us, and within 5 minutes we were on the hotel shuttle bound for the Weber Ambassador.

In the Grotto dell'Esmeralda

This hotel was/will be the nicest hotel we stay in our entire trip I’m sure. It is a 4 star, ocean front hotel in Capri. They greeted us with prosecco had a bellman escort us to our room, they supplied a free shuttle to the city center, and their staff was incredibly helpful and fully English speaking.

By this time it was 1430 and we ate breakfast at 0830, so I was at about 100 out of 10 on our hunger scale (the way Rich and I determine when to look for a restaurant). So we walked to a restaurant next door to the hotel and immediately ordered. This is the one instance that the Italian customs for meal time made me crazy! We finally started eating around 1515, at which point I felt so weak and exhausted I could have been eating rubber and not cared or even realized. By the time we had our second course I was slightly more aware I was eating and enjoyed our veal milanesse.

Too hungry to hold my head up

After lunch, we immediately headed for the beach, where we only stayed about an hour due to the impending sun poisoning that might occur. We headed to our room where I enjoyed a nice long bath (my first one since leaving home). Don’t worry, I’ve showered!

Rich on the way to the Beach...view from hotel.

We cleaned up, and headed into town to discover Capri. We discovered a plethora of ridiculously expensive designer stores, so we just walked around until we got hungry, then headed to the Isidora for dinner. They seated us on a tiny little balcony, barely big enough for a tiny table and two chairs, overlooking the pedestrian street below. Here we feasted on typical Caprese dishes including salad, ravioli, and pizza.

Dinner in our little cove.

On the way back to the hotel we stopped and bought some pastries, mild, and a bottle of wine, so we could continue the evening back at the hotel, where we had a romantic evening starting with milk and pastries and ending with a subpar bottle of Chianti (DOC), stargazing, and an interesting debate about bats.