Wednesday, June 11, 2008

First Stop: Naples, Italy

I'm going to begin telling you a bit about the trip.....I was gone for so many days and so many things happened that I will probably get some things out of order, and I may even repeat myself a lot a little. So I will just apologize to all of you ahead of time for any confusion or repetition that may take place in the upcoming posts. (Especially to Kenny, who I know falls asleep from time to time while reading this blog.) :)

I thought I would start out by showing you the cruise ship that we were on. Melissa took my picture in front of it so we could show everyone. It was called the Carnival Freedom. The Carnival Freedom was absolutely the most wonderful cruise ship that I have ever seen.....I do realize that it is the only one that I have ever seen, but you will just have to trust me when I tell you that I am certain it is the most wonderful.

I'm just saying is all.



Our first port of call was Naples, Italy. (Hi, Aleisha!) This is a picture of Melissa and I getting off of the most wonderful cruise ship. (I should probably also mention and apologize that Melissa and I took our pictures doing absolutely everything; we just wanted to share the experience with everyone is all. Trust me though.....you will love most all of the pictures.)



We basically just drove through Naples (I will tell you about the driving conditions here in a future post) and then on to Sorrento and Positano to be able to see the Amalfi Coast. This picture is me standing in front of Mt. Vesuvius; it was so beautiful. Mt. Vesuvius you may or may not know is the volcano that erupted and destroyed the ancient city of Pompeii in AD 79 (I believe). It's definitely worth looking up if you are not familiar with it.



These next two pictures were taken along the Amalfi Coast. My camera, of course, does not do this place any justice, so once again, you will just have to trust me when I tell you, "This place is breathtaking!"





The rest of the pictures that I am showing you today were taken in Positano. If you have seen the movie Under the Tuscan Sun, Positano is where Diane Lane goes with the first man that she meets and has a romance with. (Just so you know, I am full of all kinds of perfectly useless information like that. It's a gift.)

Positano is as charming as it is beautiful.
Everywhere you look is an amazing view like this one.



And I have never seen so many different types of flowers and trees in my life. All types and all colors.



We were told that all of the houses like the ones you see on the side of the mountain, you have to walk up steps to get to. The people who live in them have to park their cars on the side of the road (like I said earlier, I will talk about the driving conditions here in a future post) and walk up however many steps to get to their homes......Please understand.....It is a lot of steps.



After looking around and shopping in Positano (I'll tell you about that later too) our tour guide drove us all the way to the top of the mountain to have lunch at a local family restaurant. The name of the restaurant is painted on the plate in the next picture.....Imagine a really attractive Italian man pronouncing it for you......Sigh



This restaurant was like something right out of a movie. Nestled at the top of a mountain with an amazing view, full of very attractive Italian men, and more food than you could even imagine. And the whole place was filled with the aroma of fresh baked bread and rich tomato sauces...mmmmmmm! Each dish that was brought to our table was better than the one before; and after stuffing ourselves full......they brought out platters of desserts. It was overwhelming and wonderful.

After stuffing myself to the point of popping, I had to visit the "ladies room." Kenny and Yvette , this last picture is for you. I walked into the bathroom only to see this little picture window opened and overlooking this......



.... a bathroom with a view......only in Italy.:)

17 comments:

Paula V said...

Wow. Beautiful. Hey, repetition is fine with me...my case of gingko biloba hasn't arrived so I'm down with repetition for this failing 34 yr old memory! HA!

Okay, so tell us please, HOW in the world would a person carry their groceries to their house. The milk would spoil by the time they got up ALL those steps. How were the houses ever filled with furniture in the beginning? I can just see carrying a huge armoir or bed or couch and the people and furniture go tumbling down the hill and into the ocean.

You are so full of knowledge it amazes me.

Thanks for all the pics. They indeed are breathtaking. And yet some folks say there isn't a god. Only God could create nature this beautiful. Only God could create man with the intelligence and knowledge to build structures and houses in such ways.

You mentioned flowers...I would've probably been so struck by the flowers I would've missed the water and mountains....ya know I loooooovvvveee flowers, can ya tell from my blog? haha

Glad you are back.

Luv2U,
Paula

Hula Girl at Heart said...

Oh, to have that view when I look out my bathroom window! Love the coastal pictures. It makes me want to pack a suitcase, right now.

My Blessings From Above said...

Beautiful! I love all the pictures. The costal pictures are just beautiful!

Gina said...

I absoluely LOVE Italy!!! The food is amazing and the scenary is spectacular. The Amalfi Coast has to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. I'm glad you got to see it. :)

Gina

Mia said...

Gorgeous,breathtaking scenery
Gorgeous Italian men who bring you plates of delicious food
Gorgeous views even from the toliet
BUT...there's no place like home!!!

This is going to be so fun reliving your adventures with you.
"Just so you know I am full of all kinds of useless information, its a gift"
You have a gift alright girl but its def. NOT useless : )

sa061545@bellsouth.net said...

Baby girl, knowing how your body is feeling right now with a kidney infection, etc., I don't see how you felt like posting today but this was absolutely BREATHTAKING!!!! I'm so thrilled that you got to see such beauty!!! Like Paula, said, only GOD could create such beauty!!
I LOVE YOU AND I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HOME SAFE!! Can't wait for the next edition!!!
Love, Mom :)

Tina said...

Amazing!! Your pictures are great! You did a great job documenting everything...and that's just day one!! Whew!! I hope you took notes! :)

Love it! Hope to go someday!

The Laundress said...

Yay!!!!

Gorgeous.

Welcome home.

Tracey said...

What a great post! I am expecting you to keep this up all summer so that we all feel like we are spending our vacations on your amazing trip...since you were very rude in not taking all of us. I can't wait to read more.

Denise said...

Wow! I want more.
Denise

Tricia said...

mmmmmmm.....ahhhhhh.....oooohhhh....those are the sounds I uddered while reading your post!!!Look forward to more wonderful pics!!
Kidney infection!!! Yikes....You best get some rest!!Sorry to hear/read that!

Aleisha said...

Welcome to my home. These views are on every corner. You should have driven down to Geatea and on to Rome. Wow, we still have not full made it to Rome. We always get side tracked by all the little villages on the way. The flowers are amazing and the trees, we want to take them home. My hubby loves the Umberella tree's. They are AWESOME!! You can actually hike the volcano. Also, go through the town that was covered in lava. They dug it out and it's perfectly preserved. To much to see and do over here. =o)

Anonymous said...

WOW! Everything is so beautiful! That ship is HUGE!!! You look like an ant. ha!!

I'm going to live vivasiosly through you as you post about your trip [sigh].

Okay, I'm totally laughing about the bathroom picture (what a view!)and of course, I'm wondering if that was the view from your stall?? If so, I'm not sure I could have actually 'used' the bathroom in there for fear that someone might have seen me. LOL!

I'm so glad you're back...can't wait to hear more!

Kelley said...

OHHH what an amazingly beautiful place! I love seeing all of these pictures and hearing your info about each place. Thank you for being so kind as to share this experience to those of us who have no life!!LOL

I am glad you made it home safely....
Love,
Kelley

Kelly said...

So, so very beautiful!
I'm going to save your blog about your trip. I want to go to Italy and have asked my hubby if we can do so in a year or so for our 15th anniversary.
Thanks for sharing!

Jamie said...

WOW!!! So beautiful!

Lelia Chealey said...

Breathtaking Amy, I don't see how you left it. The stairs though...that would get old having to walk up to my house all the time. My legs would be in shape though. :)
Thanks for the beautiful pictures!