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For the wanderers

Posturing in Positano…

Dicky, Fifi, Ducky and Bella catch the ferry to the Isle of Capri while Pixi makes up for lost time in the hotel she plans to one day perform her nuptials, so enthralled is she. Snuggling into a luxuriously deep, leather clad lounge, Pixi struggles to find focus –  a magnificent view, 100s of intriguing coffee table books, a blog post demanding script…it’s all too much. Windy, overcast and chilly outside she settles into her perfect version of the ‘happy place’.

Later a wander through the quaint little Sorento streets with a scoop of cherry ice-cream that could quite simply be the most delightfully creamy ice-cream ever experien20110518-104113.jpgced…or maybe that’s the atmosphere?

The Capri party return and we drive down the Amalfi Coast cliff side to Positano then walk down, down, down to the shore, perusing the little stores along the way and finding special little gifts for loved ones. We settle for Pizza back home, simply because we want to marvel at and absorb this exquisite hotel while we can…

And then we learn that Pierce Brosnan was in the same restaurant we went to the night before…Donna feels woozy…he’s her idol…

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La Minervetta is a spectacular hotel…very modern, eclectic, kitch but in an elegant way…and featured in the top hotels of the world in the Mediterranean region with a price tag to match. Vesuvius must keep her hat on and earthquakes stay in Spain while we’re here for this cliff side dwelling business leaves little shaking margin. But how absolutely breathtaking is the view! Pixi’s goldfish moments result in over 70 photos of the exact same breathtaking view.  La Minervetta photo gallery now open:

La Minervetta
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Marveling at Pompeii, Sorrento…and La Minervetta…

Photos and documentaries abound, but it’s our lovely guide Luchia’s wealth of information that brings Pompeii to life. Hard to believe it was decimated in AD79 and not rediscovered until 1594, even more incredible, the ingenuity that went into the building of and livelihood within the city, so many centuries ago. The Romans, with a little borrowing from the Greeks, were indeed ingenious architects and designers as well as great philosophers, artists and business men.20110518-101138.jpg

After marveling at the remains and feeling sad for the agony the residents endured when Vesuvius erupted (still one of the most active volcanos having exploded 37 times since) we make our way along the Amalfi coast to our Sorrento  accommodation.

20110518-101157.jpgJust one problem…La Minervetta has the dates wrong. Much drama later and despite efforts to placate, we find they can only accommodate two of our three parties tonight for, in their books, we aren’t due to arrive until tomorrow.

Pixie takes one for the team and goes to a dodgy hotel up the road, sulks awhile then, determined not to let this affect her holiday, joins the team, indulges in a group hug and a few large swigs of Moet then joins her buddies in the 300 step descent down the cliffside to a restaurant on the shoreline where more Champers provides a gentle dulling of the senses. Suddenly the drama doesn’t seem quite so bad after all…until we realize what that return journey involves…

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When in Rome…

Roman traffic is absolute maniacal mayhem! Double parking a given, smart cars parked in the most impressive places, two to a single space, tail in. Zero road lines, everyone jostling for supremacy in an effort to beat each other across the multiple four lane intersections. Exercising a great deal of bravado we hit the road out in peak hour as Dicky exercises the ‘when in Rome’ and for our efforts learn the most impressive ‘sign language’.

Ruins RomeSpectacularly historic city, recycled and built on top of itself over and over thus jam packed with cars simply because attempts to build underground carparks and train lines results in even more ancient archaeological finds…easier to cover it over and try again elsewhere.

20110515-043819.jpgA good portion of the women are over bronzed, fond of lipliner, sport bleached hair, excess bling and don’t appear to age well. The guys? Not too bad. Fifi loves the city, Dicky says it’s ok but full of ‘wogs’…bless! Ducky and Donna enjoy but we suspect the former is still smarting from the vegetarian restaurant…

As we progress down the coast, quickly realize Rome traffic was quite civilized compared to Naples…a grunge tinted city, at least in the ‘burbs for the GPS loves the back gritty streets. Definitely not the streets for the faint of heart. Next – Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.

A few group memories:

20110518-100339.jpgLeft to right: Donna, Ross, Jenny, Kim on the Spanish Steps

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