Amalfi Coast Boat Trip

August 18, 2016

Today I'm sharing Sophie and I's photos from our boat trip down the Amalfi coast! After a little confusion about our pick up location, we found our driver and headed down to the Marina. We boarded our tour boat and headed towards Positano. Once we arrived we had a few hours to get some lunch and wander through the town. Positano is a pretty charming place, and somewhere I can picture spending a few days relaxing. We spent our limited time shopping and taking pictures by the beach!

Letters Are Lovely | Amalfi Coast Boat Trip

After our time in Positano we got back on the boat and headed to Amalfi. We were able to view the town from the boat and then we stopped for a swim. It was extremely hot so jumping in the water was a welcome break from the heat! Afterward our boat headed back to Sorrento at a very leisurely pace. We stopped a few other times to swim and enjoy the sun. Our views from the boat were pretty unforgettable. Luckily Sophie and I had one more day to explore the Amalfi coast, so tomorrow I will recap our bus tour to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello! Ciao until tomorrow!

Pompeii

August 17, 2016

Day 12 of Sophie and I's Italian adventure led us to Pompeii! I was lucky to visit Pompeii when I studied abroad in college, but it was just as impressive a second time. We woke up early and ate breakfast at our hotel before being picked up by our bus driver. We choose to book a day trip through Viator which included transportation and a guided tour of the site. While walking through the city we saw stores with takeaway areas for food, homes, a public bathhouse and the town center. My favorite part of the tour was the inside of the bathhouse where the colorful ceiling remains and really gives a glimpse into how impressive life in Pompeii was. We also would have loved to tour Herculaneum (a separate site near Pompeii), but will have to wait until next time!

During our visit there was a traveling exhibit by Igor Mitoraj placed throughout the site. While the artwork wasn't originally created for Pompeii, I really enjoyed seeing the pieces as we walked along our tour. I would highly recommend visiting Pompeii if you find yourself near Mount Vesuvius! It was extremely hot during our visit, but we enjoyed a lemon slush at the end of our tour to cool off. After our tour we were exhausted from the heat and constant traveling and choose to relax at our hotel for a few hours before dinner. Next up, Amalfi and Positano!

Capri, Italy

August 16, 2016

Hello, friends! Today I'm looking back at our day in Capri. After Cinque Terre Sophie and I took the train to Sorrento and it was quite the journey. We had to stop in La Spezia, Rome, Naples and then board another train all before arriving. Sorrento became our home for the next few days as we took day trips to several different places along the Amalfi Coast. I'm not sure what I was expecting Capri to be like, but it was just stunning. These pictures can barely capture just how beautiful it was, and we were seriously unprepared when we arrived. For the beauty, and for the beach, since we didn't pack our swimsuits that day. This was probably our biggest mistake of the entire trip, which was solved by buying new suits on the island...

Before arriving our main plan was to try and see the Blue Grotto if it was open, which luckily it was! When we stepped off the ferry it was difficult to choose which vendor to use to actually get to the grotto. In the end we rented a private boat for a few hours. While definitely a spurge, this was by far the best way to see the island and one of the most memorable parts of our entire trip! Our driver not only got us into the grotto (which is AMAZING if you have a chance to go in), but he also made sure to take us by all the other famous spots around the island (including the Green Grotto and the Faraglioni rocks). He was very knowledgable about the island, and knew all the perfect places to stop (our favorite was snorkeling in the caves)!

After our boat tour we took the bus to Anicapri for lunch and to ride the chairlift. If you aren't scared of heights this the perfect way to see the island. I got little nervous, especially going down, but the views were worth it. There is also a cafe at the top where you can stop for a drink or gelato before hiking or riding the lift back down. We were only in Capri for the day, so after the lift we had to head back to the harbor to catch our ferry back to Sorrento. This was a day I will never forge. It was a day that made me feel small in the best way possible, sometimes nature is breathtaking. Until tomorrow, enjoy!

Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre

August 15, 2016

Happy Monday! I can't believe I am already recapping our last day in Cinque Terre which we spent in Monterosso. This was one of the more relaxing days of our trip, mostly spent at the beach. I truly felt like I had stepped into a Gray Malin photograph as we camped out under a colorful umbrella.

Letters Are Lovely | Monterosso al Mare, Cinque Terre

For lunch we stopped into a beachside cafe and then enjoyed pizza, watermelon and cantaloupe back under our umbrella. In the late afternoon we decided it was time to do some exploring, so we left the beach, ate some gelato, and enjoyed the town. When we arrived Monterosso didn't seem very big, but when we walked around I realized it was much larger than I realized! There are even two different beaches, both of which were filled with tourists enjoying the sun. That evening we headed back to Manarola and enjoyed one last dinner at Trattoria dal Billy, which was recommended to us as one of the best restaurants in town. Cinque Terre was even dreamier than I imagined and Sophie and I are so lucky to have spent a few days among the all the colorful buildings. Next up, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast!

Vernazza, Cinque Terre

August 12, 2016

Yesterday I shared Sophie and I's photos from Riomaggiorie, and today you are getting a peek into our time in Vernazza! It just took a short train ride to travel between the two towns. You can also take a ferry between, but we opted for the day train pass which gives you unlimited train trips between the five towns. When we arrived in Vernazza we were greeted by large crowds shopping and exploring the town. After peeking in a few stores we got (amazing lemon) gelato and then walked towards the water.

Letters Are Lovely | Vernazza, Cinque Terre

Vernazza has a beach so many people were swimming or eating at the seaside restaurants. We walked all around the big clock tower and then hopped back on the train to Manarola. I know that I will never forget exploring these two towns, Cinque Terre definitely lived up to my expectations! I hope you have a happy weekend, maybe spent on a travel adventure of your own. Monday we will be in Monterosso!

Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre

August 11, 2016

Ciao! Our second day in Cinque Terre was spent exploring a few different towns. We began in Riomaggiore and it was magical. Sophie and I got up early and took the train just a few minutes to the first town of the Cinque Terre. Our first stop was breakfast, and we were lucky to find some delicious apricot croissants at a small cafe. Afterwards we wandered through the town, heading up as we went. The cloudy weather was a welcome break from the sun and made for some really beautiful pictures.

Letters Are Lovely | Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre

This region of Italy is known for their Lemons, and Sophie and I bought some lemon soap to take home as gifts. Soon we made it to the top of the town and the view was amazing. I highly recommend making the trek up in Riomaggiore, it gives you a peek into the lives of the residents and time to notice all the colorful details of the town. On our walk down to the beach we stopped at the Mamma Mia restaurant and got fish and chips to go. The lower part of the town has huge rocks where many people sit and enjoy the ocean.