On the way home we detoured into Marina Grande for a late afternoon snack of pizza and wine at quay side restaurant . We wound our way back to Casa Astarita via a winding alley.
Ciao!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Punta del Capo and Marina Grande
Domenica, a day of rest. Sorrento is festive today, all the children are in costumes and there are special children's events around town. We walked out to the point 3 km west of town to the site of the ruins of a 1st century roman noble Pollio Felice. Locals were fishing off the point and it was a lovely sunny day. It was interesting to see olive groves growing on a terrace supported by 16th century fortifications which are in turn built on 1st century Roman ruins.
On the way home we detoured into Marina Grande for a late afternoon snack of pizza and wine at quay side restaurant . We wound our way back to Casa Astarita via a winding alley.
Ciao!
On the way home we detoured into Marina Grande for a late afternoon snack of pizza and wine at quay side restaurant . We wound our way back to Casa Astarita via a winding alley.
Ciao!
Sunny?! Capri
Ah well! A steep and wet place with not much open. If we had not brought our own provisions we might have suffered like some of the locals. Despite the sometimes torrential rain it is a lovely place. Well worth the hydrofoil ride on gale force winds to see the little buses on the seemingly overhanging roads!
Ciao!
Ciao!
Monday, February 11, 2013
Shower in Amalfi
To get to Amalfi from Sorrento, one takes a bus over the crest of the Sorrento Peninsula. The road is mostly carved out of steep cliffs and passes through small towns that are perched above small coves on the Mediterranean Sea. Fortunately the bus drivers are skilled at the dance between other vehicles and pedestrians.
Almalfi is as spectacular and lovely as the the guide books say. This time of year there seems to be many more locals than tourists. After lunch we started up the roads, steps, and foot paths to Valle di Molinos. It started raining, hailing, and lightning so we took shelter under the doorway to the ruins of the aquaduct. After the rain tapered off we retreated back to Amalfi and explored the the stairways and passages of the neighborhood between Almalfi and Atrani, the next town to the south.
We watched a spectacular sunset on the Mediterranean during the bus ride back to Sorrento.
Ciao!
Almalfi is as spectacular and lovely as the the guide books say. This time of year there seems to be many more locals than tourists. After lunch we started up the roads, steps, and foot paths to Valle di Molinos. It started raining, hailing, and lightning so we took shelter under the doorway to the ruins of the aquaduct. After the rain tapered off we retreated back to Amalfi and explored the the stairways and passages of the neighborhood between Almalfi and Atrani, the next town to the south.
We watched a spectacular sunset on the Mediterranean during the bus ride back to Sorrento.
Ciao!
Massa Lubrense -- Perfecto!
The Sorrentine Peninsula is a rugged ridge of limestone that protrudes from the shin of the boot of Italy. The north side of the peninsula fronts the Bay of Naples and the south side is the northern part of the Amalfi coast.
The less precipitous parts of the peninsula are covered in citrus and olive groves, with a few scattered houses and towns. This was the setting for our walk today from Sorrento to Masa Lubrense. We had pleasant sunny weather on the part to Masa, mostly on cobblestone-paved cart-tracks flanked by stone retaining walls and orchards. The last bit of road was well traveled and required us to hug the building walls while small European cars went past.
After some discussion of our options at Masa, we ate the most delightful lunch while a spectacular squall blew through. Perfecto!
We took an entirely different path home, which required some narrower trails with some slippery steep sections and arrived home (Sorrento) feeling enchanted.
Ciao !
The less precipitous parts of the peninsula are covered in citrus and olive groves, with a few scattered houses and towns. This was the setting for our walk today from Sorrento to Masa Lubrense. We had pleasant sunny weather on the part to Masa, mostly on cobblestone-paved cart-tracks flanked by stone retaining walls and orchards. The last bit of road was well traveled and required us to hug the building walls while small European cars went past.
After some discussion of our options at Masa, we ate the most delightful lunch while a spectacular squall blew through. Perfecto!
We took an entirely different path home, which required some narrower trails with some slippery steep sections and arrived home (Sorrento) feeling enchanted.
Ciao !
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Fiumicino more than an airport!
After long flights we arrived at the Rome - Fiumicino airport. After a lunch and checking into a room, we saw sailboat masts a couple of blocks away, so of course we had to go look.
Fiumicino, as it turns out is a fishing port at the mouth of the Tiber River. There are all sorts of work boats and pleasure craft along the river. There is a substantial dike, which is important because the entire town looks like it is at sea and river level.
There was a lot of activity as the local fishing fleet was coming in and selling their catch to wholesale and the public. Each boat had shell fish, eels, sea bass, sardines, shrimp and rays separated into trays. It was pleasant to stroll thru the commerce of locals under sunny blue skies.
There was a glitch in our planned lodging, but ended up at a much nicer place with a perfect restaurant across the street.
the next day: to Sorrento via Roma and Napoli!
Fiumicino, as it turns out is a fishing port at the mouth of the Tiber River. There are all sorts of work boats and pleasure craft along the river. There is a substantial dike, which is important because the entire town looks like it is at sea and river level.
There was a lot of activity as the local fishing fleet was coming in and selling their catch to wholesale and the public. Each boat had shell fish, eels, sea bass, sardines, shrimp and rays separated into trays. It was pleasant to stroll thru the commerce of locals under sunny blue skies.
There was a glitch in our planned lodging, but ended up at a much nicer place with a perfect restaurant across the street.
the next day: to Sorrento via Roma and Napoli!
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Nice Breeze, no sails
A rather nice day, chilly, nice 10 kt northwesterly breeze, low slack tide, sun breaking through the clouds. Oh how I'd love to be out on a boat. But, nary a sail in sight looking northward up Dalco Passage from Owens Beach. I love seeing the water, the pungent smell of the shore at low tide, and the mewing gulls....especially when it is -40F at home.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Ester Dome Singletrack
Finally, made it up the hill to the trails. Geoff Orth Joel Buth and crew have done a tremendous job on putting these trails (old map just showing the inner loop) in.
I managed to only do part of the outer loop and and returned via the high side of the inner loop. For this klutz there was plenty of challenge and the ol' heart rate monitor was singing like a chickadee in April. The smoke and haze from the fires near Healy occluded the view of the Alaska Range, but I could tell there are plenty of viewpoints to pause and catch a breath.
I managed to only do part of the outer loop and and returned via the high side of the inner loop. For this klutz there was plenty of challenge and the ol' heart rate monitor was singing like a chickadee in April. The smoke and haze from the fires near Healy occluded the view of the Alaska Range, but I could tell there are plenty of viewpoints to pause and catch a breath.
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