Jason is embracing the Italian language, essentially if you put and E or O sound at the end he thinks its Italian, ha, ha. The funniest is all words must be food. The local police here are called Carabinieri but Jason now refers to them as the Cabonara! The same is true when looking for Ravello, it has now been renamed to Ravioli. What must the locals think? Actually they have been quite patient if not friendly.

I made Jason get up super early so we could watch the sunrise and the sail into Amalfi. Plus I was really sore so needed to share the misery.

The sunrise was stunning, truly magical. Amalfi is as beautiful as everyone has said. The cliffs are really daunting and the way the buildings perch on the edge of the cliffs, you have to wonder why they built there.

The size of the city and the population is very small, apparently this is because the rest of the city simply slid into the sea. Looking around it is easy to believe.

Every port a local comes on board to hand out maps and advice. This port was no different. Our guide advised us that if we wanted a walk we should go to Ravello, it is beautiful, not so busy and the walk will get our hearts racing.

Before departing it was back to the medical centre where they bandaged up my cuts and put my poor finger in a splint.

Our morning tour was to the emerald grotto. A cave that was discovered by a local fisherman in 1932. The way the water reflects into the cave, from an underwater entry, reflects an emerald green. The cave I also filled with stalagmites and stalactites.

As we could not dock at the port, the boat is too big we had “tenders” taking us to and from shore. Very cool, they also double as life boats, I don’t think I would like to spend too much time in one, they are a wee bit rocky and rolly. There would be vomit ha, ha.

From the tender were transferred onto a boat that would tour around the coast and take us to the cave. On this boat was one of the most unpleasant people I have met on this trip. Older man, loudly complaining that he should have gotten a seat up top and they were all taken, and it was so rude, then he started on the tour guide.

I went down and gave up my seat. Anything to shut the old bastard up. Secretly hoping he would fall in the water. Alas, that did not happen.

The grotto took about 45 minutes, the majority of which was spent lining up, getting into the boat and getting out of the boat. All the same it was beautiful and we enjoyed the experience. The colours were truly magical and the water so clear.

Back to Amalfi. MADNESS. The crowds of people on the streets, the scooters, and the cars all on this narrow lane made it exciting to say the least. We opted out and decided to walk to Ravello.

Well, somehow we got lost and managed to turn a 2 km walk into a 7 km walk that we did not want to, and were advised not to do. The lovely local man told us to take the bus. So we did, and that was quite the experience. It teetered over the cliffs, whipped around corners, and beeped the horn with true zealous enthusiasm. Enough to make you nervous, but what the hell.

No wonder the chap said not to walk the road, there is no bloody room! Scooters, trucks, buses, cars, bikes, all battling for this one narrow, windy, and scary road. You have to love Italy!

We finally made it to Ravello and it was worth it. The views were stunning and it was so quite compared to Amalfi.

Jason found us a great pizzeria, Mimi’s, and we enjoyed pizza, wine, beer, and a rest. Best pizza we have had by far. OMG the flavours.

We found the track back and walked to Amalfi. About halfway down the 10000 steps I realised how thrilled I was that we didn’t find the path and walk up. Ha, ha.

Back in Amalfi you are hit with the chaos immediately. We walked around for another hour before deciding that the quiet of our boat and room was calling us.

No gym today, just wine!

We did, however, have one of the most interesting dinner experiences.

We had a shared table with three other couples, two from USA, and one from Canada. As we drank wine and got to know each other, it became quite apparent that one of the guests at the table would fit in very well in Sicily!

He is in his late 80s, not that you could tell, and had quite the varied life. When we asked what he used to do in Philly, he said “I worked in the railway business… I owned it”. So think 30-40 years ago, domination of the railway, you had your finger in all pies. He sounded just like Christopher Walken (whom he knows personally WTAF), and when he left the table (with his new wife – another story there) we all just looked at each other in awe.

I looked at the other couples and said “am I jumping to conclusions here or…” and they all nodded. Mafia.

How freaking awesome is that. Harvey. I liked him, he made me laugh! But he had a manner about him – would love to hear some of his stories.

To top it off they were both avid Trump supporters and very vocal about it. Everyone at the dinner table were very polite. We said nothing.

Tomorrow, Rome.