In Anacapri and Capri

I was meant to write a post on Capri but completely forgot.

So, just a few tips of things I remember.

Take a fast boat from Positano in the morning (there are plenty of boats in the Pier but do check schedules just in case). The boat is not a pleasant journey, and will be full of tourist eating sandwiches, being noisy, italians shouting at each other with their hand gestures and weird expressions that make me feel at home, in my case, but we managed to survive listening to music, and trying to meditate our "OMMM" (joke).

Once you arrive to Capri's pier you will not be in the well-known expensive area of the island, but probably on Marina Grande, which is not completely ugly, but is still not where you want to stay. So, again, go rent yourself a motorcycle. Now, if you are stuck with a girlfriend/boyfriend who carried a suitcase, or you yourself did, then I would suggest take a taxi to Anacapri and head to a one of the lovely hotels with swimming pools and tropical surroundings, and then get yourself a motorcycle there! Don't stay in Capri. It's foolishly expensive and full of rich wannabes and showoffs, and Anacapri I thought was a nicer place to stay.

Now, if you stay, as I recommend, in Anacapri you will be quite close to the Gruta Assura (Blue Grotto) and I definitely recommend you visit it. I thought it was an amazing experience, unforgettable, surreal and scary all at once, so it's on a special list.  As the adventurous couple we thought we were,  we decided to do it on our own, without paying the little man in the boat, so that means heading for the Grotto after 5 pm, when he is gone, and when the waves crash against the entrance and you feel you are going to drown inside. My boyfriend almost had a near to death experience, or so he claimed when in actual truth he just got scared and had to swim out as soon as he got in, hyperventilating as he also claims. Inside the cave, however, once you face the initial fear, it's as amazing as one could expect, almost as if UFOs have built Atlantis beneath and the blue/green, magical lights that are reflecting from beneath come from this ethereal city.

Another place to visit would be Marina Piccola. In essence the place is beautiful, with white sandy beach, pebbles as well, rocks to jump off, the whole lot of accessories a beach can have. The only problem is the people. Full of them, swimming around, shouting, jumping. There is probably a good time to go there and avoid the crowds but, we were not that fortunate.

So that's all folks. Can't remember restaurant names or our hotel, which by the way was cheap and again 'beautiful....'.

Amalfi Coast

Sooo...the romantic getaway. The Amalfi Coast is as beautiful as one should expect. All set within rocky cliffs, the beauty lies within the small stairs within mounted houses inside of rocks, green blue see, amazing hotels and of course italian food...and friendly italians.

There are beaches, pebble beaches, but it's just the same hiring an amazing sunbed on the deck of a small flat rock and spending all day jumping into the water and getting back in the bit of shade the italian sunbeds provide (a complete discovery, see picture) and read a summer book.

The best place to stay: Praiano - at Rino's place on top of Il Pirata restaurant which we got through airbnb.com

The best restaurant - so many that you can't just name one. We thought Il Pirata was amazing. Not only because Rino and his family are the friendliest people we've met but also because the food, setting, light, decoration, closeness to the sea makes it PERFECT. A bit pricey perhaps for us thirty-something who have not yet made their wealth cause we refuse to be successfull bankers, but pursue our happiness out of enjoying life. But still, affordable (25-30 euro per person)

Other restaurants we heard were good: Il Pino, in Praiano. Update: We actually went to try it as they had a pick up service. Food was really good but they were needing a nicer decor stylist to come in pronto to do something about the poor choice of lightning and furniture). A restaurant in the beach of Fiordo di Furore for lunch and if you take your time to read trip advisor there are so many others.

To dance: Africana night bar lounge. Not my style but very italian slick style and open till 5 am. Entry: 20 euros with one drink included. Its a short walk from Rino's place but people come from all over, but check if its open if its not high season.

TIPS:
Please do the following:
- Don't be a pussy and rent a motorcycle. There is a rental in the main road of praiano and I think is the cheapest. 45 Euros per day.
- Go to La Gavitella Beach (there are free boats that take you from Praiano ( Rino's part of praiano, and Positano) and if not you can always walk down from the church in Praiano and follow the signs.
- Go to Ravello by bike and try to sneak inside the Hotel Cimbrone to see the breathtaking views of both sides of Ravello and fairy tale gardens (you can pay if not but its more fun to crash). If not any of the many 5 star hotels in Ravello have amazing views so you can try them all.
- If you are a fan of Lemoncello Ravello is the place to buy or anywhere in the Amalfi coast really.
- Go with a boyfriend/girlfriend.
- If you are in search for beaches go to Capri. The best place to be in the sunset in the Amalfi Coast is Praiano. Positano is in the shade as of 5 pm.

FIVE WAYS TO DISCRIBE EACH PLACE WE VISITED:

AMALFI: Touristy, busy, pretty-ish, semi good sea area, beach full of boats, not romantic
RAVELLO: quiet, mountain, views, culture, a place to go and write a book.
PRAIANO: Quiet, romantic, no tourists, less expensive, more sun in the afternoons, especially in Gavitella Beach.
POSITANO: Romantic, expensive, breautiful.
CAPRI: It's in another blog entry.