Amalfi

Arrived by taxi from Positano to our hotel which is a converted Monastery, built on the top of a hill overlooking Amalfi. The taxi driver was very pleasant and agrees with us that the super sweet conman robbed us from Amalfi. As a proud Positanan, he assured us that taxi drivers from Alalfi are "thieves"! The roads are so narrow and very busy; only cars and small trucks are allowed on the roads. He was telling us this as there was a camper van parked on the side of the road. When the police stop them (campervans), they will have to make a 3-hour detour to get to Amalfi. Just because the poor people missed the sign saying no camper vans etc!

What else did we learn in the 30-minute journey;

• You can drive a scooter at 14 years of age. It is speed-limited but still saves a lot of time. The driver lives in Positano and the high school was in Amalfi. Before he could legally drive a scooter, it would take him an hour to get to school by bus, with all the stops. 15 mins by scooter.

• The supermarkets, butcher shop, and pescatoria all deliver your groceries. They use 14 year olds to climb the many stairs. The driver used to do this job and he would climb more than 6000 steps in a day.

• Taxi drivers in Amalfi are criminals

• Furore Fjord is only good for taking photos of, not a great beach.

• The doctors in Sorrento can tell a person from Positano by the state of their bones, very worn from all the stairs.

• Positano salaries are the highest on the Amalfi coast, works will drive the 30 min trip from Amalfi to Positano each day to work.

• The Amalfi coast shuts down from October to March, especially Positano.

When we arrived at our hotel, they ring the bell to mark your arrival at the Monastery.

The introduction is very well done, we are told about the monastery, then invited to stand on this balcony where we are given a cool towel scented with rose water and a home made lemonade, made from the home grown Amalfi Lemons.

Our room is not ready, but Pat's is. So we get the tour of the hotel and are shown to her room. Today, the converted monastery contains 20 rooms and suites, each with a spellbinding sea view stretching from the Conca dei Marini fishing harbor below to Amalfi and beyond. The rooms preserve the history of the convent/monastery and are the original Nuns rooms. The spiritual enchantment of the transformed monastery remains ever present with each of the rooms named for a herb or plant that the nuns would have used in making their products from the Monastero Santa Rosa garden.

The rooms are small compared to the ones we have had of late, but they have amazing views and are very well equipped with touches like - a gift of a beach bag, a complimentary mini-bar, rugs, kimonos, champagne, welcome tarts (taste like marzipan yuk) and my favourite a wall panel of all types of USBs and plugs. Your UK plug works here.

The beds are pretty tall and Pat may need a step to reach hers.

We have some time to waste before our room is ready so off we go to explore, use the fabulous looking pool and stroll in the gardens, Here are some pictures below.

Words cannot describe how beautiful it is as I sit at the pool, having just been delivered a few slices of fresh watermelon. I am looking over the infinity pool across the deep blue Tyrrhenian Sea across to the distant beaches and hills of San Marco.

The hotel has a shuttle bus when you require it, so we took a trip into Amalfi for dinner. Not before a frantic search for Pat's room key. Her handbag can only fit a post card in it, but somehow, she managed to lose her room key. Found it - what a relief.

Amalfi is not as chic as Capri, but it has more space than Positano and the Passagiatta happens. We sat in the square just below the Amalfi Cathedral. where there was some sort of Catholic celebration and they carried this statue of Mary through the town centre and streets. There were two proposals of marriage, you ask how on earth would I know this? Well because the whole town claps when it happens.

Back to the hotel by shuttle bus and a good nights sleep.

The turn down service is quite sweet. Our little plush (they are the softest) slippers by our beds, with a glass and water, gentle sleeping music on the telly.

John and I then explored the gardens, a quick practice of Bocce. The terracing of the hotel is done really well with alcoves created and benches with shade options, a place for everyone. Below are some photos from our stroll.

Then we posed for a few photos of the exceptional pool and view. This pool is supposed to be the best in all of Italy, I have to admit - I hate those claims - but I cannot see anything beating this. Every time you look up there is something different to feast your eyes on.

Then disaster struck! Pat wanted to lounge and read after breakfast, whilst we toured the gardens, we would call her when we wanted to play Bocce. But at 12:30pm we haven't seen Pat, so John goes to see if she wants to join us for lunch. And then, I have cut and paste Johns account of the ensuing events from the family chat on WhatsApp.

"Just lost Pat! Up & down 50 steep steps, 3 floors, multiple terraces, knocked on her door, called her room- absolutely nothing! Went back down, Re-checking all the terraces in case she’d be in the toilet when I first looked. Again, nothing. Shaz now joins the search & we cross-cross, searching the terraces again. Still no sign of her, until we check the only place we haven’t checked so far; the spa. True enough, we’re told that “Mrs. Thompson is having a manicure”! That was 45 minutes ago & we still haven’t seen her, so stay posted."

"Update- it got to 2.45 & we hadn’t seen her since about 10.00, so I did start to worry. Time for another search. Back to the spa (up the 50 steps), no, she left more than an hour ago. Back to her room, & she’s not there either. Now I’m properly worried 😧. Surely she hasn’t taken the shuttle bus 🚌 into town on her own? I check with reception & no she hasn’t. My question has obviously got the staff concerned- they are probably thinking about the negative publicity if an elderly lady goes “missing” in their care. So now we have a full on search party out looking for her. A few minutes later she’s been found in the spa garden terrace, that Shaz had previously checked. Anyway, she’s unconcerned, & we’re relieved, so all’s well that ends well. 😌"

Poor John, he was so worried. Re-united with Patty - we venture out to the town of Conca dei Marini and the Ristorante Le Bontà del Capo which had been recommended to us by one of the guests. It was a gentle 900m down hill with a promised lift back up the hill.

Bed or TV for Pat, she is very keen to watch the news of the Queens passing. John and I went to the sunset terrace to watch the harvest moon rise. What a glorious night and end to our stay here at Monastero Santa Rosa. Breakfast and a game of Boules then transfer to Ravello.

Probably the best hotel I have ever stayed in.