Positano

Wow, wow, wow. I am going to be quite controversial here. Positano has lived up to all expectations I had, and I had high expectations. BUT, I am puzzled at why and how this became such a revered tourist destination. What a hard and determined life the people of Positano have, the arduous journey of getting to and from work, lack of parking and space altogether. The many many steps that they have to climb and descend each day is truly remarkable.

We took the ferry from Capri to Amalfi via Positano, the skies were black and it rained most of the ferry trip across. John had researched and checked with the hotel staff about actually getting to the hotel. No Taxi's at the port and we would have to walk up 300 steps, which of course we couldn't expect Pat to do. We now find out that there is a Porter service to a road, where we can get a taxi. So instead of getting off the ferry at Positano, we paid extra to go to Amalfi (the next town along) and take a taxi from Amalfi back to Positano. The taxi cost us E250, Yikes, I do think we got ripped off but, we are on holiday, luckily we can afford it and we are not going to let a little mishap upset us.

The Taxi driver was super sweet, a conman but a super sweet one. He let Pat sit in front as she gets car sick and he kept saying "its okay lady, trust me I can drive this road very well." Pat is a passenger seat driver and makes every turn and brakes at every opportunity she can in the passenger seat. He literally said this to her 3 or 4 times. The trip from Amalfi to Positano took about 20 minutes and we got a very good tour of the area, its problems, how it survived in Covid and other information, like every house in Amalfi has a donkey as they are symbols of good luck here. Why you may ask, they are still used today to carry heavy loads up the stairs. Apparently, they are very good at going up and down stairs.

John was a bIt upset at the critique I gave our Fawlty Towers hotel in Capri, absolutely nothing to say negatively about our hotel - Oh yes there is one thing, that they did not have a lift to the beach!

We arrived at our hotel and the hotel is beautiful, centrally located halfway up Positano, we have gorgeous views from our hotel rooms and it is all quite luxurious. The hotel has a great deck and pool area in the shade and in the sun. All very civilised really.

John and I had a little explore and did a little recon to see what was around our hotel in walking distance. We came back and thought to ourselves, why don't we get some snacks (none of us were that hungry) and stay on the balcony. Which is what we did, we were treated with a spectacular moon rise and a lot of laughs.

What to do in Positano? There is shopping, all shops are either a linen shop or a pottery shop. There is the beach, it look edgreat from our hotel room. There are boat trips. Challenge is the 300 steps. We have a chat over breakfast and Pat is going to give it a go.We are going to stroll into town, & go via the road which is longer but it meanders down, with stopping places. We started at around 9:30am so the heat wasn't too bad and the stroll was great and gentle. Pat was glad that she had made the effort.

We get to the beach and it has black sand - huh, do not be fooled. It is sandy at the top to lure you onto it and then when you take your shoes off to go for a swim the pebbles get bigger and bigger. When Pat went for a swim she literally looked like a praying mantis walking over hot coals (her arms out beside her at shoulder height, her face cringing as each foot touched new pebbles) it was funny to watch. The water was gorgeous and the sea gentle. Not like our Aussie beaches.

A swim, a little lie in the sun - ready for the trip home. We found a porter who was going to call his friend to pick us up. We agreed to wait by the clock, in about 5 mins a small golf cart/truck drove past but didn't stop - all dejected we sat back down. As they charge per person, John has already walked up to the Taxi rank. So it is just Pat and me - but in fact the Porter came back, he just had to turn around. That is how tight everything is, there is a one way street into the town, so if you can't get a parking or miss your turn, you have to go all the way back out of Positano and back around. Pat's ride arrives and I gesture for Pat to get in the front but he says no and we have to climb into the back of his van.

The Newcastle Praying Mantis

Positano beach

We're-united with John and now wait for a taxi. We are the only ones waiting but there is no sign of a taxi. Pat says, "go on - I will give it a go!" Well R E S P E C T, she bloody well did it. Rewarded with an Aperol Spritz for her effort. We then spent the day lazing around the pool, chewing the fat.

Dinner at the hotel last night was amazing, all of us ordering very well. Pat had had such a lovely day, she insisted on treating us to dinner. Sorry Rich, Sam and Jack - we are spending your inheritance!

Today we said goodbye to Positano and travel the 30 minutes back to Amalfi, which is our next Port of Call.

Ciao.