Ravello

Leaving "heaven", the 30-minute journey took an hour, including a 10-minute traffic light. The roads are so narrow and the taxi drivers we have had have been amazing, safe, and smooth, not taking any chances. May have had something to do with Pat being in the front - you know how respectful the Italians are to their Nonnas. We had done the trip into Amalfi but not beyond that and the roads got narrower and steeper. Below is a sample of the road past Amalfi to Ravello. It is one way part of the way, that is the ten-minute traffic light.

As I said Patty was in the front seat, note the image below of her white knuckled grip.

Once we are in Ravello it is a traffic free zone, which means that we have to walk to the hotel. John has done so much research on this trip making sure everything is accessible for Pat. We were offered a transport, which was like a little tractor for E70 each way. Pat didn't like the look of that so we opted for the gentle 10 minute walk.

I am mad as hell because John was told that it was a gentle walk and all I can say is "gentle walk my arse!" Poor Pat, first of all we took a wrong turn then we are faced with this sign to the hotel.

We are going to Villa Cimbrone - which way would you go? So i asked a passing Porter which was the flattest way and he showed us, so we took his word for it. Up, up, stairs then down stairs or a ramp which was so steep momentum got the better of Pat and her little feet couldnt stop running down the slope. John had to step in front of her to slow her down. It was hot and arduous but in usual Patty style she "just got on with it". WE were playing the Rocky theme tune to encourage her as she walked up the steep bits. This was to the amusement of the passers by.

Villa Cimbrone is a tourist attraction and supposed to the be jewel of our trip, with Patty staying where Greta Garbo stayed when she eloped, and gardens to die for according to the website. The hotel is nice and had we not stayed at Monastero Santa Rosa, I am sure we would have been happy. BUT, the wrong information on the walk to the hotel, the silly emails that John had to deal with prior to our arrival and the introduction or meet and greet when we arrived was less than desirable. So we had the shits with the hotel, our rooms were ready this was a positive. We were shown to our rooms and shown how to open the rooms, slot the card into the thing to make the lights go on, shown our gift of toiletries - you know its a bit of a problem if a 5 star hotel has to make a big deal of giving you shampoo and shower gel... Minibar is complimentary, that is a positive but only non alcoholic beverages - there are no beers in there. At our new favourite hotel, we had champagne, wine and beer all complimentary. Humph!

First and only thing Pat is interested is BBC News so that she can keep up to date on the Royal Family news, guess what BBC News is not working, CNN does but it isn't the same. So this is about 2pm, he says that he will send maintenance to fix. And that was where the tour ended, no "this is where breakfast is" or "the pool can be found on level -1", so shit compared to our previous hotel. And we are paying much more for this one. It really is infuriating as I can see John's disappointment as this is supposed to be the piece de resistance.

Down to the pool, we are greeted at the pool and shown around. The pool is lovely, we are hot and Pat is exhausted so I accompany her into the pool. It is freezing, I think it is more a case of our body temperatures being higher than normal and the difference in water temperature making it seem icy. Anyway, I am not one for slowly lingering whilst your bits freeze one by one. I am a dive in and get it over and done with type of gal. So I ask pat to stay ont he step whilst I get in and I will come back and do the slow walk in.

There are people all around the pool and what I didn't realise and to my total embarrassment I know now is that the pool has no edge. By this I mean the water and the pavement are level. so I dive in from the step which causes this tidal wave with nothing to stop the wave from splashing over the side onto those nearest the pool. I swim a bit under water and then come up for air. To my surprise and humiliation I see a couple rescuing their shoes, sunnies, hat and items that were on the floor and now drenched. Not my finest moment. Head down I skulk back to fetch Pat and we cool down in the water. I set Pat up with BBC 1 showing the parade of the Queen to Westminster where she will lie in state and she is happy for 2 hours.

John and I do a turn in the gardens which are lovely and there is the famous infinity terrace. Villa Cimbrone is a "must do" tourist attractions so the gardens are very busy. Here are some photos below.

The hotel itself has some lovely areas and I think is a "must-do" because of the famous people that used to come here.

John took his mum for a stroll around the gardens before the visitors arrived.

We got some rain at lunch which was a rare treat, so after a morning lazing around the pool. John and I went into Ravello to explore and left Pat to get up to some mischief in the Villa. Ravello is a charming place with quaint linen and ceramic shops. There was a wedding in town and a huge celebration in the square. Lovely to sit having lunch and watch the going on. We tried the other way back to the Hotel and that is a series of about 50 double steps so that is a no go for Patty. We have booked the tractor thing for her ride down tomorrow. Some photos of Ravello below.

Some more time to explore around Villa Cimbrone, lots of quiet places and odd little rooms. We showed Pat but, of course she couldn't find it, so we found her sitting in reception reading when we came back from town.

We woke up to fog and the sounds of thunder. The transfer for Pat was arranged but contingent on dry weather and it was bucketing down. Fingers crossed, the porter can take her. Hoorah, during breakfast it is confirmed that her chariot will be year at 8:30am.

Arrivederci Ravello.