Il Sud d’Italia (The Amalfi Coast!)

This weekend I went on an optional trip with Umbra to the Amalfi Coast.  We went to Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, and Naples. In total, 35 Umbra students and 3 Umbra staff went on the trip and it was a lot of fun!  We stayed at a hotel in Sorrento called Michelangelo for both nights and ate each breakfast and dinner there but then had lunch in the city we were in for the day.  My favorite part was getting to know many people I didn’t know very well before – so that was really cool!

Pompeii:
We left Perugia by bus at 6:30 AM and arrived in Pompeii at around 11:30 (with one rest stop along the way). We took a tour of the ruins although unfortunately (some students had been there before on a different tour) we did not see some of the major sights. Actually, according to some of my classmates some of the things my tour guide was saying were conflicting with what they had previously learned. And my tour guide was actually rude to one of my classmates saying some hurtful things! Maybe he was kidding… but still. I only learned these things after the tour though, and I generally enjoyed it because I like knowing more about the history of what I’m looking at.  I most enjoyed hearing about Vesuvius and its eruption – it is such an interesting story of a tragedy that has really helped us to see how people lived back then.

Here are some pictures from Pompeii:

Leaving Perugia in the morning!

Leaving Perugia in the morning!

The gladiators would practice in this arena.

Among the Pompeii ruins – the gladiators would practice in this arena.

Our tour guide describing a theater.

Our tour guide describing a theater.

A different view of the theater.

A different view of the theater.

Vesuvius from afar!

Vesuvius from afar!

Some ancient graffiti!  You can make out a figure.

Some ancient graffiti! You can make out a figure.

One of the main streets!  The bumps in the road is like a crosswalk for when water would be covering the road.

One of the main streets! The bumps in the road are like a crosswalk for when water would be covering the road.

An original lead pipe.

An original lead pipe.

An ancient brick oven.

An ancient brick oven.

Bodies were covered in ash and other materials, preserving their position when they died.

Bodies were covered in ash and other materials, preserving their position when they died.

More disturbing because you can see his facial expression.

More disturbing because you can see his facial expression.

A public fountain.

A public fountain.

A place to tie up your cattle anyone?

Need a place to tie up your cattle, anyone?

Phallic directional symbol?  Oh Pompeii...

Phallic directional symbol? Oh Pompeii…

An original mosaic floor.  The people would have a shop in the front of the house (or just a business area).  Then the back and/or upstairs would be where the family would live.

An original mosaic floor. The people would have a shop in the front of the house (or just a business area). Then the back and/or upstairs would be where the family would live.

Another view of Vesuvius!  There are some temple ruins in front.

Another view of Vesuvius! There are some temple ruins in front.

Oh hello little guy.

Oh hello little guy.

A person and many jars and other artifacts.

A person and many jars and other artifacts.

More jars and other items.

More jars and other items.

This was particularly sad but also interesting to look at.

This figure was particularly sad but also fascinating to look at.

Last view of Pompeii!

Last view of Pompeii!

We ate lunch at a fancy looking place but had very unfancy food.  It was 10 euro for spaghetti alla bolognese, salad (that was actually very good), ice cream, and a drink.

A big group of us ate lunch at a fancy looking place with very unfancy food. It was 10 euro for spaghetti alla Bolognese, salad (that was actually very good), ice cream, and a drink.

HUGE lemons!

HUGE lemons!

Sorrento:
It took around an hour or so to get to Sorrento from Pompeii. We arrived at Hotel Michelangelo, settled into our rooms, and then sought out to see the town. We had a few hours to explore Sorrento and the area was beautiful! We walked to the center of town and then down to the water where we remained until dinner back at the hotel. We walked more around the town after dinner and the following night, seeing more of the town including some beautiful views of the water and stars!

Here are some pictures from Sorrento:

View of Sorrento out the window of the bus!

View of Sorrento out the window of the bus!

Palm trees!

Palm trees!

I just enjoyed the illustrations on the sign.

I just enjoyed the illustrations on the sign.

The center piazza with a statue with attitude.

The center piazza with a statue with attitude.

Me and Vesuvius!

Me and Vesuvius!

There were a few cats down by the dock.

One of the 6 or so cats down by the dock basking in the sunlight.

Delicious lasagna (cheese, clams, pesto)!

Delicious lasagna (cheese, clams, pesto) for a first course with dinner!

Stuffed swordfish, carrots, and potatoes!

Stuffed swordfish, carrots, and potatoes!

Hazelnut flavored ice cream cake - a little too sweet for my liking though.

Hazelnut flavored ice cream cake – a little too sweet for my liking though.

The seaside at night.

The seaside at night.

Capri:
Saturday morning we left in the morning for the island of Capri. We took a private boat tour around part of the island to the Blue Grotto. This is a cave (with a very small entrance!) that you actually enter by rowboat where, once inside, natural lighting illuminates the water giving it a beautiful blue color. I will say it was expensive, but it was worth it – especially the initial (motor) boat ride. It was beautiful weather! Only 3-4 people could fit in the rowboats that go into the Blue Grotto but several boats can be in there at once (only one can enter at a time though), and the boat drivers are very entertaining. Ours sang, took pictures of us and with us, and was just very funny.   It was quite an experience actually entering the cave – such a small opening!  We actually had to lie down in the rowboat to avoid hitting our heads and the rower had to time the waves right!  After that experience, we got back in the motor boat to the main part of the island and took a taxi to the other side of the island where there are some beaches. We were expecting sandy beaches but unfortunately they were small and all rocks! We made it work though with our towels over the rocks and we hung out there for the day. It was so nice to be in the sun – it felt like summer! I didn’t bring a beach towel with me so I ended up buying one in Sorrento before we boarded the boat. The woman selling the towels asked me how I could speak Italian. I simply answered “by studying it,” and elaborated by discussing how I am studying in Perugia and we were in the area for the weekend. I find it to be an ongoing theme that locals (especially in very touristy areas) are surprised to hear tourists speaking Italian with them. I guess I like breaking the stereotype!

Here are some pictures from our day in Capri:

Boarding the boat to Capri!

Boarding the boat to Capri!

A view from the boat!

A view from the boat!

View of Capri from the boat!

View of Capri from the boat!

More of Capri!

More of Capri!

Capri!  We circled around towards the Blue Grotto.

We circled around the island towards the Blue Grotto.

From inside of the Blue Grotto - you can see the beautiful color of the water!

From inside of the Blue Grotto – you can see the beautiful color of the water!

Another view where you can see the entrance.

Another view where you can see the entrance.

Capri coastline on the way back!  Sorry for he heads in the foreground, didn't want to mess up dimensions with cropping.

Capri coastline on the way back! Sorry for he heads in the foreground, I didn’t want to mess up dimensions with cropping.

Heading towards the beach!  A view from the taxi.

Heading towards the beach! A view from the taxi.

A view from my spot on the beach!

A view from my spot on the beach!

Another small beach!

Another small beach!

Riding the taxi (convertible!) back to the other side of the island.  Some beautiful views along the way, although I wasn't able to capture most of them.

Riding the taxi (convertible!) back to the other side of the island. Some beautiful views along the way, although I wasn’t able to capture most of them.

Lemon gelato!  It was delicious and very satisfying after all day in the sun.  The whole region is well known for its lemons and lemon products (fruit drinks, limoncello, gelato, etc.).

Lemon gelato! It was delicious and very satisfying after all day in the sun. The whole region is well known for its lemons and lemon products (fruit drinks, limoncello, gelato, etc.).

A few minutes before boarding the boat back, looking out over the water and Capri.

A few minutes before boarding the boat back, looking out over the water and Capri.

Mushroom soup as a starter for dinner!

Mushroom soup as a starter for dinner!

The main course was cod with clams, cabbage, and potatoes.

My main course was cod with clams, cabbage, and potatoes.

Lemon cake for dessert!

Lemon cake for dessert!

Napoli (Naples):
In the morning we headed to Naples, a metropolitan city also in the area. A tour guide joined us on the bus to Naples, pointing out various scenes along the way, talking about Vesuvius and what would happen if a present day eruption occurred. After we arrived in Naples we continued around the city on the bus then walked around (both with the tour and then after for some free time). There wasn’t too much to see honestly (although perhaps we missed some sights in our time). We walked around a lot, visited some shops and stands and got some fun food. For lunch, we ate Naples pizza (how could you not!). Honestly though, I prefer the pizza place called Pizza Mediterranea back in Perugia. It was still good to see the city though and the weather, as it was all weekend, was gorgeous! It approached 80 degrees while we were there!

Here are some pictures from the day:

Vesuvius followed us along the way!  Our tour guide informed us how the highway is very close to Vesuvius and would be very bad in the event that it would need to be used as an escape road.

Vesuvius followed us along the way! Our tour guide informed us how the highway is very close to Vesuvius and would be very bad in the event that it would need to be used as an escape road.

Naples skyline from the bus.

Naples skyline from the bus.

The America's Cup was going on (apparently several sports events in a few cities) so the atmosphere was carnival like in some areas like this road (balloon-making, clowns, rides, etc.).

The America’s Cup was going on (apparently several sports events in a few cities in the area) so the atmosphere was carnival-like in some parts of the city like this road (balloon-making, clowns, rides, etc.).

Looking the other way down the street.

Looking the other way down the street.

The city is right on the water!

The city is right on the water!

Such a small kitten!

Such a small kitten!

Castel d'Uovo - literally Castle of the Egg.  There is said to be an egg in the basement from many many years ago that protects the castle.

Castel d’Uovo – literally Castle of the Egg. There is said to be an egg in the basement from many many years ago that protects the castle.

Oh some Italians...

Oh some Italians…

This statue has a prize-winning (in my opinion only) mustache!

This statue has a prize-winning (in my opinion only) mustache!

The side of the Royal Palace.

The side of the Royal Palace.

The front of the Royal Palace!  There are several statues under the arches.

The front of the Royal Palace! There are several statues under the arches.

Piazza Plebiscito - the church in the distance is famous in Naples.  It is called the church of San Francesco di Paola.

Piazza Plebiscito – the church in the distance is famous in Naples. It is called the church of San Francesco di Paola.

Castel Nuovo (New Castle) - it was built after the egg one!

Castel Nuovo (New Castle) – it was built after the egg one so it was “new.”

My Naples pizza!  I got Pizza Diavola - it has spicy salami on top.

My Naples pizza! I got Pizza Diavola – it has spicy salami on top.

Looking down a main shopping street.

Looking down a main shopping street.

Looking down a street with the sea in the background while on our walk.

Looking down a street with the sea in the background while on our walk.

A mixed fruit smoothie to go - mmm.

A mixed fruit smoothie to go – mmm.

The main theater - the royalty had a special part of the building made so they would not get wet if it rained on the way to the theater.

The main theater – the royalty had a special part of the building made so they would not get wet if it rained on the way to the theater.

A beautiful building - the Gallery of Umberto the First.  The glass ceiling lets in the natural lighting.

A beautiful building – the Gallery of Umberto the First. The glass ceiling lets the natural lighting in.

Another view - the sunlight is shining through the glass.

Another view – the sunlight is shining through the glass.