The Swedish Chef and I went for a trip to the Amalfi Coast. I haven't been to Italy for more than 18 years, so it was a treat. I've always wanted to go to Pompeii, so we flew into Naples, used Sorrento as a base, and visited both Pompeii and Positano.
Sorrento is super-touristy (the damn Brit/American contingent get everywhere, all the time) but a good place to use as a base. It has a couple of lovely harbours and some good restaurants. Positano is also busy, even in September, but it felt less exploited. Maybe that's just because we didn't stay there so didn't notice it so much. The town hangs above the bay dramatically, higgledy-piggledy. We hired a boat and went along the Amalfi Coast. Beautiful. If I go to Southern Italy again I'll definitely stay further along the Amalfi Coast. And hire a boat for a longer period.
Pompeii was so much bigger than expected - and much more of a city too. I thought we'd be picking our way through excavation sites rather than obvious streets, clear cross roads and actual houses. Quite remarkable. The best place? The brothel with its ancient wall paintings showing 'positions for sale', as it were.
2007-10-06 @ 22:33