Saturday on Capri

September 26^th. Saturday on Capri.

 

Today we drag our butts out of bed early for our day trip to the beautiful Isle of Capri where we can hobnob with the rich and famous. We make our way to Sorrento Port , far below on the sea. Sorrento is built high above on the cliff top. It’s a long zigzagging stairway down, I counted 107 steps, then a bit of a hike and we meet up with our tour group, lead by Peppe.

It is a large group and we board a jet boat for the Island. Peppe is as efficient as a drill sergeant, herding all of us along and making sure we get the most out of our day.  In 20 minutes we are at the Port of Capri. We disembark and make our way to a couple of small buses that will take us to the village of Anacapri perched on the top of the cliffs on the highest Part of the island. There is a road, built in the late 1800’s. It is a series of sharp hairpin turns zigzagging sharply up the cliff. It is a long way up and the road is steep and narrow. We meet other vehicles coming down, passing so close the mirrors almost catch. They call this road the OMG road because that is what the visitors say when they travel it.

Before the road was built the locals who lived there had only one way of coming down to the port to get their supplies. They would walk down a steep set of stairs (772 stairs), get their supplies and carry them back up on their heads. And this was the woman’s job. As our guide said, the men were not nearly as helpful back then as they are now!

 

Anacapri is a lovely little village. The streets are lined with little shops and restaurants. They depend almost entirely on tourism for their livelihood. There is a cable car that takes you from Anacapri, skimming above the town and taking you on an eagle’s eye journey to the highest point, Mt. Tiberius.

Instead we choose to explore the shops:  beautiful wool panchos, scarves, coral jewelry, handpainted ceramics. Everywhere there are Capri sandals, handmade in front you. You choose your style, colour, embellishment and in n0 minutes you have your own personal pair. They range from about 75E to 200E depending on the style.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We wander down the winding streets to a lookout point at the top of a set of ancient stone steps, once used for transportation. Centuries later they are still there, still intact, but no longer used. Far below the sea shimmers in the sunlight, across the bay Mount Vesuvius holds centre stage.

High above at Anacapri the view is amazing, a 360 view across the sea with Vesuvius at centre stae.

We continue to the church, Chiesa Santa Anna, unique for its beautiful hand painted mosaic floor depicting the Garden of Eden. The church has a number of alcoves all frescoed with beautiful intricate depictions and ornate statues.  We make our way up a narrow winding circular staircase to the choir loft, housing a huge pipe organ. From here we can look down and take in the entire mosaic below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We glance at our watches, it is almost time to make our way back to the meeting point. Peppe is serious about keeping us on track!

We wind cautiously back down the OMG road to the village of Capri, the larger town on the island. Capri town caters to the affluent. Here the shops are high end designer names, expensive perfumes, jewellery, clothing, leather. The narrow streets are jam packed with people, elbow to elbow.

Capri Port

The famous Belltower

The dome of the Basilica

After a short tour we decide to get out of the crowds and instead take a boat tour around the island.

 

We circle the island as our guide points out the landmarks and points of interest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our skipper expertly guides our boat into grottos and through a natural arch. One grotto has water a brilliant emerald green, another is encircled with bright red and orange coral. The white grotto offers stalagmites and stalagtytes and even one the shape of the Blessed Virgin if your imagination is good.

The Coral Grotto

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Green Grotto

 

 

It is a quiet relaxing afternoon, away from the crowds, on the water.

 

 

 

 

The unemployed Boat People, one of the 10 most expensive yachts in the world "The Grace". Several of these are docked along the shore.

We return to the Island for one last chance to explore the harbour, then board our boat back to Sorrento. We are beat. My Fitbit has long ago buzzed to alert me that I have done my goal of 10,000 steps. And its only mid afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back at the apartment we rest, recharge and freshen up before making our way back down to the centre for dinner and a little time in the markets.

We are winding down our time here, only one more day before we head to Greece.

 

Come With Me……