Napoletana humour and a barge trip and other Amalfi, Italy Things to Do Tips

Esmerelda grotto is a must see when you travel down the Amalfi coast (or up too). The stop on the road has the bus just about dangling off the cliff, but never mind. This must be a regular pit stop because the usual gifts are available straight off the bus. To get to the grotto you can take this ancient elevator (quite an adventure) or indeed walk the zig-zag pathway (taking considerably longer). You arrive in a cave like atmosphere..........very dark and damp and it gets more so when you approach the grotto entrance. My photo's weren't very good inside so you will just have to take it from me that it was worth the little barge ride to the extremities of the cavern even if only to hear the banter of the barge drivers. I didn't land in the water but I really wasn't in any danger of that.

Leave a Comment

Address: On the Amalfi Coast
Directions: It felt about half-way between Sorrento and Amalfi township itself.

Another view at Esmerelda Grotto. Will search google for some reference pages.

Leave a Comment

Website: www.amalfi-coast.info/amalfi/ grotta_dello_smeraldoeng.htm -

Despite the hair-raising closeness of the cliff when travelling south along the Amalfi coast in a bus, I was pretty busy most of the time clicking scenes like this out of the bus window and more whenever we stopped.

I have a few showing the cliff's top half too so that you can get an idea of feeling stuck out there.

Leave a Comment

Address: Coast Road from Sorento to Amalfi.
Directions: Just follow the signs south from Naples.

View from my restaurant seat, Amalfi. It was soooooooooooo hot that I could easily have gone in to the water fully clothed and enjoyed it until I would have come out drenched and uncomfortable. Ah well, next time I will be prepared.

Leave a Comment

Address: Amalfi foreshores.

Is situated at the top of this large, staircase. I was feeling a bit wonky, being not good at heights anyway and having just completed the trip along the coast by bus.

The handrail was not what you would call user friendly being heaps wider than a handhold so this added somewhat to my insecurity. I did make it to the top though and stood looking away from the steps for some time trying to make a decision to pop in next door.....another part of the church that was supposed to have some really interesting stuff in it too. When my heart finally settled down I decided that it might take me some time to get down and I didn't want to miss my bus mates so.............I hugged the right hand bannister and took it one step at a time.

Next time I will just wear blinkers and grab somebody's arm.

Leave a Comment

Address: In Amalfi's central piazza
Directions: Follow the throng.