This was my first question this morning. Where is my cappuccino? And where is a big, fluffy, decadent croissant?
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Capri
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Of course, I wouldn't start the morning right away with them. First, I would slip into an oversized white robe and walk down the stairs and out of the sleeping hotel to the outside. The narrow winding trail under the long arbors, thickly covered by vines, would lead me further down to the bottom of the cliff. Huge yellow lemons hanging through the arbors' upper beams would make me smile: what if one of the lemons falls and hits me on the head? There is an elevator which guests can take to reach the swimming pool, but it is early and it doesn't work yet. See the pool down there?
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The gate to the pool is also closed. Nobody comes here so early. I start my way back up. Fortunately, there are two guys coming to prepare the place for the day, and they open the gate for me. The pool, which is filled with sea water, is all mine. Hey, sleepy heads, you don't know what you are missing!
Amalfi
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Back in the room, I would sit on a small balcony and look and listen how the town wakes up.
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After breakfast, I'd go for a walk.
I would get my workout with the natural 'stairmasters':
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After breakfast, I'd go for a walk.
I would get my workout with the natural 'stairmasters':
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or natural 'treadmills':
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For walking a lot, I will always have a reward like this view:
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or this:
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For lunch, I would stop at one of the little restaurants on the edge of the hill. I would have pasta and tomato salad.
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No, I didn't visit McDonald's, although black & white attire is one of my favorite combinations.
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For desert, I might stop at one of the fancy hotels.
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I would devour it slowly while admiring this beautiful tree with a name I don't remember, but remember that, as the waiter said, it was from Argentina.
I would devour it slowly while admiring this beautiful tree with a name I don't remember, but remember that, as the waiter said, it was from Argentina.
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The huge lily-like flowers of that tree looked very exotic, but I was even more excited to see huge masses of morning glory all over the place.
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It was everywhere and climbed everything that it could reach: poles, arbors, fences or just rocks.
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I would walk again after the break and see ancient churches and villas,
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Amalfi*
where only your own imagination can recreate the fragments of the beautiful fresco wiped off by time:
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Out to the streets again.
I miss you, Italian men in bright pants! I love those pants of yellow, red, pink and terracotta colors!
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Capri
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I miss seeing Italian men with their 'Elvis' hairdos.
This is one of our taxi drivers. You ride in his car and talk to him for several minutes, but the next day when you see him passing you on the piazza, he waves to you and smiles and greets you as if you had known each other for years.
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I miss seeing barefoot men on the streets, relaxing and rushing nowhere, taking time to talk to a friend and look at the people who came to his town from afar.
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I miss unexpected and fast passing rains which leave streets clean and wonderful old tiles shiny:
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I promise myself to buy a better water bowl for my dog after seeing what a pretty painted cup was given to this little dog for his drink in a ceramic store:
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Ah! The dog turned into a ceramic pooch!
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Just kidding...
Oh, those ceramic stores... I never bought myself their fabulous plates just because I couldn't choose...
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I will get jealous with people whose laundry smells fresh after being dried outside.
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It doesn't matter if it is a street with fancy boutiques or simply a residential area, all laundry has the privilege to pamper itself under the warm Italian sun.
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Ravello
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I might even get very lucky if that window would be in a place like.... let's say Villa Cimbrone dating from at least the eleventh century AD.....
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Ravello
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Could it happen? Villa Cimbrone? We'll see, and meanwhile, where is my cappuccino?!!!
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Copyright 2010 TatyanaS
Oh lucky you! I can see everything thru your lens. And it's exactly how I would imagine. I've never been there and I now I have. I love the people and flowers and water and even the steps. And the food well that's a given. What a great post and again your photography captures everything like it should be. Thanks
ReplyDeleteTatyana, you brought back so many wonderful memories. When Ian and I were living in London we went to Sorrento for a weeks holidays, my favourite ever!!!
ReplyDeleteDid you go to the Blue Grotto in Capri? Gorgeous. We took a bus to Positano, very scary, especially as I was on the cliff side. Watching people in their Vespas taking their lives in hand weaving in and out of traffic. And the food, best in the world!!!
I hope you have lots more pictures to share.
Oh it looks like you had a wonderful trip Tatyana. I'm sure you really enjoyed all the different italian breads and cuisine.
ReplyDeleteI want to go there! I drink cappuccino, but my wife says that is not proper coffee. Awesome photos.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely trip you had. I really enjoyed it via the web and your wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteI would have bought all four of the plates. :-) We did buy pottery when we lived in Spain while DH was in the US Navy, 70-73.
Thanks for this lovely tour, it was a real treat this morning.
FlowerLady
What a fabulous post.
ReplyDeleteso glad you enjoyed your trip, i hope to be over in florence next summer and your photos have wetted my appetite...
ReplyDeleteAnd so I get back to your blog after many weeks and find not autumn but Italy ;). Glad you had a great time! Jack
ReplyDeleteYou are one very spoiled woman, I hope you know that. Wish I could go one day, take care, Gina
ReplyDeleteOh, Tatyana how wonderful! Hoiw beautiful. You are so lucky girl to visit such lovely places. The ceramics are so gorgeous.Beautiful architecture and flowers. I would refrain from diving into that pool from up there though. LOL!
ReplyDeleteOh what lovely pictures you brought back! Magical country, lovely people, fabulous cappuccinos! I particularly enjoy the passeggiata, that time in the early evening when children, parents, elders and dogs are all out strolling. La dolce vita!
ReplyDeleteahhh, I am seeing Capri through your eyes, thank you for the memories...
ReplyDeleteParadise!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a wonderful time. You gave me a very inviting tour...thanks.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful photos and your breakfast seems better than my whole wheat English muffin and French roast coffee. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a dream - a wonderful dream!
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for your time and your kind words! Yes, it looks like a dream for me too! If not the pictures, I would be wondering if that trip really happened! I have a bit more than 1200 pictures. I plan to post the best of them.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post Tatyana, I almost...ALMOST...could imagine I was there. Maybe someday. What a fabulous pool to have all to yourself!
ReplyDeleteOh, my! Now I will dream of Italy. What fabulous photos of an idyllic place. Can it be real? I don't know which I would like best, the cappuccino or men in bright pants!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! Thanks for sharing....
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible trip you've taken us on, Tatyana! Such fun. Such an amazing experience, all of it. I'd like to have the cappuccino, too!
ReplyDeleteYou are really very very good, both in words and in photography! I wish i am like you, as the hotel i stayed in Antalya, Turkey was almost like that one having long undulating stairs down the cliff to reach the Mediterannean Sea. Everything you posted here is awesome...and croissant + cappuccino is also my favorite breakfast. So when in France I looked for croissant at once to compare with ours, and when in Rome i looked for cappuccino to taste the real thing. You inspire me Tatyana. Now i miss that croissant!
ReplyDeleteTatyana: What a beautiful post and beautiful photos! The Italy through your eyes are so romantic and beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. Thanks to your skill, we get to enjoy the best views!
ReplyDeleteOh Tatyana, what a great vacation you've been on! I can amagine that you miss it allready don't you? I'd realy love to go to Italy some day driving all all the way there becaurse then I'll be abel to see so much more of our beautiful world on the way there. Thanks for a(nother) great post / gittan
ReplyDeleteThe perefct season in which to visit.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of your trip. You must have had a wonderful time.
Hi Tatyana~~ You're obviously having a very good time on your trip. I hope you're being safe. Those cliffs look pretty dangerous...and beautiful! Have fun dear friend.
ReplyDeleteSwooning !
ReplyDeleteItalian wine, olives and sunshine. You can't ask for much more...
ReplyDeleteTatyana - this looks like heaven - especially that beautiful place you were staying in - would you mind sending me some details - have never been to Italy and it looks just my kind of place... sitting here with a cup of coffee - seeing those croissants... mmmm! A very nice way to start the day! Hope you're enjoying your own garden Miranda x
ReplyDeleteSuch magnificent views in Italy! Your photos are superb. Thank you for the wonderful tour.
ReplyDeleteAahh, Italy, the land where the lemon-trees bloom. You have captured Goethe's land of longing beautifully in your photos and texts.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking me along on a spectacular trip through Italy. Your pictures are breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteOh Tatyana, I know where you are...
ReplyDeleteThat's not Italy, that must be heaven!
My god it's beautiful.
Enjoy!
Annelie
Excellent, Tanya! I have been to every town but Ravello, and your writing and photos captured the feeling perfectly.
ReplyDeleteWOW. Just WOW! I love the vines.
ReplyDeleteT, incredible! the scenery takes my breathe away and your photos are remarkable!
ReplyDeleteOur dear friends were in Italy several months ago and scoped out a place we plan to visit next year. It looks like you might have your favorite spots. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
Wow, simply amazing!! Thanks for sharing such wonders, I hope that I'm as lucky as you one day and am to travel to such gorgeous places =]
ReplyDeleteWow what a great post! thank you for the wonderful photos. I was lucky enough to have visited the Amalfi Coast a few years ago and LOVED it. Your photos just transported me back there and all the memories that went with that trip. Thank you and hope you continue to enjoy every moment!
ReplyDeleteHello Tanya,
ReplyDeleteI love your blog!
This beautiful Positano tree isn’t argentinian... this specie is brazilian, and Its name is “Paineira-rosa” or Chorisia speciosa
Abraços,
Eduardo
Thank you Eduardo! It's nice to know its name. The waiter told me about the tree. Anyway it is beautiful, isn't it? Thank you for visiting my blog!
ReplyDeleteAmalfi, Rome, Positano, capri, Maiori & Ravello. They're all in my list. Such a kind of you to share such a beautiful experience here. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
ReplyDeleteHi & all the best wishes,
Seryna (Malaysia)